Originally Posted by freedreamer
Maybe I'm thinkin a bit too much but this album seems to really convey a story (no pun intended)
WARNING is definitely a front put up by Ayu. She sounds like she is super strong, she's the boss. She says she is herself only and this marks the start of the ALONE theme.
NO FUTURE gradually becomes more subtle in terms of love. It feels like she is struggling with her emotions and she wants, yet doesn't want, to be in love. She isn't ready to face it, or so it sounds like.
Anything for You seems like, she has finally accepted love and is willing to 'sacrifice' herself to protect that someone, giving it her all.
Yet, Last minute suddenly..things took a turn and the person has left? And she is in a struggle. There is a lot of tension within the song and it builds up.
Zutto..now this song, for me, seems to be like Ayu is calling out to that person. She knows that FOREVER is something that is too much and is in her healing process.
And as she heals, it's as though, she slowly loses that sadness, (jaded maybe?) in Out of control. She tries to smile but she probably still misses that person so much. At the same time, the loneliness is overwhelming her at this point.
Then in Story, the lyrics, though sad but reflects and reminisces but her words are no longer about hurt and she comes to accept that 2 people have become like strangers. Maybe back to being acquaintances.
The GIFT sees her finding new love possibly because the lyrics are more uplifting and it is definitely a sweet love song.
Yet here comes The Show Must Go On. The lyrics speak of a new start, constantly going on a journey. And yes, the song is for her fans but let's look at it this way. "The Show Must Go On" because no matter what personal struggles Ayu has had, she will continue putting out and look after her fans. No matter how sad she feels in life, she will continue pushing forward. And part of me feels like, Ayu is saying her life IS A "SHOW". She is a star, her life is always in the spotlight. And the "SHOW" here could also mean a facade. No matter how much tears she shed, she will smile even though she is sad.
And then the album concludes with Walk, being the most reflective piece of the album. Walk's lyrics speak of "that person" and I wonder if Ayu is referring to herself from before. Though she is more certain, yet also perplexed by life. But she knows she will continue going forward still.
The album is beautiful. Musically it flows and lyrically too. I believe Party Queen's album had such a story in mind. And I respected that concept of being seen as Party Queen -> being broken on the inside. Here, Ayu seems to write about it again but it seems stronger this time.
If Party Queen was about the conflict between reality and the surface, then in A ONE, it goes right to the core of being ALONE.
|