Ballad (song)

"You Were.../Ballad" is Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki's forty-seventh (forty-eighth overall) single, released on December 29, 2009.^[1] The single was intended to be released on December 16, but Avex Trax pushed the release date two weeks back.^[1] The first song on the single "You were..." is the theme song for the Japanese version of the Disney movie Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure,^[2] while the second song "Ballad" is tied up with The Firmament of the Pleiades, a NHK's historical and political drama based on Jiro Asada's book of the same name.^[3] The single became Hamasaki's 22nd consecutive single to debut at number-one position since her 2002 single "Free & Easy" on the Oricon weekly charts, making her the first solo artist and the female artist to have 22 consecutive singles to debut at number-one position. It is also her 34th number-one single on the Oricon weekly charts.

Promotion

During December 2009, Hamasaki performed live on Japanese TV shows seven times.^[4] Hamasaki was featured on the cover of four Japanese magazines during the promotion of the single.^[5] These magazines were "Sweet", "Bea's Up", "Vivi" and "S Cawaii". As of early December, there have been many promotional pictures posted around Shibuya, Shinagawa and Harajuku in Tokyo.^[6]^[7]

Music videos

You Were featured Ayumi at a winter-like scene wearing a blinking, electrically-lit dress. The video is also inter-cut with scenes of models posing in haute couture outfits.

The video for Ballad featured an elaborate storyline where Ayumi and her boyfriend get in a motorcycle accident. Her boyfriend becomes comatose and in his dreams he tries to contact Ayumi via letters, not realizing that his letters would never reach her. The video is intercut with scenes where Ayumi is singing at a fairyland/dream setting.

Track listing

All lyrics written by Ayumi Hamasaki.

CD Only

No.	Title	Length
1.	"You Were... (Original Mix)"	4:48
2.	"Ballad (Original Mix)"	5:21
3.	"Red Line: for TA (Original Mix)"	4:29
4.	"You Were... (Music Box Mix -Retake Version-)"	5:10
5.	"Sunset: Love Is All (Orchestra Version)"	6:04
6.	"You Were...　(Original Mix -Instrumental-)"	4:48
7.	"Ballad　(Original Mix -Instrumental-)"	5:22
8.	"Red Line: for TA (Original Mix -Instrumental-)"	4:27

CD+DVD Version A

CD
No.	Title	Length
1.	"You Were... (Original Mix)"	4:48
2.	"Ballad (Original Mix)"	5:21
3.	"Red Line: for TA (Original Mix)"	4:29
4.	"You Were... (Music Box Mix -Retake Version-)"	5:10
5.	"You Were...　(Original Mix -Instrumental-)"	4:48
6.	"Ballad　(Original Mix -Instrumental-)"	5:22
7.	"Red Line: for TA (Original Mix -Instrumental-)"	4:27

DVD
No.	Title	Length
1.	"You Were... (Video Clip)"	5:11
2.	"Ballad (Video Clip)"	5:50
3.	"You Were... (Making Clip)"	3:02

CD+DVD Version B

CD
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Ballad (Original Mix)"	5:21
2.	"You Were... (Original Mix)"	4:48
3.	"Red Line: for TA (Original Mix)"	4:29
4.	"Sunset: Love Is All (Orchestra Version)"	6:04
5.	"Ballad　(Original Mix -Instrumental-)"	5:22
6.	"You Were... (Original Mix -Instrumental-)"	4:48
7.	"Red Line: for TA (Original Mix -Instrumental-)"	4:27

DVD
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Ballad (Video Clip)"	5:50
2.	"You Were... (Video Clip)"	5:11
3.	"Ballad (Making Clip)"	3:12

Charts

Oricon Sales Chart

Release	Chart	Peak position	Debut sales	Sales total
December 29, 2009	Oricon Daily Singles Chart	1
	Oricon Weekly Singles Chart	1	103,351	118,249
	Oricon Monthly Singles Chart	2
	Oricon Yearly Singles Chart	56

Billboard Japan

Release	Chart	Peak Position
December 29, 2009	Billboard Japan Hot 100	14
December 29, 2009	Billboard Japan Hot Singles Sales	4

References

1 2 (Japanese) http://www.avexnet.or.jp/ayu/jp/news/091022a.html | 【リリース情報】2009/12/16（水）発売「You were.../BALLAD」発売決定！
↑ (Japanese) http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/091119/gnj0911190506008-n1.htm | あゆ、映画「ティンカーベル」イメージソング
↑ (Japanese) http://mainichi.jp/enta/geinou/news/20091118mog00m200063000c.html | 浜崎あゆみ：新曲「ＢＡＬＬＡＤ」　ＮＨＫドラマ「蒼穹の昴」主題歌に
↑ Schedule updated - TV Performances & Magazines! - Ayumi Hamasaki Sekai
↑ Schedule updated - TV Performances & Magazines! Ayumi Hamasaki Sekai
↑ On buses, Lorries and Promotional billboards
↑ ayu.no - Norwegian Ayumi Hamasaki Forum

Preceded by "Gift: White" by Kanjani Eight	Oricon Weekly number one single January 18, 2010	Succeeded by "Phantom Minds" by Nana Mizuki

Ayumi Hamasaki songs

Discography

A Song for ××	"Depend on You" "For My Dear..." "Poker Face" "Trust" "You"

Loveppears	"Appears" "Boys & Girls" "End Roll" "Fly High" "Kanariya" "Love (Destiny)" "Monochrome" "To Be" "Too Late" "Trauma" "Whatever" "Who..."

Duty	"Audience" "Far Away" "Seasons" "Surreal" "Vogue"

I Am...	"A Song Is Born" "Connected" "Daybreak" "Dearest" "Endless Sorrow" "Evolution" "M" "Never Ever" "Unite!"

Rainbow	"Free & Easy" "Hanabi" "Independent" "July 1st" "Voyage"

Memorial Address	"Forgiveness" "Greatful Days" "Hanabi (Episode II)" "No Way to Say" "Ourselves"

My Story	"Carols" "Inspire" "Moments"

(Miss)understood	"Bold & Delicious" "Fairyland" "Heaven" "Is This Love?" "Pride" "Step You"

Secret	"Blue Bird" "Born to Be..." "Startin'"

Guilty	"Glitter" "Fated" "Mirror" "Talkin' 2 Myself" "Together When..."

A Complete	"Mirrorcle World" "Who..." (15th anniversary edition)

Next Level	"Days" "Green" "Next Level" "Rule" "Sparkle"

Rock 'n' Roll Circus	"Ballad" "Sunrise (Love Is All)" "Sunset (Love Is All)" "You Were..."

Love Songs	"Blossom" "Crossroad" "Last Angel" "Moon" "Sweet Season" "Virgin Road"

Five	"Progress"

Party Queen	"How Beautiful You Are"

Love Again	"You & Me"

Colours	"Feel the Love" "Merry-Go-Round" "Terminal"

A One	"Last Minute" "Movin' On Without You" "Walk" "Zutto..."

Other songs	"Dream On" "Happening Here"

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