A Best 2 is a two-part greatest hits album by Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki. Both albums, titled Black and White, were released on 28 February 2007 on various formats by Avex Trax. Produced by Max Matsuura, they follow Hamasaki's compilation albumA Best, which was released in March 2001. "A Best 2" are concept albums, with Black focusing on darker and more serious tones and White on lighter and more upbeat themes. The albums contain 31 songs, including an unreleased track titled "Part of Me" on the Black edition, that were released between the periods of her albums I Am... (2002) and (Miss)understood (2006).
Music critics praised A Best 2 for its themes and Hamasaki's music catalogue. The albums were commercially successful in Japan. White debuted at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart, while Black stalled at second place. Both records were among the best-selling albums of the year, and were certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of 750,000 units. There were no singles from the album, but "Part of Me" was certified gold by RIAJ for exceeding 100,000 ringtone downloads. To promote the albums, Hamasaki went on three different concert tours across Asia and received additional live DVD releases.
In January 2007, Hamasaki announced on her website that she planned to release two greatest hits albums, titled A Best 2 (individually referenced as Black and White). Both Black and White are direct follow-ups to Hamasaki's compilation albumA Best, which debuted in March 2001 to immense commercial success.[1] It is also Hamasaki's third and fourth compilation album, released four years after her ballad-inspired collection A Ballads (2003).[2] On 17 January, Hamasaki published additional information about both albums, including the album's content, formats, and promotional activities.[3]
A Best 2 are concept albums, with Black focusing on darker and more serious tones and White on lighter and more upbeat themes.[4]Black and White features 31 songs from Hamasaki's single releases between her albums I Am... (2002) and (Miss)understood (2005). They both include tracks that were not released as singles; Black includes "Walking Proud," "About You," and a new recording called "Part of Me," while White features "Humming 7/4" and "My Name's Woman."[5][6] Additionally, the song "Memorial Address" was added as a hidden track to Black.[5]
A Best 2 was released on various formats on 28 February 2007 by Avex Trax.[5][6] The standard release of both Black and White comes in a jewel case that includes separate content. Each album's double-DVD version comes in a double packaging that includes the CD, music videos and visuals from each album, as well as a live DVD from Hamasaki's Best Countdown show, which features different performances.[7][8] In Indonesia, A Best 2 was distributed on cassette tape.[9] Avex Trax later released both A Best 2 albums in CD and DVD formats across Asia, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China.[a]
A Best 2 received positive feedback from the Japanese music publicationCDJournal, which reviewed each album individually. The review praised Black for featuring "dramatic" ballads in the first half and primarily rock music in the second half. The publication also highlighted "Heaven" and "Part of Me" for concluding the album with "expressive" vocals from Hamasaki.[17] The second review for White praised songs like "Evolution" and "Grateful Days" for being a "positive" aspect to the record, as well as how well the album complement Black.[18]
A Best 2 achieved commercial success in Japan. White debuted at the top of the Oricon Daily and Weekly Album Chart, selling 475,284 copies in its first week, while Black debuted and stalled at number two, selling 470,057 units.[19][20] Hamasaki became the first female artist in 37 years to occupy both top positions, a record previously held by Japanese enka singer Keiko Fuji.[20] By the end of 207, both albums were high-sellers: White finished fifth on the Oricon Year-end Chart with 717,501 units sold, while Black came in seventh with 698,591 copies.[21] The Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) certified both albums triple platinum for exceeding 750,000 units.[22][23] In February 2009, Avex Trax announced in their financial report that A Best 2 had sold two million combined shipments across the country.[24]
Although no singles were released from the album, the track "Part of Me" received a music video, which was included on the album's DVD formats.[7] The song was featured in Panasonic commercials promoting the Lumix FX30 digital camera, which was distributed in Japan.[17] The song was also certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for exceeding 100,000 ringtone downloads.[25]
Hamasaki went on three different concert tours to promote A Best 2. Her first tour was the annual Best Countdown show, which took her through Japan. The live release was divided between the DVD version of Black and White.[7][8] The second was her Secret Tour, which also promoted her studio albumSecret (2006). The tour, which began on 10 March 2007, and ended in mid-June of that year, took her throughout Japan, including her first appearances in Taiwan and China. Asia Tour 2007: Tour of Secret, a live DVD, was released on 12 March 2008.[26] Her final tour was her second Best Countdown show, which was recorded live and released on 18 June 2008.[27]
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