new album "A ONE" 2015.04.08 in stores V

[Refix]

Really? I didn't see it on the first page. I mean the inner pictures of the booklet. Not booklet cover.

[truehappiness]

Yes, inner pictures. It was like 7 pages ago.

Originally Posted by Aderianu

booklet pics

Spoiler:

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

The transition from a Bell to WARNING is just so...off. I would have thought a Bell would have been something reminiscent of Mirror.

I think I get it though, judging by the lyrics of WARNING. I don't know how to put it into words. Maybe like...she has to step out of her peaceful, happy, pleasant energy (a Bell), to get fierce and almost angry to sing WARNING.

[Refix]

Oh thanks!
Boo...

[Ashen Twilight]

Originally Posted by Pieces_of_SEVEN

The transition from a Bell to WARNING is just so...off. I would have thought a Bell would have been something reminiscent of Mirror.

I think I get it though, judging by the lyrics of WARNING. I don't know how to put it into words. Maybe like...she has to step out of her peaceful, happy, pleasant energy (a Bell), to get fierce and almost angry to sing WARNING.

Yeah I was really hoping for some twist after the preview was released, but when I found out the track length I knew it wasn't going to happen. Something that builds up, like Pieces of SEVEN but rock, or something that transitions smoothly into WARNING, would have been better.

I do like your explanation, though. a Bell shows the calm state she is in doing what she loves. Everything is pleasant. Then the constant criticism finally gets to her and she explodes.

[Delirium-Zer0]

I'm glad "a Bell" only builds up a tiny bit... If it built up to full-on rock it would make WARNING feel too long, or make it sound like one big long song... many of her past album intros have kinda made the first 2 tracks feel like 1 track.

Holy crap I enjoyed this album so much you guys. SO MUCH. I ended up liking "NO FUTURE" so much more than I thought I would - THE MIX IS AMAZING. The way the chorus kicks up just a notch the first time, I mean... this exactly what I wanted the fast stuff on Love songs to sound like but the mix on that album made the whole thing fall flat for me - I wish I loved that album as much as other Ayu fans seem to, but with "NO FUTURE" I feel like I finally get why people enjoyed tracks like "sending mail" as much as they did. And it's also one of those songs that hits me lyrically, too.

Overall the ballad stretch on the album is like "eh," but that's the case with pretty much ALL the albums Ayu's done with a ballad stretch on there... Glad "Last minute" is in there to break the monotony a bit.

[Yukitora]

Ayu put me in a huge ballad mood after Walk so I have no complaints about the album being half ballads. My issue is actually WARNING and Movin' On Without You feeling so out of place. I wish they put a few more seconds after Walk.

Well done ayu!

[chocopockymaster]

omg I'm so excited by everyone's reactions to the album. I'm dying to get my copy so I can listen! HURRY UP, MU-MO

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

I'm TOO OBSESSED with NO FUTURE!

[truehappiness]

The previews didn't do a lot of the songs any justice.

[freedreamer]

I realized almost every song except WARNING and TSMGO has this RAISE-KEY-AT-THE-END pattern and honestly I totally dig it. It just elevates the song even more in terms of mood (and Anything for you's is done particularly well)

[KPL]

Really wondered in what contex ayu wrote NO FUTURE - it's so sad the lyrics

[RealLight]

Originally Posted by freedreamer

I realized almost every song except WARNING and TSMGO has this RAISE-KEY-AT-THE-END pattern and honestly I totally dig it. It just elevates the song even more in terms of mood (and Anything for you's is done particularly well)

I also noticed that too

I finished listening the album, a Bell, WARNING, Story (OMG, i'm love with this one) and MOWY (even if it's so out of place) are the highlights. Just like everyone predicted, Anything for You was just a borefest, the first part was ok, but then she kept doing the same thing for idk how much time, unfortunately the song only got better when she stoped singing. Zutto... and The GIFT grown on me, but Zutto...'s chorus still annoying me, Out of Control is nice and NO FUTURE is 50/50.

The Show Must Go On... bored me saddly, i thought by the preview it was going to be great, but ended up being completely the opposite, maybe it's the Snowy kiss effect, but i really liked it's bridge. Finally, Last minute and Walk still a big NO for me, although i'd rather listen only to Last minute.

Overall... meh album.

[freedreamer]

Maybe I'm thinkin a bit too much but this album seems to really convey a story (no pun intended)

WARNING is definitely a front put up by Ayu. She sounds like she is super strong, she's the boss. She says she is herself only and this marks the start of the ALONE theme.

NO FUTURE gradually becomes more subtle in terms of love. It feels like she is struggling with her emotions and she wants, yet doesn't want, to be in love. She isn't ready to face it, or so it sounds like.

Anything for You seems like, she has finally accepted love and is willing to 'sacrifice' herself to protect that someone, giving it her all.

Yet, Last minute suddenly..things took a turn and the person has left? And she is in a struggle. There is a lot of tension within the song and it builds up.

Zutto..now this song, for me, seems to be like Ayu is calling out to that person. She knows that FOREVER is something that is too much and is in her healing process.

And as she heals, it's as though, she slowly loses that sadness, (jaded maybe?) in Out of control. She tries to smile but she probably still misses that person so much. At the same time, the loneliness is overwhelming her at this point.

Then in Story, the lyrics, though sad but reflects and reminisces but her words are no longer about hurt and she comes to accept that 2 people have become like strangers. Maybe back to being acquaintances.

The GIFT sees her finding new love possibly because the lyrics are more uplifting and it is definitely a sweet love song.

Yet here comes The Show Must Go On. The lyrics speak of a new start, constantly going on a journey. And yes, the song is for her fans but let's look at it this way. "The Show Must Go On" because no matter what personal struggles Ayu has had, she will continue putting out and look after her fans. No matter how sad she feels in life, she will continue pushing forward. And part of me feels like, Ayu is saying her life IS A "SHOW". She is a star, her life is always in the spotlight. And the "SHOW" here could also mean a facade. No matter how much tears she shed, she will smile even though she is sad.

And then the album concludes with Walk, being the most reflective piece of the album. Walk's lyrics speak of "that person" and I wonder if Ayu is referring to herself from before. Though she is more certain, yet also perplexed by life. But she knows she will continue going forward still.

The album is beautiful. Musically it flows and lyrically too. I believe Party Queen's album had such a story in mind. And I respected that concept of being seen as Party Queen -> being broken on the inside. Here, Ayu seems to write about it again but it seems stronger this time.

If Party Queen was about the conflict between reality and the surface, then in A ONE, it goes right to the core of being ALONE.

[BluishDays]

@ Freedreamer
I love the thought that you put into ' the meaning within ' the album and behind each of the songs. Everyone will have their own interpretations but I really liked yours

The album is very gorgeous and nostalgic for some reason to me

[AyUmIXx]

Originally Posted by freedreamer

Maybe I'm thinkin a bit too much but this album seems to really convey a story (no pun intended)

WARNING is definitely a front put up by Ayu. She sounds like she is super strong, she's the boss. She says she is herself only and this marks the start of the ALONE theme.

NO FUTURE gradually becomes more subtle in terms of love. It feels like she is struggling with her emotions and she wants, yet doesn't want, to be in love. She isn't ready to face it, or so it sounds like.

Anything for You seems like, she has finally accepted love and is willing to 'sacrifice' herself to protect that someone, giving it her all.

Yet, Last minute suddenly..things took a turn and the person has left? And she is in a struggle. There is a lot of tension within the song and it builds up.

Zutto..now this song, for me, seems to be like Ayu is calling out to that person. She knows that FOREVER is something that is too much and is in her healing process.

And as she heals, it's as though, she slowly loses that sadness, (jaded maybe?) in Out of control. She tries to smile but she probably still misses that person so much. At the same time, the loneliness is overwhelming her at this point.

Then in Story, the lyrics, though sad but reflects and reminisces but her words are no longer about hurt and she comes to accept that 2 people have become like strangers. Maybe back to being acquaintances.

The GIFT sees her finding new love possibly because the lyrics are more uplifting and it is definitely a sweet love song.

Yet here comes The Show Must Go On. The lyrics speak of a new start, constantly going on a journey. And yes, the song is for her fans but let's look at it this way. "The Show Must Go On" because no matter what personal struggles Ayu has had, she will continue putting out and look after her fans. No matter how sad she feels in life, she will continue pushing forward. And part of me feels like, Ayu is saying her life IS A "SHOW". She is a star, her life is always in the spotlight. And the "SHOW" here could also mean a facade. No matter how much tears she shed, she will smile even though she is sad.

And then the album concludes with Walk, being the most reflective piece of the album. Walk's lyrics speak of "that person" and I wonder if Ayu is referring to herself from before. Though she is more certain, yet also perplexed by life. But she knows she will continue going forward still.

The album is beautiful. Musically it flows and lyrically too. I believe Party Queen's album had such a story in mind. And I respected that concept of being seen as Party Queen -> being broken on the inside. Here, Ayu seems to write about it again but it seems stronger this time.

If Party Queen was about the conflict between reality and the surface, then in A ONE, it goes right to the core of being ALONE.

wow you have made a great interpretation of this album. love it
i love A ONE! it's a great album.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by freedreamer

Maybe I'm thinkin a bit too much but this album seems to really convey a story (no pun intended)

WARNING is definitely a front put up by Ayu. She sounds like she is super strong, she's the boss. She says she is herself only and this marks the start of the ALONE theme.

NO FUTURE gradually becomes more subtle in terms of love. It feels like she is struggling with her emotions and she wants, yet doesn't want, to be in love. She isn't ready to face it, or so it sounds like.

Anything for You seems like, she has finally accepted love and is willing to 'sacrifice' herself to protect that someone, giving it her all.

Yet, Last minute suddenly..things took a turn and the person has left? And she is in a struggle. There is a lot of tension within the song and it builds up.

Zutto..now this song, for me, seems to be like Ayu is calling out to that person. She knows that FOREVER is something that is too much and is in her healing process.

And as she heals, it's as though, she slowly loses that sadness, (jaded maybe?) in Out of control. She tries to smile but she probably still misses that person so much. At the same time, the loneliness is overwhelming her at this point.

Then in Story, the lyrics, though sad but reflects and reminisces but her words are no longer about hurt and she comes to accept that 2 people have become like strangers. Maybe back to being acquaintances.

The GIFT sees her finding new love possibly because the lyrics are more uplifting and it is definitely a sweet love song.

Yet here comes The Show Must Go On. The lyrics speak of a new start, constantly going on a journey. And yes, the song is for her fans but let's look at it this way. "The Show Must Go On" because no matter what personal struggles Ayu has had, she will continue putting out and look after her fans. No matter how sad she feels in life, she will continue pushing forward. And part of me feels like, Ayu is saying her life IS A "SHOW". She is a star, her life is always in the spotlight. And the "SHOW" here could also mean a facade. No matter how much tears she shed, she will smile even though she is sad.

And then the album concludes with Walk, being the most reflective piece of the album. Walk's lyrics speak of "that person" and I wonder if Ayu is referring to herself from before. Though she is more certain, yet also perplexed by life. But she knows she will continue going forward still.

The album is beautiful. Musically it flows and lyrically too. I believe Party Queen's album had such a story in mind. And I respected that concept of being seen as Party Queen -> being broken on the inside. Here, Ayu seems to write about it again but it seems stronger this time.

If Party Queen was about the conflict between reality and the surface, then in A ONE, it goes right to the core of being ALONE.

I liked your post... But you didn't put MOWY, that is also a song about loneliness... A song about an insecure woman on a relationship trying to convincente herself to end her romance for no reason other than the feeling of loneliness and insecurity.

[freedreamer]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

I liked your post... But you didn't put MOWY, that is also a song about loneliness... A song about an insecure woman on a relationship trying to convincente herself to end her romance for no reason other than the feeling of loneliness and insecurity.

I actually wanted to because it is placed right at the end and it seems like...its that Ayu from Colours who just wanted to to party and be loved..and now that you think about it, it goes back to the themes of Party Queen.

But i didnt include it because Ayu didn't write the lyrics..though perhaps it was that ONE utada song she could connect with

[Benikari47]

The album is surprisingly great, i didn't expect to like it as much as i do! Especially not after listening to the previews, as someone mentioned earlier they really didn't do the songs any justice.
I guess it has something to do with the fact that i like when Ayu's songs grab me right off the bat and take me on somewhat of a journey. If you just give me a piece of a ballad that sounds pretty but similar to what she has done, chances are my interest will be pretty low.

None of the songs individually are all that amazing except maybe Last Minute, Story and a Bell (WASTED POTENTIAL MUCH!?) but as an album it just works perfectly.
Keeping an album interesting when 80% of it consist of ballads is hard as My Story and LOVE Again CLEARLY shows

There's no bad songs on the album which is great, i do have a problem with THE SHOW MUST GO ON however. It's such a blatant copy of Snowy Kiss the to the point where i can't enjoy it on it's own, and the repeated shooo must go on ye ye ye ye annoy me lol. Other than that tho, high five Ayu!

[//ABEST]

i saw a dream where A ONE sold 110k on its first day it was interesting