Thoughts on CDL 09-10? - Page 7

KPL · #**121** 3rd January 2010, 02:39 AM

Well for BoY, maybe they will use the first day performance for the DVD? Did this happen before when they used performance from diffrent days into the DVD?

emi♡ · #**122** 3rd January 2010, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

^ Yeah, I mean the music is drowning her out because her vocals were weak, not because of a technical problem.

If it was all technical I'm sure it would have been fixed after the first song, otherwise some people would be getting fired, haha. Notice when the music is soft, such as in Teddy Bear, her voice is heard very clearly but most other songs her voice is getting buried by the music.

oh I see what you're saying~ Yeah, I don't think it was all technical, in her yelling songs she was clearly heard a little too much...

Lee^ChaN · #**123** 3rd January 2010, 02:52 AM

I am.. & moments were good.. nostalgic, love both songs, love the kimono & vocally okay.

Step you quite good, but i don't like her outfit & the dancer's clown outfits

Energize oh, she didn't lip-sync! one good point!

About You i love the opening of the song; outfit okay, except that thing on her head

momentum LOVE the outfit! she could have sing better in this song, her voice is kinda flat. But i forgive her, since it's one of my fave winter songs

You were maybe it's the first performance of you were... that i love. Not too much yelling

Pride NIGHTMARE!! i never liked this song! Vocally AWFUL! OUTFIT big NO-NO. Choir GREAT! Half naked male dancers did entertain me a lil' bit

INSPIRE i rated this an okay, I used to love this song. Her "yeah.. yeah" is off key tho. Outfit

I wish she could wear something like in the PV

Because of you I can't believe she ruins this song. I freaking love this song!!

She sings few note lower than the actual key and it's AWFUL!! Oh, Ayu.. you can't sing while you're laying on the floor! The only thing that i like is the effect of the round stage.

1LOVE ah.. getting bored with the cage stuff -___- Agree with GRACE, i think it's playback. How she can easily reach the notes, when she can't do it during Because of you.

Until that day this playback too, vocally too perfect.

Humming 7/4 AH.. OFF KEY.. Do you really want to sing this song, Ayu??? she sounds lazy to me

Evolution a lil' bit better than her BEST ARTIST performance. OFF KEY! I think she's too tired to sing any more fast songs.

Startin' It's okay, but you're too tired to continue singing a fast song, Ayu

Teddy Bear LOVELY!! Love this song. Oh she gains her vocal back after 10 mins rest?

Sunrise ~LOVE for all~ Okay. A lil' bit OFF KEY.

B&G See.. her vocal is just too tired to sing any fast songs. OFF KEY, Honey..

RED LINE ~for TA~ LOVE this!!

BEST PERFORMANCE: I am.., Moments, momentum, You were.., Teddy Bear, RED LINE ~for TA~

WORST PERFORMANCE: Pride, Because of you, Humming 7/4, Evolution, B&G

Overall, it's so-so. I love how she chose to sing some old songs, that i really want to hear. Vocally awful during fast songs. I don't think she can sing high notes anymore. Sadly, i have to say that her vocal is just hot mess.

At first, i really wish it's gonna bring back my love to Ayu, but it didn't work. I even forced myself to watch the whole concert without skipping it like i did to her previous tours (since 2006-2007)

Andrenekoi · #**124** 3rd January 2010, 03:12 AM

About her voice being overpowered by the band: If nobody that went to the concert complained about her voice and every year people around here complain about it when the TV version of CDL is broadcasted, IMO it`s obvious that the problem is on the TV recording ~~

nanakopy87 · #**125** 3rd January 2010, 04:17 AM

the music is too loud o.O
i can hardly hear ayu's voice at the 1st two songs.
ya.i agree with you,andrenekoi.sometimes the TV station received a not so good audio reception.
but it seems like there is quite alot of interruption.its because of the satellite or?
and i always think that TV LIVE isn't as good as the DVD or the second broadcast is because they want the best for the DVD.so they don't want to use too much of video angle on the TV LIVE.and the sound,i don't expect it to be good,since its a live show.avex always will do the best to gain profit.so,they don't give the best on the TV LIVE.they give the best on the DVD.this is the way they gain money

Ayumiko · #**126** 3rd January 2010, 04:26 AM

finally finished watching it after downloading the iso files.

I enjoy this cdl more than AT09 that's for sure. It felt like they had more time to prepare this cdl. The stage is detailed, and the outfits especially the dancer outfits are higher budget. I also like the setlist....love the songs she sang! I love the about you outfit the most. step you outfit turned out much better than the photos...and I for once actually enjoyed the 'cute section'. The screens for energize was great! The ayupan cards are really cute! I never liked her pants with side openings but I like it this time. Pride dress is actually quite nice...if only she didn't wear that hat thing and the wig. Momentum/you were... would of been better if she didn't wear that glove thing. Oh and the i am/moments kimono (both her's and dancers) are very cool too.

Vocally....its obvious ayu is struggling to sing some of the songs...the way she closes her eyes and stuff...some songs she sounds pretty good...some songs need editing. My fav is teddy bear...she sounded really great there! I was really amazed! No need to edit that one! \

Overall I really enjoyed this cdl...and I'm looking forward to this dvd release a lot more than AT09.

oh during the clip right before the countdown...u can see the outfits they were preparing...the step you maid dress was suppose to be a lot longer and about you dress didn't have the tutu skirt. The dress between those two is really nice! why didn't she wear it???

JinHamasaki · #**127** 3rd January 2010, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emiko

@Jin: I agree. I think she's been in her comfort zone for a long time, and I think it's time for a change. New composers, new producers, maybe some western ones. I don't think they'll change her sound too much...but maybe she just feels things go a lot faster with her Japanese team, which, of course it would, they've been working together for years lol

It would be nice. The only time I can remember her reaching out to a Western composer was for Connected (Ferry Corsten). And what we got was a heart thumping trance song but with an Ayu feel. Ayu still has plenty of power to pick and choose what she likes, but if she ventures out and lets others experiment, then who knows what will be created.

Then again, if she has had western composers all along, and she just still happens to pick Yukumi/Nakano/DAI/Kazu etc, then maybe she just simply doesn't like it...(doubtful of this scenario)

Loo-chan · #**128** 3rd January 2010, 04:57 AM

To everyone complaining about Ayu's vocals in this concert: I'd like to refer you to the TV version of CDL 07-08. Before the vocals were fixed for the DVD release, I swear it made my ears bleed. There's a reason it took so long for it to make it to DVD.

In comparison to that, this is really not that bad. Sure, she hits a few wrong notes, and a vocal coach certainly wouldn't be a bad investment at this point, but the concert definitely had its high points. Her stage presence carries her through the weak moments and she fakes her way through it all. Yes, in Because of You her singing is so flat you can hardly stand it, but she still walks proudly up and down that ramp (with that really cool microphone) like absolutely nothing is wrong, and you can't help but feel it with her. To be honest, I've never thought of Ayu as a musician or a singer - she's a performance artist. She's a presence, an image. She just happens to promote that through music.

Also, I don't understand the hate for the pink dress/About You dress. The About You dress may have been my absolute favourite of the show, in fact; I love love love love loved it. However, I'm a sucker for ruffles and gigantic bows, so maybe that has something to do with it. :| If anything I thought the Pride dress was the worst. I hated it the first time I saw it, and I hate it now.

Also, I'm so jealous of the studded CDL shirts that Ayu and her dancers wore in the encore! :O That had to have been done custom; I want one!

ETA: The one thing I will say about Ayu's concerts is that, unfortunately, they've become incredibly predictable. She needs to find a way to reinvent herself, and soon. If I have to sit through one more ballad-section-in-a-white-dress-while-ayu-cries-and-reaches-out-to-dancers-who-never-quite-reach-each-other-no-matter-how-hard-they-try, I might scream. I skipped momentum/You were... for that reason. D: Which made me sad, because momentum is one of my favourite songs and I would have loved to see it get a decent performance.

At least some of the costumes were new and original for this show...

pchan1986 · #**129** 3rd January 2010, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loo-chan

To everyone complaining about Ayu's vocals in this concert: I'd like to refer you to the TV version of CDL 07-08. Before the vocals were fixed for the DVD release, I swear it made my ears bleed. There's a reason it took so long for it to make it to DVD.

In comparison to that, this is really not that bad. Sure, she hits a few wrong notes, and a vocal coach certainly wouldn't be a bad investment at this point, but the concert definitely had its high points. Her stage presence carries her through the weak moments and she fakes her way through it all. Yes, in Because of You her singing is so flat you can hardly stand it, but she still walks proudly up and down that ramp (with that really cool microphone) like absolutely nothing is wrong, and you can't help but feel it with her. To be honest, I've never thought of Ayu as a musician or a singer - she's a performance artist. She's a presence, an image. She just happens to promote that through music.

Also, I don't understand the hate for the pink dress/About You dress. The About You dress may have been my absolute favourite of the show, in fact; I love love love love loved it. However, I'm a sucker for ruffles and gigantic bows, so maybe that has something to do with it. :| If anything I thought the Pride dress was the worst. I hated it the first time I saw it, and I hate it now.

Also, I'm so jealous of the studded CDL shirts that Ayu and her dancers wore in the encore! :O That had to have been done custom; I want one!

ETA: The one thing I will say about Ayu's concerts is that, unfortunately, they've become incredibly predictable. She needs to find a way to reinvent herself, and soon. If I have to sit through one more ballad-section-in-a-white-dress-while-ayu-cries-and-reaches-out-to-dancers-who-never-quite-reach-each-other-no-matter-how-hard-they-try, I might scream. I skipped momentum/You were... for that reason. D: Which made me sad, because momentum is one of my favourite songs and I would have loved to see it get a decent performance.

At least some of the costumes were new and original for this show...

for some reason. i loved the way you said everything. it made me giggle thru it all

nanakopy87 · #**130** 3rd January 2010, 05:08 AM

i quite like momentum-you were... performance,although i still hope its ayuXshuya performance

it's like ayu is the narrator of the maroXmidori love story.
so far,i have no comment about the costumes.i like it except for the momentum-you were... outfit.it really look like maternal dress =.="
and i like energize outfit alot!and the ayupan card is so cute~~~i wish i had one set of ayupan cards

perfectodub · #**131** 3rd January 2010, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GRACE

teddy bear worst KILL YOURSELF.

is nothing new about it...the song is not so good and the concept old
the only different thing is the falp bear. (it is different right?)

you have 2 other old concerts with that performance

SunshineSlayer · #**132** 3rd January 2010, 05:33 AM

Now that I've been able to really digest everything, here is my full review:

Setlist: A+

Costumes: C. The only ones I really liked were the first one and the white dress. The rest were either OK or what the heck was she thinking type of things.

How I'd rate the vocals:

GOOD - You Were, Pride, and Teddy Bear (I was actually pleasantly surprised by Pride because judging by most comments I though it would be awful but it wasn't that bad actually)

OK (as in at least passable) - I Am, Moments, Startin', Boys and Girls (barely), Red Line, Sunrise, Step You, Energize (just barely)

BAD - Because of You, About You, Momentum, Evolution, Humming 7/4, Inspire

Not rating 1Love or Until that Day because I can't tell if they are actually live or not.

Overall, it's a C at the very most for the vocals.

The encore was great. She looked cute (that hair definitely looks better up). She had lots of energy and it was fun. The other parts of the concert I felt really could and should have been great, but often times the vocals were just too bad to ignore. Even the ones I put in the good category, I still wouldn't rate them as high as her past performances of the same songs. Of all of the tv versions of the cdls I have seen (I think maybe all of them), I would rate this as her worst vocally except for 02-03 (but she was clearly very sick at that time) At the same time I'm glad that this concert really had minimal lipsyncing. Now if only I could get minimal lip synching AND good vocals.

After the vocals, I thought the worst part was all of the interludes. It really felt like tooooo many and the only non-boring ones for me were the ones with the band.

I really felt like Because of You could have been epic. Even though it is essentially the same setup, I liked the rising platform and her half mic stand; its the vocals that kept it from being epic. Startin however was lots of fun and About You too, I really liked her energy.

She really needs to have someone in her camp saying to her "Ayu, you are crazy if you think going on a long tour next year is going to help anything" but apparently there is no one like that and the people at Avex don't give a damn about her voice or her ears, just about getting as much money out of her while they still can.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

About her voice being overpowered by the band: If nobody that went to the concert complained about her voice and every year people around here complain about it when the TV version of CDL is broadcasted, IMO it`s obvious that the problem is on the TV recording ~~

Often times you are so excited just to be there that you overlook things like that.

Often times too, the sound is so loud and echoey that you actually get a better feel for the song when you watch it later on tv than when you are actually there.

Tony G · #**133** 3rd January 2010, 05:35 AM

About the vocals - people, she's deaf in one ear. Her voice went downhill quite fast from the CDL 07-08 performance when she lost hearing. You don't think that might have had an impact on her vocal abilities?

She's been singing for a really long time. All she needs is a vocal coach? Come on. You can't fix what is broken, but she has done her best. Comparing her recent lives to that awful CDL 07-08 performance, and those early Mirrocle World lives, the improvement is pretty outstanding.

SunshineSlayer · #**134** 3rd January 2010, 05:46 AM

^ It started happening at least a year before CDL07-08 and vocally I would say this is definitely worse than that. The only really horrible one in CDL07-08 I thought was Surreal.

amorphose · #**135** 3rd January 2010, 05:48 AM

^^She lost her hearing way before CDL07-08. O_O It was just made public at that point. And sure the deafness is sad-- but if an artist went blind, do you think people would still praise their work out of pity?

For being partially deaf, Ayu does absolutely amazing, yeah. But she was partially deaf during the peak of her career too, so it doesn't excuse what's happening now. I think the problem is that since she made the issue public, she's felt the need to try harder and she's hurt her voice by trying to do too much with it.

She needs to cool it for a while and maybe a vocal coach wouldn't be a bad idea to help her break some bad habits she's formed (like the trying-to-be-powerful screaming thing.)

Andrenekoi · #**136** 3rd January 2010, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

Often times you are so excited just to be there that you overlook things like that.

Often times too, the sound is so loud and echoey that you actually get a better feel for the song when you watch it later on tv than when you are actually there.

U saw her live urself... have u ever had problems like that? Cuz people complains about her voice being too low every year when they get tv version of CDL...

If it's TV people, and not Ayu staff, doing the recording, it's easy to know what is going wrong with tv versions...

Tony G · #**137** 3rd January 2010, 05:53 AM

I don't think she lost her hearing completly in one ear way before CDL 07-08. Why would she make public this news, and her intention to keep going, so long after it happened? It definitely happened in 2007. She always had problems with that ear, but she was never completly deaf until then.

I guess we'll never know, but someone's voice just doesn't go that downhill in one year.

The point being - it affected her vocals. It will always affect her vocals, and they will never be as good as they were before. A vocal coach isn't going to be able to fix that.

SunshineSlayer · #**138** 3rd January 2010, 05:56 AM

^Actually a vocal coach CAN help that. There are coaches who specialize in teaching singers who have lost partial or even all of their hearing. It's possible to improve, but you basically have to retrain yourself in how to sing from the ground up and trust when the coach tells you something doesn't sound good even if you and your faulty ears think that it does.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

U saw her live urself... have u ever had problems like that? Cuz people complains about her voice being too low every year when they get tv version of CDL...

Oh yeah for sure. I noticed it a lot at A-Nation 07 and Arena Tour 08 but usually you are wrapped up in the fun of the live, so you don't really pay attention to it as much. She went from sounding too low one second to bursting your ear drums with her shouts or iiii the next. Interestingly though, although its been a long time now, at AT 05 and AT06 I do not really remember moments like that - I mainly just remember her voice being really strong and clear.

Although her voice may sound lower in many cdl tv lives; I don't remember it ever being this bad. Actually I thought CDL 04/05 and 05/06 were incredibly strong even in the tv broadcast. And if you've ever seen the tv broadcast of A Museum (which was filmed on a different day from the dvd release) her vocals were so strong they could have easily used that as the DVD without even editing it.

AyUmIXx · #**139** 3rd January 2010, 06:13 AM

here comes all the complains..
complains and complains......
OMG!

it's clearly that her vocal sounded weak because the recording got problem!
i can see from herself that she has tried her best to sing the song..
i believe there's something wrong with the recording.. not that Ayu sounded weak..

SunshineSlayer · #**140** 3rd January 2010, 06:21 AM

^ Even if it is a technical problem (I would only buy that excuse for I am and Moments actually) many of the vocals were just bad regardless of what the volume was. It really seems like she struggled with the songs that were the loudest - which is understandable. Softer songs and the soft parts of the loud songs her voice came through great. It's a highly coincidental technical problem if her voice is only low during the loud parts of the songs for the whole concert.

I think it would be awesome if she tried to do an accoustic live.