So now I'm getting lectured by stans because I dared to say that I am... is one of my least favorite Ayu albumsY? :'D I'm not sorry when I say that CREA compositions after I am... are million times better imo. They're more creative and more experimental which is what I like very much, thank you.

I have now officially been proven that Final Fantasy and Ayu fandoms are exactly the same. You get lectured when you dare to say something negative about I am... (=FF7) and if you even DARE to say you like her new albums, you get told that your taste is s*it (=the basic response if you say that FFXII or FFXIII is your favorite).

^ Stop being a drama queen and move on.

I love I am... but I don't listen to it often. From her past albums, the one I appreciate the most is LOVEppears, I love its cover art, the atmosphere, the songs, etc. :yes

I wouldn't call what Baernash wrote a "lecture" and no one here said your taste is sh*t. I think you might be overreacting a little bit? :think

RAINBOW, Memorial address, Rock'n'Roll Circus, and Love songs IMO could probably be released at any time and do fine as well. (including other smaller minis, potentially LOVE/again/FIVE too)

And I guess that's just where personal taste comes in. I love RAINBOW, but I think it sounds so deeply early 2000s. Love Songs is one of my favorite albums from her in recent years, but I get such a nostalgic feeling from it -- not something that's current, it appeals to a sense of the past for me. RNRC is so misguided to me, and one of my least favorite albums from her, despite not necessarily hating anything on it.

LOVE/again are good enough to me, with some strong standouts, and some songs that would still do really well -- but they're also fairly recent, so hard to compare them when talking about sounding fresh or current. FIVE is blah to me, and such a forgettable release in her discography.

I thought a lot of the songs on FIVE were really fresh feeling, especially for Ayu. A bit muddled as far as image went (What was it supposed to be?) but the music was fine.

Why won't people let I Am... be great. Kets not act like its not Ayu's greatest artistic achievement and allowed Ayu to be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Utada Hikaru and Shiina Ringo in terms of artistic merit.

I definitely feel that out of her older albums, Duty and LOVEppears are her best, but I do feel that I am... has some of her best songs on it.

LOVEppears is just so fantastic to me. I never understood the loyalty people felt towards that album until I bought it about a year or two ago and I have been in LOVE since (XD). I have always felt, however, Duty is simply one of the best albums she's done. It has such a powerful mood to it and has some of my favorite songs of hers. Plus, Starting Over is my favorite intro of hers.

I am... is ok for me but that's it. maybe it's because i like ayu's upbeat songs more but i find myself listening to it really rarely, same goes with (miss)understood and MY STORY. i only listen some of the songs every now and then (usually only Connected, INSPIRE and fairyland). i don't see them as bad albums, but albums that don't have songs i desire to listen :no it's funny since everyone seems to say them when we are talking about best albums, i'm more of a Colours, sixxxxxx & now M(A)DE IN JAPAN-kinda person :D i fell in love with ayu on 2008 and maybe that's why i prefer her recent discography over the pre-2008

i totally agree with this :yes people won't say it in your face but i read very often comments that are kinda 'your taste is shit mine is THE ayu-fan taste'

maybe it's finnish way to feel this way :D

"Bye bye island
Time to go back to work
#ROSANTICA #Jimmychoo"
http://i.imgur.com/RNDEgiDl.jpg

"Tokyo, I'm home︎
Home sweet home #AHKAH #TOKYO ring #fork ring"
http://i.imgur.com/EHy2qrHl.jpg

omg I need that TOKYO ring

Well, in my opinion it's not. Sorry :P

IMO her first great album from an artistic point of view was RAINBOW, having a strong concept that goes all the way through and songs that maintain a cohesive aestheitc between each other.

I Am.. have some pretty strong tracks, but they don't add much to eachother nor they form a coherent theme. Being about her world view on loneliness, insecurity and hope isn't enough considering that can be said about pretty much her whole discography, and even more about everything she had already released at the time.

Also, when I Am... was released she was already seen as someone on the same league as Utada and Shiina.

Personally, I think My Story is Ayu's greatest artistic achievement. An argument can be made for Duty as well. I Am... is less an album and more like a collection of great songs. I do think her greatest songs are in that album though.

I have to disagree that Rainbow sounds entirely early 2000s. Some songs on it, perhaps (We Wish, Everywhere Nowhere), and not that that's a bad thing. But Free & Easy, Independent, Voyage, + sound fresher than anything Ayu has released in the past five years

Recent Ayu, honestly, I don't give a hang much. I haven't bought an album since Love Songs (skipped Rock n Roll Circus). I was expecting something new with Made in Japan, some interesting use of traditional Japanese music and pushing her music forward, but again she played it safe and we have another dull late period Ayu album.

Oh well, 10 great albums plus 1 mini is nothing to sneeze at. That's more than Madonna at least.

PS. FFVII is good but nowhere near top tier FF. 4, 6, and 10 are way ahead of it.

I think she's slowly evolving as she progresses during this 'reset'.

A ONE and sixxxxxx were basically quintessential Ayu and M(A)DE IN JAPAN experimented a bit more for a few tracks than those two did, but still aren't pushing boundaries as much as she tends to. Seeing as how the 'reset' was just last year, I think we're in a good place.

I still love Ayu, and she still offers up very worthwhile music to me, for the most part. My love of I Am... in no way diminishes the fact that she is still capable of putting out great music.

I do think that people have been drawn to her for different reasons and at different times, and she has eras that reflect those things more or less. She's also just done so much at this point in her career that some songs which would've been nice album filler earlier in her career become more forgettable to someone who has followed her for a long time.

And it's also worth mentioning that her voice has changed. To me, I most loved her voice during the I Am... period. Her live performances during her promotion of Dearest are fantastic. Since then, her range has decreased a bit, and her overall voice has become more deep and full sounding. I think that works really well for more rock-tinged songs like Sorrows or Tell All, which wouldn't have been as good if she released earlier in her career. Whereas I loved her ballads and power ballads from earlier in her career, a lot of her new ballads are "light ballads" with airy vocals that draw me in less (though there are still some that I really, really love).

I had mentioned once in another thread that being a longtime fan of Ayu (and probably older than some members of this forum in general), I think I sometimes have a different mentality. I feel like Ayu and I have grown up together throughout the course of her career. There have been times we've moved in the same direction and had similar ups and downs, and there are times that our paths have really diverged more. But at the end of the day, we always come back together at some point. And we're never so far apart that we can't see one another. I can listen to older songs from emo-Ayu and be transported back to being a whiny teenager when they came out, and I can also listen to a song like Feel the Love and just want to have a good time and not be serious.

lol the conversations are so deep right now. I just popped in to say her rings are cute.

I would say tracks on "RAINBOW" are more various. For me both "I am..." and "RAINBOW" are strong albums but "I am..." was beginning of something new in her career, a moment when she started to put even more heart into her music. I think it's worth to remember and I believe a lot of "old" fans have sentiment to this album because of that.

If I'd like to force my opinion I would use "must" form. "Should" is the right word for suggestion/advice and that's what I expressed. Let's keep the forum a place without political correctness :)

I didn't insult you or rated your taste so could you please not overreacting? What you prefer is your personal matter and I'm not trying to judge it. We are here to exchange opinions not lecture each other.

http://i.imgur.com/NO20GiRl.jpg

video: https://www.instagram.com/p/BHUY3naBXs3/

Fine then, maybe I overreacted a bit but my opinion on I am... is still the same - I honestly don't care that it was the album that defined Ayu as a artist/songwriter. I'm done trying to pretend that I worship a album that's in my top 5 least fav Ayu albums. I tried to like it, I really did. I tried to do so for years, but that had to end. True, it has some gems on it but overall it's not special in any way to me. She has so many better albums for me to like and listen to - like (miss)understood for example. I also think they should have kept Endless sorrow's original mix and replace the rock version of Daybreak with HAL's Mix 2002. And cut taskinlude (and replace it with Dome Tour's intro for M) and A Song is born out. And flower garden shouldn't be a hidden track. Then I might find the album more enjoyable.

There. I said my truly honest opinion on I am... even if it goes against my own rule about never letting any Ayu fan know what I truly feel about her releases. In worst scenario, I'll get bullied because apparently to some people I'm a traitor who betrayed the fandom by jumping into Koda Kumi fandom in 2008 lol.

:luv2 She's so incredibly cute in that video clip. That little giggling :love:love

July 1st group shot

http://i.imgur.com/meqd7fPl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/qlHqNORl.jpg

Ring info -
https://boutique.ahkah.jp/categories...g/VC1115010200 - 31,120yen for TOKYO
https://boutique.ahkah.jp/categories...g/LN0049010200 - 43,200yen for arrow

My god, these are amazing but the prices are scary, lol.

Good inspiration though if you can make jewelry. Etsy has some neat alternatives.

I can't believe such jewellary is worth so much. It must be the gold that makes it so expensive, but seriously...

I always thought that I am... was over hyped until I actually bought the cd and listened to it all the way through. I think it deserves to be considered one of her best works. I think it is filled with inspiration and atmosphere and really has some unique sounds going on. It also stands as a strong example of what Ayu is capable of when she applies herself. This may be an unpopular opinion but I actually really like the versions of Daybreak and Endless Sorrow that were used on the album. I also like the regular version of Endless Sorrow and the HALs mix of Daybreak especially, they can easily be obtained by buying the singles anyway.

For me, the most overrated Ayu album is (Miss)understood. I do still love and enjoy that album though. Alterna will always be a top favorite.:luv2 I would say that GUILTY is her most underrated album. That album was so powerful to me. Her best vocal performance as well. The whole 10th anniversary era felt like Ayu was really on top of her game.

I think of her widely praised albums, none of them are really overrated. I think they get their praise for a reason and deserve it.

However, I'd say I am... gets much more of it than any other of her works that get praised, lol. She was really on a roll for her early career. Such gems in her first albums.

:yes :yes oh yes! she looked fabulous all year and singles and album covers were her best ones in her whole discography (Mirrorcle World, A COMPLETE, Days / GREEN) :luv2 + ASIA TOUR was perfection :luv2 :luv2 :luv2

I see truth in that for sure. For me, each album is special in it's own way and for my own reasons. That's why I never get why people argue over what album is better or best.:yes
I do listen to her 1998-2002 stuff more often though. I miss the remix albums from those times as well.

So true!:thumbsup
A Complete was my very 1st Ayu CD that I listened too and the 1st in my collection.:love

I didn't like Ayu's 10th Anniversary celebrations at all and I'm probably the only one but then again, I was in a war against my ayu stan bullies in another forum that year, too, so the anniversary went past me by a mile. I did watch ASIA TOUR tho. I dig that Marionette performance so much even if it was lip synced from start until finish lol.

I agree! I love the ~Gone With the Wind~ version of Endless Sorrow. I love how both versions are so different!

I love that A Complete has a never before released live performances DVD. I really hope 20th Anniversary will have that as well.

It was Dolls from the TA tour that made me all crazy about buying all of Ayu's tour dvds :D

hey guys, don't you want to go to chat room and discuss album there?

http://i.imgur.com/7Zvfix8l.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/9OnZN3hl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/tBLbrrGl.jpg



group shot 3 July

http://i.imgur.com/W7az95Vl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/agNE7v2l.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/mRRhMRzl.jpg

That beachy dress looks so good!

She looks frumpy in the group pics.

I read your message "That bitchy dress looks so good!" at first.

HAHA

Ayu is very Edna Mode in those group shots.

I don't think I'll ever like I am... as an album. I agree with some members that it's more like a collection of best songs thrown into the album. I know that ayu loved making concepts for each album in early days (maybe she's still doing now, but I haven't bought her album since Party Queen), and I know that she did try to incorporate a concept for I am..., but it didn't really work for me at least. She released a bunch of singles during 2001 (and each single was so different), so I guess it's hard to create a unison. And I was sick of ayu's over-exposure back then, so I didn't buy that album until a few years back. I would say there are some of her greatest songs in the album, like M, Dearest, evolution (yes it may sound overrated, but if you were there back then, it was so matching to that shining era. Ayu was on top of the game, she was the trendiest person in Japan, everyone loved her blah blah).
Maybe I am... is better than RAINBOW in terms of songs, but RAINBOW actually gives me a unifying surreal feel to me. I didn't really like both albums back then (but I bought RAINBOW when it was released). I remember one day in 2005, I was working in my room and I decided to play RAINBOW on my cd player (which I never had), and actually I found out how beautiful the album was when I listened from start to end. The sound flowed so well from one song to the next. I don't know why I would group I am... and RAINBOW together, but probably those two albums represented the moment when she was the lead female singers (along with hikki) in Japan during that era.

The more time passes, the more I’m drawn to you
But we don’t say the words
Because we don’t want to ruin things #SummerLove

http://i.imgur.com/pGmg4OYl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ScVBpoSl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/WnWXV8fl.jpg

Lol I loved the hashtags
Miccie gave her tanning gel and now her butt is red xD

I am (lol) not a "big" fan of "I am..." either. The 3 top hits started my love for Ayu (evolution~NEVER EVER~Daybreak combo plus maybeee M, cause its a classic right) but for the rest it's a bunch of same sounding kinda songs (UNITE!, Naturally, Still alone) The ballad section bores me to death (I was never a fan of Dearest or Endless sorrow) so I guess, she made better albums. Duty for example. Pure perfection.

I prefer the single version of Endless Sorrow, by far. I find it interesting because at the time she said something like she changed the song to "save" it, but her life versions are much more closely aligned to the single version. I don't mind the lyrical edits though, just the musical.

I love the intensity of I Am.... Every song has such conviction and purpose. I really wish she would perform some of the album tracks more, like No More Words or Still Alone.

I also love the story of M and her composing it. Basically she went out and bought a super keyboard, ready to compose -- and then realized she didn't know how to use it properly. So she ended up just recording herself humming the melody.

It's also interesting to see that people don't see a theme or concept to the album. This album is all about her struggle with Love vs. Freedom. Rainbow is a continuation of that theme, but I think this really introduced it in a strong way.

I know there is a concept to I am..., but the songs were too strong individually and the concept were overshadowed. Maybe the lyrical contents are working well together, but the music are not. So for me, I am... is better at singles, while RAINBOW is better as an album. I didn't really love the single songs in RAINBOW (except HANABI and Voyage) but I really like the album as a whole.

I think from 1998-2004, I really enjoy LOVEppears and Duty. I am... and RAINBOW are fantastic albums, but I don't connect with the themes of freedom/love, as much as I do with youth, confusion, self-doubt, etc. based themes that appear in LOVEppears/Duty. Imo they are her strongest albums in terms of pure concept and theme rigidity, perhaps only rivalled by GUILTY and Love Songs.

it sure is nice to have a bit of fun in the sun and sand from time to time

^ what are ayu and shuya doing on that photo?
new MV? summer love?
haha

It's from last summer...

it's from Summer diary shooting

screen from the video
http://i.imgur.com/MecXIGAl.jpg

You & Me part 2...

EDIT: Oh wait, it is just some damn throwback thurday picture compliation.
There really is nothing to talk about anymore, eh?:o:(

Well this is the social network thread. We only talk about what she posts lol

A few times here and there, people do throwbacks on Instagram or Twitter.

#ThrowbackThursday - or #TBT - that is... :D

Anyone knows what the description says? Looks like there's something about Tokyo Olympics.

I don't get it also. Is its something about preparation of Yoyogi Stadium to Olympic Games? It will be her last performances there?

I wonder where she will hold CDL

She just posted on twitter, seems like she's back to working with Leslie and Ryan now :/ Weird, but I do like Leslie's photos, just not the scandals during 2011-2012 *rolls eyes*

I wanna say maaaaaybe not. But who knows, maybe they got over their tiff, lol.

She says something about 6 final performances in yoyogi. 3 concerts for MIJ and I'm definite she will have her last 3 concerts at yoyogi for CDL16-17 and then she has to find a new venue to replace yoyogi until 2020

wow..that will be hard to find new venue such like Yoyogi

Yeah maybe they made up, he apologized, etc blah blah. That's her business I guess :rolleyes I'm looking forward to new photos though.

Yokohama Arena and Saitama Super Arena, there's no need to search :-)

Both are bigger than Yoyogi and both aren't directly located Tokyo. Idk if they will consider those venues.

Well, in terms of capacity Saitama Super Arena for example is very adjustable.

Yeah, that's a point. The smallest Saitama can get for concerts is 12,500 seats though ( or using the hall with just 6000 seats).
As it is in Saitama it's probably not suitable for CDL as I can imagine people could get problems going home?

+ is someone using it already for COUNTDOWN?

In the past, she has used Yokohama as a finale venue. But as for CDL, someone else probably has it for those days unless Ayu's team planned in advance and booked it.

Replacing Yoyogi for tours isn't a problem, just CDL is probably going to be problematic.

Looking at the past few years, seems like random acts take Yokohama depending on who wants it. flumpool was the most recent, but before it had been K-ON! or Porno Graffitti.

I am going to guess Ayu will take it for the next few years after this year's CDL.

i hope she can keep doing her countdowns in Yoyogi right after it's free for use and noone else take her venue

so sad about Yoyogi, going to miss CDL over there

btwww I saw Maro wrote on his blog bout going to today's show, woow after him bashing Ayu on tv etc I didnt see this going to happen, meh, he didnt have to

he seems to reminiscing his good time being in troupe and talking bout the Lion dance.

wonder whats Ayu's reaction for this

i hope shes able to stay in tokyo. Because I don't want to travel lol

can't believe she decided to work with Leslie again

Holy crap at how good she looks in the shot with Max.

Does anyone have a NYE show at Makuhari Messe?

Seems like Babymetal has it for now.

Maybe she'll stop doing them?

for real??? :shakehead:shakehead:shakehead :o

I think they just met up, but when they meet, projects are usually also discussed, lol.

I think the caption says something along the lines of "From today on I'm taking pictures with Leslie and Ryan"?

Saying goodbye to big revenue source? Don't think so.

Ryan Chan posted a photo of him and Leslie Kee wearing the M(A)DE IN JAPAN tour staff T-shirt. Guess this year's tour photography will be by them.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BHqKQk0h50n/

And he posted a picture of a screenshot of him listening to BRILLANTE

I was kind of glad to be rid of him and Leslie.

Ayu with Leslie means it'll go down something like

Naked shots→Bashing→Drama

No surprise about the Yoyogi with the fact the renovations are BADLY needed ahead of the 2020 Olympics...but yeah, it's going to be a pretty hard time when venues like this - maybe Budokan - used for concerts, but are also going to be used for the Olympics in four years (we still haven't started the Rio Olympics yet!)...going to be quite a tough time for some, trying to find suitable alternative venues to staple venues (e.g. Yoyogi for Ayu's CDL) while these venues are subject to Olympic renovation.

As for Ayu and Leslie Kee tie-up...I have no comment on that.

He's gonna try to get nudes of her dancers again. Aghh.

^ That was such a fail honestly, really bad image on Ayu. I'm fine with his photos as long as no more dramas involved.

I feel like there were at least two or three strikes where he was doing dumb stuff. Mannie, then two incidents with dancers, I think.

Perhaps the next album will be shot by him though now that he's back in the rotation. Or ND. Or both.

not happy hmm

Ayu is back in the wagon, everything is low key now and under control.

but now this reminds me back bout the messy drama. or like someone said maybe they just made things up :o

who the f cares about leslie LOOK AT THEM:
https://z-1-scontent-waw1-1.xx.fbcdn...00957695_o.jpg

FINALLY THE TWO IN ONE PIC!!!

The foto was taken by Leslie ;)
And which 2 in one pic do you mean?

^yeah i know and i don't really give 2 **** about that fact lol
which two? are you kidding me? :D

If you mean Ayu + Gackt that I don´t understand the "finally" because they did a christmas Special together in 2001. They sang together "Itsuka no merry christmas" + "Silent night"

LOL yeah, but that's been like 16 years ago!!!! they barelly end up on stage together now! So this is a fangirl moment for me lol

Hehe^^
I rly rly hope they won´t cut it off the TV-Broadcast

Oh my goddddddhh

I would give my left leg to hear them perform SEASONS together with the arrangement Gackt used during his Camui Gakuen tour back in '13. /crieeeeeeeeeeees

^that would be so good! ♡

Yes two of my favorites together.
Please a duet song

I'm with you! when I first saw the photo I was screaming like a little fangirl, I was waiting for this pic since 16 years >_<
My favorite j-artist together!

I would hive the other leg then ;)

I'd love to ear more Ayu songs performed by Gackt and I'd die to ear Gackt songs performed by Ayu