[Unconfirmed] Ayumi plans for 2015 World Tour and 2015 New Album, could this be a rumour?

[Delirium-Zer0]

I think that would absolutely be the way to go... Ayu & her band doing a VH1 Storytellers/MTV Unplugged type series of small venue shows, playing the part of a singer/songwriter rather than a huge showy pop star, letting her voice & charisma (and maybe a cool outfit or two) be the "show" rather than relying on dancers & staging.

I think Ayu underestimates how riveting she is to watch on her own - Concert Tour 2000 held my interest far more than most of her later concerts have, because watching HER was entrancing. Her facial expressions, her dreamy eyes, the way she'd lean forward to push notes out, that tap of the microphone when she lowered it after each line. That stuff gave her such presence and character, but she's replaced it with choreography. When she DOES emote more naturally on stage, it's - in my opinion - a far more engaging performance, and it's just as interesting to watch in the moment as anything with dancers or effects.

But again, I don't think Ayu realizes that's the case. I don't think she realizes that I'm SAD I never got to see the early, barebones stages of Power of Music and only got to see the "full show" from the Limited Edition leg of the tour. With each tour, she only ever presents us with this polished package that's kind of buffed all her edges & flaws out - she's hidden behind the choreography and effects and lighting, you often literally can't see her behind her dancers. And she only gives us the big shows too - she never released the UC Card-sponsored 2000 Winter show, she never released Akasaka Blitz, she took AGES to release any of Limited TeamAyu Live Tour. Even now she doesn't give us the MC anymore, when it's just her being natural on stage. She just keeps hiding more and more.

So no, I don't think she'd do a show over here - doing a show here would necessarily mean that she can't hide behind a big production.

[orangeakira]

I think an unplugged/stripped down concert would be amazing. If she did do a tour here I hope she would do 0% of anything she's done before. No tissue dances, clowns, singing a ballad while wearing a huge dress while crying while a male shirtless (for some reason) dancer longs for her, no dancing on poles, cages, chairs, etc.

If she ever did do a tour around the world I want her to actually think about what she's doing. I feel like everything at her tours is recycled. Everything. Every outfit is reminiscent of another outfit. Every prop and song section is similar to another tour. Even when she tries out new stuff, she ends up falling into the same routine. It's like a habit she can't quit.

I really really really would have loved to see POM from the early stages.

[JinHamasaki]

I think if Ayu held an a-nation Singapore style concert worldwide it would sell out and be successful. The Marina Bay Sands has a max capacity of 1680, and with Ayu's style of stage probably yield 1400 seats. From reading everyone's reviews online, it seems like the overall reception was extremely positive.

Seats in US and Europe are usually variable price (the closer you are, the more $) so avex can recoup a lot of money from front row seats that I'm sure some fanatics will be more than happy to pay ~$250+ .

So realistically she could have a show(s) in Singapore, HK, Taiwan, China, NY, LA, London. Maybe even Seoul and Brazil (large Japanese population).

[jpopfan018]

With the launch of global TeamAyu, Avex can consider a global "Limited TA Tour", perhaps a stripdown version of her concert (similar to a-nation) will help to keep the cost low?

[TeamAyu2004]

just on the ticket!? or getting there as well?

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by TeamAyu2004

just on the ticket!? or getting there as well?

Just the ticket lol.

[TeamAyu2004]

Damn! I spent 400 on mine.. was pretty good seats. floor not too far back

[Delirium-Zer0]

I have a kid and bills and a single income household soooo.... yeah, no, that's not doable for me lol... not without a full year of saving up and eating ramen and Mac & Cheese anyway, hahaha.

If Ayu was doing a show anywhere in the US, but I had to fly there, and I had sufficient advance notice (like 2+ months), I'd be able to do that. But I can't afford to go out of the country (well, except maybe to Canada).

As long as tickets alone cost less than $100 I'm good.

And this is why after being a fan for 15 years I still have not seen ayu live yet. Meh

Originally Posted by Zeke.

Power of music was perfect as is in the final release. The extravagance and elegance of it all, it truly represented the POWER of music.

I wish I felt the same way. To me the power of music is best shown by... performing the music. Being expressive and perhaps giving the songs a staging that's poetic, sure, but not extravagance. With PoM, even in its blu-ray form, the focus was more on the music than it's been in a decade, and that's what I liked about it. It's still my favorite Ayu concert to watch. But it has so many problems still. I would have liked a more raw, unpolished performance better. (With fewer dancers appearing much less often, too - the way the blu-ray is shot, it's like it's a show of her dancers rather than her.)

Ayu has always been at her best when she's unpolished. Always. The moments when the mask appears to break, that's when she's most beautiful to me. Her natural smiles, improvised cute faces, real tears, the way she sorta struts during rock songs like "decision" at PoM... THAT is what I love. That's when her eyes sparkle and I feel like I'm watching a person. I like when I can connect with her, because that's what reeled me in at the beginning. I can't connect with a machine or a statue. I need at least an illusion of humanity. When she's "acting" on stage, her eyes look dead. When she's dancing with moves that have been planned out, it feels like she's hiding.

I feel the power of her music far more when I'm just in the dark, listening to her CDs with my eyes closed.

[Delirium-Zer0]

That's actually not a bad idea. Ayu fans have certainly proven time and time again how much money they're willing to spend - even if we aren't flying overseas, shipping stuff from Japan is not cheap! They might make a decent return if they did that.

Again, however, a few months notice in advance would be nice so people can save up ^^;;

[TeamAyu2004]

But avex isnt the one that fronts her concerts....
Musicians make the bulk of their money through concerts because that is something the label does not do. All they do is handle money and music and crap like that.

And the way it was explained to me in the business practice in japan is that the artist puts up the money to buy out the arena and then they turn around and sell the tickets. I'm not sure how it works in america or the rest of the world, but it should be pretty similar. Which puts the question on why she would want to do something like that in the first place.
Like I said before... i dont think it has anything to do with money or the 'how' but the fact she just doesnt want too. But now that she is married to an american (? I think he is anyways) maybe now that she is practicing english and living here and stuff maybe she will feel more confident?

[SummonerXI]

If Ayu collaborated with huge anime conventions (Anime Expo and Otakon in America, Japan Expo in Paris), she might have a few successful international concerts. The problem is these venues probably couldn't afford her.

[douggn]

If it comes from a Chinese source it will generally just gossip to get hits and sell papers. Though does ayu even have a "original musical style". + She has said she has no interest in doing such a thing. I dont get why no one finds it strange, how would a Chinese tabloid find out her what she is up too before Japan. Like every year she either retrieving or a world tour. But since she recently said she will keep on going, the tabloids cant say she's retiring. Or maybe she has a Chinese spy in her group lol

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