Quote:
Originally Posted by njanjayrp
I am pretty sure that if STEP you was released back than it would be a 1 million seller  |
That's how I feel about STEP you. This is so far the only recent ayu songs that I would think it could be a million sellers if it was released back in her peak era.
Quote:
Originally Posted by namiie
It wasn't a one-hit wonder at all. A one-hit wonder is when an artist is famous for only one song, and then you never hear from them again. Sakuranbo may be Ai's most famous song, but people definitely heard from her again afterwards and she's gone on to be one of the most famous female artists today--look at Planetarium. Look at how well Ai Am Best did--one of the top albums of 2007! I think Ayu's signature songs are Boys & Girls, SEASONS, etc. Doesn't make her a one-hit wonder 
Sadly, I think the reason those songs are only considered as epic and majestic as they are is because they were released when Ayu was in her prime---1999 to 2001 (and a little of 2002). They are still good songs, but face it, if they were released in, say, 2006 or 2007, many people would brush them off as "boring" like they did BLUE BIRD or fated. Boys & Girls would be just another "cutesy happy song" and "M" would be another "Oh, another rock song?". I think that if they were released recently, they'd elicit those kinds of responses.
This is IMO only of course, but lately I'd say it's become rather trendy to hate on Ayu's recent releases and glorify her beginning days. Of course, her earlier albums were fantastic as well ("A Song for XX" remains one of my fave songs to this day), but people fail to recognize how far she's come as a singer lately too. For example, I'd rather take "Will" over "TO BE" anyday. While it's true that she's simply been in the business for a while and that people's interest in her is decreasing, I believe there is considerable bias toward her older work that causes some people to almost automatically brush off her new work. |
Of course I know it's not a one hit wonder
. But I kinda feel it's sorta like somehow. Yes SMILY/Planetarium were really popular as well, but it's not up to par with Sakuranbo in terms of longevity and sales (even tho I hate this song). And too bad it seems like Ai-chan cannot make another 500K seller (judging by her recent sales..). It's like, if you ask anyone which ai-chan song is the most popular, everyone will point towards Sakuranbo.
Ayu or hikki are different on the other hand. They have more than a few songs that hit million marks (ayu: B&G, A, SEASONS, M, or even evolution, which was about 960K sold) (hikki: Automatic, Addicted To You, W&S, CYKAS?).
About ayu's most popular songs being released in her prime theory.. Well I sorta disagree. As a fan going through LOVEppears to GUILTY era (well too bad I wasn't into JPop when she released A Song for XX), I still consider SEASONS, M, evolution, etc. are one of her best works. Those songs are more unique in their own ways, unlike recent her works. Honestly I cannot see the difference between fairyland/BLUE BIRD/glitter. They have the same formula.. similar melodies, similar tones, etc. It's like whenever she's releasing a new single, it just sounds like recycling her old materials. That was how I felt back in I am to RAINBOW era (e.g., Free & Easy sounds too similar to M). And thank god she released Memorial address, in which the materials sounded quite different compared to the works in I am and RAINBOW. And somehow I believe ayu's going through the cycle again, as I have faith that she'll be releasing some spectacular like Memorial address again this year.