Ayumi Hamasaki 2007
On February 28, 2007, Hamasaki released two compilation albums entitled A Best 2 -Black- and A Best 2 -White-. They were both released as Limited edition 1CD+2DVD-packages, as well as a normal edition 1CD package. A Best 2 -Black- includes a new song entitled part of Me, which was featured in a Panasonic commercial. The backstage footage of her Best of Countdown Live 2006–2007 A is included on the DVD for the Black edition, as well the promotional videos or clips for the songs included. The white edition of A Best 2 features live footage of her CDL 2006–2007, and promotional clips for the respective songs on the album.
From March to the end of June, Hamasaki held an Asia tour, Tour of Secret, visiting not only Japan, but also Taiwan, Shanghai and Hong Kong. According to her official fanclub Teamayu, the Japanese version of the tour will promote her album Secret, while the ones held in the respective countries will feature older songs.
The concert was already highly anticipated, since it was her first time holding a live performance outside of Japan. As a result, tickets for the Taiwan concert sold out in less than two hours. Similarly, tickets sold out in less than three hours for her Hong Kong concert and less than six ours for her Shanghai concert.
On the release day of A Best 2, the -Black- version reached the top position on the Oricon Charts while the -White- version reached number two. By the 2nd day, both versions switched positions as -White- claimed the top position while the -Black- got the number-two position. A Best 2 first-day sales totaled about 170,000 copies.
The first-week sales figures of A Best 2 (-Black and -White together) gained a total of 950,000 copies. -White- version sales totaled to 475,284 and -Black- version sales totaled to 470,057, while holding the first and second positions of the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart. Also, both of the CDs held the top positions of the United World Charts. Both albums reached the number three & number four positions on the Oricon Yearly Albums Chart.
In addition to being the first female artist in 36 years to hold the top two positions on the Oricon album charts, Hamasaki is the only artist ever to hold the top two positions on the United World Charts with her albums
|