I really dislike ayus recent music style...
 

Hi! My names Michael. I've been a member here for a while and I'm a huge Ayufan but as of lately I really dislike Ayu's new style of Music...

I started listening to her pre-RAINBOW and I love the Loveppears CD, I am... and I really loved Secret and miss understood. Hated her Next Level cd because it felt very uninspiring Minus Rule, sparkle and another song or two...

But her new cd rock n roll circus I got and I only played my CD for a week or two and it went on the shelves... Guilty was better but didnt last that long either... I remember Secret leaking and being in love with it and once I got my CD was in love...

Anyways it seems as of lately all her music is so plain now and I worry because people are like I love it! It's making me worry because if people really love her new songs I feel like she'll just keep going in that same direction...

I think the last amazing song she did was Mirrorcle World... Sexy little things was good but kind of bland, not amazing and her rock songs are starting to all sound the same and her videos aren't as good as they used to be imo

and now she's releasing all these ballads that are snoozefests...

Am I the only one that feels this way? I'm not going to be like those fans that miss ancient ayu even though I do... but now I even miss my story/miss understood/secret ayu...

I want to know i'm not the only one that feels this way because I feel like I'm alone to this opinion. I used to love Ayu and I still do and am hoping for a turnaround... I wont lie her most recent video with the guns/kill bill esque was cool but the song another sappy kind of song...

Anyone else care to share their thoughts?:rolleyes

although I disagree with you and think her music is getting better and better, you're not alone. a lot of people on this forum feel the same as you. we get a thread like this at least once a month.

I do agree with you on the new singles. I feel they are a bit lackluster. I mean, they're good, but compared to what Ayu has done previously with her ballads, they feel like they fall short. If I had never heard Ayu and I listened to MOON or crossroad or Sweet Season I would be really impressed. But when you compare them to HEAVEN or Dearest or any of her incredible ballads, they just feel a little flat.
But I disagree with you on the albums. I think NEXT LEVEL might just be my favorite Ayu album, and Rock'n'Roll Circus is my most played album on my iTunes. Ayu has always been evolving, whether in her personal style or her lyrics, and of course her music changes more than anything. If she stuck with the same thing, she would not be very famous right now. People would get bored. She has to mix it up and surprise us to keep us listening.
I would say to just keep faith in Ayu. I'm sure in two years she will sound different yet again, and maybe it will be more to your liking. But don't give up on her.

You're not alone bcas none of her recent music has been great..

She's been releasing sooo many ballads lately, and I'm kinda sick of it now,

I hope she comes up with something really epic,

even if it takes her a while, it'll be worth it.

I just hope she takes her time,

Everything now seems kinda rushed and none of her recent songs have hit A* quality for me yet.

I didn't know that identity xD.

I hope so Jennie Mae.

and Shirlaay it seems me and you see eye to eye.

I think Ayu releases too much ballads now, too.. I like MOON and crossroads and Virgin Road but I'd love another electropop or R&B song..

Her latest singles have been pretty good imo. I was like you a few years ago, when I thought she was releasing all the same stuff. I then resorted to listening to other artists, but seems like I've started to dig her again :yes so, maybe give her a little rest and you might start liking her songs again?

I agree with nearly everything you said, hah. Though I love GUILTY ;x

I'm sick of all of these ballads lately, and I don't think they're very good ballads, either. Rock'n'Roll Circus is also my third least favorite album of hers... dunno, I hope she changes her style, soon.

Just because you become an adult doesn't mean you all of a sudden release just boring, sappy ballads. But, that's typical of how it goes in Japan...

I've been a fan since 2005, and yeah... not a huge fan of ballad after ballad after ballad....


I don't think her music is bad though, i just wish the releases were more exciting,
like the (m)u singles.

She might be coming back here. Her record-breaking 50th single (L, for the most consecutive number one singles by a female artist and by a solo artist) will surely keep Ayu busy for years to come. I hope she can keep improving her skills and let her continue go on and on!

I hope things get more improved with her promotion planning, unfortunately... Things have been quite dismal in this area for the past couple of years...

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I also want something upbeat, but if the ballads are like Virgin Road...
i totally disagree with you. This year we have got an amazing rock song like Microphone, a experimental upbeat pop like SLT, a funny pop song like Lady Dynamite, an unique ballad like DLB, and all those great singles (even if there are too many ballads). I wouldn't say it has been a bad year NEVER

As to me, I absolutely adore Ayu's rock and pop-rock stuff. At the same time I really like her electro stuff (including NEXT LEVEL) and most of her ballads... Not even so - I do LOVE Ayumi's ballads, they're her brand, and I'm never tired of them :)

And if I'd say, that I want Ayu to make more pop-rock (smth like superiorly beautiful Decision, talkin' 2 myself, is this LOVE?, Microphone, etc.) I'm sure many AHS'ers would like to kill me brutally and without remorse :)

This all is a matter of favor. Ayumi's music doesn't become worse, imho, it's just changing and evolving. That's much better than a monotonous singing machine, isn't it? :)

That's it, I totally agree with you :)

Maybe u miss her upbeat songs? LOL. I love Ayu latest releases. I think her latest singles are very nice. I agree that her music style is kinda changing everytime. She went pop, rock, electro, ballad, that's what i love about her, how versatilebut still Ayu we know :)

We'll just wait and see what she's gonna do next. I'm sure it's gonna be osm.

I think she still makes incredibly amazing songs, it's just that they're a little bit less frequent :)

For example, on Rock'n'Roll Circus, the only songs I find truly amazing are Microphone, Don't Look Back and Red Line. Whereas on her older albums, there are way more amazing songs.

So she still has it for me, she just brings it less often.

Welcome to the club~

Rn'R Circus, to me, was a huge dissapointment and it seemed like alot of what she was releasing sounded generic and uninspired. Of her last 3 singles, I am only buying Crossroad and that ONLY because of the blossom remix (But I love Virgin road!) And the only PV I liked out of her last 3 releases was Sweet Season and only because of the last 10 seconds of it, lol.

But before that, I enjoyed Next Level and espicially Rule/Sparkle so I guess I can say that there were always phases of my fandom where I didn't like anything she released but had my faith restored one way or another. No artist has perfect releases that everyone loves so give it sometime.

I also want to add to what emiko brought up, that is that Micheal Jackson interview and how Ayu may feel about her releases; When L came out and everyone was congratulating her on twitter she said something along the lines of 'No matter how much you compliment me, it always feels like criticisim; ie she is always trying to surpass herself musically and isn't happy with comfortable mediocracy. If she's happy with these releases then I guess we'll have to agree to disagree, Ayu~

I feel like it's an exciting time to be an Ayu fan. L was an atypical single, and her album tracks continue to go to strange or thrilling places (like Microphone/Sexy Little Things/Rollin' etc, as others mentioned).

I am a very happy Ayu fan, and hotly anticipate what she's going to do next, because it always feels new. If she went back and composed a song that sounded so much like M or Dearest or STEP you that they may as well BE those songs, then what's the point? I love her for having the unpredictability of TNT.

Well, ayufan11....its like u and a gazillion people. I don't know where u get any idea that ur somehow alone in not liking ayu for like the past several years.

On another note. I like ayus recent ballads so I see no problem with her releasing them. If ayu wouldve released (as random examples of ballads I like) RAINBOW, still alone, Hanabi ~episode II~, and forgiveness or something right after each other, I wouldntve have minded them because I love them
I mean, I feel like its asking much of an artist if I LOVE the songs but they're not the genre I wanted. I never understand fans that dismiss a song cuz its not the genre they wanted. Although I'm not sure if this is you.
As I've said sometime before. I'm not going to ask ayu to do things she's not in the mood for making. Me, I Love rock. I would love ayu to do another rock song. But if ayu herself doesn't want to, I'd rather not she force herself to doing something she's not in the mood for making or writing lyrics too
I view all of these ballads and the different things she's been trying to express through her lyrics as what she wants to do. But is that fact? No. Just my views. And as far as what I mentioned find it fitting enough for the occasion. Assuming ayu is doing what she wants to do and not being controlled like a robot

Everyone has their own views of music. Everyone has the music they like and dislike. When someone dislikes something they may feel its just because the artist is uninspired or being lazy, and stupid. When someone likes something someone may think the artist may be totally inspired, hard working and genius etc.
Neither is necessarily true. Because none of us actually know ayus insides, her thoughts, or how she works, is she's inspried or uninspired. What people think are usually just assumptions and explanations for why they don't like or do like something.
At least we know some things about ayu herself, but not everything

So me, I'm happy while I'm liking ayus songs. Very happy. Because one of my favorite bands, their latest songs I don't like, and for me personally since I don't mind the genre, I just don't like the songs. There is nothing conrete I could say about their work ethic or inspiration, etc. I just don't like it
Now if one didn't like ayus rock songs because they don't like rock anyway, I say that makes a bit more sense

As far as previous ayu works, compared to now, its honestly hard for me to compare, because of how much ayu changes comparing one thing with another is like comparing another artist with another. I get different thinmgs emotionally from different songs so that doesn't help either lol. So I don't know what to say on that whole dilema of yours.

Not sure if all of what I said releates directly to your post or the posts of everyone elses here. It may just relate to this thread and things I've seen as of late in general. :yes

wow I'm surprise no one has been like "what! everything ayu releases is perfect!"


I agree with your whole post so many ballads :no

For me I started to dislike her music when NEXT LEVEL came out.
RnR is a no no for me, I only like 4 songs.

Hopefully next album will have more songs like Crossroad or Last Angel

There is literally a club.

Next time Ayu releases something new, be sure to check out all of the threads and you'll see just how many people feel the same way as you. Maybe just continue appreciating what she's done in the past and be hopeful for future releases...? And while her music may change, Ayu is still Ayu at the very least.

I really agree with what emiko said. I feel almost exactly like the original poster. I just realized that no matter how much I wish it would, the MY STORY/(miss)understood era Ayu that I became a fan of isn't coming back. It sucks. :weep haha But I still support Ayu and try to get into her new works and when I can't, I listen to MY STORY and it I'm happy anyway.

It'd be great if she did end up heading back in that direction, but I don't have any hopes. xD

Her music has gotten quite boring. It just seems to be one uninspired ballad after another and they're all piano driven and sound the same.

One of my biggest problems is that of late her singles will have this 'typical' sound or whatever you wanna call it then when she releases the album the singles sharply contrast the album tracks making for very bad flow and a 'bad' sounding album (i.e NEXT LEVEL, Rock N Roll Circus).

I think what the issue is, is that she has stopping taking risk and playing it safe (her taking risks was one of the big reason there was that big avex fall out in '04), instead of choosing the more riskier melody she chooses the safe melody (probably to maintain her hit streak) that tends to sound generic. And you know the next single is probably going to be a ballad since christmas is coming up.

I find that if there is a new Ayu piece -- be it a song, a single, or an album -- that doesn't immediately hit all the right spots for me, I give it a few weeks, ignore it, then come back to it with fresh ears. Typically this is enough time for me to find things I like about the work, and I can enjoy it as it stands on its own, and not waste time comparing it to her previous eras.

I'm not saying anyone is wasting time by doing this, not at all, I just think people need to start dividing Ayu releases into segments and taking what they do like and what they still need time to work on even mildly enjoying and not being so quick to dismiss what they don't like right away. For starters, I couldn't stand the NEXT LEVEL album. I've only listened to it about two or three times since it came out. R'nRC on the other hand is something I've listened to dozens of times, on par with MY STORY and (m)u. I find R'n'RC as varied and interesting to the eras as those albums, even if the tracklists don't have the same "flow." They're triplet albums, in my eyes. Nowadays I've gone back and tried to give NEXT LEVEL a new chance based on how much I really liked her recent album and voila, I'm finding it isn't so bad. Is it a good album? Eh, it's all right. It'll take me a little while to really figure out for sure how I feel about it, but I'm not going to pine and moan 'til that day comes.

Of course we all want "glory days" and "good music" back, but I wonder how many of us will eventually realize that taste is something that changes and grows over time, and something you are praising and loving today will be completely different come a few months to a year? Have patience and don't lose heart :3 You might find yourself really liking something you once thought was weak.

Like me actually WANTING to listen to ASFXX O__o

If her ballads are good ballads, I don't mind :P :laugh I have ups and downs with her music, but it's not in like, "phases..." It's like, a few songs I don't like here and there, and then some really good ones~ I'm pretty content with Ayu's music style right now~ She's always trying new things so I'll stay with her to see what she'll try next! ^_^

A bit off topic, but I used the same method for RAINBOW. I only listened to a few times when it came out, declaring that I didn't really like the album. 2 year ago I just played it so there's some noise (while cleaning my room hehe :P), I found it was more enjoyable. Now I like it :P.

Yes, my biggest problem/worry comes from me listening to a lot of the newer releases simply because it's Ayu and not for the fact that it's good music. Sure, a lot of it grows on you after a while but I am so sick of "growers" - I want something fierce. That's the biggest thing I miss - when Ayu's releases just had that attitude and fierceness to them. Microphone was pretty in-your-face fierce so I know she still has it.

Gosh, I feel like I'm in a club all by myself in which I love almost every song the woman puts out. Not just because it's Ayu, but because I genuinely think it's excellent music. Music that only she could portray with such intensity in her voice, her lyrics and her performances. I feel like I'm alone in the fact that I don't "miss her old music" or "miss that Ayu feeling" because I don't believe that feeling went anywhere in the first place. I'm alone in the fact that I'm almost never disappointed, that she still continues to wow me and blow me away. I feel like I'm alone in my growing love, adoration and connection with Ayu and her music instead of on the constant decline like many of her other fans (she still writes my life, Days was released when I had a crush on someone lol!!!). You, my dear, have nothing to worry about. You're among friends here at AHS because many fans feel exactly the same way you do. Me on the other hand? I truly am alone in my opinions lol.

I think most people just forget that aafter years listening to the same singer/artist you might eventually wear off of them, without it necessarily being their fault. You'll get to used to everything that it gets harder to get impressed by the same vocals and band, since ayu is quite loyal to her team of professionals: band, arrangers, composers, etc. The first time I noticed that happening to em was with Do As Infinity, since their main composer was Dai Nagao. I thought they were getting more relaxed but I guess it was mostly my mind that was already to used to their style and got a bit sick of them.

And then, if you keep on forcing to compare and like the songs, you'll definitely just get unimpressed.

haha..agree..why would AHS'ers bash u lol..
is this LOVE is 1 of her best song ever =D
i somehow love her always presenting something new like virgin road :luv2

I think that's why it's difficult being a long-time fan of anyone really. The longer you're a fan the less impressed you get by their music sometimes.

It's funny because when I was on my "unimpressed by ayu" phase some time ago, I kept wondering why ayu was lacking the skills she had in some of her older songs, like pseudo-rapping with a fast singing in both Fly high and evolution (well that's sorta how I call that, don't kill me). But then I realized that she still does it but I was just not paying much attention, like in Rollin' chorus, for example.

I didn't get into Ayu until around the time MW was released, so I can't really relate to the older fans that much but I DO see where they're coming from. After sinking my teeth into her discography, I've found there's a lot more material in the past that have stuck with me more than what's been released in the past few years. Though there are a few releases in her past that left me "ehhhh", most of my least favorite albums/singles have been from 2007-present. Which coincidentally coincide with the period I started noticing the pattern she's kind of stuck in. Does this mean anything? I really can't say. RnRC was a huge disappointment as was the two singles that proceeded it, I can't be bothered to listen to any of the tracks any more even the few I initially loved. The 48th-49th singles were a big step up and then comes the big 50th which has yet to grab me. So overall, it's been quite underwhelming compared to the anniversary singles and NEXT LEVEL which I loved right away. It sucks because you want to like/love everything but it's just not possible. All I can do is hope the next album/single is better, I'm still have a lot of other things in her discography to satiate me until then.

Oh, they're coming. They must have just not seen the thread yet but there's a few people in particular who are drawn to these type of threads (though they LOVE to complain about them). :laugh

You're not alone at all, I feel the exact same way as you. Can't really say much else in this post even though I wanted to because you pretty much wrote out all my thoughts :P

Yeah! I gained a club member! :laugh

LOL I'm glad that that never was an issue to me. As I stated, for some time I was quite unimpressed by ayu, but I am not anymore. There's not a single, and I really mean it, song from ayu that I dislike other than gut-it-pez, but then gut-it-pez doesn't really count, does it? Some of her songs might take some time to grow on me, but they eventually do, and I don't really need to force myself to feel like I'm enjoying them, because I really do.

You're not alone! :love I'm the same way! By default I love all of Ayu's songs; some I just love more than others. xD And I don't hate any albums; some I just love more than others. :D

I used to be a true Ayu-fangirl years ago, there was not a single song I didn't dislike from her.
But now I'm more critic. I hear her songs also with brain. I dislke just 3 songs from her, some are meh, many others are wow and few are AMAZING YOU'RE THE TRUE QUEEN OF JPOP :roflmao. I think it's normal for a fan, there's nothing wrong.
Lately her music has more ups and downs than before, but I don't think the music quality it's so highly decreased. She's playing safely due to low sales (I mean compared to her old works, her sales are still pretty good these days though) and for keep her streak and fanbase. So she experiment less than in the past, but she's still experiment.
Most of people here have too high expectations, I think. Keep complaining because her music sucks after Memorial Address, MY STORY, (miss)understood and go on. Just let down your expectations, just a little. And enjoy her music as you can, not for compare old to new.

Do you think now that she has surpassed the #1 single streak she will take more risks?

You're not alone. I will admit that my love for Ayu was in serious danger when she released MOON/blossom because I disliked the whole sound of the single. I didn't listen to the songs more than once and was losing interest. When I heard her sing crossroad live before I heard the mp3, I was so disappointed. I was hoping for something soo epic, mostly because of the hype. But thankfully since crossroad and L released so close, I listened to them at the same time and started having an interest.

If this was any other artist, I wouldn't have given them a second chance. I would of left the forums alone for awhile and listed to their old stuff. But since this is Ayu, I wanted to give her that chance to show the fans what she had in store for her 49-49-50 singles. I'm still trying to get used to the new sound.

Me and you (Ayufan11) have almost the same taste in Ayu music (except Secret). It disappoints me that I can't experience another MY STORY or I am... album. You're not alone in the least bit. I hope that you can find future Ayu songs enjoyable to listen to..

Care for another member? :)
I do realize why people would fall out of ayu's fandom,but I honestly have never hit a point with ayu where I was really disappointed and dissatisfied with her music. If I don't fall completely in love with a new release, I just think "oh well, maybe I'll like it more next week" or "oh well, she has a billion other songs I could be lovingly listening to" heck, I don't even dislike a single track she has released.I would maybe not care too much for a track or two, but in the end, I always like everything she released at least to a certain extent. I get why people would dislike a lot of the songs that she gets panned for (greatful days, Angels song, etc) but in my humble opinion, I will always like them.

I feel like such a freak for saying that, but it is the truth. All in all, I totally get why people will stop becoming ayu fans after Secret or whatever, but I just know that I'm still standing.

@neuteka I really like you're attitude towards Ayu's music. Dedicated fan :)

OMG I must put my opinion on this...muhahaha:mischief

To the OP, I can agree with you 50/50. It's true that Ayu's music isn't as SPAZ-INDUCING EPIC as it once was (Once you make something like I am... you really can't top it!) but she's one of the few artists in the WORLD that is consistent in making good music. I've listened to virtually every one of her songs and I can say one thing about her, she progresses. Sure she has a slump but what artist doesn't? I've literally had to force myself to listen to MOON because it sounded so recycled (even the lyrics to a certain degree).

But I can't agree with you on the post MY STORY- (m)u era being bland and uninspired. GUILTY, imo, is one of strongest albums vocally and lyrically; NEXT LEVEL was pure fun and it wasn't super serious and it was cool; RnRC was good but moderate compared to previous works. But her PVs during 07-10...EPIC at least 95% were excellent (excluding You were and the sunrise/sunset vids uggghh)

No, you're not alone I agree with everything you say! :)

I don't think that's necessarily true.

At least not for me. I can't speak for other people.

But there are a lot of artists that I have loved at the beginning, and still love after many years.

For me, it's all a matter of the music. In Ayu's case, I have to disregard it.


I don't think it's weird that you love everything she puts out. I've said it many times, From LOVEppears to Secret, I love every single song. I never really counted asfxx or her pre avex stuff in any serious way, but I love them too. For a long time, I loved her whole discography. People thought I was crazy.

Her music has just changed. I think it's odd that some people, not saying you, keep trying to like, say it hasn't...when it's soo obvious lol

And even more obvious that, some people will like the change, and some people won't. It'll always be 50-50.


About the risks...I dont know what risks she can possibly take that will make the music any better...fire everyone and hire "better" people? Tell Max to stop letting TK write her ballads? lol

Ayu picks the compositions she wants, out of a pool of god knows how many. The only reason for her music being the way it is, is that she wanted it this way.

I don't know...maybe people want her to change...but...well...I would never ask it of her.

From next level, i noticed i started to force myself to like what she released; it didnt use to happen before, i could find one song or two i could absolutely love; now... i don't know, her music doesnt make me feel anything, and i think that's because she and i are in different situations now.


Maybe it's just a perception of mine, but i feel she keeps speaking about a lost love (something i cannot relate at all) and that doesn't really move me. i have a bf and i want to say "you are my soul mate" so, i don't know, i remember listening to moments for instance and feeling like, BLOWN AWAY, and that doesn't happen to me anymore. the song crossroad is good, but it doesnt touch me, and also i dont like that basically all her releases lately are just ballads, and to me, that's a little boring. Her rock is not consistant now and that was another let down for me. I'm not saying she is going downhill like some people implied in another thread, because some of her songs are really good, but i just cannot connect anymore with her.

hmmm... some of you say that I am was almost her best album... well let me tell ya that I have the least number of songs on that album that I like, most of them I hadn't even bothered to listen for more than once.

as for other earlier works of her, yes it usually was like BANG "I love it" at the first time I listen to the song, right now she is kind of the "to grow on me" state for me.

to be honest RnRC and NL was sort of a BANG ones for me not all of the songs but a really 50% of them.

You know what? I think again it sorta depends on the person, but I noticed a tendency here that people get dissapointed a lot latelly :laugh maybe it's fashionable?....:innocent

I like her current day music, despite that it isn't what it used to be. But for me, she has proven time and time again that she is an amazing, talented, deep, insightful, etc. artist and singer, no debate, for me personally, there. So, now that she has proven that she can have fun with her music and do whatever the heck she wants. She's older now and more mature. She is a different person now, and I respect that. I doubt that she is suffering from the same issues, or even has to the same feelings towards them. I can tell that her perspective is different, but she is still doing what she feels is right for her, that's never seemed to change.

Also... I can't help but feel that if, let's say, Virgin Road was released during what someone thought was her "prime" they would consider it a classic, but due to the time that she released it, its "just another ballad in a series of ballads". And if a "classic" like Daybreak was released now it would be received about at well as Virgin Road.

Personally I think that it's not her music that is getting uninteresting but you guys are losing interest in Ayu.

I enjoy almost everything she puts out. I don't think there's a song in her discography that is "unlistenable" I just enjoy her overall style, I guess. And that's what keeps me a fan. Now generally, is her newer music better than her older music? Nah, not in my opinion. Do some of her newer songs match the greatness of older ones? Hmm yeah, I think so.

Best thing said in this thread.

LOL somehow I'm not XD I'm too much into her right now XD

Well, I do agree with Brittney... when u listen to the same artist for years, u get used to their aestheical choices... So, you will not be surprised anymore... Just like u said... she is doing that she feels like, so, this music is her... on the same way her old music was her at that time...

You will not relate to every lyric, but if you and Ayu are going through the same stuff, u will relate to most of it, on the same way, if u r not connected to her, like Lady_Eowyn said, u r not going to feel it...

I don't think anyone can say her music got better or worst... but it is for sure different, and IMO it's good that she takes different directions depending on how she is feeling... Like... I hated RnRC, but I can understand why she felt like releasing it, and why it was good to her...

Her music is very personal to her, and it will change on the same speed and in the same way she is changing...

they're just songs and she always surprises us (good or bad).

@andrenekoi: I guess. But I just said for me, I don't agree. And I don't think it's true 100%.

I listened to ONLY Ayu for at least two years. Probably more like 2 1/2, only listening to LOVEppears-Memorial Address. And after I came here to the forum and got caught up with her, I was still blown away and in love with MY STORY, then fairyland, is this love, HEAVEN, etc.

I have to admit though. Bold and Delicious threw me lol But I still liked it lol and now I love it.

And the Virgin Road thing...this probably doesn't change things all that much for you guys, but Virgin road doesn't sound a lot like, Who..., SEASONS, Dearest, hanabi, teddy bear, etc.

If she released that back then, I would have been like "this ballad is soo boring..." or would have considered it a "special" song...but this is the direction of her music now, and it's like...normal.

In any case, not all fans stay fans forever, and there's nothing wrong with that. There's been dozens of waves of Ayu fans, and I'm one of the newer ones since I started listening to her 3 years ago.

Maybe in two or three years I'll be bitter like some people here, and maybe by then those people will have forgotten completely about Ayu and have moved on to other music. It's like that with all artists. All of us can certainly point out at least one or more artists or bands that we used to really love and that we don't care too much for anymore, right?

i hated you were... and m/b, but it didn't make me question anything. the songs just didn't suit my ears. it's nearly impossible to love every song an artist releases... especially when they've been around as long as ayu and created as much as she. this could possibly just be a bit of a blue period for you?

Oh, I didn't mean that any song sounded alike, I'm just saying it's timing. Like, because a song was released in what someone considered her "prime" they would like it. For example, I love Hanabi. Its a song that I personally would consider a classic, a unique song and I really love Rainbow. But, if she had released it as a song on L I can't see myself as loving the song the way I do now. The nostalgia adds something to the song, I guess?

^Definitely does. I wonder if Ayu were to release tracks from that era that were never before released if people with that mindset (including me) would like them or not.

Yeah I'm like that too. I've only been a fan for 2 years now, but still, I like every bit of her discography, to some extent. Even if a song she releases does disappoint me (blossom), I'm not like "I'll give her one more chance", or anything like that. That's just stupid, IMO. Her style changes constantly. Be patient and there'll eventually be something you like again. Even if she released an album that I didn't like at all, I still wouldn't just totally give up on her (or any other artist).

@LoveShine: I understand what you're saying, but I think that the style kind of renders the idea a little off.. just because like, you know, I dont think people are like understanding this idea that, her music sounds different now. I mean, thats why, some people aren't liking it. That's all I'm saying. I dont think timing really has much to do with it, in this case...

that being said, I'm not going to say that's true for everyone, I mean, you're obviously one exception....but to people who actually pay attention to what's happening in the music...timing is very...second nature. It doesn't really matter where the artist is at in their career.

But I know that in terms of general popularity...I guess that can be true...because a lot of people do follow hype, and such...but...in ayu's case...eh...because people tend to see her music in terms of eras of albums...

I'm sorry, but I think, and I know other people do too, that music she made in her prime, was some of her best, and well, she wouldn't have released anything she's been releasing now, back then...

but meh, you never know I guess.

Um... yeah I've been in this mindset for quite a while, every once in a while she'll release something really neat that stands out to me, the last song being Mirrorcle World. But otherwise her music is really... standard and not awesome like other songs she's done in the past.

And this whole argument about becoming immune to the artist for following for them for so long is a joke lol, I have several other artists I've listened to for years and years and I still like their new stuff.

I think music evolves with time; there's hardly an artist who has remained stagnant with their style over the years. Some evolve for the better, some for the worst (e.g. I don't really care for AAA's recent stuff, but I LOVE their older material), but I think changing tastes/styles over time influences an artist's material. For example, I don't think Britney Spears' earlier works would have really worked today; music can evolve (e.g. Toxic, 3, Circus, etc.) to match the ever-changing taste.

Basically, I think Ayu's works have actually evolved in a sense, going from a more pop-ish sound to electronic, rock, and other experimental styles many artists in Japan may not be able to pull off like her. Can you imagine Otsuka Ai pulling off "Microphone", Amuro Namie getting away with "Sexy Little Things", or Koda Kumi singing "Virgin Road" as well as Ayu? We all have to admit how well-rounded Ayu actually is, she's amazing.

I think because I've already gone through my "apathy stage" I can say all this (experimenting with different artists), because NO ONE can compare to her and her versatility. Sure, she may not be able to do R-n-B like Utada or Amuro, nor can she go SUPER cutesy like Otsuka Ai, but she's still damn good.

I think the point that "this is Ayu, her music, her standards" was covered already, but I want to reiterate it. She's one of the only artists to have basically full artistic control of her material, so what we get is what she wants to release and share with her fans. I've come to appreciate everything she's released, and will continue to until she decides to retire.

(And as you can see, "Days" matched the Japanese public well, so I'm sure the Japanese still appreciate her current material.)

Oh, I have no doubts that some people just aren't that into her anymore, which could be for any number of reasons, not liking her style now, defiantly being one of them. As I stated, I can clearly see the difference in how her experiences have changed her style and sound. :yes

As for those paying attention to what's happening in the music, well that is different from person to person. Its hard to say how far people go to fully understand her songs. Some people can't understand Japanese, and don't go around searching for her lyrics. They take the songs at face value, so to speak.

I think perhaps to be able to really determine the best answer is to perhaps ask someone who has just started considering themselves her fan. When they are in that stage of just picking out random songs to listen to, not knowing the chronological order in which the songs came out perfectly and the styles seem mixed. When perhaps they aren't informed as to when her peaks have been. What songs would they choose as her best? And why?

Naturally, in time, her music will change. She releases a lot each year compared to most artists, so I've come to expect that her music won't be as consistent now.
I do agree though, this year especially has been so uninspiring. MOON/ blossom and crossroad were such bland releases, and the same can be said for RnR Circus, which for me is her worst album to date.
But she has restored my faith with L now, that's one of her best singles in a long time!

Well I have followed Ayu since 2002 and I don't think R'n'RC's songs are that much diffrent from like Secret, (mu) or GUILTY actually. Of course she changes some, but I still feel the same theme in them all. R'n'RC actually reminds me a bit of (mu) the most I got to say. There is the rock, there is the emotional songs, the more new thinking-new style songs and such.

I just think that you got to outgrown Ayu. And that is nothing more then that actually. You like her old song because of the love for them before, but the new songs just doesn't get under your skin anymore.

I actually think I follow ayu because she's a good person, not because I'm THAT interested in her music.
It doesn't hold m attention much, though there are bits that do. Not saying she sucks, but...I'm different now I guess.

MOON, blossom, crossroad, Virgin Road, Sweet Season, Last angel, SEVEN DAYS WAR - they all have a throwback Ayu sound. If they were released during her prime (with her older voice), they would all be hits IMO.

Now, if your problem is her voice being unsuitable for these songs now.. I can see where you're coming from. But melodically, arrangement-wise, and probably even lyrically - it's clear she's going for a throwback sound and I think they are very similar to her older classics. So I agree with Love Shine that nostalgia-factor can play a HUGE role in the quality of songs.

She's also a lot less visible nowadays. It's like her "eras" are blending in with each other and overlapping. It's harder to distinguish one from the other... She's barely a regular on television. Her new PV's are bland. As a visual artist she's been really quite unimpressive, I'll admit. I think this kind of stuff CAN affect the overall quality of her songs. I think one reason MJ's Invincible was received so poorly is because there was barely ANY visual association - and not good coming from an artist who was very image/visual-based.

I'm also kinda tired of people wanting Ayu to only make upbeat/fierce songs. She does what she's comfortable with. She's not trying to be overly contemporary, she's kind of like the Japanese Celine Dion (not particularly in vogue anymore, older fanbase, sings mostly ballads) and that's cool. Y'all obviously want her to be like Lady Gaga and these other Japanese tricks, but it ain't gonna happen. 1) Ayu is a different kind of "fierce" 2) She absolutely cannot pull off R&B/trashy dance music 3) She's too classy for it 4) She strives to keep a very J-POP sound rather than some of her peers who are almost embarrassingly "Westernized" in both their image and music

This is gonna sound rude...but why the hell do these threads come up every 2 months?? If you don't like her current music don't listen to it. It's not hard.
And she ain't gonna change so there's no point in getting your panties in a bunch about 'how much better' her older stuff is.

And it seriously bugs the crap out of me when people say she doesn't do new things anymore. What are Sexy little things, Dont look back, Last Angel, Sparkle etc then? I guess they don't really exist because she only makes song like MOON nowadays.

End rant.

^lol some people aren't up with the times of the fast paced ahs threads that get insta-killed because AHS people bash stuff to death.

The OP seems to be sincere with his post. This is a large forum. This is what happens. Like back in the days when everyone thought they discovered the fat star wars kid.


Anyway...@Coelacanth:

Throwback sound = / = the same sound. I don't think this stuff would fly back then.

Maybe on RAINBOW lol But then, if we had these songs back then, the definition of what Ayu was releasing would be a lot broader, because it would include all of these songs, of this style. Therefore, people would already be used to it by now and it wouldn't be so new and different :/

In any case, I wish the nostalgia factor played a bigger role for me, because the compositions on all of these songs are really lackluster, and not memorable for me, at all.

And...if nostalgia in these particular songs plays such a big role for people...shouldn't people be liking these new songs more as they are released now...?
depends on each person doesn't it, what they like and don't like.

I just think it's interesting that so many people who were in love with the "old" Ayu, don't love the "new" one, so much.

And I think it's just another testament of how her music is different now.

Whether for better or worse, is not really what is important, I think.

I understand the nostalgia factor for people who have personal connections with the older stuff and probably see it as better just because of that, but, I don't think that's all there is to it.

Her music has changed. It's simple.

Some people are going to like it, other's aren't.

You know what's funny, I'm actually quite in love with this trilogy. I think crossroad was definitely the weakest of the three, but they (as a whole trilogy) weren't uninspiring; I think "blossom" loosely connected with "crossroad", while one could argue "MOON" and "Sweet Season" could connect as well. Visually they're all completely different, but I don't think another "vogue~Far away~SEASONS" would have flown too well, especially here in this forum.

I thought RnRC was a huge improvement over NEXT LEVEL, I think that's the one album I don't really listen to as much; I thought RnRC was more diverse in its experimentation than NEXT LEVEL.

I'm not trying to argue with you, just contrasting what you said with my opinion. Haha.

I feel like she is releasing too much ballads. Although I must say that MOON and crossroad are amazing songs :yes and Last Angel is amazing.

I'm waiting for an upbeat song.

I loved it when she released a summer single, angry rock single, and the ballad single. She hasn't done that for two years now and I feel sad. :/ And I agree that there's WAY too many ballads being released these days. I wish she stopped this for a while lol.

And I miss (miss)understood Ayu so much too. She was good, amazing and absolute love for me during that era. :/ I also loved GUILTY but everything after that has been mostly disappointing to me (and still Rock'n'Roll Circus is absolute love for me). But I wish she won't release a album full of ballads. I want more mindblowing rock songs like on her older albums like Secret, GUILTY and (miss)understood. *_____*

Artists that release massively like ayu does? If not, than it isn't a joke ;) That would be like comparing following Michael Jackson and ayu, but Michael released something new every 5 years or more and the ammount of official songs he made doesn't even get to close to what ayu did lol It's a bit of a joke to expect someone who release an album every single year for several years to always be making new impressing stuff and surpassing their past. This is what I would call a joke, tbh lol

well, it's always been disliking and liking on ayu's music..
we can't always love her works though..
as of now, I really like her music.. they're getting better...
I dislike her music around (m)u..maybe it's just too westernized, since she covered almost all the songs from sweetbox.. but I still enjoy it though, like Rainy day... startin'
but it didn't happen like i'm with Rock 'n' Roll Circus.. and until L single, I'm so in love with the new songs, Virgin Road, Sweet Season and Last angel is EPIC!!

Well its different for both of them. Because someone like Michael Jackson was involved with the actual production of the music while someone like Ayu is presented a bunch of tracks and picks the ones she likes. So her releasing every year is understandable considering most of the 'grunt' work is outsourced to other people.

Has anyone seemed to noticed she's dropped her rock/electronic edge (generally speaking) and is making more sorta boring old fashion power pop sound? Its the same exact instruments used in the exact same style all with similar lyrics since RnRC.

Some of those things are untrue to be honest. First, because ayu team is almost always the same people, so the ones who compose and arrange have to pop up with several new creations every year, and they're not machines. Also,ayu isn't just "presented" a track. She's involved in the production of them as well, since she does make the lyrics for those songs. You can't just pick a composition and paste any kind of lyrics on it. You have to amke the lyrics fit with the arrangement, the composition and everything else, so it is part of producing a song. I find it rather unfair that you treat as if ayu just receive a completely produced song, and make it seem like she has absolutely no part in it, as if she were Britney Spears, when she actually still has a very important role in the producing of her music. Michael Jackson did haev a more direct and active role throughout the whole production of his music but it doesn't mean ayu is completely irrelevant or has a very minor role in th eprocess of her own music production.

I'm a big fan of Michael Jackson, but I really have the feeling that if it were for him to release an album every single year, people would've gotten sick of him just in that period. Actually, quite a lot of old fans from him go saying how "the old Michael Jackson was more inspired and much better. I hear people say the same thing about Madonna. And I actually think those artists have newer stuff that really are as as good if compared to someof theirolder stuff.

Seriously for my case I can't totally disagree or agree with you.

For me, it has always been depending on my mood.

When I am feeling sad I will dig out all ayu's ballad to listen, old or new.

When I am feeling all hyper and energetic, I will listen to her remix songs or upbeat songs, even her recent songs.

It all depends on my mood. However, there was really a phase when I kind of get bored with Ayu and started listening to other singers. And then after that period of time, I went back to listening to Ayu's songs, be it new or old. It's like a cycle, it just goes on. And I never find it fustrating or disliking. :p

I miss my emotions when albums was leaked.
I remember when (miss) was leaked and i was downloading song per song, and i felt like "omg, every each song it's so unique! so great!" even the Secret was no so perfect, there was kiss o'kill i cried to! when guilty was realesed none of albums tracks made me "wow!"...
next level was A HUGE diss for me, RnRc started to change my feelings after Microphone and Slt (at least i was listening to something on and on, and again and again..)

but when the singles comes up... ok, they're ok, i really love Last Angel, but rest is like meh, they're ok. I don't listen to them. Sometimes, maybe. But they don't catch my ear, they don't make me emotionally even.

Those of you complaining that she's releasing too many ballads... perhaps you want to think that MOON/blossom, crossroad, L are all ballad singles because

IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO ASSURE HER #1 WEEKLY FOR THESE 3 SINGLES FOR THAT DAMN STREAK

God, we know Japan eat ballads. Look at SEASONS, Dearest & Days... Japan loves such songs, and these are the "hits" from Ayu to the people most closely related to her.

But about how her music has "changed"... I gotta agree with emiko. Her music HAS changed, but no one can say for sure if it's for the better or for the worse cos we all have our personal preferences and perceptions.

Perhaps the 48th-50th singles have a "throwback" to the "old Ayu", but again, I think they are songs with influences from her current sound...

Last angel for example, the style it had, really reminds me of LOVEppears, but I don't think it sounds like anything like And Then, immature, etc... there's a similar style, but the sound and everything is different, if you get what I mean.

Ayu keeps moving forward, and so her music keeps changing with each step she takes... granted I gotta say, A Song For xx, appears, Duty, I am..., RAINBOW, Memorial address, Moments, HEAVEN/STEP you, JEWEL/BLUE BIRD, Together When..., Days, Microphone/Sexy little things... distinct songs off her albums I guess, but all have the "Ayu" sound, as different as they may be...

I think the bottomline is that Ayu changes, and so do we. Maybe we can adapt to her changes, and maybe we can't. There's no right or wrong, and it's only your choice... no one can dictate you.

Actually I'm right. Her 'team' isn't really her team, they're producers who's job it is to make music. It is as simple as 'she is presented a track,' because that's how things work, The music label will commission tracks for singers from these producers or the producers will make a song and then shop it around from label to label or singer to singer. To say otherwise is stupid because even Ayu has mentioned this system of 'being given several tracks and picking the one(s) she likes' in many interviews. And unless CREA appears in the album credits Ayu didn't have anything to do with the arranging or composition of the song. Writing lyrics and composing a song are two totally different things. Michael Jackson was actually involved with the composing, arranging, and overall production of a song unlike Ayu. And ayu isn't "irrelevant" because she didn't compose every one of her herself, not every singer is born with a niche for making music or been trained and schooled for years in music composition or can even play an instrument for that matter! Ayu sings, she is a pop idol, just like Britney Spears. They're both Idols. They're not musicians, they're not composers, they're Pop Idols.

^You don't understand. Britney doesn't write her lyrics. ayu does. The lyrics are a aprt of music and they HAVE to fit what the composition and arrangements are, so you have to connect them in order for it to work, meaning you actually have to take a part on the production, even if you do pick the arrangements and everything ready. I'm surprised that you disregard lyrics as part of a song, since they play a major role for music that has vocals. Otherwise people would prefer ayu just for her instrumental tracks. It's different in the case of Britney in which she just already gets a song fully produced with arrangemnts, composition and lyrics that fit and she just has to sing and perform them. It surprises me that you don't really know that that's quite different. ayu does write her lyrics and she doesn't just write lame lyrics, she portrays messages with them, and for that she also has to work in a way that the lyrics will fit the arrangements+composition and the combination of the 3 is not just a copy and paste work, otherwise the timing and the keys and everything else would all be off. That's part of the production, and ayu does take a role on it.

You don't need to explain me that other people do the work of arrangemnt and composition for ayu (which you also don't understand, regardless of her team -and i call it her team because they're hired by avex and they''ve been mainly engaged in rpoducing songs for ayu recently rather than to other artists- being paid to do that, they're still always the same people who have to rpoduce severla songs every single year and no matter how much money is paid, creativity, inspiration and ideas aren't money dependent, unless you need new expensive equipment every time in order to be able to do that - like people doing advanced scientific researches, which is not the case of producing music since her composers/ arrangers already have the instruments they need to do it). She doesn't have a completely passive role in the making of her music, which make your statement wrong.

Also, the only periods I rember ayu saying she just a chose pre-produed songs among severla was in two periods of her career: A song for XX, in which she was brand new and she was presented to choose the compositions made by them and the second one was when she picked compositions from GEO to create some of her (miss)understood tracks, because she had lsitened to his tape. And even if you have the source implying that she does it to every single of her songs, she still has to work in producing the lyrics to FIT into those compositions, which means WORK so she does take part in the production of all of her music (minus vover songs which are like only 2-3 in her entire discography?), regardless of whatever is it you try to imply. ;)

Also, ayu has composed a few songs before, so she's not just a "Pop idol" ;)


I'm a Britney fan as well, btw.

Vocabulary Lesson Time

Musician : Someone who writes, performs, or makes music.
- An instrumentalist plays a musical instrument.
- A singer is a vocalist.
- Composers, songwriters and arrangers create musical compositions, songs and arrangements. These may be transcribed in music notation, performed or recorded.
- A conductor leads a musical ensemble. A conductor can simultaneously act as an instrumentalist in the ensemble.
- A recording artist creates recorded music, such as CDs and MP3 files.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musician

hmmm you know what, guys? this just crossed my mind, I'm myself am an "art child" and let me tell ya, it's not always like you create stuff and people go "O_O AWESOME, you just blew my brain".. IT'S HARD, very hard! Strong nspiration is something what you can't buy for a few bucks, it comes and goes just like a wind and random inspiring things doesn't always bring you genuine ideas, you need to be patient for THAT DAY to come...:yes

sorry for bringing that dude here again, but believe me even Gackt being as multitalented as he is don't always make awesome songs. :innocent

It's pretty much impossible to love every single song from the artist. And true that when you get used to the sound/artists style, it's hard to kick you with anything new.

sorry, I guess it doesn't make much sence..lol

Writing lyrics is completely separate from the actual composing of the music. Yes it is important, but its completely different than the actual making of the music which ayu doesn't really take hand in which is what I was talking about in the first place. And anyone can write lyrics to a pre-made track. I could take the instrumental for CAROLS and write a completely original song with the melody, that doesn't mean I took part in the production of the song in any way just that I wrote lyrics. Beside not all music has to have lyrics, just look at her interlude tracks or even classical music in general, they don't have lyrics and that is just fine.

Most of the people she uses are already signed to avex trax (probably to cut down the production costs) so they're probably assigned to work with Ayu but I don't work there so I wouldn't know how they run things. Either way it doesn't really matter since that's not what we're even talking about.

She mentions all the time having songs given to her and picking from the litter. ASFXX is a given since it was her first album but she mentions it all the time! Just go read some of the beatfreak articles and you'll see. Even recently she mentioned on twitter how Tetsuya Komuro had made crossroads for her and then went back and changed the arrangement. So it's not like it was only during ASFXX and (m)u that she was given tracks and picked the ones she wanted. She's done it for her entire career most japanese singer do and there is nothing wrong with that.

LOL you're messing things up.

You can have instrumental and classical music, yeah. You don't need lyrics in order to make an instrumental song. Those songs generallyhave arrangemnts and compositions in which the instruments will suffice the existance of vocals, and sometimes it may even be weird to try inserting vocals into them becuase of the way they have eben worked. ayu's discography is not amde of interludes, instrumental tracks or classical music. Her songs actually become rather empty if you just play most of the single instrumental tracks.

However, in order to produce vocal musical you need the lyrics. It's just how not every music has to have instrumental arrangements (ever heard of accapella?) now, will you say instrumentally arranging a song is also not a part of making a song just because you can make songs without instrumental arrangements? huh?

And to insert the lyrics into a pre-produced track, you need to make them fit, and it's annoying how I have to keep on rpeating this. And to make them fit you have to closely work your lyrics WITH the composition, which is PRODUCING. On Cherry Dynamite's posts it makes it already clear that songwriting is part of a musician's job, which is producing a song, so...

If you say it's really a simple job, than I dare you write your own lyrics for CAROLS right now, make them fit on it without it sounding a complete clash and laughable mess and post it right here with someone singing it, and then tell me that it was a completely simple job as you just completely disregard ayu in that aspect. Also, do make sure your lyrics not only are on key with the music but that they also have the poetry put as well;)

I disagree with you and think her music is getting better and better [2]

Although I agree that her recent trilogy singles may not have the same sound or even the same feelings as her music back in the day, you can not deny that she definitely took influence from her previous works. Even with the majority of the tracks on RnRC, you could connect them to any number of her old stuff and say, "Hey that kind of reminds me of ____." Whether it be the lyrics, composition, arrangement whatever. She kind of added that old-school flavor which is what she said she was going to do. So Ayu has not failed in that regard. Whether or not fans like it is totally different.

I absolutely agree that nostalgia plays a giant role in some fans' behavior towards her new versus old music. I'm a strong believer in the fact that some people like songs more just because they were first. Not just with Ayu, but with anything. Some people just don't accept change well, and like you said, her music is not the same. And if we were to have her eras reversed, I guarantee you some people would be complaining about how boring teddy bear, Hanabi etc. are and how they want another Sparkle. And now childish Trauma sounds versus how mature Last Angel is (etc. etc etc). That's just the nature of the beast. People just can't adapt to change very well sometimes.


And

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn ImpactBreaker xD;

I totally agree, to say Ayu is just "another Jpop Idol" is an insult in my opinion. to deny her credit in the production of her music is to deny her the right to be called "an music artist." Nothing gets released without her say, that means she has a hand in producing her music. If she says, "I don't like this sound, let's change the arrangement" or, "what if we change this note to match this lyric" or, "I like the composition but let's change the pitch a little bit" or even after the entire production is finished and she says, "I don't like the way this turned out let's do it again." All of that means she has a hand in her production and that power has been growing and growing over the years. To think Ayu has no control over the way her music is produced outside of writing a few words down so she can sing something is laughable.

Ayumi choice her melodies from a lot her producers send her, after that, she makes her monkey slaves work this melody so it fits her taste... If this is not being involved with the production of the song, I don't know what it is...

And I hate when people goes like "oh, I hate everything Ayu is releasing, I think she lost her touch", and you ask what period of her music that person is hating and the answer is "3 months"... I mean... REALLY? U HATE EVERYTHING SHE DID FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE SINGLES AND SHE IS LOSING HER TOUCH? Spoiled stupid kid x_x

I think the same about this 48-49-50 singles thing... people act like she is just releasing ballads since 2003, while she did it for just 3 singles... Even saying she is like Celine Dion is kinda bizarre cuz while ballads makes 80% of Celine's concerts setlists and 100% of her singles, ballads aren't even 50% of Ayu concerts... I just can't get how people can go and make statments about her whole career at her point based on just a few singles...

^lol when the ayu fans get bored they get ravenous~


@jbrat: Oh I'm not disagreeing with that. I agree they have an older influenced sound, but they are still quite different.

I think it depends WHEN you started listening (and TO WHAT)

I "grew" with many Ayu music that was realesed time ago. I was listening to Asfxx, Duty, LA, I am..., Rainbow and MA at the same time. When I 'meet' Ayu, i havent even a folders with albums! I just got her songs in ONE folder, and they were so diffrent (maybe except Asfxx) but i always loved more these songs that was truly kickin' heart. Not YOU, not Seasons, not forgiveness. There was only TWO, MAYBE THREE ballads, i was truly listening to, because some of them was very in the same style. But from Asfxx to RAINBOW (I started listening to Ayu when MA was just realising, and i didn't even knew it existed) there was like a world to compare, like something or don't. I can't say I hate any of her song (Oh, maybe Guilty. ;d) because when I meet her music, everything seemed SO NEW and so CREATIVE. After many albums back then, I am just very tired of songs that's in same scheme. I meet her when I had SO MANY kickin' songs that made my mind blow away. Evolution, even frikin' fly high! Now i grew with everything, and I miss this. Maybe i just get old? And I am not losing interest with her. I always have goosebumps when something is leaked, but next it does nothing. No heart beating like crazy. They are just ok. Even I love Last angel, it's still not the same feeling.

My favourite one recently was someone saying, "I'm so dissapointed, I've not really loved a song since Microphone! I don't like her new work" as if that was some long gone part of History. I think loving Microphone shows satisfaction with her current work.

As for my opinion on this matter, I have more older songs I love than newer, but I don't dislike her newer work. I like crossroad, for example, a LOT more than some songs from say, Duty or I am... To say it's Ayu's fault that her old work is silly, because it's my opinion juding that song.

A couple things:

Fool, you don't need voices or instruments to make music. Crickets make music by rubbing their wings together, they use neither instruments or voices but wings.

1. We were talking about the making of actual music not producing tracks because anyone can get a producer credit on an album it doesn't mean anything like how Max Matsuura is credited on every album.

2. You're over complicating what I said which was anyone can write lyrics to pre-recorded music whether I do it or Ayu does it doesn't change the fact that the backing music track was given to her and she didn't create it herself just like what I said before because you obviously didn't get it the first 3 times.

3. Dictionary definition: Musician - a person who plays or composes music, esp as a profession. Key words being composes and/or plays. Ayu is a lyricists: she writes lyrics. She neither plays an instrument or composes music so she's not a musician. She's a singer, a pop idol, but not a musician.

Pffft.......like I'm really gonna waste my time on that pointless ******** since Ayu already did it when she took Tomoya Kinoshita's track and wrote lyrics for it and then recorded her self singing said lyrics over the music.

By the way... Britney is involved in writing the lyrics and music from time to time. You can see it in the credits for her songs.

:laugh




...Koda writes all her own lyrics...:paperbag


...

hsienko, I think all that Impact is trying to emphasize is that it's not such a simple process for Ayu and that she is involved with it a greater deal than the way you've laid it out, almost disrespectfully towards Ayu even.

U might not know this since you join on 2007, but ayu does compose music though it was a long time ago...

*edit : oh wait... u know about crea... so why are you still saying she's not a musician?

^
This

@hsienko
On At07 documentary there is a part where is shows the band finishing glitter's arrangment, and Ayu saying what she wants, how she wants and how should the song sound in her opinion...

Besides... she composed or co-composed most of I am... and RAINBOW and some other tracks after it...

Sorry, but she is not just picking the music... she is also working with her producers so it will sound the way she wants... "longer bridge", "more beats here", "can u change this and this notes on the chorus?"... This is being involved with the process... U r acting like she just received a finished piece of music today and add some lyrics to it in order to record it tomorrow... And she doesn't work like that...

^Also Ayu has mention she still has a couple of times but ends up not picking her own compositions.

And you're over-simplifying the process of adding lyrics to a composition! Every single syllable is often times not laid out in a composition. Chords are usually created first, and then melody is built from that process. If Ayu needs to add a syllable to include the lyrics she wants, she has to add/remove notes in order for the song to work. It's not much, but it's definitely direct involvement in the production of her MUSIC.

Second of all, she HAS composed several songs already so.. I don't know where you're going calling her merely a pop idol. I agree that she is a pop idol, but she also easily fits under the singer-songwriter category.

Most musicians are NOT like Michael Jackson. He saw music in shapes and colors, paid close attention to EVERY SINGLE nuance. We're not entirely sure of how much control Ayu has over her arrangements, but she knows her arrangers tendancies and I think she knows which arranger is perfect for a specific melody.

I knew she wrote most, but all? Really? That's cool, I didn't know that. :)

On-topic:

AYU HAS COMPOSED MUSIC! She just doesn't do it all the time. So is she only half a musician or not at all? The definition isn't so black and white. Plus, if Ayu were in a band, and someone in the band writes the music and Ayu writes the lyrics is she any LESS apart of the production just because another member is responsible for the composition or arrangement or whatever? All of the parts make a whole, you can have music without certain parts but for the kind of music Ayu makes, she's very much apart of it. Her lyrics were how she became famous, so obviously what she does takes some talent.