New album titled 'MADE IN JAPAN'

[4Seasons]

Yeah, good point. Not to exaggerate but the next album does feel like an important point in her career: is she going to continue doing familiar, simple music or will she go back to creating unique soundscapes?

[orbitalaspect]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I am sure we will get some.

However, after almost 20 years in the business, I think titles are going to get a little wacky for anyone who has done an album a year for those nearly 20 years. Someone with Ayu's catalog would probably be struggling but she is still keepin' on.

And I see what you mean, but a lot of the issue with LOVE again was that it was old demos that were meant for older albums. A ONE and sixxxxxx are intentionally the way they are and I think this album will be the true test of whether or not she still "has it" and hopefully she brings us that surprise or two that she used to, like a kiss o' kill or criminal.

Personally, I felt like Colours was an entire album of extreme changes for her aside from like two tracks, so maybe that is why she's holding back a bit after doing an ENTIRE ALBUM of unusual stuff (for her).

To go for urban AND trance AND "Beyonce pop" AND 00s/10s "dance" AND other things all in one album, it was just.. a lot.

You're right in a multitude of ways. She's written over 300 songs at this point, right? I imagine it's hard to come up with original song titles that consist of one or two words at this point. A part of me does feel she could reuse a word, just change the case. I mean, she's done it with chords and structure? Silly idea, I know. It would be real confusing to say, "No, I liked the all-lowercase 'guilty' more than the all-uppercase 'GUILTY'.”

[mi|kshake]

I kinda have a feeling You are the only one is gonna be something like Anything for you lol

Yes, it makes me think the same! I'm up for another 6/7 minute ballad to get sucked into!

[truehappiness]

I think if we're due for more "plain" tracks on MADE IN JAPAN, we may be stuck in this era at least for another two albums.

I wonder if it has something to do with her hair color.

[4Seasons]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I think if we're due for more "plain" tracks on MADE IN JAPAN, we may be stuck in this era at least for another two albums.

I wonder if it has something to do with her hair color.

sweet lord in heaven noooo .___.

Originally Posted by TheRainbow

With the intros Rainy diary and Leafy diary.

Omg Leafy diary sounds so cute! I want that as a Beautiful Fighters-kinda track! Or "Leafy". Omggg I want that as a song title

[JinHamasaki]

If she is making an album that represents whats good in Japan, I hope she has more conceptual album art.

This might be cliched but I would love to see a photobook with Ayu in famous landscapes and scenary in Japan. We haven't had one like that since RocknRoll Circus?
-The middle of the booklet would have her in a huge panorama of Mt. Fuji. (traditional kimono)
-Ayu posing in a sakura forest. (elegant dress)
-Ayu lost in the crowd at Shibuya crossing (modern/rocker Ayu)
-Ayu on the sands of Okinawa (summer dress)
-Ayu in snowy Sapporo (winter fur coat theme)
#MADEINJAPAN

[truehappiness]

Kinda sounds more like a calendar shoot IMO.

I think she should probably go for an extravagant shoot at least once this year. But with how things are progressing, I don't think we'll be getting one for some time... until she has that itch again.

[JinHamasaki]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

Kinda sounds more like a calendar shoot IMO.

I think she should probably go for an extravagant shoot at least once this year. But with how things are progressing, I don't think we'll be getting one for some time... until she has that itch again.

And when was the last calendar? Oh well, but I think this is the most exciting album since RnRC for me

[truehappiness]

Yeah, I was pointing out that it was a little out there, haha. Calendars were so amazing... I wish we got one at least for a tour.

This is my most anticipated album in a bit, mostly cause it's so NEW. Not a single song to give us a hint of anything.

[!Lawi!]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

This is my most anticipated album in a bit, mostly cause it's so NEW. Not a single song to give us a hint of anything.

I know! I failed last time and listened to Party queen and hbya before the release of the album, but this time I'm determined to wait for the full HQ thing to leak before listening to anything!

[DogboyShugo]

MADE IN JAPAN has such potential for music videos. She hasn't been too keen on doing crazy effect videos lately, but using Japan as her inspiration. Any song using Japan's scenery as the theme could be beautiful in a pop or ballad song. The rich history that Japan has to offer could be an influence on this album

[truehappiness]

I'm curious what tracks are going to get PVs...

Is she going to even do them? Is she revealing them in a "lead single" order?

[Chibi-Chan]

To be honest I'm sceptical that the album MADE IN JAPAN will look like anything people are expecting from a title like this. I would love her to be creative again, but I don't think that will be the case.

[kotora]

「どう見られてるかな？」「どう思われるかな？」
言いたい事も言えないで誰かの理想のために生きないで。
-TODAY-

I like the title.

[aliceshields]

I guess 13 tracks album...

[truehappiness]

With an intro or interlude, we could get a 14/15 tracker.

[aliceshields]

I miss the interlude, I really hope 2 or 3 interludes in this album.

[mizuki-7]

Honestly ? Isn't a bit cliché to assume because the album's title contains the word "Japan" so she has to be dressed like a tradional japanese ? I would like personnally because that's representative of this country but from what I understand she found inspiration in the Japan of today not the one of the past centuries so I don't expect her to use this cultural aspect of Japan !

Btw I found an article that seems very revealing about the new album if someone is able to translate it it would be amazing !!

http://109news.jp/event/20160503/58789/?detail

[JinHamasaki]

Originally Posted by mizuki-7

Honestly ? Isn't a bit cliché to assume because the album's title contains the word "Japan" so she has to be dressed like a tradional japanese ?

http://109news.jp/event/20160503/58789/?detail

I do think it would be cliched, but ironically Ayu has NEVER had an album that culturally identified "Japan". ayu-mi-x IV is the closest and visually I thought it was stunning.

[Yoake]

"awakening"? To me it already happened with A ONE and sixxxxxx. ^__^
I'm very excited about this new album. I think it's really interesting how they are building the hype strategically.