Ayu: Anything Goes [XXV]

[attractive nausea]

^ There is this thread with links to either download or watch all 74 episodes on google drive

[Toniayu123]

^ thank you!!

[metropass]

Originally Posted by thinkingoutloud89

Hu?! she is #4 on the most sold artist list for the Heisei-era. She is/was basically the epitome of what it is/means to be a J-pop star. Everything from 1998-2001 (up until A BEST) are well known songs and everyone above 20 can probably name you the tracklist of A BEST. There are probably a dozen of songs after that era too, as she only really started to "lose fame" around GUILTY (whatever that means, because she has build a legacy for herself that can't be taken away anymore).

During her peak around 1999 and early 2000s her songs were really well known at that time. But look back at the whole Heisei era, I don't see any of her songs is iconic enough to be one of the classic song in Heisei, especially when compared with Utada and Namie. First Love is super famous among Japan and Asia which is still mentioned frequently 20 years after its release nowadays. CAN YOU CELEBRATE gained the highest CD single sales of Japan solo female artist. Even Mika Nakashima's Yuki no Hana is much more popular than any Ayu's song as it was covered by not just Japanese artist but also in various languages. For Ayu she didn't has any song which is widely spreaded within Japan and Asia and to represent Japan music. What makes me strengthen this feeling is her songs are seldom be covered by other artists. I could only remember GACKT did SEASONS recently and Ken Hirai's version of LOVE ～Destiny～ which is already 10 years ago.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by metropass

During her peak around 1999 and early 2000s her songs were really well known at that time. But look back at the whole Heisei era, I don't see any of her songs is iconic enough to be one of the classic song in Heisei, especially when compared with Utada and Namie. First Love is super famous among Japan and Asia which is still mentioned frequently 20 years after its release nowadays. CAN YOU CELEBRATE gained the highest CD single sales of Japan solo female artist. Even Mika Nakashima's Yuki no Hana is much more popular than any Ayu's song as it was covered by not just Japanese artist but also in various languages. For Ayu she didn't has any song which is widely spreaded within Japan and Asia and to represent Japan music. What makes me strengthen this feeling is her songs are seldom be covered by other artists. I could only remember GACKT did SEASONS recently and Ken Hirai's version of LOVE ～Destiny～ which is already 10 years ago.

There are covers of A song for XX by other artists, some pretty recent, solo performances from members of those idol groups, but they are not recorded, what most likely means people aren't covering her because they aren't given permission. YouTube is also filled with common people, amateur singers or independent artists covering several of her songs, even those who never got really big, and I'm not even talking about her fans recording themselves in karaoke.

And you even got shit like that:

[pedronekoi]

On karaoke rankings BLUE BIRD and a song for xx is her most sang songs.

[Andrenekoi]

I remember Party King had a pretty complete list of every song Ayu performed while celebrating her anniversary. As we had a new chapter to that with Power of A~3, I decided to add the new tracks to the list:

01. A Song for ××
02. Depend on you
03. poker face
04. YOU

05. appears
06. Boys & Girls
07. Fly high
08. kanariya
09. TO BE
10. Trauma
11. Who...

12. AUDIENCE
13. ever free
14. SEASONS
15. SURREAL
16. Duty

17. A Song is born
18. Dearest
19. evolution
20. I am...
21. M
22. NEVER EVER
23. UNITE!

24. +
25. everywhere nowhere
26. Free & Easy
27. HANABI
28. independent
29. July 1st
30. Voyage
31. WE WISH

32. ANGEL'S SONG
33. Because of you
34. forgiveness
35. Greatful days
36. Memorial address
37. No way to say
38. ourselves

39. GAME
40. HONEY
41. Humming 7/4
42. INSPIRE
43. Moments
44. my name's WOMEN
45. walking proud

46. alterna
47. Bold & Delicious
48. fairyland
49. STEP you
50. Pride
51. Ladies Night
52. HEAVEN

53. 1 LOVE
54. Beautiful Fighters
55. BLUE BIRD
56. Born To Be...
57. kiss o' kill
58. Startin'

59. Part of Me

60. talkin' 2 myself
61. Together When...
62. MY ALL

63. Mirrorcle World

64. EnergizE
65. Curtain call
66. Days
67. NEXT LEVEL
68. Sparkle
69. rollin'

70. Lady Dynamite
71. Microphone
72. Sunrise ～ LOVE is ALL～

73. Last angel
74. Love Song
75. SEVEN DAYS WAR
76. Virgin Road

77. Dream ON (Special Guest: Urata Naoya)

78. ANother song (Special Guest: Urata Naoya)
79. progress
80. beloved
81. BRILLANTE

82. how beautifu you are
83. Shake It ♥
84. NaNaNa

85. You & Me

86. Ivy
87. SAKURA

88. Feel the love
89. Lelio
90. Merry-go-round
91. XOXO
92. NOW & 4EVA

93. Last minute
94. Movin' on without you
95. The Show Must Go On
96. Walk
97. WARNING

98. FLOWER
99. Mad World
100. Many Classic Moments
101. Summer Love
102. Survivor
103. TODAY

104. æternal
105. The way I am
106. W
107. We are the QUEENS
108. WORDS

(109. Diary by miccie)

[Xianghua]

Wow 108 songs!!

[mizuki-7]

A fan compiled all the thoughts of artists who have cited Ayumi. It’s quite impressive look at this :
https://www.dclog.jp/en/1509895/198668594

I can’translate it so if someone is willing to try I thank you

B'z

「彼女の詞の世界は奥ゆかしい」

Mr.Children (Kazutoshi Sakurai)
「創造性溢れる曲目に感嘆」

Southern All Stars (Kuwata Keisuke)

「あゆのＭは衝撃的だった」

Takuya Kimura (SMAP)

「UNITE!好きっすよ？」

YOSHIKI

「彼女は100年に一人の逸材」

Gackt

「作曲家としても群を抜く」

hyde (l’arc en ciel)

「LIVEの回数が半端ない。

あの小さな体で尊敬します」

TERU (GLAY)

「彼女を超える歌手はマドンナぐらい

Koda Kumi

「いつか一緒に歌いたい」

KEIKO (globe)

「歌唱力が凄いね」

Tetsuya Komuro

「100%の才能」

Nomura Yoshio (Her guitarist)

「死ぬまであゆの曲でギターをひく」

Enrique (Her ex bassist)

「彼女と出会えて幸運だ」

ATSUSHI (EXILE)

「エンターテイメントの盟主」

HIRO (EXILE)

「色々学ぶことがある」

Nakashima Mika

「目指しても壁が高すぎる」

Masahiro Nakai (SMAP)

「マリア～♪っだべ？？」

Shingo Katori (SMAP)

「歌やばいね～」

Goro Inagaki (SMAP)

「歌詞がいいね」

Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (SMAP)

「歌いやすくていい」

Sanma Akashiya (comedian)

「あゆがから騒ぎに来たときは緊張した」

Ito Saori (comedian)

「あゆの懐の深さには感激」

CHEMISTRY

「セッションでは感動」

KinKi Kids

「同年代で仲良くさせてもらってます」

Tomoya Nagase (ex boyfriend)

「１番に好きな人ではなく0番に好きな人。

惹かれ合いすぎて届かない存在」

ISSA (DA PUMP)

「カラオケで絶対に歌う」

Mao Asada (figure skaters)

「勇気づけられる歌」

T.M.Revolution

「話が合うんでフラットな人」

Tamori (comedian/TV host)

「一層に輝いている」

Tetsuji Tamayama (Actor)

「意外と普通な女の子って印象です」

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by pedronekoi

Found myself watching a lot of her talk sections in the music shows and was impressed with how they never mentioned or asked her about her relationship with Nagase. Do you guys think there was some kind of rule/agreement by the labels (Ayu's and Nagase's) that prohibited the tv shows to talk about this?

In general that stuff is never talked about in Japan on those kinds of shows.

[Andrenekoi]

@mizuki-7
Utada also talked about Ayu in English during the Exodus promo... I think someone asked about Ayu during an event, the host asked who was that and she said it was a huge singer, and a very pretty one, but thar they were very different from eachother as artists.

[Evan Odinson]

@mizuki-7 This is interesting! I'm only using google translator so if someone could do better translations would be really appreciated! so far, I love the quotes from Yoshiki and Gackt! I couldn't understand what Hyde meant (probably because of the poor quality translator lol) and Kumi saying she would like to sing together with her someday

[pedronekoi]

Wow! The list of people that talked about her in insane!! Amazing! Gotta read it later.

By the way, found on Instagram that Ayu sent flowers to this japanese/american Jewelry Shop that had opened a pop up store in Tokyo: https://www.instagram.com/p/BwcBja3HbTM/ It's in Omotesando Hills, if someone wants to see it there.

I have a question, does anyone knows when Ayu and Nagase made their relationship official to the public? Because I was watching Ayuready with DA PUMP as guests and they kept asking about Ayu's type of guy and all of that "romance/love life" thing and I was wondering if the media knew she was with Nagase at the time...

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by Evan Odinson

@mizuki-7 This is interesting! I'm only using google translator so if someone could do better translations would be really appreciated! so far, I love the quotes from Yoshiki and Gackt! I couldn't understand what Hyde meant (probably because of the poor quality translator lol) and Kumi saying she would like to sing together with her someday

Hyde says “the frequency at which she performs lives is impressive.”

[Aderianu]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

Hyde says “the frequency at which she performs lives is impressive.”

thanks! was interested in his translation the most )

Yoshiki said that she's talent that appears ones in 100 years?

[pedronekoi]

Some translations:

Mika Nakashima
「Her aiming level is really high.」(something like that)

Tomoya Nagase
「She's not my number 1 loved person, but the number 0.」lol

B'z
「The world of her lyrics is very modest.」

YOSHIKI
「She's an outstanding talent that only happens once in 100 years.」

Gackt
「She is also outstanding as a lyrics composer.」

hyde (l’arc en ciel)
「The amount of lives she does is impressive. I have respect for that little body.」

Koda Kumi
「At least once I'd like to sing with her.」

KEIKO (globe)
「Her singing skills are amazing.」

Tetsuya Komuro
「100% talent.」

Masahiro Nakai (SMAP)
「Maria～♪」

Shingo Katori (SMAP)
「Ain't her songs amazing??」

Goro Inagaki (SMAP)
「Her lyrics are good, right.」

Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (SMAP)
「It's nice and easy to sing.」

[Chris85]

Originally Posted by pedronekoi

KEIKO (globe)
「Her singing skills are amazing.」

Keiko, just cut it out, girl, you were there, even during her best years Ayu couldn't sing "A Song Is Born" well.

[BlackSilence]

^https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xls09s

[Chris85]

Originally Posted by artcika

^https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xls09s

Nice try, but it's a lowered key :-P

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by Chris85

Keiko, just cut it out, girl, you were there, even during her best years Ayu couldn't sing "A Song Is Born" well.

Well, maybe Keiko was comparing Ayu to herself lol

[metropass]

Originally Posted by pedronekoi

I have a question, does anyone knows when Ayu and Nagase made their relationship official to the public? Because I was watching Ayuready with DA PUMP as guests and they kept asking about Ayu's type of guy and all of that "romance/love life" thing and I was wondering if the media knew she was with Nagase at the time...

It was in September 2001. This website recorded some details about how their relationship was unveiled. http://monochrome0408.web.fc2.com/PC...PICS.htm#A2001