reason for the name "surreal" and "hanabi"
 

I really want to know why ayu use the name "surreal" and "hanabi" for that song, I can't really find anything is related in the lyric.

SURREAL-
In a non-existant place I stand as I am.

HANABI means firework I think.
Shes looking for a shooting star and cant find one.
I think shes comparing a shooting start to a firework.

I know "In a non-existant place I stand as I am." is in surreal's lyric, but I cant find that the song has a concept of "surreal", I only feel the lyric is quite strange

Well shes saying she wants this person to be hisself/herself.

She says she is most herself in a nonexistant place.
I guess in her imagination.

It is a strange song and I dont get it myself.
I dont quite understand NEVER EVER or Dearest either.

Guy SURREAL means something related to dreams. I think the lyrics and the name has completely a LOT of sense:

Ah-
It's impossible for me to realize the dream
We talked about overnight by myself
I can tell no one, I want to tell someone
That the person is the most important to me

la la la
In a place that doesn't exist
I'm standing as I am
Please be as you are
I wish that you not to change


HANABI means fireworks. In japan the fireworks mean something really deep and special, the night fireworks are set peple usually look at the scene and start to think about a lot of things like family, love, relationships,etc...The moment the fireworks are set evokes a lot of sentimental feelings.

There is not a day
On which I recall you

Because I have never
Forgotten you

Every time I have sadness
I habitually say, "I'm all right"

Something had ceased to be
That day, and I

Can't find even a star
However long I pray

I want to see you
I want to see you

I don't know what to do
As you are smiling so tenderly only just in my memory

There is not a day
On which I recall you

Because I have never
Forgotten you

I want to see you
I want to see you

I don't know what to do
As you are smiling so tenderly only just in my memory

me too, NEVER EVER is hard to understand, can someone give some explaination at NEVER EVER?

NEVER EVER? I think masa has the complete reason... I just heard that it was composed after the release of A BEST n distance where ayu felt really depressed n dropped.... ..

good explanation

I love hanabi lyric...it definitely a sad song for me

Fireworks just like a star, it disappeared in a short time ~ how sad ~
it's a precious thing just like our family and friends.

I think the Dearest lyrics are mean to be towards like a very special person and that no matter what even if you die, that you'll always be with them. That's what I think from the lyrics that I've read.

OMG that is so true!

Well....NEVER EVER is yes, somewhat related to the controversy of the A BEST album release. Ayu was depressed and wanted to give up. I heard NEVER EVER expressed her anger towards the situation, like you see in the lyrics:

Sometime, surely since before you were born,
I was searching for something unchanging.
I'd find it, and lose it, and sometimes
there were nights when I hurt people.

If just one of your wishes could come true,
If just one of your wishes could come true,
what would you wish for?
What would you wish for, here, under this sky?

Despite my strong desire,
I started giving up.
I'd find it, release it, and sometimes
there were nights when I hurt myself.

If there were something I could give to you,
If there were something I could give to you,
It would be my unchanging, certain thoughts.

If you'll laugh for me, even just a little,
then there's still a reason for me to live here.
If you'll search for me, even just a little,
then maybe my living here will be accepted.

If just one of your wishes could come true,
If just one of your wishes could come true,
what would you wish for?

If there were something I could give to you,
If there were something I could give to you,
It would be my unchanging, certain thoughts.
Yes, my unchanging, certain thoughts.
Right here.

See that boldened verse? Ayu felt as if A BEST nearly destroyed her career, which it almost did, and she felt unwanted by Avex and as if she didn't have a need to live in that area (Avex/music) anymore. I think the title "NEVER EVER" relates to how Ayu 'never ever' wants anything like that to happen. No matter who tries to stop her career, she will 'never ever' give up.

What was the A Best controversy?

I didn't really know much about Ayu at that time, so why was she depressed etc?

I do believe that her NEVER EVER song is about her in fact that person or even Ayu NEVER EVER giving up!! When I sing that song, I just feel so strong!! Like nothing can stop me!!

Ayu was told by Avex to release a best of album, even though she felt it wasn't time for that yet. I think she said it made her realise that Avex thought of her as a product.

yay!! i finally get it now! =D i've been wondering about this for quite some time too XD

nice analysis guys!
you know alot of ayu's title don't make sense to me even til now:

poker face [what's the meaning]
TO BE [i couldn't find the relation between title & lyrics]
vogue [what's the meaning]
AUDIENCE
NEVER EVER
Daybreak
Free & Easy [the title's so carefree, but the song's dark & gloomy]
July 1st [was it written on july 1st?]
CAROLS [according to the title, the song suppose to be joyful, but it came out extremely desperate & sorrowful song]

someday i'll understand, that's for sure...

TO BE:

Everyone passes through. I don't keep them in mind either. It can't be helped.
You've been carrying that junk as if it's important.
People saw you from a distance and thought you were strange.
Even so you laughed and said to me "this is treasure."

While I'm gaining something big, I wonder if there's something I've lost.
I don't understand.
This place I've regained, I bet it's slightly different.

If you're there, I'm always laughing.
If you're there, I'm always laughing. I'm crying. I'm living.
If you're not there, there's nothing.

Was it myself? Was it the people? Or was it
only a clock? The thing that seemed like it would break.

How much do the arms that continue to protect the junk hurt?
What have they sacrificed?
Even though you'll never be perfect, you shine in your imperfection.

The path you found isn't wide.
The path you found isn't wide, it isn't narrow, somehow
you alone have made it better for me.

Because you were there, I'm always laughing.
Because you were there, I was always laughing. I was crying. I was living.
If you're not there, there's nothing.

---------- I think it goes along with the lyrics, since the expression TO BE can be use in many ways, like "TO BE with you", which would say what she feels whenever she's with him.

As for the song Hanabi, you have to connect it to Hanabi~episode II~, because here is the lyrics towards the end of ~episode II~:

HANABI ~episode II~


The summer has come again and again since then
But why am I looking back upon the past again
Tracing the footprints?

I remember everything even now
Your voice calling my name, your casual habits
I want to forget, and I don't want to forget

Did I choose the right way?
But I keenly understand there is no answer
Whomever I may ask it to

Please tell me some day that you are happy
And smile

I gently lock the memories away
Leaving them to be beautiful

This feeling, this feeling, go up into the sky
And be dispersed beautifully like a firework


See, the lyrics is finished here and it does have to do with fireworks (last line). This is why Ayu named it Hanabi... at least, I think so.

;)

Also, I just wanted to add that I think some of Ayu's song title relates to the music, the melody, itself than the lyrics. Like for CAROLS, it sort of have this Christmas and carolish feeling to it, especially in her music video. For July 1st, the music sort of have this celebration and happy feeling to it. And for vogue, when I first heard it the melody seemed way beyond what I've heard so far, so kind of trendy and fashionable. I don't know, I think Ayu's title make sense to me in the way that it relates to the music, not neccessary to the lyrics.

poker face - When you play the card game poker, you try not to show any emotion on what cards you get. Otherwise, people will try to play against you.

poker face
It's always easy to cry, but I like to smile
I want your love

My true self is growing dim little by little
In the surging crowds I was searching for the answer that remained unfound
As I get better at telling lies and giving excuses, I come to feel fear in the emptiness

It's always easy to cry, but I like to smile
If I pretended to be strong, I would forget tenderness, so I'd like to be natural
I want your love

People are always alone
So they need someone, wishing to be supported and to support
Nothing is certain, but I have my believing heart

If I find one important thing, I will keep it by my own hand
If I hit a wall too high and get hurt, I should stand up again
I don't want anything else, just one is enough
I want your love

Ayu simply sometimes doesn't want to show her true self, because she is afraid of hurting others or losing her innocence.

for the hanabi, song, i think it actually means..
ok, it sounded sad, and obviously it means that the relationship it gone,
so it's like broken, blown up, and she's comparing it to hanabi (fireworks) becos even though it's blown up, it's still beautiful, and she still treasures it a lot.. but it cannot be mended again. i think part 2 of the hanabi song means letting go of the relationship, and therefore "This feeling, this feeling, go up into the sky
And be dispersed beautifully like a firework" i hope i get this correctly. err.. this is how she used the phrase for the title of hanabi and she used it in again, in a similar way for hanabi episode II.

for carols, i think it's still a er..happy song, although it sounded sad.

Do you remember the first day we met even now?
You looked abashed, hanging your head
And turning your eyes away

I wonder when such a manner became so dear to me
It makes me feel a little nostalgic
Don't you feel so?

Many seasons have passed by
With quick steps since then

(*) When the white snow colors the city
Let me stay by your side
Though I may bother you
Again and again

We talked overnight about our future and the moments
I felt they were so dazzling
And precious

Tears welled up in my eyes
When I thought it would be nice
That I could forgive my past some day

(**) When the white snow melts
And the city becomes vivid and colorful
I like to keep you closest
To my heart

The days we couldn't understand each other and parted
The days of tears, the days of smiling faces
Whatever may happen and whatever mood you may be in
I'll always accept you

(*) repeat

(**) repeat

---maybe when she thought of the past, how they become to what they are now, it's quite sad, becos they have gone through a lot, breaking up, not understanding each other?

poker face.. according to the translation of lyrics, i think, if she shows her real feelings, the person would leave, becos i guess..the person likes her a lot too, but what he ever does was to make her unhappy, so if she were to show it out, he would think, "i don't want to make u unhappy again, so..." i guess...cos it feels like that to me, sorry if i get all these wrong.