| Next Level | ||||
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| Studio album by Ayumi Hamasaki | ||||
| Released | March 25, 2009 | |||
| Recorded | 2008-2009 | |||
| Genre | Pop, Electropop, Electronica, Synthrock, Rock | |||
| Length | 51:45 (CD) 71:39 (Bonus disc) |
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| Label | Avex Trax | |||
| Producer | Max Matsuura | |||
| Professional reviews | ||||
| Ayumi Hamasaki chronology | ||||
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| Alternate covers | ||||
CD+DVD Cover
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| 2CD+DVD Cover | ||||
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| USB Flash Drive Cover | ||||
| Singles from Next Level | ||||
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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.[1] 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.[2][3] 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.[3] The flash drive edition is priced at ¥6800 (approximately USD$68).[2]
The album is certified Double Platinum for shipment of 500,000 copies .
Contents |
Promotion
"Green," the second a-side from the first single, was used to promote Panasonic's Lumix FX 37.[4] The title track, "Next Level," is currently[update] being used in Panasonic's Lumix FX 40 commercial[5] while "Rule," from the album's second single, is the international theme song for the film Dragonball Evolution.[6] Additionally, "Sparkle" is used in advertisements for the Honda Zest Spark.[7]
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.[8][9][10]
Track list
All lyrics written by Ayumi Hamasaki.
| CD | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Title | Music | Length | ||||||
| 1. | "Bridge to the Sky" | Yuuta Nakano | 1:43 | ||||||
| 2. | "Next Level" | D.A.I | 4:30 | ||||||
| 3. | "Disco-munication" | CMJK | 1:32 | ||||||
| 4. | "Energize" | Yuuta Nakano | 4:31 | ||||||
| 5. | "Sparkle" | Kazuhiro Hara | 4:30 | ||||||
| 6. | "Rollin'" | Yuuta Nakano | 5:04 | ||||||
| 7. | "Green" | Tetsuya Yukumi | 4:49 | ||||||
| 8. | "Load of the Shugyo" | CMJK | 1:32 | ||||||
| 9. | "Identity" | Yuuta Nakano | 4:19 | ||||||
| 10. | "Rule" | Miki Watanabe | 4:06 | ||||||
| 11. | "Love 'n' Hate" | Yuuta Nakano | 3:51 | ||||||
| 12. | "Pieces of Seven" | Hal | 2:31 | ||||||
| 13. | "Days" | Kunio Tago | 5:03 | ||||||
| 14. | "Curtain Call" | Kazuhiro Hara | 3:44 | ||||||
| Premium Countdown 2008-2009 Live CD | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Title | Length | |||||||
| 1. | "Green" | ||||||||
| 2. | "Will" | ||||||||
| 3. | "End of the World" | ||||||||
| 4. | "Heartplace" | ||||||||
| 5. | "And Then" | ||||||||
| 6. | "Naturally" | ||||||||
| 7. | "Powder Snow" | ||||||||
| 8. | "Hope or Pain" | ||||||||
| 9. | "Over" | ||||||||
| 10. | "Scar" | ||||||||
| 11. | "Signal" | ||||||||
| 12. | "Hana" | ||||||||
| 13. | "Too Late" | ||||||||
| 14. | "Everywhere Nowhere" | ||||||||
| 15. | "Days" | ||||||||
| 16. | "For My Dear..." | ||||||||
| DVD | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Title | Length | |||||||
| 1. | "Days (Video Clip)" | ||||||||
| 2. | "Green (Video Clip)" | ||||||||
| 3. | "Rule (Video Clip)" | ||||||||
| 4. | "Sparkle (Video Clip)" | ||||||||
| 5. | "Next Level (Video Clip)" | ||||||||
| 6. | "Curtain Call (Video Clip)" | ||||||||
| 7. | "Days (Making Clip)" | ||||||||
| 8. | "Green (Making Clip)" | ||||||||
| 9. | "Rule (Making Clip)" | ||||||||
| 10. | "Sparkle (Making Clip)" | ||||||||
| 11. | "Next Level (Making Clip)" | ||||||||
| 12. | "Curtain Call (Making Clip)" | ||||||||
Charts
| Chart | Peak Position | Sales Total | Chart Run |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oricon Daily Chart | 1 | 27 weeks | |
| Oricon Weekly Chart | 1 | 240,810 | |
| Oricon Monthly Chart | 1 | 377,872 | |
| Oricon Yearly Chart | 16 | 377,872 |
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
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