Ayus music today sounds more "dated" than her entire discography

[emi♡]

idk I mean. I think I get what you're saying. I think it really fits in with the time it was released, even though it's really unique. Although, it's weird to say that, considering everyone then hated the shit out of it lol

But to me, it's a special album that really doesn't fit in anywhere. It's her only other conceptual album (to me) besides Love Songs. And I think that's why, it has a very specific mood, and sound, that isn't going to translate well all the time.


I also think that the only reason why it sounds to me like it fits with it's time period, is because, this is the sound I associate with that time. It's the only thing I listened to then and it defined that year, so, it's hard for me to see it, not fitting in. It's somewhat dated for me, in that respect.

[ComatoseBunnySnatcher]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

I Am... sounds dated? For me LOVE again is seriously dated. Notice how I mentioned the more recent albums could be inserted AFTER LOVEppears, making that and a song for the most dated of her discog... RAINBOW is pretty dated too though if you wanna mention that. WE WISH, July 1st, and Real Me all have a specific aura that screams that time period.

I forget LOVE again exists, so I'll give you that.
And lol, for someone who has IMO as a signature, you really should look into reigning that hostility -its really unbecoming.

[truehappiness]

It's hard to remember LOVE again since there was nothing that really defined it nor did anything from it (the album itself) ever get much attention.

We haven't gotten many lives or any PVs for the album tracks. The release kind of just happened.

[tbarnes10]

Idk if I'm understanding this right, but to me ASFXX - Secret are timeless. These were the first Japanese albums I ever listened to (and really the first time I completely fell in love with an artist) and when I was discovering Ayu's discography I had all these albums at the same time, and so I never really associate them with any specific time period. I mean I didn't really pay much attention to the order things came out i just enjoyed them for what they were. When I think about how old they really are it just surprises me because I feel like these songs should still be considered new and when I think of stuff from the US that came out at the same time it just doesn't seem possible.

Everything after secret, to me, I can fit into a specific time and can associate it with other things and it just seems to fit and that's where it stays. Everything before it is just a big blob that doesn't really feel old, but also doesn't really feel new, it just is.

It's not a great explanation but hopefully it makes sense. Also, for me, this doesn't make an album good or bad, it's just another aspect of the songs.

[marty]

First time I noticed something like that, it was with meaning of love from Rock 'n' Roll Circus. It wasn't a bad song, really, but I kept thinking "Woah, really it was Ayu recording this? Seriously?". It felt different. But then there was Love Songs and Party Queen, and even FIVE, because songs like "Why..." (a.k.a It Was 2 less epic in everything) and "beloved", as much they were safe and somewhat generic, were still Ayu-generic. There was Ayu-ity everywhere.
I only felt something was off again with some LOVEagain album tracks. They start good, but it feels like they didn't finish a job and it's an even more strident contrast since there are true masterpieces in that album too.
I don't know, with some stuff in LOVEagain I feel like they didn't even try properly, while with Feel the love and merry-go-roundit it feels to me Ayu is not so strict with herself anymore, as if she's more lenient with her work.

[mizuki-7]

I think except her first 2 albums and some songs here and there her music is aging really well mainly because she didn't follow trends or almost never ! All songs that have followed the trends sound dated now (A song for xx (80's style), Loveppears (techno), Real me (r&b) for exemples ...). LOVEagain is pretty much an album filled with songs not released in the past like she said in an interview (for exemple gloria is from 2006 ) but the probleme is Yuta Nakano ... he is versatil but his arrangements for Ayu songs since several years are redundant ... Personnally I'm amazed by some of her older songs who still sound modern now ! She was ahead of her time it's quite a pity she has not succeeded to sustain this level but it's pretty common among all singers ^^

[ComatoseBunnySnatcher]

Originally Posted by marty

But then there was Love Songs and Party Queen, and even FIVE, because songs like "Why..." (a.k.a It Was 2 less epic in everything)

Sorry sis but what is this? Why... and It was... have nothing in common but ellipsis in the title. Mid-tempos, but one is pop-rock and the other veers to R&B.

[truehappiness]

It was didn't even have ellipses. The songs are not similar at all.

[ComatoseBunnySnatcher]

^ lol, you're right. Point still stands though.

[Andrenekoi]

Five is a top seller on Ayu's iTunes, only behind her major compilations and the new single...

I remember saying it was a release for the general public.

[ComatoseBunnySnatcher]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

Five is a top seller on Ayu's iTunes, only behind her major compilations and the new single...

I remember saying it was a release for the general public.

If it isn't an album the stans like its outdated

[truehappiness]

I looooved FIVE.

[channy]

Originally Posted by mizuki-7

LOVEagain is pretty much an album filled with songs not released in the past like she said in an interview (for exemple gloria is from 2006)

Where and when did Ayu say that? o.o

Also... "Gloria" composed in 2006? "petal" sounds more after (miss)understood to me, though.

Would appreciate it if you could provide me with a reliable source as I did not know this until now.

[truehappiness]

SCawaii [?] interview. Just about every song was an old track. Apparently Gloria has been in the works for the last 6 years before being released now. SAKURA was also all ready to go for a while (arranged and composed) before it was finally put onto LOVE again. This is the same interview that Ayu said she likes sleeping in the nude, haha.

Translated by Misa-chan.

http://lettersfromayu.wordpress.com/...ature-article/

Firstly, “Wake me up”, which received loud cheers when it was performed at Countdown Live as the opening. It’s a really cool song.
“I love every track in the album, but I really love this song ♪ I’ve kept this song for quite a while actually, always thinking that I’d like to use it someday, and when we were producing mini-album “again”, I just felt “Now’s the time!”, and this song was awakened. The lyrics didn’t come from my personal self. Instead, this is an unusually easy to understand, standard “Hamasaki Ayumi” song.”

I see. How about “SAKURA”? I felt that this was a song that could only be created by ayu, after this period of 15 years.
“Yes. I wouldn’t have been able to create this song in my 20′s. This song is another one which had been lying around, already arranged and ready to go, but I just felt that it wasn’t the time, so I’ve held it close to me, waiting. Many songs in this album share this same story as well.”

The next song “Sweet scar” is a old track by DAI-chan. The recording was, in contrast, the smoothest process. When I was recording this song, I remember Hoshino-san saying “Such a regret~, it’s such a good song~” (laugh). I received lots of messages from fans that they really love this song.”

What about “Gloria”? This one is a legendary combi with Hoshino-san too, right?
“This song has been the director’s baby for the past 6 years, and it finally made its way into the album this time… When I first heard the song, I remember feeling really nostalgic. The song just felt “right” to me, so no matter if years had passed, a good song will never lose its appeal. Moreover, when I was penning down the lyrics, it felt like the final puzzle piece was being fitted in, and it was just perfect for me now.”

This album and Secret have the most tracks that were probably 'oldies', I think. This makes me wonder just what kinds of CREA compositions she has lying around. And just when did she get this PhrasedDifferently track????

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by ComatoseBunnySnatcher

If it isn't an album the stans like its outdated

What means I hate pretty much all of her timeless albums, I guess...

Still figuring out how not to sleep during My Story.

[emi♡]

there's a song called "Why..."?

god damn I'm out of the loop.

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

Still figuring out how not to sleep during My Story.

Stop listening to the whole album in one sitting?


Maybe it's just me and the fact that I always took every single one of her songs individually.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by emi♡

there's a song called "Why..."?

god damn I'm out of the loop.

Stop listening to the whole album in one sitting?


Maybe it's just me and the fact that I always took every single one of her songs individually.

If you can't listen in one take, it may be a good collection of songs, but not a good album.

[truehappiness]

I fall asleep through MY STORY too. It's MUCH too long with a lot of slow portions. It's good, but I can't not fall asleep if I listen to it all the way through.

And uh, I'm pretty sure Ayu wants people to listen to the albums all the way through if possible.

[ComatoseBunnySnatcher]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

What means I hate pretty much all of her timeless albums, I guess...

Still figuring out how not to sleep during My Story.

My Story's tracklist is its problem. I actually think that aside from About You and Humming, its very similar to Love Again as it has really strong tracks, but also some of the blandest crap ever without much momentum.

Her "timeless" (i.e. peak) albums have pretty weak tracks, i don't get all the praise. I am... is a very inconsistent album in sound, but alot of the tracks are good by themselves or when scattered in concerts. The CD itself is a bland mess after M and couldn't choose to either be polished pop (Naturally, evolution, Unite!) or a raw, rockier album (NEVER EVER, no more words, still alone).

[emi♡]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

If you can't listen in one take, it may be a good collection of songs, but not a good album.

We have always seen things differently lol

Although looks like you and Comatose share the same view when it comes to cohesiveness.


I listen to the albums maybe once or twice all the way through, and usually right when they're released.

After that, into the vast collection of Ayu songs they go. As with everyone. Very few people have perfect enough albums that I can sit all the way through, multiple times.