Why I think Ayumi's sales have fallen...

[visionfactory]

I recommend creating an official sticky thread titled "your thoughts on why ayu sales have been declining" because there are like a thousand of threads like this one -.-

[AngelSenshi]

Originally Posted by visionfactory

I recommend creating an official sticky thread titled "your thoughts on why ayu sales have been declining" because there are like a thousand of threads like this one -.-

It'd be useless; someone will always come along and start something like this again...

[ストロボ・EdGE]

I have no idea what people mean when they say that this song is westernized, but that one isn't.

If it's not westernized then what is it? Traditional Japanese style music? Go listen to Kayokyoku if JPop artists are too Americanized for you.

That's a bunch of crap in my opinion.

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

To be honest, I haven't seen all that much constructive criticism at AHS when people are discussing, it's mainly DEstructive.

"SUNRISE AND SUNSET ARE HER WORST WORKS EVER"
"glitter/fated is the worst release that I have seen from Ayu."
"She disappointed me like never before with this latest album.."

And so on.

Well I'm mainly referring to some arguments/conversations that took place in the many Rock'n'Roll Circus threads leading up the the announcement. I forget which member it was, but people were labeling the conversations as "arguing" and this certain member made a good point on how debate is a healthy way to conversate.

[primavera♥]

^yeah in school Debate is an academic class. the students end up debating everything after a month in there.

just most debates people never look to the other side. especially with ayu. no one will realize its all opinionated and that no the other person is not biologically the same as u.

[AyUta]

Originally Posted by identity

"But we can truly see why Namie is back in the limelight: her songs are not Americanized."

You lost me there. The reason I don't like a lot of Namie's new music is because it's wayy too americanized. I still don't think ayu's music is very americanized at all, and that's why I love it.

This. I started to lose interest in namie solely because of this.

[AyUmIXx]

why ayu's sales falling?
simple: because nobody can be famous for the eternity!
ppl evolve, world evolves, many new artists deserve a chance..
I'm proud enough that Ayu's already the legend herself in Japan or Asia, ppl know her, respect her.. no matter how low her sales are nowadays~

*even the SUPER BIG STAR like, Micheal Jackson got no sales at all..since he didn't release new stuff for such long time... but ONCE his death news appeared, all ppl were so sad about it..they thought they lost one of the greatest musicians in entire nation, ppl still love him for his music..*

so please, don't just jugde through sales to determine that Ayu's gonna be gone like forever..

and Rock 'n' Roll Circus is one of the her best albums from the last few years, I was not really interested in NEXT LEVEL when i first heard the album, i was not so excited like i would always play all the new songs over and over again like i do for RnRC, and i almost love all the new songs.. i kinda feel like with this album, Ayu's kinda back to the past..I can feel some new songs are kind of like the old days, well that's maybe just me~
I just hope that ppl will love it in Japan and throughout Asia~

[SheFliesHigher]

Huh? You need to be clearer about some of your terminology. What do you mean by "Americanized"? What's an American song like and why does Namie Amuro not sound like that but Ayu does? What do you mean by "simple lyrics"? And do you honestly think the general public puts so much weight in INTROS? Gimme a break! The general public likes a catchy hook and a singable chorus.

You make these weird comments like "remember when Ayu fans wouldn't stop singing 'Real Me' and 'Duty'"? Those are 2 TOTALLY DIFFERENT songs! And lots of people would say "Real Me" is "Americanized" pop gibberish for many reasons, not the least of which being it's one of her first songs to EVER have English! What makes these 2 songs similar that doesn't make Blue Bird (popular and awesome according to you) and Born to Be (crap and unpopular according to you) similar? BTW, did you forget Born to Be was the theme of the winter Olympics....?

You're talking a bunch of nonsense, man.

[SURREAL__RAINBOW]

Originally Posted by emiko

imo Ayu is being held back by the sales because the culture in Japan just isn't really open to the way she's changed.

Apparently, she's been losing popularity since Duty...in Japan anyway.

Honestly, Namie Amuro has high sales because she hasnt had a studio album in forever, AND she's quite popular in other ways, fashion, and image-wise, etc. And imo, Namie's high sales wont last that long.

Female Solos...especially ones that so their own thing, are just not the it thing anymore. That's just how it is. imo, it is impossible for her to have million sales again.


But also...you know, people here at AHS are kinda....blinded a little bit...thinking that an album selling just 300k sucks. A lot of people here have no idea what it's like to follow artists that are never in the top ten, or the top five, and for the vast majority of artists in Japan, that is their reality.

Having an album sell 300k copies in Japan is great. GREAT. I only wish half of the artists I love sold that "badly".

Ayu IS the Empress of J-pop. There are still no other artists in Japan that come close to her status and prestige, and regardless of her sales, that will never change.

This 100%

Not much left to say after these words actually.

[himawari]

Namie's high sales wont last that long.

sorry your wrong. Yes Im a Namie and Ayu fan..

[truehappiness]

Well I'm mainly referring to some arguments/conversations that took place in the many Rock'n'Roll Circus threads leading up the the announcement. I forget which member it was, but people were labeling the conversations as "arguing" and this certain member made a good point on how debate is a healthy way to conversate.

Yeah, apparently having a long conversation with AngelSenshi was thought of as arguing because of how long the posts got, ahahaha.

(I remember because I was a part of most of those, haha.)

I would say that this person might be trying to stir things up though rather than spark up conversation though.

[channy]

I think too many people are taking their own opinion way TOO serious by themselve. I mean, if someone like me says "Rock'n'Roll Circus is not one of her best albums and it's not really matching its title" this doesn't mean that it has anything to do with the interpretation of the album from someone else nor does it mean, that I am right. Because it's just MY trashy opinion.

That's how I handle with the opinions of others, too. Actually the main problem of this forum is, that we discuss about music. Apparently it's hard to keep in mind for many of us, that music isn't a thing that you can discuss. You can tell others "I like it / I dislike it", but as soon as you say "this album / this song etc is bad" you are generalizing your insignificant opinion upon everyone!

Let's just try to stop discussing about tastes of music, I really mean it.

[Zeke.]

^ If we can't discuss our preferences/takes/opinions on the music... then what the hell are we going to discuss? Lol.

[love in music]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

To be honest, I haven't seen all that much constructive criticism at AHS when people are discussing, it's mainly DEstructive.

"SUNRISE AND SUNSET ARE HER WORST WORKS EVER"
"glitter/fated is the worst release that I have seen from Ayu."
"She disappointed me like never before with this latest album.."

And so on.

I notice that too. Why not be like "I dislike this song because of _____" and go into a little more detail other than it just "sucks". I've tried to get into discussions with people that make those comments but they don't ever reply back with a better reason or think I'm stanning and get all defensive when I simply just want to know a better/less vague reason as to why they don't like it.

[C+R+E+AYUMI]

very good report thanks.

Anyway I agree that her sound became too american and far away from japanese pop style.

Anyway we should consider the higher developing these years of illegal downloading.
And we all are an example. Although many of us do buy her releases from the other side many cannot afford/don't wanna buy so just limit to download.

[waterballoon]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I would say that this person might be trying to stir things up though rather than spark up conversation though.

Must this always happen? I mean... why do I feel like most of us are trying to escape from the reality that Ayu's sales are indeed falling, and her popularity indeed is dropping, that even a mention, or an initiate to a discussion about those things seemingly equates that person to a troll, attention-seeker, or Ayu "hater"?

Ayu isn't perfect like all of us. She obviously has flaws here and there... and I never see anything wrong in discussing about these flaws, except the REALLY stupid ones like her weight etc.

I think we're all just so blinded about glorifying Ayu that we just become so scary when it comes to embracing her flaws.

And yeah... sorry that I hate the Sunrise single. I hate it, i hate it, i hate it. It has the fugliest cover from any Ayu CD I've seen in my life, and thus I hate it. Do I need to force myself to love the Sunrise single when I actually hate it, just because I don't wanna be labeled a "troll", "hater" or "attention seeker"?

Sorry but that's not my style. I've said what I wanted to say. and this post isn't directed to you truehappiness, it's just a trend that I've been seeing...

[Tom Punks]

^ I agree with you waterballoon. The OP typed out a long, thoughtful-ish post and people are treating it as if he said nothing more than "AYU SUX DISCUSS?" It's a bit rude to say this person is trying to start fights/is a troll just because you don't agree with his opinion. Also calling him an "idiot" is totally uncalled for.

[Yumsushi]

Namie's music isn't westernized?
Intros and lengths or songs are the only things that make good music?
Sunrise is an American song?
I'm sorry; I agree wholeheartedly that Ayu's sales have plummeted and that she isn't as popular as before, I also agree that she doesnt take her time making an album which leads to songs sounding like other songs and so on but your argument is absolutely baseless.

[waterballoon]

Originally Posted by Tom Punks

^ I agree with you waterballoon. The OP typed out a long, thoughtful-ish post and people are treating it as if he said nothing more than "AYU SUX DISCUSS?" It's a bit rude to say this person is trying to start fights/is a troll just because you don't agree with his opinion. Also calling him an "idiot" is totally uncalled for.

Glad we're on the same track I thought this was an interesting topic anyway, save the "Americanization" part which is in itself an iffy subject.

And since we're on it, I actually don't think any of Ayu's music is Americanized... perhaps there are a few here and there like Real me for example, but I felt most of her songs are very "Japanese" in a sense that they're gonna flop in America X__X. Like I can't imagine Days, Sunrise, BALLAD etc actually being hits outside Asia lol

[rainydayumi]

^ sorry but waterballonn you are sounding so stupid right now.. hes a certified troll. 1 post.

it sounds like youre both unhappy with ayu but dont have the guts to tell what you feel and are finally feeling happy that theres a thread on her "falling music quality". so to make up for your lack of courage you both side with the troll and try your best to slam down everyone elses opinions on ayu which is postivie.

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I would say that this person might be trying to stir things up though rather than spark up conversation though.

wow, it actually took you 4 pages to realize that?

whats wrong with AHS today??