Max Matsuura and Ayu

[ayuuk]

I stumbled across Max Matsuura's blog and he had an article on how he met Ayu (if I understand the title?):
http://ameblo.jp/maxmatsuura/entry-10538972325.html

I was wondering if there is an English translation of this post? I have been google-searching for a while but couldn't find one.

[chocopockymaster]

Here's a translation I just did.

Originally Posted by How I Met Ayu

I've had a lot of questions about how Ayu and I met.

This is a thorough recollection from my point of view, so there may be some differences from how Ayu remembers it.

At that time I was 31, which would mean she was just about to turn 15. I was introduced to Ayu through some people that worked at Velfarre.

While hearing such trifling things as "She's in a drama (Miseinen)" and "She's going to release some songs soon", I remember saying to her, "Songs aren't something that can be sold so easily." I was so full of myself, though I hadn't amounted to anything.

After that, I don't know why, we ran into each other more frequently. Of course, I never imagined she would become the Ayu I know today. I made her sing at karaoke and I would up the key gradually to see how high her voice would come out, what kind of voice she had, if she was talented or not…I feel as if all these things were arbitrary.

We both began to contact each other more frequently. We would see each other from time to time, but I don't recall talking about work and things like that.

I vividly remember her telling me, "I stopped going to the jimusho (1) with my mom."
I had heard her talk about wanting to become a singer, but I hadn't taken her seriously. But when I heard that she gave up on the jimusho, the question, "What now?" came out of my mouth so naturally.

From that point on, we became partners in a three-legged race.

And once we had, I became more serious.
I spent my days coming up with a strategy for her debut. At the same time, my relationship with Komuro (Tetsuya) was deteriorating.

At that time, my most important mission was to create an avex without Komuro. In order to do that, I needed artists I could produce myself. That was right around the time of ELT (Every Little Thing)'s debut, and I immersed myself in that. Every Little Thing debuted in August of 1998. With their magnificent sales pushing me on, I focused all my energy on finding another artist to debut. And that was Ayu.

The January after ELT's debut, their third release "Dear My Friend" became a big hit. The summer their first album's sales surpassed 2 million copies, "For The Moment" and "Deatta koro no you ni" and other such hit singles came out one after the other. After that, singles such as "Time goes by" continued to be big hits, and when Ayu made her debut in April 1998, their second album was released. It sold over 4.5 million copies. And it only took a year and a half from their debut. It became my duty to fill the vacancy at the label that Komuro left.

On April 8, 1998, exactly a week before ELT would release their 4.5 million unit selling second album, Ayu made her debut.

It took slightly less than a year to prepare for her debut. I sent her to New York for lessons, believed that failure would not be tolerated, and wavered on how best to present her to the world. But all of my thoughts and worries were resolved when she said, "I definitely want to be a solo artist." I knew the difficulties faced by many solo artists and was worried, but made my peace and chose the more difficult road.

I dedicated myself to the task of pre-debut promotion, but the results were varied. I was told by friends in the television industry, "She won't sell anything. You'd be better off stopping now". My seniors at the company told me, "She doesn't have a face that many companies would be willing to sponsor." And there I was, with nothing but my frustration to spring me forward.

If that was how things stood, I would just have to change people's perceptions of what they wanted.

At the time, in the studio, Yasuhiko Hoshino's work composing songs was proceeding well. It was decided "poker face" would be the debut, and at the time of her debut there were over ten demos, and even four pieces to be used as singles were settled upon.

"poker face", the theme song for Countdown TV, debuted on April 8th. After that, we released one single every two months. The third single, "TRUST", entered the Top 10. It seemed to set a precedent, and the fourth single appeared in a Morinaga commercial. The fifth single, "Depend on You", also entered the Top 10, and her first album "A Song for X X", released January 1, 1999, went to the top of the Oricon Charts. Her place as a million-selling artist had been solidified. In July of that same year, "BOYS & GIRLS" sold over a million copies.

And everyone knows the rest of the story.

Footnote: 'jimusho' is usually used to refer to a corporation's office. Ayu saying to Max that she stopped going with her mother was probably a reference to Ayu dropping her pre-avex projects and marked the beginning of her career with Max.

[asmAyumi1992]

^Wow, thanks a lot ! I've never read that before!

[AyuGAME]

I has read it before, but i forget about it...
Nice for sharing it again...

[YUKARI]

thank you so much for the traslation!!!

[ayuuk]

@chocopockymaster: thank you so much! Can I post your translation to my blog with credits to you? ^.^

[chocopockymaster]

Sure thing!

[Aderianu]

thank you!
that was very interesting to read

[ren0210989]

wow, very nice, tnx or translatin

[ayuuk]

Originally Posted by chocopockymaster

Sure thing!

Thanks a lot again!

[rusuke]

Wow! Just wow!

thank you very much for the effort.

[toniayu]

thanks for the translation!!!This is so interesting *O*

[Sandy]

Wow, this was great to read! Never new the details Thank you <3

[Zemus]

Thanks for original source + translation. A great blog entry!

[Chibi-Chan]

I love this! Thanks for sharing!

[Deep snow]

Thank you very much for sharing the translation

[AyumiAi]

oh this was very cool to read thanks!

[Snickers]

That was really interesting. I didnt know the whole story ^^ Thanks for your hard work ^^

[Adi Loves Ayu]

Thx for sharing

[rossbarney2003]

Wow! This was an interesting read. I never expected people to say that she wouldn't sell. I bet they are kicking themselves now lol.

Thank you so much for sharing =)