I really can't understand why Ayu doesn't realease any single, IMO ayufans need physical single. Lately, Ayu has released too much mini-albums. I think a good single is much better than a mini-album with 3 or 4 songs...

^ agreed.

My step-sis went to taiwan and she saw an Ayumi sticker (just her normal A symbol) and decided to buy it for me as a small little gift. And it cost like 30 bucks. I was just like what is it doing in taiwan and why is it so expensive for a sticker.
Also, is Ayu any popular anymore in Taiwan? She's all quiet down these days that there's almost no news about her anymore ><

No as much as before I guess but she remains one of the most popular japanese singer for sure ^^

i have a feeling that she will eventually release a single because if she doesnt then she really be in trouble cause she her albums or other releases are not selling alot and she needs to do something that will increase her sales and popularity.

^Yes,me too. I've always thought that she'll release a single someday...or at least I hope so. I think she/they are waiting for the right moment.

Last night I dreamed that Ayu was going to released a new single and the song was BORING (a midtempo song a la melody) XD I was disappointed
:laugh

Do a song with AKB48. BAM! shes popular again, lol

^
Omg, what would it even come out of that, lol? I'd be actually curious.

At this point I would take anything as long as she release a single. I've never heard a song by AKB48 so I don't really know if they would mesh well. Plus, t'll be nice to see Ayu's name on top again.

Idk, now I just have this image in my head, of Ayu being a giant mother hen and a huge bunch of young girls jumping around her... And that would be pretty much the video of a collaboration with AKB48, I suppose.
... Is it so horrible that I'm actually liking this image, lol? But I hate AKB48 music, so I'm not sure I really want it to happen. But if this was for a single... God, what I'd go along with for a single.

I once dreamt of a collab between Ayu, Namie and Kuu. Now that was epic! Also dreamt of a collab between Ayu and Gackt. Ah! I just want some new music from Ayu!

If only that was true! I like all three of them. Maybe it would stop people from going "blah blah Ayu sucks Kuu rox no no no Namie slays both of them" for a little bit. (I don't understand why people fight over whose better. I think they're all good. Imo, of course. U.U)

No Namie please..Koda and Ayu would be cool because they're artists on similar wave lengths..where as Namie is more like an Idol singer who just records engrish given to her and has no personality or character.

How dare you! Feel is better than most of Madonna's, Britney's, Ayumi's and Koda's careers together! :eviltongu

:innocent

:P

I agree that: Kinda like perfume. I dont care for those girls. I care for nakata. He's a genius.

but i also really like feel. much more than ayu's latest work. Ayu's still number 1 for me, though.

staph all this and say that Ayu is pretty, instead xD
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...71026210_n.jpg

Her face XD :D Definitely the prettiest XD

Pretty ^^

I listen to Who Chinese Version and even if the pronounciation is not very good I find the way she sings so beautifull much better than the japanese version (10th anniversary) ! What do you think lol ?

^ I find it more sweet maybe because chinese sounds are softer than japanese :laugh
I love both though :heart

Yes that's possible it's like butter xD

I forgot all about that song! I didn't know whether I liked it or not at first, but today, I really love it :heart

I kinda don't want her to do an akb thing, just because, those are young girls....and I know everyone is going to bring her age into it.


I don't really want her to collaborate with anyone tbh unless it's a cool rocker chick.

she sounds really nice here! tho it's kinda weird to hear her sing in Chinese lol

I was looking up that Twitter account of Ayumi's English lyrics today (@Ayu_engLyrics ) and noticed they haven't updated since last year. (I used to look at the lyrics quite often when it popped up on Ayumi's account).

I kinda want to follow it. It's a shame it's not more active. Fun reading it though!

Was watching a 10 hour youtube video of Hodor...and saw Ayu on the side.


Someone needs to make a 10 hour Ayu vibrato video. Or maybe 10 hours of Ayu on crack dancing from Energize.

Better: using clips of ayu's vibrato of doom from various songs to make a remix song

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!
I got my ticket for SUNDAY night!!!!
AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

um there's this ayu_angel twitter or something along those lines that tweets english Ayu lyrics too.

Cool, thanks! I'll see if I can find 'em on Twitter!

Ayu's impact!!
http://25.media.tumblr.com/b6a880148...dxx8o1_500.jpg

^what is that from lol?

http://halftheskymovement.tumblr.com...age-of-daban-3

Does anyone know where I can buy S Cawaii with Ayu in Tokyo?

Good lord I don't know how to react to that pic.....

I do not want to be a hater, but I just watched her BLUE BIRD/ evolution performance she did at FNS. I don't get it: the A Song for Xx recording from her tour was really good, and then this... crap. It's so disappointing.

^odd cuz that A SONG FOR XX didn't really do anything for me i thought it was megh *shrugs*

Ayu's performance at FNS yesterday was so lovely. BLUE BIRD made me wanna dance, then it somehow made me tear up. I don't know. For some reason that song makes me wanna cry. D: Maybe it's the lyrics. :3

^BLUE BIRD made me tear up several summer's ago. It was because summer was ending... So I decided to sing the song for my family before summer ended.

it actually made me kinda teary too, but i think it was because Ayu looked all so happy and seemed like she had so much fun! She was radiating! i guess that's why ^^"

I should totally reenact the boat scenes of the BLUE BIRD PV when I go on my own boat this weekend.

Listening to some random songs today, makes me realize again how freaking good ayu's music really is. It's just really unique.

I wish she'd do something extraordinary for the next studio album or A BEST 3, whatever comes first. I want a great concept like the old ones. No more bland covers, PV's, pics...

Also, kinda off-topic, but I'm surprised by how fast I've got tired of FEEL. I really loved it at first but it quickly faded into my library. I guess it's due to the lack of emotion. :/

Dead

In all honesty, I think Ayu has more emotion in her music than namie ever will.

I got a cold empty feeling from FEEL too, it could have been a vocaloid album.

Yup, same goes for me. FEEL was great for the first few listens and then kinda went downhill from there.

Is it just me, or is Ayu's music becoming more emotional over time? Listened to Love again today, and Melody, SAKURA, Sweet scar and Ivy really struck me. They're really heavy...

^ and Missing didn't? That song is a highlight to me as far as emotion in the song.

Sweet scar is gold. From the very first time I heard it I knew it was going to become one of my faves from her.
As for FEEL, the only song that has stuck with me is Contrail especially for its concept than the song itself. The album is kinda ok but it becomes boring after a while.

Oops, I thought I put that one in! :thud

It's quite a sad album really. It's not 'dark' like Duty or GUILTY, but I think it really rivals them in the devastation aspect.

Everything just seems so two sided with it. Even You & Me being strategically placed at the end to supposedly signify a *cycle* (at least that's how I saw it, why else wouldn't she have put it next to Song 4 u and Wake Me Up? The rest of the setlist was arranged in a way that was cohesive, so why not this song?)

Melody being a final 'melody'.
SAKURA's significance.
untitled for her...story 2 - 'nuff said.

I don't think there's really been songs like this since GUILTY.
Or at least, as emotionally intense.

Ayu, so complex as per usual.
This album just doesn't get enough love. :no

I love Sweet scar. Missing is fine but it never hit me as an AMAZING track, neither did Ivy or SAKURA. They are all good but nothing special. I like 'em tho.

i'd wish for Ayu to go with something new tho the fact is, if 90% is gonna not like it, i know i am gonna love it XD One thing i am hoping is the end of light/washed out photoshoots. I like the styling of simplicity, but i'm craving for new fierce (NOT A HEAVY MAKE-UP/FISH LIPS) photoshoots to use for graphics... i hadn't used anything new from hers since the album came out. >_>

Missing, Sweet scar, Melody and Ivy are amazing for me! ♥ I also love Gloria, untitled ~for her~ story 2 and You & Me. :) I should listen that album more though because I'm still not that familiar with the songs on the album. Too bad I'm too obsessed with Kuu and T-Ara to concentrate on Ayu. >_>

I noticed that too! It really felt like You & Me was there to restart the circle of falling in love and having your heart broken again and again

^ Same here.
By the way, I think that the last seconds of the song are quite suitable to close the album.
And if I was unhappy of having it in LOVE again at first, now I'm happy with it because You & Me has grown a lot on me~ :laugh

It's probably an unpopular opinion, but I loved the idea of putting You & Me at the end of the album, it's SO fitting, just like it was great to start with Wake me up.
And I remember I was shocked when I read that Ayu was blamed in Japan nowdays for being "a silly and naive woman in love", when the last two albums of her were so heavily sad, dark and made to make you think about life and feelings! I was "It's not like she's releasing songs like Sunrise, even You & Me is tragic somehow!"

^People aren't going much into the album's content besides the cover... Even around here. Party queen is a sad example of that.

IMO LOVE again is a damn boring album... But the concept is really inteligent and well worked, just like her 2 past albums.

LOVEagain is rather bland for me but there are some gems on it. I really like Missing :)

Ayu needs to perform As if... one day.

Perhaps in a medley with monochrome.

The two songs seem to be very similar lyrically...

LOVE again doesn't really work as an album, but it has some good songs there like snowy kiss and Wake me up.

I want to get an Ayu-related tattoo (like a lot of people) buttttt... call me crazy but I have always really loved Ayu's back tattoo.
Do you guys know of a way I could have the same tattoo but personalized in some way? Obvi most of you guys don't know me personally but any general ideas would really help.

Omg I was watching the Days video the other day and Ayu's hair is so CUUUUUTE with that little beanie thing she was wearing. Like her hair is just ugh so flawless.

just why this woman keeps spreading her scandal image?!! I'm really disappointed with Majesty mag cover!!

she appeared at FNS last week and next days some of my Japanese friends said "ayu came back!". they were really excited and etc. I'm not sure if they like the Majesty cover though.

man... this really sucks, but it feels like every time I say "I like ayu", everyone here thinks "oh this girl got a bad taste"...

^ I think you're worrying about her image and what others think too much
-on one side.

In general, how is she perceived by the public?

@YUKARI: I agree with ComatoseBunnySnatcher, you're worrying too much about what other people may think about you, even when they're being unreasonable or ridiculously judgmental.

Ayu isn't doing anything 'wrong' imo by posing topless

In my own humble opinion, the Duty cover is the most sauciest shoot she's ever done. It's just so sexualized. Was there controversy regarding that one? Yet, it is her most successful album...

This one doesn't even come close. It's a kind of manufactured 'sexy' that a lot of celebrities have done. XD

This XD

If a popular singer would do it they would say nothing ! that's all ... but after you may not like it but it's different ^^

as some people who live in Japan said, Japan is a country which by the thinking about subjects like this is like 50s America.... i'm not surprisd at all... Frankly i am proud of Ayu just doing her own things that she herself feels comfortable with. I believe for a superstar/legend like her this is the bravest thing to do.

^
totally agree. I'm happy she's doing what she wants now and get rid of cute and innocent image she had lately.
Nothing against that kind of style though, but it's nice to see her more confident.

I've just discovered that LOVE again is so good.The concept beneath the album was so cleverly thought & structured and I totally agree with some members from here who praised the position of You & Me as the closer of the album.

Secret too. I don't remember when was the last time I enjoyed this album so much as a whole (TODAY was the day)...considering it was the first ayu album I've listened, it will always have a special place in my heart.

I agree ! I don't want to judge japanese people but I feel some hypocrisy they act like conservative people but their country is probably one of the more sexualized lol I don't say it just because of Ayu's cover)

You know, I was thinking today... I don't even blame japanese culture, for being essentially the most ipocrite thing ever (pedophil... ah-emh, I mean, idol groups), after all, I love Japan and, as I'm italian, I'm the last who can talk about idiotic culture traits.
It's just infuriating, because I know it's only a matter of POPULARITY. If someone is "big", culture traditions don't matter at all, they'll say that person is super brave and avant-garde. If they're going down, nothing matters anymore: everything is uncool and a desperate call for attention. ...Damn.

I don't really judge them but as you say it is quite a hypocricy, because echi material manga and magz are easily bought at convenience stores but when they see a cover like THIS one, that's REALLY clean and not even vulgar they're flipping over it lol On the other hand i kinda agree with marty up there, for example if Namie ( I LOVE NAMIE, DON'T START JUMPING ON ME LOL) did somethign like this, it, i can guarantee you, would be TOTALLY APROPRIATE AND FINE, and would be considered promotional material or bravery, just because she's on a wave of success again lol


I am actually surprised some troll hadn't posted that cover over Arama on LJ, yet ,along with some lousy title...surprising.

I agree with you guys..
To me, it looks like everything ayu does is scandalous or a lose of style or whatever.. >_>
I mean, why does she have to be so hated? :no
If you find everything she does from a negative point of view, why keeping on "following" her?
Just live and let live..

And just to change topic, I'm watching CDL 2010-2011 ~do it again~ right now and I'm wondering if the short hair during encore is real or not.
I mean, from SEVEN DAYS WAR to DREAM ON she has wet and longer hair which looks real, and now short and possibly real..
I wanna knowwwww~~~~ XD

^No,It's just a wig.The same one she's wearing at the beginning :)

And,I'm wondering when we'll see the a-nation goodies...I can't wait to see how do they look this year!

^ So the hair during Marionette - Mirrorcle World is real too! Somehow I couldn't believe it! XD
Thank you~! ^^

I think she once said that she said she liked Franz Ferdinand?? I can't remember when that was but I would estimate it was pre-2010




I'm anticipating a new release. I just feel like it would be great for a big release close to, or on her birthday.....

Still haven't watched CDL12-13 or AT12. Damn, I've been slow. D: You can blame it on FFXIII and inspiration which that game gives me every time. XD

she's also mentioned smashing pumpkins too.

Ayu mentions in the Majesty Japan interview that she's not interested in releasing singles anymore.

Roughly: Up until recently she's always been given deadlines, but now she's more into the idea of recording a bunch of songs and when she feels that "feeling" of whether or not they're all complete, that's when she'll release it. But as an album.



Which you know, is all fine and dandy to say, but girl, LOVE and again were singles.

...And here goes my happiness.
No, joking aside, is it me, or I sense a "I don't give a **** about popularity race anymore" hidden in her words? I don't think it's a good decision, but it's her decision, so it's the right one anyway. But, boy, I think it's not gonna be easy if she really sticks with it.
Or maybe she'll start a new trend and the way things are done in Japan (singles > albums) is gonna change. Which I wouldn't like, btw. I adore singles. But people don't buy them anymore, unless it's from idol groups or boybands!

Oh well, it was almost obvious I think.. XD

Just watched DOME TOUR 2001 for the first time. It was.. different maybe? I can't say, really.
I only know that I felt so much nostalgia watching it, and it's strange because I didn't even know ayumi at that time.
Oh, and I saw Gomi with hair.. Blonde hair.. OMG :laugh
And I think it's beautiful that members like Yo-chan, Enrique, Kayano, Midori are still there after so many years.
And Who... really touched me~ ♥

Well if it's her decision I respect it. I love singles but if you think about it...it may be a good idea for our pockets xD

?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.