"Hello New Me" (stylized as "Hello new me") is a song by Japanese musician Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released on May 14, 2014 as the second digital single from her fifteenth studio album, Colours (2014). The song was used as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama Zoku - Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi.[1]

"Hello New Me"
Promotional single by Ayumi Hamasaki
from the album Colours
ReleasedMay 14, 2014 (2014-05-14)
Recorded2014
Genre
Length4:20
LabelAvex Trax
Songwriter(s)Ayumi Hamasaki (lyrics)
Tago Kunio (music)
Producer(s)Max Matsuura
Ayumi Hamasaki singles chronology
"Feel the Love" / "Merry-Go-Round"
(2013)
"Hello New Me"
(2014)
"Terminal"
(2014)

Although the song did not enter the Oricon Singles Chart, it did peak at number 29 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 Chart. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan for over 100,000 downloads.[2][3]

Background edit

Hamasaki had previously recorded the gold-certified song "How Beautiful You Are" as the theme song for the first season of the drama Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi in 2012.

For the second season, called Zoku - Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi, the singer was approached to provide a new theme song. The song was revealed to be titled "Hello New Me", a slow but cheery ballad.[4]

Writing and production edit

The song's lyrics were written by Hamasaki herself, with music by Kunio Tago. Long time collaborator Yuta Nakano served as the song's arranger.[5]

Release edit

The song was released digitally on May 14, 2014. It was also included on her 15th studio album Colours, released on July 2, 2014.

Promotion edit

Since "Hello New Me" was used as the opening theme of Zoku - Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi, it was shown on TV once a week from April 17 to June 26, 2014

The song was also promoted – alongside Colours – with an advertising truck driving around the city of Tokyo. Furthermore, it was performed during Hamasaki's Premium Showcase: Feel the Love tour, which lasted from May 30 to July 6, 2014.[6][7]

Track listing edit

Digital download edit

No.TitleLength
1."Hello New Me"4:20

Charts edit

Chart (2014) Peak
position
Billboard Japan Hot 100[2] 29

Certifications edit

Chart Amount
RIAJ digital download certification[3] Gold (100,000)

Personnel edit

Credits adapted from Discogs.[8]

  • Arrangement, Programming – Yuta Nakano
  • Guitar – Tomoki Ihira
  • Lyrics – Ayumi Hamasaki
  • Mixing – David Reitzas
  • Music – Kunio Tago
  • Producer – Max Matsuura
  • Strings – Yuko Kajitani Strings

References edit

  1. ^ "【リリース情報】フジテレビ系ドラマ「続・最後から二番目の恋」主題歌「Hello new me」5/14 デジタルリリース!". Ayumi Hamasaki's Official Website (in Japanese). Avex. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. May 31, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  3. ^ a b 2019年 ミリオン以上 認定作品一覧 [Record Association Investigation: November Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. November 28, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  4. ^ "浜崎あゆみ 私生活と重ね合わせた?新曲がドラマ主題歌に". sponichi.co.jp (in Japanese). Sponichi Annex. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  5. ^ "新曲「Hello new me」がドラマ「続・最後から二番目の恋」主題歌に決定!". Ayumi Hamasaki's Official Website (in Japanese). Avex. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  6. ^ ""ayumi hamasaki PREMIUM SHOWCASE ~Feel the love~" デビュー16周年を迎える2014年、プレミアム・ショーケース・ライヴ開催決定!". Avex.jp. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  7. ^ "ayumi hamsaki PREMIUM SHOWCASE ~Feel the love~". Avex.jp. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  8. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki – Hello New Me". discogs.com. Discogs. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2020.