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[Maemi]

When is the single going to be released? September?

Originally Posted by tetsuo69

i have no problem with the melody but with her voice.

Yes, I know, nowadays it's becoming harder and harder for me to listen to some of her songs, I hope she'll be able to improve at least a bit.

[isthisLOL?]

Originally Posted by Maemi

When is the single going to be released? September?


Yes, I know, nowadays it's becoming harder and harder for me to listen to some of her songs, I hope she'll be able to improve at least a bit.

She has been improving nonstop since late 2007 or early 2008. Her range extended again(very noticable on NEXT LEVEL and Love Songs especially), she gained more control, hits more notes and can control her vibrato better again. Just watch any performance from 2010 and compare it to what she did in 2007-2009. I'd say from what we heard in 2010 and what fans say about her new tour that she probably(now, not 2010) is at 2005/2006 vocal level again.

[maikaru]

Originally Posted by isthisLOL?

She has been improving nonstop since late 2007 or early 2008. Her range extended again(very noticable on NEXT LEVEL and Love Songs especially), she gained more control, hits more notes and can control her vibrato better again. Just watch any performance from 2010 and compare it to what she did in 2007-2009. I'd say from what we heard in 2010 and what fans say about her new tour that she probably(now, not 2010) is at 2005/2006 vocal level again.

2006 Vocals were NOT good and I don't think it should be a benchmark for her vocals... If you go back and watch Arena Tour 2006 tour, you can hear that her vocals were NOT strong at all. It's the charisma that was carrying the performances because she looks SOOO fresh and energetic. 2008, 2009 tours, she looked so tired and out of it + her vocals were bad. 2010, her vocals were so improved and she also looked fresh, so it was great! IMO, her vocal best was 2003 ~ 2004. A Museum!!

[njanjayrp]

Originally Posted by maikaru

2006 Vocals were NOT good and I don't think it should be a benchmark for her vocals... If you go back and watch Arena Tour 2006 tour, you can hear that her vocals were NOT strong at all. It's the charisma that was carrying the performances because she looks SOOO fresh and energetic. 2008, 2009 tours, she looked so tired and out of it + her vocals were bad. 2010, her vocals were so improved and she also looked fresh, so it was great! IMO, her vocal best was 2003 ~ 2004. A Museum!!

I couldn't agree more.

[isthisLOL?]

Originally Posted by maikaru

2006 Vocals were NOT good and I don't think it should be a benchmark for her vocals... If you go back and watch Arena Tour 2006 tour, you can hear that her vocals were NOT strong at all. It's the charisma that was carrying the performances because she looks SOOO fresh and energetic. 2008, 2009 tours, she looked so tired and out of it + her vocals were bad. 2010, her vocals were so improved and she also looked fresh, so it was great! IMO, her vocal best was 2003 ~ 2004. A Museum!!

2006 vocals were worse than 2005 but still quite powerful and she HAD her moments, but yes, it's when it started going downhill. I was mostly referring to CDL0506 which still had good vocals and only a few later performances.

[truehappiness]

When is the single going to be released? September?

It's likely that it'll be out the week of / the week before Tales of Xillia's release. However, I guess it really depends on the competition. Apparently August is swamped with huge sellers all month.

Regarding Ayu's voice, I don't know if I hear this huuuge difference that some people do. Maybe it's because I know artists who have had much larger changes in their vocals and technique, so whatever is different about Ayu's voice now compared to "back then" is so minute (in recordings, specifically) that it isn't that audible to me, lol.

During live performances however, it was obvious that the deaf ear affected her in 2007/2008 but she has been improving steadily since then. To rank her voice from 2005 to now for comparison's sake... I'd say...

01. 2005/2006/2011 (according to those who have heard her live at POWER of MUSIC)
02. 2010
03. 2009
04. 2008
05. 2007

During 2007 and 2008, she had some really huge issues with vibrato but since then she's really lightened up on it. I wonder if she was self aware of that at all at the time. Anyway, I feel like she's made tremendous progress [woah pun] since she had to figure out a way to deal with only being able to hear from one ear. It's like she just keeps getting better~

[isthisLOL?]

^ I think in studio recordings you can mostly hear how her range increased only, which is a big part of vocals though.
Especially on NEXT LEVEL(beautiful headvoice notes in GREEN) and Love Songs(Like a Doll, Last Angel and other songs I can't think of right now had quite high notes for which she did not use headvoice/falsetto and which she hasn't reached for a long time or only screamed(Rule))

[hsienko]

Although I like the song and I can't wait for the single, I'm getting kinda of tired of her releasing a string of "full-blooded" songs that sort of sit in the "middle" of the spectrum. I would love it if she would release something that leaned more towards specific sound/genre like rock or pop or electronic etc to mix it up a bit.

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by hsienko

Although I like the song and I can't wait for the single, I'm getting kinda of tired of her releasing a string of "full-blooded" songs that sort of sit in the "middle" of the spectrum. I would love it if she would release something that leaned more towards specific sound/genre like rock or pop or electronic etc to mix it up a bit.

Exactly!

[RayJason]

Oh my lord yes, YES this is delicious I love this !!! Especially the beginning towards the point it gets to the "blossom part" (where ayu sings), and then I love it again at the chorus untill the end . Great song!

[sailorseraphim]

LOVE IT!!!
It sounds like a combination of the vocal style of old Ayu, combined with her newer musical style. <3 <3 <3

[Zeke.]

About the "generic" summer/winter songs... That's something we have come to know (and love) Ayu by... isn't it? It's somewhat predictable, but Summer just feels a little less exciting, a little less "fun" and a little more offbeat without those releases. Same goes for Winter (although I prefer the J-Pop Winter singles since I love Christmas time - every year I get excited to listen to my "JPOP for the HOLIDAYS" playlist). She didn't release a Winter single this year and I was a little sad of course. People say they hate it when Ayu doesn't try anything new... but why fix something that isn't broken? I'm happy with Spring electronic/pop singles, Summer pop/rock singles, Autumn rock/ballad singles, and Winter ballad/emotional singles as long as the material is good. Although I would like a Summer ballad in the style of RAINBOW or SEASONS (although RAINBOW is more "Spring" time to me).

I think she tried too many "new" things on R'n'R and I hated it (although she did say that album was more "back to basics" - still don't know what she meant by that because it was anything but). Well it grew on me but looking back only album track I totally loved was Microphone which was classic rock-goddess Ayu and countdown grew on me over time (but still less impacting). Love songs I feel was very different for her and at first I will admit it was kind of different since the whole album felt like each song was leading up to a disappointing climax (or you had a hard time pin-pointing the climax), but very quickly I fell in love with the album and adore it more than NEXT LEVEL and R'n'R combined.

So wherever Ayu goes, I will follow. I just hope she doesn't try "too hard" as for me that's what happened with R'n'R (sorry R'n'R fans).

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

About the "generic" summer/winter songs... That's something we have come to know (and love) Ayu by... isn't it? It's somewhat predictable, but Summer just feels a little less exciting, a little less "fun" and a little more offbeat without those releases. Same goes for Winter (although I prefer the J-Pop Winter singles since I love Christmas time - every year I get excited to listen to my "JPOP for the HOLIDAYS" playlist). She didn't release a Winter single this year and I was a little sad of course. People say they hate it when Ayu doesn't try anything new... but why fix something that isn't broken? I'm happy with Spring electronic/pop singles, Summer pop/rock singles, Autumn rock/ballad singles, and Winter ballad/emotional singles as long as the material is good. Although I would like a Summer ballad in the style of RAINBOW or SEASONS (although RAINBOW is more "Spring" time to me).

I think she tried too many "new" things on R'n'R and I hated it (although she did say that album was more "back to basics" - still don't know what she meant by that because it was anything but). Well it grew on me but looking back only album track I totally loved was Microphone which was classic rock-goddess Ayu and countdown grew on me over time (but still less impacting). Love songs I feel was very different for her and at first I will admit it was kind of different since the whole album felt like each song was leading up to a disappointing climax (or you had a hard time pin-pointing the climax), but very quickly I fell in love with the album and adore it more than NEXT LEVEL and R'n'R combined.

So wherever Ayu goes, I will follow. I just hope she doesn't try "too hard" as for me that's what happened with R'n'R (sorry R'n'R fans).

To me RnRC is among her most generic releases ever, and I hate summer and winter singles... soemtimes the music is nice, but it's a step back from her current material, year after year... The world doesn't need another version of fairyland, we already have 3 or 4...

[TeamAyu2004]

^ I love those types of songs! lol

But I wouldnt mind a little flare here and there however.. I would love to hear this song in full preview though!

[PoetGirl]

I dont consider myself a stan, or blinded or anything but I like every song of hers. Not 'cause it hers, I simply do! Maybe I had 2 songs in complete discography I was annoyed by but thats nothing considering how many songs she has.

Just wanted to say Im not blinded nor deaf if I like ayu's new relases. It gets on my nerves. I have a feeling we get this kind of discussion everytime she relases something. Its like... very simple! Some people will like it and some won't. Calling people who like it delusional or stans is like saying haters to people who dont like it!

[ownsarai]

I really like how this sounds. It kind of reminds me of blossom in the beginning.
I cannot wait to hear this song~ I'm really excited for it!

[jbrat2219]

I personally don't think Ayu every really tries too hard. I think that's why her experiments work in her favor or are more accepted by fans. RnRC was a mixed bag of a lot of genres that didn't really fit well together but I guess that was the concept of the album. But I think to put out a disorderly album and a cohesive album all in one year just shows how amazing Ayu is lol.

[truehappiness]

Love songs I feel was very different for her and at first I will admit it was kind of different since the whole album felt like each song was leading up to a disappointing climax (or you had a hard time pin-pointing the climax),

Rather than blaming Ayu for that, I think it's a fault of Komuro's. He has a really bad tendency to write amazing lead ups with awesome build up and then the payoff is nonexistent. It happens with a lot of his songs.

[clover_bali]

orchestra + band = really ayu's type song ^^
i'm lovin' it!

[relmy]

^ I don't think that was the point being made. You've said yourself you accept it when people don't like something - it was a comment about those who get angry when people dislike something.

Yeah, this is a forum for Ayu, but equally we're allowed to express our disappointment/dislike/etc... without being called haters or being told "omg no it doesn't sound the same!!" or similar comments. It doesn't mean we're not an Ayu fan.

I'm lucky in the fact that I do like most of what Ayu puts out, but that doesn't mean I'm without criticism of it. As a fan, I feel it is my right to discuss elements of her music that I don't like. It's not putting down her effort or undermining her work, it's me having a subjective opinion on (mostly) subjective material.