The FIVE era concepts analysis thread!

[Andrenekoi]

Overall guide-lines:

-The intention of this thread is discussing the concepts of Ayu's several releases, analysing the lyrics, the music, the visual, the videos and the tour concept.

-Everyone's insights about the concept of an era is welcome!

-Please, let's avoid the "this era rocked"/"this era sucked" stuff.

-And remember, when it's about the interpretation of a creative work, there's no right and wrong, just different impressions. Offenses towards another member discussing the subject will be reported.

Other Threads:
GUILTY
NEXT LEVEL
Rock’n’Roll Circus
Love Songs
Party Queen
LOVE again
Colours
A one
M(A)DE IN JAPAN


FIVE (you can download it here)









1. progress
2. ANother song feat. URATA NAOYA
3. Why... feat. JUNO
4. beloved
5. BRILLANTE

FIVE was Ayu's 2nd mini-album, released in 2011. It was released having the 2011 Fukushima disaster in mind, leading to Ayu not moving to the USA like she planned at the time and to the HOTEL Love songs tour being postponed and changed by the POWER of MUSIC. Both the EP and the Tour have a strong "back to basics" feel to them, putting most of experimentation and extravaganza aside for a more straightfoward and music-focused aproach.


LYRICS (from here, and another take here)

progress

Spoiler:

The time when I feared the simple days is long gone
Now I know it’s the complicated days that are sad

It’s not that I want to go back, it’s just that my desire to believe
Is crying out behind me, and I know it’s not wrong

We’re carving out the same time, believe in the same future
Yesterday’s tears and today’s smiles are both true

We’ve felt the same pain and brought the same tenderness
And we’ll turn it into the strength to live tomorrow

If all the battles I fought in that time and place
Were so that I could choose what I have now

Then maybe the reason I want to forgive the past
That I left behind and looked away from because I couldn’t face it
Is because I want to be forgiven myself?

The time when we could just be free is long gone
It takes more than innocent smiles through these times

But we’ll move on, we’ll keep moving on
Because we still have the will to believe in something

Yeah, we haven’t asked for much so far
And we won’t in the future

We’re carving out the same time, believe in the same future
Yesterday’s tears and today’s smiles are both true

We’ve felt the same pain and brought the same tenderness
And we’ll turn it into the strength to live tomorrow

ANother song feat. URATA NAOYA

Spoiler:

But, but, we’ve
Always resented the person next to us
And, and, we’ve
Lost sight of things because they were too close

My reflection in the window
Is so pathetic that it annoys me
But I can’t turn back the time
I miss you...

I loved you so much it was sad
I was hopelessly in love with you
That summer day is far away now
But I’ll sing another song and pray that it reaches you

Eventually, eventually, we
Realised only when it was too late
That’s why, that’s why we
Were crying as we smiled

Will we meet again
At the end of these winding roads?
I have stupid dreams like that and it makes me
Miss u so bad...

I loved you all through yesterday
And I loved you all day today
I’m sure I’ll still love you tomorrow
And so I’ll sing another song to you

Whose side are you by now
And how are you looking at that person?
I still can’t get used to
Spending my days
Without you

I loved you so much it was sad
I was hopelessly in love with you
That summer day is far away now
But I’ll sing another song and pray that it reaches you

I loved you all through yesterday
And I loved you all day today
I’m sure I’ll still love you tomorrow
And so I’ll sing another song to you

I’m sorry, I’m still in love with you
Maybe it’s mean of me, but I love you
Even though that summer day is far away now
I’ll sing another song and pray that it reaches you

That it reaches you...you...

Why... feat. JUNO

Spoiler:

What has changed in all the time that’s gone by since then?
What was I trying to avoid when I distanced myself from you?

When I backed off a little so I wouldn’t hurt you
Was it actually so I wouldn’t get hurt?

Even though we’re far apart, I can still hear
You calling my name

No matter where I go
I look for your back

Why didn’t I tell you more
About how much I missed you and how lonely I was?
I didn’t even know the difference between kindness and selfishness

It wasn’t the number of words we exchanged with our eyes
That made it special

Maybe if I’d thrown away my pride
Things would be different now

How many times did I try to say “I love you”
And find myself unable to say it?
How much stronger should I have been?

The dreams we shared, the future we promised each other
Since that day, they blurred little by little until I lost sight of them

I tried to reach out but I couldn’t get anywhere near you
Why... wow

Why didn’t I tell you more
About how much I missed you and how lonely I was?
I didn’t even know the difference between kindness and selfishness

How many times did I try to say “I love you”
And find myself unable to say it?
How much stronger should I have been?

beloved

Spoiler:

Yesterday, once again, I couldn’t walk properly
And I flung words around and hurt someone

And so today my name is mud
And I’m hanging my head to avoid the cold looks

Please, how do I look to you?
How do I come off?
Please, I want you at least to tell me the truth
And tell me off when I’m wrong

I want you to just be there, be there for me
Just as you are, never changing
I’ll never be able to change and my smile is awkward
But let me stay by your side, by your side, as I am

Maybe I can have some hope for myself tomorrow
I’ll resolutely turn up the corners of my mouth

Please, am I still a joke?
Am I still not enough?
Please, I want you at least to show me the truth
And laugh off my silliness

Do you still remember
The dreams we talked about that night?
They haven’t faded at all, to this day
They’re still vivid, ruling my heart

Please, I want you at least to praise me
Even if everyone else rejects me

I want you to just be there, be there for me
Just as you are, never changing
I’ll never be able to change and my smile is awkward
But let me stay by your side, by your side, as I am

Please, you know the truth
That I’m not really that strong
I don’t have anything I can do for you
But I’m always embracing your heart

BRILLANTE

Spoiler:

I’ve decided that these will be
My last words of love for you

I won’t tell you why
That’s my greatest gift to you

People are much stronger than they think
I’ve been in the dark a little too long
But I’ll go soon

After I couldn’t see anything
I could see everything
The road ahead is too narrow
I have no choice but to walk it alone

When our pain goes too far beyond
The realm of our imagination

We don’t have the strength left
To cry or scream anymore
And we’re overcome by total nothingness

Two become one
And then one becomes two again, that’s all
We’re just back where we started

After I couldn’t see anything
I could see everything
The road ahead is too narrow
So I can’t walk with you anymore...

BOOKLET (from here)

Spoiler:

PV's

Spoiler:

~POWER of MUSIC~ 2011 A LIMITED EDITION (you can download it here)