Thoughts on full HEAVEN single ^_^
 

I agree about the orchestral version of Alterna. It sounds weird somehow.. It's not bad, but it's so much better as a rock song.. Anyway, Heaven & Will are GREAT!! ^_^

I, on the other hand, absolutely love the alterna orchestra version. I thought the tension between the somewhat, well, computerized (for lack of a better word) vocals and the classical instruments really added to it, and the instrumental music was very beautiful and cast a melancholy mood over the whole song. It's actually different, and I like it more than I think I would have if they had tried to replicate the exact same musical score with classical instruments instead of rock instruments. This version makes me picture completely different things than the original version does, and I love that.

As for the harmony b/t the vocals and the music, there was harmony, but it was mostly a dissonant harmony...it sounded like it shouldn't go together and it created tension, which in a minor keyed song like this, has a really beautiful effect in my opinion.

It was really good! I love the Alterna Orch Version! If only I can ply that great with the violin :yes

But this single is great! Like for some reason it has like a theme to it if you think about it.... heaven and will sound almost the same with the instruments played in there.... that's me i dunno what you guys think.... so yea :P

The acoustic version of alterna sounded weird and hastily done. They should've removed the effects from her voice at least. The violin arrangements were ok, but I think it would've been more fun if they utilised the rytm in the beginning of the song more. Not bad, but far from nicely and thoroughly done. The rest of the tracks are simply wonderufl though. This is the best single this year. :luv2

The Alterna Orchestra ver. was not what I expected. It wasn't that bad though. and the Heaven piano version was good, I really enjoyed it.

I thought the new version of alterna was great. I thought the harsh electronic nature of her voice and the orchestral sound complemented each other well.

I'm not too fond of the rest of the single.

*Hops off to do vocal tracks* Wweee~

I like alterna -Orchestral version- a lot. I'm just a fan of re-arrangements =/

The single is really good, and I'm very tempted to buy as with all her singles this year. Really top notch work for her.

I liked HEAVEN single very much. It's definitely her best this year. Yet, again I like the c/w song better than he song hat gives the single its name. I fell in love with Will the moment I heard it in the Panasonic CM. The chorus are just georgeous! Her voice sounds so mature. I liked the traditional insturment effects in HEAVEN. They do save the whole song from becoming a boring ballad. alterna Orchestra ver. is good but it could have been better if more insurments were used. And HEAVEN piano ver is nothing but a lame piano ballad for me. The original ver is soooooo much better.

i'm very very impressed..:)..you know why ayu's vocals sound so good in Will? VERY VERY light bg vocals.

They really should've taken off the bg vocals for the Alterna Orchestra Ver. Thats THE only thing that bothered me. Bedised thta..i expect this single to sell very well..although does anyopne else feel that there wasnt much hype?..this single kinda just snuck up on me..i didnt even remember that its comign out tomorrow.

I was disapointed with the alterna acoustic orchestra. D:
All the other songs were excellent. Everything was beautiful and now this is one of her best singles this year. =D

I did also notice that there was low hype for this single. Her new single would normally be up for download much earlier than this. Maybe because theres only one PV? I don't know. -_-

HEAVEN piano version is just wonderful...i've never bought a single before and the re-arrangements are great...i'm downloading like a million of them...

HEAVEN - I was hoping that last Chorus would be super dramatic with more powerful music, and now that I notice it, it IS kinda short.
Will - Really good, much better than I expected.
alterna - Eh....average mix...music is too boring.
HEAVEN 2 - AWESOME! Now THIS is a remix!

most of all I can say she is rite back on the track, doesnt do the same mistake :) heaven n will... both of them espress 2 different way :).. n I love that...

i will download the full version of this single later
but so far so good

I think this is a very good single...

Heaven: A lovely sentimental track.
Will: Different from all the other songs she's released recently
Alterna Orchestra: Mmh... well, not every song deserves to have an Orchestral version he he he....

And I'm a real fan of instrumentals so these ones are two more for my collection.

*+D.N.A.+*

the alterna acoustic orchestra versio is scary! T____T it sounds liek it came out from a soundtrack of silenthill game >_<

Hmmm well...I have to admit, that this single is a VERY nice surprise to me! I loved Will even more than I thought I would. The instrumentation completely blew me away. I thought maybe I would love HEAVEN more...but nope, Will wins this single. =P

As for the versions...well, I've never been a real fan of orchestra versions, but I admit that these were nice. I liked alterna, and HEAVEN was VERY well done. This is definitely a great single. (But I still like STEP you more :yes)

The Best single .. so far !!!!! Heaven rocks !!

I dont like alterna orchestra ver. either.
I love HEAVEN instrumental best!:D the piano is GREAT! even better than the piano version.

I think Alterna Orchestra was a disaster.. Just like Delirium Zero said, the music did NOT match the vocals at all.. Will is SOOOO BEAUTIFUL. HEAVEN PIANO TOOOO..
REVIEW, hheehehe..
Heaven- 12/10
Will- 15/10
Alterna AO- 5/10
Heaven Piano- 14/10
Heaven I- 10/10
Will I- 10/10

OMG!!! ALL OF THE INSTRUMENTAL R SOOOO NICE!!!

im more interested in the originals but when i get sick of the originals i'll listen to the instrumentals

I like the single more than I thought I would (I'm usually not a ballad fan). Will is good and I'm one of those who love the alterna version.

I don't like the alterna that much..
the mix and ayu's vocal don't really match but Will...I love that song more than HEAVEN
ever since I heard the 30s on panasonic, just like when Because of You was used in the panasonic cm

This is one of my favourite singles of the year.
I don't have any criticisms for all of the songs in the single.
'HEAVEN' is definitely my best.
'Will' is such a different song and it shows that Ayu's vocals have improved so much.
'alterna' is such also very different. The beginning always catches my attention.
'HEAVEN -piano-' shows a more lonely side of the original.
The DVD HEAVEN just piano version is SO great. I actually love this one because I want want want to play this on my piano!

This single is perfect.

Heaven is very pretty in the beginning. My favorite part is when she sings the "lalalala..." But, once she starts to sing the chorus beginning with "soba ni ite ai suru hito.." I stopped liking it. I basically skip to the next track when the chorus begins lol.

"Will" is cool! It's not really my style, but it reminds me of Ayu's past styles, and it makes me feel nostalgic. It's really good, though!

"Alterna" orchestra version is OK... not a favorite. I do like the piano version of Heaven, though. So pretty.

I have a question, isn't there a PV for Wil? Why?

And Calico, where did you get that amazingly pretty Ayu pic? I keep seeing them in people's sigs.

i would have liked this single a bit more if it would have missed "alterna orquestra version"... i miss those great orquestral ver. like never ever...


delirium, do you think "heaven piano" was re-recorded? perhaps it's been, as some parts are sung with much pain, imo, but, never know... is there any specil or concrete difference?

I think that Will is the best single song... I think that Ayu should exploit too^^
Heaven is a good Ayu song especially because it breaks the Ayu system : verse1/chorus1 - v2/c2 - instru - c1 acapella - c2 and it reminds me rainbow BUT rainbow is better better and better...
Will reminds me Moments and the Ayu style of FX9 reminds me the first lives of Moments (with kimono and flowers on the air)... very good song
the others (piano version and orchestra) are bad because there's no new vocal arrangement (and alterna orchestra version is too slow... and the orchestra is numeric...) MY STORY classical is better than those little remixes

to sum up I love will, HEAVEN let me indiferent (I don't know if I can say that like that in english^^) and I think that it's a little single in front of the SHINOBI phenomenon...

HEAVEN is, hands down, one of the most beautiful songs I've heard by Ayumi. I've been comparing her newer releases (STEP you, fairyland, INSPIRE) to her old material (SURREAL, UNITE!, I am) a lot, and I've always been pretty disappointed. But I think HEAVEN earns itself a very distinct place among Ayumi's songs.

Will... Though I don't really like it, I do agree with Marty, that it reminds me of older Ayu.

alterna (acoustic) - Love it. But the part around 2:20 with the "hey hey" sounds really, really choppy.

HEAVEN (Piano Version) - Absolutely stunning, made me love HEAVEN all the more.

HEAVEN is an unbelievable single. I was seriously deppressed when I found out that it didn't debut at No. 1, but that's okay, it's there now.

HEAVEN - without a doubt, one of the best ballads Ayumi Hamasaki has ever done. The lyrics are wonderful, and much credit to Kazuhito Kikuchi for the composition. She hasn't released quite a song like this in such a long time...she's really out-done herself with this one. 5 out of 5.

Will - a good b-side. I think it's a good addition to the single, though not anything earthshattering in terms of how good the song is. I found the song...different, not necesarily bad, but different. I enjoyed her other b-sides more, however. 3 out of 5

alterna (Orchestra Version) - I was seriously disappointed with this track. It sounded like a poorly fan-made mix. The mixer did a terrible job of putting the music in sync with her voice. Her vocal track sounded fuzzy, too. I would've liked it more if she had re-sang it for the single. 1.5 out of 5

HEAVEN (Piano Version) - This was nice! Nothing completely overwhelming or anything...personally, I like it better mixed with the Original Mix. Much props to jasonrey who did this! It sounded superb. XD I'm listening to it now, in fact. Anyway, on it's own, it's nice...soothing. 4 out of 5.

Overall, I give the single a 5 out of 5 because of the a-track. It is just so powerful and touching. I must've cried at least once already after hearing it so many times. It's been really an inspiring song for me. Much love to Ayu. ^_^

I'm very impressed with this single, it's her best this year I believe. I'm not too impressed with the alterna track, but hey, it can't be perfect

ok, thank you!

OMG same here! So very tempted in buying all her singles released as of this year! They're all awesome! I love this whole single. Alterna orchestra version sounds SO cool! I think it's the best re-arrangement released this year. When i first heard it, I thought it sounded dead but once you've listened to it a couple times more, it is quite seducing.. :D I also love the piano version of HEAVEN, it is absolutely beautiful!~ Will is an awesome song, the beginning of it kind of reminds me of those theme songs you;d get from animes.. lolz~