You know... I feel that it has come to a point where she has realized she NEEDS a rest, which probably is why she went first in Kouhaku last year. She can't sing in multiple shows in the same night and then put up a countdown concert anymore. She just can't.
I think it's something like, do we need to lower our standards for Ayu whenever she sings live these days? Because that's what I'm doing, which is why I can say Rule @ Kouhaku was not bad, and teddy bear & RED LINE @ CDL 09-10 was all right as well.
Because... she has gotten worse in singing as compared to around 2005. You can't deny that. One of the videos that Andrenekoi posted... Moments @ Kouhaku. That was really beautiful, you could hear the tone of her voice... how gentle and warm, and she doesn't sound out of breath, nor does she sound burned or scratchy.
Maybe it's time we should be lowering our standards for Ayu...I've done that ever since Sunrise and I've been a happier fan.
