New digital single 'Mask' out November 18th, 2022

[KPL]

Can someone take out the synth from the chorus? I think that will make the song a lot better. Think about monochrome - you don’t need the synth to repeat the chorus melody to have an impact

[LOONAppears]

Originally Posted by KPL

Can someone take out the synth from the chorus? I think that will make the song a lot better. Think about monochrome - you don’t need the synth to repeat the chorus melody to have an impact

i definitely second this... imagine if she pulls a beyoncé and goes back and changes some of the song elements even after the song has come out LMAO

[KPL]

Originally Posted by LOONAppears

i definitely second this... imagine if she pulls a beyoncé and goes back and changes some of the song elements even after the song has come out LMAO

In the past there were album versions! But those are no longer nowadays

[LOONAppears]

Originally Posted by KPL

In the past there were album versions! But those are no longer nowadays

i have like a love-hate relationship with album mixes, because i like to listen to songs from the album it comes from. but for a lot of older jpop releases the single version / original mix of the song is different from the album version. and so in the case where i don’t like the album mix as much as the original one (as is the case with Endless sorrow ~gone with the wind ver.~ being included on “I am…” over the original), it’s kind of annoying because then i have to stream it from the single or from a best album. this seems like a nonissue to most people but i have lastfm and i like having all of my scrobbles on one album. but it’s not a huge deal either, just something that mildly irks me sometimes.

on the other hand there are times where i actually do really like the album mix a lot, sometimes even over the original. one of those cases is immature, since technically the original original version of the song is the jt cm version on the appears single, despite the fact that it was released at the same time as the album version. the jt cm version is nice and i do like it a lot, but i just think the album version is a sonic masterpiece. actual candy for the ears!

i do understand why there was a need to rearrange/remix songs for an album release, in the days of CDs you had to actually convince a consumer to physically buy a copy of your album, and an album would not be very enticing to purchase if you already owned a majority of the songs on previously released singles. now it’s different, you don’t have to commit to buying an album anymore since you can simply just go to ur streaming service of choice, listen to it, and if you liked it you save it; if you don’t, you just never listen to it again and go on with ur day! you’re not stuck with it like you would be if you bought a physical copy of it and ended up not liking it, and there is definitely much less at stake when it comes to checking out a new album. so i’m assuming because of that companies and artists are not bothering making new versions of songs for studio albums or if they do, it’s usually in the form of bonus tracks. and also just simply the fact that including previously released singles on an album increases your streaming numbers by a LOT (just look at Dua Lipa’s first album receiving a massive streaming boost after being repackaged with some of her previous big hits)

i know i strayed a bit (a lot) from the main subject of the thread, but it really is an interesting subject… maybe i should make a thread dedicated to it in the chatroom section, what do u guys think?

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by KPL

Can someone take out the synth from the chorus? I think that will make the song a lot better. Think about monochrome - you don’t need the synth to repeat the chorus melody to have an impact

This is what I recognized immediately. The fact the synth is emulating the exact melody of ayus vocal rather than being a separate yet harmonic one altogether is really dragging the song down. Take JEWEL for example, Ayu has her own melody and the piano that accompanies her had another. They work amazing together and makes the song feel fuller.

[Larisa-chan]

Google Translate seems to have come a long ways:

MASK

As the night deepened, I reflected in the window glass
With a tired face, a big sigh at the end of the day
Losing sight of the value of speaking the truth
I'm not surprised to see someone's dyed eyes

Since then, we've overcome many pains
Pretend, just scars new scars cold
Emotions I let go of because of the times

Even so, the meaning of advancing is in the future
Thinking of that person who said that, I stand up again

Line up all the things that can't be done and give a reason
Since when did you start making smiles for the time being?

Even though I cried, I told you
How long have you been able to face someone like that?

The wind is getting cold
Winter is already so close

I only want to listen to gentle songs
Are you imagining hiding your wounds with scars again?

[adrtwb]

I just went to TeamLab Tokyo and seems like ayu filmed the PV there?

[~angel*ayumi~]

Originally Posted by adrtwb

I just went to TeamLab Tokyo and seems like ayu filmed the PV there?

Yes

[kotora]

Originally Posted by adrtwb

I just went to TeamLab Tokyo and seems like ayu filmed the PV there?

Yes

https://planets.teamlab.art/tokyo/ew/ffgarden_planets/
Floating Flower Garden

[tenshi no hane]

I made a translation. It's quick one so I'm not giving its own thread. These lyrics are quite difficult to turn into sensible English.

Mask

At midnight, my reflection in the window glass
looks exhausted and I heave a heavy sigh that today is over
I'm no longer surprised when I see someone's cold eyes,
having lost sight of the importance of telling the truth

Since then we've overcome so much pain
or pretended to, simply covering scars with new wounds

Blaming the times, we let go of our feelings

"Even so, in the future there'll be meaning to moving forward now"
I remember that person's words and get back up

Making excuses by lining up all the things I can't do anymore
and just putting on a smile for the time being, when did I start doing that?

Communicating even in tears, yelling until I was understood,
when was the last time I was able to face someone like that?

The wind has gotten colder, right?
Winter is just around the corner

I've started to feel like listening to only soft songs
Imagining, hiding my wounds with other wounds again?

[Sim']

Digital charts are out for the first day :

#4 on Oricon Daily Digital Singles Charts (#3 is at 3,110DL)
#5 on Recochoku Daily Single Charts

Originally Posted by tenshi no hane

I made a translation. It's quick one so I'm not giving its own thread. These lyrics are quite difficult to turn into sensible English.

Mask

At midnight, my reflection in the window glass
looks exhausted and I heave a heavy sigh that today is over
I'm no longer surprised when I see someone's dyed eyes*,
having lost sight of the importance of telling the truth

Since then we've overcome so much pain
or pretended to, simply covering scars with new wounds

Blaming the times, we let go of our feelings

"Even so, in the future there'll be meaning to moving forward now"
I remember that person's words and get back up

Making excuses by lining up all the things I can't do anymore
and just putting on a smile for the time being, when did I start doing that?

Communicating even in tears, yelling until I was understood,
when was the last time I was able to face someone like that?

The wind has gotten colder, right?
Winter is just around the corner

I've started to feel like listening to only soft songs
Imagining, hiding my wounds with other wounds again?

---

* T/N: No clue what she means with "someone's dyed eyes". The literal translation is "eyes that someone has colored/dyed".

Thanks for taking the time to translate the lyrics.
I don't have much to say about the "sad yet powerful message" though...

[koumori]

Originally Posted by tenshi no hane

I made a translation. It's quick one so I'm not giving its own thread. These lyrics are quite difficult to turn into sensible English.

Mask

At midnight, my reflection in the window glass
looks exhausted and I heave a heavy sigh that today is over
I'm no longer surprised when I see someone's dyed eyes*,
having lost sight of the importance of telling the truth

Since then we've overcome so much pain
or pretended to, simply covering scars with new wounds

Blaming the times, we let go of our feelings

"Even so, in the future there'll be meaning to moving forward now"
I remember that person's words and get back up

Making excuses by lining up all the things I can't do anymore
and just putting on a smile for the time being, when did I start doing that?

Communicating even in tears, yelling until I was understood,
when was the last time I was able to face someone like that?

The wind has gotten colder, right?
Winter is just around the corner

I've started to feel like listening to only soft songs
Imagining, hiding my wounds with other wounds again?

---

* T/N: No clue what she means with "someone's dyed eyes". The literal translation is "eyes that someone has colored/dyed".

Thank you so much for the translation

[YakuSoku]

Originally Posted by tenshi no hane

I made a translation. It's quick one so I'm not giving its own thread. These lyrics are quite difficult to turn into sensible English.

Mask

At midnight, my reflection in the window glass
looks exhausted and I heave a heavy sigh that today is over
I'm no longer surprised when I see someone's dyed eyes*,
having lost sight of the importance of telling the truth

Since then we've overcome so much pain
or pretended to, simply covering scars with new wounds

Blaming the times, we let go of our feelings

"Even so, in the future there'll be meaning to moving forward now"
I remember that person's words and get back up

Making excuses by lining up all the things I can't do anymore
and just putting on a smile for the time being, when did I start doing that?

Communicating even in tears, yelling until I was understood,
when was the last time I was able to face someone like that?

The wind has gotten colder, right?
Winter is just around the corner

I've started to feel like listening to only soft songs
Imagining, hiding my wounds with other wounds again?

---

* T/N: No clue what she means with "someone's dyed eyes". The literal translation is "eyes that someone has colored/dyed".

It’s 冷た　from 冷たい　つめたい　cold

[tenshi no hane]

Originally Posted by tokyoxjapanxfan

It might be “sameta” (grow cold) not “someta” (dye)?

Originally Posted by YakuSoku

It’s 冷た　from 冷たい　つめたい　cold

Yeah, that makes more sense, thanks. I changed it. The site I got the official Japanese lyrics from used someta, but that might've been a typo.

[Foyuki]

omg YouTube ayu channel finally updated multi language subs !!!
But cannot find the options on iPhone
Only on TV

[Aderianu]

The lyrics didn't match the sound for me
Thanks for translation

[tokyoxjapanxfan]

It might be “sameta” (grow cold) not “someta” (dye)?

[Didz-19]

i was listening to "MASK" and didn't even realize that it ended so quickly...i think something was missing..but can't seem to identify what..hmmm...

[summerain]

MASK preview reminded me the vibes of Ai Otsuka's Sakura Harahara PV:

[Sky High]

Somehow I think this PV will be a simple one, one location, one costume, a closeup face, and a rotating camera, with no story in particular. I don't expect much, but It is nice that we are getting new music and PV.