[Official Message] New Christmas Single 2013.12.25 In Stores

[Not~Yet]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

Remo-con remixing Feel the love would be stunning btw.

And the m-flo song is 'intended for the dancefloor' apparently so much excitement for that. Compared to the 'uplifting' nature of Feel the love, I wonder if it'll be a bit heavier.

Ooh I really hope we'll get some amazing remixes by Shinichi and Remo-con or other great DJ's eventually

"Intented for the dancefloor" sounds definitely promising. I think Feel the love would be complimented by a heavier/edgier dance track, since as a stand alone it can fall a bit flat for some but pairing it up with a contrasting bold track could bring out it's quality as a romantic, lighthearted dance track.

[panda♥]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

Remo-con remixing Feel the love would be stunning btw.

And the m-flo song is 'intended for the dancefloor' apparently so much excitement for that. Compared to the 'uplifting' nature of Feel the love, I wonder if it'll be a bit heavier.

good. i'm happy she isn't going with a classic winter song, such as a ballad.

i'm pretty sure the only thing meant to be "Christmas" about this single is the release date.

[jean-baptiste]

Ecstatic.

[visionfactory]

I hate Feel the love

The english lyrics are so cheesy...

[Ahi_max91]

this is f*cking awesome!!!! can't wai!! finally finally new single... after 3 year,, omg omg!!! #abouttodie

[YUKARI]

tbh I feel the winter, Christmas and miracle New Year touch in this song aaah I hope it will be success and Japanese will love it

[Zeke.]

For a comeback single I had envisioned something grand with a large tie in. Possibly that Pray song if it were good. Or an overhaul in her image; polish her up, return to sophistication. Possibly a divine CREA track or two.

I'm not gonna get too bent outta shape about the what-could-have-beens, because like it or not, this is how it's happening. I miss when everything that ayu released had a special kind of aura surrounding the material and everything that went along with it. I just don't see the big picture anymore, or a foundation to be built upon. It seems it's just "here's a song" "and here's another". Thee Hamasaki Ayumi image just isn't as mystical or extravagant anymore.

Namie at least as an image and an attitude, even if her music is vastly overrated.

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

Namie at least as an image and an attitude, even if her music is vastly overrated.

With her, I'm not 100% sure how much of it is her and how much of it is her production team. Ayu on the other hand, even if she's being boring or whatever to people, she's always herself.

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

With her, I'm not 100% sure how much of it is her and how much of it is her production team. Ayu on the other hand, even if she's being boring or whatever to people, she's always herself.

But ayu used to have a very strong image, so much so that it seemed as if she was creating the soundtrack to the character that is Hamasaki Ayumi, and everything that came with those songs, including PVs and coverart, played a part in this "movie" that the Hamasaki Ayumi 'character' starred in. There was a subtle mystery to her in a way it seemed, without her having to be cold or impersonal as just "ayu". She had a strong grasp on that and the line that she walked was almost an artform. That image has almost completely disappeared.

It used to seem as if each era ushered in something new, but always felt like a progression of sorts. Although she is still releasing music, lately I don't feel that form of progression in her eras. Even if she's trying new things that she hadn't on the past, that's not what I mean by progression. I mean, for the longest time it was as if she was constantly trudging uphill, but now it's as if she's strolling along a flat slope, and has been for quite some time.

[emi♡]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

With her, I'm not 100% sure how much of it is her and how much of it is her production team. Ayu on the other hand, even if she's being boring or whatever to people, she's always herself.

This is an old post now....buuuttt this is a problem for me, with new Ayu.

I mean, regardless if I personally like the songs or not, it's not the issue for me. And I'm happy that she's experimenting, and putting herself out there. I've been wanting her to work with new people, and she's doing that.

But. Her production has not been up to the standards that SHE set, with her own music. And I just don't understand why.

Namie music < Ayu music.

Namie production >>> Ayu production. (lately) And you can replace that Namie with a lot of things, like a lot of Kpop, for example.

Too high expectations? Maybe. Whatever.


Anyway, is merry go round out then. I'll have to come back.

[primavera♥]

What is life?

I can be picky with edm, but I really like this song so far. It has a light mood but one that isnt too bright and it's easy to listen to. I will enjoy it in winter.

Idk about the m-flo song lol. But we'll see.

I got so excited when I came onto the forum and saw this lol

[adantatu2]

I love it. I'm so happy. Thanks ayumi <3

[No_Doubt]

Unexpected! Looking forward to this.

[truehappiness]

If you read her interviews, she has stopped trying to be perfect because it was a way for her to 'feel safe', but it made her feel 'incomplete' and 'lonely'. I would rather her feel good and release music like this than have to force an image because she's afraid of what would happen if she didn't.

I personally think that most fans need to begin looking forward and not remember the past. The Ayu that sang Secret and made albums in the years past no longer exists, she's said as much. Much has changed in the last 5+ years when it comes to Ayu and her contact with fans among other things, but I feel like at the very least she has always been "Hamasaki Ayumi" and the two characters of "Ayu" that we see publicly and "Hamasaki Ayumi" that used to be 'private' have merged into one. (or was it the other way around?)

I don't really care how she was before, honestly, as long as she is happy doing what she's doing. She's made mistakes recently, but I think she's learnt from them.

Translated by Misa-chan:

I don’t need to be perfect, nor to protect myself anymore. I’m really afraid of nothing now. In the past, I created an iron wall with things such as hair and make-up, and felt safe when enclosed inside. Now, whenever I make myself up to be perfect, it just feels different and sort of lonely. Being perfect now feels incomplete. There’s hope there, but also despair. That is how I am.

Either way, no matter how I am, it’s more important that everyone is enjoying themselves. It doesn’t matter if that means that I’ll be exhausted, and have to travel a long way, because that’s important to me. This thing, which seems so natural, is what I have chosen. When I realized that, I really became fearless.”

[Kouyou]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I personally think that most fans need to begin looking forward and not remember the past.

Well put, I definitely agree with you. I've always felt this way ever since I became a part of the AHS community. Too often I hear people say that Ayu will "never create another masterpiece like I am..." or that she's lost her spark or something. There's no point in glorifying the past; it (probably) wasn't as awesome as you remember and right now isn't as bad as you think it is.

[YUKARI]

Originally Posted by Becky

Well put, I definitely agree with you. I've always felt this way ever since I became a part of the AHS community. Too often I hear people say that Ayu will "never create another masterpiece like I am..." or that she's lost her spark or something. There's no point in glorifying the past; it (probably) wasn't as awesome as you remember and right now isn't as bad as you think it is.

yeah, I'm totally glad I'm enjoying every little thing about this single and just feel like dancing and jumping to Feel the love, because I definitely feel it

I hope this song grows on you, guys.

[jyujiw]

If you read the last interviews that she gave you will notice that she changed her mind a lot in the last years.
She doesn't feel that she has to prove anything to anyone anymore. The image of Ayumi Hamasaki is turning to be just Ayu for a long time. She choose this path.
Of course she appears like a Diva-style now and then, particularly this is one of the images that I most like, but you can see now that she's not struggling to be something that she doesn't feel anymore. I feel happy for her.
It took a long time to her to free herself.
She's much more mature nowadays and knows what she really wants to express.

[jbrat2219]

YES! THE QUEEN IS GIVING ME LIFE WITH THIS SONG!

I can't stop dancing to it!

[truehappiness]

Merry-go-around will probably be coming in a bit. Next week around this time maybe?

[jbrat2219]

I wish it came out today. I'm so excited for this single!