Fairyland (song)


"Fairyland" is the 36th single released by Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released on August 3, 2005. It instantly shot to #1 on the Oricon charts where it stayed for the entire week. After one week of sales, "Fairyland" sold over 172,000 copies, the most any of Hamasaki's singles sold in one week in 2005. "Fairyland" is also Hamasaki's first single that featured different covers for both the CD and the CD+DVD.

Music videos

The PV 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 PV cost 240 million Yen. It depicts Hamasaki with her companions 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.
The PV of Alterna depicts Ayumi as an up-and-coming star who is chased by clowns. The video also depicts her as a singing machine; this aspect of the music video may be Hamasaki's response to either tabloid articles or to her record label's oppressive treatment of her at the time.

Track listing

  1. "Fairyland" – 5:17
  2. "Alterna" – 5:28
  3. "Step You" – 4:16
  4. "Fairyland" – 5:30
  5. "Fairyland" – 5:17
  6. "Alterna" – 5:28

    DVD track listing

  7. "Fairyland"
  8. "Alterna"
  9. "Fairyland"

    Live performances

Oricon Sales Chart
ReleaseChartPeak PositionFirst Week SalesSales TotalChart Run
August 3, 2005Oricon Daily Singles Chart1
August 3, 2005Oricon Weekly Singles Chart1172,221316,66313 weeks
August 3, 2005Oricon Monthly Singles Chart4
August 3, 2005Oricon Yearly Singles Chart25