well Heartplace is my favorite track of hers it has very little strings though., there's also Mirrorcle world which has more of that BUT. I'd say she could totally pull off something of epic orchestral proportions and something quite unusual for her:



i always find strings and guitars to be a perfect combo for something grand. Too bad not much is used of that nowadays.

^are we listening to two different songs? I think heartplace has plenty of very prominent strings throughout the song. It definitely has more violins than most of her other rock songs. They're drowned out a little by the guitars, but they're definitely there. They start at 2:21 and follow through with the rest of the song.

^ they are there yes, but as you said there's a lot of guitars in it that kinda overpower them. It's still not enough for me xD I need that in WHOLE song :P

Ayu has some really good orchestra remix albums, but lately they got so boring. On A CLASSICAL only BLUE BIRD, You & Me and Love Song captured me, and I wanted to bang my head on the wall when I listened to beloved orchestra version on FIVE. Like, why? Where's the change? Why would you make an orchestral remix of a orchestral track, why?

Btw, my Colours copy arrived and everybody was absolutely right: those PVs are cheap as hell. Damn. They have good parts, but they're not long or strong enough to save the whole video.

My favourite orchestral remixes are Never Ever & Alterna!

^My top five are (in no order):

HONEY (Classical)
GAME (Classical)
alterna (orchestra version)
kanariya (Arranged by Yuta Nakano)
A Song for XX (Acoustic Orchestra Version)

and I give Endless sorrow (Acoustic Orchestra Version) a notable mention because it's really different from her normal acoustic orchestra stuff. It's all guitars, there's no violins which I thinks is a really nice change.

Hey now. The instrumental interlude in the orchestral mix is gorgeous!

How could I forget!? The only version of the song I enjoy! A pity the vocals weren't re-recorded though, it would benefit from that.

Also the acoustic orchestra version of Forgiveness came on my mp3 player last night. I love this version too, even if it's not drastically different from the original. (And you could argue if it was worth giving it the acoustic orchestra treatment, but I think it's great!)

EDIT:

After seeing it mentioned on JPopYuku, I'd so be up for an A Ballads 2, A Winter Best or A Best 3 if done in the style of A Ballads (new songs, new vocals, remixes, maybe a new CREA composition?) I'm gonna think of my fantasy A Ballads 2 track list and post it later today or tomorrow!

...I can't say anything to that, lol.
But it's the same problem I have with Missing orchestra version, the first part is so very really beautiful, so I can't delete it from my pc. But I can't bring myself to listen to it, because, a WHOLE remix like that, like, no.
If you start with something that good, you have to finish what you started. Don't drown me in generic, random violins, please.

I know I said I hate how she makes orchestra versions of already ballad songs, but I'd still love a grand philharmonic orchestra version of Jewel.

Hey guys! As I said in Kuu's thread, next week I'll be going to gym, so I'm making a proper workout playlist. Of course, I also wanna hear ayu's music, but finding good song choices is getting pretty hard for me! Can you help me? :)

I think it's important to note that I'm not too fond on remixes, so I'm mostly looking for 'original' songs (although I won't reject some remix suggestions, of course!).
Ok, this is the ayu section on my playlist so far. Pretty short by now! :headache

Thanks in advance! :)

I made up my fantasy A Ballads 2 track list for fun. A Ballads was actually the first Ayu album I bought without hearing any of her music.

I've limited it to 16 tracks including new songs and it will also include some new vocals, mixes etc, and will cover albums from Memorial Address onwards. Like A Ballads, I'm also going to include album tracks.

01 Hello New Me
02 New song (CREA + DAI composition)
03 Forgiveness (new vocals)
04 Momentum (piano ver)
05 Jewel
06 No Way to Say
07 Heaven
08 Kanariya (Ayu-mi-x 7 Acoustic Orchestra Ver, new vocals)
09 Sweet Scar (HAL's mix)
10 Will
11 Pray
12 Walking Proud
13 What Is Forever Love
14 Rainy Day
15 Virgin Road
16 New song (something that sounds like a slower version of Love Song - that sort of style)

Phew - it was hard not to include Criminal/Pride/Will/Heaven as that is my favourite Ayumi ballad section ever!

Also, Hello New Me is not my most favourite Ayu ballads ever, but I felt with the Kanariya Acoustic Orchestra mix and songs like Virgin Road, I didn't want to make the album too depressing as A Ballads had a good mix of songs. I felt the track list needed something a little bright n breezy.

I also do need to put Days in there somewhere but I wasn't sure where to squeeze it in. I also had to cut Ballad, which probably should be on there lol!
I also wonder if I should keep Sweet Scar or if that should be cut?

Though you're not fond of them I think her remixes are best for working out. I listed a few here but don't feel compelled to try them.

Remixes:




I find that all of these songs are upbeat and good for working out, but it just depends on what you're doing, what style of song you like to do different workouts to, and what songs you like in general :)

Original Songs:

@Deibel, sorry, not much I can say. When I workout I only listen to her remixes. Her original songs just don't have that oomph that you get with remixes. I mean, you listen to music while you workout to give you energy and excitement. I know you prefer original songs over remixes but you're working out, not attending a concert.

if I did have to suggest some though, primavera listed them all.

Remix wise, I would suggest these three songs

Real me ''Megara vs DJ Lee remix''
GAME x YOJI
snowy kiss (Shohei Matsumoto Remix Extend Dub)

^these three remixes (when I'm blasting my ipod) give me so much energy I feel like I could run a marathon!

I hate times like this...no Ayu schedule..nothing announced or anything to look forward to from Ayu. Except the TV viewing of Feel The Love live...

I guess nothing of note will be released or announced until around December/Countdown live. Hopefully we'll get another photobook this year.

same here,I feel like Ayu is no longer in my life,like shes retiring or taking hiatus, shes also totally disappeared from any media and public in Japan,

hope theres something that wil grow the excitement in Ayu fandom again soon

Is it her current husband in Lelio making-of video? At around 3:27-3:33 when everyone clapping

I feel kind of the same as you, I totally understand your feelings, although I keep on coming back to AHS because there's always hope that one day ayu will surprise me.

I really have to agreee with you above, guys. She released an album. Where is the magz, where are the apparences on TV. Well that is gone long ago but she used to at least be in magz. Now, nothing.

She's going to be in Numero soon right? :P