(Miss)understood

March 2024 MissundaztoodM!ssundaztood Missunderstood (Queen Naija album)Missunderstood (Miss)understood studio Ayumi Hamasaki (Miss)understood.jpg An up-close shot of Ayumi Hamasaki smiling and looking into the camera. On the lower left is a red heart. CD only cover 2006 01 01 2005 Prime Sound Studio Form (Tokyo) Sony Music Studios (New York City) Avex Studio Azabu (Tokyo) Bunkamura Studio (Tokyo) Hitokuchizaka Studio (Tokyo) Crescente Studio (Tokyo) Westside Studio (Tokyo) Aobadai Studio (Tokyo) Sound City (Tokyo) Victor Studio (Tokyo) J-pop dance-pop pop rock alternative rock R&B 66:31 Avex Trax Max Matsuura My Story 2004 Secret 2006 Alternative cover Studio album (Miss)understood Cover.png An up-close shot of Ayumi Hamasaki covering her mouth and looking sideways. On the lower left is a red heart. CD/DVD cover (Miss)understood studio Step You/Is This Love? April 20, 2005 Fairyland August 3, 2005 Heaven September 14, 2005 Bold & Delicious/Pride November 30, 2005 (Miss)understood is the seventh studio album by Japanese singer-songwriter Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released on New Year's Day 2006, by Avex Trax. Hamasaki acted as the album's sole lyricist, as she had on all of her preceding albums. (Miss)understood marked new musical directions for Hamasaki: she explored new influences such as funk and used gospel choruses in some of the songs, foreign to her previous works. This was the result of her having heard compositions by Geo from the German-based pop music project Sweetbox and asking him for his works. Subsequently, Hamasaki rewrote the lyrics entirely to fit (Miss)understood. Lyrically, the album was a departure from her previous work, My Story, which had been primarily autobiographical. Where My Story had contained "musings about her past", Hamasaki wanted the lyricism on (Miss)understood to send a strong message to all women—to be a kind of "girls' talk" to give "moral support", while at the same time reminding women that there were times when they would feel weak and low. These themes, along with the album's funk influences, are epitomized on songs such as "Bold & Delicious" and "Ladies Night." Upon its release, (Miss)understood received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who directed most of the acclaim towards its sonic quality and named it one of the best albums in Hamasaki's career. (Miss)understood was a commercial success, opening at number one in Japan (her seventh consecutive studio album to do so) with first-week sales of over 653,000 copies. It went on to receive a Million certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) and became the eighth best-selling album of 2006 in Japan. It is, to date, her last Million-certified album. According to Avex, it is also her first album to fail to hit over a million sales in Japan. To promote the album, Hamasaki released four singles. "Step You" and "Is This Love?" were packaged together as a double A-side single and as the album's lead single on April 20, 2005; it was a commercial success, peaking at number one on the Oricon Singles Chart and was certified platinum by the RIAJ. The album's second single, "Fairyland," was a commercial success; also peaking at number one on the Oricon Singles Chart and being certified platinum. The third single, "Heaven", experienced similar success: it reached number one, and was certified platinum. "Bold & Delicious" and "Pride" were packaged together as the album's second and last double A-side single and was not as successful. Despite reaching number one, it became her poorest-selling single at the time since 1998's "Depend on You." Hamasaki promoted (Miss)understood by embarking on the Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2006 A arena tour. Background and production "This 'miss' is not the iss of mistake, but the same miss as in Mr. or Mrs. So, you can take the word 'missunderstood' as a single word meaning 'misunderstanding' or 'someone who understands'." —Hamasaki explaining the title (Miss)understood.アルバム『(miss) understood』リリース CD Data January 2006 18 20–32 Japanese 30% left padding:8px; In 2005, after hearing demo tracks from band Sweetbox's then-upcoming album Addicted, Hamasaki "fell in love" with the songs and consequently asked Sweetbox's composer GEO if she could use some of the songs for her album. GEO agreed and gave Hamasaki permission to use "Bold & Delicious," "Pride," "Ladies Night," "In the Corner," "Every Step," and "Beautiful Girl." Hamasaki then set to work rewriting the lyrics and rearranging parts of songs.Fuji Miho (藤井美保) Ayumi Hamasaki: Bold & Delicious/Pride Girlpop January 5, 2006 77 16–18 462 Japanesehttp://www.avexnet.or.jp/sweetbox/history/ History of Sweetbox February 12, 2008 Japanese Avex Trax https://web.archive.org/web/20080224092013/http://www.avexnet.or.jp/sweetbox/history/ 24 February 2008 On October 24, 2005, it was confirmed that Hamasaki would be releasing a new album on January 1, 2006, with its title being undecided at the time.October 24, 2005 浜崎あゆみがニュー・アルバムを2006年1月1日発表 https://tower.jp/article/news/2005/10/24/100005970 November 9, 2023 tower.jp ja On December 13, 2005, it was reported that the recording for the new album was completed.https://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/hamasaki-ayumi/10424 浜崎あゆみ、ニュー・アルバムが完成！ CDJournal Japanese December 13, 2023 Hamasaki and Avex Trax enlisted a long-term collaborator, Japanese businessman and producer Max Matsuura, to produce the album; this marked Hamasaki's seventh consecutive album to be fully produced by Matsuura.http://www.discogs.com/artist/228404-Max-Matsuura?filter_anv=0&subtype=Production&type=Credits Max Matsuura Discography Discogs.com August 5, 2024 While My Story (2004), Hamasaki's preceding album, contained mostly "autobiographical" lyrics and "musings about [her] past," (Miss)understood was a "strong message to send to all women": it was a kind of "girl's talk" to give "moral support" while at the same time reminding women that there would be times when they would "feel weak and low".Ayumi Hamasaki Special Interview Sweet January 2006 19–22 "Bold & Delicious" "scolded indecisive men", "Pride" expressed Hamasaki's appreciation of "women who do not give up easily", and "Ladies Night" was about female camaraderie. Other themes appeared as well: "Is This Love?" and "Heaven" were about love, and "Fairyland" was about "childhood memories". In each song on (Miss)understood, Hamasaki sprinkled all kinds of mysteries and questions throughout–so her own message isn't necessarily in the songs. Around the time of the release date for Addicted, Jade Valerie commented on Hamasaki's song adaptations: "I had the opportunity to listen to her self-covers this time, and I love how she have a completely different taste from my songs, but they really show off her strengths. I think it's a great album. I hope that people will listen to both my album and her album and enjoy both works."https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/14064/full/ sweetboxのニューアルバムに浜崎あゆみがコメントを・・・!? 2006-03-01 Oricon Japanese December 13, 2023 Composition Ayumi_Hamasaki_-_Bold_&_Delicious.ogg "Bold & Delicious" (2005) Hamasaki took new directions on (miss)understood, as epitomized by the single "Bold & Delicious," a funk-influenced song that used a gospel-style chorus. left (Miss)understood is more musically diverse than My Story; Hamasaki incorporated a variety of musical styles including rock, dance-pop and funk. She didn't decide on a particular theme when she wrote the album's songs, but once she put them all together she noticed that content was quite dark and that the lyrics could be interpreted in more than one way.Takahashi Eriko https://www.tokyoheadline.com/vol236/inter01.html インタビュー 浜崎あゆみ Tokyo Headline Japanese December 13, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20051229025250/https://www.tokyoheadline.com/vol236/inter01.html December 29, 2005 The album opens with "Bold & Delicious," a funk-infused up-tempo track that utilizes a gospel choir in the harmony.https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/miss-understood/4105101297 Ayumi Hamasaki - (miss)understood CDJournal Japanese December 13, 2023 An organ Hamasaki heard while visiting a church in New York City inspired her to include the gospel choir in "Bold & Delicious." "Step You" is an electronic rock song that sings about an "unrequited love". "Ladies Night" is an 80s-inspired dance pop number with robotic breakbeats and disco blips. "Is This Love?" is a passionate rock song about unrequited love. The album's titular song is a rock number stripped down to its simplest form. "Alterna" is a rock song with lyrics which seem to tell oneself to "just be as it is" without fear of change or being pointed out. "In The Corner" is a dramatic R&B song that has been compared to Mary J. Blige's 2001 hit song "Family Affair." "Tasking" is an interlude-like instrumental that connects "In The Corner" and "Criminal." "While I was in New York City, I went around by myself to various places, and when I visited a church, the sound of the vibe organ there sounded like something you can only hear in New York. At that moment, I thought, "Ah, gospel." I wanted a funky chorus that sounded like someone was clapping and singing. Of course, I felt that my vocals recorded in a studio in New York were different from usual, but I began to feel a strong desire to reflect more of that unique New York feel in "Bold & Delicious." —Hamasaki commenting on the developmental process of "Bold & Delicious." 30% right padding:8px; "Criminal" is a solemn song which talks about how to deal with the "sense of guilt" felt in life. "Pride" is a ballad song that "sounded like it could be from a musical". Hamasaki gathered a lot of people from elementary school students to people in their 50s and had them sing together as the song's backup singers. The musical The Phantom of the Opera influenced her arrangement of "Pride." "Will" is a song that has a noble aura of "sparkling" light and "fluttering" dance. "Heaven" is an "ethereal" piano-driven ballad.Garcia Cathy A Ayumi Hamasaki '(miss)understood' The Korea Times February 7, 2006 "Are You Wake Up?" is an instrumental track with a sharp and clear electric guitar. "Fairyland" is a dance pop song that sings about childhood nostalgia. "Beautiful Day" is a soulful song with a gospel choir in the chorus. The album's closing track, "Rainy Day," is sung in a quiet whisper, accompanied by sounds that sound like dripping rain or the ticking of a clock. As with "Bold & Delicious" and "Pride," other songs composed by GEO were rearranged. Release and packaging (Miss)understood was released by Avex Trax on January 1, 2006, and was her first original album in a year and a month since her previous album, My Story (2004).Citations regarding the physical formats of (Miss)understood: (Miss)understood Ayumi Hamasaki 2006 CD liner notes Avex Trax AVCD-17838 (Miss)understood Ayumi Hamasaki 2006 CD/DVD liner notes Avex Trax AVCD-17837/BMy Story formats listed below: My Story Ayumi Hamasaki 2004 CD liner notes Avex Trax AVCD-17611 My Story Ayumi Hamasaki 2004 CD/DVD liner notes Avex Trax AVCD-17610/B My Story Ayumi Hamasaki 2005 SACD liner notes Avex Trax AVGD-17676 My Story Ayumi Hamasaki 2005 DVD-Audio liner notes Avex Trax AVAD-91300 (Miss)understood became Hamasaki's second two-album set alongside Secret (2006) to be released in a single year.Citations regarding the physical formats of (Miss)understood: Secret Ayumi Hamasaki 2006 CD liner notes Avex Trax AVCD-23179 Secret Ayumi Hamasaki 2006 CD/DVD liner notes Avex Trax AVCD-23178/B Hamasaki's first two album set to do this were A Song for ×× and Loveppears in 1999.A Song for ×× Ayumi Hamasaki 1999 Ayumi Hamasaki Liner notes Avex Trax AVCD-11691 JapanLoveppears Hamasaki Ayumi Ayumi Hamasaki 1999 liner notes Avex Trax AVCD-11740 The initial pressings of (Miss)understood included two photobooks—one for the CD version (entitled "Off My Day"), and another for the CD+DVD version (entitled "On My Way"). The DVD version included all music videos that were made for her 2005 releases (excluding "My Name's Women")—"Step You," "Is This Love?," "Fairyland," "Alterna," "Heaven," "Bold & Delicious" and "Pride," as well as an alternative video for "Bold & Delicious" (called the "Side Story"). Two new music videos were also included—"Ladies Night" and "Rainy Day" made their debut on the disc. Behind-the-scenes clips for "Step You," "Is This Love?," "Fairyland," "Alterna," "Heaven" and "Pride" are featured as well. Promotion Singles and other songs "Step You/Is This Love?" was released as the lead single from (Miss)understood on April 20, 2005.Citations regarding the physical formats of STEP you / is this LOVE?: STEP you / is this LOVE? Ayumi Hamasaki 2005 CD liner notes Avex Trax AVCD-30723 STEP you / is this LOVE? Ayumi Hamasaki 2005 CD/DVD liner notes Avex Trax AVCD-30722/B "Step You" was used as the Panasonic "D-snap Audio" commercial song, while "Is This Love?" was used as the commercial song for Morinaga & Company's "BAKE."CD Journal Staff https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/step-you--is-this-love/4105030666 ayumi hamasaki / STEP you / is this LOVE? [CCCD] CD Journal April 20, 2005 December 14, 2024 ja The double A-side was a commercial success, reaching number one in Japan,https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/246497/products/592938/1/ STEP you/is this LOVE? - 浜崎あゆみ Oricon Japanese December 13, 2023 receiving a platinum certification for shipments of over 250,000 units,http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200505.html ゴールド等認定作品認定 2005年5月 Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) Japanese December 13, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20060916001737/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200505.html September 16, 2006 and selling 345,340 copies in its chart run.オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree' http://ranking.oricon.co.jp ja Oricon subscription May 21, 2014 "Step You" was certified triple platinum individually by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for ringtone sales of 750,000 units, and gold for selling 100,000 downloads.http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w060920_3.html レコード協会調べ 8月度有料音楽配信認定＜略称：8月度認定＞ Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) Japanese December 13, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20071011105752/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w060920_3.html October 11, 2007 Second single "Fairyland" was released August 3, 2005.Citations regarding the physical formats of fairyland: fairyland Ayumi Hamasaki 2005 CD liner notes Avex Trax AVCD-30809 fairyland Ayumi Hamasaki 2005 CD/DVD liner notes Avex Trax AVCD-30808/B "Fairyland" was used as the commercial song for Miki Corporation's Camelia Diamond, the August opening theme for Nippon Television's Music Fighter, Nippon Television's Sports Urugusu image song, and as the theme song for Nissan Motors' "X-TRAIL CUP."CD Journal Staff https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/fairyland/4105061441 ayumi hamasaki / fairyland [CCCD] CD Journal August 3, 2005 December 14, 2024 ja The single's B-side "Alterna" was used as the commercial song for the Panasonic digital camera "Lumix FX8." The single "Fairyland" debuted at number one in Japan,https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/246497/products/609001/1/ fairyland c/w alterna - 浜崎あゆみ Oricon Japanese December 13, 2023 sold 316,663 copies, and received a platinum certification for shipments of over 250,000 units.http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200508.html ゴールド等認定作品認定 2005年8月 Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) Japanese December 13, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20051215000436/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200508.html December 15, 2005 "Fairyland" also sold well digitally, receiving a triple platinum certification for ringtone sales of over 750,000 units, and a gold certification for selling more than 100,000 cellphone downloads. The third single, "Heaven," released on September 14, 2005,Citations regarding the physical formats of HEAVEN: HEAVEN Ayumi Hamasaki 2005 CD liner notes Avex Trax AVCD-30843 HEAVEN Ayumi Hamasaki 2005 CD/DVD liner notes Avex Trax AVCD-30842/B and was used as the theme song for the 2005 romantic drama film Shinobi: Heart Under Blade.http://music.yahoo.co.jp/jpop/music_news/sonymz/20050823/snyent001.html 浜崎あゆみ、映画『SHINOBI』の主題歌をリリース！（Musicnet） Yahoo Music) Japanese December 14, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20051206074436/http://music.yahoo.co.jp/jpop/music_news/sonymz/20050823/snyent001.html December 6, 2005CD Journal Staff https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/heaven/4105080589 ayumi hamasaki / HEAVEN CD Journal September 14, 2005 December 14, 2024 ja The B-side song "Will" was used as the Panasonic LUMIX FX-9 commercial song. Akin to its predecessors, "Heaven" also experienced commercial success: it reached number one,https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/246497/products/616617/1/ HEAVEN - 浜崎あゆみ Oricon Japanese December 13, 2023 and was certified platinum,http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200509.html ゴールド等認定作品認定 2005年9月 Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) Japanese December 13, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20051215001407/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200509.html December 15, 2005 selling a total of 327,111 copies. It also was certified million for selling about one million ringtones, and gold for selling 100,000 downloads. "Bold & Delicious/Pride" was released on November 30, 2005, as the album's final single.Citations regarding the physical formats of Bold & Delicious / Pride: Bold & Delicious / Pride Ayumi Hamasaki 2005 CD liner notes Avex Trax AVCD-30893 Bold & Delicious / Pride Ayumi Hamasaki 2005 CD/DVD liner notes Avex Trax AVCD-30892/B "Bold & Delicious" was also used as the Panasonic SD audio "D-snap Audio" and mini component "D-dock" commercial song.CD Journal Staff https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/bold--delicious---pride/4105101295 ayumi hamasaki / Bold&Delicious / Pride CD Journal November 30, 2005 December 14, 2024 ja Despite reaching number one,https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/246497/products/628356/1/ Bold & Delicious/Pride - 浜崎あゆみ Oricon Japanese December 13, 2023 "Bold & Delicious/Pride" became her poorest-selling single at the time since 1998's "Depend on You," selling only 132,993 copies. The song "Rainy Day" was used as the ending theme for the game Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams.http://www.1up.com/news/onimusha-dawn-dreams-dated Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams Release Date 1UP.com Karlin, David September 11, 2005 September 3, 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20160305041156/http://www.1up.com/news/onimusha-dawn-dreams-dated March 5, 2016 Music videos The music video for "Step You" was directed by Tetsuo Inoue, and the video featured Hamasaki wearing different styles of outfits (signifying different parts of her image and personality). A man walks up to a music box-like contraption and as he activates the levers (shown as I, II, III, and IV) different miniature versions of Hamasaki appear. As he activates the last lever, the contraption begins to short-circuit, and the four Hamasakis turn into one.Inoue, Tetsuo (director) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6-FjazojbE 浜崎あゆみ / STEP you Avex Trax; published through YouTube October 1, 2019 December 14, 2024 Japanese The music video for "Is This Love?" was directed by Masashi Muto. The music video features Hamasaki singing emotionally in a hotel suite. As she passes by, objects begin to explode (i.e. a bowl of fruit, a fish tank, walls, etc.). The video ends as Hamasaki looks at the hotel, in one piece with no sort chaos that happened earlier.Muto, Masashi (director) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D45w6TogwC8 浜崎あゆみ / is this LOVE? Avex Trax; published through YouTube October 1, 2019 December 14, 2024 Japanese The music video of "Fairyland" was shot in Hawaii and is one of the most expensive music videos in the world, as well as being Japan's most expensive music video in terms of production costs. The music video cost 240 million Yen (2 million in U.S. dollars).https://matome.naver.jp/odai/2138362289068572501 制作費2億4千万のPV『fairyland』歌姫浜崎あゆみ November 8, 2013 Matome May 8, 2020 PV "fairyland" diva Ayumi Hamasaki with a production cost of 240 yen ja https://web.archive.org/web/20200803080254/https://matome.naver.jp/odai/2138362289068572501 August 3, 2020 deadJuly 2025 The video was directed by Wataru Takeishi, and it depicts Hamasaki with her companions (dance team) on a lush tropical island, with some scenes showing a timber house with a deck. Eventually, a fallen oil lamp causes the entire structure to burn. Images from earlier sequences showing the group having fun are interspersed through the burning of the house. The video ends with the camera moving away from Hamasaki singing solemnly as she watches the house burn.Takeishi, Wataru (director) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG4Fzs3LtY0 浜崎あゆみ / fairyland Avex Trax; published through YouTube October 1, 2019 December 14, 2024 Japanese The music video of "Alterna" was directed by Koki Tange, and it depicts Hamasaki as an up-coming star who is chased by clowns. The video also depicts her as a singing machine; this aspect of the music video (as well as the lyrics of "alterna") may be Hamasaki's response to either tabloid articles or to her record label's oppressive treatment of her at the time.Tange, Koki (director) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMgQSQAxIyU 浜崎あゆみ / alterna Avex Trax; published through YouTube October 1, 2019 December 14, 2024 Japanese The music video for "Heaven" features Hamasaki singing alone in a subway station. As she does, ghosts frequently pass by her. Near the end of the video, the spirits leave Hamasaki and board on a train (implying their departure to heaven). The video is done entirely in one shot and in black-and-white.Takeishi, Wataru (director) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZduO8YltB0 浜崎あゆみ / HEAVEN Avex Trax; published through YouTube October 1, 2019 December 14, 2024 Japanese The music videos of "Bold & Delicious" and "Pride" were both filmed in New York and were both directed by Luis Hernandez. In the video for "Bold & Delicious," Hamasaki is featured with long wavy black hair, and wears a faux fur jacket with a light pink dress. She is seen standing on the back of a moving truck driving through areas of New York City, evoking the iconic 1993 Björk music video for her single "Big Time Sensuality." Some shots feature "behind the scenes" material, showing footage of the truck driving around the city and film crew members.Hernandez, Luis (director) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2PX-IiG_FY 浜崎あゆみ / Bold & Delicious Avex Trax; published through YouTube October 1, 2019 December 14, 2024 Japanese The video for "Pride" features several long takes of Hamasaki in a black dress being prepared by assistants and make-up artists, and then walking through an on-location set prepared under a New York City bridge and in the rain.Hernandez, Luis (director) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQvfWTYMx1k 浜崎あゆみ / Pride Avex Trax; published through YouTube October 1, 2019 December 14, 2024 Japanese The music video for "Ladies Night" features Hamasaki wearing a pink and blue mini dress, and long blue leg muffs as she walks down a hotel hallway, trying to go into some of the rooms, and occasionally singing into a payphone. Scenes of different things happening in the rooms can be seen. In one room, a maid is mounted on a man and is whipping him. In another room, a woman dressed in a white 18th century dress and white powdered wig is seen walking around her room, which is all white and has a large collection of butterflies. In the third room, a strange woman in a bulky black dress with a long braided black wig and face painted all in black (later revealed to be Hamasaki herself) is seen dominating and whipping mannequins. The hotel room scenes have been compared by many to the 1995 indie film Four Rooms. In between the hotel room scenes there are other scenes of Hamasaki dressed in a dictator's outfit and addressing an army of bald and pale women in an outdoor arena that resembles the Colosseum. The women all appear to have the same face and march along to Hamasaki's singing during the song's middle eight.Muto, Masashi (director) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpU5iASiUDw 浜崎あゆみ / Ladies Night Avex Trax; published through YouTube October 1, 2019 December 14, 2024 Japanese The music video of "Rainy Day" features Hamasaki with short-black hair singing in a house looking in and out of the window. The scene then cuts to her sitting at a bus stop, wearing a white-powered wig. A dog appears out of an alleyway. The dog and Hamasaki stare at each other. During the mid-eight, rain has started to fall and the dog is no longer in the scene. Images of people passing the bus stop with umbrellas are shown. An Hansom cab then arrives and picks up Hamasaki. She sees the lone dog again and looks back with a regretful face. The house scenes featuring shows Hamasaki collapsing onto the floor and crying.Inoue, Tetsuo (director) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTmur_9KItY 浜崎あゆみ / rainy day Avex Trax; published through YouTube October 1, 2019 December 14, 2024 Japanese Live appearances and concert tours Hamasaki embarked on the Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2006 A tour to promote (Miss)understood. The tour featured 30 shows and covered 12 different cities, lasting from March 11 to June 11, 2006, and attracted about 260,000 people in 30 performances.September 26, 2006 浜崎あゆみがライヴDVD「ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2006 A -(miss)understood-」をリリース https://tower.jp/article/news/2006/09/26/100008226 August 5, 2024 tower.jp ja Hamasaki performed most of her songs from (Miss)understood, along with some of her most popular songs such as "Evolution," "Unite!" and "Boys & Girls."Citations regarding the physical formats of Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2006 A ~(Miss)understood~: Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2006 A ~(Miss)understood~ Ayumi Hamasaki 2006 DVD liner notes Avex Trax AVBD-91452 Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2006 A ~(Miss)understood~ Ayumi Hamasaki 2011 Blu-ray liner notes Avex Trax AVXD-91633 Avex Trax released the tour on DVD on November 1, 2006, and on Blu-ray on August 1, 2011. Commercially, the DVD release was a success in Japan, peaking at number two on the Oricon DVD Chart, and lasted 18 weeks in total.https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/246497/products/681690/1/ ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2006 A～(miss)understood～ Oricon February 1, 2024 ja The live release was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for exceeding 100,000 unit shipments.ja:ゴールド等認定作品認定 2007年3月 http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200703.html Recording Industry Association of Japan ja April 10, 2008 December 31, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20070517105237/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200703.html#list4 May 17, 2007 Reception AllMusic 4 5Yeung Neil Z. https://www.allmusic.com/album/miss-understood-mw0001528921 (Miss) Understood – Ayumi Hamasaki AllMusic May 29, 2023 CD Journal (positive) (Miss)understood received positive reviews from music critics. Neil Z. Yeung’s gave the album a strongly positive review, highlighting (Miss)understood as a bold, genre‑blending standout in Hamasaki’s early catalog. He praised its unexpected funk, gospel, and R&B‑pop influences and singles out multiple tracks as invigorating high points. Overall, he frames the album as one of her best and most underrated, making the tone clearly enthusiastic and appreciative. CDJournal noted in their review that Hamasaki was in a transitional phase but still delivered a very catchy album built mostly from strong singles. Eikaku Kenta of VIBE gave the album a very positive review, praising Hamasaki’s consistent million‑selling success and presenting the album as a major, hit‑filled release with impressive visual production; framing the project as a special New Year’s gift to fans, emphasizing her creativity and ambition.http://music.yahoo.co.jp/jpop/cd_reviews/vibe/20051227/vibrvw002.html (Miss) Understood – Ayumi Hamasaki VIBE May 29, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20060110025738/http://music.yahoo.co.jp/jpop/cd_reviews/vibe/20051227/vibrvw002.html January 10, 2006 A commercial success, (Miss)understood sold 653,830 copies in its first week of release, and debuted at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart.Oricon Style Staff http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/060116a.html Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week January 16, 2006 Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities January 16, 2006 April 3, 2016 ja https://web.archive.org/web/20181106015000/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/060116a.html November 6, 2018 dead This marks Hamasaki's seventh consecutive chart-topping studio album, starting with her first album A Song for ×× in January 1999.Oricon Style Staff http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/990111a.html Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week January 11, 1999 Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities January 11, 1999 April 3, 2016 ja https://web.archive.org/web/20190328012802/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/990111a.html March 28, 2019 deadhttps://www.oricon.co.jp/news/8504/full/ 浜崎あゆみ、歴代2位タイ、8年連続アルバム首位獲得! 2006-01-09 Oricon Japanese December 13, 2023 On its second week, the album dropped to number two on the chart with sales of 82,371 copies.Oricon Style Staff http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/060123a.html Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week January 23, 2006 Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities January 23, 2006 April 3, 2016 ja https://web.archive.org/web/20181106015000/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/060123a.html November 6, 2018 dead (Miss)understood fell to number three on its third week on the charts with sales of 38,861 copies.Oricon Style Staff http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/060130a.html Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week January 30, 2006 Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities January 30, 2006 April 3, 2016 ja https://web.archive.org/web/20181106015000/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/060130a.html November 6, 2018 dead The album charted at number eight on its fourth charting week with sales of 25,885 copies,Oricon Style Staff http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/060206a.html Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week February 6, 2006 Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities February 6, 2006 April 3, 2016 ja https://web.archive.org/web/20181106014959/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/060206a.html November 6, 2018 dead before dropping out of the top ten entirely the following week.Oricon Style Staff http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/060213a.html Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week February 13, 2006 Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities February 13, 2006 April 3, 2016 ja https://web.archive.org/web/20181106014959/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/060213a.html November 6, 2018 dead It charted in the top 300 for 32 weeks.https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/246497/products/628541/1/ (miss)understood – 浜崎あゆみ Oricon February 1, 2024 ja Since the album sold 877,433 copies in 2006, it became the eighth best-selling album of the year in Japan and was also the year's second best-selling original studio album by a female artist behind Hikaru Utada's Ultra Blue.http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/2006a.html 2006年 アルバム年間TOP100 January 28, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20181106014940/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/2006a.html November 6, 2018 dead The album was certified million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipping over one million copies in the country, becoming Hamasaki's final album to do so.ja:ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2006年1月 Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (January 2006) http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200601.html Recording Industry Association of Japan ja February 10, 2006 December 23, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20070806225808/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200601.html August 6, 2007 Aside from its success at home, (Miss)understood also found success overseas; in Taiwan the album topped the G-Music Combo Chart and J-Pop Chart.G-Music Combo Album Chart http://www.g-music.com.tw:80/GMusicBillboard0.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20060118122815/http://www.g-music.com.tw/GMusicBillboard0.aspx 2006-01-12 2006-01-18 G-Music 2024-04-18 zh Track listing CD Ayumi Hamasaki Arranger(s) 66:59 Bold & Delicious Geo of Sweetbox CMJK 4:43 Step You Kazuhiro Hara CMJK 4:28 Ladies Night Geo of Sweetbox CMJK 4:32 Is This Love? Miki Watanabe HΛL 4:53 (Miss)understood Tetsuya Yukumi Tasuku 4:04 Alterna Shintaro Hagiwara, Sousaku Sasaki CMJK 5:30 In the Corner Geo of Sweetbox Tasuku 3:24 Tasking instrumental Tasuku Tasuku 1:28 Criminal Kazuhiro Hara Kazuhiro Hara 5:13 Pride Geo of Sweetbox CMJK 4:10 Will Crea, D.A.I tasuku 4:09 Heaven Kazuhito Kikuchi Yuta Nakano, KZB 4:21 Are You Wake Up? instrumental CMJK CMJK 2:07 Fairyland tasuku Hal 5:19 Beautiful Day Geo of Sweetbox tasuku 4:36 Rainy Day Geo of Sweetbox Yuta Nakano 4:02 DVD Step You (Video Clip) 4:52 Is This Love? (Video Clip) 4:55 Fairyland (Video Clip) 5:30 Alterna (Video Clip) 5:42 Heaven (Video Clip) 4:31 Bold & Delicious (Video Clip) 5:09 Pride (Video Clip) 4:32 Rainy Day (Video Clip) 4:14 Ladies Night (Video Clip) 4:31 Bold & Delicious: Side Story (Album Version) Step You (Making Clip) 4:22 Is This Love? (Making Clip) 5:03 Fairyland (Making Clip) 5:19 Alterna (Making Clip) Heaven (Making Clip) Pride (Making Clip) 4:38 Charts Weekly chart Chart (2006)PeakpositionJapanese Albums (Oricon) 1Taiwanese Albums (G-Music) 1 Taiwanese J-pop Albums (G-Music)G-Music J-Pop Album Chart http://www.g-music.com.tw/GMusicBillboard3.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20060118080355/http://www.g-music.com.tw/GMusicBillboard3.aspx 2006-01-12 2006-01-18 G-Music 2024-10-16 zh 1 Monthly charts Chart (2006)PeakpositionJapanese Albums (Oricon)http://www.geocities.jp/darusta2004/rank/2006/jan.html 2006 1月売上ランキング 2010-09-24 ja https://web.archive.org/web/20140329041500/http://www.geocities.jp/darusta2004/rank/2006/jan.html 2014-03-29 1 Yearly chart Chart (2006)PositionJapanese Albums (Oricon) 8 |- Certification and sales Japan Ayumi Hamasaki (miss)understood album Million "RIAJ1" 2006 2006 1 930,000 January 31, 2024 Release history Region Date Format Catalogue numberJapanJanuary 1, 2006 CD+DVD Initial pressing limited edition:Special Photobook On My Way (80P) AVCD-17837/B CD Initial pressing limited edition:Special Photobook Off My Day (80P) AVCD-17838Hong KongJanuary 2006 CD+DVD AVTCD-95881 CD AVTCD-95876 See also List of most expensive music videos (For the music video of "Fairyland") Notes Note Crea is the pseudonym of Ayumi Hamasaki. References The liner notes for (Miss)understood (Japanese version). AVCD-17837/B Category:2006 albums Category:Ayumi Hamasaki albums Category:Avex Group albums Category:Albums produced by Max Matsuura Category:2000s Japanese-language albums