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

[Andrenekoi]

^I don't really get when people says things like your friend "she is a shell of what she used to be"

Really, I find it bizarre when people says she is too divaish now based on her looks "oh, I don't care about her image, she is too divaish now, me dislike!" If she being too divaish is a problem, you DO care about her image...

About her lyrics... She only have her life as a base to her own personal problems... and I don't think anyone has so much personal problems to fill 12 albums with "deep" lyrics...

I prefer when she sings about the world around her (her "shallow lyrics" according to AHS), cuz even if Ayu's from asfxx era is very relatable, she is also kinda a cry baby... I enjoy seeing her turning into a strong woman and writing songs about her impressions towards the world. IMO her lyrics are even better than they used to be just cuz before she had so much problem on expressing herself that the lyric went nowhere

IMO the problem is that some people wanted her to be stucked on their favorite era forever... Cuz there she was good, there she was deep, there she was creative

-

BTW... imo Beautiful Fighter is her girl-power lyric with the better lyrics... and most of her recent cutesy songs (cuz nobody complains about the boring Audience ~~') do have very good lyrics (EnergizE being the only one that have only normal ones)

[freedreamer]

It's funny how some can comment on her AGE and yet dont even realize that people's mindsets change over 12 years. It's about maturity. Obviously Ayu don't see things the same NOW like when she was writing lyrics for ASFXX. And that is caled growth and maturity, and it reflected in her lyrics. If she really is a shell, she my as well asked someone else to write her lyrics. Really, I find it bewildering to think that people dont put themselves in the shoes of the artiste and judge everything so superficially.

Being a fan from so long, surely You have a change in mindset too. You may have reached a consensus with Ayu's words back then but (obviously) now you can't. Age doesnt mean you get despised, Age means you enter a new stage in life and with her status, you get RESPECTED.

And yes the internet. But if Japanese can download Ayu's albums, I'm sure they can download foreign artistes as well. I won't believe they have no idea who the top western artises are. Hence, THEIR music sense is changing as well. Surely they are super strong supporters of their local groups and stuff but the influence is everywhere. And you say they are attracted to lyrics? I think not. That's just ONE aspect of music and for Ayu, old fans seem to make a great deal of it. I'm sure you've liked meaningless songs now too.

[love in music]

Honestly, I think you can say all sorts of bad things about ayu, but you just can't insult her lyrics, it doesn't really work lol. The only thing you can say is that sometimes she uses similar themes/phrases, but the lyrics themselves never turn out bad or shallow/stupid like how some other peoples do.

I'd rather someone repeat stuff like "I looked up at the sky and felt happy" "i'll do anything for your smile, just be yourself" than "work the middle like i do boy you're so fry" "it's nothing but a physical thing, rub my body" etc. Youknow?

[lumieregrl]

Originally Posted by identity

I'd rather someone repeat stuff like "I looked up at the sky and felt happy" "i'll do anything for your smile, just be yourself" than "work the middle like i do boy you're so fry" "it's nothing but a physical thing, rub my body" etc. Youknow?

I just pictured Ayumi singing the latter. *dies laughing*

Although I do think her lyrics have changed, but I'm not quite sure how to describe it. I enjoy her older lyrics more, they 'grab' my heart more often than her recent ones.

[truehappiness]

I think her older lyrics are simply more angsty, haha. That's one of the things I see post-I am..., that her lyrics are happier overall pretty much instead of brooding like some depressed teen.

[microphone]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

Even those songs, at their core are westernized music. Basically anything post WWII has the western stamp on it unless it is music that comes from Japanese groups/individuals that specifically play actual Japanese music only. But of course the westernization of Japanese music is what made me love it to start with.

Why?
The melody and arrangement are very unlike western songs. I can hear some electronic instruments or pop drums but it is not enough to call it a westernized song.

[SunshineSlayer]

^ Because if it wasn't westernized it would sound like minyo, shōmyō or biwa. That's the basic point : its pointless to say one artist is more "western" than another because all jpop/jrock music is essentially westernized to begin with.

[truehappiness]

Yeah, it seems like there isn't much "J-Pop" that is purely Japanese/Eastern sounding. Most of it has Western-y elements that aren't present in songs from genres like enka and such.

-pokes at JERO-

[microphone]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

^ Because if it wasn't westernized it would sound like minyo, shōmyō or biwa. That's the basic point : its pointless to say one artist is more "western" than another because all jpop/jrock music is essentially westernized to begin with.

Those songs have some little western elements but it is not westernized. You can call talkin' 2 myself westernized. Namie's music is more western (EDIT. Sorry, I must clarify. It is American.) than Ayumi's music. Think about detail. Don't be general.

[SunshineSlayer]

^ All of those songs that you mentioned are the westernized versions of eastern "sounding" things. But just because a song has a sitar in it or something doesn't make it actual eastern music. Once again, every piece of pop music from Japan post WWII (and even a bit before that) is a result of the westernization of Japan - it is not inherently Japanese. They throw their own twists into it, but its origin is still in the west.

[microphone]

An eastern instrument in a western song is not an eastern song. That is correct. I did not say this, however.
Does the melody of Don't Look Back sound western to you? I listen to both western and eastern music. I hear no similarity. I don't understand your reason. You only say one general statement but no detail. Tell me more. What detail do you hear that make "Don't Look Back" a westernized song? Or GREEN, or any song that I told you.

[SunshineSlayer]

^ I'm sorry but I shouldn't have to go into extreme details because it seems you don't quite understand the basic point....

[Amrai-chan]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

Yeah, it seems like there isn't much "J-Pop" that is purely Japanese/Eastern sounding. Most of it has Western-y elements that aren't present in songs from genres like enka and such.

-pokes at JERO-

JERO <3

Ahem.

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I think her older lyrics are simply more angsty, haha. That's one of the things I see post-I am..., that her lyrics are happier overall pretty much instead of brooding like some depressed teen.

This. Plus she's older and your mindset changes when your older. Though I think that's been said here already.

[microphone]

@SunshineSlayer

Do you have any detail, anyway?
Your point is all Japanese music post-WWII is westernized. That is all you say. Your thoughts are so general. Don't you think WILD (Namie) is more American, or western, than Don't Look Back because of its melody in addition to arrangement? What exactly makes Don't Look Back a western song? You said, "at its core." Explain this. Also, if someone does not understand your point, you should explain in 'extreme' detail. Don't you think?
If you can not answer because you don't know, tell me. I believe you do so that is why I ask.

EDIT: I guess you don't. disappointing!

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by Amrai-chan

JERO <3

Ahem.

This. Plus she's older and your mindset changes when your older. Though I think that's been said here already.

Did you see JERO live? Haha.

And I think that she views life differently than she did when she was in her early 20s. It's rather evident in the types of songs that she's seeking to create. Compared to back then, everything's so much brighter and more enthusiastic.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

Yeah, it seems like there isn't much "J-Pop" that is purely Japanese/Eastern sounding. Most of it has Western-y elements that aren't present in songs from genres like enka and such.

-pokes at JERO-

Enka already has western elements^^"

[me0wie]

don't know if i'm within topic, but i miss the introductions to songs (i.e. I am... album) Some of the songs don't seem to flow as well and feels a little abrupt in Guilty...

[freedreamer]

^well thats what the main post did mention. Sometimes I really wonder about it. But then again, it's not that I mind.

and yea, obviously her way of thinking has changed. How can you be so hateful for 12 years? some people actually rather she stay that way. Please, imagine her writing that for 12 years with little variety, I wonder if people will still even embrace her. They must think she still remains an emo being even as an adult. People feel for her AS A YOUTH.

[Amrai-chan]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

Did you see JERO live? Haha.

And I think that she views life differently than she did when she was in her early 20s. It's rather evident in the types of songs that she's seeking to create. Compared to back then, everything's so much brighter and more enthusiastic.

No, I wish I did though he's awesome.

and personally I like Ayu's lyrics being brighter.

Originally Posted by freedreamer

^well thats what the main post did mention. Sometimes I really wonder about it. But then again, it's not that I mind.

and yea, obviously her way of thinking has changed. How can you be so hateful for 12 years? some people actually rather she stay that way. Please, imagine her writing that for 12 years with little variety, I wonder if people will still even embrace her.

Yeah, I mean think about it...I'm sure if she kept lyrics that were like back then I'm sure some if not most of the people that say they don't like her lyrics now days would be bored.

[Andrenekoi]

^But sometimes I do believe some people thinks that deep = depressed
So, if her songs are happier, she is not deep anymore...

Maybe it's just me (and maybe I'm a diva ;3) but I do find her enpowerement enthusiastic music more relatable! And I do think that for those who grew up with Ayu, it's helthier seeing someone who was dark like they are getting happier and invinting them to be happier with her than some 30 years old emo teenager...