omg you're right, which means I've probably been a fan for 8 years already :shakehead I've know her since the start of high school, gooosh

These last few eras just flew by. From her debut to MY STORY was only like 6 or 7 years, so... dang, lol.

I cannot believe Days is almost eight years old--I remember vividly when it was released and I still love the song. That era was A COMPLETE / NEXT LEVEL was gold. Even though the latter is not my favorite album of hers, the singles were so exciting!

Looking at the fragrance thread, I kinda hope we get "A FRAGRANCE" one day. I wonder what it'd smell like... hopefully not too floral.

^ I would love her to release her own perfume but I'm almost certain it would be floral.

And "A Song for XX" and "LOVEppears" are 17 years old. I started my collection from "Moments" 12 years ago O___O

Well.. soon we'll celebrate 20th anniversary.

Feels like absolutely yesterday I was eagerly anticipating Rock and roll Circus in the mail...that's already 6 years ago now! Time is scary, man.

I'd love to see her release a fragrance too, btw. I seem to remember her saying she was more of a lotion person, perfumed lotions and such, so I doubt it'll happen. But who knows? I'd buy it!

omg, I didn't realize that o____o

2008 feels like it was just 2 years ago...

Colours was 2 years ago, it feels like yesterday :no

Okay so I've been re-listening to A ONE recently because I was never really warmed up to it. When she was hyping it as THE ALBUM WHERE SHE RETURNS TO HER ROOTS I was so excited but for some reason this album really bored me out, music-wise and lyrics-wise. Can somebody make an analysis of this album because I really don't want to trash the album away simply because I can't quite grasp what is it she's trying to say....

Hm... for me, A ONE was about her doing what she wants on her terms and hitting 'reset' on her musical career with a renewed sense of self. Though the only song that illustrated this was WARNING, but she only really needed one song.

I think it seems boring since she was a bit more restrained on the album, possibly on purpose. She said she created many more tracks for A ONE but we only got the best of the best. Personally I got the vibe that she was trying to get into the mindset of the ASFXX Ayu but in the present day as she is now.

Was looking through some Twitter stuff a while back and there are still people who are like "I'd rather buy I am.... and not this garbage MADE IN JAPAN album"... like... seriously? That album was 15 years ago, get over yourselves and get with the times!

The ANGEL'S SONG PV is worse than anything on Colours. It's hilarious though. I'm crying.

It was intentionally cheesy though, lol.

I mean that old lady who is just SCREAMING...

Ayu turning into a WOLF...??

The worst is when something is bad but it was never intended to be as such, lol.

Who can say for sure? ANGELS SONG and Greatful Days are such a blight on Memorial Address...ugh.

Well, one could argue XOXO was intentionally bad as well :D

But omg those stunts when she was a wolf. I died when she was spinning in the air

ANGEL'S SONG is still one of my favorite songs ever.

kiss o' kill is so darn good.

Does it seem to anyone else that Wake me up was made for NEXT LEVEL originally?

Oh oh oh... Melody is like Ayu's most snuggly song ever. I love the feeling I get when I listen to it.

A ONE was discussed to be an album that's about herself and you know, the whole running away and coming back thing. 'You' in the lyrics seemed to be referring to herself, the self that she wants back. I think as discussed before (a few pages back) about CdM being career themed, I'm pretty sure A ONE and CdM are very closely related thematically.

Running away/changing herself and being very headstrong about the decision, then realising that it's a huge mistake and wanting to go back to who she was, then eventually experiencing happiness after being back with people who cares about her - people in Japan and her fans. Last minute's PV also kinda exemplified that conflict between the WARNING attitude (black Ayu) and the Ayu that wants to go back and find herself (red Ayu). I thought it was interesting how the lyrics of WARNING and Zutto... were so contrasting.

ANGEL'S SONG was intentionally cheesy? oh thank god, I had no idea. I mean it made me laugh but I remember watching it the first time going 'THESE PEOPLE GOT PAID FOR THIS!?' xD

Well, I learned something today. xD

What makes you think this? Is it the sound of the song?
I know that Love Again was basically a collection of demos but I've never been able to place that track into an era where it may have come from. I think Ayu mentioned "saving it", but it never occurred to me the time period where it may be from.

Oh, Melody is so good! Both that song and Sweet Scar bring to mind the "classic Ayu" to me. It's such a warm song, so inviting. Sweet Scar calls back to those bittersweet songs Ayu had early on.

The beginning of Wake me up fits in perfectly with the NEXT LEVEL aesthetic.