im loving ittt
omg
so niceeeeeeeee and calming n soothinggggggggggg
i like the chorusssssssssssssss arghhhhhhhhh
ayu has done it again !!

LOL it does for me.

What bugs me more is when people that don't know say she's flawless. She has a lot of errors in her live performances.

I know! I would've loved an instrumental for this! I have to keep reminding myself that there will be no JEWEL single :cry

I like the song! Even those the live perf wasn't that good. Can't wait till the mini album come out and I am hoping ayu perf 1love before her album gets release. I really wanna hear that song!

maybe we'll be lucky and get an instrumental anyway..

Ignorance = bliss.

Definately. She does indeed sound far from perfect.

The opening of AT06 was pretty horrible.

I really like it. :) Definitely her best song this year so far and I liked it more than Heaven. (was never really a big Heaven fan.)

Really? What song was the opening?

is it Born To Be..?
yeah i do notice some places were a little off during the performance.. but no wonder what, it's a really good performance to me (simply I haven't seen her live for a long long time)

Born To Be..., yes.

@Sunny - I don't think HEAVEN and JEWEL make a very good comparison, HEAVEN is more soothing while JEWEL has more pressure in it, well, I agree though, I prefer JEWEL too.

I liked the song but yep, her performance was rather average. There's an interesting part that would sound excellent if ayu did it well, switching from verses to chorus, but unfortunatelly she holds the notes awkwardly and it ends up sounding weird instead. I really hope the studio version won't have that problem :)

People just get soo defensive!
BLUE BIRD's first perfromance wasn't fabulous either,but it doesn't mean that she can't do it well....performers naturally have off performances!
Talk about blind adoration.Ayu's vocals are lovely so much of the time,but pitch perfect is not something she consistently is. Compare the performance of evolution from A MUSEUM to...well,many others! Sometimes its on,sometimes it isn't...it doesn't mean she's any less wonderful.

I feel that JEWEL is a vary classy balad for Ayu. A lot of her ballads lately have been more power ballads. This one gives me the same feeling that CAROLS gave me when I first listened to that one.

Also doesn't mean we can't pick up on/dislike it when she's not on her a game fully. It happens, but that doesn't mean we should like it regardless.

I still want a hard rock song from Ayu. Where's depressed and gothic Ayu when you need her?

^I put my hopes to 1LOVE.

I want Beautiful Fighters to be remixed into an ultimately, insanely depressing-sounding power ballad with Ayu crying as she sings the... uplifting positive lyrics.

And I still want the same PV with that new ultra-manic version.

That would be wicked awesome! With clowns and cars like the Twisted Metal game!

<3

well... this is even harder than asking for a bonus+hidden track. i dun think ayu would remake Beautiful Fighters for this mini album.. :no

I want them to re-make it.

And remove the pitched voice.

All I know is, I like how she sounds. I do not care if it isn't 100% technically perfect at all times.

I really like the song overall, however she missed a BIG opportunity to add some gorgeous strings and suiting synths where they would really, really fit. Oh well, I suppose you can't get everything.

I agree 100%.

Who knows, we're still to listen to the album version :).

^ and the release date is not that far.

Next month!!!

this song was really grow on me
first time hear it...i found it a little plain and bland
but after hear it 10 times...this song was AWESOME
i love this song very much..so sweet and romantic
this was first time ayu perform it live so there is still a few mistake but she will learn how to sing it perfectly..believe me she can do it...

Let's see the song we have now and compare to Memorial Address album


ANGEL'S SONG - Beauitful Fighters or Born to Be... (?)
Greatful Days - BLUE BIRD ( Both songs have the theme of summer.)
Because of You - 1LOVE (?)
ourselves - ( I cannot find any songs to compare with.)
HANABI ~ II~ - ( I cannot find any songs to compare with.)
No way to say - (I cannot find any songs to compare with.)
forgiveness - JEWEL (somehow the style is similar, I think.)
Memorial Address - ( I cannot find any songs to compare with in new mini album)

and We have one more song "Startin'" that cannot compare with.

Conclusion : The new mini album will be 40% similar to Memorial Address. 60% are new either good or bad style.

I wish there were few songs which had to be changed a bit, like alterna (single version) and (album version).

Really nice ballad, but I'm not sure yet if I think it's better than HEAVEN...

I'd say that the sound of BLUE BIRD is a lot more similar to ANGEL'S SONG than Greatful days.

40% similar? Maybe arrangement wise, if you look at the feel of the songs I think it'll be pretty similar overall, only that the new album has a lot more happiness mixed in.

Well it's a good thing that it isn't simillar to Memorial address...we don't want a repeated album.

It sounds very nice. I'm impressed and looking forward to the album version.

I don't know if I should listen. XDD I guess I'll hear this but not touch the any early rips.

There were some parts where she could have gone softer on the vocals...but overall I like the performance and the song. Can't wait for the studio version.

Sorry, I hate it :(

The preview made it sound awseome.

wow many ppl are giving good commemnts about JEWEL! i bet i will like it when i hear it :yes

that problem exists from time to time. I bet those parts in album version would definitely be much softer. e.g., the last word before going to chorus..

Yup. And I think the Studio version will be spectacular. Anyways, imperfections in live performances are the ones I live for :D

Going old school...IS CRAZY AWESOME!!

This song reminds me of Haru yo, koi. Her voice really resonanted with that one; I've ranted on it.

The flaws in this performance weren't excruciatingly dissonant. I rather like them...they convey vulnerability. Besides, it's an unbelieveably emotional song for her. This song has a lot of character. I like that. It's more repetitive than I expected, but no complaints.

omg. I love JEWEL the more I listen to it. =D

Well, about Ayu oversinging:
She always does that with ballads. It's something you know will happen. Remember that Ayu is not a professional singer. Her voice really isn't made for singing.. she just had fun karaoke-ing and so happened to come across a big exec... and now she's a queen :D [really someone who is picked up like that would not even be accepted for this long of a period..]

<3

I have to agree with Hikari, ayu is no where near perfect when it comes to control, but her voice is lovely none the less, its just that when people like celine dion or mariah carey sing, the control is amazing.

As for the song. its nice but doesn't really blow me away, maybe when its "filled" it'll be more appealing, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the chorus......too bad there won't be an instrumental

She's not even a professional singer. :p

I think that even Ayu will admit that her vocals are not exactly the best. But I strongly believe that she is a born-performer/entertainer.

Singing's just one of those things she does. She's better at it than most 'entertainers' but she's still not as good as those who have strived since they were born to be singers, you know?

I love her for this <3 and the fact that she's STILL going strong today is amazing!

^It's cause she's got things that no one can ever take away from her...with regard to her singing, it's the timbre...so very special in this big world.

i love it. i've always loved Ayu's ballads and this is no exception. i can't wait for the studio version! =) and the PV as well!

I've had occasions where I've said Ayu is the most amazing singer [HANABI / etc / Memorial address.. songs like that..]~

And sometimes she's not too good. But for the most part, she sings like she does on the recordings.. it's just not as strong :p

The song is pure genius. :heart

I think it'll be one of those 'defining' Ayu ballads.

A la Who... or something LOL
Piano <3 I get chills listening to like Who... and HEAVEN.. and JEWEL.. zomg

she didn't look fat, just her arms imo O_O but I loved the performance *_*

I'm still quite sure it's because of the aspect ration freakin' up a bit in the rip. Look at the Sweet scans, her arms are pretty normal in them.

However she was in Miami and the time was around August.

I think she gained weight between then and a-nation..

Either too many lunches or too many pushups.

Maybe she talked about it on MS, or something. If she really has gained so much as it looks like someone would probably ask her about it, heh.

The dress probably makes alot of people look like they've gained weight, but her legs and arms are starting to look like my mothers'.

For now, I don't like it :no

It's really super-boring. Recycled... sounds like watered-down version of HEAVEN

Maybe the studio version will be better :shrug

Seriously, this is such a good song. Even though I don't understand what she's singing, it sounds very sad! I love the song, can't get enough of it! I think she totally looks like she has gained weight. Even in a-nation, I couldn't see her flat tummy!

I love the tune~ It's to catchy! I think her vocals in the preformance needs work though. She was really short on breathe. But the song itself was real nice!

I just hope it does not grow old on me like CAROLS did. :/ I thought CAROLS was beautiful the first time i heard it and soon it just got dull.

I really loved the performance. All the technical flaws in her vocals actually work here because I felt they heightened the somber, tranquil emotional atmosphere of the song. Imperfections aside, the simple piano accompaniment exposes the rich texture in Ayu’s voice and just made the performance that much more poignant and sincere.

As for the song itself, the only way I can describe it is elegant and mature. It’s very subtle yet every bit as powerful as any of Ayu’s sweeping power ballads like HEAVEN. I’m ecstatic that the arrangement isn’t “fuller” because the emotional intensity is really what carries the song. Here, I think anything more than piano and some atmospheric effects would just be superfluous and unnecessary and would detract from the beautiful elegance JEWEL exudes.

it's beautifull! truly really really beautiful!! XD

It was beautiful. :cry

I never expected Ayu to sing so well live since she screwed up the Music Station BLUE BIRD. This performance was the best ever. It was stunning.

The song. It's CRAZY! IMO, a perfect winter ballad to end the year. It's so classy and elegant and simply beautiful. I've run out of adjectives to describe it. Couldn't help tearing and getting goosebumps listening to it. It's awesome. Can't wait for the studio version.

It's superhard singing with single instruments like the piano/acoustic guitar. It looks easy but if you've never received professional vocal training and actually stuck to it; it's something very few can overcome. A lot of singers in the past were able to do this WITHOUT vocal lessons but let's be honest those days are over.

As far as the performance Ayu has done well considering that she's from our generation of singers. It's a rare occasion when the trembling of a singer's voice can be accepted during a performance and for myself; I accept it completely. I'm really liking this ballad much better than in the Panasonic CM. They really need to update their sounding techniques cause their sound quality is just terrible in some cases.

As immel (I think it was him) said, ignorance = BLISS! I loved the song and my very untrained ear (even when i am a huge music fan) did not hear any flaws. I have no idea why people are comparing JEWEL with HEAVEN, but now that the rivalry has been made about both songs, I prefer, by a long mile HEAVEN. But JEWEL is definitely gorgeous. Can't wait for the studio version! And like someone said, strings would rock!!!!!!!

ROFL. She had a chair to sit on during the performance. With that aside, such a beautiful song. And after reading the lyrics, makes the song even better. (*_*) But in the beginning of the performance, I was kinda 'eh...' Made me feel like I set my expections too high, but later in the song, felt way better. :D

Wow, I love this song! The lyrics also made me cry.

I do admit that she did over sing it a little, especially at the beginning, but it got better when she hit the second chorus.

Actually, using arms and hands can mentally help. When we are going flat, my choir director will sometimes have us reach out and "pick up the pitch" with our hands. Likewise, if we're not getting a cut off, he will have us snap our fists forward right on the cutoff and that helps us make the cutoff more unison. I think maybe some singers get into the habit of this when they sing.

Stunning and mesmerising :yes ayu have not made us waited for so long in vain :D

The moment I heard the preview from Panasonic CM
it reminds me of Dearest+No way to say
and now....the full version...it even sounds alot like it
the beginning with the piano parts is like Dearest and the beats is sorta like No way to say
I like it :D

Remember when the MOMENTS CM was out and it was this elegant ballad; and then when she released it the whole sentiment of the song was changed? I feel like JEWEL kind of has this Moments-CM feeling.

The ending of the verses reminds me of some other song I can't put my finger on.. o_o

I have the same thing. I think it's the last note of CAROLS...

perhaps teddy bear?

JEWEL is like forgiveness+moment in my opinion :D

It really could be CAROLS..

teddy bear is a bit too gentle..

Jewel is a great song. I like it very much.

The panasonic cm really does this song no justice. It sounded not very good in that version. BUT with this performance, and the wonderful lyrics, this has become another great ballad that i like very much, and one that i'm willing to wait for.

wait a min, can this song be called as a ballad?

I disagree. I think ayu IS a professional singer. She's not a "diva" or an "opera singer" but it's not like those are the only parameters of comparison you'll have for all singers. Ayu's profession is to be a singer, if she's not a "professional" one, is her job a void? I think her vocals are pretty distinctive and her music stands out because of the many elements she adds to her singing skills, thus making her a real singer. I was attracted to like her and her music not because of her looks or anything else other than her vocals, so....

Well, I do think that her vocals are really good and I really like them.
It's just people do have a point when she's all over the place vocally..

[even though I do love her voice <33]



By 'professional singer', I guess I meant.. the type of person you would imagine to be the loud, amazing voice like Yuna Ito or something that are born to sing. Ayu's come a long way since 1998 and I think that she's evolved tremendously as a singer. Her singing style has changed so much every album or so. RAINBOW to Memorial address showed a change.. something about her voice.. and from MY STORY to (miss)understood it changed too, I think. She's been singing in a deeper register (at least that's what I think it is.. hm..)

Everything about this song screams ballad at me, at least.

Well, if it's not a ballad then what is it? :|

her vocals seemed kinda like a mix of her best vocals, and her old school vocals, (you know, were she'd kinda sqeak or sing some notes really high and it's hurt like grr) but it sounds REALLY good. I love this song, and it makes me think that the reason she's doing a mini album is because she's too filled up with emotions to sing and perform and crap. aWWW, Ayu-sama in lovey dovey!! (ew...that sounded creepy)
Yall think Ayu looks like she gained weight? hmm...i personally think it's the style of the dress she wore when singing JEWEL. Btu if she did, it's about time, she needed a chicken wing or two...

"Never since the fall of the Berlin Wall has there been such major upheaval in the Ayumi fanbase!" - from a friend of mine

LOL, haha, haven't heard the song yet but from what I can see, everyone's full of praises for it. Can't wait!

That's just hilarious.

Too bad Ayu was still in school around this time, I think.

I love it. It's such a brilliant song. I get goosebumps. I like how the arrangement is nice and soft like 'teddy bear', and I definitely think this the studio version - I can't imagine it with a fuller arrangement. The lyrics are amazing too. This song is making me look forward to the minialbum a lot.

JEWEL: :love
Born to Be...: :D
Startin': :luv2
BLUE BIRD: :yes
Beautiful Fighters: :no :headache :irked :eviltongu

Your dislike for Beautiful Fighters, do you think it would maybe change if the arrangements was different, and that electronic voice was removed?

The song is pretty good I think, but the arrangements do annoy me.

Yeah, probably. I like that part, but it's too repetitive throughout the song. The arrangement is the main problem for me too. They should have made the song either with all real instruments and no synth, or vice versa, the mix of the two is not working for me with this particular song.

It could definitely grow on me (I love Beautiful Day now), but even the lyrics can't save BF. It just gives me a headache.

JEWEL is her least chaotic song of the year, that's why I really love it.

I'm guessing that the intent of Beautiful Fighters was to be a more recent 'cheer song' a la independent / flower garden. :|

After all, there was 'cheer assistance' from this one group of cheerleaders. LOL

As for this album as a whole: :love
Speaking about that, has anyone tried playing JEWEL in the confines of a fanmade tracklist with the singles so far? :D

I think the synth vocals is what makes Beautiful Fighters what it is....The song is supposed to be a girlie a la "Barbie Girl" song. Without that, the song would just have been bland jpop.

I think that because of Kazuhito Kikuchi composing, it'd have been really different had they used acoustic instruments or something.

But instead they went for a cheery happygolucky sound :| [something I don't recall Kazuhito ever doing]

I wish they could have made a rock remix of BF like Ladies Night. Beautiful Fighters is a really nice song when it comes to working out. So is Unite and Evolution...

That aside, Jewel really have amazing lyrics. :yes I can't wait for the PV for it...I just hope that Luis whatshisface won't be directing it...it has such good potential for a great PV.

Wataru Takeishi I wish. I just hope it's nothing boring like CAROLS and HEAVEN.

I believe it could have been about as great as STEP you if it would have had instrumentation as heavy as it, I'm not saying I want it to sound like STEP you, but with awesome arrangements any song can be great. Maybe it's because lyrics/vocals doesn't matter too much to me that I can say like this, but it's what I think.

I think if they intensified Beautiful Fighters with some hardcore Ladies Night-anothernight- guitar licks or something, it would be HOTTTTT.

(miss)anotherstood please. :p

STEP you -another step-
rainy day -another day-
fairyland -another land-
criminal -another crime-

And so on~

Oh, so even YOU are not ENTIRELY satisfied with it?

Yeah, heavy hard rock/metal sound with it... would be awesome, haha.

It shouldn't have been a sugary pop song, that made it sound wrong.

No, I like it just as much as a sugarpop song. Because it kinda has a cheer-dance to it. LOL

The candy coated, sugary arrangement to Beautiful Fighters is a huge part of why I love that song. The cheering and heavy synths make it so charmingly cute and quirky. I think with an arrangement closer to that of independant or flower garden the song would feel less refreshing and would poorly reflect the uplifting, empowering tone of the song.

I wonder how JEWEL will fit with the rest of the mini album, it's so stripped down in comparison to the single songs.

Yes, the arrangement in the live was pretty 'stripped' so to say, compared to her crazy arrangements this far this year. Well, maybe the studio version will be way different?

By the way, HEAVEN also had this heavy contrast in the releases during 2005, it had 'stripped down' arrangements compared to her other VERY heavy arrangements.

I think that is the studio version.

HEAVEN imo, with rainy day was one of the most underproduced tracks in (m)u. :x

I think (miss)understood as well.. since it kinda just had some guitar.. :|

Well, I'm not impressed much. I'm not a big fan of ballads. During the first chorus it reminded me of the Ayu era before A BEST but the rest of the song indicated that it was still her recent style. I want to listen to the original recording of the song because in MS I don't think she sang very well.

That has applied to me to for all my life, up until I started listening to Ayu. The MY STORY ballads is like... greatness.

Sorry if you disapprove me, but I REALLY like Beautiful Fighters.
But not just the song (arrangements). The lyrics are so close to me!
I feel like a Beautiful Fighter, just like the video.
Every day in my work I done the best, but I always fail in something. So the songs cheers me up when this happend.

That's why I always thanks Ayu, because she understand me doing this song (lyrics). ^_^

...heaven is still better

i LOVE the piano intro~