now now people! we must remember something

EVEN IF decision DOESNT top this, we should treat it equally and not say Ayu didnt keep to the standard.
IF decision DOES top this, and her next single doesnt in terms of quality (its prolly a ballad thou), we should not get too upset too

COZ AYU TOPPED 07 WITH THIS FREAKIN' SONG!

EXACTLY! i LOVE LOVE LOVE orchestra+rock...
i think if HS did it it will be amazing too..."Crossover Rock"

DARK DARK DARK!!!
----

this song gives my creeps in the bridge! its a fear song surely...haha...I LOVE IT..im so speechless..i played it 10+ times in a row already...
if u listen glitter and fated after this song, u kinda feel that they are quite weak..even though i also LOVE themm..

its VERY NICE to see ALMOST EVERYONE (if not everyone) loving the song...amazing sight! AYU GO FOR IT~!

The bridge is really long. XD

I hope they have some sort of amazing budget for the PV. :D

I have a feeling this single will be amazing :)

Now all it needs is a kiss o' kill remix :P

i really like it very much after listen to it a few more times!its very rockish!

i love it to... the intro reminds me of one of Gackt's intros... whats that song called *thinks*

'Lust for Blood' in Gackt's album Crescent...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=uUDAroxMCCo Listen to the middle part of intro... you'll know what I'm talking about

wow
the beginning is so damn GOOD
it so vampirish or ddraculaish
hahahahah
i like this song
i reckon better than Glitter !!

I'm amazed!!!!
Great lyric!
Perfect intro!
Fantastic rock music!
BEST AYU'S ROCK SONGS EVER!!!!

This song is basically the combination of everything I love! Ayu did it again! I wasn't really happy with her latest songs, but "talkin' 2 myself" is AMAZING. Wonderful lyrics, great instruments, awesome strong, emotional vocals, perfect melody. The arrangements sounds like most of her songs. I love the way the song starts. As some said, there's this chilling vibe. :D And the ending is soooooo perfect.

As always, NEVER DISAPPOINTED BY HER ROCK SONGS! :heart

Wow. I love it. This is seriously the first song of her in a long time that I can say I loved from first listen. And now I've listened to it 50 bajillion times, and I still love it.

Uuuugh I'm kinda iffy about it, I like it, yet I don't, it'll grow on me and I'll really like it by the time her album comes out with it on it.

*freacked out* .... Gackt mitaiiii~ Oh I got scared :laugh Really, she never made a single like that or any other song. Really, congrats to her :yes

glad that lots of ppl loving it!

this version is good enough xD

K, now I've listened to it 3 more times, last time was last night and I was in a bad mood LMAO, now I LOVE this song, I was a bit worried at the pace of it, but now I think it's way cool. This is better than her last single so far.

CAN'T. STOP. LISTENING.

AGH!

I dont think it sounds like a combination of some of her rock songs ¡¡ It has its particulary dark and rock style ¡ The music and specially the guitars are so powerful and ayu´s voice is so deep ¡¡ I love ayu using violins in this masterpiece ¡¡ They give the song something spcecial.

Furthermore, the lyrics are so touching and pretty original ¡¡ Ayu is giving advice to herself in this song about a difficult situation she´s suffering (Obviously, her break up)

So, I rate this song with an A+ ¡¡¡¡ GO AYU ¡¡

PD: Waiting for Decision.... rock-ballad song?

When I hit the chorus, I thought, "Oh, snap! This is more of a rock song than I imagined it to be!" :P

And although it's no big deal, I'm surprised she added the lines "what the hell" in the lyrics. But I like it because it adds to the darkness of the song.

When was the last time we had an actual rock song (as a single) released in the fall? Really, everything else has been a ballad. I mean, if you really want to include 1 LOVE as a "single," be my guest. I just meant released as an actual single. :)

Overall, I really like it; can't wait to hear decision! ^^

i've been wondering what is the song about based on the lyric..

kinda make sense now~
ayu's trying to get every stress out of her mind so she can move on

I have a problem... I can't stop listening to that amazing song! I will make a phone ring from instrumental version after downloading the whole single for sure!

It sounds a lot like Nightwish or something...

I don't really like Ayu going rock, becouse she just comes out average. It's fine, but nothing amazing (except for maybe the intro and outro).

Reading so many enthusiastic opinions, it seems a lot of people were lured to Ayumi's work through the her harder-sounding songs - but it's not what made her. She used to be pop all the way through, only afterwards she slowly switched to all that rock-ish sounding. Now she's doing some fine rock-ish songs and pretty average pop.

I think I would perfer her to stick to pop and do it good.

ayu's doing more than great at rock. I wish she'll do some more of this actually ^_^.
Well a lot of positive comments (which almost never happens) makes it be amazing enough...

Ayu`s rock is great XD But I think it`s a little too much.. In Secret were mostly rock songs... I want more variations :D

though talkin' 2 myself isn't really Secret's rock, it's more rock than what was in Secret XD. It's a bit different. As long is there is a vary or something different doesn't matter how much than I suppose it's fine!

Although I prefer her more poppy songs, this one is still great. I wasn't sure what to expect with the kind of crappy title, but I think the music and lyrics more then make up for it!

The way it sounds, it almost touches hard rock/melodic rock...

im glad alot of people are liking it, but for those who keep comparing this song to another song, please stop
1. ayumi has over 100 original songs
2. one little part does not make it similar to another song, this song is very original to me
3. and please, its a rock song,and most have drums and guitars, so dont tell me it sounds similar!
thx k bye!

Did anyone notice that when Ayu has a song with a more "urban" title to it, it turns out to be a ROCK song or have ROCK elements? STEP you, 1 LOVE, kiss o' kill, talkin' 2 myself... Interesting.

^ Are You Wake Up, yo.

^ I thought Are You Wake Up sounded more like a poppy-dance type song.

Startin' was an exception though... it was rather urban-ish, while it did have an urban-sounding title.

Hmm, I do see what you're saying, but Ayu isn't a singer born, and it's easier for her to rise up above that and really show her vocal capabilities through rock songs. I'd much rather prefer rock songs with such well done composition to match Ayu's voice like this one than, say...another "HONEY". That song is fun, but it's not really a fine show of what Ayu's really capable of.

I agree. Are You Wake Up borders on techno even, given the synths.

And where are all you people getting "urban" feels from? =\ Very, very little of Ayu's work sounds urban to me. Startin' was pretty much pop/rock with some fun record scratching in the background. It definitely was no where near urban.

Oh, woah. Nevermind. xD I had read your post wrong.

What do you think of "Talkin 2 Myself?"
 

IMO: This song ROX!! I thought I wouldn't get to hear it because I'm leaving for college in 2 days, but I was wrong...I read masa's translations for this song and I love that Ayumi is into rock-tempos now....You can listen to "Talkin' 2 Myself" on Youtube: :luv2

LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKwVHyarcHw

This song is wicked and amazing. The best rock song i heard from Ayu since...2001. I hope the sales of this single will do great so she'll sing more of these.

i loooove it! i love ayu's rockier songs!

so far i've only listened to that streamed version -- think i'll try hold out for a real good HQ version

i love ayu doing rocks songs..
and this one is the greater!
her voice totally suits to rock songs!

i think she has done variations on her songs for the year 2007
first, glitter catchy poppish then fated rock ballad and now the strongest ballad, talkin' 2 myself then there will come the decision, hopefully it's a strong rock ballad~

I say-I like it
I like depressive Ayu the most :laugh

BUT BUT BUT

I agree with Dustie the most completely!!!Good Gurl!
I'm already getting sick of this rock,yes,it's getting so much boring,realli
it's just smth...well,I mean,if Ayu started her career with such sounding,without a doubt I wouldn't become her fan
she's been making this rock sound for far away too long...no,no,it's not for me

though,I luv "kiss o' kill"....
& I don't love "1LOVE"

I prefer her pop & always will
I will be with Dustie ! :)

besides,it doesn't sound that different-just another rock ballad from "Secret"...
well,okay,variation of one of ballad from Secret...but nothing that new,fresh & astonishing
I mean...well,more these hard sounds & that's all...

secondly...I think you need't come up to rock to show up your vocal capabilities-you can show em in every type of music

if saying what rock do I prefer,I say-gimme "Memorial adress back!",because I can't stand these light-rock awesome ballads with beautiful compo!


...and I expected a new start after "A BEST2"...

Isn't this a drastic change for her?

This is her first rock headed single, after all.

What new start? She has experimented with a load of genres and I think there's a little to have "a new start". Seriously sometimes I wonder if people just don't go and find a new artist so they won't be "bored".

first...mmm...well...what bout 'STEP you/is this LOVE?'-was it the 1st rock headed single...or not?

she experimented a lot of genres,but took only 2 for a long...'use'

I don't think such rock will do good for Ayumi,that's all

I thought maybe,at least, she would be trying smth like "Ladies Night" & "until that Day..." more...I mean,I hoped so-I like that sound more-it sounds different for me

No I think you read it correctly. After seeing the track list for (miss)understood and the song Are You Wake Up, I think the title itself sounded like a poppy-dance song and that's what it turned out to be. I don't think the title sounds urbanish.
I said the same thing when we got the news that it was going to be a ROCK tune. Although STEP you/is this LOVE? had ROCK in it, with is this LOVE? being VERY ROCK, STEP you was the more promoted material and the lead in the single. In talkin' 2 myself, both talkin' 2 myself and decision are ROCK tunes, Ayu mentioned this.

then,we should consider "STEP you' single as a POP single?

i think STEP you is pop-rock..

WADEVA!

arnt we commenting on THIS song...and if u dun really like rock, then u really wont appreciate this song very much. that said, i think most of us here love her dark and/or rock songs

I love any genre ayu does (that's why she is my most fav) but rock/dark/ballad/dance/pop-rock (Fly high)/trance (Connected) songs are my most fav of her XD.
The only pop songs genre I like less but I don't think I don't like her pop songs, the only song of ayu I never listen to is Two of us, and that's all ^_^.
I can't wait for decision!! Is it 100% that it will be the same genre as talkin' 2 myself?

I don't agree it's different from everything she done... actually, I think it's a typical Ayu song. But a very good one.

Rock is something which probably started with "Duty" era and evolved from then. I think she uses more than one genre. If one is careful and examines her albums, several genres will come up.

Rock will do good for Ayumi because rock music is popular. Most of her rock singles were a success.

Those types of songs are not single material, more fitting to be album material. If an artist gets too experimental most fans won't like it and the single won't sell well in Japan.

I agree. :yes

i LOVE it :) that's all there is to say :D it's a good welcome home present after being away on vacation haha :D

i agree with this too. :yes

but maybe tht means its time for ayu to make risks and release more rock singles (like she's doing with "talkin' 2 myself")?

OMG, gone for several days and i been missed all this.... ANd my thought is this talkin' 2 myself is so d4mn AWESOME. The song ROCKS. I am pretty sure that the sales will top her glitter/fated
Kudis to Ayumi.... AYUMI ALL THE WAYYYYYY

^ I do not think sales will top glitter/fated. Although this song is better, I don't think the Japanese fans will like it more than glitter/fated. Maybe non-Ayu fans, but they might be "too embarrassed" to actually go out and purchase it.

Why would anyone be embarrassed to purchase an Ayu CD? LOL

That applies more to C-ute and the H!P..

^ I don't know because we've all heard of the Japanese who are sick of Ayu and don't like her for any specific reason. I think it's hard to pick up new fans this late in her career.

^ I don't think anyone would be embarrassed. A lot of popular doramas make reference to Ayumi when mentioning singers or CD's. Like in Proposal Daisakusen, one of the cast mentioned her Ayumi Hamasaki CD in a good way.

talkin' 2 myself will be the up that Ayu's carreer needed. Banzai!

Just wondering... is Bunglur really Shavoingin?

Hmm. People who were getting bored with Ayu think that talkin' 2 myself is a step up from glitter / fated, so that's all good.

Wait, where did we hear about Japanese fans not liking Ayu? O_o All we know of is like, complaining overseas fan who don't like what they get, and whine about how they can't get what they want >>

Not so much "Japanese fans", but just "Japanese".
We percieve Ayu differently than people in Japan, she's a goddes to us, and certainly to many Japanese fans, but she's also a mainstream performer, she used to be an idol (now she's more like a diva) and that is not something that everyone enjoys without hesitation. For example, rock fans in Japan - I'm pretty sure they dislike mainstream pop and were never fond of such personas as Namie or Hamasaki. I think it's the same way as with western pop acts - while Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys or Britney Spears were the top of the world to some, they were also the absolute evil to others.

Haha, yes they are the same (incredibly sad) person.

I've noticed that a lot of people who are losing interest in her/just don't like her in the first place often make this argument. "Oh Ayu's prime in Japan is over anyway. No one likes her anymore" blah blah. I think it's impossible to find out the truth either one way or the other, unless someone actually GOES to Japan and conducts an extensive survey XP

My friend is doing study abroad over there right now, and from his experience, his fellow Japanese classmates are telling him that they like her earlier music better; her Duty/I am... days. But that's just one group of people among many.

I think Japanese people just generally see Ayu too much when new releases come out, so there's a bit of a weird feeling towards Ayu.


Like my feeling towards Britney Spears gossip at ONTD. UGH.

The song is great, but the first time I listened to the whole thing, I had the feeling it will get old pretty quicklçy for me, just like until that Day... did.....I just hope it won't :shrug

Lol I love ONTD. It's been my two-hour study break since 2005 XD; But yeah, I can see what you're saying. Ayu's everywhere there so I guess they have to get tired of her once in a while. I'd much rather have Ayu news be everywhere, though, because Ayu will most likely be wearing something non trailer park-y :laugh

i absolutely, positively, undoubtedly LOVE this dang song. It's THE best rock song she's done. Sound like the perfect blend of Ayu-pop, and Ayu-Rock, with a hint of Within Temptation hidden in it. Add some jalapeno sauce and SIZZLE!

Embarassed?? LMAO a lot of from ayu's fanbase it's by new fans that come and go or new and fresh! Otherwise she couldn't sell as much.

talkin' 2 myself has high chances of outselling glitter/fated in a big way.

I never heard from my japanese friends about people who are embarassed to buy ayu's cds lol that's insane to be embarrased about it X_X.

Btw someone said here that she should go more on rock, well after the next rock single people will be already tired from her rock the japanese get tired of things REALLY quick and so people in our forum :P.
Usually when a single gets a lot of positive opinions from the forum users in here the single's ending up selling a lot XD.

On the contrary, I don't think most Japanese people would be embarassed to buy H!P CD's at all. They have a drastically different sense of what's cool/socially acceptable than the west. I think people would be more embrassed to buy material from someone like Kuu, who defies the notion of what a Japanese woman is supposed to be.

From a foreigner's perspective, probably. But I think that the sales figures show a different side of the story D:

dark rock *-*

love it totally <3

yay

I already put it on my mp4

i can't stop listening to it

can't wait for 'decisions'

a great PV will come out!! yays..

i don't think ayu's ever had an actual PURE rock single...
and here it is finally! :D

I think it's a great song. Though there is a little too much bass, but the song is indeed good.

Is an awsome song! So powerfull, and her voice is stronger!!! *______*

I´ll be a sucess! = D!!!!

I think it's great :)

Actually I think it is the opposite. Whenever I read about many forum members loving the single/album, it doesn't sell as well as we would expect. Take Secret for example. Everyone loved it and thought it was her best album in a while. I definitely liked it better than (miss)understood, but it didn't sell up to expectations.

its awesome!!!fans from japan are liking it too!!

what's happeninnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng!!?!?!?!??!?! It's starting to bore me already :cry

"HONEY" *shudder* -_-"

this song is up there with b&D on the unique level for me^^. It might be rock, but it's a whole diff turn on i so that's why it's with B&D. (even though that song was really really really uncalled for lol) i love the song soooooooooo much at the moment! But that's how i feel about most songs when i first hear it so...give me a week...

didn´t like.

c'mon. What's up with u guyz. I been listening to talkin'2 myself for say almost 50 times. And guess what. I am not get BORED at all. The tunes, the rhymes, everything about it is so catchy to me. And the Lyrics are just awesome. The song ROCKS

Quote from other thread by Masa:

Nani o motomete samayou no ka?
Tabiji no hate ni nani ga mitai?
Kimi wa ittai nan ni obiete
Nani o sonna ni nageite iru?

Sono me ni utsuru mono ni atama o
Shihai sare sou ni natte iru to iu no nara
Kokoro no koe o kiku n da

* Genjitsu wa itsu datte itazura ni bokutachi o furimawasu
Dakedo hora sono naka ni kimi dake no kotae ga sou kakurete ru
Mitasarenai omoi ga moshi aru no nara sore wa kimi jishin no te de
Tsukurareta mono

Kimi wa ittai doko e ike ba
Hontou no egao mitsukerareru?

Sono ba shinogi no kairaku no ato
Otozureru handou o kakugo shita furi o shita
Genjitsu touhi wa mou owari

** Jouhou ga yuuwaku ga afurete ru konna toki da kara koso
Bokutachi wa sorezore no sentaku o shite yuku beki na no darou
Hakai suru koto ni yori souzou wa umareru to iu koto o
Kimi wa shitte ru

* (repeat)
** (repeat)
--------------------------------------------------
What are you wandering for?
What do you want to see at the end of the journey?
Whatever are you scared of
And what are you sighing over so much?

If your brain is about to be controlled
By the things reflected in your eyes
Listen to the voice in your heart

* The reality always makes us run for nothing
But look ! Your own answer is hiding in it
If you have an unsatisfied feeling
That's what you made by your hands

Wherever should you go
To find a true smile?

I pretended to be ready for the negative feelings
That would come after makeshift pleasures
I end up escaping from reality

** Just because this is the age full of information and temptations
We should make the choices of our own
You know
That creation comes after destruction

* (repeat)
** (repeat)

Sorry. I dunno how to qute from other threads and post it to this thread

An album and a single is a totally different thing though ^_^.

^Well I don't think nearly as many forum members liked "STEP you/is this LOVE?" as they did "HEAVEN" and "STEP you/is this LOVE?" sold more. I did not like HEAVEN at all. It isn't a terrible song, just a complete disappointment.

the song gives me strength!

this song make me strenght

So what if it sold less? It still had good sales, and just one of the songs was used to promote the single in lives etc. (Except for one CM with Will).

STEP you is this LOVE? both were a-sides/ had PVs TV airs and been performed so most likely... it sold a bit less, but still had really good sales. and 1,500,000 Legal downloads. ^_^

HEAVEN and Will are huge songs and their sales/quality are far from being disappointing imo.

i think talkin 2 myself will sold 150000 *_*

HEAVEN a dissapointment?

:dead2

I just heard this song for the first time and I LOVE it! Ayumi's voice sounds perfect. This song is going on repeat :D

her voice is so powerful!

This song is by far one her best!!!

It's just awesome... I like how the verses and the choruses differ in beat. That just makes it awesome.

The lyrics are here: http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=63075

I think it's kind of a angry, 'get a hold of yourself' song that becomes hopeful in the end: "...creation comes after destruction"

I'm addicted to the song haha o.O

I thought 2005 was her best year as far as singles go. I'm a huge fan of both singles you listed there. How was HEAVEN a disappointment? Just the song or the entire single? Will is an amazing song IMO.

1LOVE is really nice, but it's not a masterpiece imo. this on the other hand... wow. I love Ayu again.

Me 2 also addicted by this song. I always love Ayumi, now I love her even more

I can't stop listening to this song! It's the most adiccting DRUG!!!

I love it !!!!!! This is so different & awesome !!
I can't stop to listen to it! This songs as so much energy & strenght!

an awesome and epic song......i could so see this song in resident evil or silent hill......i really want a pv that is simlar to these games, that woudl be so awesome...reallly creepy....


the best part of the song for me has got to be that killer bridge...man...those guitars and strings are the perfect combo.....

awesome song.....

1 LOVE was pretty amazing
WAS my favorite ayu song until talkin' 2 myself came out XD
i'm a rock junkie, what can i say

and i liked the fact that 1 LOVE became very significant to her, mainly during her breakup, since the lyrics were in her teamayu entries

There have been times when people from Japan said they were getting bored of Ayu by now. She's been singing for nearly ten years. People get tired of the same thing after awhile. But of course, I'm not referring to myself when I say this. I love Ayu and will always support her.

I actually think that more people on these forums got tired from her more than the japanese fans lol.

ayu is still doing huge though, being one of the tops after 9/10 years that she's a singer (mainly in Japan) is just wow.