?i asked my japanese friend who's a huge Ayu fan what she thought about Majesty shot, she said "she's so cute and awesome! Does she have a new tattoo?" xD even japanese are curious about her tattoos more than for a fact she's topless xD so we can asume that only those fans who in general have views on nudity of any level, casual listeners and former fans can be bothered by "topless" xD

I actually ended up talking to her about this and how insulting people's comments were. And she in fact said that lots of people get shocked that she likes Ayu saying that she's old and nerdy and that the only thing that makes her look young in pictures is photoshop. Also she mentioned that people also don't particulary like that she became international....i guess Japanese just doesn't like the attitude she adopted and that she doesn't follow the Japanese pattern... She also said " I love her music ,lifestyle ,and her smile. whatever the people who dont like her say.." and "Star is a star. always shining:)" so yeah. there are genuine fans of her.

awww :) that's so nice to hear that (her fandom for ayu and not caring about other people's opinions)

^Yeah that was really interesting to read!

I'm sure she will release another single someday - she's just taking a break for now.

Take notes, AHS!

And I'm really dissapointed she won't release singles because:
A) They're fun! Its so much fun seeing the covers and PVs, and hearing the songs
B) Its BS because LOVE and Again were singles, 4/3A singles.

i think she cares a bit. every time she has a new release out she RTs fans that tweet her the chart positions from various online stores...she was even RTing chart positions for her app on itunes.


this might be ayu's most qt perf ever, i die @ the last 10 seconds :littleang
http://www.yinyuetai.com/video/191303

She isn't releasing singles anymore because she knows she can't mantain her glorious streak but she doesn't wanna admit it...

^
That sounds like Avex, not Ayu, lol. No doubt Avex is scared to death to lose the streak, I don't really know how much Ayu cares about it... probably not very much, imo.

Ayu can easily maintain her streak, they've just got to be selective about the week.

Singles are pointless. She can promote for the same effect with promotional tracks.

As long as the music is good.

Apparently not. They keep fans hyped up and get potential ones' attention, which she severely needs. If not for them, for us.

I wish ayu did interesting photoshoots similar to album or single covers for her magazine appearances.
http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/50...NEXT+LEVEL.png

All her magazines kinda all have the same styling, hair, photography, etc. I understand that the magazine has to appeal to their audience but it would be nice!

I had the most weirdest Ayu dream in a long time. She released a song called "Chic" and it was 75% in English. It was a weird song too. A total urban pop mess with a twist of Beautiful Fighters. When I woke up, I was like "WTF?".

God, how much I loved NEXT LEVEL covers and booklet shoots.
I don't see it that way for magazines, anyway, 'cause for me they're just that, magazines. Not that I wouldn't love something more ispired (mhhh Majesty shoot <3) but it's not so important, even something just nice will do.
But with albums, I'm a LOT more picky. That's why I loathed LOVE again covers so much, they're totally inadequate. They could have been fitting in a magazine scan, but a studio album cover? I don't think so, babe. Pretty is not enough.
And I remember I was so disappointed in R'n'R Circus covers as well, 'cause they could have done SO much better than that! The booklet is amazing, so why the covers are so dull? I expected something like Kuu did for Dejavu.

I just heard SAKURA and petal after I didn't for awhile (listening to some new namie and kuu stuff). Oh my, that was awesome! Sometimes I like adding some echo (delay) effects, especially to beautiful ballads and I did it with SAKURA and I got heavenly goosebumps!! SAKURA and petal are so old ayu high level songs. (Could see SAKURA on I am...). Really best songs on LOVE again and 2 of her best ballads of recent years. ayu's lyrics and her composers are mostly strong. I know a lot of people are tired of their styles and ayu not chaging things up too much, but really with such ballads who needs other kinds? (I do agree she has to try more club/dance/electro stuff, Sparkle is one of top fav songs) and I do miss some up beat ayu. We need an album like with 10/11 dance tracks and 3 ballads, for just once. Well I would miss her rocking so maybe 10, 2 rock, 2 ballad lol.

Casual listeners will happily buy digital releases, and those are selling a lot more than physical singles anyway. Right now, the physical copies are good for collectors (like most of the idols fandom), but they aren't doing much for solo artists... Just check Namie or Kana physical single sales.

Sorry, but a song don't need a CD with an instrumental and an extra track to become a hit. Considering the legendary status of tracks like A song for XX or First Love, they never really did, actually.

Edit: After all the NEXT LEVEL meltdown I find it really funny to see people praising it nowadays...

Technically she can release singles and not lose her streak. Avex can just ask Oricon to not track the single like they've done in the past with other releases (mostly recently JYJ's dome DVD/CD).

:yes ! They did it for 10 years so they can ! Like all the others singers/bands (Kinki Kids, b'z ...).

It's nothing new, since MY STORY (maybe with the except of (m)u less the covers) each of ayu's albums got a lot of critisizm/some hate. I don't think that NL was that exceptional in that.

Even though I started to be on ayu forums since mid 2004 so I'm not sure how was it back in Memorial address and pre- eras on the forums.

If I remember it right, NL had a PQ hating level... It wasn't the usual "I hate everything she does because I'm a fan" that usually happens all the time xD

I find it speacially amusing to read people praising the cover, considering people reacted to it like it was a photo of Ayu killing puppies at the time.