Disappointing 10th anniversary.

[SolarAngel]

A thought really tickled me. This A Complete is like a compilation of A Best, Ballads and Black & White with extra songs audience, kanariya and daybreak. It's the ULTIMATE BEST ALBUM!! Shall we lobby to have the name changed?

But seriously, i also feel kinda deflated. The News section should be filling up with lots of stuff but aside from staples like a single, CDL and tour DVD, there's nothing else. Ok maybe Wacoal...

[truehappiness]

And you think that I don't know that? EVERYONE knows that she's gone through hardships, but the thing about Ayu is that these hardships only make her stronger.

I mean, you're not taking into consideration that this year has been her slowest EVER. Which is saying a lot since 2007 was pretty slow as well. Sure, Ayu has the right to slack off, but as a J-Pop superstar who has delivered previously and prides herself on her work, I don't think slacking off is something she wants to do.

In the course of all of this, I've believed that she was holding the promotion in for something, up until the day before its announcement I waited, and there it was, A COMPLETE. However, this still isn't good enough. It needs a haute couture photoshoot to be good enough with holographic text or something. Ohohoho!

But srsly, she's slowed things down ever since 2006, so don't say that she "deserves to slow things down" this year, because she already has. [less singles, HUUUUGE break inbetween singles.. etc] You can't tell me that you don't want Ayu to "do her best" right? I know she hates those words, but I'm sure she'd want all of her fans to expect the best from her, because that is what she's known for. Being the best.

[qwerty]

I'm not too disappointed this year; I'm happy with what she's released this year. A great album, 2 decent remix albums, and an awesome single has kept me pretty content. I haven't watched the tour yet, so I can't comment on that.

I'm happy as a clam with her.

[truehappiness]

Usually, for me, the "usual" is enough with Ayu. A new single announcement, with like 7-8magazines and her usual TV shows.. but she hasn't appeared on MUSIC STATION at all this year.. in fact she hasn't appeared on anything other than CDTVxSakas and Heyx3's special..

I wonder if they're going to do an ALL AYU special on MS.

[thinkingoutloud89]

um the 10th any ends at the time poker face was released but in 2009...so its some time to go

[Suteisi]

I've stopped complaining and being disappointed, because now all I can do, is be grateful that Ayu is still around. At least she's still here!! She's still singing, she just ended AT08 in Japan and she's in HK shooting for the 2009 Calendar! Plus, you have no idea what's going on in the background. WHO KNOWS! Maybe she's working on something super major that'll blow everyone's mind away.

I think we should all be grateful she's still around, rather than complain because she hasn't released as much stuff as she used to.

[truehappiness]

Well, we know she's going to still be here, and I'm aware that we should be grateful that she's still around.

After all, I was the one saying that before when she was actually releasing stuff and people were like "lolayu u suk!"... but this is different. She's said that she won't stop, and she said that singing is her life... but where're the songs? She better have a new song coming out in September.. she better.. [longest gap between new songs -> April to September?!, last one was BLUE BIRD in June to the November release of Secret.]

[ArchangelLegend]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

But srsly, she's slowed things down ever since 2006, so don't say that she "deserves to slow things down" this year, because she already has.

The "slow down" is likely due to the Asia Tour. So she slowed down in Japan but accelerated elsewhere. I don't expect her to do everything at once. Overall, I say she did not slow down and she is being consistent. I still think she did a lot these first 7 months.

Also, we should make a final judgement until the end of the year arrives.


I never get disappointed because I don't expect anything from any musical artists. If it happens, it happens and I might get surprised. It just so happens Ayu entertained me the most. I'm not even expecting a new single and I don't care that much. If a new single does happen soon, I may or may not like it, and again, it just so happens I like many Ayu songs. Expecting something can set up someone for disappointment. I can expect world peace next week, and when next week arrives, I'm dissappointed. So I don't expect anything because there is no reason too and the future is unknown, unpredictable and ... unexpected. lol

And don't think I'm some emotionless freak because I don't expect anything. lol

[Kikaru]

Originally Posted by qwerty

I'm not too disappointed this year; I'm happy with what she's released this year. A great album, 2 decent remix albums, and an awesome single has kept me pretty content. I haven't watched the tour yet, so I can't comment on that.

I'm happy as a clam with her.

Ditto.

I dunno, I always see people saying that she releases too fast, but now it's that she releases too slow But I rather let her take some time to release a new single that she feels good about rather than releasing a single that she hurried because to keep up with the summer single trend every year.

Maybe it's something that us oversea fans feel more than the japanese fans.

[truehappiness]

I'm sure plenty of fans have complained since 2006 that she's been releasing too slow. Two singles a year isn't enough imo for most Ayu fans, especially the ones used to her 3 singles-a-year pattern. Though I wonder if the 3 singles-pattern was a little too slow for some people. AHAHA.

But really, what's with the 5 month gap, Ayu? Touring takes a lot out of you, but still, there's like a week inbetween each one. She could at least take a day every week to try to get SOMETHING together, you know?

[maikaru]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

[longest gap between new songs -> April to September?!, last one was BLUE BIRD in June to the November release of Secret.]

however, I thought once there was a gap of over a year once?~

there are days where she was resting, yeah.
However, I think in producing an album, an artist needs to rest their voice for a period of time, so the cd quality can be +++.
So I dont know if we really WANT her to record a full single right now?
Because with her voice I think exhausted, we all heard the singing from the last day news coverage, and it was O.K, but not great.
So maybe it's better to let her rest a few more weeks until her voice is ready,
Let her to record some music, then do A-Nation~
Then promotion.

For sure, I think she'll be in Avex Channel for promotion of A nation,
And also for promotion of the new best album..
So let's just anticipate those activities, and then whatever else comes will make it a bonus!!

There are a lot of singers who don't make it to 10 year mark...
So yeah, I agree, maybe her 10th year should be spent in retrospect,
Saying "Hey, look what I did!!~~" and then 11th year, she can start "Ayus Second Decade".

Maybe that's what she's doing?~ Who knows...

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by all.night.raver

Yeah but I think Ayu's 10th Anniversary Tour this year is really for the fans that are still with her after all these years. I mean, AT08 is huge. It's amazing. I guess avex or I'd say Ayu just really wanted to focus on the current fans that really love and support Ayu rather than trying to suck new ones in.

I agree with truehappiness. And I wouldn't say AT08 is huge or amazing. I saw the show with my Mom and her exact words were, "Ayu scaled back this year." I definitely wouldn't put it on the same level hugeness wise with many of her past tours. And it definitely didn't scream out "10th Anniversary tour" to me. I think a lot of people were expecting another A-Museum. I still loved the show (I always love seeing Ayu), but it's certainly not one of her top tours I don't think.

People are saying it because she is on tour but, Ayu has toured waaaaay more in the past and done a lot more singles, magazines, tv appearances etc at the same time. The main work that Ayu has to put into a tour is the preparation and planning of it. Once it actually starts, her only jobs for the tour are to show up to sound check and the performance - that leaves 5-6 days of rest in between. It may just be me, but Ayu always seems healthier and happier when she has more work to do. You could argue that much of this year has been a break for her.(and parts of last year and the year before as well). The 2 DVDs this year and 2 remix albums required no work from Ayu herself with the making and release and the mirrorcle world single had very little promotion and it was a recut album track anyway (which could have even been recorded at the time of the album).

This has by far been Ayu's least busiest year. I also think that Ayu is at her best when she is busiest. Surprisingly, I usually think the quality of her products seem to be at their highest when she is busy busy rather than when she is relatively inactive.

[truehappiness]

however, I thought once there was a gap of over a year once?~

I said new songs. The gap between Voyage and & was huge. September -> July, about 10 months, nearly a year. However, RAINBOW AND A BALLADS came out during that time.

Rather than try to justify her actions this year, I think everyone needs to be looking at what she's been doing this year for what it is, a less than normal year for Ayu. It's not because it's her 10th anniversary that I'm so mad [though from the title it seems like that] but it's because this year has basically been single -> tour for Ayu. I KNOW she's working hard, but it seems like she's just a little too focused on the tour.. even 2007 had more than this year, tbh.

[bluegie]

I agree with TH as well. So far I dun feel any "10th anniversary" celebration to me except the half recut single and the so called 10th anniversary tour. I've been expecting something more for her 10th year. It is kinda... colder than I expect. (not her attitude... I mean the hype for ayu's 10th anniversary).

[maikaru]

Yeah, and gap between Blue Bird and Glitter was 13 months, right? ~ Secret came out, yeah~ so we did get new songs in those 13 months..

If we talk about appearances or so~ yeah, it's her least active year.
I don't think she had much of a chance to appear on many shows, because she was doing her tour...
But now, she had her chance, but now is in HK doing her calendar..

But this is by far NOT her most inactive year, as the year is not over yet.
2006, she had one album at the beginning, 2 singles, and then another album at the end. Also CTDOWN release, and tour release dvds.

This year, she had one album at the beginning, 2 remix albums, a single, a compilation with new recording of a song, with rumours of a new single, and most likely, if we compare previous trend, a new album. Asia Tour release, CTDOWN release, and now, all A-NATION appearances release. Yeah, much of that is not NEW NEW, but then, we are judging the year by the 7th month mark, where a lot of her years have gone exactly the same.

Yeah, I see how for people, they are thinking... "what's gonna happen?~"
Because there hasn't been many tv appearances of her,
But I think we all gotta to realize is that... I don't think any of us could do what she is doing, especially this large Asia Tour.

In my opinion, she wants to see her fans more than producing new songs right now.
It's her 10th anniversary as we said before, I think right now, she just wants to go and celebrate her 10 years in her concert with the people who support her, and say "Thank you for 10 years."
We can't see her concert, so we can't really get the entire 10th anniversary feel.
But I'm sure if we were in Japan or HK or Taiwan, we could really feel that feeling.

And we all have to say that's her primary targets.

[truehappiness]

Yeah, and gap between Blue Bird and Glitter was 13 months, right? ~ Secret came out, yeah~ so we did get new songs in those 13 months..

[longest gap between new songs -> April to September?!, last one was BLUE BIRD in June to the November release of Secret.]

Did you even read my post?

But this is by far NOT her most inactive year, as the year is not over yet.
2006, she had one album at the beginning, 2 singles, and then another album at the end. Also CTDOWN release, and tour release dvds.

Promotionally, it has been. She has never gone half a year without performing on MS / MUSIC FIGHTER / ETC before now. Plus, she hasn't even been on many magazine covers other than SCawaii, Cawaii, ViVi, and maybe some other magazine. It's sort of sad seeing Ayu so weak in these areas since she usually appears on TV at least a few times on a normal program per single. However, MW only got CDTVxSakas and HEYx3 SP [both special programs]..

[maikaru]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

Did you even read my post?

I was confirming to what you said... saying like.. "yeah, and blue bird to glitter was 13 months, right?" because you mentioned Blue bird and secret. -_-

Mentioned earlier, it does depend on which kind of fan you are,
How you will view the year will be different for everyone.
Let's just hope she can continue on to make music!!!~ ^o^)/

[Not~Yet]

Originally Posted by ArchangelLegend

I never get disappointed because I don't expect anything from any musical artists. If it happens, it happens and I might get surprised. It just so happens Ayu entertained me the most. I'm not even expecting a new single and I don't care that much. If a new single does happen soon, I may or may not like it, and again, it just so happens I like many Ayu songs. Expecting something can set up someone for disappointment. I can expect world peace next week, and when next week arrives, I'm dissappointed. So I don't expect anything because there is no reason too and the future is unknown, unpredictable and ... unexpected. lol

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE I kinda feel like after I started visiting AHS a lot and reading the threads everything has become so much..... less interesting. O___o It's like, the ".OKAY THIS RELEASE WAS KINDA COOL NEXT ONE PLEASE.NOW. ---WITH SOME KICKA$$ FASHION DRESS" kind of thinking rules around here and sorta takes the attention away from enjoying the music/releases we get/have. That's why I try not to read anything else but news info anymore, but somehow I keep on reading everything and then getting annoyed
Nothing really to add, ArchangelLegend said everything I can think of right now.

[ayumisrael]

Originally Posted by Raiu-Ayu

I'm just aiming this at the first post not everyone else, just so you know

What if ayu isn't into her 10th anniversary? big deal! she as the right to slack off if she wants to. if she wants to have an easy year with no promotion or lots of crazy hectic schedules she can. she's been working non-stop for 10 years, don';t you think she deserves to slow things down a bit every once and a while?

to be honest her 10th anniversary couldn't have come at a worse time:
-she's starting to lose sales in japan
-she broke up with her boyfriend of god knows how long just the year before
-she lost a very close friend
-she has lost the hearing in one of her ears

yeah i can see why she'd be so happy to celebrate

How come she's loosing sales in japan while Mirrorcle World sold more than 3 out of 4 singles of herself from the recent 2 years?

ayu does exactly what she should do for her 10th anniversary, if people expected something else then ... well it's easy to get dissapointed. Everyone wants something else for the 10th anniversary.
This year was more active (releasingly) more than some of her recent years as well.

[truehappiness]

How come she's loosing sales in japan while Mirrorcle World sold more than 3 out of 4 singles of herself from the recent 2 years?

If you remember correctly, Ayu almost lost the #1 streak had it not been for a boom that rescued her later during the week. Almost made me choke up a little at that time..