You know what? I agree with you. There's like, something missing right? As if she has not really been herself? I'm don't know why, but to me... her new stuff doesn't have the same impact on me. If you compare "ASFXX" and "Startin'", there's a HUGE difference. It seems to me that Ayu has lost herself somewhere. Her look, PV music and all seem a lot weaker than it use to. I only hope the Ayu we used to know will come back soon.

so
even asongforxx feels it?
I'm shocked!
but you are right too
she is like lost herself
and
it's...
I think we must have been expected it
cause nothing lasts forever
and the impact she makes is different to what it was
and yes
her new image is weaker
maybe she is just had enough?
I mean...
maybe...
the strenth and interest have gone?!
cause 8 years already...

I can't participate in this conversation
it's so sad!!!
waha-a-a!
guys, you make me sad!
does this all mean we are losing our sweet Ayumi?

I don't think this means we are losing her or we have lost her completely. I don't think that her songs have lost identity, especially when you compare the songs on (miss) to the versions on Addicted. There's definitely Ayu's flair and style in GEO's songs. I guess maybe "half-assed" was the wrong word, but I do feel that she kind of just jumped on the (miss) bandwagon on a whim. I understand that she has been a commercial product her entire career, but I guess it's safe to say that she may feel a bit distant now because Startin'/Born To Be... is meant to endorse the products they are supporting. Ooh! Got to go! I'll talk more later!! Thanks a bunch! ^__^

i understand. Maybe the feeling i have is not as extreme as yours, there is that missing factor in her new music compared to her old songs. But i wouldn't worry about it because i think that she wants to show a new side to her, a side that has changed since she was her younger self. But yes, i do kinda wish the "old" Ayu comes back soon.

True true.. She made no compromises. Its all of us who need to compromise? I dunno. Its taste. Taste changes. Taste gets used to something. So if you're used to Ayu's style, and she changes but still retaining her quality, of course we'll all feel "distant"?

I can understand how you'er feelign.. I feel that way too ._. I loved miss understood, but when Startin' came out I started to feel more and more distant.. The new arena tour is making me feel kind of good again.. I don't know.. I'm just going to hope that releases a nice new Ayu-ish single around summertime, maybe even with a composition or two by herself or DAI ..

Is it that shocking that I feel it too? LOL!

Yeah, I agree with the "lost of interest". I mean... Ayu has NEVER dreamed of becoming a singer. She has never ever considered becoming an artist at a young age, like most singers. She was just discovered and decided to pursue this career because "she had nothing else to do". And this is something Ayu truly said. Maybe, she had never really had a passion for music, but that passion has certainely grow inside her. But lately, it has been fading...

But is this because her latest songs hasn't been composed by herself? I wonder.

I've sort of been feeling the same way, lately. As I said before, she needs to stop with all these tie-in things. The Panasonic/Visee/Morinaga ones are ok, but ones for movies and events are just bad. She took a step in the right direction with alterna and Will, but went downhill with some aspects of (miss) understood and Startin/Born to Be. I want a new feel to her music, something that sounds fresh. I personally think she needs to get rid of CMJK, HAL, and her normal composers. I would really like to see BOUNCEBACK again, and more tasuku. And of course, CREA herself. COLDFEET would be an interesting composer as well. I would love a song with just a simple acoustic guiar, a piano, and some violins. That aren't distorted or synthesized. But, I don't see that happening anytime soon. I also think, through her effort of trying to be herself, she's somehow left the "real" Ayu back in her old music, like I've also said before. Its sad to say this, but I think Ayu produces her best music when she's sad, or something effects her in a bad way. Rumors inspired "alterna", and look what we got. A masterpiece. Take away the fake "trying to be true to yourself" image and the tie-ins, and you get the old, real Ayu.

I wouldn't mind at all if she didn't release a single until August or September, but you know how that goes. I expect one in June or July. I just hope its good this time.

Quick, someone make Ayu sad! :p

Because right now, she seems genuinely happy. [Remember, back when people thought she was real Ayu.. she wrote about her problems and her friend's problems as well~ :)]

And when Ayu's happy.. I'm not so sure if her most of her fans are happy as well.

nyan! i feel the same way as you!!
yes right now her release are not like showing her personality anymore.. in the past wheenever i sing alogn with her music.. i always get to cry cos i really feel how im a fan of ayu and how devoted a fan i am t her.. i hoe she will get back to her odl style again.. where she can make peopel cry.. she's also been my therapy whenever i ahev problems she's the onyl artists that i can rely on and sit and listen to her msuic...balllads!

Between the period of forgiveness and NWTS, I was lost as an Ayufan xD I was like '...what the o-o? She did wha?' Then again, I had only gotten reunited with Ayu with & that year. :p

I even started graphic design stuff BECAUSE of Ayu. :]

Good god, if "being yourself" is a synonym of "depression and sorrow", I will never want to be myself ever.

Absolutely. I really do love her and I know she'll come back to me, and in an effort to try and get "re-connected" I've gone back to the roots and I'm listening to her A Song for XX stuff. That is, after all, what initially got me hooked into Ayu in the first place. I never felt especially distant from Ayu until recently. I mean, I felt a bit distant during the INSPIRE season and the MY STORY album, but when she was releasing her (miss) singles, I felt really close to her. I guess Startin'/Born To Be...just doesn't give off the same aire. I really hope she doesn't wait until August to release another single like she did last year, because that was just TORTURE. Healthy doses of Ayu are good for the soul.

OH Yeah! Definitely :yes You should see him at school, it's very amusing LOL :D But I guess I can't say much since I'm a big fan too...;)

Anywayz, greggerz, as I was saying before I know what you mean. Some of her songs are gonna be good and some aren't gonna be as good as others. Startin' and her My Story album aren't as good as her other albums, but they still are quality! I like all of Ayu's songs to some extent, there may be songs that I don't care for as much as others but there's no Ayu song I absolutely hate, which is why she's one of my top fav artists! ^^ what am I trying to say exactly? aaack! I think I'm a bit confused too.

I think a lot of it has to do with her different style. It seems as if her style is slowly changing ever since her My Story album. Personally, I feel that all though Startin' is a good song it lacks the symbolism and high quality classiness that is common to most of her songs (example: Moments, Fairyland, Heaven, all are high quality-classy-symbolistic PVs) and give them more meaning. Startin' was an interesting PV but I didn't feel like it had meaning like her other songs. But it's just one single. Who knows what Ayu will come up with next! Remember our discussion? She's still got it! She's definitely still got it! ;)

Maybe also we're a bit disappointed that (miss)understood didn't break a million. Ayu's got some fierce competition out there, like Koda Kumi, and she doesn't seem to be the icon we're used to seeing. But like you said before, she's not aiming to be number one, she doesn't even perform on Taisho anymore even though she can because she's giving other artists a chance. And remember you were telling me how she still performed for her fans even after all that drama with her losing her hearing and breaking her leg? There's no doubt she's very dedicated to her fans and also her music. She's not trying to be number one, I feel that she continues her career for her love of music and her fans. That's a good thing! (T.M. Revolution's like that too ^_^ and I remember you said BoA has that same dedicatioin too ^^ awesome artists are like that) Any artist who takes on that sort of attitude is bound to come up with something new that will blow us all awaaayy!! @.@ Have faith greggerz, though Ayu is distant from us at the moment, she WILL come back and when she comes back she will kick butt! Yay Ayu!! You go girl!! XD

Whew, this is a long post, but I had a lot to say ^^; I don't feel distant from T.M. Revolution at all, although I did slightly a little while back only because I hadn't heard from him in a long time becuase the Japanese TV we get here is limited and he stopped coming to HEy Hey Hey T.T But then he came on Kouhaku! Woohooo! And then he released a new album! Double woohoo! And then I discovered the existence of region code-less live concert DVDs. Yaaaaaay!! XD So there's no distance at all now :P I'm sure the same thing will happen w/ Ayu. Don't worry :yes Oh, greggerz, if you have the time please check out my poll in the gaming section. I highly value your opinions and it would be interesting to see what you would have to say ^_^

So you'd rather raise her chance of committing suicide by putting her in intense depression just so you get the type of songs you want from her? :no

Right, look at the stuff last year. You were bound to obsess over something she released. It would be easier to move on and just accept her new songs, the quality hasn't differred yet, its just the style and variety. :)

XDD!

No! I LOVE HER MUSIC NOW! ;_; I didn't mean that she needs to be depressing to the point of being suicidal or anything.. but I mean.. she seems to be REALLY happy right now, and it doesn't look like her fans like what she produces while in that state :p

Perhaps we might get a CREA composition if something sad happens to her or something.. I'm not wishing it upon her, it'd just be something that might help her... :\ Agh, I'm confusing myself HAHA.

But yeah, her music has certainly changed since the very beginning. But then again, it's almost been 8 years, so why not? The old Ayu is gone and done with after RAINBOW and A BALLADS, so I think its sort of useless to want songs like the old times.. hm

Yes, probably.. Who knows, she's so unpredictable. No one expected a song like Carols and Alterna from her when she released them. :yes

And OMG your sets are so beautiful they are a crime.

someone should go up to Ayumi's house with a big sign and a blimp that say 'WE WANT CREA COMPOSITIONS! PLEASE COMPOSE!!! ;_;' If her next single were to have a composition by her, I'd be extatic.. She hasnt composed a song for a single since, what, "forgiveness"?? ._. ;_; she's such a great composer