Ayumi ~ The Anything Goes Thread 9 ~

[ExodusUK]

I need a new trance remix album now.

[Zeke.]

Trance is life for me. It can be really intricate and beautiful.

That being said, I don't desire a new ayu trance albu to such a high extent, simply because I'm thankful enough for the last one we were given. I never imagined we'd get a new trance album after cyber trance 3 and ayu-mix 6. I thought the chances were too slim and I just never dared to hope. So when it was announced we'd be getting one, I was floored. Even though it's definitely the worst of the bunch, there are a select few songs I love (well, mainly the seasons remix) and a select few I can listen to. But all in all, I'm just so thankful that the risk and opportunity was taken to provide us with a 4th installment and that was enough of a gift for me.

[channy]

ayu trance 4 made a lot of sense just because of the "Far away" remix O.O

But the remixes of "Days" and "CAROLS" were fantastic, too. The second half of the album can get really boring to me. "Endless sorrow", "YOU" and "Greatful days" kind of ruin the flow. "vogue" has got something; the German techno-vibe is intriguing enough but those four tracks don't find their way on my MP3-player too often ^_^°

[maxikot]

There is nothing more productive to play in the backround while working than Ayu Eurobeat. It gave me power to work xD

[DonkeyKongRemix]

I may sound like a real stick in the mud for saying this, but I really don't care for any of Ayu's live performances of Poker face. I think that song is soooo awesome especially since it's her first single (kinda XD). Maybe I sound like no fun, but I really don't care for the cutesy performances she does of that song. In some ways, I for some reason get the feeling she's making fun of it when she sings it live... Which is totally her prerogative, I guess, no matter what.

On another note: Would anyone ever color Ayumi Hamasaki coloring pages??? XD The thought just went through my mind and I was like whoa! Coloring pages of J-Pop singers would be kind of hilarious. XD

[Delirium-Zer0]

I get the same vibe re: poker face... Given the song's theme I'm sure Ayu's real intention is for us to understand that underneath the cutesy happiness she's hiding sadness, but I have yet to see a live performance that shows anything but the cutesy happiness. I wish Ayu realized that things like the "Don't look back" PV - which actually show both sides - need to happen more often, you know?

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

i pray for an ayu trance 5! shit i'd even contribute to commissioning the DJs to make the remixes!

I tweeted ayu and max about it. Just so they know there is interest. Please feel free to favorite and RT! You never know. It worked last time! Couldn't hurt!!


https://twitter.com/B_UtifulFighter/...42352382926851

[NintendoHTF1242]

The monochrome remix on ayu trance 4 gives me life.

[ayumisrael]

Here's a list of ayu's PV (from the official channel) that has more than 1 million views.

1. M - 6,154,986
2. You & Me - 3,768,635
3. HEAVEN - 3,761,739
4. MOON - 2,529,533
5. progress - 2,211,394
6. BLUE BIRD - 2,203,061
7. Voyage - 2,148,001
8. Love song - 1,977,240
9. crossroad - 1,956,236
10. Moments - 1,898,278
11. evolution - 1,877,979
12. SEASONS - 1,792,655
13. JEWEL - 1,736,483
14. Virgin Road - 1,724,381
15. Boys & Girls - 1,590,501
16. Days - 1,565,027
17. Microphone - 1,557,844
18. TO BE - 1,317,668
19. glitter - 1,216,323
20. Dearest - 1,212,769
21. Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ - 1,131,499
22. Song 4 u - 1,086,180
23. Why... feat. JUNO - 1,055,536

[Zeke.]

Ayu trance 4 was just so disjointed. Like, they should have kept with the more modern trance vibe.

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

I must be naive but I just can't tell much of a difference from ayu trance 4 from the other albums. I love all 4 albums equally. But then again I don't really listen to trance outside of ayu. Sometimes it's hard to figure out what to try to listen to.

[DonkeyKongRemix]

Originally Posted by Pieces_of_SEVEN

I must be naive but I just can't tell much of a difference from ayu trance 4 from the other albums. I love all 4 albums equally. But then again I don't really listen to trance outside of ayu. Sometimes it's hard to figure out what to try to listen to.

I know what you mean. I think I should correct the statement I made before when I say I'm a big trance fan. I love the way it sounds and would listen to it endlessly, but that does not mean I'm familiar with any big names associated with it. XD

I listen to a lot of trance on Youtube though! XD

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by Pieces_of_SEVEN

I must be naive but I just can't tell much of a difference from ayu trance 4 from the other albums. I love all 4 albums equally. But then again I don't really listen to trance outside of ayu. Sometimes it's hard to figure out what to try to listen to.

Like the remixes by remo-con and Groove Coverage and those middle tracks - that's not how trance sounds anymore, lol. That's more of like a superficial trance sound.

I will post a few of what I consider the best examples of modern-day trance music. I hope you will take a listen, because these are GEMS!

Saw Aly & Fila live and this song was the highlight of the evening for me. When the chords come in during the breakdown at 2:33 and it's just the chords and the vocals, you can really feel the emotion behind the song. Beautiful.


This one has a truly gorgeous breakdown, and the buildup that begins at 3:46 really makes you anticipate the delivery which explodes around 4:13. Jorn van Deynhoven's remixes have always been able to inject the original song with a luxurious and lush arrangement.




This track is absolutely stunning. I adooooooore the breakdown which is able to highlight the emotional melody in all it intricacy. And then at 3:36, the pads take over and you can hear the melody off in the distance slowly begin to build an energy. I love that. The way it makes you truly anticipate what's to come - giving you a slight taste of it, so you are somewhat familiar with what to expect... making you crave it all the more intensely! Definitely one of the most beautiful trance tracks I have ever heard in my life. My heart swells when listening to this track.


This is an old trance classic, reworked with today's sound. It takes a wicked turn at 3:50!






Adore Arctic Moon's energetic and emotive style.


Anyways, the point I'm trying to make is that Ayu has such an emotional quality to her voice and to her music, so I wish for her trance remixes to really take advantage of that and highlight the emotion behind them. Often times the highlight of a trance track is the breakdown and what comes after the breakdown, when the track takes off in full force. I don't think very many, if any, of Ayu's trance tracks take advantage of highlighting the emotion behind the song with a breakdown. It's fairly common in trance music so I don't see why it isn't utilized in Ayu's tracks.

[axmish87]

Since i recently discovered Mylene Farmer well actually as of september 2014 (and i am still sorry for myself for finding about her so late) i just had to download her whole disco and a number of music videos. A particular music video where Mylene is tied to a moving train (XXL song 1995) blew me away and i was also picturing Ayumi in the similiar scenario.
Ayumi would really look so fierce and baddas if she did something like that. The aerial perf that she is doing at her concerts is also a way of keeping us entertained but it seems that i still have a problem with her recent music videos.
I hope that those two PV's will be good mainly WARNING and Last Minute

[Ashen Twilight]

Originally Posted by axmish87

Since i recently discovered Mylene Farmer well actually as of september 2014 (and i am still sorry for myself for finding about her so late) i just had to download her whole disco and a number of music videos. A particular music video where Mylene is tied to a moving train (XXL song 1995) blew me away and i was also picturing Ayumi in the similiar scenario.
Ayumi would really look so fierce and baddas if she did something like that. The aerial perf that she is doing at her concerts is also a way of keeping us entertained but it seems that i still have a problem with her recent music videos.
I hope that those two PV's will be good mainly WARNING and Last Minute

Speaking of Mylene Farmer, when it was announced that RedOne was working with Ayu, I was hoping that the song would sound similar to Lonely Lisa because I could totally see Ayu singing that song, even when it was first released. Unfortunately, we got XOXO. >_>

[truehappiness]

Well... XOXO is catchy at least. Their work on Movin' on without you is great.

[Ashen Twilight]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

Well... XOXO is catchy at least. Their work on Movin' on without you is great.

I agree, but it's always a little sad when something isn't what you expect it to be.

[truehappiness]

I didn't really know what to expect from these producers which was exciting.

[Bigtop]

Has anyone been paying attention to Ayu, AKB48 and Oricon recently? If you have been really keeping track of record for both Ayu and AKB48...

AKB48 become first artist to have 20 consecutive million selling singles after 'Green Flash' surpasses 1 million sales
http://www.tokyohive.com/article/201...-million-sales

AKB48's 39th single "Green Flash" which Kashiwagi Yuki and Kojima Haruna serve as the center, sold 1,001,000 copies in its first week, topping Oricon's latest weekly single ranking.

"Green Flash" is the group's 26th consecutive chart-topping single, and they broke the record of "the most number of consecutive No.1 singles" (for female artists) which was held by Hamasaki Ayumi with 25 consecutive singles. Hamasaki Ayumi held the record for 4 years and 5 months.

Also, the single is the 20th consecutive million selling single (21st in total) for the group. Up until now, no artist has achieved 20 consecutive million selling singles, so AKB48 is the first one to accomplish it.

Not only that, but they also broke the female group's record of "the number of consecutive years with No.1 singles" which was 5 years and had been kept by Morning Musume (from 1998 ~ 2003). The record stood for 12 years as this is AKB48's 6th consecutive year to have a chart topping single since 2009.

Source: Oricon

...well, there goes Ayu's #1 single streak. Last got #1 single in 2010 with "L", then broken three years later with "Fell the love/Merry-go-round", Ayu's streak of #1 singles that spanned from 2002 (!) to 2010 has finally been surpassed by AKB48 with their 26th single, Green Flash, just announced today.

For AKB48, you have to go back to 2009 when they got their first #1 single, "RIVER" - and they have been #1 since then. Just unbelievable.

This was a record that was certainly broken, despite all those worries whether that single will reach a million in the first week alone for the 19th consecutive time. Most people have been keeping an eye on its numbers only, but for those who've been keeping a track on Ayu and AKB48, that day has come - Ayu's consecutive #1 single reign has finally come to an end, among all female artists in the Oricon.

Ayu will still hold the consecutive #1 single among female soloists, since AKB48's a group. Long live the Empress! Still have to congratulate AKB48 though for their successive efforts, although I still have to wonder about those "inflated" single sales they have been having (all because of those fanboys buying a whole lot of AKB48 singles just for handshake or senbatsu election tickets) - RIVER got 178,579 when it got #1; this one barely gets a million (by a thousand!); Labrador Retriever last year got 1.66 million...

I really miss those days. 2010. The year when the Ayumi Hamasaki world united in London for Rock'n'Roll Circus, and then the MOON/blossom-crossroad-L single trilogy that would be her last #1 singles up to today...time goes really fast. It's been five years since all those events occurred?

[mellody]

I always think that NOW&4EVA is full of feelings compared to most of ayu recent songs after LOVE again, which is nice.
Even though most people here think that it feels flat and a bit disappointing, I love that song so much.