Days/Green Explained

Days"/"Green
Cover:Days GREEN Jacket A.jpg
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Ayumi Hamasaki
Album:Next Level
Released:December 17, 2008
Recorded:2008
Genre:J-pop
Label:Avex Trax
Lyricist:Ayumi Hamasaki
Composer:
Producer:Max Matsuura
Prev Title:Mirrorcle World
Prev Year:2008
Next Title:Rule/Sparkle
Next Year:2009

"Days"/"Green" is the forty-fourth single (forty-fifth overall) by the Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki, released on December 17, 2008. In addition to the A-sides "Days" and "Green", the single contains re-recorded versions of Hamasaki's songs "Love: Destiny" and "To Be". The single was Hamasaki's 31st single to reach number one on the Oricon chart and 19th consecutive single to do so.

The single is certified gold for shipment of 100,000 copies.[1]

Release and packaging

"Green", one of the A-sides from the single, was released through online music store Dwango and Recochoku.[2] [3] It was also used in an advertisement for Panasonic. This single was released in two versions: "Days/Green" contains an updated "Love: Destiny". "Green/Days" contains an updated "To Be". Besides the B-sides, there is no difference in the two versions of the CDs other than the track order. However, the DVD of "Days/Green" contains the making of shot of the "Days" video, and the DVD of "Green/Days" contains the making of shot of the Green PV. Each version of the single was released in CD+DVD and CD-only formats, both having slightly different cover jackets. The first press of the two CD+DVD versions was packaged in a vertically long casing, similar to the first press editions of Ayumi Hamasaki's previous single "Mirrorcle World". Some online retailers included a B2 size poster of the "Days/Green" CD+DVD cover for all versions of the single.

Commercial and promotional videos

The music videos for "Green" and "Days" were shot during a tour stop in Shanghai, China.

Green premiered on November 26, 2008 on MTV Japan. The music video depicts Hamasaki as a nightclub singer in 1930s Shanghai,[4] styled after the Ang Lee film Lust, Caution.[5] The video reportedly costs $1,600,000 and is directed by Kazuyoshi Shimomura. In the video, Ayumi rushes to a cabaret where she performs. As she is performing, a woman (Played by Saito Midori) is enticed by her presence. Later on, the woman finally dances with her.

Days was Hamasaki's first music video to be shot in anamorphic 16:9 widescreen. Retailer Peach John sold a limited-edition replica of the outfit Hamasaki wore in the "Days" music video.[6] [7] The music video premiered December 3, 2008. The music video is set in a ghetto and she plays a sweet girl who gets woken by her boyfriend"s motorcycle, Ayumi goes downstairs and her boyfriend gives her a helmet, she then goes out with her boyfriend and she sees a ring she wants and starts asking her boyfriend, but he rejects. She is also trying to get his attention at his Dance classes, but he ignores. It goes back to the scene where she gets woken up by the motorcycle, Ayumi goes downstairs and greets her boyfriend, but he gives a helmet to another woman who is wearing the ring she wanted. She walks away, heartbroken and her friends come to Ayumi and the video ends. Scenes of Ayumi in a basement were also shown throughout the music video.

Live performances

Charts

Oricon Sales Chart

ReleaseChartPeak PositionFirst Week SalesSales TotalChart Run
December 17, 2008Oricon Daily Singles Chart1
Oricon Weekly Singles Chart1127,650225,00014 weeks
Oricon Monthly Singles Chart4
Oricon Yearly Singles Chart26

Billboard Japan

ReleaseChartPeak Position
December 17, 2008Billboard Japan Hot 1001
Billboard Japan Hot Singles Sales1

Digital Sales Charts

ChartPeak
position
Recochoku Chaku-Uta[8] 1
Recochoku Chaku-Uta Melody[9] 1
Recochoku Chaku-Uta[10] 1[11]

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200812.html. ja:一般社団法人 日本レコード協会. ja.
  2. Web site: 基本楽曲 GREEN で 18 件見つかりました。 (18 items found for basic song GREEN) . 2008-10-22 . 2011-07-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110716105921/https://recochoku.jp/search/Srch?fkw=Green&tgt=mid&o=0&ext=&mid=0%3a20181571,&ftgt=mkw&sort=c-,r-,m%2b,a%2b&st= . dead .
  3. Web site: Green (浜崎あゆみ) | 音楽ダウンロードはドワンゴジェイピー.
  4. Web site: Ayumi Hamasaki's New Song Goes Retro . . December 16, 2008 . December 23, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081219033305/http://ent.sina.com.tw/music/news/content/16924 . December 19, 2008 .
  5. Web site: Ayumi Hamasaki Sells Bra in Shanghai . NowNews . October 16, 2008 . December 23, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081017061900/http://www.nownews.com/2008/10/16/340-2350774.htm . October 17, 2008 .
  6. Web site: The Outfit Ayumi Hamasaki Wore! . . December 23, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081224233958/http://www.peachjohn.co.jp/info/ayu/ . December 24, 2008 .
  7. Web site: Today's Hot!! . . December 23, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081220042535/http://www.peachjohn.co.jp/todayshot/081217/ . December 20, 2008 .
  8. 「着うたフル®」・「着うた®」なら「レコ直♪」 - デイリーランキング
  9. 「着うたフル®」・「着うた®」なら「レコ直♪」 - 着信メロディダウンロードランキング
  10. 「着うたフル®」・「着うた®」なら「レコ直♪」 - トータルダウンロードランキング
  11. Web site: 「着うたフル®」・「着うた®」なら「レコ直♪」 - トータルダウンロードランキング. recochoku.jp . https://web.archive.org/web/20080622123038/http://recochoku.jp/recochoku_ranking/all.html/ . 2008-06-22.