:Far Away (Ayumi Hamasaki song)

"Far Away" was written by Hamasaki, while production was handled by Japanese producer Max Matsuura.{{cite AV media notes|title=Duty|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2000|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan|id=AVCD-11837 |location=Japan}} The song was composed by long-term collaborators Kazuhito Kikuchi and Dai Nagao, whilst arrangement was handled by Japanese production team HΛL. This was one of Kikuchi's final collaborations with Hamasaki, until he returned as the main composer for her sixth studio album, My Story (2004).{{cite AV media notes |title=My Story|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2004|first= Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan|id=AVCD-17610/B|location=Japan}} For the track's instrumentation, HΛL played the keyboard and mixed the final composition, Naoki Akimoto played the guitar, and Junko Hirotani provided background vocals. Atushi Hattori co-mixed the final composition alongside HΛL. It was selected as the second single from Duty, and was released on May 17, 2000, by Avex Trax.

The maxi CD of the single contains the original composition and its instrumental version, plus nine remixes.{{cite AV media notes |title=Far Away|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2000|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan|id=AVCD-30118|location=Japan}} As a single from the Duty trilogy, which included Hamasaki's singles "Vogue" and "Seasons", the singles were released as DVD singles and on VHS; it included the three mini-music videos, alongside the making videos and a TV commercial.{{cite AV media notes |title=Vogue/Far Away/Seasons|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2000 |first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=DVD |publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan |id=AVVD-91035 |location=Japan}}{{cite AV media notes |title=Vogue/Far Away/Seasons|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2000 |first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=VHS |publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan |id=AVVD-90082 |location=Japan}} The CD and digital cover sleeve has a polaroid photo of Hamasaki in water. The standalone CD cover was used as the digital EP cover for the iTunes Store and Amazon.com.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/jp/album/far-away/75646265|title=Far Away – EP – by Ayumi Hamasaki|publisher=iTunes Store (Japan)|date=2008|access-date=May 13, 2015}}

"Far Away" was recorded in 2000 at Avex Studios and Prime Sound Studios in Tokyo, Japan. As part of the trilogy set with "Vogue" and "Seasons", "Far Away" highlights theme of nostalgia, describing Hamasaki's past. Following the same theme, "Vogue" details the present and "Seasons" discusses Hamasaki's future.{{cite web|author=Morimosa|title=Ayumi Hamasaki – Duty|url=http://homepage2.nifty.com/morimasa/duty.html|work=Nifty.com|date=September 27, 2000|access-date=December 23, 2015}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The trilogy set also focuses on hopelessness, a reflection of Hamasaki's disappointment that she had not expressed herself thoroughly on any of her previous lyrics.{{cite journal | title="Review of Ayu's Year 2000 & M". | journal=J-Point|date=December 22, 2000|pages=75 |author=|language=ja}} Based on her song writing, she described her feelings after the writing all the tracks from Duty as "unnatural" and was constantly "nervous" for the final result.{{cite journal | title=Ayu 10th Year Career Anniversary | journal=Cawaii|date=May 2008|pages=15, 18 |author=Tsuriya, Takako|language=ja}} A staff reviewer from Amazon Japan noticed that the trilogy set had a "healing effect" that was absent on Hamasaki's two previous studio albums.{{cite web|author=Amazon Japan Staff|title=Ayumi Hamasaki – Duty|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/Duty-%E6%B5%9C%E5%B4%8E%E3%81%82%E3%82%86%E3%81%BF/dp/B000059O85|work=Amazon Japan|date=September 27, 2000|access-date=December 23, 2015}}

"Far Away" received generally favourable reviews from music critics. Alexey Eremenko, who had written her extended biography at AllMusic, highlighted the song as an album and career stand out track.{{cite web|author=Eremenko, Alexey|title=Ayumi Hamasaki – Songs, Highlights, Awards and Credits|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ayumi-hamasaki-mn0000758915/songs|work=AllMusic|date=2013|access-date=December 23, 2015}} Morimosa from Nifty.com complimented Hamasaki's songwriting; he compared the song writing to the rest of the songs from Duty, and praised Hamasaki's ability to write about both "positive" and "negative" topics in the song. Hamasaki hosted an online voting poll for fans to choose their favourite tracks to be featured on her Ayumi Hamasaki 15th Anniversary Tour Best Live Tour. As a result, "Far Away" was included on the list.{{cite web|author=Avex Trax Staff|title=Ayumi Hamasaki 15th Anniversary Tour A Best Live|url=http://avexnet.or.jp/ayu/abestlive/|work=Ayumi Hamasaki's website|date=March 14, 2015|access-date=December 23, 2015}} In early 2014, in honor of Hamasaki's sixteenth-year career milestone, Japanese website Goo.ne.jp hosted a poll for fans to rank their favourite songs by Hamasaki out of thirty positions; the poll was held in only twenty-four hours, and thousands submitted their votes; as a result, "Far Away" was ranked at 22, with 19.9 percent of the votes.{{cite web|author=Aramajapan Staff|title=What are Ayumi Hamasai's most popular songs?|url=http://aramajapan.com/ranking/what-are-ayumi-hamasakis-most-popular-singles/4305/|work=goo.ne.jp; published by Aramajapan.com|date=2014|access-date=December 27, 2015}}

In Japan, "Far Away" debuted at number two on the Oricon Singles Chart;{{cite web | script-title=ja:浜崎あゆみのリリース一覧 |trans-title=List of Ayumi Hamasaki's Releases | url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/246497/products/|language=ja | work=Oricon | access-date=August 17, 2014}} it lasted for 13 weeks on the chart, selling 510,460 units by the end of 2000.{{cite web | title=オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 |trans-title=Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree' | url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp |language=ja | work=Oricon |url-access=subscription | access-date=May 21, 2014}} This became Hamasaki's fifth highest selling single at the time; the song is currently Hamasaki's 15th best selling single according to Oricon Style.{{cite web |title=Ayumi Hamasaki CD Ranking Oricon Music Style |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/246497/rank/single/p/2/|type=Bulletin |language=ja |work=Oricon |access-date=May 13, 2015}} The DVD single, released under the title of Vogue/Far Away/Seasons reached at number one on the Oricon DVD Chart, spending seventeen weeks in the top fifty.{{cite web |title=Ayumi Hamasaki – Vogue/Far Away/Seasons DVD – Oricon Music Style |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/246497/products/cinema/410877/2/ |type=Bulletin |language=ja |work=Oricon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429233213/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/246497/products/cinema/410877/2/ |archive-date=April 29, 2013 |access-date=May 13, 2015}} It is Hamasaki's second best selling DVD single, and her eighth best seller overall.{{cite web |title=Ayumi Hamasaki DVD Ranking Oricon Music Style |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/246497/ranking/dvd/ |type=Bulletin |language=ja |work=Oricon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518130328/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/246497/ranking/dvd/ |archive-date=May 18, 2013 |access-date=May 13, 2015}} "Far Away" was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of 400,000 units. The single entered at number two on Japan's TBS Count Down TV Chart;{{cite web |title=CDTV PowerWeb:! Ranking Date for Far Away by Ayumi Hamasaki |url=http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/songdb/song4781-j.html |type=Bulletin |language=ja |work=Count Down TV |publisher=TBS |publication-date=May 27, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060621034526/http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/songdb/song4781-j.html |archive-date=June 21, 2006 |access-date=April 1, 2016}} it stayed there for one week, and lasted 14 weeks in the chart. It was placed at number 51 on their Annual Count Down TV chart in 2000.{{cite web|work=Count Down TV|publisher=TBS|url=http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/cddb/countdown2000total-j.html|title=CDTV PowerWeb:! 2000 Annual List|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060916021345/http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/cddb/countdown2000total-j.html|archive-date=September 16, 2006 }}

The accompanying music video was directed by Wataru Takeishi.{{cite web |author=Avex |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFIVT-tDPC4|title=Far Away / 浜崎あゆみ |publisher=Avex Trax; published through YouTube|date=June 30, 2015|access-date=December 23, 2015}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}} Because the music video was part of the trilogy set with "Vogue" and "Seasons", only a portion of the song was shot for the video. As a result, the video for "Far Away" lasts for two minutes and 21 seconds.{{cite web |author=Avex |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjAydwBcPHs|title=Vogue / 浜崎あゆみ |publisher=Avex Trax; published through YouTube|date=30 June 2015|access-date=23 December 2015}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}{{cite web |author=Avex |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9L7f4rIt4k|title=Seasons / 浜崎あゆみ |publisher=Avex Trax; published through YouTube|date=June 30, 2015|access-date=December 23, 2015}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}} Two outtake shots from the "Vogue" video were then used for the artworks of "Far Away" and "Seasons".{{cite AV media notes|title=Seasons|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2000|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan |id=AVCD-30119|location=Japan}} The music video was included on the DVD and VHS formats of "Far Away". The music video also appeared on Hamasaki's DVD compilation box sets: A Clips Vol.2 (2002),{{cite AV media notes |title=A Clips Vol.2|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2002 |first= Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax |id=AVVD-90144 |location=Japan}} Complete Clip Box (2004),{{cite AV media notes |title=Complete Clip Box Set|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2004 |first= Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax |id=AVVD-90144 |location=Japan}} A Clip Box 1998–2011 (2011),{{cite AV media notes |title=A Clip Box 1998–2011|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2011 |first= Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax |id=AVBD-91910~5 |location=Japan}} and the bonus DVD version with A Complete: All Singles.{{cite AV media notes |title=A Complete: All Singles|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2008 |first= Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax |id=AVCD-23673~5/B |location=Japan}}

The video opens with a close-up shot of Hamasaki, similar to the one in "Vogue". Two children are seen in the distance, both of whom were in the "Vogue" music video". Hamasaki holds up a fishbowl with a goldfish inside, where it is then digitally edited with textile layers and gradients. As Hamasaki continues singing the song, she is then standing in the middle of the post-apocalyptic world from "Vogue". Both the children look into the distance, with inter cut scenes of Hamasaki singing and different fish swimming in the fish bowl. As the children look into the distance, a storm starts in the sky. The kids drop the picture book in the "Vogue" video, and run of into the distance. The final scene has Hamasaki singing on the front cover of the book.

Hamasaki has performed "Far Away" on several concert tours throughout Asia. The song was performed on both of Hamasaki's 2000 concerts in Japan, where it was included during the first segment. It was included on two live DVD's (Vol.1 and Vol.2) released on September 27, 2000.{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayumi Hamasaki Concert Tour 2000 Vol. 1|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2000|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan|id=AVBD-91021|location=Japan}}{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayumi Hamasaki Concert Tour 2000 Vol. 2|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2000|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan|id=AVBD-91020|location=Japan}} The song was performed on her 2011 Power of Music tour in Japan, where it was included in the trilogy segment with "Vogue" and "Seasons". It was included on the live DVD, released on March 21, 2012.{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayumi Hamasaki Power of Music 2011 A|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2012|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan|id=AVBD-91935~6|location=Japan}} The song has been included on three of her greatest hits compilations; A Best (2002),{{cite AV media notes |title=A Best|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2002|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan|id=AVCD-11950|location=Japan}} A Complete: All Singles (2008),{{cite AV media notes |title=A Complete: All Singles|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2002|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan|id=AVCD-23676~8|location=Japan}} and A Summer Best (2012).{{cite AV media notes |title=A Summer Best|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2012|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan|id=AVCD-38560-1|location=Japan}} The 2000 vol. 1 live performance was included on Hamasaki's live DVD compilation, A 50 Singles: Live Selection (2011), and the DVD edition of A Summer Best.{{cite AV media notes |title=A 50 Singles: Live Selection|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2011|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan|id=AVBD-91860~1|location=Japan}}

"Far Away" has been remixed by several professional disc jockeys and producers, and has appeared on several remix albums by Hamasaki, including the Hex Hector and Rank remix on ayu-mi-x III Non-Stop Mega Mix Version (2001) and Ayu-mi-x 4 + Selection Non-Stop Mega Mix Version (2002),{{cite AV media notes |title=ayu-mi-x III Non-Stop Mega Mix Version|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2001|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-11930|location=Japan}} the Ayu-Ro remix on Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix 2 (2001),{{cite AV media notes |title=Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix 2|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2001|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-17027|location=Japan}} and the Alex Morph remix on Ayu-mi-x 7 Presents Ayu Trance 4 (2011).{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayu-mi-x 7 Presents Ayu-ro Mix 4|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2011|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVJCD10477|location=Japan}} The orchestral acoustic remix and its instrumental version, were included on her third orchestral remix album, ayu-mi-x III Acoustic Orchestra Version (2001).{{cite AV media notes |title=ayu-mi-x III Acoustic Orchestra Version|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2001|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-11928|location=Japan}}

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• Japanese CD single

1. "Far Away" – 5:35
2. "Far Away" (Crafty Remix) – 5:18
3. "Far Away" (Main Radio Mix) – 4:45
4. "Appears" (Junior's Club Mix) – 9:42
5. "Far Away" (HΛL'S Mix 2000) – 4:36
6. "Far Away" (Ocean View Remix) – 5:31
7. "End Roll" (Da Urban Maesto Mix) – 6:06
8. "Far Away" (Huge Mutual-Tried Mix) – 3:18
9. "Far Away" (Pop 'e.a.' Mix II) – 4:51
10. "Far Away" (Dub's Mute & Feedback Remix) – 6:13
11. "Far Away" (Instrumental) – 5:18

• Vogue/Far Away/Seasons DVD single{{cite AV media notes |title=Vogue Far Away Seasons|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2000 |first= Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan |id=AVBD-91035 |location=Japan}}

1. "Vogue" (music video)
2. "Far Away" (music video)
3. "Seasons" (music video)
4. TV commercial for DVD single
5. "Vogue" (making of the music video)
6. "Far Away" (making of the music video)
7. "Seasons" (making of the music video)
8. Credits roll

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• 12 inch Vinyl{{cite AV media notes |title=Far Away|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2000|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Vinyl; Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan, Rhythm Republic|id=RR12-88175|location=Japan}}

1. "Far Away" (Main Vox Mix)
2. "Far Away" (Crafty Remix) – 5:18
3. "Far Away" – 5:35

• Digital download

1. "Far Away" – 5:35
2. "Far Away" (Crafty Remix) – 5:18
3. "Far Away" (Main Radio Mix) – 4:45
4. "Appears" (Junior's Club Mix) – 9:42
5. "Far Away" (HΛL'S Mix 2000) – 4:36
6. "Far Away" (Ocean View Remix) – 5:31
7. "End Roll" (Da Urban Maesto Mix) – 6:06
8. "Far Away" (Huge Mutual-Tried Mix) – 3:18
9. "Far Away" (Pop 'e.a.' Mix II) – 4:51
10. "Far Away" (Dub's Mute & Feedback Remix) – 6:13

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Credits adapted from the singles liner notes:

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• Ayumi Hamasaki – song writing, vocals, background vocals
• Max Matsuura – producing
• Kazuhito Kikuchi – composing
• Dai "D.A.I." Nagao – composing
• HΛL – arranging, keyboards, programming, mixing
• Naoki Akimoto – guitar
• Junko Hirotani – background vocals
• Atsushi Hattori – mixing

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• Shinichi Hara – art direction
• Shigeru Kasai – design
• Toru Kumazawa – photographer
• Koji Matsumoto – fashion director
• Koji Matsumoto and Takako Mishima – stylist
• CHIKA – hair assistant and make-up stylist
• Kanako Miura – nail artist
• Avex Trax – Hamasaki's record label

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry |region=Japan |artist=浜崎 あゆみ |title=Far away|type=single |award=Platinum|refname="cert"|relyear=2000 |certyear=2000|certmonth=5|domestic=true|salesamount=510,460| salesref=|access-date=January 31, 2021}}

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060211211859/http://avexnet.jp/item/hamas/disc/product/AVCD-30118.html "Far Away"] – Single information at Avex Network.

{{Ayumi Hamasaki singles}}

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Category:2000 singles

Category:Ayumi Hamasaki songs

Category:Songs written by Ayumi Hamasaki

Category:Songs written by Dai Nagao

Category:Songs with music by Kazuhito Kikuchi

Category:Song recordings produced by Max Matsuura

Category:2000 songs

Category:Avex Trax singles