Ayu as a "goddess" in her PVs

[relmy]

Watching BALLAD, and reading some interpretations got me thinking. One idea is that she is a goddess of life in BALLAD. Ayu took on a similar role in momentum with the candles.

It then occurred to me however, that she also plays a similar role in JEWEL, I always saw her as "Ayu" and in the huge dress, as a bringer of the winter - a winter of Jewels (symbolising purity), but also bringing isolation.

I was thinking of this more as a metaphor, but then I thought of the M PV where she appears in the church as a goddess style figure. I then started go through her PVs and thought that even Kanariya could be considered to have her as an... almost overlooking figure, existing in the machinery. Possibly forgiveness, but she seemed more "involved" in forgiveness, even if she has this fantastical goddess image.

This was a thought I had, and I wanted to discuss it, what is everyone else's thoughts on this? It's a theme that I think is quite beautiful, but possibly more coincidental or not present at all!

[zyoeru]

I like your theory! I wish I could contribute though.

[slavomiros]

hmmm...actually it's not just you. Today, my friend asked me about the meaning of the "pink Ayu" in the BALLAD PV and I told her, she was a kind of "link" between the world of humans and the world of dead (smth like "heaven")...and she also asked me about the male character and his mirror image - the "mail man"...i could not really explain this.

So...even if i go a bit off-topic here, I would like to know, what is the meaning of those two in that PV...I can see a link between the two worlds but still a bit confused

Anyway...it just came to my mind...that Ayu really might have played with this idea of "goddess"-like character for a longer time now. Can't really recall which one it was...but the Live performance of evolution showed her as descending from a ring circle - as if watching human kind entering a new era from above (probably AT 2007)...or the Madonna-killer act of crucifixion during kiss 'o kill (AT '07 as well)...

OR

...she just keeps scouting AHS and after reading all those "goddess of JPop" comments, she really might have boosted her confidence as an embodiment of human salvation through music LOL

[relmy]

Aah, yes the mail man! I'm not 100% what he means, but to me when I first watched it I got the impression the letters posted by Shu-ya in the "red up" postbox were being given back to him at the "time house" postbox, like his feelings could never reach the outside world. But on the next watches, it was... like a silent exchange of emotions from the living to the unconscious.

I guess this works well with pink-Ayu being a link between the worlds. The "up" arrow points towards where she is - we know she is above Shu-ya's world. She is receiving his words for Ayu - and maybe because Ayu is playing both, she can communicate those feelings? That was a random though, but it's cute! That's why I've fallen in love with this PV though, it could mean so much.

Oh yes, kiss o' kill! She certainly had the image of a saviour there, she was trapped by darkness but then overcame it. It's such a powerful performance! I'd not thought about her live performances. I LOVE your evolution interpretation by the way, it works so well, especially with the lyrics. It's even more iconic considering it's was AT07 where she started her whole "Asia is One" thing - seeing her self as a unifying force?

and LOL @ Ayu's ego! XD

[slavomiros]

I LOVE your evolution interpretation by the way, it works so well, especially with the lyrics. It's even more iconic considering it's was AT07 where she started her whole "Asia is One" thing - seeing her self as a unifying force?

...a "unifying force"...exactly. That's how very famous popstars usually get to feel...like Bono (U2) or Michael Jackson...like they are smth more than regular humans, because they have this tremendous "gift" of making great music. Eventually the music by such awesome artists (Ayu including) appeals to normal people like a cure...and that's why she tends to show this "god-like" side of hers...she's fully aware of what it means to us...I think.

[relmy]

I think you're right - "I understand it's my role to realize people's dreams". People wish there was a higher being who said "It's okay to cry", "I feel pain too" - and Ayu is this "god" to many people.

So when Ayu personifies herself as... winter, she is saying "it's okay to feel cold, because I feel it too?", it's like a representation of her lyrics. Many people say they gain strength from her songs.

[slavomiros]

now i think you got it. she tries to show us her compassion with our "human" misery and happiness. Just like Jesus had this "ability" of compassion and forgiveness. omg, she's so emotional...such a short cutie ^_^...with such a huge heart...omg...love her so much.

[TeddyGrahams]

Thinking about it, omg maybe you're right!

There's Momentum and the candle light scene. She's moving the fire, like a goddess of death as she transfers the flame.
For Part of Me, her hair turning into red flower dots. Her powers indicate something divine especially with people walking around her like that.
In Heaven it occurs again where she escorts the dead in a train like a god of death.
In Endless Sorrow, she's like an angel.

She's definitely my goddess. Haha

[asmAyumi1992]

I don't know whether my theory is right or wrong.

Shuya died, the pink Ayu is Ayu's heart or maybe the god watching from above. Shuya is in his comma dream. He keeps writing and posting letters to Ayu but Ayu never received once. One day, Shuya received several letters. They was the letters Ayu wrote to Shuya hoping Shuya to awake. The mail man, I don't have any idea.

I don't analyze the lyrics. So, it's just my opinion when watching the PV.

EDIT: Oh My! My fav July 1st in itniate!

[keikeiaznqueen]

Perhaps the "goddess"-Ayu symbolises how she feels untouchable/unreal/distant. I always felt as though this goddess image is the image that people associate with "Ayumi Hamasaki". As a common motif/recurring theme in Ayu's PVs, maybe this can be its significance.

[theSKYBLUETIES]

i love when ayumi does something fanciful like being a goddess or an angel. suits her well. :]

[Heavenly]

i don't know if you have noticed, but the Mail Man in BALLAD has got a Cat-shaped mask.
i wonder if wouldn't it be a link with the cat that he crashed on the road...
what do you think ? Maybe the mail man is actually the "Cat-Spirit", who remind him why he's stuck in this middle world (between physical world and heaven)...
I don't really know, i didn't understand the story well...