『A BALLADS 2』on sale 2021.03.12

[visionfactory]

Ayu is already working on the photoshoots of the album ^_^

[TheRainbow]

Ooh how do you know?

[Aderianu]

Kazuyoshi Shimomura posted at his Instagram story shot with ayu from a best 2. So seems they are working on covers

[URANUS]

Originally Posted by Aderianu

Kazuyoshi Shimomura posted at his Instagram story shot with ayu from a best 2. So seems they are working on covers

I love everything he does with Ayu. This is so exciting.

[tokyoxjapanxfan]

He’s not particularly known for “soft” photo shoots (with Ayu—at least in my memory) so I’m interested to see how it turns out!

[Deep snow]

I hate like 80% of what Shimoko does for/with ayu so my expectations are low. (which is good)

[pedronekoi]

Originally Posted by KPL

I would accept a beauty shot as long as it’s not pink
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBY-buxD...d=4tdro6x7ge14

This photoshoot is fabulous!! Every single picture is just incredible. (and it's one of the few times she was featured on Vogue Japan. I think she was featured on VOGUE only 3 times)

[KPL]

Originally Posted by pedronekoi

This photoshoot is fabulous!! Every single picture is just incredible. (and it's one of the few times she was featured on Vogue Japan. I think she was featured on VOGUE only 3 times)

I know right? Even just the mirror concept can work nicely as a subtle nod to the original A BALLADS twin concept.

[SKYia]

I'd like Ayu to hug her younger self this time. Or maybe even the one from A Ballads cover. I like what she did with A BEST 2 covers in Don't look back PV, sth like this would also be nice, but I guess we will get a beauty shot.

[njanjayrp]

Originally Posted by SKYia

I'd like Ayu to hug her younger self this time. Or maybe even the one from A Ballads cover. I like what she did with A BEST 2 covers in Don't look back PV, sth like this would also be nice, but I guess we will get a beauty shot.

I’d actually like the today ayu to hug the messed up Don’t look back ayu from the back.

[MemorialAddress]

Originally Posted by dannysan

From CDJapan:
"Ayumi Hamasaki to release the first ballad greatest hits album in 18 years. Consists of two discs with 30 songs total (subject to change). Remastering from their original master tapes."

Kinda thankful they're re-mastered and not re-recorded...lol

[adrtwb]

Originally Posted by MemorialAddress

Kinda thankful they're re-mastered and not re-recorded...lol

I would love if she is re-recording it, although we know that is not happening!
Just wonder why can’t she do that? Is that gonna cost a lot?

[maxikot]

I love her current voice. I think it would turn out really nice

[njanjayrp]

Originally Posted by maxikot

I love her current voice. I think it would turn out really nice

I wouldn't mind this either. Especially if the new vocals are featured on the re-arranged tracks a la Northern Breeze.

[rusuke]

I love Days and it will be special forever because it's my first Ayu single that I got. But personally, I wish it won't be included in the album. hehe.

[rusuke]

Originally Posted by MemorialAddress

Kinda thankful they're re-mastered and not re-recorded...lol

Me too.

[kaled kalil]

Imo the problem with a re-recording isn't the vocals, but the mixing and production of the songs that sometimes feels less impactful. That was my problem with some songs from Namie's Finally and JoJo's re-recorded albums.

I really like Shimomura's works, and I personally wouldn't mind if the covers don't have the "hugging" concept and it's something fresh and different.

[njanjayrp]

Originally Posted by kaled kalil

Imo the problem with a re-recording isn't the vocals, but the mixing and production of the songs that sometimes feels less impactful. That was my problem with some songs from Namie's Finally and JoJo's re-recorded albums.

I really like Shimomura's works, and I personally wouldn't mind if the covers don't have the "hugging" concept and it's something fresh and different.

As long as its not a pink or white toned closeup I am fine.

[summerain]

Originally Posted by kaled kalil

Imo the problem with a re-recording isn't the vocals, but the mixing and production of the songs that sometimes feels less impactful. That was my problem with some songs from Namie's Finally and JoJo's re-recorded albums.

I really like Shimomura's works, and I personally wouldn't mind if the covers don't have the "hugging" concept and it's something fresh and different.

I confess I have this problem with YOU / Depend on You / TÔ BE 10th Anniversary versions. I'm not even a fan of original mix of DoY, but I didn't felt in love with the new version (and it's not the vocals). Who..., otherwise, is beautiful (but the arrangement isn't that different from the original).

[tokyoxjapanxfan]

For Finally, wasn’t she remaking them with the intent of sounding as close to the original as possible? (Mostly so she could regain the rights to them? Maybe this was just a rumor that I heard?)

Maybe I’m wrong lol. (Also, that was the reason for Jojo too, right?)


In any case, for me personally, I feel that when Ayu has re-recorded things, they’ve been rather intentionally changed. Updated versions to fit her current voice or mood or career. So I never got that “it doesn’t beat the original” feeling because I don’t think they were ever trying to be the original.

Edit: A Best being the outlier lol. I believe it was Avex who pushed her to re-record those.