LOL. I beg to differ.

AGREED. this post is what it is. its as i've simply accepted as her current self. i could care less of the rest of the posts which are repetitions and paraphrased statements of who's standards she can no longer keep up with and/or live up to and other [childish] ranting of things that don't even seem as great as even to be "trivial", which makes me shake my head and sigh. she's still my number one because she still does most of the things i love her for which has nothing to do with the designs of this and that and the such. and i don't intend to sound ayu-worshiping or defensive because, overall, seeing all of this as a whole and putting a simple understanding to it, i don't blame her for anything she eventually decides to do. she's doing what she is--musical entertainer: sing, write. and still, although she has changed, her music is still of great composition, musically and lyrically. i have yet to find another who can do the same to me. it hasn't occurred yet. and honestly, her voice sooo sounds worn out now after i've watched CDL. she appeared to be struggling but fighting at the same time. bless her heart.

@Coelacanth so do i. lots of people do that, just to hate. they find it amusing.

Yes I know Ma is a mini album, but if her popularity did continue from RAINBOW, it should be sold more than that. That is how I felt when I saw Ma's first week sales back at that moment. I was (and still am) quite surprised what a big drop from a 2 million sold RAINBOW to 1 million sold Ma. I think A BALLADS was the turning point for the sudden release, where it came to a saturated point that the general public felt annoyed by her speedy release of another best album, even tho A BALLADS was a different type of best album. I wonder what the sales of Ma would be if A BALLADS wasn't released. Probly Ma would have been sold for 1.5 million at least.

LOL we really see differently. I see the queen feel when she performed A song for xx :P. And the clowns.. I dun really care about them :). Back then the camera mainly focused on ayu (as opposed to nowadays, with shuya + maro + zin + background vocal twins + the band).

There's way too many posts to sort through on this thread so I only read a couple of comments on the last few pages.

IMO not really, we're probably just asking for too much. I first discovered Ayu back around 2001-2002ish and fell in love with her sense of fashion, persona that was the 'cute' ayu, her wonderfully written lyrics, and songs. Not to mention she was very different from the usual western stuff I'd listened to. I remember watching M and listening to the lyrics and getting a warm sense of nostalgia. Her older works like A Song for XX and POWDER SNOW were something that I could really connect with. Pretty much everything up til My Story was great, and that's when I took a break from her music. I came back and tried to force myself to like her new releases and performances but it just wasn't the same. She'd changed, but that's to be expected as we all mature and get older. I used to love watching her live, even if her voice wasn't the best. Now everything from her is a bit mediocre and repetitive. I don't get that same feeling I did years ago when she would release something. Out of the multitude of things she's released since (miss)understood, I can't remember most of the songs except for a few off of each album. Still, there still is something about Ayu that always keeps me coming back, and as long as its there I'll still be a fan of hers. According to a translation of one of her interviews, her next album will have sort of an older style feel to it. I'll be looking forward to it.

^ I'm not trying to start anything with you, but I would just like to say that I, personally, do not think Ayumi has changed very much at all - it's hardly noticeable - from her debut. She's still the same Ayu to me... And maybe some of you honestly feel that she's changed, but...Really, I think most of you who are saying she's "different" (not you, in particular, N3ko, just people in general) are actually the ones who have changed, not Ayumi.

Yes, I agree with Coela and Tenshi. Besides, there are sub-forums here for a wide variety of artists and such, so not everybody comes here specifically for Ayu (if at all *ahem*). And really, I can speak about this personally: There are certain sites/forums/threads that I look into often, even though I don't like the artists - some of them I even hate. I do so because, some of those artists I try to give another chance (like Amuro or Do As Infinity), and some because I just want to keep up with how the "competition" (...too many artists to name, lol) is doing. And I'm sure many people have other reasons, too. Just because you're here, that doesn't mean you LOVE Ayu--it doesn't even have to mean you LIKE her. (I'm sure most people here at least like her, but I'm just saying.)

It's totally on now, you've started a war! JK. :D

I was a teenager when I discovered her so yeah I've changed. But she's definitely not the same person mentally now as she was during A Song for XX. She's more mature now and Diva-ish I dare say. The whole Bold and Delicious thing even if it was a cover *shiver* threw me off for a bit. Everyone "changes" as they get older, learn new things, etc... Everyone has their own opinion on Ayu, which is a good thing. It'd be kind of weird if everyone agreed on everything concerning Ayu.

I come here too to check on other artists besides Ayu and visit other parts of this forum not designated to Ayu.

Well, yeah, she's definitely more of a diva now, and more mature; of course she's changed that way. We witnessed the end or her growing-up during her debut, and now we're getting into that experienced diva thing now, but....

All along, all I've seen, throughout all of her mentality and image changes, is this same core of a person. And for me, that deep-down Ayu is what has always shined through the very most, so my mind totally passes over the fact that she's already gone through over ten years worth of changes - and some pretty big changes, at that - since she hit the public's eye.
And even though she's experimented with her music, it still has the same Ayu-feel, to this day, as it did during A Song for XX. And, in certain ways, I can easily lump together every music era she's been through, too, into simply the music of Ayumi Hamasaki. Of course, Duty-era is easily distinguishable from NEXT LEVEL-era, and so on..but what I'm saying is, there's no change in the overall feel. It's just.....Ayu. Even her concerts feel that way to me. Some albums and concerts are much better than others, and some just, honestly, aren't that good. But I love them all, because they all have those certain common elements that I can't explain.......

And in the end, Ayu is just Ayu. Diva-Ayu from this year is no different from inexperienced Ayu from '98.
I guess, because I see it this way - where she's always been trying out new things, yet staying her same true self - she hasn't lost "it" yet. And honestly, if she's kept such a hold on my interest all these years, I don't think she ever will lose her touch. Not for me, at least.

I really liked this year's CDL she seems much more enthusiastic, and the outfits were great. I liked the stage sets and dances. I thought the alic cotume was a little short, but I think this is one of Ayu's best preformances. The one thing I noticed is that her voice seemed muffled (like the mike wasn't at the right leval. But that might just be b/c I watched the tv version

Ayu has definitely changed throughout the years. She's way more confident in herself now than before. I think that's where that diva attitude comes from. I remember when Mirrorcle World PV came out, I was disappointed like most people. Not even the most clever analysis could persuade me that it was a good PV. But I just saw it the other day on Ayu's youtube channel and I was STUNNED. Her attitude in the PV I think represents the Ayu we see today. Strong, confident and fierce. Also, very very silly xD; lol.

Crystal_Ageha

True, she's always been 'Ayu' at heart and distinguishable from any other Jpop artist. Like you said, she'll never lose "it", whatever it may be that keeps me coming back. Personally, I miss identifying with her pre My Story era and the dark undertones in her Duty era. NEXT LEVEL was something I couldn't identify with and that's what I listen to Ayu for. Artists like Namie (I know this is an Ayu thread) I listen to just for something entertaining and to dance along to. Ayu has always been the artist I go to for inspiration and the sincerity of her lyrics in her ballads. (no more words) I did get a little bit of that from 'You were...' and 'RED LINE ~for TA~' so for now I'm appeased.

On a side note, it doesn't feel like ten years have gone by, the years are just slipping past me.

The whole diva thing kinda reminds me of Mariah Carey. :innocent Of course without the running around in lingerie thing in videos.

^ Not familiar with Mariah, sorry xD;

Don't think you wanna be....

Here is a clip of her on a Japanese show with Namie. She's the blond(ish) person in the middle.

I don't think she is like Mariah at all, and I even get a little offended by this comment xD But take in consideration that I'm a Mariah hater...

I don't think she takes herself too seriously to be considered a diva... She still do some pretty stupid stuff just for fun, don't demand absurd stuff from her staff or from hotels when she is touring, etc. Mariah has staff people just to hold her dress while she walks, ask for red/pink/whatever carpets with no reason, etc... While Ayu just use expensive clothers, and still, when she is promoting herself... on the making offs and blog pics, she is almost always with no make up and using casual outfits... So, even if I can see the diva persona on her, I can't see her as a diva on the bad conotation...

This. She has the diva-esque looks without the bad personality that can be associated with it. Ayu's such a sweetheart. I remember seeing her taking the time out of a busy day to sign autographs.

When she was promoting Mirrocle world, the make-up, PV, and shoots reminded me of Mariah--not her actions. Mariah is so fake to me at times and just full of herself. I mean yeah she can sing and all, but...

WTF? Just to hold her dress? Demanding certain colored carpets? :no

Ayu's persona is waay different than Manatee's... Mariah's. :innocent

^She asked for people on a hotel to put a pink carpet on the entrace and she kept on her limo until they did it...

Why are people like this famous?

I wonder what would have happened if they'd just ignored her request or told her to go screw herself. HULK ANGRY! :roflmao

LOL that is ridiculous. Ayu can probably be a diva sometimes but she is mostly really sweet. People can insult her voice, fashion, photo shoots, etc, but I don't see how anyone can insult her personality. She's such a wonderful person.

By diva, I meant the glamorous style she has. I didn't mean diva in a bad way lol.

A-Museum did have some really weird outfits and a weird set, but the performances were excellent.