The ats- version is good, but it doesn't have the same "punch" that the official version has imo.

IT'S SO F*****N GOOD!!:love

Dreamed a Dream

歌手：浜崎あゆみ
作詞：ayumi hamasaki
作曲：Tetsuya Komuro

Really love it! Feels like it could come right from NEXT LEVEL

This song is a bit like progress' more insane sister song, lol. A few moments have that vibe but this is more along the lines of Sparkle or harder tracks from LOVEppears imo!

Arrangement by Yuta Nakano... interesting that’s probably why the song sound quite familiar. I am pleasantly surprised.

Doesn't she usually use the "dream the same dream" phrase in relation to her fans and career? I think the song might be about that. But maybe it's just a theory lol

Omg that main synth line is soooo addictive! It is kind of a dark melody I love it!

For me it sounds as if they took bits from NO FUTURE, Many Classic Moments and We are the QUEENS but still managing to create a different song in her discography.

Well, I like it.

I think it's gonna be one of those tracks I learn to love with time, probably. The instrumental is what I was expecting from her so I can't say I'm disappointed, but it really does nothing for me (or the fan remixes).

I kinda felt some bits of WatQ here too, I can see these two being concert openers together tbh.

We wish lol Her voice now isn’t half as good as it was during that time. It’s kinda frustrating for me with Ayu, because she went from a not so good voice at her beginnings, then developed the most beautiful voice and technique around 2003 which lasted till 2010 or so, then started to decline every year. I’m a bit worried for the years to come tbh. Comparing her songs through the years it does even sounds like a complete different person. Kinda off topic but needed to say lol


Dreamed a dream must be the best song in like, 4 years? I’m digging it. It’s simply perfect.

TK and Yuta Nakano are my personal dream team for ayu's music so it's no wonder this song is such a banger for me.

It def is We are the Queens Part 2 but its less campy, a little darker and with wayyyy better production so it feels much fresher, cooler and classier lol

I think her voice is better than the 2008~ ish era, tbh. The recent fluctuation is due to an excess of touring. More touring than ever before and no rest.

I think that's to be expected from someone who tours as much as she does. Look at Madonna, for example - she doesn't sound at all like she did in Holiday lol. That and I'm sure it's tough for her to improve her technique since she can't hear as well as she used to. :-/

I'm just proud of her for not quitting and instead continuing to do what she loves. I admire her discipline.

^ same :yes It might not sound the same as the one I felt in love with, but as an artist she still is and will ever be.

I totally agree. Given all of the factors going against her, I'm very impressed that she keeps going... and that she keeps going not only because she loves music but for her fans. I'm sure quite a bit of her vocal deterioration is because of how much she tours. It's easy to see her as just a product but as a human being, I'm thankful for her sacrifice.

Also, this song is making me thirsty for an album lol.

When I first read it i first thought she she referring to her fans. ''Let's dream the same dream'' Is the kind of she she write in her TA generated happy birthday emails. She also received a huge amount of hate by media and public in the recent years.

dude.... DUDE this gives me old school ayu vibes and I've been LIVING for her older music. this is absolutely perfect kdljfdklgjfd it's one of those rare songs that's fresh but still so ayu. I couldn't be happier with the finished song!

This is so clearly a TK composition, and so it doesn't really remind me of her early music, but it does take me back to late 90s J -pop :D That's just TK's composition style though.

I really like it though and it's probably my favorite since we are the queens, which ended up being one of the my favorite ayu songs.

The one thing about TK's composition style and many of his tracks for ayu is that it sometimes feels like the verse, bridge and chorus are a bit disjointed, and in this case especially the bridge is drawn out a lot to the extent where it's a bit difficult to keep tension throughout, especially for people who are used today's pop music I guess. (The first chorus starts at 1:24, which is very, very late for any pop track and it's the same for many (but not all) of his tracks for ayu). Some of itmay be ayu's decision too though to fit the lyrics and musical story telling the way she likes it. In any event, TK's compositions are more melody-driven than most popular music today (both Western and K-pop) and he relies a lot on key changes to create tension. So this song is basically what I've come to expect from TK for ayu. Sometimes it works really well, but sometimes it makes the song feel flat and dragged out. And it makes the arranger's job more difficult I think because instead of coming up with one catchy hook that can be repeated again and again, he or she has to figure out a way to make it interesting in different ways throughout the song. I think they did a great job with Dreamed a Dream, but I also think this song could've benefited from cutting half of the first bridge and maybe the first verse too, but that might've messed up the lyrics!

This song is a complete experience. I'm living for it!!

That explains why I scratch my head everytime when people say his songs sound like some of her early works, when they really don't sound anything like from her at that time.

^
Definitely she was not part of the TK boom so I don’t understand either the comparisons with her early work.

We are the Queens is fire. This song reminds me more of sending mail or snowy kiss but much better.

Might be the impact and arrangement rather than the "TK-ness"?

Here’s hoping Nakano isn’t the only arranger she plans on using for the foreseeable future...

The future seems to mostly be Yuta, tasuku, ats-/Takehito Shimizu, basically mostly old H/\L then tasuku. I think CMJK rounded things out a lot, and it seems like he assisted in the last few lives as well so he could always come back!

Going over the last 5 years of releases, it's basically 80% Yuta, then the last 20% is tasuku/ats- with Shimizu/Shingo Kobayashi/RedOne.

It’s a bit sad she doesn’t hire a new arranger ! Her music would really benefit of even a small change in her team of arrangers. Her compositors & arrangers are aging as well some young talents would definitely bring something

Yuta was the 'new blood' in 2007 I think with talkin' 2 myself but at this point I think she really likes having him around so that's why he's become her mainstay.

The concern is probably... "if I go for someone new, will they make arrangements that I like?" so she stays with who she knows can create the sound she wants.

You characterized TK’s composition so well!

I remembered when Tetsuya Yukumi first composed for ayu, its characteristics were the repetitive melodies (ANGEL’S SONG, Moments). When it comes to TK, it’s repetition got even more pronounced, plus the lengths of certain verses and double verses/bridges (like NO FUTURE), which makes the song really unorthodox and insane in today’s pop world. And I love them for exactly that reason! I think DaD has so much tension because of the long verse, not despite of it

New doesn't always mean better lol.

It’s what I think. In 2007 yuta arrangements were fresh ! To me Decision is still astounding as ever but I think him and Ayu are going full circle now and I just can’t imagine any evolution for both of them musically. I don’t mind if she keeps him for the distinctive Ayu sound but I look foreword for something new... still Dreamed a dream is fantastic but Can’t help being curious if the arrangements would have be done by someone else.

That’s true but it’s good sometimes to takes some risks but I don’t want to sound annoying she prove with this song she can surprises us so I look forward for the next step.

I love TK's unorthodox song structures. The LIGHTS albums being my favorite use of it. I love that it is evident here in DaD.

I wonder if Yuta’s house is filled with chimes.

^lol

This is totally the old Ayu vibe, I agree. Like it reminds me of so many things but i can't pick it out. BUt maybe as some other people said here, it reminds you of so many 90s pop tracks and that's why it feels so familliar.
I don't hate the song actually. It's pretty good, but i'm not super impressed.

This is literally giving me TM Revolution's "HOT LIMIT" vibes :D

Ayu probably makes a winky face at him and that's a sign to add the chimes.

I love the song!!! I havent been this excited since I heard NO FUTURE lol.

Similar to NF, my only critique is that I wish some interesting aspects in the arrangement would be brought out more. They're kind of lost in the mix, but I think they would add interesting color to the song if brought out more. They're very faint.

I definitely hope she is planning an album. I'd be in the mood for another Love songs lol. But we'll see what she wants to do.

That's not even funny anymore. I was enjoying this song until the very end. And boom, there it is. I hate that sound :irked at least I can cut it on iTunes and forget about it.

A true Empress!

I think someone did a simpler version of that on twitter.

Lol that really is her signature post. Also Voyage, &, GUILTY, ...

I thought the same. It could pertain to Max or fans. The Max connection is good as it’s like a “20 (or so) years later” following the conclusion of the drama. I could see the song playing at the close of the story.

But also I connected with the fan element and how she has made several songs about her “haters” or fans being nit picky and needy. I think she tires of that (of those “quarrels”) but in the end she realizes she’s still in it for the fans who are ultimately in it for her.

This comparison just made me realise she's rocking her postpartum hair regrowth aha

on another note, DaD absolutely slaps, I almost feel as excited as I did in 2005 listening to an ayu song for the first time

Song is great, it sounds so refreshing and different.

I love that comparison, I wonder if it was on purpose.
Regrowth? 5 months for me and my hair is just falling off in clumps T.T

Oh nooo, I hope it stops soon!! I got lucky and mine wasn't too bad, looked crazy with a ponytail for a while with all the wispies sticking up on end though! XD

I just love the song so much, she finally did a good song and not just and "ok" song.

I love everything except the strong "Uuuuu" she belts in the bridge, it seems to be a weird vowel to belt, not the most agreable, but it such a detail.

It helps that this is pretty much her first upbeat non-rockish and non-midtempo lead track in a reaaalllly long time. I think the last time she went remotely in that direction with a non-cover was in Colours? Later EDM explorations were usually not so well received, though Summer Love is great, I don't think it really was ever considered to be stellar.

I actually love that, she’s like carrying it in her throat which is interesting. It kinda reminds me of how she says certain parts in the opening of the track I am...

I like the song but the arrangement is a letdown compared to the remix. I don’t enjoy the piano in the background, the cheap little strings and such - that kind of “rolling over the hills” scenery that the song evokes - I thought of progress too which was mentioned already by true happiness. But the song has power and I love the tension from repeating the melody over and over before it finishes.

There's a bit during a verse or chorus that really stands out as a progress moment with the strings. I think strings/piano helps keep it from being too TK-esque.

Holy shit I Love ats- and loved this version :luv2

Actually rather than opening with this track, I could see her ending with it as a double encore or something. As it comes to an end I can see that intro part (from 00:16 onward) playing again on loop as they all take their final bows. The very beginning intro is also very fitting for starting after the lights go out and you think it’s the end but thar chaos starts and lights begin to flash.

Seems like Dreamed a Dream will be included in the CDL19-20 limited edition! First press, I think? It's truly worth it this time.
https://twitter.com/ayu_19980408/sta...521869312?s=19

It looks like it's getting jammed on the same CD as Ohia no Ki too. Kind of a strange addition.

^True. Still nice it will get a physical release, albeit in an odd way.

I am glad to read your comment because I shows that the things we dislike on the track aren't virtually bad but question of taste. Contrary to you, I like the background piano and the strings because they add some melancholy in the mix and I love it. I prefer the original over remixes, The original is more ''contained'' and I like that. Many people compares this song to Progress... to me it feels closer to We Are the Queens (with better lyrics).

I like it too. I mean Ayu does it in almost every song. Its her vocal quirk that I always loved. Keiko did this with her voice too.

Agreed! I really missed this kind of song!

I liked the official version! It's cheerful without being too full and it's more remarkable than her latest releases imo :)
I hope those who have mixed the short version already will also make remixes of the full version, when we get a song with such strong melody, it'd be nice to have more versions just to keep listening to the "same" song XD if that makes any sense

I generally love melancholy, I would inject it into my veins if I could. Lol. Missing is oozing with melancholy for example. But here it just feels out of place to me. I guess it matches the lyrics but it just waters down the power and/or tension. The melody is so playful and jumps around a lot, but that background piano isn’t so much. I love that the ats mix really took advantage of the playfulness and mirrored that in his arrangement to enhance that playfulness even further.

I dont like the "uuh" Part eww..
Hearing this song, make me remember Rainbow album era, it fits the album...

I think right now it's at no.6 iTunes singles in Japan! I wonder if it'll get any higher, been on a steady rise since it came out but it has pretty big competition from Night Rider and a TikTok hit.

I'm interested in seeing DaD's debut sales, especially after knowing how much Ohia no Ki sold on its first day. Depends, if the song gets a daily top 3 debut we'll know. She could get a daily number one again but Night Diver is doing well, so that should be considered. It might do better weekly since it has more time than Ohia but that also depends on her competition.

Anyway, charts are interesting to follow but the only thing that's truly important is that the song is amazing.

YES! Someone else finally said it. This is exactly what I thought and I've been really into that ayu era lately.

Dreamed a Dream has reached the fifth position on Mora!

https://mora.jp/ranking?term=lrank24&genre=all

Ohia no ki peaked at number 7, although there were 2 versions available for that song, the aac and the high resolution flac. I hope it can go up!

The contrast between calm and upbeat, as well as the melody at the end do remind me of progress (and that melody also reminds me of Song 4 u as well, I think).

First time I am hearing it! Instant love, I really enjoyed it.
Both Ohia no Ki and Dreamed a Dream are really good, hopefully she will continue this path and release an album soon.

Dreamed a Dream reminds me of a blend of classics like progress, WE WISH, Naturally evolution, SURREAL, Tell All and We are the Queens (well more or less not really a classic) Speaking of SURREAL, when I read the lyrics I was reminded of SURREAL lyrics. As if she is letting us/her friend(I still think it is for Max) know, that she kept holding on that same dream she sang about in SURREAL.
But I agree that it stands on its own.

Overall I really like what I am hearing. It will be a great song to wake up to or to listen to when you have to drive for a long time. Energy boost! The music is rather pretty busy. However, I enjoy upbeat Ayu, so I am embracing this song with open arms.

Now excuse me I am going to take a walk, put this song on repeat and fantasize about PV and performance possibilities.

Thank you, Ayu! So happy with the new music!

I forgot to mention I really like the new pic she posted too!
And after reading some comments about the pose...
I love the new pic, but sorry, I had to make this hahah XD
//disclaimer: yes I did flip the Secret and Next Level horizontally just for the sake of the joke hahaha
sorry it's so badly done, it was just for fun :P

https://64.media.tumblr.com/2fffbbe8...9f85c15b49.jpg

^ what about FIVE? And Party Queen CD only?

oh damn, I knew I was missing something...those are so good too
I went by memory and didn't check her full discography... sorry hahaha
Maybe later I'll make a better edit and post here ahhaha

I like the intro! I like it, but I don't think I'll repeat it often. I don't know what is. Lately Ayu hasn't really been clicking with me. But I'm happy she's releasing new stuff again~

Nicely done :laugh

I'm happy with this song !
Nothing really new but I enjoy it and it's been a very long time since I liked a song from Ayu. So that's great !!

I understood what bothers me the most. It's the intro and the same part near the end. I want to try to cut them

One thing I miss in the song is heavy guitars continuing through the last chorus.
I can hear them in the background but they are reaaaally faint.

It would have added to the progression and given an extra boom to the ending.

Well, since he do it just for fun. But actually comes out with an amazing arrangement like that. We can imagine If he is being paid to do it. I believe he will make it even more amazing, mixing it mastering it in another level.

I'm a bit disappointed by Dreamed a Dream. The intro and the verse are really good. But the arrangement of the chorus...where is the explosion? Really the arrangement is heavy. It drains all the energy of her voice. Overall it's one of her most rich arrangement for this kind of song. I wish she'll provide an epic remix one day. As she did with Winter diary ～A7 Classical～.

This party is on crack, I can't dance that fast.

It keeps reminding me of Identity's chorus.

The instrumental bridge (not the guitar one, but I like it a lot too) is the best part, so bombastic and explosive.
I think the only things I dislike about this track are uuuh parts (and they also last too long), very dry and semi-cutesy voice in the verses. Oh, there's also one note in the second verse that sounds sharp as if it's a result of pitch correction mistake, but then I realized it was a choice, I just don't like how it ruins the melody (nanimo KAmo ga).

The intro is fantastic.

I agree, some power is missing. But I don't know what exactly could've fixed that, something rockish?

She went from 5->4->3->2 at Mora.jp:
https://mora.jp/ranking?term=lrank24&genre=all

omg I'm just glad it's not a ballad. it remids me of Mirrorcle Word or Wake me up but I think I like Dreamed a Dream more than those songs

oh and I'm surprised it's composed by TK. I thought he'd retired already

Awesome

Considering there is no promo it’s quite good ! I really hope in a near future someone will offer her a big tie-in... I’ve the feeling we are so near of a little bounce back in her carrer but for that she needs something that can attract audience attention at a big scale. It would be amazing if she can do that in her fourty for a japanese woman.

btw the song is in my head since yesterday ahah

I think other than a tie-in, if she released a song that ended up going viral because of TikTok, that could be a very interesting way of 'promo', but there's no way to really plan for that sadly. At the moment for example, a song from a year ago, Kousui by Eito is HUGE right now because of TikTok and doesn't seem to be slowing down.

We could do a Stream Party on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube (Maybe AWA as well) to help her digital performance or something, what do you guys think?

AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT
Let's ride this wave Ayu!

I think they could try. The stuff that seems to go viral are things that are fitting for a type of reaction. Like “when something crazy happens, x song plays” “when something unexpected happens, x song plays” - tying a song to a relatable moment that is experienced across a wide range of scenarios. If I had the energy to post examples i would (but I’m thinking more so memes than tik tok). Right now she’s doing the tired old concert dances on tiktok. Interesting for fans but stiff and not exhilarating for the general tiktok-er.

idk if I'm the only one but while I would like the song I feel like it's very flat, everything sounds so stacked and same volume that it just kinda blends into noise? I had the same issue with the TROUBLE EP but not with Ohia No Ki since that one's production is way less busy. Like for the first verse I was totally on board and then the chorus kicked in and I was just like a bit turned off :/

The chorus of the song is not very pleasant to listen to. The voice is too harsh. Everything else is perfect.

I felt the same. I was listening with high end headphones yesterday, the FLAC version too, and it felt hollow. Wish there was more separation between layers, or a greater range of separation. It would make the track more dynamic.

I think there is a tendency to go a bit bombastic for these kinds of Komuro compositions when they have these types of arrangements as well. Songs like sending mail come to mind. To me, it seemed like they were trying to have the two sides of the song fight which can result in that kind of blending, with the electronic and the piano+strings competing. It's probably very hard to balance for whoever is arranging it as well since there's so many elements in this song especially.

On TROUBLE, I imagine it would have been a thing for W or We are the QUEENS mainly but here it seems like there's even more pieces to the arrangement to manage than those songs.

I think this song will be much better when performed live with full band and strings/orchestra. I can already imagine it

That's exactly how I feel and why I find it lackluster and missing something. The arrangement just blends into noise and is kinda annoying. It's as if different layers do not even exist. Especially the chorus is lacking that special something.
And honestly, the strings annoy me, too. It doesn't fit the song. The song could have been so good. Lyrics, melody, vocals, all great. But the arrangement is such a disappointment for me.

Lol! And I think there are many others haha.

Thoughts on this post written by a J-pop critic? https://randomjpop.blogspot.com/2020...d-a-dream.html

^
This one too
https://img.discogs.com/wxmgcItXEwqH...-5152.jpeg.jpg

Reads like someone trying way too hard to be sassy.:dead2 It’s their opinion though, so not much else to say about it.

Total BS. This song is nothing like the old ones. It stands out in so many ways.

He/she's always harsh and ultra-biased towards Ayumi, and puts Namie (which , as expected, she dropped her name on that entry) and Utada in a pedestal, so I didn't expect this person to like this song. I mean, even in Arama where users are usually very critical to Ayu, this song has been very well received.

That person isn't really a critic, I think they're just a sassy J-pop fan. Basically like the person who ran BitchesAloud before or whatever that blog was.

I've seen nothing but praise for the song though in the J-pop circles that normally never talk about Ayu so that's saying something. Twitter also seems to have a lot of Japanese people saying that the song is addictive not just the Ayu fans.

Yea, you can't really call them a critic.

I agree with you... Although to be honest, this had been the case with her for a long long long time. Even classics like ''Evolution'' also have that issue. Maybe those kind of mix were fine for 20 years ago but today, compared to modern standards it does sound a bit flat. Sure she had some exceptions (like Colours) but most of her mixes seems to have this treatment. When I shopped my new speakers last year i brought A One and I am as albums test and the sound guy thoughth they were both albums from the 90's.