[Official Message] New Christmas Single 2013.12.25 In Stores

[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.]

Originally Posted by ComatoseBunnySnatcher

Can you like, not?
People like this and we already know (WE KNOW, trust me) that you don't. I understand not liking it, but what's the point of this?
And I'm glad Ballad Queen!Ayu is gone for the moment.

Not what? There are others who have mentioned they dislike it as well, annoyed by it, and not as ecstatic as others. What is the point of saying "wow finally a new single!" as well? What's the point of anything for the matter? Can you honestly say that this is how you imagined her comeback to the world of single releases? I wasn't sure if it was going to happen, but if it ever did, I felt it would be a situation where they could really utilize it in such an extravagant way if they played their cards right.

[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

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

Not what? There are others who have mentioned they dislike it as well, annoyed by it, and not as ecstatic as others. What is the point of saying "wow finally a new single!" as well? What's the point of anything for the matter? Can you honestly say that this is how you imagined her comeback to the world of single releases? I wasn't sure if it was going to happen, but if it ever did, I felt it would be a situation where they could really utilize it in such an extravagant way if they played their cards right.

I think this was probably the best choice of track for her 'comeback' single. A song similar to her last big hit which was You & Me. Though this one is a bit better imo.

[No_Doubt]

Unexpected! Looking forward to this.

[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.

[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.”

[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!

[maikaru]

One of the whole reasons I started to like Ayumi Hamasaki when she first came out is because she didn't sound like those Komuro people, like Amuro Namie and GLOBE. TRF was okay, but like... I couldn't stand Tomomi Kahala either.

Now this song just sounds like it was extracted from that time and copied and pasted into 2013, with no updates. This is definitely not an Ayumi Hamasaki song. It's OKAY, but it's not what I was expecting.

And before anyone says "Oh it's good she's doing something unexpected," there's always good surprise and then there's the "Oh, crap" surprise. haha.

Agree about the Namie Amuro bit by Coelacanth. Played Spotlight (TOKYO) for one of my english speaking friends, they laughed and tried to figure out if she was singing in English or in a made up language. Yeah, she's cool sometimes, but recently she's trying way to hard to be western with her english songs.

I really don't want Ayu to become that. I tolerated You & Me. It's a good song, the production is modern.

This is just a nightmare on 90s street.

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by maikaru

I really don't want Ayu to become that. I tolerated You & Me. It's a good song, the production is modern.

This is just a nightmare on 90s street.

There's not much that's different between this and You & Me imo. This has a catchier chorus though.

[BlackSilence]

Originally Posted by ComatoseBunnySnatcher

And I'm glad Ballad Queen!Ayu is gone for the moment.

yeah she is gone, and back with some weak stuff, i'd rather have a rock Ayu back than this...aghem lol i ust have a bad feeling about this whole single, like, it is not gonna do good....=/

oh and i can almost bet that Feel the love is gonna have a party themed video....i can see it...

oh and from A ver club

"Both songs turned out so cool!!

I'm gonna upload「Merry-go-round」on YouTube at some point, so stay tuned!"
from Ayu's LINE

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by artcika

yeah she is gone, and back with some weak stuff, i'd rather have a rock Ayu back than this...aghem lol i ust have a bad feeling about this whole single, like, it is not gonna do good....=/

oh and i can almost bet that Feel the love is gonna have a party themed video....i can see it...

oh and from A ver club

"Both songs turned out so cool!!

I'm gonna upload「Merry-go-round」on YouTube at some point, so stay tuned!"
from Ayu's LINE

Really? I think this song has a VERY good chance of doing well if you know what the listening habits of the Japanese public are and the fact that her last big song with them was You & Me... and before that, like... Sunrise.

[love in music]

omg finally a new single!! i can't wait i missed her christmas singles too.

[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.