Opinions on Ayu's music and voice

hiro · #1 22nd February 2004, 05:23 PM

I've noticed that as a fan of Ayumi, I'm one of the only people in this forum who has dissaproved of her works. Especially the ones from the previous year.

I was just wondering, does anyone in this forum find her 2003 singles revolting? I dont like the direction her music is taking. I think it's becoming too sugary and ordinary (eg Voyage, forgiveness, greatful days....). I've been cringing at her voice ever since she switched to that way too nasally, cutesy singing style. Also, doesnt anyone think she sings way too high for her range? I've noticed there is usually a big difference in pitch when she sings live. Her voice sounds deeper and more resonant (see End Roll, Surreal, and M @ 2003 Stadium). But when she tries to sing in a higher pitch she sounds very awkward and way too nasal (see Boys and Girls and Trauma live).

I was wondering if i am truly alone in my thoughts about Ayumi. I know there are some people who think like me (Prismatic Tears and Chibina) but is there anyone else? I can never agree with the majority of people in this forum.

tl1029530921 · #2 22nd February 2004, 05:30 PM

i actuaslly enjoyed many of the singles, tons of great tracks like Ourselves and Because of You. I was pretty pleased with 2003, and now shes opening up 2004 with another great song, Moments..^^

***nmskalmn*** · #3 22nd February 2004, 05:36 PM

I think Ayu's 2003 was much better than her 2002.

AfanforXX · #4 22nd February 2004, 05:40 PM

2000 and 2001 kicked all other years

Unimatrix Prime™ · #5 22nd February 2004, 05:45 PM

I think she began to "lose" it after the days of Ayu-mi-x 4 and Free&Easy. While I wouldn't say that her voice and music were horrible, I didn't feel as connected to her music as I once did. For a woman her age, I'd imagine her to sound a bit more mature. It's not so say that "cute is bad", but she's 25 and still has that somewhat nasally voice when singing something like Trauma. If anything, I think her voice sounded a bit more mature when she was a teen (check out her voice during the Swimsuit video, as well as some of her performances like "Moon") than in the songs Hiro noted. Then again, that's just me.

CT_Cool · #6 22nd February 2004, 06:04 PM

hmm i like her stuff from 2003, but i only just became a ayu fan not to along ago in last year. But when i look a bac in her old songs i think they sound really great. over all i like most of her work.

Larisa-chan · #7 22nd February 2004, 06:05 PM

I pretty much agree with Jose

but Ayu's voice can sound quite nice.. like in Memorial Address <3 She has been singing with a deeper voice now and I think most of the times it sounds good. She sounded the worst when she released A Song for XX. I never understood why she had to sing in such a voice because before she released that album her voice sounded quite pleasant o.o

The sound of her music seems to be less original than before.. like with songs such as Real Me, Greatful Days and Ourselves -.- As much as I love Because of You, even that sort of music doesn't sound original...

Chrono · #8 22nd February 2004, 06:15 PM

2003 was definately the worst year of ayu. undenyable. Memorial adress was the worst album of all. I don't say it's bad and not worth listening to, but it is nowhere near the level of what it used to be.

also the new song, moments, i don't really like it. to cheesy.. to sugary, like hiro said.

My favorite albums are still a song for xx and loveppears. i also almost don't listen to the new songs... usually it stops at rainbow. rainbow was still ok, but after that.... greatful days.. *yuck*. that's one of the worst songs (in general) i ever heard. imo it's time that ayu's music grows up a little bit... the morning musume period is over i think. that women is 25, and still acts like a 16 year old high schooler...

about het voice... it's no good. i've always said that, and i will keep saying that, cause she has no pre-birth physical capabilities. her throat is not shaped to become a great singer. though through practicing alot, i have to admit her singing has improved, but it is still no way near real singers. Almost every single performance she's off key...

though i criticise her singing and music alot, i still remain fan. But being fan doesn't just mean saying everything ayu does is right and good. her turn in music style is the biggest mistake she made in her career (except for growing her hair. damnit! cut it off and paint it black again!)

(btw hiro, don't i know you from another ayu forum?)

***ImpactBreaker*** · #9 22nd February 2004, 06:31 PM

Honestly I never bothered to Ayu changing her voicce.....a lot of people say it has grown very different from her older times, I honestly never noticed that much difference at all...I guess the differences weren't enough to bother me at all but they were great enough to bother other people. I can't say I'm the same fanatic I was in the past but the reason is because in the past I could listen to new songs of hers almost everyday since she had way too many stuff for me to look for......right now I have to await for something new and so far she hasn't really released something that made me go *ewww this sucks*, the opposite, I still think she puts out great songs.

Seiferz · #10 22nd February 2004, 06:33 PM

As for me, I think her music and voice is getting better around 2002 when she released Duty and I am seem to be her best album so~far. * well not every song is good *. And Rainbow is Only Lost on her vocal not the music itself.I do think song like HANABI , Dolls , July 1st , Independent , Voyage and Heartplace is a Good song. Only the vocal make it worse.

Piccolo · #11 22nd February 2004, 06:42 PM

There is nothing wrong with her singing voice now. It's not as high and kinda squeaky when she started, but it's still perfectly fine. Sure, sometimes her voice is a little strange in her concerts, but lets see how well you can sing after performing for a couple hours non stop. How are the new songs cheesy and sugary? I don't really understand what you guys mean. If you mean an upbeat song that sounds happy, then you guys must have had your ears plugged during her previous songs that that are also upbeat and happy sounding.

Chrono · #12 22nd February 2004, 07:06 PM

i don't think you can name one song is like greatful days. that sugary happy stuff was maybe in one of het old songs (not that i can remember of), but definately not as frequent now...

plus, about how well she sings after a couple of hours:

1) i'm not a singer, ayu is
2) real singers, like chinese anita mui, can sing whole concerts, without a single note off key. that was a real singer. ayu is nothing compared to her.

hiro · #13 22nd February 2004, 07:31 PM

about het voice... it's no good. i've always said that, and i will keep saying that, cause she has no pre-birth physical capabilities. her throat is not shaped to become a great singer. though through practicing alot, i have to admit her singing has improved, but it is still no way near real singers. Almost every single performance she's off key...

Well i think Ayu's vocal problems lie in the fact she sings way too high for her range. That's why she's cracks and goes off-key a lot b/c she was not meant to sing in that way. You can tell because she has to resort to being all nasal and ppl with naturally high pitched voices dont have to do that. I'd bet that she'd do so much beter if she sang using lower registers as someone once said. Then, people (like Chrono) would take her more seriously as a singer.

PS: How do you know her throat is not shaped to become a singer? Have you seen xrays of her throat? Not to make fun of you but i find the comment really amusing. Also, for most performers their performance level goes down after dancing, running around, and singing for hours. It's expected.

PickleCookies · #14 22nd February 2004, 07:42 PM

I don't have a problem with her new music. I like her new songs as well as her old ones. But I do listen to the old ones more.

I always liked Greatful days. I don't know why you people don't like it. Is it too 'generic' sounding?

hiro · #15 22nd February 2004, 07:46 PM

Well i cant really explain to people how cutesy a song is if they dont see it as cutesy and cloying (way too sweet). I guess we just have different standards. In short, i find songs like Greatful days, Angel's Song just too poppy. The old Ayu had some attitude and a nice melancholic quality to her sound but it just stopped after Free and Easy starting with Voyage.

I wonder if Ayu was forced to change her style after I am or maybe it was just her decision.

PickleCookies · #16 22nd February 2004, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hiro
Well i cant really explain to people how cutesy a song is if they dont see it as cutesy and cloying (way too sweet). I guess we just have different standards. In short, i find songs like Greatful days, Angel's Song just too poppy. The old Ayu had some attitude and a nice melancholic quality to her sound but it just stopped after Free and Easy starting with Voyage.

I wonder if Ayu was forced to change her style after I am or maybe it was just her decision.

You didn't like RAINBOW? That was my favourite song for so long. Until I heard Endless sorrow.

hiro · #17 22nd February 2004, 08:05 PM

RAINBOW the song and RAINBOW the album werent too good.

After a dissapointing year and what looks to be another dissapointing year, I think ill stop following Ayu's music. Just for a while i guess. I'll always remember her fondly before she released Voyage. ~_~

PickleCookies · #18 22nd February 2004, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hiro
RAINBOW the song and RAINBOW the album werent too good.

After a dissapointing year and what looks to be another dissapointing year, I think ill stop following Ayu's music. Just for a while i guess. I'll always remember her fondly before she released Voyage. ~_~

What about HANABI and forgiveness? Those are some nice ballads.

I never liked HANABI the cd version. I love HANABI Stadium Tour version.

Coelacanth · #19 22nd February 2004, 09:28 PM

You know i'm really sick of trying to defend the Rainbow album, so I won't even try...

All I can say is it was an excellent album.

squirty · #20 22nd February 2004, 09:53 PM

I don't think 2003 was a total disaster... what about No way to say? That was very good, but I have to agree, RAINBOW just wasn't up to par. I think a lot of it is because I am... was just such a good album, it really had a great vibe. It's kind of like Michael Jackson when he released Thriller, everything else afterwards just didn't do as well because Thriller was just so good.

It's very obvious to me, (being a music person all the way around) that Hamasaki is an alto. I'm always finding that her voice sounds excellent when she sings in a lower register, which is why I really liked Memorial Address and Because of You. Songs like ANGEL'S SONG and Greatful days, while the meaning of the song is good, the way it's executed isn't as nice as it could be. And her voice when she was teenager and doing Idol on Stage was so beautiful, I also have to wonder why she changed it? Perhaps avex is making her do so, which I can see, because a nasal voice is more marketable than a smoother voice.

I still like Two of Us best.