A Best 2is a two-partgreatest hitsalbum by Japanese singerAyumi Hamasaki.Both albums, titledBlackandWhite,were released on 28 February 2007 on various formats byAvex Trax.Produced byMax Matsuura,they follow Hamasaki'scompilation albumA Best,which was released in March 2001.A Best 2areconcept albums,withBlackfocusing on darker and more serious tones andWhiteon lighter and more upbeat themes. The albums contain 31 songs, including an unreleased track titled "Part of Me" on theBlackedition, that were released between the periods of her albumsI Am...(2002) and(Miss)understood(2006).
Music criticspraisedA Best 2for its themes andHamasaki's music catalogue.The albums were commercially successful in Japan.Whitedebuted at number one on theOricon Albums Chart,whileBlackstalled at second place. Both records were among the best-selling albums of the year, and were certified triple platinum by theRecording 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 100,000ringtonedownloads. To promote the albums, Hamasaki went onthree different concert toursacross Asia and received additional live DVD releases.
In January 2007, Hamasaki announced on her website that she planned to release twogreatest hitsalbums, titledA Best 2(individually referenced asBlackandWhite). BothBlackandWhiteare direct follow-ups to Hamasaki'scompilation 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 herballad-inspired collectionA 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 2are concept albums, withBlackfocusing on darker and more serious tones andWhiteon lighter and more upbeat themes.[4]BlackandWhitefeatures 31 songs from Hamasaki's single releases between her albumsI Am...(2002) and(Miss)understood(2005). They both include tracks that were not released as singles;Blackincludes "Walking Proud," "About You," and a new recording called "Part of Me," whileWhitefeatures "Humming 7/4" and "My Name's Woman."[5][6]Additionally, the song "Memorial Address" was added as ahidden tracktoBlack.[5]
A Best 2was released on various formats on 28 February 2007 byAvex Trax.[5][6]The standard release of bothBlackandWhitecomes in ajewel casethat includes separate content. Each album's double-DVDversion comes in adouble packagingthat 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 2was distributed oncassette tape.[9]Avex Trax later released bothA Best 2albums in CD and DVD formats across Asia, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China.[a]
A Best 2received positive feedback from the Japanesemusic publicationCDJournal,which reviewed each album individually. The review praisedBlackfor featuring "dramatic" ballads in the first half and primarilyrock musicin 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 forWhitepraised songs like "Evolution"and"Grateful Days"for being a" positive "aspect to the record, as well as how well the album complementBlack.[18]
A Best 2achieved commercial success in Japan.Whitedebuted at the top of theOricon Daily and Weekly Album Chart,selling 475,284 copies in its first week, whileBlackdebuted 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 JapaneseenkasingerKeiko Fuji.[20]By the end of 207, both albums were high-sellers:Whitefinished fifth on the Oricon Year-end Chart with 717,501 units sold, whileBlackcame in seventh with 698,591 copies.[21]TheRecording Industry Association of Japan(RIAJ) certified both albums triple platinum for exceeding 750,000 units.[22][23]In February 2009, Avex Trax announced in theirfinancial reportthatA Best 2had sold two million combined shipments across the country.[24]
Although nosingleswere released from the album, the track "Part of Me" received amusic video,which was included on the album's DVD formats.[7]The song was featured inPanasoniccommercials promoting theLumixFX30digital camera,which was distributed in Japan.[17]The song was also certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for exceeding 100,000ringtonedownloads.[25]
Hamasaki went on three different concert tours to promoteA 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 ofBlackandWhite.[7][8]The second was herSecret Tour,which also promoted herstudio 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 secondBest Countdown show,which was recorded live and released on 18 June 2008.[27]
