Looking for Ayu's best performances to study~

[Chibi_Venus]

(I hope this is in the right section...)

Hey, AHS, I need your help! As a musician, I'm striving to learn as much as I can about the voice day by day. This not only includes me learning correct technique and such, but listening to other singers as well. So, I would like to study Ayu's voice a little more. This includes trying to figure out her placement, listening to her vibrato (lawlz) and straight tone, phrasing (even though she sings in another language), etc.

What I need from you guys is to list what YOU think are Ayumi's best live performances. I can't listen to a studio version, as so many things can be tweaked in the studio. Even though some live recordings (like from her concerts) can be tweaked, they're more help than a studio recording.

So. You can list ANY performance you want! TV, concert, from any year, as I would like to watch the change in her vocals throughout the years.

Remember, this is all about YOUR opinions! Don't list performances you think other people (including myself) would like. This is all about you!

YouTube links are more than welcome! If they are unavailable or you don't want to/can't post links to these performances, that is perfectly fine!! Just list them and I can look for them (or watch them if I have the DVD! haha) on my own.

Hope to hear some replies! I will thank you all when I'm famous!! (I'm totally just kidding, but I will REALLY appreciate any and everyone's help! )

[noisy_harmony]

Her voice was very solid during CDL 2000-2001 IMO. I'd recommend SEASONS perf the most, she sounded almost like in studio version, what doesn't happen often to her.



I know people are gonna say: HANABI @ a-nation '05, so... go for it too!
Also:
- any A Song for xx performance during A BEST promotion
- haru yo koi
- Memorial address at MUSIC STATION (A BEST 2 era) - I was impressed, she did great!
- HAPPY ENDING @ Arena Tour 2005
- rainy day @ Arena Tour 2006

[Andrenekoi]

U can download the TV Special for Ayu performances... they pick their favorite performances from all of her tours until At08 =)

It can be found on the download area

[gallowsCalibrator]

Oooh fun!! Good luck~!!

Here are my favorites

teddy bear & Memorial address AT03-04
evolution AT07
NEXT LEVEL AT09
teddy bear CDL09-10
Mirrorcle World AT08
HEAVEN CDL 05-06

those are just off the top of my head; if I look through my videos I could add more (^_^) They are my favorites~~~

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

HANABI at a-nation '05

[Polyrhythm]

If you really want to be a singer....Ayu isn't really the person to study. She's just not a great vocalist.

[primavera♥]

i would be a band student and only work with instruments. so idk what to think of me understanding singing techniques. but here . . .

HAPPY ENDING AT05 MY STORY


she uses a lot of vibrato in this performance of teens. i like this strangely
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKCor...eature=related

talkin' 2 myself AT08 - it has its good moments.


Startin' AT06 - definitely one of my favs.


im to lazy to go back into her old performances but i really liked NEVER EVER at i think it was Dome Tour(?). . .

[Crystal_Ageha]

Originally Posted by Polyrhythm

If you really want to be a singer....Ayu isn't really the person to study. She's just not a great vocalist.

This isn't necessarily true. For one thing, Ayu has some of the greatest crescendos I've ever heard, and she also puts the perfect amount of emotion into her singing. These two things are great to look at. And besides, a good singer (over time, of course) can sort out which techniques are right or wrong, and she can use a bad singer to better herself, even. Being a great singer is all about constant practice and experimenting. And so for this reason, you shouldn't just look at the best of the best, but also the average or even the terrible, if only to see what not to do, and to try and figure out exactly what it is that makes that person not as talented as others. For example, after studying singers, myself, I can actually tell exactly what it is that Ayu does wrong sometimes. And also what she does right. I can tell reasons why her voice may be deteriorating, and also why so many people are somehow drawn to her singing. But I would have never been able to tell all these things if I only looked at and listened to the greatest of singers.

[prussian blue]

Originally Posted by Polyrhythm

If you really want to be a singer....Ayu isn't really the person to study. She's just not a great vocalist.

I totally agree with this.

Yes she puts emotion in her songs, she puts so much energy, but she's kinda over doing it which is... not professional in my opinion. And her live, look at the TV version of the show, some of them is really horrible. I'm not blaming at her shortage, but she's definitely not a good one for you to learn with.

try Misia or KOKIA

[chloeM]

strong vocals? kiss o' kill from Asia Tour 2007
nice performance? 1 LOVE from Asia Tour 2007...

those are really nice performances~!

[Polyrhythm]

Oh just to clarify what I posted....please understand that what I'm saying Ayu isn't a great vocalist....I'm not trying to bash her. I LOVE watching Ayu sing. I feel the emotion she gives....she's very talented in being able to give a heartfelt performance....when I watch Ayu.....I dont cringe....I'm appreciative of her....determination I would say. However...that still doesnt make her a good vocalist.

[Chibi_Venus]

Thanks for the links so far, you guys!

As for the discussion on Ayu being a good vocalist or not... I do have to agree with the fact that she isn't the best vocalist out there. I know for a fact that she does some things incorrectly, but I do still love her, as everyone here does. And by me studying her voice, I just meant that she's someone I want to intently listen to more now that I'm learning more about the voice. Of course I'm not going to use her voice for inspiration for mine. In fact, I won't use anybody's; I should be original, right!

I should've clarified, lol my baddd! Not that I feel like anybody here is bashing me or Ayu. No hard feelings at all!

I'm listening to any and all singers I know really well, but just never got a chance to listen to the real stuff behind the voice. What I love is only the scratched surface of what really lies beneath. (lol?)

[Crystal_Ageha]

I wasn't necessarily saying she's good, either, other than emotion and crescendos, hah. (But she's certainly not terrible, either, let alone the worst or anything.) But like I was saying, you guys should understand that it's not for the best to only look at the MISIAs and KOKIAs of the world. Being able to understand average and even bad techniques are just as important. Also, many people actually prefer to learn a pop or rock style; considering the best singers very rarely use the mainstream styles, you'll want to study more average singers for that, too. And as Chibi said, herself, she's just trying to understand the singing voice in general, and she's absolutely correct in doing so.

[ayufan-]

here are a few from my favorite preformence, i have a lot maore, but that would be to mnay so here a small selection:
Game - 2005 powerfull song and good preformence


Haru Yo Koi(cover song) - 2003 my alltime favorite, i only like Ayu's version


Secret - 2007 good vocals i think, nice song and good lyrics


To Be - 2009 i like the song only here, here she don't have the really high voice she has in the music video

[hpg23]

Originally Posted by Crystal_Ageha

This isn't necessarily true. For one thing, Ayu has some of the greatest crescendos I've ever heard, and she also puts the perfect amount of emotion into her singing. These two things are great to look at. And besides, a good singer (over time, of course) can sort out which techniques are right or wrong, and she can use a bad singer to better herself, even. Being a great singer is all about constant practice and experimenting. And so for this reason, you shouldn't just look at the best of the best, but also the average or even the terrible, if only to see what not to do, and to try and figure out exactly what it is that makes that person not as talented as others. For example, after studying singers, myself, I can actually tell exactly what it is that Ayu does wrong sometimes. And also what she does right. I can tell reasons why her voice may be deteriorating, and also why so many people are somehow drawn to her singing. But I would have never been able to tell all these things if I only looked at and listened to the greatest of singers.

I loved this post. Can you please list the things you said you could? I'm really interested! (specially what's in bold)

[azntennisbuff]

My favorite Ayu performance, BY FAR, is when she performed I am... as the opener of the Arena Tour 2002. The vocals in this song are amazing, and becuase the first 8 measures are acapella, you can really hear the vibrato and strength in her voice.

[Crystal_Ageha]

Originally Posted by hpg23

I loved this post. Can you please list the things you said you could? I'm really interested! (specially what's in bold)

Well, as for what she's doing wrong, there's actually a fairly big list, and it differs pretty widely depending on what time period we're talking about, hah..... But things like, whenever she does that real high pitched trademark 'EEEEEE' sound [lol], that's terrible on your voice. I can tell she's clenching up her throat muscles and restricting air flow. This could easily wear down the vocal chords. Also, she obviously has had trouble with breath support different times over her career. The worst was, of course, towards the very beginning (look at poker face lives), and also the end of last year (evolution...). But she also had some troubles in her vocal 'peak', around 2005. In her MY STORY concert, for example, she cut her notes short a lot, and it wasn't very professional or ideal....
And why are people drawn to her voice? Mostly because it's incredibly unique, I assume. Like, for me, her earlier voice was really annoying (^^'), but at the same time, it made me stop and listen. And eventually, it was almost like I was addicted to it, lol! XP But yeah. Everything about her voice stands out, and not just her actual voice. The way she's always kinda shouted, or those trademark screeches, or the crazy vibratos, hahah... For better or for worse (usually for worse :\), she's always used...techniques, I guess you could say, that stand out immensely. Also, as people always point out, she's usually really emotional and can connect with her fans when she sings, so this is a huge draw-in. Not everybody has such charisma that flows even through their vocals, but Ayumi does.

There's more to each of those, but this should be saved for another topic, I suppose. ^^'

[hpg23]

^Thank you. I agree about her charisma, she really oozes it, and I think it's the main reason behind her success. Apart from singing, she just feels the stage with her presence, just standing there. She truly has star quality. The performances posted here are great, btw, HAPPY ENDING is so, so well performed. Singing perfectly and also acting and living through the performance.

[Picaflor 7/4]

this is by far one of her best performances ever (vocally).

[alternarist]

my name's WOMEN AT05 and A Song for XX a-nation '08 are good performances with great vocals in my opinion..