The word 'alterna'?
 

I'm just curious, but as I was scanning over a list of songs, it suddenly hit me that, to my embarassment, I have no idea what "alterna" means. The dictionary yielded no results, which wasn't entirely surprising, since it's a sort of modified word.

Does anyone actually happen to know what it might mean?

in some indo-european languages like spanish, it's a verb-conjugation.. it's the he/she form of 'to change' (to alternate).. so 'he/she/it changes'..
But personally I think the words 'alternative' was just a bit too long... cause the song and video for 'alterna' and very alternative

^ Yeah I think this too :)

Perhaps. I hate this song haha. I never really thought about it though.

In English "alterna" means "the most kick ass ayumi hamasaki song ever made."

Ah, ok! I feel silly. I never even considered it's not being based in English.
I suppose it would also have to do with her changing, which she admittedly does a lot, despite the video - the music industry sucking her dry and dumping her.

At any rate, I love the video and song. :)

xD Excellent.

^Same here! ^^ It's probably one of my all time favorite Ayu songs and PV's.

Just remember that that word doesn't just mean any type of change, but changing between 2 fixed options; like shifting sides of a coin. By that I'd think kinda like shifting from being anonymous to fandom (turning into the "best hit singing machine") and in the end becoming anonymous again (in the trash, people don't care about it). That's sort of what the PV shows. Also how the media and paparrazzi alternate sides from making someone famous to turning them into trash.

In Latin it also means "the other one", something like that :yes
my Latin isn't really good :laugh

The to change thing seems to be quite right:yes

Indeed, all that is exactly what the word means.

Strangely enough, despite it coming from speech mostly found in Europe, Japanese artists have used the word alterna quite a few times; well definitely more than you see it mentioned around here.

yea SuG made a song named Alterna. too :)

I always assumed that ayu meant 'alterna' like 'to change' but I saw it has ayu's change of opinion from deciding to be a product (music machine) for avex and actually exist as a person

to answer this qns, u have to ask me, alternarist. and to be honest, i duno what is the answer.. =x

but i do agree with this!!!!!!!!!!

It also can means "alternative" as in "option"... Like "she has the option of being a doll or a person" (at least, the lyrics give me this feeling)