'again' mini album covers

[sugarbasil]

Personally, I think Ayu's going through some giant midlife crisis or something. She doesn't seem to know who she is or what she wants anymore. It's like she's just going through the motions at this point and doing whatever makes her the most happy at that moment. Which is cool, she can do whatever she wants.

To me, though, it seems like she's almost flailing at times. Like this. I don't personally buy this whole relationship with Maro thing. I don't question that she feels something for him, but like...wtf. Where on earth did this relationship come from? And I just don't personally think putting your new BF on your album cover is a smart move, but what do I know.

As for the covers, I think they're okay... I agree with the few people that said they're sick of the LOVE theme, and by that I mean the way all the covers and PVs look the same, like they were all made with instagram or something. And yeah, we get it: you're in love. Again. And again. Thought your love life was going to stay separate from your professional life? Oh well...morals change.

And as for the people who say 'who cares? It's her music that matters.' I care. I don't follow her anymore for her music. I follow her because I idolized her for half of my life. But in the last 2 years she's been contradicting so many things that I came to idolize her for. Maybe that's her changing with time, but I don't have to be a fan of the change.

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by sugarbasil

Personally, I think Ayu's going through some giant midlife crisis or something. She doesn't seem to know who she is or what she wants anymore. It's like she's just going through the motions at this point and doing whatever makes her the most happy at that moment. Which is cool, she can do whatever she wants.

To me, though, it seems like she's almost flailing at times. Like this. I don't personally buy this whole relationship with Maro thing. I don't question that she feels something for him, but like...wtf. Where on earth did this relationship come from? And I just don't personally think putting your new BF on your album cover is a smart move, but what do I know.

As for the covers, I think they're okay... I agree with the few people that said they're sick of the LOVE theme, and by that I mean the way all the covers and PVs look the same, like they were all made with instagram or something. And yeah, we get it: you're in love. Again. And again. Thought your love life was going to stay separate from your professional life? Oh well...morals change.

And as for the people who say 'who cares? It's her music that matters.' I care. I don't follow her anymore for her music. I follow her because I idolized her for half of my life. But in the last 2 years she's been contradicting so many things that I came to idolize her for. Maybe that's her changing with time, but I don't have to be a fan of the change.

Well said.

[njanjayrp]

Originally Posted by sugarbasil

Personally, I think Ayu's going through some giant midlife crisis or something. She doesn't seem to know who she is or what she wants anymore. It's like she's just going through the motions at this point and doing whatever makes her the most happy at that moment. Which is cool, she can do whatever she wants.

To me, though, it seems like she's almost flailing at times. Like this. I don't personally buy this whole relationship with Maro thing. I don't question that she feels something for him, but like...wtf. Where on earth did this relationship come from? And I just don't personally think putting your new BF on your album cover is a smart move, but what do I know.

As for the covers, I think they're okay... I agree with the few people that said they're sick of the LOVE theme, and by that I mean the way all the covers and PVs look the same, like they were all made with instagram or something. And yeah, we get it: you're in love. Again. And again. Thought your love life was going to stay separate from your professional life? Oh well...morals change.

And as for the people who say 'who cares? It's her music that matters.' I care. I don't follow her anymore for her music. I follow her because I idolized her for half of my life. But in the last 2 years she's been contradicting so many things that I came to idolize her for. Maybe that's her changing with time, but I don't have to be a fan of the change.

This pretty much sums up how I feel about the whole thing, but the last part as I feel a little bit different.

I've always `idolized` Ayu for her music, performances, PVs and lyrics. Her private life was never of any interest to me and atm I'm trying not to think about the whole thing, but when she was with Tomoya at least he wasn't in her PVs and live performances.

She did keep her private and stage lives separate and now I can hardly say the same thing. Her husbands/boyfriends are practically thrown into our faces. Sure we can all say crap like "She is doing what she wants and I am all happy for her" and she might as well be, but in case she does want to keep her fans she should reconsider some things from other perspectives as well. I don't care who she dates really as long as that person doesn't become a mandatory ingredient of "ayumi hamasaki" the singer's career. We all bring our personal lives to work at times, but doing it occasionally and doing it constantly are two different things and imo Ayu's been doing it way too often lately. Yes she is an artist and her songs are a reflection who she is. I just wish some things could've been done in a more subtle way...

[paper_doll]

Originally Posted by sugarbasil

I agree with the few people that said they're sick of the LOVE theme, and by that I mean the way all the covers and PVs look the same, like they were all made with instagram or something.

lol That's what bugs me about them because they all have the same look and it's not even a particularly good look.

[Larisa-chan]

Originally Posted by sugarbasil

Personally, I think Ayu's going through some giant midlife crisis or something. She doesn't seem to know who she is or what she wants anymore. It's like she's just going through the motions at this point and doing whatever makes her the most happy at that moment. Which is cool, she can do whatever she wants.

To me, though, it seems like she's almost flailing at times. Like this. I don't personally buy this whole relationship with Maro thing. I don't question that she feels something for him, but like...wtf. Where on earth did this relationship come from? And I just don't personally think putting your new BF on your album cover is a smart move, but what do I know.

As for the covers, I think they're okay... I agree with the few people that said they're sick of the LOVE theme, and by that I mean the way all the covers and PVs look the same, like they were all made with instagram or something. And yeah, we get it: you're in love. Again. And again. Thought your love life was going to stay separate from your professional life? Oh well...morals change.

And as for the people who say 'who cares? It's her music that matters.' I care. I don't follow her anymore for her music. I follow her because I idolized her for half of my life. But in the last 2 years she's been contradicting so many things that I came to idolize her for. Maybe that's her changing with time, but I don't have to be a fan of the change.

Wow, I agree with every single sentence in this post LOL And I really feel that I can't take Ayu seriously anymore, especially after the last 2 years. Sad, because prior to that I had always had a lot of respect for her - she always seemed more mature than her actual age, through her lyrics, music, and "public image."

And if the Ayu we are seeing now is how she's always really been, then damn, she certainly had me fooled for 8 years (not including the last couple years which is when I started to feel her "public image" [for lack of a better word] began to really change).

And a more specific response to the album covers:
I think they are very tasteful in their presentation; they're fine, a bit bland.

But she doesn't need to be advertising her boyfriend du jour on the covers. At least she won't have to stare at his face if (when) they break up.