Has ayu lost her touch?

[GRACE]

Originally Posted by RyRyMini

^I disagree. She has enough money for the rest of her life EASILY. She won't become broke if she takes a break. I'm sure she could get advisers for how to spend her money if she had to.

The problem is, no one here understands how musicians make their money.

Musicians only make real money by concerts, that's it. They make a royalty on CD releases, but it's not that much. Why do Japanese artists release more often the western artists? Japanese artists get less royalties for their CDs then Western artists do. When Ayu releases a CD, most of the money from it goes into avex's bank account, not her's.

She makes her money with her concerts, it's a job like any other. And she's doing it successfully despite our complaining. She's still packing arenas full of people. And I think that's part of the problem.

everything is GOOD for her right now. She's maintaining decent sales for the current CD market, she's made great digital sales this year on Sunrise and You were..., she's got a #1 streak that's poised to break the record, and she's still packing arenas full of people. In my opinion, she doesn't see a need to fix anything because nothing is being drastically hurt by it, except, apparently, the opinions of fans halfway around the world.

For her to fix whatever's falling apart would require her to lose a lot first. The only thing that's going to fix anything is her going down in flames and having to claw her way back to the top

[RyRyMini]

Originally Posted by GRACE

The problem is, no one here understands how musicians make their money.

Musicians only make real money by concerts, that's it. They make a royalty on CD releases, but it's not that much. Why do Japanese artists release more often the western artists? Japanese artists get less royalties for their CDs then Western artists do. When Ayu releases a CD, most of the money from it goes into avex's bank account, not her's.

She makes her money with her concerts, it's a job like any other. And she's doing it successfully despite our complaining. She's still packing arenas full of people. And I think that's part of the problem.

everything is GOOD for her right now. She's maintaining decent sales for the current CD market, she's made great digital sales this year on Sunrise and You were..., she's got a #1 streak that's poised to break the record, and she's still packing arenas full of people. In my opinion, she doesn't see a need to fix anything because nothing is being drastically hurt by it, except, apparently, the opinions of fans halfway around the world.

For her to fix whatever's falling apart would require her to lose a lot first. The only thing that's going to fix anything is her going down in flames and having to claw her way back to the top

No, I'm fully aware that she and other artists don't make much off of CD sales. She's toured so much though, I mean look how large and full the arenas always are. And we only see one show from the DVD release - tours generally have many dates in them.

Like I said, I'm sure she has enough money. Dropping a grand on shoes honestly isn't really much when you have millions. A lot of Western celebrities spend thousands upon thousands at once and they don't become broke.

I don't understand why people are saying Ayu has "decent" sales. She's an artist with so many #1s and thousands of sales. There are a lot of talented artists who couldn't dream of having sales and records like that, like Anna Tsuchiya and Ami Suzuki to name a couple. Neither of them have huge tours and they seem to be doing fine financially.

We might not be the only ones complaining about Ayu, I'm sure there are some Japanese fans who aren't that pleased with her as of late, nobody could deny it after watching her recent evolution performance. But even after one (or a few) bad or recycled performances, people would still want to go see her even though they may complain on the side. I know I would.

Also, we have to remember this is a discussion forum. There are always going to be unsatisfied people, and that's fine. Who would want to come here if everyone loved everything she did and every thread was filled with praise?

[Mai82Go]

^How does that work on TA anyway? Can TA members leave messages on a message board, or can they post replies to her blog entries?

[FuNsTyLe]

I think the last 3-4 years she has been the same, nothing nw. Nothing!
You know before how you could listen to one of her songs or see a phjoto of her and say "Oh, this is 1999-Ayu" or "Oh, this is 2002-Ayu"
She just looks the same now, never something new, all her songs sound alike. Rule, 1Love, Talkin 2 Myself, Because of you, Game are all several years apart, but they sound exactly the same "Dark" Rock....

And what about when Ayu a few months back said that her new single would be just super cool and innovative and not sound like anything she's done before?! And what do we get? Three new songs that off course sound nice, but they sound just like her previous songs...
It wouldnt hurt her to experiment with new music styles, like I mentioned Bold & Delicious. This was a nice change, even though the songs aren't among her best...

We are her fans, we support her, spend a lot of money on music, merchandise, dvds and concerts. Of course we are entitled to share thoughts about her career and how it has become rather dull the last years. I can already predict how 2010 will look: A new single in march-april, probably "rock", then in August we get a pop-ish summer single with a PV from Hawaii or Guam or somehere tropical, maybe two songs that are themed up like the last couple of years have had. Then an album sometime next autumn with the usual Ayu-songs.

And off course all singles alnd album will come in three versions with slightly different covers and different PV's inside, so we'll have to buy all three.

[Izzette]

I truly believe she is now singing to just keep fans happy. She hasn't had a "REALLY" good song since Glitter/Fated in my opinion. Well somewhat Green/Days was pretty good, but certainly not up to her standards. Rule/Sparkle were acceptable. Sunrise/Sunset were okay. But nothing really blowing fans away I don't think, Such as Heaven, Evolution, STEP you, and all those major hits of hers. Also you have to factor in people don't buy CD's as much as they used too.

But as a whole Ayumi's music to me hasn't been the same since the breakup with that one guy. If you notice right after that her lyrics seemed to of lost that epic feel, or maybe it's translations that have lost that powerful feel. I'm not sure who to blame there. Songs like Curtain Call and Days sound good musically, But they aren't good lyrically.

And though I love You Were/Ballad I feel like it's her first song shes actually tried on in sometime. I don't know maybe that's just me, but it feels like she actually worked hard on it. The lyrics though don't appeal that much to me, the music/vocal and videos are very creative and good to me. But I also feel in a way that Avex is trying to make her fail. I know that sounds weird, but they to a point have some control over her, someone needs to set her down and be like DUDE-ette you gotta come clean about what the issue is, before you release another "semi" good song, I think she's hiding something.. That legendary woman just isn't the same anymore. And it makes me sad. She was such a role model to me in her early years. I always wanted to be like her someday. (well not so much the fame part, but the highly respected as a person part). But now I look at her now and It's like a stranger. I don't even know who this woman is using the name Ayumi Hamasaki. I must quote a Japanese song "Where is that warmth?" or something similar to that.

And for my avex trying to fail her theory.. Did any of you notice Ai Otsuka's cover for "love is best"? Did you see how crappy it was? I had almost pre-ordered it but when I saw the cover it turned me away. So little things like that make me wonder if Avex is trying to fail it's artists, by allowing something like that to reach the public.

Idk I'm sure i've written up a million contradictions to myself, I don't debate or war really well in forums. Just random thoughts I've come up with.

I hope 2010 brings Ayumi back... But i'm sure some of you noticed a change between Guilty and Next Level.. Guilty was a very unique different CD cover. Next Level was americanized. I feel that the Japanese music industry is becoming to American.

And to me an American I try to find other styles of music cause American music gets old, and with Japanese more and more using american styles... Is there even a good authentic music to listen to anymore?

*breathes* I could rant on for hours, but I'm going to come to a close

[njanjayrp]

Originally Posted by Izzette

.
I hope 2010 brings Ayumi back... But i'm sure some of you noticed a change between Guilty and Next Level.. Guilty was a very unique different CD cover. Next Level was americanized. I feel that the Japanese music industry is becoming to American.

Is it possibly that you didn't notice the Duty => GUILTY reference? She herself said that while writing some of the songs for GUILTY she felt as if she already wrote about similar feelings and mentioned a couple of songs from Duty. Imo the cover with the animal print dress and the nails pretty much screams Duty II even though that was quite original imo

[Andrenekoi]

Really... I hate when people says she is reusing stuff forever when she is just doing it for like... 1 or 2 years... And I can't see whats wrong with using the damn side opened pants for 1 tour and 2 cdls, or the "I can't reach you" for the performances of 2008 (Cuz Shuiya reached her on At07 and he also did on At09 and he wasn't her main couple on At06 or At05)

She is only repeating the same stuff on different events on the same year! In order to promote the same album! What totally makes sense!

Maybe the main problem is that a lot of people around here are "over-ayumed" ~~

[GRACE]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

Really... I hate when people says she is reusing stuff forever when she is just doing it for like... 1 or 2 years... And I can't see whats wrong with using the damn side opened pants for 1 tour and 2 cdls, or the "I can't reach you" for the performances of 2008 (Cuz Shuiya reached her on At07 and he also did on At09 and he wasn't her main couple on At06 or At05)

She is only repeating the same stuff on different events on the same year! In order to promote the same album! What totally makes sense!

Maybe the main problem is that a lot of people around here are "over-ayumed" ~~

I actually think I agree with this. She only used Shuya for two years in concerts, and now she's doing something different (Maro+Midori), I think people are rewatching concerts too much and getting the feeling this has been used more often then it really has

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

Really... I hate when people says she is reusing stuff forever when she is just doing it for like... 1 or 2 years...

I WISH it were only 1-2 years. Various things have been repeating around 4 years now.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

I WISH it were only 1-2 years. Various things have been repeating around 4 years now.

Like what? really... besides the horrid summer/winter singles she MUST release every year (and if she doesn't, the same people who says she is releasing more of the same starts crying like a bunch of babies) I can't really think about that much re-used stuff...

Playing safe? (miss)understood was one of her most unsafe albums, Guilty has a far heavier sound than most idols releases and Next Level is highly influenced by the 8-bit underground music, what is not really a common thing on mainstream pop...

Her music is bad? This is a matter of opinion... There are people loving it! I remember I got really surprised when I noticed how much asian people entered AHS because watched Blue Bird on MTV or something like that, and Days is charting for more than a year now!

I do agree her voice right now is bad, since she discovered she was deaf, actually, but still... she discovered she is deaf, it will take her time to recover control of her voice... But other than that, Sorry, but I really can't see what is so wrong with her career! When her albums starts to sound alike or outdated when they are just released, I will be annoyed...

Ayumi626@ I would rather say she works so much cuz she doesn't wanna have the time to think about her emotional scars... But considering some stuff I read here on AHS, I'm pretty sure a lot of her fans around here prefer her depressed and composing "deep" music, than healing herself... I would even say that some people around here would see her as some kind of hero is she killed herself on her darker eras...

[Queen Bee]

Originally Posted by InoriNoUta

No offense taken here at all. I agree with every word.

And if we were to send TeamAyu a message about how some people are a little disappointed with Ayu lately, I nominate you as the spokesperson

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

Ayumi626@ I would rather say she works so much cuz she doesn't wanna have the time to think about her emotional scars... But considering some stuff I read here on AHS, I'm pretty sure a lot of her fans around here prefer her depressed and composing "deep" music, than healing herself... I would even say that some people around here would see her as some kind of hero is she killed herself on her darker eras...

It's probably true that she works to avoid the emotional scars but it's VERY unhealthy not to take the time and handle each one but writing songs does sem to help but I think there is more she could probably do as well.. I have to agree with you about some of the fans here. I personally like a happier, healthier Ayu then a depressed Ayu.

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

Like what? really... besides the horrid summer/winter singles she MUST release every year (and if she doesn't, the same people who says she is releasing more of the same starts crying like a bunch of babies) I can't really think about that much re-used stuff...

I think it is pretty hard to argue that her concerts have not been very similar since 2005. Some details in them might change but the basic structure has remained the same. From her first tour till My Story each tour was very different from the last one. My Story itself was very innovative. From My Story on however the formula has basically remained the same. The comfort zone that people were mentioning. Same stage, same themes, same effects, same or similar costumes etc etc. But I agree with what was said earlier, right now that is secondary and her voice is the most important concern at the moment.

About the Team Ayu thing - I'm not one to just say all this stuff but not have the guts to actually tell the person. I will definitely post on Team Ayu. I have a feeling though that no matter how nicely I put it or how constructively, it'll get deleted. And that is one of the problems, I feel that Ayu has been too insulated by her team - like she lives in her own bubble world. I might lose my Team Ayu membership the day that I finally get it, lol.

[bluegie]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

I think it is pretty hard to argue that her concerts have not been very similar since 2005. Some details in them might change but the basic structure has remained the same. From her first tour till My Story each tour was very different from the last one. My Story itself was very innovative. From My Story on however the formula has basically remained the same. The comfort zone that people were mentioning. Same stage, same themes, same effects, same or similar costumes etc etc. But I agree with what was said earlier, right now that is secondary and her voice is the most important concern at the moment.

Exactly. This is how I feel after MY STORY tour. She basically reused the concept of MS tour with some new elements inside, but the overall feelings are really similar to each other.

I guess it's hard to walk out of the comfort zone after all (this applies to many other people as well).

About her voice, it's not only about it is getting worse... Well many artists encounter the same problem: in early careers, when they dun have really good vocal techniques, they tend to put more emotion into the songs. Gradually technical skills will surpass emotional feelings. I'm not saying those recent ayu songs don't have emotions... But she always tries too hard on emphasizing the technical part (e.g., vibrato..). This is how I feel about her recent materials...

[Bad Wolf]

Sadly, I agree with you ^* ETA: With Iznette and Funstyle, I mean. I made a playlist of Ayu's ballads, spanning her entire career, and I remember being floored by her earlier stuff. However, my appreciation for Ayu's work extends all the way up to her (m)u-era... I just feel like ever since 2007, she's reached this "comfort zone." Her releases are complacent and predictable. She's not trying to break any new ground or express or do different, interesting things. She's exploring the territory she's established and finding more things to do with that.

Personally, I like her dark rock songs. I like the harder, edgier Ayu. However, I know that doesn't go over well in Japan. I also know it's not good for an artist--whether they're in music, writing, painting, sculpting, etc.--to reach a sort of "comfortable slump" where their product all amounts to the same thing. That's a death trap.

I think a lot of the problem might not be from Ayu herself, but her "team." Everything's become so big nowadays with the band, the dancers, the composers/arrangers... I could handle it when Ayu was just a force on her own, composing here and there, relying on others when she liked their compositions. I liked when the dancers were background features...

Yet I'm willing, and obviously able, to accept this new, epic-Ayu era. I just think a lot of changes need to be done to bring Ayu back to top form.

I would never say she's lost her touch. I think that's impossible, really. Ayu's touch (her spirit, her charm, the inexplicable "Ayu"-ness that touches everything she does) can't REALLY go away, even if her songs are lackluster or trite. However, her touch WILL get lost and go unappreciated or unnoticed, which is an even BIGGER travesty, IMO.

Comfort is the death of any artist. She needs to be shaken and experience something BIG to really get her creativity stirring again. And for the love of god, COMPOSE!

[FuNsTyLe]

GUILTY wasn't too bad an album. The best one out of her newest ones NEXT LEVEL, (miss) understood and secret. In my opinion. I got the Duty-vibe a couple of times with Guilty, especially in the song Guilty, which was nice.

[Bad Wolf]

^ Nothing. People just like to throw other top female acts into the mix as if they have anything to do with each other. Just kidding.

Though it's also possible they're using those acts as a reference for what Ayu should strive to do. However, if Ayu did that, she wouldn't be Ayu. And I wouldn't really want Ayu to try to be Kuu these days Kuu's still finding herself, too.

[FuNsTyLe]

Koda Kumi is Koda Kumi. I wouldn't want Ayu to be like that... Not like Namie or Gaga either. Also, the style of music Gaga does these days is also just a trend... If she is still popular in 5 years, she isn't still making Poker Face-type of songs, right?
Times change, people evolve and most important, music evolves, and you have to ride the wave, then know when to jump off. Madonna does it pretty well. Then again. Always a step ahead Never been a huge Madonna-fan but you gotta admit she does it right every time.

Someone mentioned that Ayu has fallen into a comfort-zone, and I counlt agree more. That's not a good zone.

[Bad Wolf]

Originally Posted by FuNsTyLe

Someone mentioned that Ayu has fallen into a comfort-zone, and I counlt agree more. That's not a good zone.

That was me XD And yeah, I've gotten into many discussions with my friend (another Ayu fan) about her "comfort zone." We both pretty much agreed that while we love Ayu, she really needs to stop with tried and true formulas. Once you reach a level of success, your next thought should be what you can do to achieve another one since innovation and adaptation are key for artists. No one ever really sits happily atop their achievements, and if they do they're fools, IMO. You should always strive to do something better and if you let yourself think you've reached a point where you're successful and can't do anything else, then you limit yourself. That's mostly why I turned away from western music. The artists got a hit, hit a peak, and stopped. They grew "too comfortable" with themselves and just stopped caring. And if they don't care, why the hell should I?

The problem here is that Ayu DOES care. She just has such lackluster product to care about that it makes me wonder why I care :/

[Queen Bee]

I think it's about time I put in my two cents. Being an Ayu fan for a little over 10 years now I can honestly say that Ayu hasn't lost her touch. I think it's more along the lines that she does what makes her Asian fan base the happiest even if that means repeating things in concert. Now I do agree that her vocals did seem weak and sometimes even off during the CDL this year but over all for me it didn't take away from anything. I was perfectly happy with AT09 being much less scaled back compared to AT05 and 06 and Asia Tour 07 and 08. It brought back a feeling that I had missed in Ayu. Personally made me think of AT02 which I personally loved.

I think it would be great if there was a way that we could voice our concerns to Ayu but some comments I have read on AHS are sometimes flat out rude and insulting. I do remember there was a point where people who liked something that the majority didn't like would be attacked but now it seems reversed. I think some complaints made here in this thread are peoples personal opinions and should be respected and also do have some validity.

Some think that it might not be a good idea to post any negative comments to Ayu on TeamAyu but I think if they are written with care and not full of malice. I think even Ayu would like to read it. But chances are no matter how nicely it was worded someone on her staff would probably delete them before Ayu could read it.

I think something that might help Ayu out is to take full control of every little detail again. I think that it's great that she trusts her staff so much but she needs to notice some of the directions they have taken her. Some have been good and some have been bad. Also I do wish Ayu would take a break even if it's only for a month or two. Travel or even just relax at home with her dogs. No tours, no promotion on any kind and I think she might come back with full steam. I would love if she would do something like she did in 03 with the TeamAyu tour. Very simple but VERY perfect.

Something I've also noticed is that Ayu has never let herself have the time to heal from any of her injuries, physical or emotional. Falling off stage at Dome Tour, some hearing loss after Dome Tour, ending a 7 year relationship right before glitter/fated was released, a close friend dying while out of the country, complete loss of hearing in her left ear before the release of GUILTY, an even closer friend losing a battle with cancer, falling down the stairs and severely injuring her hand a week or two before PCDL. She's always continued because she doesn't want to let her fans down. So I think that some of the fault for things that have gone wrong with tours falls on us, the fans.

I noticed that we always point fingers and blame Ayu or her staff for when things go bad but we have to realize there are fingers pointing back at us. If the fans didn't expect or demand so much from her I don't think we might be having the conversations we are having now but that it just my personal opinion. Hope I didn't overly offend anyone.

[Bad Wolf]

No offense taken here at all. I agree with every word.

And if we were to send TeamAyu a message about how some people are a little disappointed with Ayu lately, I nominate you as the spokesperson