5 Songs you would recommend to a newbie
 

My recommendations:

STEP you
I really like how this song is somwehat rockish, yet danceable. Like nothing I've ever heard before!!

rainy day
In my opinion, one of Ayu's best ballads. It's so beautiful and calming!

M
Amazing lyrics and composition. Overrated, but for good reasons!

Startin'
Very upbeat and makes me wanna dance! I love it!

Memorial address (take 2 version)
Not many people would think of this one, but I really like it! Sad lyrics and the instrumentals suit the mood of the song perfectly!!

seasons
this is the first song i got to know about ayu

evolution
the groove! the grrrrrrooooooooooovvvvveeee!

heaven
i teared for this!

teddy bear
another tear worthy song.. reminds me of her father

who...
emotional ending theme for her concerts..

verdict: any more choices for me??? haha

Moments: I don't know why. It just screams Ayu to me everytime I listen to it. It's great.

GAME: I didn't love it 2 years ago, but now I do. Great rock song! Better than the overrated "Because of you". Yes!

SEASONS: Nice ballad that even non fans seem to like. A classic.

No way to say: Heart touching ballad with a nice melody. Nobody hates that song really.

Boys & Girls: Classic upbeat Ayu song. Its chorus is amazingly catchy.

Dearest - first song I heard of Ayu's, and very touching

No Way to Say

YOU

Voyage

Greatful Days

I let my sister listen to a few of Ayu's songs, and she really liked "Voyage." I guess it's better to introduce a variety of Ayu's ballads/upbeat songs/etc. to a newbie...so they get a feel of what Ayu does. :)

Good question. I think it would be: A Song for XX, appears, evolution, Dearest, Moments...

hmm all oldies :)

I will recommend:
SEASONS- ayu's best ballads
Boys & Girls
Key
evolution
Startin'

A song for XX: The signature song that marked the beginning of her career, and also the two new versions are just fabulous.
Season: it's THE ayumi ballad. Beautiful lyrics, with very emotional vocals, and a catchy melody.
M: It's well...the first song she composed, and also a turn in the style of her lyrics. It's also very catchy, and one of the first of her songs to border a rockier edge.
No Way to Say: It's just catchy, and very emotional.
Is this LOVE?: It really wowed me. the lyrics are great, the song's refreshing, and the vocals are just beautiful.

fly high
my name's women
hanabi
evolution
M

typical Ayumi songs.

is this Love, Fly High, Memorial Address, Endless Sorrow, Trauma

Well,i am a newbie to Ayumi too,but when ever anyone asks me about Ayumi,i always tell them to check out "Inspire".

That makes me sad inside *insert sad internet face*

Do you mean the only song you heard my Ayumi is INSPIRE?
o_o;

Well, I wouldn't recommend anything until i knew what type of music/genre the person likes.

I agree with that.. But let's say if that person hears a song from ayu and asks for another.. I will pick:

1) TO BE --> typical ayu song from the old time
2) appears --> it's an upbeat song from the old time :D
3) Dearest or Voyage --> a song to introduce the SUPER shiny time of ayu (well she's still very shiny now..)
4) Moments or HEAVEN or CAROLS --> a newer slow song will be good
5) STEP you or Startin' --> a newer fast song to show that ayu's superior :D

1. my name's WOMEN
2. SEASONS
3. teddy bear
4. HEAVEN
5. Voyage

STEP YOU ---> Addictive enough to warrant follow up listens.
Ourselves ---> More addictive pop music!
Evolution ---> Even faster awesome pop!
Rainbow ---> Musical perfection, must listen to believe.
Bold And Delicious ---> So weird and good.

OT, but I like your sig. It really brings out the SEASONS of it. lol.

But that's also why you immerse them in both ballad and upbeat. So I would reccommend...

1) Memorial Addresss ~Take 2 Version~ - I wanna hear how she sounded in the first version... but this is a good song since it exposes both ballad and rock.

2) M - This is song is a legend. Arguably her BEST EVER.

3) A Song for XX (A BEST version) - These vocals bring out the emotion much more than the original version.

4) Startin' - This is a good song to get a "Startin'" with. Her vocals are strong, and show how much she had matured since her "A Song for XX" days. It also shows pure upbeat from her.

5) Moments - This song is honestly one of her best ballads in her career. ESPECIALLY the Acoustic Piano Version. The music is beautiful, and the vocals are excellent. Great for any newbie.

mostly the newer ones first!

Moments - since that's the first Ayu song i loved
STEP you - it's so damn catchy, anyone would like it
startin' - kool song!
rainy day - i just love that song....
You(a ballads version) - such a cute song!

1. Because of You
2. STEP you
3. HEAVEN/Voyage (alot of non ayu fans liked voyage)
4. My names WOMEN
5. HANABI episode II

HEAVEN
The slow yet powerful side of Ayu
Moments
The ballad Ayu
Startin'
The energectic Ayu
Born To Be...
The bright and sporty Ayu
Because of You
The dark and rock Ayu

These are best so far

A Song for XX
SEAONS
M
STEP you
HEAVEN

1) CAROLS - all my friends fell in love with ayu after listening to this song..
2) HEAVEN - dramatic at the end.. impactful!
3) STEP you - catchy tune... makes them wanna sing along too...!! 1, 2, 3, 4 you and me!!
4) Moments - very smooth song...
5) fairyland - my friends love this song.. lol

1) HEAVEN / HANABI
2) Dearest / SEASONS
3) STEP you
4) evolution
5) Boys & Girls

Startin' - Because it's new, it rocks, and a definate song to get someone addicted.

Dearest - Ayu's best ballad imo. From experience this song has appealed to alot of people.

Because of You - Ayu's best 'Rock' song. Very dramatic, very addictive.

evolution - The all time Ayumi classic, dancey, fun and great played loud. Should really appeal to anyone who enjoys music.

Poker Face - And of course you can't go without recommending the debut avex single. Just so they can get a taste of how Ayu used to be and compare they might like, they might not.

My 5 choices:

STEP you: Because it's insanely catchy, even for people who don't understand Japanese. This would be the fun song.

CAROLS: It's a song with simple arrangement, plus she really expresses loneliness here. This would be sad song.

M: A song to catch people off-guard. Starts off slow, yet when it reaches its climax it sets pulses racing. This would be the dramatic song.

RAINBOW: It's gives a surrealistic atmosphere, but in the end it's so uplifting. The ambience song.

alterna: It screams rebellion. The angst song.

HEAVEN
Moments
No way to say
About you
Fairyland

STEP you
RAINBOW
TO BE
SCAR
Moments (Acoustic Piano Version)

M
Memorial Address
Alterna
Because of You
Dearest

1.M
2.Will
3.evolution
4.Inspire
5.and then

hmmm a lil toughy... but here are my 5 newbie picks:
A Song For XX- you kno itz the big one. the first glimpse of Ayu

evolution- one of her biggest hits!

flower garden- classic encore concert song. very fun and a lil ayu rappin

Startin- new cool americanish

Born to be- powerful, magical! overwhelming! ^^

A Song for XX
Memorial Address ~take 2 version~
RAINBOW
I am...
alterna

I suppose...

RAINBOW
evolution
Dearest
Game
Moments

...but don't ask me why, lol. honestly, i'd have picked all five from the I am... and RAINBOW era but figured i'd better throw something semi recent in.

A Song for XX (A BEST Version)
Boys & Girls
M
evolution
Moments

I'd do as many different genres for introduction, and they can branch off from there.

1) Because of You/About You/GAME (Hard Rock)
2) Naturally/Evolution/I am../End of the World (Light Rock/Dance)
3) SURREAL/Rainbow/Duty/Endless Sorrow/ever free (Ballad)

All I have so far..

I think the songs that got me into her were INSPIRE, moments, and evolution.

evolution
M
RAINBOW
Moments
STEP you

In my opinion, standouts that show the different sides of Ayu.

Audience: very upbeat
Seasons: nice vocals
Heaven: sad and beautiful
Fly High: well composed
Moments: Sad yet hopeful

ok be prepared for weirdness.....

1. WE WISH -cool music, and great lyrics
2. Dearest -my first Ayu soing ever....but i didnt know who the heck sang it
3. I Am.. -such a different style....me likey
4. POWDER SNOW -my first Ayu song after i learned who she was
5. SIGNAL -i dunno....its just a great song lol


and if they dont like these,
1.Duty -so....Midevil *the gregorian chant and stuff*
2. vogue -it has a sitar....whats better than a sitar?
3. theme of a-nation 03' -Feudal Japan rocks
4. UNITE! -soooo pasionate and proud
5. Will -so....i dont think they ever made a word to describe this song

M
evolution
SEASONS
A Song for XX
Boys & Girls

-these songs either show the CREA side; her really good side of ballads or just scream 'ayu' when you listen to them.

A Song For XX
Boys and Girls
No Way To Say
GAME
Bold and Delicious

The last two mostly because i think people need to understand that Ayu dabbles in every style.

A Song for XX
Boys & Girls
evolution
ourselves
alterna

Bold & Delicious
Because of you
evolution
M "Above & Beyond mix"
Carols "classical version"

just to make them familiar to the many genres Ayu has.

01 M
02 Moments
03 Heartplace
04 evolution
05 Connected

M
SEASONS
STEP you
fairyland
LOVE ~Destiny~



ayumaria.

I would recommend
M
evolution
No Way To Say
Because of You
Step You

Depends on the Newbie ang his music taste..
ROCKER newbie
1.UNITE!
2.I am..
3.SURREAL
4.GAME
5.Because of You

POP-ish Newbie
1.Real Me
2.Fly High
3.M
4.STEP you
5.Moments

ALL Around Newbie
1.M
2.evolution
3.Audience
4.ourselves
5.Ladies Night

1. You
2.To Be
3 Boys and Girls
4 Seasons
5. Carols

hmmm

A Song For XX - gotta have something from the original! This song is great no matter how old it is!!

Surreal - great song! one of the peak of her career :yes

M - everyone know's Ayu's M... you're not a fan until you do... even though it may be overrated... it is still a GREAT song! I'd pick it over Evolution

(miss) understood/heartplace - great rock song... but I was torn between that and heartplace because that is another one every Ayu fan should hear! Great vocals :yes

Rainy Day - Gotta hear a ballad... and I love this one :yes

A Song for XX
SURREAL
RAINBOW
evolution
Memorial Address

Game
(miss)understood
Because Of You
A Song For XX (A BEST version)
is this LOVE?

These are the songs that I heard first! So I will recommend them!:

Fly High
M
evolution
I Am...
Real me

M
Ayu composed it herself and is definitely one of her best song to date!

Dearest
Touching and wonderful. It takes away the breath of those listening!

No Way to Say
Touching and impactful, this song is definitely no average Jpop song. This mesmerising song will surely touch the heart of thousands!

Moments
A classic masterpiece buy the Queen of Jpop. The catchy melody will just leave you asking for more!

Startin'
Ayu's hottest new release and everybody loves it!

M, evloution, season,dearest,walking proud

M
Bold & Delicious
HEAVEN
fairyland
I am...

HEAVEN
Moments
rainy day
Free& easy
STEP you
Mostly her sad or ballad songs. those are the best.

M for the atmosphere, and her first song by her
dearest, my all time favourite ayu track. it is so heartwrenching!
unite for the energy and uplifting emotions
boys & girls for the pop sound

the fifth one is hard to decide
i think i will choose vogue for the latin flavour

HEAVEN because it's definitely one of Ayu's BEST. It's absolutely her most powerful ballad and she shows great emotion in her voice. The first time I heard it in the SHINOBI trailer, it was so beautiful, I cried.
A Song for XX because it was truly Ayu's defining debut song. While her first single was poker face, A Song for XX is what defines the beginning of her career. It has a very powerful meaning and expresses a lot of Ayu's thought and personality.
M because it's another defining song of Ayu's. It was the single that eventually culminated in A BEST and was her first self-composed song. Definitely a landmark in her career.
Bold & Delicious because it shows Ayu's different side. It was definitely a controversial song, but it shows that Ayu is a versatile pop star and she can take on various types of music. It also expresses a lot of her creativity, despite being composed by GEO of SWEETBOX. She added her own flair to the song and sounds tremendously different than the JADE from SWEETBOX version. The way Ayu sang Bold & Delicious was spectacular -- it showed great range and her originality truly shone through the american-based composition.
evolution because it's Ayu's best "let's get happy and party" songs. It really gets the energy flowing and it's one of Ayu's most popular songs.

I'd probably recommend the usual popular stuff, e.g. Evolution, M, Seasons, Boys & Girls, Fly High, since they usually serve as an introduction for people and it always works well. However, a slightly different list with personal favourites would also be a possibility, e.g. No Way To Say, Girlish, Hanabi ~Episode II~, July 1st and Far Away.

well it depend on the person's type of music.... >_<
if the person is western ill definitly recommend the (miss)understood album if not.. i'll choose the singles from the later works of ayu ^^