Next Level (song)
| "Next Level" | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Promotional single by Ayumi Hamasaki from the album Next Level | |
| Released | March 25, 2008 |
| Format | Digital download |
| Recorded | 2008 |
| Genre | Dance-pop |
| Length | 4:30 |
| Label | Avex Trax |
| Writer(s) | |
| Language | Japanese |
| Producer(s) | |
"Next Level" is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist and songwriter Ayumi Hamasaki taken from her tenth studio album Next Level (2009). The song was written by Hamasaki herself while the composition was by Dai Nagao and arrangement by HΛL. The song was conceived while Hamasaki was working on the studio album during her anniversary year, which was in April 2008. This year was to commemorate her ten-year anniversary since her debut single "Poker Face". "Next Level" was released as the album's lead and only promotional single on the same date as the album release digitally.
Musically, "Next Level" is a dance-oriented song that utilizes several electronic dance music genres, which was very similar to the rest of the Next Level album. The musical composition, noted for its ethereal influences and softer synthesizers, guitar and keyboard instrumentation, was compared to the "light techno" influences throughout her fifth studio album Rainbow (2002). Lyrically, the song talks about Hamasaki leaving her past, embracing the present and getting ready for the future, referring to it as "Next Level".
"Next Level" received favorable reviews from most contemporary music critics, who praised the production. Many critics had praised Hamasaki's vocal delivery, the song's quality and the songwriting was particularly highlighted. However, some critics were critical towards the lack of innovation. Because "Next Level" was released as a digital download single only, the song was deemed ineligible to chart on the Oricon chart under their specific guidelines. However, the song charted on other Japanese charts. It became her first single to chart on the Japan Hot 100 at eighty-nine.
An accompanying music video was shot by Stanly Izumi Kim and Luis Hernandez; Hernandez had previously directed her singles "Bold & Delicious" and "Pride" and was her first to be shot by a duo. The video shows Hamasaki driving on a beach front and inside a city. Hamasaki has performed the song only once, being on her Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2009 A: Next Level.
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