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Okay, I haven't read every single post, but I have read most of them, and what bothers me most is the people saying that all her music sounds exactly the same......
Are you serious??? Every single song sounds the same--Or, every song of a certain sub genre sounds exactly the same? Somebody above said that Because of You and Rule and 1 LOVE all sound the same, because they are dark rock (which, it's actually dark POP rock, of course, at best).... Are you ****ing serious!? Several other people have said similar things...
You guys must just not like that sub genre, then, or at least not those songs, because, for example, those three songs CERTAINLY do not sound alike. Nothing is the same, other than the freakin' guitar. They don't even have the same themes. Some of her songs, of course, do have similar chords or instruments or whatever, but she has a crap load of songs, so a few seasonal songs sounding similar to one another, out of how freakin' many, is not a big deal. Even Sunrise, one of her newest songs - and a seasonal one, at that, sounds distinct from, say, fairyland or BLUE BIRD. And You were... does remind me of No way to say, but no way would I confuse them...............Unless, I just hated her ballades, or never really took the time to listen to them.
I think some people's problems are, a lot of you just don't like pop anymore, at least not regular pop. (Or maybe you never really did, you just liked Ayumi? Whatever, I don't know.) And in general, that's what Ayumi is. Granted, she's one of the most experimental singers I've ever seen - even though she's always pop, she has incorporated every other genre various times, as well - but in the end, Ayumi is still pop.
So maybe you guys should not only try a different singer, but a different music style all together, and stop hating on something just because it isn't your taste. Specifically, try listening to hip-hop more often, because that's what most of you seem to like best, especially Western hip-hop. I mean, you go on to say that Kumi's Hashire! pretty much sucks balls, yet ECSTASY is one of her best songs ever. Or, TABOO is, not Butterfly. Or you say that Namie's new album (which I actually like and think is a very fun and catchy album--this is coming from somebody who hates her with a passion, by the way) isn't that great, after listening to it a few times, but Queen of Hip-Pop is amazing. Coincidentally, a lot of you tend to LOVE what the Western fanbase would love (heavy beats, regular rock, whatever), and hate anything that would be Japanese-pop-y-stuff. Which, a lot of you are Western, so this is natural. But for the love of God, it's so annoying to see you constantly bash something, simply because it's obviously not your taste. At least admit it, and then things wouldn't be so bad.
In response to the topic, I don't necessarily think she's lost her touch. I am annoyed by the recycled performances (not costumes), but whatever. I'm a fan because of her music, and because of her, not her performances. I also think it seems as though she's having great problems in her personal life, as far as: she definitely needs a break, and is obviously a workaholic; she may be having even deeper issues, as well.
But I loved NEXT LEVEL. identity, Days and Sparkle are three of my all-time favourite songs. She changed things up a bit, but kept that Ayu-feel. And her music is still good, even with the past few singles. (No, I'm not big on Sunrise, but it certainly isn't bad, and You were... has become one of my favourite Ayu ballades, so no problem there.)
I think you guys are overreacting a bit, with this "lost it" thing. :\ Something is a little off, I'll admit it... But she's not gone. Not to me, at least, and obviously not to all her true fans, who don't run into the ground every single thing she's ever done the past five years... (Really, hasn't she done at least a few things you've approved of..? If not, maybe it's time to move on, guys...)
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