Opinions on Party Queen covers?

[ImpactBreaker]

Originally Posted by Kanzaki88

Getting embarrased over an album cover and people you know potentially seeing it? That has socially awkward (penguin) written all over it.

Even worse, is people getting embarrased thinking about what strangers who aren't ayu fans will think when they see these covers on a store. I mean, does it even matter wth strangers think or don't about some artist cover?for real lol Also, guys, getting worried about your friends seeing you having an album with such a cover...don't worry, they already think you are a bizarre freak for liking a japanese artist called ayumi hamasaki, so seeing the cover won't probably change much of their opinions anyways.

[isthisLOL?]

Originally Posted by ImpactBreaker

Even worse, is people getting embarrased thinking about what strangers who aren't ayu fans will think when they see these covers on a store. I mean, does it even matter wth strangers think or don't about some artist cover?for real lol Also, guys, getting worried about your friends seeing you having an album with such a cover...don't worry, they already think you are a bizarre freak for liking a japanese artist called ayumi hamasaki, so seeing the cover won't probably change much of their opinions anyways.

I love this post.

Nothing more to add since I put my entire opinion on my blog and will not quote the whole thing here xD

[channy]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

I think she is just acting drunk as stupid people who puts stupid party photos on Facebook...

NO! Cant you see? She's just sad, lonely and parodying hookerism!

[MissElin_]

It's not like it's only black and white guys. And this I point towards "both sides". Pretty much all comments I see here is gray zones.

If people between the lines say thay they would be ashamed of the covers or you know, feel that people will judge Ayu right away wihtout giving the album a chanse and listen to it - they don't mean that they are worried about what their friends will say and doubt themselves of why they have that album/listen to it. I don't actually think noone thinks this. What people who's "worried" mean is more like "Ah, shoot, since we do live in a world where sex and porn is still quite tabu to put out in regular stores in the bright day, this album might get more bashing then it deserves". Are you getting what I mean here? It's not like these "worriers" feel like they will doubt their own liking and preferences, but more like that the album will get a more unfair chanse towards the casual listners. Because we all know that the world isn't as rebellic and forward thinking as Ayu is. That's pretty much the thing about the whole "worry" aspect.

Also, if people here say they don't like these covers/like them, please don't come with words that have somewhat negative tones in them to make your own point said. This also I would like to point to "both sides". There is no need to tell people that don't like them that they are stans and such because that is completely unnecessary and will only trigger the bashing.

People who don't like the cover isn't saying that they feel like the concept is bad, or that the whole ironi is bad. I do belive that pretty much everyone who don't like the covers still love the idea Ayu have with the covers and fully support that. BUT, the ones who don't like them are most concerned in how the covers actually look like. You might actually more think of this whole like/not like discussion as a regular design issue. Some people think it's nice that she's not obvious - other thinks that she could portray some small part that makes you feel like she's sad. There is no need to say "Can't you see it? It's obvious that she's sad!" when others simply don't think so or see it. There is no need to call them stans or something else negative just because they don't see it.

This also connects with the discussion "She's done this before!"-discussion. Pretty much everyone knows she have indeed made daring PVs/shoots before like Sparkle, STEP you single shoot, LOVEppears cover, Naked Talk shoot in ViVi etc. Some people thinks that those examples and Party Queens cover are right in the same line in posing etc. - only that she's been more dressed or somewhat covered. Others think that those examples are indeed daring but way more classy since they smell high production and they follow the same design pattern as similar shoots. If Vouge did a naked shoot we all know what kind of design pattern they would go for and what they would not go for. The design pattern Ayu went for in Party Queen is more raw, low budget that reminds alot of people of cheep production like sitting in on a saturday with a bucket of chicken wings. Now Ayu wanted to do this more raw and shocking design for her covers shoots and that is all fine. But everyone is not gonna like it. You know, it's all about personal references and liking.

Also alot of people think that the overall design is bad too, not only the photos. But design like placing of the text, leopard stripes e.t.c. This is just like the above only because of personal liking.

There is simply no need to claim that someone thinks "this" or "that" just because you is upset that people don't see what you see. It is really not black and white. Overall people do agree with each other. Yes, the concept and idea is good. Some people just don't like how it's been portrayed and some don't. No need to go kindergarden and call each other negative stuff.

[ayu_ready?]

Originally Posted by MissElin_

It's not like it's only black and white guys. And this I point towards "both sides". Pretty much all comments I see here is gray zones.

If people between the lines say thay they would be ashamed of the covers or you know, feel that people will judge Ayu right away wihtout giving the album a chanse and listen to it - they don't mean that they are worried about what their friends will say and doubt themselves of why they have that album/listen to it. I don't actually think noone thinks this. What people who's "worried" mean is more like "Ah, shoot, since we do live in a world where sex and porn is still quite tabu to put out in regular stores in the bright day, this album might get more bashing then it deserves". Are you getting what I mean here? It's not like these "worriers" feel like they will doubt their own liking and preferences, but more like that the album will get a more unfair chanse towards the casual listners. Because we all know that the world isn't as rebellic and forward thinking as Ayu is. That's pretty much the thing about the whole "worry" aspect.

Also, if people here say they don't like these covers/like them, please don't come with words that have somewhat negative tones in them to make your own point said. This also I would like to point to "both sides". There is no need to tell people that don't like them that they are stans and such because that is completely unnecessary and will only trigger the bashing.

People who don't like the cover isn't saying that they feel like the concept is bad, or that the whole ironi is bad. I do belive that pretty much everyone who don't like the covers still love the idea Ayu have with the covers and fully support that. BUT, the ones who don't like them are most concerned in how the covers actually look like. You might actually more think of this whole like/not like discussion as a regular design issue. Some people think it's nice that she's not obvious - other thinks that she could portray some small part that makes you feel like she's sad. There is no need to say "Can't you see it? It's obvious that she's sad!" when others simply don't think so or see it. There is no need to call them stans or something else negative just because they don't see it.

This also connects with the discussion "She's done this before!"-discussion. Pretty much everyone knows she have indeed made daring PVs/shoots before like Sparkle, STEP you single shoot, LOVEppears cover, Naked Talk shoot in ViVi etc. Some people thinks that those examples and Party Queens cover are right in the same line in posing etc. - only that she's been more dressed or somewhat covered. Others think that those examples are indeed daring but way more classy since they smell high production and they follow the same design pattern as similar shoots. If Vouge did a naked shoot we all know what kind of design pattern they would go for and what they would not go for. The design pattern Ayu went for in Party Queen is more raw, low budget that reminds alot of people of cheep production like sitting in on a saturday with a bucket of chicken wings. Now Ayu wanted to do this more raw and shocking design for her covers shoots and that is all fine. But everyone is not gonna like it. You know, it's all about personal references and liking.

Also alot of people think that the overall design is bad too, not only the photos. But design like placing of the text, leopard stripes e.t.c. This is just like the above only because of personal liking.

There is simply no need to claim that someone thinks "this" or "that" just because you is upset that people don't see what you see. It is really not black and white. Overall people do agree with each other. Yes, the concept and idea is good. Some people just don't like how it's been portrayed and some don't. No need to go kindergarden and call each other negative stuff.

thank you for bringing it up!

Originally Posted by kiseki

Hamasaki Ayumi is better than posing like that and agree to go on with that production. She doesn't need to do that to attract people. I was a fan of her years ago because of her unique style and songs. But right now I feel that she's taking a whole new approach which imitating Lady Gaga and other singers too. I think that she's better off with her unique style.

I think that the thing that only old fans will understand, unfortunately

[Chibi-Chan]

Originally Posted by ImpactBreaker

Even worse, is people getting embarrased thinking about what strangers who aren't ayu fans will think when they see these covers on a store. I mean, does it even matter wth strangers think or don't about some artist cover?for real lol Also, guys, getting worried about your friends seeing you having an album with such a cover...don't worry, they already think you are a bizarre freak for liking a japanese artist called ayumi hamasaki, so seeing the cover won't probably change much of their opinions anyways.

Exactly, especially the bold part! Love it! It really made me laugh because it is so true! xD

Next to my japanese CD's is my Pokemon soundtrack CD, which I keep because of nostalgia and my only western CD's are my Britney CD's, which doesn't make me any less strange. Not to forget all the manga in my bookshelf and the four posters on my wall (Dir en grey, Ayu, MUCC and An Cafe). I'm convinced that it looks similiar in rooms of other ahs members.
Besides I don't really think any of my friends paid ever attention what the covers of my CD's look like. Even though they might see my Party Queen CD I don't think they would recognize it as porn - not after watching MTV back then when we all were 13.