[Official] 9th album 'GUILTY'

[waterballoon]

For one, glitter IS a good song.

Next, about GUILTY... hmm.

Ayu usually has a few type of titles to her songs/titles.

There are those very delusional titles that make us believe the song is in a certain mood, but is in fact the opposite. A good example would be fairyland and ANGEL'S SONG.

Next are her straight forward titles like Because Of You, until that Day..., Born To Be... etc.

Then, she has titles that describes the mood of the song. Good examples would be Endless sorrow.

Titles that describe the main subject of the song are also one of Ayu's common titles. BLUE BIRD, Beautiful Fighters, JEWEL, HONEY, my name's WOMEN are such titles.

Now, GUILTY, to me, is somewhat like MY STORY. Why? Read on.

Many think that MY STORY is a bad title and what have you but not many had wondered WHY she chose such a title. If you analyze her MY STORY album, you would find that many of the songs inside relate to MY STORY.

For example, her story, or her life consists of her HONEY (Tomoya), her pride as a woman (my name's WOMEN), her troubles with Tomoya (About You, CAROLS), life's many ups and downs (GAME, Replace, INSPIRE, winding road, HAPPY ENDING). Last but not least are her unconditional love for Tomoya/fans/family (walking proud, Moments).

Therefore, I somewhat predict that GUILTY will just be what the album is all about. What she's really guilty, however, is up to our speculations. I suspect there might not be a title track, seeing as how my personal view takes GUILTY like MY STORY. Of course, I might be wrong.

Having said that, if you analyze the current confirmed songs for GUILTY, you will see why they relate to it.

glitter - You really think this song is all happy? Read the lyrics.

"Strangely I remember clearly
The night when I was weeping alone
But I have no regrets
Yes, cause believe in love"

Notice the word 'regrets'? People usually feel remorse after guilt. Besides, glitter is really about how she throws away her sad thoughts by believing in love and Tomoya. Why can't she be feeling GUILTY because she has stopped doing that?

fated - This is straight forward. I believe the opening stanza sums up her feelings. This lines say it the best.

"If only I had deserved your love
As many as the times you said you loved me
If only I had loved you
As many as the times I said I loved you"

Guilt, much? Unless she's writing this section in another person's perspective, she's definitely feeling GUILTY in this song.

talkin' 2 myself - This song to me does not speak a lot about love, more on life. She's probably using talkin' 2 myself as the life lessons aspect of GUILTY, like how she did with songs such as INSPIRE for MY STORY.

decision - I've not seen the lyrics for this but I must say its arrangement and style sounds like Because Of You... Whatever.

Together When... - Hmm... this song is deep. Let me extract out one part first.

"I wanted to say "I love you"
I couldn't say "I love you"
But I feel it was both my biggest lie
And the truth"

See how the word 'truth' makes this whole stanza complicated? She wanted to express love but yet she can't. IIRC, she broke up with Tomoya cos she said their love was transforming into something like a sibling kind of love. Obviously, she can't say 'I love you' with such romantic innuendo to someone whom she's starting to regard as a brother.

"Even if I'm born again to someone else
I'll start a journey to seek for you"

She's already feeling guilty and regretful about the whole break-up thing. She wants to go back to Tomoya again, just in another life, just so that she won't be Ayu...

Now, do these songs relate to GUILTY?

I'm sort of betting that she'll write a song on how her change of feelings towards Tomoya could have been wrong or something.

Definitely, glitter is not enough! We need like another one or two cutesy songs to balance the sorrow in GUILTY. After all, happy songs aren't ALWAYS happy (fairyland).

Yeah, that's my analysis and explanation for her choice of GUILTY. Ayu isn't a bimbo or anything so I believe all her album and song titles hold a certain meaning to them. In literature especially, analyzing the title of a poem/story is crucial.

[stickyrice]

why are we writing essays about the title =\ nice analysis...but...honestly ... it's a title o_o

[waterballoon]

Perhaps I am taking too deep. But I always love how Ayu uses excellent choice of vocab for her titles... Haha, I do apologize if I'm blowing the whole thing up...

[dayumi]

I love your analysis waterballoon.

[*Petit*]

Originally Posted by twilightnight

why are we writing essays about the title =\ nice analysis...but...honestly ... it's a title o_o

Because Ayu always have her sometimes quirky reasons for her titels. Ambigous, straight forward, whatever, there's always something.

Originally Posted by Beyond the Sea

Here's how the title came to be, oh great over thinkers of AHS:

Ayu: (In Japanese) Hey Max, we need a new english album title. Whats a cool english word?

Max: (Opens a dictionary to a random page and points to word)

Ayu: AHHH! GIRUTI! SUGOI!

Hahha, I can actually picture that Sugoi. >_< And ayu afterwords going "Because... you know... Everyone has GIRUTI about something, you know... You have Giruti, I have Giruti, everyone have giruti... you know."

[dayumi]

I wish she had an album or song title in japanese writing someday...

[Zemus]

Well, Japanese song title does exist already actually. Track #14 from A BALLADS "卒業写真".

[KuroixShiroi_Namida]

Great analysis, waterballoon!

[dayumi]

Yeah I know, but she covered that song right?
I want more japanese song title, not only one..

[Impracticable]

wow waterballoon. ... ... i LOVE your analysis.

[SilentSmiles]

i love your randomness, Beyond The Sea!

This title sounds interesting. >.>

[Luv ~Venus~]

Originally Posted by waterballoon

For one, glitter IS a good song.

Next, about GUILTY... hmm.

Ayu usually has a few type of titles to her songs/titles.

There are those very delusional titles that make us believe the song is in a certain mood, but is in fact the opposite. A good example would be fairyland and ANGEL'S SONG.

Next are her straight forward titles like Because Of You, until that Day..., Born To Be... etc.

Then, she has titles that describes the mood of the song. Good examples would be Endless sorrow.

Titles that describe the main subject of the song are also one of Ayu's common titles. BLUE BIRD, Beautiful Fighters, JEWEL, HONEY, my name's WOMEN are such titles.

Now, GUILTY, to me, is somewhat like MY STORY. Why? Read on.

Many think that MY STORY is a bad title and what have you but not many had wondered WHY she chose such a title. If you analyze her MY STORY album, you would find that many of the songs inside relate to MY STORY.

For example, her story, or her life consists of her HONEY (Tomoya), her pride as a woman (my name's WOMEN), her troubles with Tomoya (About You, CAROLS), life's many ups and downs (GAME, Replace, INSPIRE, winding road, HAPPY ENDING). Last but not least are her unconditional love for Tomoya/fans/family (walking proud, Moments).

Therefore, I somewhat predict that GUILTY will just be what the album is all about. What she's really guilty, however, is up to our speculations. I suspect there might not be a title track, seeing as how my personal view takes GUILTY like MY STORY. Of course, I might be wrong.

Having said that, if you analyze the current confirmed songs for GUILTY, you will see why they relate to it.

glitter - You really think this song is all happy? Read the lyrics.

"Strangely I remember clearly
The night when I was weeping alone
But I have no regrets
Yes, cause believe in love"

Notice the word 'regrets'? People usually feel remorse after guilt. Besides, glitter is really about how she throws away her sad thoughts by believing in love and Tomoya. Why can't she be feeling GUILTY because she has stopped doing that?

fated - This is straight forward. I believe the opening stanza sums up her feelings. This lines say it the best.

"If only I had deserved your love
As many as the times you said you loved me
If only I had loved you
As many as the times I said I loved you"

Guilt, much? Unless she's writing this section in another person's perspective, she's definitely feeling GUILTY in this song.

talkin' 2 myself - This song to me does not speak a lot about love, more on life. She's probably using talkin' 2 myself as the life lessons aspect of GUILTY, like how she did with songs such as INSPIRE for MY STORY.

decision - I've not seen the lyrics for this but I must say its arrangement and style sounds like Because Of You... Whatever.

Together When... - Hmm... this song is deep. Let me extract out one part first.

"I wanted to say "I love you"
I couldn't say "I love you"
But I feel it was both my biggest lie
And the truth"

See how the word 'truth' makes this whole stanza complicated? She wanted to express love but yet she can't. IIRC, she broke up with Tomoya cos she said their love was transforming into something like a sibling kind of love. Obviously, she can't say 'I love you' with such romantic innuendo to someone whom she's starting to regard as a brother.

"Even if I'm born again to someone else
I'll start a journey to seek for you"

She's already feeling guilty and regretful about the whole break-up thing. She wants to go back to Tomoya again, just in another life, just so that she won't be Ayu...

Now, do these songs relate to GUILTY?

I'm sort of betting that she'll write a song on how her change of feelings towards Tomoya could have been wrong or something.

Definitely, glitter is not enough! We need like another one or two cutesy songs to balance the sorrow in GUILTY. After all, happy songs aren't ALWAYS happy (fairyland).

Yeah, that's my analysis and explanation for her choice of GUILTY. Ayu isn't a bimbo or anything so I believe all her album and song titles hold a certain meaning to them. In literature especially, analyzing the title of a poem/story is crucial.

That explanation was truly beautiful and deep, waterballoon! (Yea, I'm teary-eyed right now!) I never never saw it like that. Perhaps, I need to pay more attention to Ayu's titles and their meanings before calling it cute and stuff! Wow!

[bluegie]

Originally Posted by Zemus

Well, Japanese song title does exist already actually. Track #14 from A BALLADS "卒業写真".

But that is an exception in ayu's discography, as 卒業写真 is a cover song. So far all ayu songs are in alphabets. I dun wanna say they're in English because obviously kanariya and HANABI are not English words at all..

[ayumisrael]

Originally Posted by waterballoon

For one, glitter IS a good song.

Next, about GUILTY... hmm.

Ayu usually has a few type of titles to her songs/titles.

There are those very delusional titles that make us believe the song is in a certain mood, but is in fact the opposite. A good example would be fairyland and ANGEL'S SONG.

Next are her straight forward titles like Because Of You, until that Day..., Born To Be... etc.

Then, she has titles that describes the mood of the song. Good examples would be Endless sorrow.

Titles that describe the main subject of the song are also one of Ayu's common titles. BLUE BIRD, Beautiful Fighters, JEWEL, HONEY, my name's WOMEN are such titles.

Now, GUILTY, to me, is somewhat like MY STORY. Why? Read on.

Many think that MY STORY is a bad title and what have you but not many had wondered WHY she chose such a title. If you analyze her MY STORY album, you would find that many of the songs inside relate to MY STORY.

For example, her story, or her life consists of her HONEY (Tomoya), her pride as a woman (my name's WOMEN), her troubles with Tomoya (About You, CAROLS), life's many ups and downs (GAME, Replace, INSPIRE, winding road, HAPPY ENDING). Last but not least are her unconditional love for Tomoya/fans/family (walking proud, Moments).

Therefore, I somewhat predict that GUILTY will just be what the album is all about. What she's really guilty, however, is up to our speculations. I suspect there might not be a title track, seeing as how my personal view takes GUILTY like MY STORY. Of course, I might be wrong.

Having said that, if you analyze the current confirmed songs for GUILTY, you will see why they relate to it.

glitter - You really think this song is all happy? Read the lyrics.

"Strangely I remember clearly
The night when I was weeping alone
But I have no regrets
Yes, cause believe in love"

Notice the word 'regrets'? People usually feel remorse after guilt. Besides, glitter is really about how she throws away her sad thoughts by believing in love and Tomoya. Why can't she be feeling GUILTY because she has stopped doing that?

fated - This is straight forward. I believe the opening stanza sums up her feelings. This lines say it the best.

"If only I had deserved your love
As many as the times you said you loved me
If only I had loved you
As many as the times I said I loved you"

Guilt, much? Unless she's writing this section in another person's perspective, she's definitely feeling GUILTY in this song.

talkin' 2 myself - This song to me does not speak a lot about love, more on life. She's probably using talkin' 2 myself as the life lessons aspect of GUILTY, like how she did with songs such as INSPIRE for MY STORY.

decision - I've not seen the lyrics for this but I must say its arrangement and style sounds like Because Of You... Whatever.

Together When... - Hmm... this song is deep. Let me extract out one part first.

"I wanted to say "I love you"
I couldn't say "I love you"
But I feel it was both my biggest lie
And the truth"

See how the word 'truth' makes this whole stanza complicated? She wanted to express love but yet she can't. IIRC, she broke up with Tomoya cos she said their love was transforming into something like a sibling kind of love. Obviously, she can't say 'I love you' with such romantic innuendo to someone whom she's starting to regard as a brother.

"Even if I'm born again to someone else
I'll start a journey to seek for you"

She's already feeling guilty and regretful about the whole break-up thing. She wants to go back to Tomoya again, just in another life, just so that she won't be Ayu...

Now, do these songs relate to GUILTY?

I'm sort of betting that she'll write a song on how her change of feelings towards Tomoya could have been wrong or something.

Definitely, glitter is not enough! We need like another one or two cutesy songs to balance the sorrow in GUILTY. After all, happy songs aren't ALWAYS happy (fairyland).

Yeah, that's my analysis and explanation for her choice of GUILTY. Ayu isn't a bimbo or anything so I believe all her album and song titles hold a certain meaning to them. In literature especially, analyzing the title of a poem/story is crucial.

Awesome.
That's so true.

[4ever*ayu]

wow, even deeper analysis about the album title, waterballoon!
but, that's all just an analysis....
we need to wait for ayu to explain the GUILTY meaning on interview,
i remember ayu always have a special interview regarding her newest album.

[Chandrachan]

Arigatou for the info!! ^^

[namiie]

Originally Posted by Beyond the Sea

Here's how the title came to be, oh great over thinkers of AHS:

Ayu: (In Japanese) Hey Max, we need a new english album title. Whats a cool english word?

Max: (Opens a dictionary to a random page and points to word)

Ayu: AHHH! GIRUTI! SUGOI!

Lmao that's pretty funny. That's almost like truehappiness's "Guilty Ayumy Hamasaky" theory.

Originally Posted by Ayesha

I love the way you analyse things, you must write great essays

Well, I shall explain why I relate the title "guilty" to "victimism".

I'm used to deconstruct the meanings (I study Criticism at the university and my favourite is deconstruction so... I can't help it )

I relate the meaning of "guilty" with those of "forgiveness", "regret"... If you feel guilty for something (it doesn't matter why), you may expect redemption and forgiveness from the others.

A guilty person is someone that has done something (he or she is the subject), but, if we take into account the idea of forgiveness, that "guilty" person becomes the object of others forgiveness.

She claimed to be (miss)understood already; now she expects to be forgiven. OK, she has said it in a very subtle way, but to me, it has been implied.

In my opinion, this creates a certain uneasiness to her audience, to their fans.

(this is just my opinion, of course)

As I write these lines, I realise Ayu establishes a dialogue with us through her titles (well, I suppose I already know this, and you too, but with this title in particular, I think it is even smarter, stronger and relevant).

BUT, ok, let's study the title from another perspective.

It seems to me that playing the role of Ayumi Hamasaki involves a great effort to Ayu's persona (using really well chosen word by namiie). She is constantly fighting (we read it in her lyrics), and she loses sometimes. I am sure she feels she has lost some of her true identity through these years. And she feels guilty for that... has it been really worth of it? This is one of the possible reasons for that guilt.

Thanks Ayesha! Your thoughts are quite insightful too It does make sense considering that years of carrying a lot of weight on her shoulders, both professionally and personally (as poorly executed as they were, "glitter/fated" did a semi-good job at showing how her job affects her own life outside of her career) contributed to the possible "victim" mentality that a lot of veterans of the entertainment industry feel.

In that sense I guess I can see why she would feel guilty....she probably feels that she should be extremely grateful for her fans and her success (and I'm sure she does, given her interaction with her fans and her public statements), but at the same time she's resentful of who she is because it takes away a lot of the freedom that a person usually has, e.g. dating like a normal person or just going shopping or whatever without being mauled by the paps.

In that sense, yeah I can see the guilt. Or I don't know, maybe it's just one big album about her breakup with Tomoya XD;

[balladesque]

..... WOW... I never expected that type of title from Ayu. I can't say I am satisfied with it, but as long as there are some goods on the album, I'm good.

For some reasons, I feel like this would be a rock-oriented album, the title says it all.

[starlett]

i already have a feeling this album will ROCK.

[hamasaki_edwin]

i hope there's some japan-titled songs... :/ i'm getting tired of her engrish-titled songs