[Zeke.]

Is anyone familiar with the concept of "mono no aware"? I believe it is the basic theme for the trilogy "vogue-Far away-SEASONS", and actually is a very reoccurrent theme in Ayus lyrics overall ("It Was" comes to mind as well, and I believe the Island Mix really enhances the feeling of mono no aware").

"Literally 'the pathos of things' and also translated as 'an empathy toward things,' or 'a sensitivity to ephemera (things that exist or are used/enjoyed for only a short time), mono no aware is a Japanese term for the awareness of impermanence, or the transience of things, and both a transient gentle sadness (or wistfulness) at their passing as well as a longer, deeper gentle sadness about this state being the reality of life"

Anyways, I realized impermanence is the theme across these three songs, and the video emulates that theme.
The covers as well (vogue being the moment, Far away being the end of it, and SEASONS being the reflection of the entire experience)

For example, vogue begins with:

You bloom fully;
a beautiful open flower.
After that your petals
will just silently fall.

Far away speaks from the perspective of a rather recent heartache, when the life-cycle of a relationship and/or series of moments has come to an end.

Together, these two songs transmit coming into existence, and disappearance.

SEASONS then encapsulates the concept of "mono no aware". It transmits the experience of it all - the happiness, AND the gentle sadness that lingers - the birth and death of each moment, and the feeling it leaves behind (drawing parallels to the seasons and how one individually has a birth and death, and together can be viewed as one birth, spring, through death, winter). Memories fading after the passing of seasons, but in the moment, feeling as if those times would last forever, and being naive to the transience of things.

It closes out with the following lines (two separate translations):

How much time must pass by, in this finite existence of ours?
Well live in the now, and what will we find?

These seasons come again and again,
And we are living in a time that will eventually come to an end,
And what will we find?"

I think it is very much in line with the concept of "mono no aware" and the composition of the song even reflects that. And since it is so in line with that concept, which Japanese have a clear understanding of, as its heavily engrained within their culture and aesthetic, probably why it resonated with so many people and remains one of her biggest hits. Which for her has probably taken on new meaning as she still performs it now when appearing on television, with the impermanence aspect probably reflecting more so the state of her super stardom.

You can even go so far as including "ever free" within this concept, as it was included on the vogue single. It too, falls in line with the sadness of transient things and impermanence. All things have a temporary nature, and that's just the way things are.
http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/mono-no-aware