You were... / BALLAD information and covers [VII]

[jbrat2219]

Originally Posted by cutieismylife

This single is shaping up to be my favorite Ayu release since... I don't know when, everything is just working together to create a really solid release. I really can't say many negative things about it. The quality of the music in both the songs released is just so superior to what she's been recently churning out, and the emotion that is conveyed in both songs is, to me, very powerful.

I had a good laugh reading some of the posts about there being a lack of budget for this release, especially in regards to the PV for You were... at first, I admit I was just going "what the hell is going on here?" but after reading some of the interpretations (although some were just ridiculous... sometimes a teddy bear glove is just a teddy bear glove) it made more sense to me and I was able to appreciate it more. Not to mention, Ayu herself looks absolutely gorgeous although I wish different lighting was used to illuminate the crystals on her face and body instead of just making her look oily in the dim lighting. But perhaps the darkness was intentional to convey her state of mind.

To me, taking the time to create 2D trees and make sure all of them are illuminated in an indoor set would certainly be more time-consuming and expensive than to just dump a bunch of fake snow outside and film her there. I believe that this was deliberate. The pop-up storybook effect is powerful as the PV does show a story and the PV connects with the lyrics.

Anyway, this post will probably be ignored and will be followed by a bunch of comments how cheap it is, how boring the songs are, how bad her voice is, etc, but I just wanted to say something nice, and that I truly feel like this single is a job well done.

I read it! And I love you.

[love in music]

Originally Posted by cutieismylife

This single is shaping up to be my favorite Ayu release since... I don't know when, everything is just working together to create a really solid release. I really can't say many negative things about it. The quality of the music in both the songs released is just so superior to what she's been recently churning out, and the emotion that is conveyed in both songs is, to me, very powerful.

I had a good laugh reading some of the posts about there being a lack of budget for this release, especially in regards to the PV for You were... at first, I admit I was just going "what the hell is going on here?" but after reading some of the interpretations (although some were just ridiculous... sometimes a teddy bear glove is just a teddy bear glove) it made more sense to me and I was able to appreciate it more. Not to mention, Ayu herself looks absolutely gorgeous although I wish different lighting was used to illuminate the crystals on her face and body instead of just making her look oily in the dim lighting. But perhaps the darkness was intentional to convey her state of mind.

To me, taking the time to create 2D trees and make sure all of them are illuminated in an indoor set would certainly be more time-consuming and expensive than to just dump a bunch of fake snow outside and film her there. I believe that this was deliberate. The pop-up storybook effect is powerful as the PV does show a story and the PV connects with the lyrics.

Anyway, this post will probably be ignored and will be followed by a bunch of comments how cheap it is, how boring the songs are, how bad her voice is, etc, but I just wanted to say something nice, and that I truly feel like this single is a job well done.

I agree with everything you said. This is my favorite post in this thread

[Ayu_Ready]

I totally agree =) you're a boss ^^

[JackieRos]

did i miss ballad pv or no?

[ayumisrael]

Originally Posted by cutieismylife

This single is shaping up to be my favorite Ayu release since... I don't know when, everything is just working together to create a really solid release. I really can't say many negative things about it. The quality of the music in both the songs released is just so superior to what she's been recently churning out, and the emotion that is conveyed in both songs is, to me, very powerful.

I had a good laugh reading some of the posts about there being a lack of budget for this release, especially in regards to the PV for You were... at first, I admit I was just going "what the hell is going on here?" but after reading some of the interpretations (although some were just ridiculous... sometimes a teddy bear glove is just a teddy bear glove) it made more sense to me and I was able to appreciate it more. Not to mention, Ayu herself looks absolutely gorgeous although I wish different lighting was used to illuminate the crystals on her face and body instead of just making her look oily in the dim lighting. But perhaps the darkness was intentional to convey her state of mind.

To me, taking the time to create 2D trees and make sure all of them are illuminated in an indoor set would certainly be more time-consuming and expensive than to just dump a bunch of fake snow outside and film her there. I believe that this was deliberate. The pop-up storybook effect is powerful as the PV does show a story and the PV connects with the lyrics.

Anyway, this post will probably be ignored and will be followed by a bunch of comments how cheap it is, how boring the songs are, how bad her voice is, etc, but I just wanted to say something nice, and that I truly feel like this single is a job well done.

You are not the only one who thinks that.

I also think that it's a very strong single from ayu (and we still ddin't get RED LINE).

You were...'s strong point is that it's gives the rightest mood to the song (and the whole single) as its more wintery than BALLAD, it's that type of song that conveys the emotion well, as well as the PV (which of course has meaning behind its bizzareness).

BALLAD's strong point is that it's mellow but keeping the peak into the chorus and it grows higher as the song flows, and it does give melancholic feeling, though that thing might be just me. It's also my favorite oriental song of ayu to date really, as much as I liked her past ones, I think that the arranger did the best for it.
I really can't wait to see its PV.

[do it again]

Originally Posted by ayumisrael

BALLAD's strong point is that it's mellow but keeping the peak into the chorus and it grows higher as the song flows, and it does give melancholic feeling, though that thing might be just me. It's also my favorite oriental song of ayu to date really, as much as I liked her past ones, I think that the arranger did the best for it.
I really can't wait to see its PV.

BALLAD is such a great song... it starts off softly with a beautiful intro and just intensifies as the song goes on. It doesn't reach its climax until the end, but is by no means boring, I think. I can only compare the oriental sound to part of Me and GREEN, and in my opinion, it's superior to both. I really hope the song will get a very special peformance in the upcoming CDL like GREEN did in PCDL. it was very odd to see such a unique song get such a generic performance in AT09.

[Crystal_Ageha]

I agree, this is definitely the most stable and well thought out single in a while. Even though I don't love BALLAD, I don't hate it, either. And I think it works perfectly with You were..., which I really love. Even if RED LINE turns out to be crap, the single will still be above average, in my opinion (though, I really think it'll be awesome ). Plus, the PV for You were... is great, and I have a feeling BALLAD will be gorgeous. Plus! she actually has some decent tie-ins this time (not OMG FANTASTIC, but definitely waayy above some of the recent ones, lol). Oh, and not to mention the wonderful covers.
This single deserves good sales, so I really hope it sells at least 10K more than S/S. But we'll just have to see...

[zyoeru]

BALLAD is really beautiful and ornate. I definitely prefer it to You were..., I can't wait to see its PV.

[ownsarai]

Originally Posted by SURREAL__RAINBOW

BALLAD is epic!!


so the pv of this song is the one where ayu appears fully covered with diamonds??

She had diamonds in You were... She was covered in diamond dust.

[aura~]

mmm, reading crystal_ageha comment about tie-in...

we already have both songs in full.. I think it's the first time we have full songs before CM short previews XDD so when they will start promotion for tinkerbell and the dorama maybe we will have BALLAD PV already...

[jbrat2219]

Originally Posted by ownsarai

She had diamonds in You were... She was covered in diamond dust.

Oh okay... how misleading Ayu can be. I wonder how long it took her to wash it off?

Makes me a bit more curious about the PV now... I think it would be predictable if it were as oriental as the song... which it probably will be lol. But interesting if it were not at all.

[nanakopy87]

hmm,ballad is better in HQ.i think the PV will leak in a week time?

[AyUta]

Just downloaded and listened to BALLAD. I must say, it's beautiful!

[JackieRos]

wonder if it's real diamonds

[zyoeru]

I tried to transcribe the lyrics, please make any necessary corrections!

Spoiler:

yume no tochuu de mezameta matsuge ga nureteita
oboeteta kotoba wa "onegai ikanai de"
kesshite kawaranai no wa tsunotte yuku kono omoi
itsumo yuruganai no wa uyamai shitau kimochi
kyou no yuuyake sora wa anata no you ni yasashikute
konda wa yume ja nai to sakebimashita "ikanai de"

omoide wa kienu tomo fue yuku koto mo naku
yurusareru kotoba wa onegai soba ni ite
kitto tsuyogari dake de wa mono kore ijou nakanai(?)
osae korareru dake de wa ai o naku seya shinai
koyoi natsuki no wakari wa anata no kureta michi shimete
kogo(?) sugite sono sega(?) o(?) mienai no soba ni ite

kyou no yuuyake sora wa anata no you ni yasashikute
konda wa yume ja nai to sakebimashita "ikanaide"
koyoi natsuki no wakari wa anata no kureta michi shimete
kogo(?) sugite sono sega(?) o(?) mienai no soba ni ite
ima dake wa me yuku shite

I used the romanisation already there for the first verse and part of the last chorus.

I think that this format is really interesting...don't you guys think so too?

[Delirium-Zer0]

Here was my attempt at romaji... there are some syllables I just can't quite get o_O! Which is frustrating cuz most of it is pretty easy to hear.

yume no tochuu de mezameta matsuge ga nureteita
oboeteta kotoba wa "onegai ikanai de"
kesshite kawaranai no wa tsunotte yuku kono omoi
itsumo yuruganai no wa uyamai shitau kimochi
kyou no yuuyake sora wa anata no you ni yasashikute
kondo wa yume ja nai to sakebimashita "ikanai de"

omoide wa kienu to mo fue yuku koto mo naku
yurusarenu kotoba wa "onegai soba ni ite"
kitto tsuyogari dake de wa mou kore ijou mo ga nai
osae komareru dake de wa ai wo naku seya shinai
koyoi no tsuki no akari wa anata no kureta michishirube
dou sugite sono se ga mo mienai no "soba ni ite"

kyou no yuuyake sora wa anata no you ni yasashikute
kondo wa yume ja nai to sakebimashita "ikanaide"
koyoi no tsuki no akari wa anata no kureta michishirube
dou sugite sono se ga mo mienai no soba ni ite
ima dake wa me yuru shite

[yuki_unmei]

wow if those are real diamonds in You were... so many and so tiny!! o_o i thought it was oily body glitter~
about the scene with ayu and the fake trees, i think she's supposed to be in a snowglobe?

i really want to hear RED LINE now..
the music that was playing right after NEXT LEVEL ended in AT09, i can imagine it being like that

[zyoeru]

^
^ It's nice to know that I didn't fail soooooo epically.. LOL

[jbrat2219]

Thanks for the romanizations

[Delirium-Zer0]

Okay, I gave translating a shot (and fixed some bits of romaji) but I'm still having SOME issues.

Romaji again but different this time:

yume no tochuu de mezameta matsuge ga nureteita
oboeteta kotoba wa "onegai ikanai de"
kesshite kawaranai no wa tsunotte yuku kono omoi
itsumo yuruganai no wa uyamai shitau kimochi

kyou no yuuyake sora wa anata no you ni yasashikute
kondo wa yume ja nai to sakebimashita "ikanai de"

omoide wa kienu to mo fue yuku koto mo naku
yurusarenu kotoba wa "onegai soba ni ite"
kitto tsuyogari dake de wa mou kore ijou mo ga nai
osae komareru dake de wa ai wo nakuse ya shinai

koyoi no tsuki no akari wa anata no kureta michishirube
toosugite sono se ga mou mienai no "soba ni ite"

kyou no yuuyake sora wa anata no you ni yasashikute
kondo wa yume ja nai to sakebimashita "ikanaide"
koyoi no tsuki no akari wa anata no kureta michishirube
toosugite sono se ga mou mienai no "soba ni ite"
ima dake wa nee yurushite

English:

I woke up in the middle of a dream, my eyelashes wet
I remembered the words, "please don't go"
What I can't erase or change is this feeling getting worse
What I can't ever shake is the feeling of reverance for you

Today's sunset sky is as gentle as you
This time, it's not a dream, the cry of "don't go"

My memories never fade, but no more are being created
Those trusting words, saying "please stay by my side"
With only a feigned strength, and nothing more
You were able to carry so much weight without losing any love

The moonlight that shines tonight is a beacon lit by you
I'm too far away to see your back, so, "stay by my side"

Today's sunset sky is as gentle as you
This time, it's not a dream, the cry of "don't go"
The moonlight that shines tonight is a beacon lit by you
I'm too far away to see your back, so, "stay by my side"
Only now do I forgive you.

(thanks SO MUCH to tokyoxjapanxfan for helping me with two parts! BEST. HELPER. EVER. )

masa will probably have it right pretty soon but I did it anyway! It was fun, what can I say.