[A] Ayu ~Anything Goes~ XVI - Page 12

truehappiness · #**221** 16th May 2016, 10:25 PM

Yeah I didn't really see the point since they just did classical versions of most songs that have had like 5 classical versions already...?!?!

God, imagine if she dropped MADE IN JAPAN (2CD) with the same tracks and quality across the last three releases... I think people would flip. But if it also meant no material from Colours to now, I think people would be antsy as well.

Would be like Jesus returning though.

***koumori*** · #**222** 16th May 2016, 10:25 PM

Actually, I'm wondering what cover art people are using for MIJ until the official art is released. I found one of her recent magazine shoots works really nicely as a placeholder but I was curious

I always love alternate looks.

truehappiness · #**223** 16th May 2016, 10:29 PM

I believe a majority are using the tour booklet cover atm since it came with a lot of the m4as.

This but with white cropped out.

These are candidates for placeholders too:

Spoiler:

attractive nausea · #**224** 16th May 2016, 11:08 PM

Saw someone on tumblr using that one, which was made by Party_King here i think since he has it as an avatar+signature

On my phone i have one of the pics truehappiness posted above but with "Made in Japan"typo from tour goods, which is kinda ugly but i'm too tired to change it haha. Wish the true cover was out

truehappiness · #**225** 16th May 2016, 11:17 PM

I'm excited if covers are not out yet since it means... she may not have shot them yet AHHH

MessiahofSilence · #**226** 16th May 2016, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I'm excited if covers are not out yet since it means... she may not have shot them yet AHHH

Watch it be the A7 Classical outtakes

I hope that she hasn't shot the covers, either. While I ADORE the casual tour goods shoot, I want a concept. It's not too out of the question either since she's had separate shoots for album/tours in the past.

**DonkeyKongRemix** · #**227** 16th May 2016, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koumori

Actually, I'm wondering what cover art people are using for MIJ until the official art is released. I found one of her recent magazine shoots works really nicely as a placeholder but I was curious

I always love alternate looks.

I think I love that because it has no text. For some reason no text is more intriguing to me.

I just really like her recent photoshoots because they are so plain and simple. <3

***koumori*** · #**228** 17th May 2016, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by attractive nausea

Uff, gorgeous! I love this, wow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nalini-dahlia

I think I love that because it has no text. For some reason no text is more intriguing to me.

I'm a sucker for textless, unless the text really fits onto a cover. It rarely does.

truehappiness · #**229** 17th May 2016, 12:07 AM

I think her last cover that had text that really FIT was ... MY STORY? Or Secret? I was also a fan of FIVE's but only because Ayu helped with the design. Love songs was decent. A ONE was bland but classy. But typically whoever is choosing fonts for Ayu is on crack.

Up until 2004 though almost everything was iconic and then... I think her usual designer stopped.

**DonkeyKongRemix** · #**230** 17th May 2016, 12:32 AM

I've always liked the text on Colours and I don't mind GUILTY, NEXT LEVEL, or FIVE's.

I find the whole visual concept for Party Queen to be pretty striking though.

***koumori*** · #**231** 17th May 2016, 12:41 AM

I meant in general as well, not just for Ayu. It's a personal preference.
For Ayu specifically though... I think A ONE was quite well done, and RAINBOW. The A BEST series are good too - by now, I would say iconic.

Everything else ranges from neutral to dislike for me. I mostly pick alternate or textless covers for her albums in iTunes

Although I recently reinstalled the program, and I have been a bit lazy grabbing back my favourite versions for some...

truehappiness · #**232** 17th May 2016, 12:42 AM

I think Party Queen's original concept [in SUPER AYU] and the actual concept used were a little off the mark. Personally, I think they could have gone in a different direction and gotten a stronger reaction that was a bit less "What the hell is this?" unless... that was the goal all along?

280301 · #**233** 17th May 2016, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by attractive nausea

^ I might listen to this later!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koumori

I'm trying out this combination tonight at work. Thanks! I always love trying out different playlist ideas.

I hope you guys enjoyed it, this era has so much quality!

truehappiness · #**234** 17th May 2016, 02:16 AM

Listening to all of the releases together, there is such a strong sense of...

THIS. IS. AYUMI HAMASAKI.
(and if you don't like it, suck it)

At least that is how the general vibe is, lol.

***koumori*** · #**235** 17th May 2016, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 280301

I hope you guys enjoyed it, this era has so much quality!

I listened to it earlier - really liked it. The first section of the rock/fast-paced songs had a lot of punch, and then the different genres led into each other very nicely. It reminded me of a few songs from the last albums and how good they were as well

It's been a while since I listened to them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by truehappiness

Listening to all of the releases together, there is such a strong sense of...

THIS. IS. AYUMI HAMASAKI.
(and if you don't like it, suck it)

I definitely feel these three albums all have a very cohesive message to each other when compared to her other album eras; I tend to count sixxxxxx, A ONE, and now MADE IN JAPAN as part of the same era automatically for that reason. Listening to them together is definitely recommended.

Andrenekoi · #**236** 17th May 2016, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I think Party Queen's original concept [in SUPER AYU] and the actual concept used were a little off the mark. Personally, I think they could have gone in a different direction and gotten a stronger reaction that was a bit less "What the hell is this?" unless... that was the goal all along?

Sometimes art needs to shock.

Actually it wasn't the first time she used imagery to shock and it wasn't the last time either... I guess people got annoided because they got unconfortable about the sexual undertone of the main cover.

truehappiness · #**237** 17th May 2016, 03:04 AM

I was okay with it but I figured that people would be like "What the hell is this woman doing?" which they did do.

LOVEppears IMO was a better way of doing it or to a lesser extent, the nude RAINBOW cover.

Andrenekoi · #**238** 17th May 2016, 08:16 AM

But sometimes you need to make people say "what the hell is this woman doing?" I just don't think she expected her international fandom to bitch at her all over twitter like she was running a restaurant and served the customer the wrong dish.

luna7996 · #**239** 17th May 2016, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koumori

Actually, I'm wondering what cover art people are using for MIJ until the official art is released. I found one of her recent magazine shoots works really nicely as a placeholder but I was curious

I always love alternate looks.

That looks amazing. I have the pamphlet cover from the tour but I think I will go and change it now.

Baernash · #**240** 17th May 2016, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truehappiness

Does anyone else hope Ayu experiments with weirdass progression again like in RAINBOW? That song was beautifully made and she really made all the fan suggestions work.

One of her hidden gems IMO.

I hope she'll do something like that again one day. "RAINBOW" is very special for me because it's first Ayu track which I heard as a full song and later it was also my first PV. Everytime when it's rainy and I'm going out I have this son in my head.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corvina

That's exactly like I feel about her. I really love some of her discography to death, but because of its heaviness I can't always listen to it. I mean, yes, she does have lighter and fun stuff as well, but mostly I dislike those. *cough*You & Me, Feel the love*cough* *cough*Thank You,Sweet season*cough*
She's just not (as) good at those imo. Though there are some exceptions. Also she does too much ballad and midtempos for my liking generally anyway.
I'm naturally tending to some melancholy at times, so listening to heavier stuff doesn't help and I need somethign different. If her discography would be a bit more balanced, I'd probably be a bigger fan. But it's alright as it is, I appreciate her.^^
(and btw. that's probably the reason I love Kuu so much - she has heavier songs here and there, but overall she's an upbeat and cheering artist + I love her voice)

I have to say I love Ayu the most for her "heavy" and upbeat stuff but I know what you feel about cute/happy songs (I'm not a fan of them either). Her midtempos are pretty similar to each other and she has so many of them in her discography that's just boring. As for ballades than I love some of them but she's not a ballad artist for me.