A Best
''A Best'' (stylized as ''BEST'') is the first greatest hits album by Japanese singer-songwriter Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released on March 28, 2001, by Avex Trax and Avex Music Creative Inc. Hamasaki had originally planned to release the greatest hits album after her 2002 studio album '' I Am...'', but the idea was denied by Avex head staff. Instead, Avex released the album in 2001, which caused conflict between the label and Hamasaki. The compilation was released in two different formats including a physical and a digital release. Seven different artworks were released in several editions of the album. The album includes one new track, three re-recorded tracks, and the rest of previously released singles. ''A Best'' was appreciated by contemporary critics who noted the quality and memorability of the tracks. Many also labeled the album as one of the best representations of Japanese pop music. Released purposely against fellow Japanese musician Hikaru Utada's studio album ''Dista ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Ayu Symbol , a Japanese name
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Ayu or AYU may refer to: * Ayu (given name) * Ayu sweetfish (''Plecoglossus altivelis''), a species of smelt * ''Ayu'', a local name for the African manatee * Ayu (singer) or Ayumi Hamasaki, Japanese singer * Ayu Islands, a small archipelago in Indonesia * Ayu, Dawei, a village in Burma * Ayu language, a language of Nigeria * Aiyura Airport, IATA code AYU See also * Ayu-Dag, a peak in Crimea, Ukraine * Ayumi is a feminine Japanese given name. It is rarely used as a surname. Possible writings Ayumi can be written using different kanji characters and can mean: *歩み, "course" "walking" "progress" ;as a given name *歩, "progress", "walking", "a step" ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Utada Hikaru 2004
Utada (written: 宇多田) is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Hikaru Utada, singer-songwriter who has also gone by the stage names of "Cubic U", "Utada Hikaru", and simply "Utada". * Teruzane Utada (born 1948), a record producer, father of Hikaru Utada. * Junko Utada (1951–2013), singer and actress, mother of Hikaru Utada, who has gone by the stage name of "Keiko Fuji". Fictional characters: * Susumu and Tsuyoshi Utada, from the anime ''Machine Robo Rescue is a 2003 Japanese mecha anime television series produced by Sunrise. It's the third incarnation of the ''Machine Robo'' anime trilogy, which is based on the toyline by PLEX and Bandai. It is directed by Mamoru Kanbe (''Cardcaptor Sakura'') and ...'' {{surname, Utada Japanese-language surnames ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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A (EP)
A (stylized as ) is an extended play (EP) by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released by Avex Trax in Japan and Hong Kong on August 11, 1999, in 10 different editions, and through Avex Entertainment Inc. worldwide in September 2008. It additionally served as a single from her second studio album ''Loveppears'' (1999), and is her first single marketed as an EP. The 12-track EP contains four new original songs: "Monochrome", "Too Late", "Trauma", and "End Roll", and eight remixes. All songs were written by Hamasaki, while production was handled by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. Musically, like ''Loveppears'', ''A'' is a pop rock album with dance music influences. Lyrically, the new songs are written from a Narration#Third-person, third-person perspective, and deal with themes such as nostalgia, anxiety, and trauma. Upon release, ''A'' received favorable reviews from Music journalism, music critics for its individual tracks—some of which were highlighted as ex ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Whatever (Ayumi Hamasaki Song)
"Whatever" (capitalized as "WHATEVER") is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki for her second studio album, ''Loveppears'' (1999). It was written by Hamasaki, while production was handled by Max Matsuura. The track is Hamasaki's sixth single with Matsuura since her debut single in April 1998, " Poker Face". "Whatever" premiered on February 10, 1999 as the lead single from the album. It was re-released on February 28, 2001 as a CD single. Musically, "Whatever" was described as a dance song, and is written in third person narrative. Upon its release, the track garnered mixed reviews from music critics. Critics praised Hamasaki's move from pop rock to dance music, but criticized her vocal delivery and song writing. It also achieved success in Japan, peaking at number five on the Japanese Oricon Singles Chart. The re-released single peaked at number 28 on the same chart. As of March 2016, "Whatever" has sold over 218,000 units in Japan alone and was certified gol ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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For My Dear
"For My Dear..." is the fourth single released by Ayumi Hamasaki on October 7, 1998. Track listing # "For My Dear..." # "For My Dear..." (Acoustic Version) # "For My Dear..." (Instrumental) Re-release This single was re-released on February 28, 2001, including four new songs. Track listing # "For My Dear..." # "For My Dear..." (Acoustic Version) # "A Song for ××" (she shell Reproduction) # "Friend II" (Jazzy Jet Mix) # "As if…" (dub's L.B.M remix) # "For My Dear..." (Inst.) # "For My Dear..." (Acoustic Version Inst.) Live performances *October 9, 1998 - Super Dream Live - For My Dear... *October 17, 1998 - Pop Jam - For My Dear... *October 24, 1998 - Countdown TV - For My Dear... *October 30, 1998 - Music Station - For My Dear... *November 9, 1998 - Hey! Hey! Hey! - For My Dear... Music video The music video of For My Dear... was directed by Odagami Hiromitsu. The video features Hamasaki sitting in a bar watching people come and go. The video then follows a few of the vi ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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You (Ayumi Hamasaki Song)
"You" is the second single by Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released on June 10, 1998. Track listing # "You" # "You" (acoustic version) # "You" (instrumental) Re-release This single was re-released on February 28, 2001, featuring four new songs. Track listing # "You" # "You" (acoustic version) # "Wishing" (Taku's Chemistry mix) # "You" (Masters of Funk R&B remix) # "You" (Orienta-Rhythm club mix) # "You" (Dub's Uplifting mix) # "You" (instrumental) Live performances *June 6, 1998 - Utaban - You *June 19, 1998 - Music Station - You *June 20, 1998 - Pop Jam - You *December 25, 1998 - Music Station - You *December 14, 2002 - Ayuready? - You Music video The music video for "You" was directed by Takeishi Wataru. The video shows Hamasaki in different colored rooms. In each room something different is happening such as apples falling to the floor, Hamasaki playing a miniature piano, and her eating spaghetti. At the end of the video Hamasaki walks outside revealing a large house on the beac ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Poker Face (Ayumi Hamasaki Song)
"Poker Face" (Japanese: ポーカー・フェイス; stylized as "poker face") is the debut single by Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki for her album ''A Song for ××''. It was released under Avex Trax on 8 April 1998. Hamasaki wrote the lyrics and Yasuhiko Hoshino composed the music. The song peaked at number 20 on the Japanese Singles Chart and was certified as Gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). The song was re-released in 2001. Chart performance "Poker Face" entered at #20 on the charts with 11,520 units sold in its opening week and charted for six weeks. The single sold a total of 43,140 copies. The single was certified Gold by the RIAJ. Music video The music video for "Poker Face" was directed by Takeishi Wataru. The video focuses on Hamasaki standing in front of a large tree filled with television monitors that show her in various locations. It also shows her playing with animals. Promotion The song was used as the opening theme of a Japanese TV sho ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Loveppears
''Loveppears'' (stylized as ''LOVEppears'') is the second studio album by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released in Japan, Hong Kong and China on November 10, 1999 through Avex Trax and the China Record Corporation, and distributed worldwide on April 10, 2001 by Avex Entertainment Inc. It was entirely written by Hamasaki herself, while the production was handled by Japanese musician Max Matsuura. Musically, ''Loveppears'' is a dance album and lyrically focuses on themes of love, frustration of life, loneliness, and individualism. Upon its release, ''Loveppears'' received favorable reviews from music critics. Many of those highlighted the singles as some of her best work, and complimented the transition from Hamasaki's previous pop rock-inspired music to dance. Commercially, the album was a success in Japan, reaching the top of the Oricon Albums Chart and eventually sold over 2.6 million units there, making it the 40th best selling album in that region. It was ce ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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A Song For ××
''A Song for ××'' (the "××" is silent) is the debut album by Japanese pop artist Ayumi Hamasaki, released January 1, 1999, by Avex Trax. Primarily a rock-pop album, it features musical composition and arrangements by Yasuhiko Hoshino, Mitsuru Igarashi, and others. " Poker Face" was released as the album's lead single on April 8, 1998. Entering the Oricon chart at number twenty, it became her first charting single. Four further singles were released to promote A Song for ××: "You", "Trust", " For My Dear...", and Depend on You "Depend on You" is the fifth single released by Ayumi Hamasaki on December 9, 1998. The single reached number nine on the weekly Oricon chart, becoming her third consecutive top-ten single in Japan. The single contains a B-side, "Two of Us", whic ...". All of them were top twenty hits in Japan, with the latter three reaching the top ten. The album debuted atop the Oricon Charts with first week sales of 548,210 copies; it topped the chart for five ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Google Books
Google Books (previously known as Google Book Search, Google Print, and by its code-name Project Ocean) is a service from Google Inc. that searches the full text of books and magazines that Google has scanned, converted to text using optical character recognition (OCR), and stored in its digital database.The basic Google book link is found at: https://books.google.com/ . The "advanced" interface allowing more specific searches is found at: https://books.google.com/advanced_book_search Books are provided either by publishers and authors through the Google Books Partner Program, or by Google's library partners through the Library Project. Additionally, Google has partnered with a number of magazine publishers to digitize their archives. The Publisher Program was first known as Google Print when it was introduced at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October 2004. The Google Books Library Project, which scans works in the collections of library partners and adds them to the digital invent ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Billboard (magazine)
''Billboard'' (stylized as ''billboard'') is an American music and entertainment magazine published weekly by Penske Media Corporation. The magazine provides music charts, news, video, opinion, reviews, events, and style related to the music industry. Its music charts include the Hot 100, the 200, and the Global 200, tracking the most popular albums and songs in different genres of music. It also hosts events, owns a publishing firm, and operates several TV shows. ''Billboard'' was founded in 1894 by William Donaldson and James Hennegan as a trade publication for bill posters. Donaldson later acquired Hennegan's interest in 1900 for $500. In the early years of the 20th century, it covered the entertainment industry, such as circuses, fairs, and burlesque shows, and also created a mail service for travelling entertainers. ''Billboard'' began focusing more on the music industry as the jukebox, phonograph, and radio became commonplace. Many topics it covered were spun-off ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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South China Morning Post
The ''South China Morning Post'' (''SCMP''), with its Sunday edition, the ''Sunday Morning Post'', is a Hong Kong-based English-language newspaper owned by Alibaba Group. Founded in 1903 by Tse Tsan-tai and Alfred Cunningham, it has remained Hong Kong's newspaper of record since British colonial rule. Editor-in-chief Tammy Tam succeeded Wang Xiangwei in 2016. The ''SCMP'' prints paper editions in Hong Kong and operates an online news website. The newspaper's circulation has been relatively stable for years—the average daily circulation stood at 100,000 in 2016. In a 2019 survey by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the ''SCMP'' was regarded relatively as the most credible paid newspaper in Hong Kong. The ''SCMP'' was owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation from 1986 until it was acquired by Malaysian real estate tycoon Robert Kuok in 1993. On 5 April 2016, Alibaba Group acquired the media properties of the SCMP Group, including the ''SCMP''. In January 2017, former D ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |