I find the high contrast between AKB48 and Ayumi Hamasaki very jarring (couldn't come up with a better word). It just goes to show how time can change what's trendy.
One of the things that has always defined Ayumi Hamasaki for me is that she is mysterious and edgy. Her lyrics for my name is WOMAN best describe it for me. She is this cute, one-man/woman army, with a whole lot of awesome packed in. (technically not a one woman army though, considering her staff....>.>)
I think when a huge group of people have been looking to Ayu as their #1 singer, it makes total sense why AKB48 doesn't exactly blend well.
la la la
I could honestly say that I just don't get AKB48, but I guess there are some who do.
I have such mixed views on the music industry, though. >.< Sometimes (especially here in the US), I think the music industry is just total BS. It's all about image. Shock factor, and what not....(I'll stop before getting extremely off topic...>.<)