Next Level (Ayumi Hamasaki album)

Next Level (Ayumi Hamasaki album)
Next Level
Studio album by Ayumi Hamasaki
Released March 25, 2009 (2009-03-25)
Recorded 2008-2009
Genre Electropop, Synthrock, Pop rock, Electronica, Dance Pop
Length 51:45 (CD)
72:10 (Live CD)
50:50 (DVD)
Label Avex Trax
Producer Max Matsuura
Ayumi Hamasaki chronology
A Complete: All Singles
(2008)
Next Level
(2009)
Rock 'n' Roll Circus
(2010)
Singles from Next Level
  1. "Days/Green"
    Released: December 17, 2008
  2. "Rule/Sparkle"
    Released: February 25, 2009
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
allmusic 3.5/5 stars[1]

Next Level is the tenth studio album (eleventh overall) by Japanese pop singer-songwriter Ayumi Hamasaki, released by Avex Trax on March 25, 2009 in Japan. It was released as a CD only version, a CD+DVD version, and a limited edition 2CD+DVD version with the second CD containing live songs taken from her New Year's Countdown concert.[2] Additionally, it is the first album by Hamasaki and one of the first albums in the world to be released as a USB flash drive.[3][4] The two GB flash drive includes the 14 songs of the album in MP3 format along with their lyric data, and six music videos in MP4 format.[4] The flash drive edition is priced at ¥6800 (approximately USD$68 at the time of release).[3]

The album is certified Double Platinum for shipment of 500,000 copies.[5]

Contents

Promotion

"Green," the second a-side from the first single, was used to promote Panasonic's Lumix FX-37 in 2008.[6] The title track, "Next Level," was used in Panasonic's Lumix FX-40 commercial in 2009[7] while "Rule," from the album's second single, is the international theme song for the film Dragonball Evolution.[8] Additionally, "Sparkle" is used in advertisements for the Honda Zest Spark.[9]

At a price of 6,800 yen, the USB version is said to be a bargain, as typical USB drives typically sell for much less. The USB will be packaged in a case the same size as a normal CD case, making it easy to display in stores. Oricon will apparently include the USB drive version in its sales tracking. Hamasaki explained, "As the way we listen to music changes from day to day, I looked at things from the listener's perspective and decided to sell it this way."[10]

Legal Issues

On May 21, 2009, it was revealed that the Tokyo Metropolitan Police are currently investigating a publicity event held in April. Hamasaki made unexpected appearances in Shibuya to promote the release of her new book and the album "Next Level", but apparently either she or her manager failed to obtain the necessary permits for the event. The PR event happened on April 7, in front of the 109 Building in Shibuya. Approximately 8,000 people gathered to see Hamasaki, resulting in temporarily blocked roads. Before her appearance at 109, she also paid unexpected visits to a few major record stores, going from store to store by car while fans followed her on foot, which led to chaotic conditions in the streets. Buses and other modes of transport were subjected to traffic delays.

Even though the events officially took place in stores, police determined that the scope of the event required a permit for the use of the roads. Because that permit was never obtained, authorities stated they plan to send the matter to the prosecutor's office for Hamasaki and her manager to be questioned.[11][12][13]

Music videos

Aside from the singles Days/Green and Rule/Sparkle, two other music videos were made for Curtain Call and Next Level.

Next Level and Curain Call were both directed by Stanly Izumi Kim and Luis Hernandez and fillmed in Los Angeles.

The PV for Next Level featured Ayumi singing in her car while driving along an open road near the coast of a beach.

The PV for Curtain Call depicted Ayumi wearing a little black dress while barefoot. She starts off singing at a set. When the first verse is over she walks away and the production staff and crew close down the set. She walks through different sets and crew (including different seasonal themes such as rainy, autumn and winter). In the climax, she stops and behind her sparks a wall of fireworks. The curtain closes and the camera moves away from Ayumi and she is seen being attended by her hair and makeup crew. The whole video in entirety was done in one take. Originally, when she filming the black dress had a long and heavy part, but she said to her crew she wanted the heavy part to be cut off.

Track list

All lyrics written by Ayumi Hamasaki. 

CD
No. Title Music Arranger(s) Length
1. "Bridge to the Sky"   Yuta Nakano Yuta Nakano 1:43
2. "Next Level"   D.A.I HΛL 4:30
3. "Disco-munication" (instrumental) CMJK CMJK 1:32
4. "Energize"   Yuta Nakano CMJK 4:31
5. "Sparkle"   Kazuhiro Hara CMJK 4:30
6. "Rollin'"   Yuta Nakano CMJK 5:04
7. "Green"   Tetsuya Yukumi tasuku 4:49
8. "Load of the Shugyo" (instrumental) CMJK CMJK 1:32
9. "Identity"   Yuta Nakano Yuta Nakano 4:19
10. "Rule"   Miki Watanabe HΛL 4:06
11. "Love 'n' Hate"   Yuta Nakano Yuta Nakano 3:51
12. "Pieces of Seven" (instrumental) HΛL HΛL 2:31
13. "Days"   Kunio Tago HΛL 5:03
14. "Curtain Call"   Kazuhiro Hara Yuta Nakano 3:44
Premium Countdown 2008-2009 Live CD
No. Title Length
1. "Green"   4:52
2. "Will"   6:29
3. "End of the World"   4:43
4. "Heartplace"   7:03
5. "And Then"   2:25
6. "Naturally"   3:31
7. "Powder Snow"   4:39
8. "Hope or Pain"   4:27
9. "Over"   5:10
10. "Scar"   7:01
11. "Signal"   2:25
12. "Hana"   1:49
13. "Too Late"   4:10
14. "Everywhere Nowhere"   3:40
15. "Days"   5:05
16. "For My Dear..."   4:41
DVD
No. Title Length
1. "Days (Video Clip)"   5:20
2. "Green (Video Clip)"   5:32
3. "Rule (Video Clip)"   4:27
4. "Sparkle (Video Clip)"   4:44
5. "Next Level (Video Clip)"   4:31
6. "Curtain Call (Video Clip)"   3:48
7. "Days (Making Clip)"   3:54
8. "Green (Making Clip)"   3:59
9. "Rule (Making Clip)"   3:17
10. "Sparkle (Making Clip)"   3:29
11. "Next Level (Making Clip)"   4:37
12. "Curtain Call (Making Clip)"   3:12

Release history

Region Date Format Catalogue Number
Japan March 25, 2009 (2009-03-25) 2CD+DVD
  • Initial pressing limited edition
AVCD-23856/B
CD+DVD AVCD-23858/B
CD AVCD-23859
USB
  • Initial pressing limited edition
  • Second press limited edition
AVZD-23860
Taiwan March 27, 2009 (2009-03-27)
Hong Kong April 3, 2009 (2009-04-03)
China March 25, 2010 (2010-03-25) 2CD+DVD
CD
South Korea March 27, 2009 (2009-03-27)

Charts & Certifications

Charts

Chart Peak Position Sales Total Chart Run
Oricon Daily Chart 1 99,200[14] 30 weeks
Oricon Weekly Chart 1 240,810[15]
Oricon Monthly Chart 1 379,989[citation needed]
Oricon Yearly Chart 16

Certifications

Country Provider Certification
Japan RIAJ 2× Platinum[16]

Singles

Date Title Peak position Weeks Sales
December 17, 2008 "Days/Green" 1 14 weeks 190,891
February 25, 2009 "Rule/Sparkle" 1 9 weeks 130,816

Physical Sales & Rank

Chart Peak
position
Oricon Daily Albums Chart 1
Oricon Weekly Albums Chart 1
Oricon Monthly Albums Chart 1
Oricon Yearly Albums Chart 2009 16
Billboard Japan 1
HMV J-POP Chart (Japan) 1
HMV Asian Chart (Japan) 1
Billboard Japan Top Albums 1
G-Music Combo Chart[17] (Taiwan) 2
G-Music J-POP Chart[18] (Taiwan) 1
G-Music International Chart[19] (Taiwan) 1
J-POP/K-POP Five Music Records (Taiwan)[20] 1
Soundscan Albums Chart (2CD+DVD)[21] 1

Total Singles Sales: 321,707
Total Album and Singles Sales: 701,696

Additional Photos

References

  1. ^ allmusic review
  2. ^ (Japanese) "Ayumi Hamasaki official website news and information". Avex. http://avexnet.or.jp/ayu/jp/news/090212.html. Retrieved 14 February 2009. 
  3. ^ a b "Ayumi Hamasaki's new "NEXT LEVEL" released in the USB memory". Impress Watch Corporation. http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20090213/avex.htm. Retrieved 13 February 2009. 
  4. ^ a b (Japanese) "Ayu's USB album". Sponichi Annex. http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2009/02/13/04.html. Retrieved 14 February 2009. [dead link]
  5. ^ http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200903.html
  6. ^ (Japanese) "Days/Green Oricon Page". Oricon. http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/c/28284/. Retrieved 25 February 2009. 
  7. ^ (Japanese) "Ayumi Hamasaki News&Information Page". Avex Group. http://www.avexnet.or.jp/ayu/jp/news/090220a.html. Retrieved 25 February 2009. 
  8. ^ (Japanese)"Ayu to Sing the International Theme Song of Dragonball". Sankei Sports (Sankei Digital Inc.): p. 2. December 10, 2008. http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/081210/gnj0812100505015-n2.htm. Retrieved December 10, 2008. [dead link]
  9. ^ "Honda Zest Spark CM Gallery". Honda. http://www.honda.co.jp/ZESTSPARK/cmgallery/. Retrieved March 3, 2009. 
  10. ^ http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-4427
  11. ^ http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/entertainment/news/20090522-OHT1T00023.htm
  12. ^ http://www.daily.co.jp/gossip/2009/05/22/0001939186.shtml
  13. ^ http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/090522/gnd0522002-n1.htm
  14. ^ http://www.allkpop.com/index.php/full_story/tvxqs_secret_code_on_oricon_charts
  15. ^ http://www.allkpop.com/2009/03/tvxq_officially_number_2_on_oricon_weekly
  16. ^ http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200903.html
  17. ^ http://www.g-music.com.tw/GMusicBillboard0.aspx
  18. ^ http://www.g-music.com.tw/GMusicBillboard3.aspx
  19. ^ http://www.g-music.com.tw/GMusicBillboard7.aspx
  20. ^ http://www.5music.com.tw/CDTop.asp?top=2
  21. ^ http://www.phileweb.com/ranking/cd-top20/2009/1260.html
Preceded by
Do You Dreams Come True? by Dreams Come True
Oricon Weekly number-one album
April 6, 2009
Succeeded by
Do You Dreams Come True? by Dreams Come True

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Next Level — may refer to: Next Level (Ayumi Hamasaki album), a 2009 album by Ayumi Hamasaki Next Level (George Acosta album), a 2002 album by George Acosta Next Level , a 2006 song by female Japanese singer YU KI of TRF, theme song for Kamen Rider Kabuto… …   Wikipedia

  • My Story (Ayumi Hamasaki album) — My Story Studio album by Ayumi Hamasaki Released December 15, 2004 ( …   Wikipedia

  • Secret (Ayumi Hamasaki album) — Secret Studio album by Ayumi Hamasaki Released November 29, 2006 …   Wikipedia

  • Next Level — Album par Ayumi Hamasaki Sortie 25 mars 2009 Durée CD = 51:45 ; DVD = 50:50 ; CD2 = 72:10 Genre Jpop Format CD …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ayumi Hamasaki — Ayumi Hamasaki, Mars 2007 Nom 濱崎 歩/あゆみ, Hamasaki Ayumi Naissance 2  …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ayumi hamasaki RMX Works from Cyber Trance presents ayu Trance 3 — Album par Ayumi Hamasaki Sortie 25 septembre 2003 Enregistrement 2003 Durée 56:09 Genre …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ayumi hamasaki RMX Works from Super Eurobeat presents ayu-ro mix 3 — Album par Ayumi Hamasaki Sortie 25 septembre 2003 Enregistrement 2003 Durée 1:12:32 Genre …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ayumi hamasaki RMX Works from ayu-mi-x 5 non stop mega mix — Album par Ayumi Hamasaki Sortie 25 septembre 2003 Enregistrement 2003 Durée 1:07:32 Genre …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ayumi Hamasaki — Datos generales Nombre real 濱崎 歩 はまさき あゆみ Hamasaki Ayumi …   Wikipedia Español

  • Ayumi Hamasaki — in Taiwan Ayumi Hamasaki (jap. 浜崎 あゆみ oder 浜崎 歩, Hamasaki Ayumi; * 2. Oktober 1978 in Fukuoka, Präfektur Fukuoka) ist eine der erfolgreichsten J Pop Sängerinnen. Auch bekannt unter dem Kürzel Ayu, gehört …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”