Styles that Ayu has previously used and that you miss...
 

I have to agree with the LOVEppears comment - I love the sound of WHATEVER, Fly high [HAL's/PV mix] and appears. It's really mainstream-sounding, but the melodies are also very thought-out and dark in a way, which is the best mix you could have.

I also miss the backing beat/drum that was present, for example, in SURREAL, evolution and UNITE!

I miss her really electronica sounding music.
Examples like LAdies night, STEP you, and those sort.
They were soo amazing.
And I really loved Pride and Whatever and such songs like that

I wish her songs now would be a little more "extreme" and experementive than they are currently. Most are well within the genres of regular "pop" with few exceptions such as mirrorcle world. I miss stuff like

1) pure classical pieces like voyage (instead of the more traditional pop ballad pieces like untitled for her which has a beautiful melody),

2) the true"euro" dance stuff from LOVEppears (in place of bland dance pop stuff for glitter and BLUE BIRD and fairyland.),

3) the more experimental album tracks in terms of arrangements with long, mood setting intros (like everywhere nowhere, no more words, still alone etc) instead of more schematic arrangements that give a song-to-song feel rather than a certain mood,

4) more catchy hooks, esp instrumental album tracks.

5) DAI (+CREA as well)


All in all I feel like she untill memoriall address was more out of the normal range of pop from time to time, making it just a little more interesting. She still presents good melodies, listenable arrangements and from time to time a pearl that has it all, but keeps it much safer in general. It's not as haunting, desperate, surprising, stunningly beautiful, happy overall as it used to be, the general feel is more "pretty" "nostalgic" "noisy" (not a good thing for a long time) or "uninteresting". That being said I think she does nostalgic better now than she ever did. Even the SWEETBOX stuff is very traditional even if the songs are different for ayu herself.

When I really think about it, I don't miss any of her previous styles. There's not a single one that I would like her to do over again, even though I love some of her older albums. And even though Rainbow is my favorite album, I would not want her to go back to that style.

I don't really want her to continue with this style, either. I absolutely love it, and it may even be my favorite style from her; but I'd like to see where she can evolve to. I want to see a new style, what she can do next. I'm not expecting something entirely different, I just want to see what next will come from Ayumi Hamasaki. Her current style is what I love the absolute most, and it's most my kind of music; but I want to see her evolve. She's done the same style of music for about 3 albums now, and that's longer than she's ever done. I want to see the next direction that she goes. I'm very anxious and excited to see where she goes next. :yes

I'm another that misses the LOVEppears era. Some of those songs were amazing.
I want her to do more traditional sounding songs like Will, for me, it's just so beautiful.

I miss CREA. :yes

*raises her hand* Same here!

Omigosh, I was going to say the same thing! ^^

I miss the ethereal/fantasy-like sound from the RAINBOW album. So relaxing.

I agree with that, I wish she'd do more of those too.

I'd also like more electro-pop songs like Ladies Night.

yes! I miss that as well! It was just so beautiful and therapeutic.

And I'm also another one that misses the LOVEppears style songs.

I also would like at least ONE CREA song for her upcoming album whenever that may be.

I miss the style she used in the song RAINBOW...

I miss the CREA era days(of course!), plus the techo-eletronica of LOVEppears days and the REAL classical style like Voyage and LOVE ~Destiny~ on ballads.

you're right. I have to agree with LOVEppears' style. it was so nostalgic and I love every single song on it *pops in cd*

I want her to bring back those songs that she used those sweeping haunting orchestra melodies as evident in Voyage

& also those samples that she used in (m)u too , I think she did a great job doing so despite the risks that she undertook

I agree with Sugarbasil. To be honest, I'm one of those rare fans that sees LOVEppears as a totally overrated album (but that's mostly because I don't like electro-pop or trance). I mean, they're catchy, but I dunno, I prefer instruments.

With that said, I totally love her combination of rock with classical instruments like in Marionette and Kiss o' Kill. But I'm willing to see what way she'll go.

Exacto :yes Totally agree there KaoriNeko

i miss the ayu-leopard print era
-far away- is DA BOMB!!!!

I miss the MY STORY era.

I miss songs like Hanabi ~Episode II~
With the lonnnng notes
And such powerful and epic sounds.
So experimental, but also synthy and techno-y.
I miss that kind of song..

Ayumi should enter the club-pop-electronic genre'. She would do great with it.

I miss her pop-electronic songs alot though ;(

I miss Ayu from Duty --> RAINBOW. I thought the Ayu during the 'evolution' era was the (busiest) the most kickass!

I missed that.. CDL 2002-2003 era. Not sure how to mention her hairstyle then though :rolleyes

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?

God knows I loved Duty and still do, but In The Corner!? How can you compare the two!?

STEP you "style"
that's soooo cool to me ;)

In the Corner is alot more r&b than Duty, but IMO Duty is too long and boring.

I like her style ballads of walking proud or Moments. They seem really calm, but different (especially the latter).

What I DO really miss are the pop songs. For god's sake, she's a pop artist!!!