14th album 'LOVE again' out February 8th, 4th of five 15th anniversary releases [VI]

[matan]

so far my fave is Bye-bye darling (still hate the title though). it reminds me of kiss o' kill only poppier

[kotora]

Originally Posted by AyuWorld

so someone told me that it is the one's who ripped the CD decision to put the You & Me A classical version the original studio album version will have You & Me the original version, so take note everyone,dont confuse this ^^

That implies even this person feel like You & Me (Original Version) is so not fit for this album... hmm..

[Jawdarna]

Originally Posted by Bad Wolf

I said it in another thread but I'll repeat it here to see if anyone else feels the same vibe: LOVE again is making me uncomfortable, which is the first for any Ayu record, because it just sounds so raw and vulnerable. I don't even mean raw like her darker tracks and albums, which are all very fierce in an angry way, I mean that this album from front to end just feels like this weak, fragile part of Ayu that she's putting out there and I almost feel really rude for acknowledging it. Hell, I didn't even feel this way when listening to GUILTY ffs.

There's a definite absence of mysteriousness. Duty, GUILTY, even Party Queen (the 'darker' albums) gloss over quite a bit of detail. LOVE again, I agree, is quite the opposite. It's obscenely explicit in it's detail. You can hear the story; it's not shrouded by the usual platonic mist.

I think it's also quite interesting to note that a lot of us thought that Ayu was acting all 'teenage girl' like when You & Me (and even LOVE) was released. As if, she had totally surrendered herself to finding love. eg. She was going through some form of mid-life crisis.

I think she's going through a mid-life crisis, but not in that girlish, immature way that the fanbase first thought. There are parts of LOVE again that are hauntingly mature. I think that is the terrifying part.

If Ayu was to ever pose semi-naked on a cover, it should have been for LOVE again!!!

[AyuWorld]

Originally Posted by kotora

That implies even this person feel like You & Me (Original Version) is so not fit for this album... hmm..

yepp its awkward when you got a mid tempo and ballad songs in a row and then BAM! YOu & Me comes in the end

[matan]

^also the Orchestra version is way better than the original

[matan]

Originally Posted by Jawdarna

There's a definite absence of mysteriousness. Duty, GUILTY, even Party Queen (the 'darker' albums) gloss over quite a bit of detail. LOVE again, I agree, is quite the opposite. It's obscenely explicit in it's detail. You can hear the story; it's not shrouded by the usual platonic mist.

I think it's also quite interesting to note that a lot of us thought that Ayu was acting all 'teenage girl' like when You & Me (and even LOVE) was released. As if, she had totally surrendered herself to finding love. eg. She was going through some form of mid-life crisis.

I think she's going through a mid-life crisis, but not in that girlish, immature way that the fanbase first thought. There are parts of LOVE again that are hauntingly mature. I think that is the terrifying part.

I think it's a bit early for her to go through a mid-life crisis, she's only 34 remember? but I agree that since Love Songs her songs got a more mature feel to them, just like her voice has matured

[Bad Wolf]

Originally Posted by Jawdarna

There's a definite absence of mysteriousness. Duty, GUILTY, even Party Queen (the 'darker' albums) gloss over quite a bit of detail. LOVE again, I agree, is quite the opposite. It's obscenely explicit in it's detail. You can hear the story; it's not shrouded by the usual platonic mist.

I think it's also quite interesting to note that a lot of us thought that Ayu was acting all 'teenage girl' like when You & Me (and even LOVE) was released. As if, she had totally surrendered herself to finding love. eg. She was going through some form of mid-life crisis.

I think she's going through a mid-life crisis, but not in that girlish, immature way that the fanbase first thought. There are parts of LOVE again that are hauntingly mature. I think that is the terrifying part.

If Ayu was to ever pose semi-naked on a cover, it should have been for LOVE again!!!

Exactly! You hit the nail on the head as to why I feel uncomfortable. In previous albums there'd be a few tracks that really exposed that kind of bitterness (Return Road, reminds me on PQ for instance) and then of course there'd be others that felt very exposed from start to finish, but I'm just surprised LOVE again took this approach. It's also a bit depressing if you think about it, because when looking at the songs after experiencing them and their lyrics, the title almost feels like it's exasperated: kind of like "oh, this AGAIN?"

In this regard, when you look at You & Me as the album closer, whether it's orchestrated or not, it actually feels really hollow and sad. We have an entire album full of songs that fluctuate back and forth between love and its experiences, how it can effect those around them or how bitterly it ends, and after songs of courage we get this wistful, almost delusional song about a summer romance, as if it negates the songs before it. The album opens with a call to forget a past love and to move on, and the album ends with reminiscences, as if the person can't escape at all in the end. It's quite sad.

[Tomoyo]

You know, I HATE this woman for her brain (from a musician standpoint) but i can say this album is amazing~ I don't even mind that there are only 5 new songs and 2 interludes (and most of those songs are ballads lol) the other songs that were included. they were so epic that they deserve to be on two albums lol. i really hope i can get tickets to her 2014 CDL since i will be in japan. that would be so amazing~

[Tomoyo]

Originally Posted by Tomoyo

Working on the Romaji now, it will take a few minutes ^.^

04. SAKURA

Spoiler:

Sunde hinyari shita kaze ga hoho wo sasu
Konna yoru wa itsumo kimatte kimi ga kureta
Meeru wo hitori yomikaesu yo
Donna kimochi de kaita no kana

Ikite ku koto wa doushite setsunai
Ikite ku koto wa doushite ureshii
Ah, kimi no tame ni ima dekiru koto wa
Kono namida wo fuite egao de iru koto

Itsumo to kawaranai taai nai hanashi mo
Sukima ni kanjiru yo yarusenai riaru *
Dare yori tsurai hibi ga dare yori tsuyokute kimochi ni kotoba oitsukanai

Ikite ku koto wa konna ni toutoi
Ikite ku koto wa konna ni hakanai
Ah, kimi no tame ni tada dekiru koto wa
Sou donna shunkan mo bokura dearu koto

Ikite ku koto wa LALALALA
Donna ni toutoi LALALALA
Ikite ku koto wa LALALALA

Bokura dearu koto

* Even though in the Leak version last night it sounded like there was singing here
it turns out there was not.

05. Bye-bye darling

Spoiler:

Kono kimochitte nani darou kimi wo touku ni kanjiru yo
Dondon boyake chatte furerarenai yo
Yukkuri to me wo tojite mata yukkuri to aite
Te sourihenshitettara kie chai-souda yo

Iiwake nante nai kirei goto mo narabenai
Machigae demo ii to eranda no wa
Hoka no dare demo nai jibun dakara

Boku wa mata te wo hanashita yo kokoro no soko kara shinjiteta mono wo
Kono hoshi de tatta hitori kimi ga boku no eienda to omoteta
Boku wa naze te wo hanashita no kokoro no soko kara shinjitai mono wo
Kono hoshi ni tatta hitotsu no hikari datta no ni

Kokoro kara waraeteru kai mada kaette wa konai kai
Soko ni mukae ni ikou katte koe ga kikoeru
Mou kaeru basho wa nai nemuritai basho mo nai
Deguchi wo miushinatta ano hito kara ima iru basho sae wakaranai

Boku wa mou modoranai yo kokoro ga ikura tasuke motomete mo
Sekaijuu doko ni ite mo sore ga hitori kimi datta to shite mo
Boku wa mou kuyamanai yo kokoro ga ikura himei wo agete mo
Sekaijuu doko ni ite mo boku no owaride mo

Taiyou wa mou noboranai kono nagai yoru wa akeru koto wa nai

Boku wa mata te wo hanashita yo kokoro no soko kara shinjiteta mono wo
Kono hoshi de tatta hitori kimi ga boku no eienda to omoteta
Boku wa naze te wo hanashita no kokoro no soko kara shinjitai mono wo
Kono hoshi ni tatta hitotsu no hikari datta no ni

Itai kurai wakatteru yo tsuki dake nokotta koto

10. petal
** this song was the most difficult, i actually had to go through it twice~**

Spoiler:

Itsumo to kawaranai kaerimichi no tochuu
Minareru ichirin no hana ni deai mashita
Iro mo katachi mo nani mo konomi de wa nakatta no ni
Doushite mo hikarete shimai mashita

Suki kirai suki kirai
Ichimai zutsu chigitte
Saigo ni nokoru hito hira ga
Sukina hou dearu to yoi no desu ga

Kesa me ga sametara hana ga soko ni atte
Osore no kakera mo misezu ni saite mashita
Sonna tokoro ga kitto hikareta riyuu na no deshou
Taisetsu ni mizu wo kakete yuki mashou

Suki kirai suki kirai
Ichimai zutsu chigitte
Saigo ni nokoru hito hira no
Unmei yudanete mo ii desu ka

Suki kirai suki kirai
Ichimai zutsu chigitte
Saigo ni nokoru hito hira ga
Suki hou dearu to yoi

Sayonara sayounara
Ichimai zutsu chigitte
Saigo ni nokoru hito hira ga
Kirai na hou dattara

12. Untitled ~For Her~.... Story 2

Spoiler:

Mou daijoubu nori koeta
Sonna kao wo shite
Ano hi kara choudo go nen
Tsuki hi tachi mashita

Ima mo watashi no negai nara
Kawaranai mama desu
Ichido dake mou ichido dake
Anata ni aitai

Te wo tsunaide aruki nagara
Sasai na koto de nai tari waratte tari shite ita futari

Anata no eranda basho kara ima no konna watashi wa
Donna fuu ni nee utsutte iru deshou ka
Anata no eranda sono basho ni anata wo kurushimeru
Mono nado hitotsu sae nai koto wo inotte masu

Itsuka no sono hi made matte te

Koko ni wa kieteku dokoro ka anata ni kiite hoshii
Sutoorii taema naku fue tsudzukeru mainichi desu
Itsuka mou ichido anata ni aeta sono toki wa
Iya gara reru kurai daki tsuite mite mo ii desu ka

13. Gloria
**Fixed this morning since the album leaked!**

Spoiler:

Nan daka bokura wa sugu ni wasurete shimau ne
Hajimari ga itsu datta ka doko de donna kaze fuite ita toka

Nan daka bokura wa zuibun narete shimau ne
Kizu ni shimita koto toka warae nakatta koto da toka mo zenbu

Koko ni aru genjitsu to kono ryouu de ni ippai no ai gyutto to dakishimete
Sono me de mita mono ya sono te de fureta mono wo shinjite
Tobidashita kanjou da toka togatta mama no kotoba mo aru
Keredo akiramenai de ne hora asu he no eeru ni kaete

Nan daka bokura wa yokubari ni natte shimau ne
Dono kurai datta toka sore made no koto wo miushinau ne

Koko ni aru genjitsu wo sono saki ni aru
Mirai wa dare no sei de mo nai kara
Erande kimete seotte bokura jishin no te de
Masshiroi kami wo hirogete kimi dake no chizu wo kaita nara
Soko kara janakya mienai keshiki wo dou ka daiji ni shite

Kimi mo dare mo sonna tsuyoku wa nai ne
Dakara hitori ni nante shinai kara

Koko ni aru genjitsu to kono ryouude ni ippai no ai gyutto dakishimete
Sono me de mieta mono ya sono te de fureta mono wo shinjite
Tobi dashita kanjou da toka togatta mama no kotoba mo aru
Keredo akiramenai de ne hora asu he no eeru ni kaete

Sou asu he no eeru ni kaete

Quoting this because i fixed Gloria this morning, and in case everyone didn't see it ^.^

[AyuWorld]

^
why you hate her for that? x)

[Tomoyo]

Originally Posted by AyuWorld

^
why you hate her for that? x)

maybe hate was a strong word to use. I'll admit, ayumi hamasaki is my idol, i see a lot of myself in her lyrics, which is why i will continue to support her no matter what. and i respect her for her lyrics and for lasting as long as she has, even with the decline in sales. i have learned not to have high expectations for her releases. i don't get over excited for her releases like i did before (probably (m)u to NL) but thats when her releases surprise me (like Love songs and LOVE again) . her music always sounds so original to me. she never has two songs that sound alike to me. which is another reason i love her.

what i meant by 'hate her for her brain' is that i love to write songs and it's something i believe i am good at. but i cannot word like she can. and i run the risk of writing after listening to her songs and then my song comes out sounding like a english translation of one of her songs. i just kind of envy her i guess and wish i could write more like her.

[BlackSilence]

Listening to the leak now, with proper headphones..... i am only halfway through but i love everything. Still for me tho Sweet scar is the best balad on it, in terms of the feeling it gives to me when listening, but i love all the new pieces too, because they are so rich in arangements.

Even if i really like petal i don't really feel that haunting everyone talks about. It's far from being haunting, maybe just the ending. It is unique but haunting is Sweet scar for me.

Glasses made me think of that Flavalaguna, or whatever her name was from Fifth Element, song xD

Gloria's first minute made me think of The Beatles. xD i'm not a fan of her vocas in it, it sounds like if she's trying to sound cute through the verses, however it gets better with the chorus. NOT A BAD track. Loved how it jumped to guitars in chorus, and later on, it actually reminds of old school rock like Bon Jovi or even Ozzy (lol) with those awesome guitar solo parts in songs basicly stuff my dad used to listen xD at some point it kind of makes me think of Melody.

so i found some MIYAVI, The Beatles, old school rock like Ozzy Osbourne or Bon Jovi and even something from Fifth Element movie in the new Ayu tracks xD NOT BAD, gurl xD

[KLJames]

"glasses" was amazing! perhaps the best interlude since we got "Pieces of SEVEN" ages ago!

[Chiharo]

Probably was discussed before but, how come melody is not on this album?

[BlackSilence]

^it isn't?? maybe just in the leak?

[Leaf King]

Originally Posted by Chiharo

Probably was discussed before but, how come melody is not on this album?

It is. You need to change the album's name from LOVE to LOVE again in your iTunes.

[kimmeh]

I think the interludes on this album is of HIGH quality! Rest of the new songs, not so much

So far I only really like Snowy Kiss, Wake me up, petal, glasses, task'n'bass...
Rest is meh
Gloria was awful

[Bad Wolf]

Originally Posted by artcika

so i found some MIYAVI, The Beatles, old school rock like Ozzy Osbourne or Bon Jovi and even something from Fifth Element movie in the new Ayu tracks xD NOT BAD, gurl xD

THAT IS THE BEST MIX UP OF REFERENCES EVERRRR.

[BlackSilence]

^haha well i swear i can hear all that stuff...somehow....maybe i'm just nuts xD

[Chiharo]

Oh darn it, melody is not in the leak. I'm kind of mad now since I already listened to the whole album twice and thought I was listening to the whole thing, lol.