Japanese Media Addresses Ayu's Voice

[maikaru]

It seems like her recent TV appearances, and I could say Countdown Live has made a big impression on the media about her voice, and it's not a good thing. I will put two news articles that talk about her voice, and public reaction. The original Text is in the quotes

Originally Posted by Livedoor: The way of singing is too much! The vocal skills of Kouhaku's Top Batter, Hamasaki Ayumi

今年60回を迎えた紅白歌合戦。トップバッターを飾った浜崎あゆみだが、その歌声に耳を疑ってしまった。先 日生放送で声が出なくなったことを公式ホームページ謝罪したばかりだが、この日の歌声も歌手としてはちょっ と・・・といった感じだった。

この日トップバッターで歌った浜崎あゆみの歌声は無理に声を出している感じがして、はっきり言うと聞きづら かった。こういう歌い方をしないと声が出ないのだろうかと思えるほどだった。

浜崎の歌声については以前から、「声が出ていない」とか、「ひどい歌声」などいろいろ言われていた。特に生 放送の歌番組に出演したときに声が出なくなったり、声が通らなかったりとファンからも「ここまで声が出なく なってるなんて」と嘆きの声なども寄せられていた。

紅白でも視聴率合戦とは関係ない時間帯に歌わせられた感じで、もう浜崎の時代も本当に終わったといった感じ だった。唯一の救いは、浜崎の後にEXILEが歌ったことだろうか。人気歌手を相手に持ってきたことで、浜 崎を見捨てたわけではないことをアピールできる。

しかし、この日の浜崎の歌声を聞くかぎり、昔の”歌姫”の面影はもうなかった。
（TechinsightJapan編集部　MAKI）

Kouhaku's, which reached it's 60th broadcast, top batter of the night was the impressive Hamasaki Ayumi, but no one could believe the sound they heard from her voice. She had just finished apologizing for the performance the other day where her voice didn't come out, but her singing voice this day, as an artist was also a "..." kind of feeling.

It seemed that this top batter was forcing her voice out of her, and if we say it directly, it was hard to listen to. However, if she doesnt use this voice, would her voice be able to come out?

From before, people have been saying that "her voice won't come out" or "that singing voice is so awful," to the point where even her fans have been saying "I didn't even think her voice went this far" after her voice didn't come out on live broadcast.

They put her in a time slot where ratings don't matter, which made us think that the era of Hamasaki Ayumi is finally and truly over. The only saving grace was that EXILE performed right after her. The fact that these famous singers were partners and did not abandon her was the only appealing factor.

However, if we listen just to this day's voice, there was already no trace of the Singing Queen of the past.

Originally Posted by J-CAST: 'As a singer, this was my worst' Hamasaki's Shocking Blog Confession

歌手の浜崎あゆみさん(31)に何が起きているのだろうか。出演した歌番組で、声が出なくなるようなシーン が相次ぎ、ネットで騒動になっている。そして、自身のブログで上手く歌えなかった事を振り返り、「歌い手と して、自分的に最低でした。とにかく、悔しいです」などと告白したのだ。

パワフルな歌声と高い歌唱力でファンを魅了してきた浜崎あゆみさん。しかし、2009年12 月15日に日本テレビ系で放送された特別番組「音楽の祭典ベストアーティスト2009」では少し勝手が違っ た。声を出すのが苦しそうに見え、音程が安定せず、ノリも今ひとつだった。大ヒット曲｢evolution ｣(エヴォリューション)の場面では、声が出なくなり、カメラに背を向けた。そして、苦笑いの表情を浮かべ 「ゴメン！！」と叫んだ。
「何も言い訳はしません。とにかく、悔しいです」

浜崎さんは「ベストアーティスト2009」のステージについて、翌日の2009年12月16日付けのファン クラブ専用ブログで、

「歌い手として、自分的に最低でした｡。。。何も言い訳はしません。とにかく、悔しいです。ごめんなさい｡ まだまだ勉強が足りないようです｡ホント､私､しっかりしなきゃ!!!!!!!」

と書き、ファンに謝った。

そして、「自分は歌を歌わなければならないし、歌を伝えなければならない。それが自分の存在意義であり、安 心して楽しめるステージを創っていけるようにこれからも頑張りたい」としている。

もっとも、「あゆの声が出なくなっている」とネットで言われ始めたのは1年以上も前からだ。

ネットでは今回の浜崎さんの件で衝撃が広がっている。Q&Aサイト「ヤフー！知恵袋」には09年12月15 日に「最近の浜崎あゆみさんは見ていて痛々しいです。みなさんはどう思いますか？」という質問 が出た。
「聞いていてこっちが苦しくなってきました」

そこには、

「聞いていてこっちが苦しくなってきましたよ 胸がしめつけられそうでした」
「歌にしても体型にしても、努力して改善しようとしてないんじゃないかな？」
「しばらく休んでまた海外で一から徹底的にボイトレするなり何かしら対処しないと」

といった心配する声、厳しい意見が寄せられた。

「ベストアーティスト2009」をきっかけに、浜崎さんの最近のステージと過去のステージの検証もネットで 行われている。例えば、99年に発売された大ヒット曲「Boys & Girls」。09年8月のフジテレビ系「ミュージックフェア」での歌唱と、発売当時の映像を比較。動画投 稿サイト「ユーチューブ」にアップされた動画が使われた。「ミュージックフェア」では、声を出すのが苦しそ うに見え、しかもあまり出ていない。歌の半分をバックコーラスが歌うという不思議な展開だ。これを見た人達 は、「声死んでるな」「昔は歌えてたのに声が出なくなったんだろ」「コーラスがメインを歌ってるワロタ」な どと感想を述べている。

浜崎さんはいったいどうしてしまったのか。耳の難病の影響があるのだろうか。浜崎さんが所属するエイベック スマネジメントに問い合わせているが、返事はまだ来ていない。

What in the world has happened to Hamasaki Ayumi? From the succession of programs where her voice doesn't even come out, to the outrage from her fans online, Hamasaki Ayumi looked back, and apologized and confessed on her blog that this has truly been her worst as a singer.

The circumstances on the Music Festival, in which Hamasaki Ayumi sang the huge hit "Evolution," were a little different than the high pitched and strong voice that had mesmerized audiences before. Her voice didn't come out, as she turned her back to the camera... and after, with an expression of a painful smile, she shouted "I'm sorry."

"I can't say any excuse. Anyways, it's very regrettable."

She wrote about the experience on her blog on the 16th, apologizing to fans, saying that "As a singer, in my opinion, it was my worst. I have no excuse, and I'm really sorry. My training isn't enough, and I really need to get serious." and, "I have to sing these songs, I have to transmit these songs. That is the meaning of my existence, and I want to continue working hard so I can have a stage where I can be at east and have fun."

But more, being told that "Ayu's voice won't come out" started MORE than a year ago.

On Yahoo's Q&A site, a huge shock has spread. A question asked recently was "When I see Ayu recently, it's so painful. What does everyone think?" "When I listen, I even get painful."

These were the answers that followed.

"When I listen, it's painful. It seemed like the chest would be hurt."
"It seems like, when it comes to her voice, and even her figure, she isn't making any efforts to improve it."
"I think she should go overseas and start from 0, with her voice training. If she doesn't..."

And these kinds of worried voices, but also strict opinions came together.

Checking the video site Youtube, we inspected the Boys & Girls performance at Music Fair 21 in 2009, comparing to the time Boys & Girls was put for sale, and we saw that half way through her singing style looked so painful, and of course, didn't come out. Half way though, the back chorus starting singing the main parts, which was an unexplainable development. Those who watched the show said "Her voice is dead, right?" "She could sing this in the past, but now, she can't even get her voice to come out." "It was a laugh when the main chorus started singing the main", with the remaining impressions stated in a similar fashion.

What in the world happened to Hamasaki Ayumi? Is it the influence of her ear problem? We asked this question to Avex Management, but we have yet to receive the reply.


----


It seems so dire right now... I hope she will listen to everything!!!

http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/4529063/
http://www.j-cast.com/2009/12/22056824.html

[love in music]

"It seems like, when it comes to her voice, and even her figure, she isn't making any efforts to improve it."

Oh.

[Raleigh]

It's definitely not good to know but maybe this will serve as an eye-opener for Ayu and she will actually do something about it.

[waterballoon]

Originally Posted by identity

"It seems like, when it comes to her voice, and even her figure, she isn't making any efforts to improve it."

Oh.

that's quite the mean comment eh lol.

but I have to agree... her voice is really getting worse over the years. I rewatched CDL 09-10 a few days ago actually, and her vocals is just not cutting it.

I mean, I understand that some fans are like "she's trying her best" or "she can't hear anything in her left ear" but honestly, her singing now isn't JUST about being off-tune, it's about the tone of her voice sounding so... sorry for the lack of a better word, horrible.

She REALLY has to take a break and use that time to receive PROPER vocal training from ground zero. And stop drinking and smoking if you do Ayu cos it really isn't helping at all...

Many of us here thought it was just a few people on this forum complaining about her vocals, but even the Japanese themselves have raised concerns about her vocals... it's not just us being picky, it's a fact.



I hope everything goes well for Ayu...

[Bigtop]

OH WHAT!!? NOT ANOTHER KIND OF CRITICISM!!!???

Now what's this all about? I know Ayu's 31 years of age, and now all of a sudden, why in the world are we having criticisms with Ayumi Hamasaki!? And it's all after those rumors about the drug scandal?

I don't know how to say this, but I think this is kind of in one way or another kind of unacceptable - this is why I even called up Sayuri Sugawara as a possible replacement for Ayu - I think Ayu has got to take a break, but with the fact that the possibly-long Arena Tour is coming up for Ayu, I think there might be more bad news out here...

[nemesisyume]

BREAK & PROPER VOCAL TRAINING NOW

[miskiq]

can't agree more that her voice is getting worse ...but its kind of worrying though for her career

We asked this question to Avex Management, but we have yet to receive the reply.

its good that they are bringin this this thing to avex

[duque]

man this is depressing...
I know her voice is not as high pitched as before...but I still like her current more mature voice...

[Bigtop]

We asked this question to Avex Management, but we have yet to receive the reply.

Wait a minute... Why is J-CAST even calling an inquiry to Avex? I'm really wondering about this...

[oneheart]

Originally Posted by nemesisyume

BREAK & PROPER VOCAL TRAINING NOW

THIS.

We can live without a tour. We can't live without Ayu.
Take a year off after the new album, Go and retrain your voice and the tour chould start in 2011. Or late 2010.

[zyoeru]

This is extremely sad news. I hope that instead of feeling depressed by it Ayu feels inspired to continue and do as they advise. She really does need to seriously address her voice.

[Bigtop]

"It seems like, when it comes to her voice, and even her figure, she isn't making any efforts to improve it."

It seems like now that Ayu's not making smart decisions very much...

[waterballoon]

if they're bringing this up to avex, then I hope she finally realizes the seriousness of this and hopefully avex schedules singing lessons for her.

[mcluva420]

sigh, i kinda agree, pretty much all her lives lately are so bad, esp her voice. and also, i think she gained a little weight, but shes fine i guess...

[zyoeru]

In my opinion, waterballoon, I hope avex get her singing lessons outside the country where she isn't known. We all know Japanese vocal coaches will probably suck up to her.

[Bigtop]

Hopefully Avex can try to re-manage Ayu and just become another great singer like the good old days - maybe just like what JAL (Japan Airlines) is about to do today: going into bankruptcy and move into corporate rehab...

[maikaru]

I was watching Memorial Address from 2007, and I thought her lives in 2007 first half were somewhat good, and she could still sing Memorial Address well, and even Glitter... but after she broke with Nagase... everything has gone downhill... why?? I wanna know why...

[Tom Punks]

Originally Posted by oneheart

THIS.

We can live without a tour. We can't live without Ayu.
Take a year off after the new album, Go and retrain your voice and the tour chould start in 2011. Or late 2010.

I totally agree. Ayu can live without a 40 date tour. She's not gonna go bankrupt if she skips one!

But there's no point in continuing to tour if she isn't going to fix her voice. It's not just not enjoyable to listen to anymore; it's HARD to listen to. I would have no problem if Ayu spends the rest of her career fake crying, wearing tacky costumes, and letting Shuya flail, as long as she fixes her voice before it's too late (if it isn't already. )

Unfortunately, she doesn't seem to be too concerned with it or the fact that ANOTHER really intense tour is just gonna make the problem worse...

[Bigtop]

Originally Posted by maikaru

but after she broke with Nagase... everything has gone downhill... why?? I wanna know why...

Yeah, I'm really wondering... Maybe breaking up means she just goes on her own, and apparently she's kind of struggling here if she goes on her own - maybe she might need to work together again...

And now, all because of that, the world of Japanese pop has kind of been tarnished...

[dreamland2.0]

I have to agree with some of you - that she should take a break and retrain her voice or I think she may lose it for good
However her lives in 2009 weren't all horrible in my opinion... but definitely not great...