The composition can be compared to SURREAL's because both songs build a tension and create an atmosphere before exploding into the chorus in it's end, instead of having the more usual verses-chorus-verses-chorus structure.

But the arrangment, the choice of instruments that are used on it are more similar to Progress.

I love Song 4 U, but never warmed up to progress. But then again, Why.. and ANother song gave me such bad impressions that I don't remember FIVE very fondly apart from BRILLANTE.
The Orchestra version of Song 4 U is great, too!

Speaking of BRILLANTE, the instrumental interlude before the final chorus of the song kills me every time I hear it. I'm not the biggest fan of the song itself but that musical interlude is BEAUTIFUL!

Are you wake up? Followed by ANGEL'S SONG is perfect.

I never thought about the similarities between Song 4 U and SURREAL but now that you mention it, its true. I like her voice in Song 4 U but I was disappointed that the song has no proper bridge.

What do you guys think about Bye-bye darling? I feel that this could have been such a heavy rock song if they would have added true guitars and drums. Something similar to GAME, heavy parts + poppish parts.

It reminds me of Seinfeld lol. I really dislike that one.

^Seinfeld? Really? xD

I actually like Bye-bye Darling. It's not my favorite Ayu track, and to be honest, I hardly ever remember it until it plays but I don't skip it when it comes on. To me, it just feels like 'another one of her tracks'. If that makes sense. Nothing special. Nothing horrible. It's just there, nice and cozy.

(Btw, Progress all the way when it goes against Song 4 u.)

I know lmao, just the intro. :P

This, all of this just hurts because it's so wrong.. haha.
Though I do really like reading your posts, I think you're comparing the songs as a set of identical twins when they're fraternal in reality.

Progress could have been so much better, that's why I don't understand the praise it gets. It's just okay,but the mixing makes it sound very muffled somehow so it has no real edge, or bite -aside from the bridge, I wholeheartedly agree with you there.

Song 4 U (ugh, that fucking title!) Is a power track too, but as opposed to the fighting spirit of Progress it has a more melancholic and bittersweet way about it. I feel that the songs resembles her older works in how it just builds up and doesn't really stop until it's over.

Now that it's been mentioned it, I see the similarities to SURREAL. God, it's crazy that it was the song that really "hooked" me on Ayu ...10 DAMN YEARS AGO!
Ayu always makes me feel old, haha

progress and bye bye darling are really catchy,i love them both. I'm not so sure about song 4 u, to me that song doesn't go anywhere. It gets stuck on a loop, it never escalates.

Well certainly they are not identical, and both attempt to portray different takes. Really, I probably wouldn't compare the two if I didn't know prior that Song 4 U was the follow up to progress as the theme for an anime-easque video game. But I can't help comparing the two when they were set up in such a way. Of course one is going to group them together as a set. On that basis, I meant to communicate my preference for progress.

It also has much to do with my initial reactions to both songs. Where as I thought progress was nothing special, I felt Song 4 U was a major letdown. I remember anticipating arriving back home from a 2 hour drive to hear the 1+minute opening mix, and being completely dissatisfied.

I also agree that it doesn't escalate very much, which annoys me.

cosign.

I think it was the lyric part right after the first chorous that is really greatm when her voice is distorted for a short time. but it's so short!!

Ain't that the truth. Every time I hear evolution or dearest, I always remember when I first became her fan... back when I just entered middle school xD I'm 22 now and since she's always performing evolution, she's always kind of slapping me in the face. "You're old, yeah~~. So old, yeah~~, Whoa whoa, yeah yeah yeah."
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And now back to the topic at hand. Song 4... dammit, I'm typing Song For You, I just refuse to type Song 4 U anymore. Stupid title. Anyway. I always forget Song For You exists. I mean, I feel progress when it comes on and she starts singing. I feel that emotion and (as Zeke mentioned) that 'fighting spirit'. (no better way to put it really.) Sometimes I listen to it when I feel defeated and need that boost to try again. Song For You, with some other of the Love Again tracks just feel likes another track. A lot of the album feels like it's a sequel to a movie that really didn't need a sequel. 'This song sounds like that one'. So on and so forth. There's some jewels in there, sure, but Song For You just isn't one for me.

The only thing I like about Song 4 U is that pv. I cannot believe I just said that, because I despite chess game concepts for being so fucking obvious (when you lack ideas, chess will be saving your ass) and she looks like plastic, but I wanted to know at least where it was going. A camera on speed does not intrigue me at all. Song wise, progress wins all the way eventhough it is not my cup of tea either.

Talking about LOVE again. Now fall is coming and it is getting darker and groomier outside, I have suddenly taken interest in songs like Missing, Sweet Scar, Melody and SAKURA. Love the calmness/peace meets the sadness arrangements.

I like both songs so much and can't choose a favorite
but PV wise Song 4 U wins.

I was so pissed at Song 4 u's and progresses videos.

Such awful videos. Song 4 u could have been cool, but it was repetitive went nowhere and had no concept other than literally a chessboard where they just fade out at the end. Nooooope.

^ Yes exactly. Song 4 u's PV had so much potential, but it's just.... That.

Agreed, both song could have much greater PVs. S4U was pretty for a short ver but that wss all, and progress kinda gave me headaches and when ayu finally appears she looks weird af

so true

I'm the only one who likes the pvs for Progress and Song 4 U?

This morning (still dark) I was in the car and Pray started playing in the headphones. I don't know how to put it but it just fitted the coldly October dawn while the nature was waking up. I.ve always considered this a winter song but like many other ayu songs, it has a multifaceted feel.