Quote:
Originally Posted by namiie
I think we need to give Ai some more time. After all, Ayu and Hikki have been in the game for ten years. Ai's recently just celebrated her fourth year  If you've been taking notice in her concerts, Ai's signature song is now branching out from Sakuranbo...."Happy Days" and "SMILY" are definitely becoming fast fan favorites and are performed at every concert.
And *I* honestly think you can throw in " July 1st" and " Greatful Days" in with the "fairyland/BLUE BIRD/glitter" mix. They are quintessential summer songs--happy lyrics, danceable melody, the works. However, people to tend to leave these summer songs out when comparing summer releases because they are more old school Ayu--the Ayu that everyone likes to glorify and leave recent Ayu in the dust.
I do agree on the awesomeness that is Memorial Address though. However, I think that Ayu hasn't stopped being unique. I was struck by how amazingly original "Ourselves" as a song is (albeit the PV was not up to par). I think "until that Day..." is pretty unique in itself too, and what about "kiss o' kill"? Chainsaws are definitely something Ayu--and many pop artists in general--usually don't throw into their songs. And hello, "Bold & Delicious"??? If that isn't unique for Ayu, I don't know what is.
I'm not trying to say that Ayu is 100% awesome 100% of the time (I gave "fated" a good 50 listens before declaring it absolutely boring, which it is), and she does have her share of "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS" when it comes to songs (see "Humming 7/4" XD), but I do believe that her new music is not bad at all. I'd rather take the vocal improvement present in something like B&D over the ~totally original~ but frankly quite horrible vocals of "Heartplace". It's all about acquired taste I think. |
Wow that's a long reply LOL.
I'm not saying Ai-chan can't prove it since she's still like the mid of her 20s. The thing is, right now Japan is not giving her more time at all. Looking at her recent sales it seems like she starts fading already. She gotta make something different from Sakuranbo / Happy Days / SMILY / frienger / CHU-LIP / PEACH. I guess people are getting tired of her similar happy songs. I do think those songs are different from each other.. somehow the instrumental arrangements are freakin' similar. (Btw I believe that ayu and hikki have already proven how good they were even before their 4th year)
Yes, Greatful Days are July 1st~2003 ver~. Actually Until that day is quite similar to other songs somehow. BUT the difference is again the arrangement. She (or the arranger) can try something else other than hitting the drum/guitar/electrical piano everytime.
The reason I dun wanna mention Bold & Delicious is that it's actually a flop. Dun get me wrong, I really love the song, and I think B&D and Pride are super unique among ayu's songs. The thing that the majority doesn't accept this dramatic change at all. It is always hard to try out new things. I'm kinda disappointed that many people wanna wipe out these two songs out of ayu's discography, because melody and arrangement wise they are really excellent.
Sigh... the thing is ayu doesn't wanna get rid of her mates (such as peco and princess, and no need to mention her guiltar/piano/other instruments players etc.). Sometimes I kinda wonder if this is why the arrangement getting restricted? 70% materials in the albums must have all of those elements so that her players can actually play at live. Her songs should include some other instruments rather thans essential 5 (or 6 or whatever how many people in her band).