Utada’s official website has been updated with the final tracklist for her upcoming “Single Collection Vol. 2″ best album. Disc 1 of the collection is in reverse chronological order, while Disc 2 contains all 5 new tracks. First Press editions include a 3-fold paper sleeve and case, along with a Kuma amulet/good luck charm, plus a chance for 1000 fans to win tickets to Utada’s upcoming concert.
October 3, 2010
30
Utada Hikaru (JPN)
“Single Collection Vol. 2″ Tracklist and Cover Revealed; First Press Details
Wow..嵐の女神 definitely a very interesting track title. And i just realised every single previously released single in there is associated with something…and the cover art. Is that for real??
I’m stoked but I wonder if that cover is the real thing? It looks nice and all but I wanted something with a profile shot of Hikki or something.
SOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!! This is gonna be so sweet!
Ahh. I hope my aunt would be able to get me that Kuma charm.
Can’t wait to hear the new songs. Yay!
When I first saw the cover I was like “Er, that’s the cover right? That’s it? Nothing else?” LOL. I mean, I love stars and all but I wasn’t expecting that though. Haha! Maybe it’ll look awesome on the physical CD.
Does anyone know if you can order this, or any other of Utada’s CDs at HMV?
Well, there’s not a total of 15 tracks on disc one like there was last time, which is rather predictable but still slightly disappointing all the same (and only because Fight the Blues and Eternally -Drama Mix- were much more successful and overall better songs than the BW Acoustica remix)…but that can be forgiven in due time if it blows up the charts like I know her record label and everyone is bidding it will!
I don’t know really what to think about the cover quite yet though (maybe the website is having some uploading trouble with all the graphics or they haven’t finished those two new photoshoots yet). If the latter’s the case, then, we’ll actually have a sleu of new Hikki pics to glamorize over (and maybe two new PVs as a last minute inclusion). The Kuma Chang amulet and three-fold paper case sound awesome though, and I’m definitely punped to hear the five new songs (Storm Goddess, Show Me Love (Not a Dream)-it made the cut!-,Goodbye Happiness,Hymne a Lamour~Ai No Anthem~, and Can’t Wait ‘Till Christmas!) Those are her most bohemian song titles in a while, if ever, I really can’t wait to hear the full versions of the first three and numero cinco!)
P.S.-You can (and hopefully will) pre-order the Single Collection Volume #2 pretty much everywhere where J-pop CDs are available or sold (as well buy as anything else Hikki-related). Keep in mind though that only J-Book, HMV Japan, Amazon Japan, and Neowing/CD Japan will count towards her Oricon ranks and total units sold (YesAsia is a non-Japan based website and a Hong Kong warehouse, explaining why their International shipping is free and overlall pricing much more competitive than the average vendor)!
Thanks for the advice BluesFighter09! I definitely have to think about that where I buy it as well. I doubt I’ll be able to get my parents to buy me it online, and so I would have to use my own money to buy it from HMV. However, that’s such a shame that it will not count towards her sales! We’ll see. Either way, I really want this. I usually get her albums from friends who go overseas and buy them for me (extremely kind of them, aha they both told me to shut up about thanking them)
I too am extremely excited about these new tracks. It will probably the first album of hers that I receive that I will not have listened to any of the songs. The torture of not being able to do so will almost kill me. xD
[...] U.Blog, Utada’s Official Twitter [...]
“I regret the way we displayed the cover of the new album on the EMI website. It fails to convey the beauty and coolness of the real thing.”…
“I think this could be the best designed album I’ve ever had, especially the first-run limited edition. Even putting aside the Kuma Charm
”…
Those were the two latest quotes from Utada official Twitter account, so I wouldn’t get too choked up about what we were previewed now until we get our hands on that physical copy. And you know if she feels like its the best designed one of her career thus far, than we really got something we don’t want to miss on the horizon! I did want to ask though, did anybody know who or what she was talking to or about in this latest tweet?…”Yes, the Kuma charm is largely my design
RT @cheebert: I’m excited to see the album! Will the Kuma Charm be designed by you?”
(about 1 hour ago via web)
This was posted by Utada on her Twitter:
“I regret the way we displayed the cover of the new album on the EMI website. It fails to convey the beauty and coolness of the real thing.”
AND
“I think this could be the best designed album I’ve ever had, especially the first-run limited edition. Even putting aside the Kuma Charm (:”
So that Starry Night display ISN’T the cover, but based on what Utada said, it looks like the cover will be some type of DESIGN and not a FACE SHOT of herself, which only her STUDIO ALBUMS deserve and warrant so thank god.
No idea if I’ll pre-order, but having actual new track titles is finally getting me more excited.
I’ll give the “Video Shoots” some thought once Utada and her team give me a reason to be excited about her Music Videos again…..if that’s even what they are.
Considering that “Storm” from the X-Men is my favorite and the title “Storm Goddess” lacks that humbleness that Utada is known for (Exudes A Since Awe & Wonder and sounds like something off of “ULTRA BLUE”), I’m rather hopeful for how it will turn out based on nothing but the Title and my imagination. If she does do a PV or two, I hope this gets one if it turns out how I’m imagining it.
Because “Show Me Love” is there, I’m assuming Utada may not have had this all planned…..or maybe she did.
Back in 2008 she said she was working on Japanese Material and then later “Show Me Love” appeared on that Mixer’s site and then taken down so maybe she changed her mind about releasing some Japanese stuff in 2008 and/or 2009 or she knew what she was doing all along and the Mixer’s site made the mistake.
Meh, I’m hating the Christmas title though. That has the potential to sound all cheesy and Christmasy and nothing like Utada’s work. God forbid it’s another freaking cover.
Either way I’m finally excited about music again and glad to have something that I care enough to have an opinion about……unlike what’s been raping the Japanese Music scene as of late.
We all need an Utada CLEANSE. I’ve been feeling so dirty since 2008 ended.
The starry night photo is the cover. There’s probably just some treatment to it that doesn’t translate well on screen, much like the Utada United 2006 DVD packaging, which is why Utada mentions she’s not happy with how it’s displayed on the EMI site.
Well, I’m glad the tracklist is released. The cover is rather interesting as well.
These new tracks have quite the interesting titles. Can’t wait to hear them.
Well if it is the Cover, then there’s more than likely a Constellation in there we can’t make out.
I see some stars stand out and are brighter than others so I’m sure there’s a picture in there somewhere.
Either way, no face shot, so I’m happy. A constellation of Utada’s face would be nice though.
Perhaps since this is a COLLECTION of Utada’s Singles, parallels are being drawn with the Collection of Stars on the Cover. Maybe the bright Stars will have a Song Title next to them and that will be the tracklist.
Does anybody have any speculations as to what thw two new video filmings and photoshoots are going to have to do with SIngle Collection Vol. 2 now that it’s been revelaed in its finalized form? I was hoping they’d be music videos to some of the new tracks and more photos of Hikki to be included in like a bonus first presss extended photobook (kind of like the one Ayumi did for her ‘(Miss)understood’ album with ‘On My Way’ and ‘Off My Day’ in the CD and CD+DVD versions). I’m fine if there nothing more than commercials for her upcoming concert and the album’s release but it sure would be nice to see her in a legit new PV singing the full version of one of those Disc 2 songs…
Same as everyone..I am excited to hear them!
Im super excited the track titles sound awesome. And the cover is pretty but i hope there is something else to it. from what Hikki says it seems that there will be
Pre-ordered
is 3-fold paper sleeve and case, along with a Kuma amulet/good luck charm are included when you buy a cd ? well best wishes luck to all getting free ticket
that will be a christmas gift to me if i win a ticket hehehe…
i already envy those thousands of fans who will win the concert tix.. T.T (arg! will overseas fans get to win those tix?)
I also kind of questioned the song “Can’t Wait ‘Til Christmas”.. hmm.. idk.. doesn’t sound like Hikki.. but I think it’ll be a great kick to the new songs.. Hikki always have a great ending songs to her albums..
I kinda accepted that Eternally -Drama Mix- is not there since it is a recording that she did in her DiSTANCE era, it will not represent Hikki’s growth.. But Fight the Blues.. i still wished that it was included.. but maybe, just maybe, if FtB is included, it may kinda sound like the first half of Heart Station album.. oh well..
about the album cover.. i was really shocked about the news and since i was in a hurry when i read it, i really didn’t care about the cover.. and since everyone’s talking about it, i checked it out again.. and i said “huh?” haha! but it actually reminded me of my made-up music video of TAKE 5! haha! Inner Rise’s thought is a very cool idea.. but what i first thought about it is a panoramic photo of Hikki with stars at the background.. (since it reminded me of my made up MV) kind of the Sakura Drops cover that if you unfold it, it just extends the front picture..
and uughh.. I’m dying to hear her new songs… btw, I liked the Hymne à l’amour.. and i actually listened the original one.. it was not my type but i think it was a really good song in its time..
(waw.. ang haba..)
Okay, this is English Wikipedia’s featured article for the day (Proxima Centauri)! I saw it and I immediately thought of the album cover for Single Collection Voume #2…I’m not for certain if this inspired her and the staff to select it, but it would make sense since its Latin for ‘next’ or ‘nearest to’! I was thinking since it was the star nearest to our Sun and was a prime asset to the Centaurus constellation, maybe this second compilation of singles is, metaphorically speaking, the closest to Hikki’s artistry or personal life we’ve yet to see? Like that adolescence poem she wrote for her previous one, maybe she’ll have a new self-penned piece about being on that ‘verge of inner adulthood’ that she says has been stunted because of the fatigue and attention she’s had in making music. This is all of course just speculation and interpretation, but it’d be interesting to see what she says about the cover art and her views on her career accomplishments up until this point in an upcoming press interview or blog…
Check out this link!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxima_Centauri
By the way, for those concerned about their purchase counting towards the Oricon and whether or not they should buy from YesAsia, this news was released last year:
“YesAsia.com is an official sales data provider to the music sales charts reported by Oricon Inc. The fulfilled sale quantities of all Japan Version CD, DVD, and Blu-ray music products at YesAsia.com are reported to Oricon on a weekly basis, and reflected in the Oricon music charts. These sales data are confidential, and will not be available to the public.”
And for completions sake:
“YesAsia.com is proud to be an official Oricon Chart Partner Shop. Whenever you purchase Japan Version CD, DVD, and Blu-ray music titles at YesAsia.com, you’re helping your favorite artists to top music charts in Japan as we report all Japan Version music sale.”
Considering YesAsia is cheaper and you have the opportunity to be eligible for free shipping, I’ve since dropped CDJapan long ago. CDJapan is just TOO MUCH. I feel like I’m purchasing 1 item for the price of 2 after shipping has been calculated in at CDJapan…….and that’s still the case after I add in my accumulated points for price reduction. No Thanks.
I think I just saw Kuma Chang on the ablum cover…..
The album on pre-order @ CD Japan is $37.34 and $37.99 @ Yesasia. com; both of them have the first press available still as of writing and likely will leading up to the last day before November 24th. The only difference between the two really is that Yesasia.com has free International shipping, and might cost you up $20-60 additionally from CD Japan depending on the items and weight, which has been my experience. Yes both of them count towards Oricon sales, but keep in mind that because Yesasia’s shipping International is free, they deliver MUCH slower to international orders as well (I know this personally first hand from when I bought ULTRA BLUE!) In the end, its just a matter of preference where you get them from and the resources you have to work with, the important thing is that as many of us here purchase and get a copy as soon as possible to help her top out the 2010 Yearly Oricon Album ranks!…
I suppose it’s possible there’s something written in the stars, but my guess is that some of them are bigger/brighter than the others simply to give a sense of depth.
Really excited for new music! Storm Goddess… wow! 0_0
I think the “Can’t Wait Till Christmas” song is the one that utada mentioned she was trying to write; a song that voiced her feelings on the matter of her hiatus, as it’s really near the end of her ‘artist’ year, until 2-5 years from now. But I’m not sure. I’m excited though.
I’ve just been to Yesasia.com right now.
It says that the album contains the kuma amulet but it doesn’t say it is first press, but CD Japan does say first press.So I was wondering wether or not buying from Yesasia.com will give me a chance to get at the free ticket or not?
Does anyone know?
^Wondering the same
^FOr everyone that honestly can’t figure this out, the first-press edition is available at YesAsia.com, CD Japan,a nd every other online store. They, like the actual stores and purchase venues in Japan, will order or have pre-ordered a set number of CDs from Utada’s record label; first-pressing means that once it’s out, it’s OBJECTIVELY gone, meaning that you’ll have to peddle Ebay or some sort of street/underground/independent dealer or person to get those FIRST PRESS edition extras (photos,amulets,bonus tracks,music video/performance DVD, whatever)!…
Since Utada’s Japanese releases are quite known and occasionally feared for their explosive first week sales in comparison to the average J-pop act, it would be a good idea to pre-order this as soon as you can. The first-pressing editions from any one online business that’s legitimate will be sold and shipped IN THE EXACT ORDER THAT THEY RECEIVE A REQUEST (no exceptions or bending the rules here)! SO if you want that amulet and three-fold you’d be a wise person to find some legal way of getting the funds to do so by or before November 23rd (it’ll surely be sold out in some places simply for the fact this is her pre-sabbatical encore album).
P.S.-if your’re NOT a resident or have a residence (regardless of ethnicity or nationality) in Japan, you are not able to enter the lottery for her 2-day concert. Just go to the new page for it and translate it with Google Language Tools to prove it to yourself. Plus, by the time you receive SCV2 in the mail, it would be too late for anyone outside of Japan to apply (the lottery application deadline is November 28th their time zone, and the album won’t even ship anywhere until the exact set date by the label, which is November 24th. Unless you’ve got a friend or someone in Japan who can grab a first press album before the crazed masses in those borders and apply for you, you’re not going to see this thing live and will ahve to wait for the DVD like the majority of us (what are the odds that anyway of you being that one in one thousand?)…
For the people that preordered on CD Japan, did anything show up in your Order Status/Details/History tab? Mine doesn’t say anything about ordering Utada’s cd… =/