Still, I feel weird with the lack of releases, no single, no album (yet), no best album, very quiet.

A lot of the replies to this tweet are positive like:
"Ayu is trying really hard"
"Let Ayu be Ayu. That is enough."
"Don't put anymore pressure on Ayu, she will break."
"Ayu is still performing despite being deaf and having health problems. Ayu deserves respect for this"
"Ayu has always treasured her fans"

etc.

I didn't know either. Life's so cruel.

Somebody pointed this out, but i’ll repeat that the woman has been pretty much touring non-stop since last year. She’s teased a release, so we’ll get it eventually. It’s unfair when she’s working extremely hard to be like, “I see how you’ve been touring all over the country for over a year, but I still expect an album! Chop chop, time’s a-wastin’”. Why Avex hasn’t released a Best Album or whatever that doesn’t need much (if anything) from her could very well be on Avex (or it could be Ayu’s decision, who knows?) We all want everything right now and grow way too impatient when we can’t get it. We need to remember that not only is she a human being that is undoubtedly been too tired and too short on time up until now to write and record music, but that she doesn’t owe us a gosh darn thing. She’s been working tirelessly for 20 years. I think we owe it to her to allow her to go at her own pace. Selfishly, do I want new material? Of course I do! She’s my favorite singer, I always am ready for new Ayu music. We’ll get it when everything is right. Her 20th anniversary year isn’t over. I’m sure there’s more in store than just this tour.

I think that there are some legitimate complaints that can be thrown at Ayu and her team. They’re far from perfect. But I think we, as a fan base, need to drop the sense of entitlement we have when it comes to her releases (I’m guilty of it too). She’s working on new music, we know this. So let’s be patient on that front. Sorry for the long post. I just have a lot of feelings lol

I think everyone is patient enough, it will be 2 years since MIJ so... and I think we react like this because it is her 20th anniversary! It is not common! For me it is a big event, it is something awesome for an artist to celebrate all these carreer's years.

And it is really cool for Ayu to do all these tours, I know how she loves the stage, it is where she is the most happy BUT not all of her fans can celebrate though these tours. I cannot celebrate this anniversary because I can't go to Japan and see her live. I feel emptiness toward this anniversary. There nothing besides these tours and it is a pity.

Ayu is trying hard, and probably she is tired but it is her choice. I think there were others ways to celebrate this anniversary: an album and a best tour.
JTB was a great concept, it is sad she didn't keep it for this year only.

But like we said: wait and see :)

People are so rude, I can't even... To have the audacity to address those kind of selfish arguments to Max Matsuura... I hope Ayu don't even bother about this and that Max was just being ironic.

Regarding the pic with lenses. I don't think she looks creepy at all. With this colouring and the way she is dressed, she looks like a mesmerising magic creature. Such as a fairy.

High five to both of you. It's so rare to read such comments that place Ayu before fans'desires. :)

Certainly I'm one of the few persons who like how this anniversary is handled. Instead of running behind the large audience (best album and such things) she is focused on true fans and want to be linked with them with music as this is our way to communicate. That's surely why she scaled down her concert and didn't go with a Las Vegas show as she did during the past years. That's why she decided to do that concert during the Tokyo Rainbow Pride too. To connect with people who follow her since her debut.

Regarding the lack of releases, Ayu isn't the only artists of her era who slown down the release of cds (and usually the other artists just give a tour and best album during an anniversary) but she is the only one who seems to be pointed out for doing such things. I suppose it's because she spoiled her fans too much during so many years.
But don't you think that the best way to manage an anniversary is to do as the celebrated person want? After all it is her anniversary, her day, her year.

Even though I can't wait for the new material this is always a good opportunity to explore old Ayu's releases and albums. I just recently fell in love with WORDS and WE ARE THE QUEENS. There is always something I missed or wasn't feeling the song because I wasn't in the right mood although nothing will change my opinion towards Winter Diary because that song is utterly forgettable. I can not talk about her tours since I never attended any but I really hope I will get the chance at least once so I really like to read the reviews of other members who attended her recent tour. It seems many are divided about the scale of the tour and Ayu's vocals but the woman is struggling hearing wise and I just hope that it doesn't get far worse

To be honest, the lack of new music isn´t bothering me at all o.o
Of course I am always happy about new music, but this year I srsly don´t care xD Dunno why^^

A complete came much later. She's recording a new album. Her last album is only two years ago. Imo people need to calm down. I want new material too but to see that as a disappointment? She still works he ass off and celebrates the anniversary the way SHE wants and also not just ABL 2.0. Unlike many I doubted A BEST 3 anyway and still do.
I'm happy with ayu atm. She's working hard.

I always want and expect more from her, but I am not bothered when she doesn’t deliver. Such is life.

Yes this tour simply isn’t up to her standards. If it was marketed as a TA Tour it would be awesome. It’s all about managing expectations. It’s not the end of the world and I cannot wait to see what she does next year.

^ to summarize my comment in the tour thread, I think the issue is that this tour feels a bit uninspired. To your point, if she had added "~A Best Live~" to the title, people would have at least expected recycled performances and I think they'd be much happier with it. But I don't personally think there's anything major wrong with this tour; it's just not what people expected/wanted.

Of course I want to see her thrive and shine, and release things all the time, etc. - but I'm not mad that she isn't. If anything, I feel sorry that she has such shitty fans who always need to tear her down. She gives so much of herself, and people just keep turning their backs on her for utterly petty BS.

I think it's such a double-edged sword with her. More than with other J-Pop singers, so many people were drawn to her for her lyrics, experience, etc. in a very personal way and I think that personal connection has clouded their vision of her. Like even small missteps feel like a betrayal to people, and it's so ridiculous. I also think that some fans hate on her for things that they hate about themselves, and project those things on her - but that's a whole other discussion. :)

She set herself up for failure by marketing this tour as another POM imo.

From what I saw, the production value for this tour is way higher than the one for the regular POM dates. People are expecing something bigger based on a DVD release that didn't really represent how she performed on most dates of that tour.

But this is AHS. A place people blow random internet drama started by japanese people with way too much free time on their hands out of proporcion and a place where somehow its cool to expect Ayu to fail and them cry about how she was better 12 years ago.

Utada Hikaru is a far bigger star than Ayu overall and her 20th anni celebration will be a short ass tour that most likely will have no theatrics and bad vocals and her fandom never gives this tiring level of drama.

But nobody expects Hikaru to do a mind blowing concert. It was never her thing really. I don’t think this tour is visually any worse than the original POM. It’s quiet close actually, it’s not like the original POM was super strong on the visual side.

@voltron
To be honest my only actual complaint now that a month has passed since Saitama is that it all felt even shorter than last year. I am fully aware that 3.5 hrs isn’t what people should be getting used to. I dunno. It’s something I look forward to the whole year, so I want it to last longer lol (besides the tour goods...no exuses there)

^This is the thing: People are complaining it's not "big enough" for POM while POM wasn't big either. It's not her to blame if expectations weren't realistic.

Thank you, but I'm surprised you could understand what I said. My grammar is terrible. :laugh

I just see these same complaints made by fans of artists that have been around for a while. Mind you, Ayu's fans are by far the worst. Not here specifically, around the whole web.

"I totally stan this deaf, plastic, fat bitch who sounds terrible and keeps getting divorced from ugly foreigners! I can't wait to go to her boring and expensive concert!"

:laugh

^Marry me.

I think it was ayu's decision to wait. Just wonder did she knew the timing from the beginning or waited for any special sign or mood. I even can see how she asked Max to believe in her and let her do what she wants to. I think it has nothing to do with tour schedule, maybe with her health, but not with concerts.
As for tour it's because of bad preparation. She usually has much much more time for it. Will not be surprised if final product will be different from the first dates

The time gap between Osaka (June 22) and Saitama (April 7, 2019) will probably let ayu have some time to figure out how she really wants to envision her concert to be like and possibly if the new album gets released during the time gap, she might add new songs into the concert finale?

Like I said earlier, I don't think Ayu is to blame. At most, she was simply too ambitious with this level of touring. She has done quite a lot since 2017. Working non stop. If she must be blamed for something it would be that she bit off more than she can chew. It's avex that needs to pick up the slack. They have done almost nothing. Can't we have a new ayu-mi-x or something? Ayu doesn't have to do anything with that. Just have artists remix her songs. Ayu also deserves a tribute album. So many others have one except her. If she is purposely choosing not to have avex release anything I respect her wishes but I don't think that is a smart business move.:shrug
Also, when he said "I will have a talk with Ayu" I don't think he means he is going to scold her. He will probably just set up a business meeting to discuss some things or reevaluate their plans.

I'm pretty sure Max wouldn't discuss business decisions with random nobodies over social media.

He most likely just said that in hope people would stop bothering him.

By now, I think he knows how to deal with Twitter users after all that drama he had years ago.

If your tours are making -fans- leave with a feeling of dissatisfaction, as a professional, she should step back and really try to make sure what she's putting out there is a fully thought out and well executed idea.

That's not a "spoiled" fan reaction. Singers far below her in terms of overall sales and star power are still putting on exciting shows...

Her vocals suffer from all the flailing she does, just stand still for gods sake lol. If the voice is the main focus of the show, shouldn't she try to actually make it as good as possible?

I don't know. Call me bitter or spoiled. I'm not giving her a free pass on this one.

The problem here is that the tour concept was labelled as ”Power of Music” and that they put in the title "20th Anniversary" yet nothing is related to the title and concept...

^^ Her vocals aren't good because she is almost deaf. She doesn't listen better while standing still.

This. I don't expect her to be a great vocalist, but we all know that she is actually able to deliver vocals that are pleasant to listen to. She simply didn't bother to even try to deliver good vocals. That's what really bothers me, she didn't even try, not at all.

I'd disagree that her vocals aren't good. They might not be amazing, but they are real good.

^^but how do you know she doesn't try (or opposite way of course)? Maybe with her on-going deafness her 'vocal standards' and abilities lower? They obviously can still sound bad in your opinion (although I'd disagree) but is it fair to simply say she doesn't even try?
Her vocals sounded fine IMO at least from the audios etc, I've heard. Yes, she can still have bad vocals and people can say that but her trying or not is another thing imo.

And btw, A Complete came half a year after the anniverary date sooo... Don't see why you have to release stuff close to the day when there's a whole year.
She didn't that often mention album stuff and she said she's already recording which means more than 'just' working.

Surprisinly good for someone on her condition. But when they are bad, they are BAD. :P

Still above average for the mainstream jpop from that period.

Why are you always so negative? I start to think you didn't enjoy your show because of that negativity. I was at one of the Nagoya shows and she was amazing, the concert was pure emotion and her voice sounded really good. Maybe she's not the best vocalist (she never was) but you can't deny she puts all her passion in what she does. Too sad you can't see it.

With part of the ayufan community I always have the feeling that they create a "perfect image" of Ayu based on their taste and when the reality doesn't match with it they get frustrated. There are so many fans who should think if they are still fans cause it seems they force themselves to like a product which they already don't like.

Ayu fanbase is the most critic with her, always complaining or just pointing things which are not really that important. For example, I saw in FB the picture with the lenses from two days ago but it was retouched removing the lenses and the first thing I thought was: why? Why waste your time to retouch a random IG picture just because you don't like? I totally understand why she left Twitter or closed comments section on IG. Ayufans are her worst enemy. I don't see other fanbases being so critic and annoying with stuff.

For example Namie (no shade, I love her and I went to her Finally tour which it was beyond amazing) usually delivers the same type of show, even with a similar outfit and I don't see Namie fans criticising every detail. They support her at the point that her face is now literally flying over Japan. Tell me about fame.

Instead of complaining about how this or that tour is, some people should appreciate that Ayu, who is half deaf, is still touring.

For one simple reason I know she didn't try:
The whole concert all she did was throwing herself onto the floor and flailing around. Most singers wouldn't be able to hit a note then. This isn't about her deafness or her not being a great vocalist. There were some recent performances where she actually stood still and delivered decent vocals. If she would have stood still and actually would have tried to deliver a decent performance, but simply wouldn't have been able to, that would be another story. But she didn't try. She didn't try to deliver a decent vocal performance. She didn't try to make the concert about music, all she did was flailing around on stage. I'm not paying that much money to watch her run from one end of the stage to another and lying on the floor while fake crying.

I bought three damn tickets for this tour, because I love her since 15 damn years. I worked a whole month to be able to pay for the tickets. I really thought, when she announced the tour, that she wants to try to bring back the magic of the first POM. I was so excited and happy when I went. But it was the worst concert I ever went to and I actually cried when I was back at the dorm.

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ガールズナイト��❤️������
Before 誰かさんに会いに行くのん��

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This being the first concert of hers I went to I decided not to find out anything about it beforehand to be surprised and I went on the second day. I also hoped for something bigger for her 20th but I was still happy to see her live and that she performed some of my favorite songs. Unfortunately there's always a risk you take when you go without knowing the setlist and reviews.

Looks like Max is having a really serious conversation with her :-)

As for the performance, I can't comment on Saitama since I wasn't there, but she really wasn't all that dramatic in Fukuoka. She had a couple of moments, but she definitely wasn't flailing around or throwing herself about the whole time. And her vocals were pretty great.

YAS GIRL ENJOY LIFE WITH THE GAY!! It's so much better than releasing songs for those spoiled fans...

Apparently she did it as Voltron and another member stated in their last review that she sounds good during 95% of the show.

The last pictures on twitter are the perfect answer to what those persons said to Max. Ayu is wonderful ♥

I was thinking the same thing... I went to both Fukuoka concert and she also delivered a very solid vocal performance and she looked amazing on stage. The dancers are actually absent half of the show, so i don't understand people who say the dancers steal the show. About the price of tickets... i was in section A and my tickets cost around 90$ each... I pay minimum 250$ for a ticket like this in Vegas for a similar show.

So i guess... people want big production cost... but cheap tickets, More dancing numbers, but less dancers, and vocals she never had in the past decade.

I haven’t enjoyed an album or concert from Ayu since Rock n Roll Circus, but I honestly still love her. I just stan Ayu cause she’s fucking fab. I’ve come to terms with the fact that her current tastes do not match my own, so instead of complaining I just enjoy what I can. That way I’m never disappointed! She’s been around so long, it’s not surprising. Plus, I have all her old songs to love. It’s a good place to be in, as a fan.

I've noticed the same. And I don't mean people who don't like her show or her recent music or music videos, I mean people who complain about... everything. Her make up is bad, her hair looks stupid, she's using contacts first time in months how dare she, her boob looks weird, she looks fat, this article of clothing is disgusting, even her twitter banners that her fans made are under criticism... It's just, everything? Every little detail I don't even notice? And even if I did, it wouldn't even cross my mind to complain about it, since it's so irrelevant and petty. But people here act like that haircolor is the end of her career. Her cheeks look puffier than usual, I don't know how to sleep at night knowing that fact. Oh, and here she edited her pictures to look thinner, great, another night's sleep out of the window!

I've never ever seen any other fandom act that way towards their idol/s, criticize every single inch about a picture of her, about what little she does on social media (remember when she was criticized for talking with her fans? Yeah, that too, now she isn't and she gets criticized anyway). That's usually what the haters and trolls do. What's the deal with that? I genuinely do not understand.

Max Matsuura replied to a few other tweets about ayu, but i don't understand them

Now the whole conversation is going down hill. We are back to the "good Ayu fans vs evil Ayu fans" battle. Ayu's fandom also seems to have some of the most self righteous fans as well.:rolleyes

^Well, once some people around here said people who enjoyed her recent releases were trolls trying to sabotage her career by making she release crap.

It has been worst.

Her Twitter banners are brutal though, imo :laugh

I think it comes down to phrasing. Like, I’ve seen people complain, not just about Ayu but about Kuu too, saying similar things about her. She’s “lazy” and using amerures to do her work, the song makes their ears bleed it’s to bad.

The lazy parts are downright not true, and the way they are describing their opinions as rude facts are not okay. It’s not good fans vs bad fans (I think I qualify as a bad fan for Ayu). It’s repspectful vs rude.

When I pick on Ayu I try to make sure it comes across as jovial because I want AHS to remain pleasant. I don’t want to ruin other members’ experience.

I think that’s pretty fair for all, call me crazy.

Fans do behave badly sometimes.They can be rude and disrespectful. The worst of it is on the topic of Ayu's appearance, talking about her face, weight, and worst of all breasts.
I think it is totally fair to criticize this behavior. However, on the original topic at hand, those twitter users had totally valid complaints, they were not happy with the tour performance and price, TA isn't being updated and is overpriced, costumes are too revealing etc. Perhaps people disagree with those feelings but those concerns are not offensive and the people who feel that way or simply don't like something in general are not "Ayu's enemy".
Connecting to what Koumori said, if you can't handle diverse opinions then I don't see what the point of joining this forum would be.

I like those creepy lenses :P

I do too! Especially since we're seeing her beautiful natural eyes most of the time, the lenses are fun every now and then ♥

I guess the fans who were complaining about the revealing costumes don’t go to Koda Kumi concerts :laugh

I vote for more skin :P

I think Ayu was talked about on TV recently. I can't find the full video.:no
But some clips can be found on social media. Kaori Mochida from Every Little Thing was there too.

https://twitter.com/ayunightnagoya/s...80035036991488
https://twitter.com/ayunightnagoya/s...85817371656192

^ it looks positive!! Yay

^ Your avatar is one of the clearfiles I got from the concert hahahaha

I'm so happy she's receiving good feedback lately. I saw this article in Buzzfee Japan about Tokyo Pride: https://www.buzzfeed.com/jp/shunsuke...4DM#.oigNElKR4

I like the creepy contact lenses too.

Ah no no!! I'm not the one who posted them, it's just that picture is from one of the clearfiles I got hahahaha Sorry for the confusion :P

I actually like "A One" :rolleyes... it is my favorite album since Guilty (Or maybe Love Songs... I loved Love Songs a lot when it came out but rarely listen to it today)

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改めて、藤田さんお誕生日おめでとうございました🎉✨✨✨

まだ見ぬ未来ばかりを案じて生きてた頃のわたしは、全てに怯えながら全てを楽しんでた。
今の為に現在を生きようと決めたわたしは、、、。

これ「お金2.0」を読み終えた超個人的な感想。また明日、広島へ向かう飛行機でもう一度読み 直そう📙

Yes, A One is my favourite out of her recent albums.

I was listening to Winter Diary A7 Classical again. What a great album, definitely my favourite out of what I have heard of her classical/acoustic
orchestra albums.

I believe it is Kazumi Fujita. He was GM of the International Strategy for avex, not sure if that's still true.

Here's the full thing:
1: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi3HkEIn...en-by=kyohiiru
2: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi3I7AQn...en-by=kyohiiru
3: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi3JYVqn...en-by=kyohiiru
4: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi3KDv4n...en-by=kyohiiru
5: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi3KlAkn...en-by=kyohiiru
6: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi3K5uWn...en-by=kyohiiru

This guy works (or used to work) for her during 14 years. I remember him in some DVDs backstage.

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ぱわみゅイメトレ
何度立たせて頂いてもあのOPは緊張する...
#powerofmusic2018
#ayu20thTOUR
#広島

Photo by masayuki kamo

Wow, prettyyyyy!!!

Her eyes are so beautiful!
Isn't that the dress from PoM 2011 forgiveness?

It´s the dress she wears for Seasons on current tour

If I remember correctly the white dress was used first in one of the TV performances (don't ask me which one exactly ^^). She wore this dress and underneath a short black costume (the skirt is the same she used for the Tokyo Pride Performance)

I love this photo. It gives me a vintage vibe somehow.

i shouldn’t even bring this up considering people will think it’s a rag on ayu. But, I have noticed it over and over again lately.

Has anyone else noticed on of her eyes appears to be slightly off center? Lmao. Idk it seems like her left eye is ever so slightly angled differently than her right in photos lately. I noticed it again in her most recent twitter post. Cover one eye then cover the other - they appear to have different focal points.

Honestly this will probably come back to bite me because I have a really bad eye that my brain barely even uses and I’ve always been been afraid it will cross some day and become a total lazy eye. Lol.

If I saw someone dressed like that in the street I would find it strange but on Ayu ... it works !! haha

I think you refer to MSTa Super Live 2016 but the black costume was different for sure. Not sure abt the white dress though, thy might be similar or even the same, idk tbh.

^^Finally something I really like. She looks great here.

I noticed her eyes sometimes look weird too :mspeech

I love that tracksuit she's wearing, I do have something to say about chosen accessories but nevermind. She looks great.

I never noticed, but now I'm gonna look :laugh

Maybe whoever edits her photos sucks at using the editor? Apps like FaceTune can completely change the face, so that's my best guess?

You can see it in that pic where she’s like putting the tiara or whatever it is on her head posted above.

One eye is looking almost directly to mirror / lens and the other one isn’t looking up toward the tiara. Lol.

Her head looks slightly tilted, but okay ��

^ I see it! Interesting.

My eyes are kind of odd, but most people's eyes are hardly symmetrical. It's not noticeable for others apparently, but one of my eyes is slightly droopier than the other. XD

usually I notice that on everyone cuz my eyes are a mess too lmao I see it and it's funny lol

Park Bom looks great here!

Peoples faces look different to me in the mirror. When I look at my boyfriend when we are just talking his face looks fine, but when we are both in the bathroom getting ready his face looks droopy on one side when I look at him in the mirror. Maybe the same thing is happening to Ayu?

Everyone's face has a certain level of asymmetry.:shrug
Looks like an unedited photo to me. It almost looks like it was shot with a film camera.

:tired

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今日みんなから教えてもらった音楽の力、絶対わすれない。
#powerofmusic2018
#ayu20thTOUR
#ありがとう広島

those guys behind ayu obviously have no idea who ayu is. :P

She has kind of a space alien look to her in those pics- the green, the shades, and the expression. XDDD

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今日みんなが教えてくれた音楽の力、絶対に忘れない✨ No music, No life 🎼

#powerofmusic2018
#ayu20thTOUR
#広島本当にありがとう🙏

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Now that you mention it... doesn't she look a little like Mr. Burns? lol

https://i.imgur.com/u4gg4PG.jpg

but she looks cute and love to see more pictures with fans! :love

Don't like her hair, too long, it isn't natural lol (I mean, clearly I saw that it is extension on her)

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楽屋で三面鏡あそび😝

Photo by masayuki kamo

I like these mirror pics. It may look good for a cd cover.

The staff must be so busy to edit so many faces :P

She looks so good, and her smile in the first pic! :luv2

Ohh those mirror pictures are beautiful! First I thought that they were different album covers haha.

tbh I'm not suprised with the harsh truth. many might say that it's too much, but I think it's straightforward and honest.
I think for Ayu, especially with her health, is better to actually invest into some business or open a new one. to keep the income flowing.

So we got the point people are openly saying she should just retire :P

Could people just let her do whatever she wants. She didn’t really ask for an advice on how to make money.