[News] Secret special edition on Oricon

[Maxker]

The homepage of the Oricon Chart has featured ayu's new album, Secret in its Recommended CDs spot.

CLICK HERE: http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/special/061206_03.html

[ohsixthirty]

for some reason i got excited by the title because i thought it meant there was a special edition of the secret album coming out, lol. oricon pretty much always does this for ayumi's new releases though don't they?

[extepan]

Originally Posted by touchedstar

for some reason i got excited by the title because i thought it meant there was a special edition of the secret album coming out

i thought the same. so i was a bit disappointed about not having a special edition, and on the other hand happy about that because i dont have to buy the album once again!

[Raleigh]

True and I too had that same feeling!

[elepop]

Recommended CD huh? GREAT.

[ayu1m]

That's cool : )

More advertising for Ayu, ye!

I'm sorry but that's probably a purchased thing. I highly doubt Oricon is just going to do it. AVEX probably purchased something to do with it.

[Ayumi-love]

Originally Posted by //hikari

I'm sorry but that's probably a purchased thing. I highly doubt Oricon is just going to do it. AVEX probably purchased something to do with it.

Yes, I have the same feeling...

[yaten]

Originally Posted by //hikari

I'm sorry but that's probably a purchased thing. I highly doubt Oricon is just going to do it. AVEX probably purchased something to do with it.

Highly doubtful.

A music ranking site doing a special issue on the highest-selling album that week is only in it's best interest. You know, the people checking out a site like oricon have most likely already made their purchases and/or decisions regarding the release - the fact that the album was number one is advertisement enough. At most it's mutually beneficial to the site, ayumi, and avex to do such a thing. The only paid ads on that page are for cell phone companies and sony.

That being said, I of course want a translation.

[nodoka]

Yeah i was like Secret? special? huh? but yeah, i guess not...

Every single profile thing on japanese sites always mention boys and girls!

[LacusClyne]

Avex must have preasure them or put a lot of money for this promotion.

[freedreamer]

does it help?...they always do it for her but nth is improving..

i like that pic anyways, someone translate?

[Kogepan_19]

Usually ORICON does it the week of the release, so when I saw that ORICON didn't release the special edition I was kind of worried for a bit. It's good that they acutally made one though the week after .

[..:Hot:Like:Wow:..]

Who cares if Avex was behind it. The album deserves to be recommended.

[Zacek]

Thanks for the info!

[alternarist]

wassup with the special edition?

[Dustie]

It's a special edition of Oricon (like they put up articles, reviews and such) not of the Secret album.

[simonlau]

thanks
can anyone translate it

さまざまな角度から切り込んできた『（miss）understood』から約1年、浜崎あゆみのニューア ルバム『Secret』がリリースされた。その作品の良さについて言葉を並べていくのは簡単だ。しかし、言 葉だけでは伝えきれない感動もある。メロディーに震え、歌詞に震える。このアルバムはそんな“聴かなきゃ始 まらない”と感じさせる典型的な1枚だ。迫ってくる音に酔いしれ、描き出される情景に目を見張る。本気の浜 崎あゆみに触れることのできる究極の作品。ここにある“秘密”を知ることができるのは、そのすごさを体験し た人だけだ。



　『Secret』というタイトルには、少なからず驚かされた。『（miss）understood』に比 べるとあまりにストレートだったし、デビューから8年を経過し、常に自分の言葉でメッセージを発信し続けて きた浜崎にとって、これ以上どんな“秘密”があるのか、と思ったからだ（もちろん、人間だから秘密のひとつ やふたつはあるだろうけど、アルバムにするほどの秘密はないだろうと思えたし）。それでも、その“Secr et”というこわく的な響きに引き寄せられるように、興味津々で耳を傾けてみると･･･。

　1曲目の「Not yet」。異次元へと吸い込まれていくような妖しげな導入部の向こうから浜崎の歌が顔をのぞかせる。語りか けるように、ささやくように増幅し、やがて世界が開けていく。アルバムの世界へのインビテーションとしての 見事なまでの演出だ。そして、この世界観を受け継ぐように2トラック目の「until that Day･･･」はスタートする。ノイジーなギターにエフェクターのかかったボーカル、サイバーな響きを持つ ロックナンバーだが、歌詞はいつも以上に鋭利だ。身震いするほどに浜崎がまっすぐにこちらを見据えている。 一言一言が鋭く突き刺さってくる。彼女の中のロックスピリッツがさらに進化を極めたことを示す“決意表明” にも似た楽曲だ。この時点で、すでに耳と心はアルバムの世界の中に完全に持っていかれてしまっ ている。
　 そして、追い撃ちをかけるようにシングルチューン「Startin'」がくる。このアルバムのこの位置で改 めて聴くと、この曲のメッセージの強さと大きさがさらに際立つ。CMで耳なじみのある「1 LOVE」では重厚さがさらにパワーアップ、一分の隙もない形で“2006年型浜崎'sロック”の最終型が 襲いかかってくる。これで身体がうずかなければどうかしている、というほどの心地よさとメッセージ力がある 。



　そう、このアルバム全編を貫いているのが、抜群に心地よいメロディーラインと、ダイレクトに心へ浸透して くる洗練された歌詞だ。通常、アルバムというのはシングルではできない“試み”を盛り込んでいるもの。それ が得てしてマニアックな内容や難解な作品へとつながっていくものだが、この『Secret』に関してはそれ がまるで当てはまらない。では、アルバム用の“チャレンジ”がなされていないということなのかというと、そ れもまったく違う。1枚のアルバムの中で楽曲を鮮やかにつないで、ひとつの絵巻物のように見せながら、いか に1曲1曲を際立たせるかに注力された作品といえばいいのだろうか、そんな壮大な“組曲”的完成度の高さを 感じてしまうのだ。先にシングルとして発表された楽曲だけが際立つことのない、どの曲もがすぐに耳になじん でしまうシングルレベルのトラックが集結したアルバム、そんな不可能とも思えるアプローチを形にしてしまっ たもの、それが『Secret』だ。
　「It was」「JEWEL」「momentum」と流れていくバラードセクションも、それぞれロック色の強いバ ラード、ピアノの音色が印象的な“静”的バラード、雪の降る情景が目の前に蘇るオリエンタルなテイストを効 かせたバラードと、お互いの曲が個性を主張しつつも“愛が起こした奇跡と残像”というテーマのもとで、ひと つになじんでいる。スリリングな「kiss o' kill」からクライマックスの「Secret」へと収束していく締めくくりの構成も見事。

　浜崎あゆみを知り尽くしている人には、更なる“深み”を、浜崎あゆみの音楽ってどんなの？って思っている 初心者には血液が沸騰するほどの“迫力”を見せてくれる“会心の一撃”。歌詞が見せてくれるさまざまな“奇 跡”や“秘密”だけでなく、この“奇跡”とも思えるアルバムと出会えたことこそが、浜崎とリスナーをつなぐ とびっきりの“秘密”なのかもしれない。

（文：田井裕規）

[Maxker]

Originally Posted by simonlau

thanks
can anyone translate it

SECRET SPECIAL:

Translation:
It has been not long since her last album (miss)understood, and now Ayu has once again released her latest album - Secret. Looking at this album from different perspective, the good thing about this album can be said easily but there are some feelings that words cannot be used to express easily.
The tunes, the words. This album has an effect on people- they can't stop listening once they start and this is what ayu gives us - her best work. Only those who have listened to this, are able to understand the Secret of her album.

Performing wonderful melody
Secret - this title has startled many.
Compared to (miss)understood, for one who has been in the music industry for 8 years and one who uses her thoughts, her opinions as lyrics, what kind of 'Secret' will Ayu have?
[Of course, everyone of us will have our own secrets but what Secret is this album trying to express? It really confuses us]
Despite so, this strange/unique muic has attracted our curiosity and makes us listen. [rough translation]

1st song - 「Not yet」. It's like being absorbed into unknown dimension, hearing ayu's voice then start to realise where you are. Just like in a conversation, from a low, secrective voice slowly become louder, and display Ayu's world to everyone - serving as an invitation to the album's world, a perfect introduction.
Whereas 「until that Day···」 started off with noisyn guitar, efekuta vocal and Cyber trance, but the lyrics are still great as usual. And Ayu continues to sing off with her determination.[rough translation]
By now, your ears and heart have already entered the album's centre.
With this, here comes 「Startin'」.
Previously heard from the CM, 「1 LOVE 」 proofs to be Ayu's 2006 incredulous entrance, using what seems to be impossible as another undescrible style.[rough translation]

Yes, this album has been added with different types of melody and those heart wrenching lyrics. And these are not the usual stuff that any album can be found with.
Though it may seem difficult for people to understand this, it still doesn't describe Secret well. Saying that this album is a 'challenge', is also not close enough.
To say this is an interesting way of presenting the songs continuously, using untried melody/music styles to express this album perfectly, well this kind of unlikeness and unthinkable method is just Secret.
「It was 」「JEWEL 」「momentum 」- these ballades, are different kinds of ballades, telling different stories.
The piano's melody, unforgettable ballade, and even the snow scene - these melodies presented a stubborn but 'use love to create miracle' theme.

From shocking's 「kiss o' kill 」to the climax's 「Secret 」as ending, this is truely beautiful.
Want to be one who knows more of the Ayu that we don't know, or learn how deep Ayu's music can be?
Just like how an amatuer behaves when learning something big, that kind of feeling and satisfaction, not only the lyrics displayed a variety of 'miracles' and 'secrets', these 'miracles' can all be seen in the album, it might also be seen as a way of exchanging 'secrets' with ayu too.

Translation by kiseki89@ayunite.