Ayumi Hamasaki Sekai - New singles crossroad 9/22 and 「L」 9/29 [VI]

Ayumi Hamasaki Sekai (http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/index.php)

- Ayu Music News (http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=2)

- - New singles crossroad 9/22 and 「L」 9/29 [VI] (http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=103452)

New singles crossroad 9/22 and 「L」 9/29 [VI]

Please let me know if anything needs fixing or needs to be added to the first post!

Covers

Spoiler:

Tracklist information

Spoiler:

Lyrics

Spoiler:

PV directors / Composers & arrangers

Spoiler:

Audio rips / live rips

Spoiler:

First press bonuses

Spoiler:

Notable links

Spoiler:

Quote:

Originally Posted by hsienko (Post 2469192)

What I don't understand is why for their other artists avex will put previews up on the artist's website and on their youtube account like a month or so before the release date but for Ayu they are so secretive, like we didn't get to hear any kind of HQ version of MOON till the short PV was released like a week before the single came out.

Maybe, because they're evil and they know we'll be sitting around on forums all day refreshing the page and waiting and speculating until something shows up. Or maybe, because Ayu releases so fast, everything is finalized in the last minute so they can't really do early previews/sneak peaks for her? :P

Quote:

Originally Posted by LacusClyne (Post 2469193)

i'm only wishing that there won't be anti-jaejoong ayu-fans cancelling the CD+DVD version, just because they are unhappy that ayu won't be appearing in the pv and used him instead...

coz i just had a dispute with a idiot over FB message yesterday... and it made me sad....

Quote:

Originally Posted by identity (Post 2469199)

I don't get why that would make people cancel. She's still appearing in the crossroad PV anyway..

Idgie. It's like they've completely forgotten that crossroad is the actual single and blossom is just a tacked on PV from the 2nd a-side of the previous single. XD lol It's their choice but I think their reasoning is just a little bit off.

We'll just have to see how this performs, but I think the sales could be boosted by Tohoshinki fans just because it's not Ayu but (Hero Kim) Jejung (Jaejoong) is going to appear on the "blossom" PV - that's why we think we might actually have the confidence that despite Kumi Koda competition, Ayu can get #1 for "crossroad" despite the covers, which it seems that I don't like...

i really hope that ayu would appear in the end of the PV, like Endless Sorrow. at least a glimpse will do, haha.

You know what really... Single covers are not meant to be works of art. They are just singles, and what's most important is the thing inside.

But I don't really understand why people don't like the covers this time..
They are pretty safe, and they're very pretty. Again, if the single art is a work of art, it's bonus, but that just doesn't happen most of the time...

Quote:

Originally Posted by maikaru (Post 2469248)

But I don't really understand why people don't like the covers this time..
They are pretty safe, and they're very pretty. Again, if the single art is a work of art, it's bonus, but that just doesn't happen most of the time...

Probably because they don't fit the context of the music inside. They look like what the covers would be if Lady Dynamite were a single. For something like this I'd expect something like Free & Easy. But in my opinion, the covers are not bad. I like them! They're just weird considering what we're getting. It's not like when people were pissed because MOON/blossom didn't feature any moon or blossoms or how some people were pissed GREEN/Days was not green. :laugh

@jbrat: well people got their wish for being unpridictable. We haven't even heard ayus cover anyway. I think its quite alright

Quote:

Originally Posted by maikaru (Post 2469248)

Plus I never thought ayus single covers are soooooo out of this world. And (seeing other artists)
a couple people mentioned they would be good if used for other artists. Lol. Ayu can't be simple sometimes. Ah well~ can't escape standards.
(P.s. I could explain a little how I think different ayu fans just operate but I'd rather not here)

Ahhhh~~ I wanna hear a preview of ayus version of seven days war soooo bad.
And an hq prebview of crossroad.
This single won't be overshadowed by L for me. Totally.
And I really am curious as we get closer about the crossroad pv.

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrawbariSnowAyumi (Post 2469270)

@jbrat: well people got their wish for being unpridictable. We haven't even heard ayus cover anyway. I think its quite alright

Exactly, nude photoshoot, retro covers on a ballad single... I don't want to hear the phrase "Ayumi Hamasaki is so predictable and boring" ever again LOL.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrat2219 (Post 2469258)

I think that's what it (mostly) is too. I think if these were covers for a upbeat/dance single or just pictures a magazine shoot, there'd be more positive reactions. People say "ayu's covers aren't really that creative anyway" or "never go with the songs" but I totally disagree. Concepts aside, at the very least, her covers for the most part has been representative of the mood/feel of a single. But it is what it is, and for what they are I really like them. :)

Quote:

some people were pissed GREEN/Days was not green. :laugh

omg, that really happened? :roflmao

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtop (Post 2469242)

Ayu can get #1 for "crossroad" despite the covers, which it seems that I don't like...

You don't have to have amazing covers to get a #1 anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranma Matsuri (Post 2469232)

idk, it just seems dumb. Like how can there really be hype for the song if you don't get to hear any of it or get some kind of teaser till release day? And how would you know if you would like to purchase the single without hearing the song first? Blind purchasing seems to risky. What if you ordered the single and it's not till after you get it that you realize you don't like the song, then you just blew like $20 on something you don't really even want.

Quote:

Originally Posted by identity (Post 2469280)

You don't have to have amazing covers to get a #1 anyway.

S/S is proof of that!

If only the cover would be like this :D

but T still love the "cover" on the newspapers :lech

http://a.imageshack.us/img138/7371/9j0ow6jpg.png

I'd have to say that while the covers aren't my favourite in terms of styling, they are pretty apt for the song, which really screams Ayu circa "For My Dear" era to me. I just went and youtube-ed "Seven Days War" and it has a really lovely melody, so I guess I'm also rather looking forward to this.

I'm just generally excited at the prospect of there being so much new Ayu music coming up within such a short span of time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by maikaru (Post 2469248)

Yeah, I buy the singles to support Ayu and to pay for the actual songs regardless of what the covers look like, even though I rarely really like the covers (the last cover I loved was &).

I thought the next single would be called VI for like five minutes and was confused...then realized the epic fail hahaha.

tbh, I think it's interesting what a stark contrast the covers, which looks very futuristic, are to the actual songs inside, which are nostalgic-sounding. It may be stupid to some people, but I thought it's pretty interesting. It doesn't help that Ayu's working it on the covers either :laugh

Quote:

Originally Posted by waterballoon (Post 2469339)

Well that sure is a positive way to look at things. I don't mind these covers really, you could say I only really dislike the 3rd one, still I do miss the days when at least some of her covers had a touch of art :yes

Quote:

Originally Posted by js_surrealism (Post 2469315)

I'm just generally excited at the prospect of there being so much new Ayu music coming up within such a short span of time.

Same here :D I think she should have done something exciting like this for her 10th anniversary.

honestly, they played good cards to try and make this single sell!
a pv with jaejoong, for all the fan girls
a cover of an old 80s pop hit, the older audience
popteen covers- high school girls or w/e lol

i must say, goood marketing strategies.