[Official Message] ayumi hamasaki 『Just the beginning -20- TOUR 2017』

[BlackSilence]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

It is kind of a broken record-type discussion though since nothing new is really discussed IMO. Always the same people saying the same things. I think a big issue is that she's probably touring a bit too much since she sounds fine early on in the tours/performances but then things get way off due to illness or overdoing it. With the tour being her longest ever this year, I'm a bit worried for her midway through and during the finale.

I gave some Ayu's live performances to a friend who's a trained vocalist (been doing that for 10 years now) to listen, the MA one from 2002(?) in that red dress and ASFXX from a couple of years ago, because i cannot hear her shouting a lot while singing like at all, and while my friend said her technique at times is unrecognizable and that she also has this folk feeling in her singing that's so common amongst asian artists, there's no shouting whatsoever. Why it might feel like she is, is probably, according to her, because it kind of feels like while continuing the note she changes register, which makes it sound like shouting to an untrained ear hears in between the runs . She also said that Ayu's voice is more on the head register or caught somewhere in between her nose and throat in the earlier video, rather than coming from the chest, but she definitely has the support that most somewhat trained artists do in her way of singing. Apparently, to her, she sounds much better in the newer live clip than the older one. She clearly wasn't impressed, but couldn't say anything bad about her way of singing either. Sooooo, that being said, Ayu might have "a note or two off" moments but she's got the skills to support the voice while singing and she obviously does that. How my friend said "She is definitely not going with a bare voice, there is support in it clearly noticeable to someone who knows how it all works".

[AyuCanada]

Originally Posted by artcika

I gave some Ayu's live performances to a friend who's a trained vocalist (been doing that for 10 years now) to listen, the MA one from 2002(?) in that red dress and ASFXX from a couple of years ago, because i cannot hear her shouting a lot while singing like at all, and while my friend said her technique at times is unrecognizable and that she also has this folk feeling in her singing that's so common amongst asian artists, there's no shouting whatsoever. Why it might feel like she is, is probably, according to her, because it kind of feels like while continuing the note she changes register, which makes it sound like shouting to an untrained ear hears in between the runs . She also said that Ayu's voice is more on the head register or caught somewhere in between her nose and throat in the earlier video, rather than coming from the chest, but she definitely has the support that most somewhat trained artists do in her way of singing. Apparently, to her, she sounds much better in the newer live clip than the older one. She clearly wasn't impressed, but couldn't say anything bad about her way of singing either. Sooooo, that being said, Ayu might have "a note or two off" moments but she's got the skills to support the voice while singing and she obviously does that. How my friend said "She is definitely not going with a bare voice, there is support in it clearly noticeable to someone who knows how it all works".

I think her off keys are mostly due to her ears than her technique.

[Chibi-Chan]

Originally Posted by artcika

I gave some Ayu's live performances to a friend who's a trained vocalist (been doing that for 10 years now) to listen, the MA one from 2002(?) in that red dress and ASFXX from a couple of years ago, because i cannot hear her shouting a lot while singing like at all, and while my friend said her technique at times is unrecognizable and that she also has this folk feeling in her singing that's so common amongst asian artists, there's no shouting whatsoever. Why it might feel like she is, is probably, according to her, because it kind of feels like while continuing the note she changes register, which makes it sound like shouting to an untrained ear hears in between the runs . She also said that Ayu's voice is more on the head register or caught somewhere in between her nose and throat in the earlier video, rather than coming from the chest, but she definitely has the support that most somewhat trained artists do in her way of singing. Apparently, to her, she sounds much better in the newer live clip than the older one. She clearly wasn't impressed, but couldn't say anything bad about her way of singing either. Sooooo, that being said, Ayu might have "a note or two off" moments but she's got the skills to support the voice while singing and she obviously does that. How my friend said "She is definitely not going with a bare voice, there is support in it clearly noticeable to someone who knows how it all works".

First of all, thanks, that's interesting! But we weren't complaining about her shouting in 2002 or 2010, but during the last 2 or 3 years and especially LAST year.
I mean, we already knew that she wasn't shouting in 2002. Not to mention that her voice sounds totally different nowadays than 15 years ago.

[Katsuyuki012]

Originally Posted by Chibi-Chan

First of all, thanks, that's interesting! But we weren't complaining about her shouting in 2002 or 2010, but during the last 2 or 3 years and especially LAST year.
I mean, we already knew that she wasn't shouting in 2002. Not to mention that her voice sounds totally different nowadays than 15 years ago.

"...ASFXX from a couple of years ago", I think they probably mean the AT15/ABL one, which would be with her new voice but I'm not 100% sure.

[Chibi-Chan]

Originally Posted by Tio/Tayumi

"...ASFXX from a couple of years ago", I think they probably mean the AT15/ABL one, which would be with her new voice but I'm not 100% sure.

For me a couple of years ago means something like 4 to 7 years or something and not 2 years. 2 simply can't count as "a couple of years".

[rainbow_smile]

Originally Posted by Chibi-Chan

For me a couple of years ago means something like 4 to 7 years or something and not 2 years. 2 simply can't count as "a couple of years".

And why is that? I personally interpret "a couple" as "approximately 2, maybe a bit more", and the dictionary definition is "two or a few"

Also, thank you very much artcika! It was very interesting to see the opinion of a professional!

[EndOfTheWorld]

For me, I just really want to she songs from A Song For xx performed. Usually I don't have any strong wish for any of those songs even though I love the album. I guess because it is 20 years I want to see those songs revisited. It also has been quite a while since a song was performed from that time that isn't the title track and not included in a medley.
It would be nice if each album had it's place in the show. Maybe arrange the setlist from 1998 till present day songs, in order of release.

[njanjayrp]

Originally Posted by EndOfTheWorld

For me, I just really want to she songs from A Song For xx performed. Usually I don't have any strong wish for any of those songs even though I love the album. I guess because it is 20 years I want to see those songs revisited. It also has been quite a while since a song was performed from that time that isn't the title track and not included in a medley.
It would be nice if each album had it's place in the show. Maybe arrange the setlist from 1998 till present day songs, in order of release.

I would love to hear Trust, Hana or As if...

[koumori]

Originally Posted by Chibi-Chan

For me a couple of years ago means something like 4 to 7 years or something and not 2 years. 2 simply can't count as "a couple of years".

This might be a translation issue, but a couple literally means 'two'. A good example is how it's used to describe people who are in a relationship.

[Zeke.]

I always felt "a couple" referred to more than merely two as well. Like I would interpret it as four or so. I know that's not really correct but in cases where someone would say something like "grab me a couple of those" and I'd say "ok like how many" and they'd say "two" it felt weird. Lol. If you use the term a couple to me it signifies that you don't have a set amount in mind, otherwise why don't you just say two?

[EndOfTheWorld]

couple-
noun: couple; plural noun: couples
1.
two individuals of the same sort considered together.
"a couple of girls were playing marbles"
synonyms: pair, duo, twosome, two; More
informal
an indefinite small number.
"he hoped she'd be better in a couple of days"
synonyms: some, a few, a handful of, one or two
"I have a couple of things to do"

That is what google says about the term "couple".
To me, when someone says a "couple" years, it means at least 2 years. Not an exact time but a small amount.