Disappointing 10th anniversary.

[GRACE]

But if you don't want it, I'm not understanding why you're complaining over a lack of it...

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by GRACE

But if you don't want it, I'm not understanding why you're complaining over a lack of it...

Because, by now she usually has more than this.

I got used to the whole 2 single thing, and I didn't really care for it, but how can Ayu only have one completely new song released in a 7 month period? It's INSANE.

I think you should give up trying to defend Ayu, because I really think that there isn't enough factual evidence to support that she "is just slowing down" and instead, you're pushing a theory onto her like "Oh, maybe this and maybe that" and so on instead of looking at what's really happening.

[GRACE]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

Because, by now she usually has more than this.

I got used to the whole 2 single thing, and I didn't really care for it, but how can Ayu only have one completely new song released in a 7 month period? It's INSANE.

I think you should give up trying to defend Ayu, because I really think that there isn't enough factual evidence to support that she "is just slowing down" and instead, you're pushing a theory onto her like "Oh, maybe this and maybe that" and so on instead of looking at what's really happening.

So you want new songs... but you don't want new songs? This is what's confusing me.

What I'm trying to do is think of logical reasons, everything I've said is a logical assumption, I never once claimed to be spouting off the truth, but it sure is better than saying she's just not doing anything because she feels like it or sitting here going "why's she not releasing?" I could be completely off base, I don't know that, you don't know that, no one knows that but Ayu, her staff and Avex.

Logically, I don't completely buy all the Ayu official messages, because why would she tell her fans if she was suffering, what purpose would it serve? We're only going to get the positive, or at worst, the lightest of any negative. That's logic. If I were famous, I wouldn't tell my fans anything terrible that was happening to me, or mention it more than once.

[ImpactBreaker]

Originally Posted by GRACE

Logically, I don't completely buy all the Ayu official messages, because why would she tell her fans if she was suffering, what purpose would it serve? We're only going to get the positive, or at worst, the lightest of any negative. That's logic. If I were famous, I wouldn't tell my fans anything terrible that was happening to me, or mention it more than once.

That's not logical. Have you ever read her lyrics? She has a crapload of sad ones, and they're very personal, so it's not like she doesn't open her sorrowful side to fans. ayu is quite true (or at least I believe she is most of the time) about her feelings to her fans (i do think she fakes a crying or two, but that's another story). In some of her messages she does mention when she's been down and what has she done to get over them. Also, if you don't buy her messages, you can't go around implying that ppl who believe she's stronger than most think -just because they actually choose to believe her- that they're being inconsiderate.

[truehappiness]

So you want new songs... but you don't want new songs? This is what's confusing me.

I should be the one that's confused since you're the one that's basically accusing everyone in here that doesn't like what Ayu's been doing that they just want new releases which is far from what's been being said.

She's had a serious lack of new material, but honestly, that's not what disappointed me so much. It was the sense that she gave up during Mirrorcle World's promo-period or something. But now that I look back on it though, she really needs to do something NEW if she wants to redeem this year. I mean, Mirrorcle World was basically a longer Mirror, and 3 10th anniversary versions are just old songs that are resung and rearranged, leaving Life as the only thing that was brand spanking new. This year's lack of anything really was just.. bleh. It didn't help that the tour wasn't as large as some would've liked it to be either.

i do think she fakes a crying or two, but that's another story

Well, it's highly likely that she does cry, since the end of concerts is always really touching especially when you sing a sad song.. I'd say that she cries for real most of the time, and only a few times it's fake... [definitely not fake at CDL07-08.. oi..]

[GRACE]

I buy it to a degree. But I can't imagine she'll truly tell us every thing that goes on in her life. It's too unbelievable for me to think that she'd give us every insight into her head as possible, I'm sure there are parts of her, things she feels, stuff that's happened that we don't and never will know about. Her lyrics by themselves aren't specific, with some big exceptions(the only one on my mind at the moment is teddy bear), without knowing about her to begin with her lyrics don't give us insight, only along side her history do we make the connections.

(firey firey firey~ Liking the debating atmosphere, will continue to play devil's advocate for a while longer)

[truehappiness]

Well obviously she doesn't reveal everything. You really should watch the CNN Talk Asia interview before saying any more. I'd say that you should try to read AS MANY Ayu translations as possible...

Atika: Tell us a little bit about your album. First of all, why is it called "Secret"?

Ayu: Yeah, it's called "Secret" because... everyone has a secret. Right? Of course I have a secret. I think maybe you too? (smile) So... but I can't explain to you, because if I told you, it's not a secret, you know? But I hope this um... this album will reach people's hearts.

Atika: What was the inspiration behind this album?

Ayu: My inspiration come from my deep inside, you know? Just feeling, not words. I think feeling and words are of course similar, but not the same. That's why I can change my feeling into words, because I have these feelings, that's why I can continue to sing.

Of course she has things that she doesn't reveal, but I'd say that Ayu is a lot more open to her fans [ahem the fans that pay for fan club privileges] than most artists are.

[GRACE]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I should be the one that's confused since you're the one that's basically accusing everyone in here that doesn't like what Ayu's been doing that they just want new releases which is far from what's been being said.

She's had a serious lack of new material, but honestly, that's not what disappointed me so much. It was the sense that she gave up during Mirrorcle World's promo-period or something. But now that I look back on it though, she really needs to do something NEW if she wants to redeem this year. I mean, Mirrorcle World was basically a longer Mirror, and 3 10th anniversary versions are just old songs that are resung and rearranged, leaving Life as the only thing that was brand spanking new. This year's lack of anything really was just.. bleh. It didn't help that the tour wasn't as large as some would've liked it to be either.

I think I understand where your coming from now, which was basically my goal >.>... I think what you're saying is, the single she released this year should have been something amazing to properly kick off the 10th anniversary and make it feel like a 10th anniversary. ...Did I get it yet?

[truehappiness]

No, you're still totally off.

Basically, to celebrate with a SINGLE on the day of was a terrible idea.

The whole idea of the 10th anniversary collection imo would've worked a lot better if it had been released instead of the single, with MW on the collection and Life on some future single. Like, right now, A COMPLETE is just this random hunk of Ayu history that was thrown out to release on a random day [during the 10th anniversary]... it's just very weird. Also, she really needed to do more outside of her tour this year.. sure, it's a lot, but she loves to work, so why not?

[GRACE]

*spear strikes GRACE through* I was so sure that time...

The A Complete idea is a good one, I agree with you that the timing is a little random, she didn't even release anything in September in 98, so it's not like you can even tie it to the 10th anniversary of anything.

This anniversary has been more like celebrating the old, it seems to me anyway. I suppose, using my logic, I can deduce that maybe the idea that Mirrorcle World is the extension of an "old" track ties to this theme, but that's a loose argument at best.

[truehappiness]

This anniversary has been more like celebrating the old, it seems to me anyway. I suppose, using my logic, I can deduce that maybe the idea that Mirrorcle World is the extension of an "old" track ties to this theme, but that's a loose argument at best.

That's true since she used the Duty-esque style in her latest album, had starting over at CDL07-08, and revived many old songs from the dumpster for AT08, but that's still not enough. There is no excuse for Ayu to have had only one truly new track in 2008 so far up until September. NO EXCUSE AT ALL.

It's like, this time, the 3/4A makes the most sense since it will encompass a whole year worth of singles.

[GRACE]

Although, with this being the 10th Anniversary, they could surprise us and had her recording all along, and release a full album of new material out of the blue, perhaps on her 30th birthday.

[sugarbasil]

You know, much it might have been just a lot of poor planning. As stupid as it would be, maybe they hadn't even thought up making the COMPLETE SINGLES collection until late; and since she had just released an album, she's at the beginning of a whole new cycle. She can't produce an album that fast, so we can only get singles (musically speaking).

Maybe she isn't producing as many live appearances and magazine shoots as many of us would like, but there could be so many reasons for this. They could be as simple as she's too lazy at the moment to something like she simply has not had enough time in between touring (despite what many of us may think). She just may be too tired for all we know.

And heck, we do have a whole half a year left. Her touring will be done, and maybe that's what she's waiting for. Maybe she just wanted to focus on her touring first and then go promotion crazy. Maybe she's not even sure herself what she'll do after the touring (she is a 'live for the day' sort of person), so they can't really promote much. And who knows, maybe (doubtful, but let's go with it) she'll throw a whole album at us without giving us any singles as a surprise! That wouldn't probably be a good idea, but who knows!

Either way, bottom line for me, I'm sad there hasn't been more so far, but I understand she's got other things to do at the moment and she's got lots of time left to wow us. Hopefully she doesn't disappoint.

Edit: what if this whole time she was disappointing everyone on purpose and actually has a grand plan to wow us later?

[GRACE]

Alright, so I did a sort of back check on all September released singles.

SURREAL, Dearest, Voyage, Carols, HEAVEN, and talkin' 2 myself. Most of those are pretty prolific songs that she's well known for. Again, an INCREDIBLY loose argument, but she could be tying the box to a celebration of the successful singles of September. But most of those singles where released towards the end of September, so if she was truly doing that so would the box. So perhaps the box is only a way to make some cash off the 10th anniversary, but I still thought it was worth mentioning how many big songs came out of September.

Also, since Duty, her best selling original album, came out at that point, it may tie to celebrating that as well.

[JimmyKoria]

Originally Posted by sugarbasil

Either way, bottom line for me, I'm sad there hasn't been more so far, but I understand she's got other things to do at the moment and she's got lots of time left to wow us. Hopefully she doesn't disappoint.

Edit: what if this whole time she was disappointing everyone on purpose and actually has a grand plan to wow us later?

I don't know. People never really think about how much you actually get on tour and how much time it takes to tour and energy. The traveling is also really tiering. I personally don't think it'd be far off to say that maybe she got more money out of touring than actual sales of singles? Plus Hamasaki is trying establish herself better all over asia. But I do like that she's touring for her fans. No artist should be expected to do so much work for 10 years straight. It's tedious and harsh. American artist go 4 years without releasing a single or album.

I'm not really worriedabout her releasing new stuff though. I'm dissapointed inher lyrics and music latley. It all just feels bland and rubbish. Time off would help her freshen up.

[bondingo]

Originally Posted by Echiko

But as for me, who can't see her live, feel like this 10th anniversary time has produced zelch. Nada. Nothing. Because all in all, WE can't see the performances. WE have NOTHING from her besides tiny Mirrocle World. She hasn't even had her typical summer single like before. And for that, to have LESS than usual in comparison to her past years where there are mag covers and singles coming out every month or however often, it does feel empty.

That's exactly how I feel. It's great for her and all her fans that can see her on tour, but she is not touring in my country and therefore it's just the same as always to me. I could buy a DVD of this tour, but I still won't be able to see her. I'd much rather she worked on new material than toured.

Ultimately, I do think it has been a pretty disappointing year for her. We've only had one single (MW was just a longer Mirror and Life sucked), and that's about it. The remix albums were cool, but then again, Ayu didn't' have to do anything for those beyond the cover image since the songs were already made. She certainly didn't remix them. I also consider GUILTY to be a 2007 release since it was basically the culmination of that year's singles (just as I'll consider her next album to be from 2008 if it's released at the beginning of this coming January). I mean, it isn't an atrocious year for her, but in terms of new material, it's pretty damn poor.

[ImpactBreaker]

Originally Posted by JimmyKoria

The traveling is also really tiering.

That's a very good point I wasn't thinking about the travels..they can really wear one off, depending on the time spent traveling

[GRACE]

A Complete came out of left field. Maybe we'll have more surprises?

[truehappiness]

I'm not really worried about her releasing new stuff though. I'm disappointed in her lyrics and music lately. It all just feels bland and rubbish. Time off would help her freshen up.

I'd say that a lot of older fans feel this way. Perhaps it's because there's a lack of much else to really compare singles of the last few years to? Usually there's at least 3-4 totally different songs that people can usually gather around, but lately it's kinda been not as varied as usual. Like t2m/decision were basically the same song sort of, not offering much besides a hard rock-ish perspective, and MW was just Mirror and Life was to some people SEASONS pt.2 [I see the resemblance, but I love it for what it is..]..

Eh, the lack of material imo is only hurting Ayu, since she appears to be coming out with more than people disagree with, and less that people actually love and adore...

(What was the last single that people actually embraced anyway?)

[maikaru]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

(What was the last single that people actually embraced anyway?)

But I think Ayumi really liked Mirrorcle World, and Mirrorcle World is the first single since Blue Bird to sell so well, right? If she didnt like it, she wouldn't have been so elaborate with the performance.

So it's perspectives.. some people REALLY love Mirrorcle World and Depend on You and YOU, and some people the opposite..

It's been that way for a while. Bold and Delicious, Born to Be..., glitter, Talkin'...

But I were thinking about it~ it'd be nice to see her again once on a tv show.

But I dont think people are making "excuses" for her. Only she can do that for herself.
We give reasons for her absence of publicity.
But I think even as people say she would be angry to hear what people are saying "Oh she needs rest,"
She'd be equally angry about people saying that people are making excuses for her,
That she needs excuses... and that she isn't doing things for her fans.
Yeah, I hear you about the promotional things, and magazine covers.
But as was said before..

She doesnt really care about the worldwide fans right now, like pleasing them.
She cares about what the fans of China and Japan want right now, and right now it's a tour.

Why can't we just thank her for what she is doing right now, and stop saying "How disappointing" or "I want this and that."
She is doing what she wants to do. Obviously, what she is and she is not doing has different opinions that will never be resolved... =\

So yeah... I would like some publicity, and we will for sure get it, after she returns home. =]