Ayu ~Anything Goes: A Thread for XX~

[Next_Level29]

For me, she could step a few steps back and do not do so many lives. I think for a musician, putting out music is one thing, but performing is where all the energy goes. Ayu is so close with her fans that i cannot imagine her retiering. with namie, it was slightly different. She lost her momentum for couple of years and gained it back. I dont think she has such a string bond to her fans and to her career, while ayu was being told that she wont have a great music career. Her way to success was way more difficult with many obsticles. I know, the day will come when she announces her retirement, but i hope it isnt soon. I love you ayu, do what is best for you!

[Zeke.]

I'm currently studying abroad in Japan and when I went to eat yesterday for lunch at a restaurant, as soon as I walked in I recognized the song that was playing - it was ayu's "forgiveness." Shortly thereafter, they played a Koda Kumi song. Today I went there again, and this time I heard ayu's "Greatful Days" and Kumi's "anytime." It's nice to be able to hear music that I enjoy playing freely out in the open when I venture out into the world. That's definitely not the case for me back home.

[Corvina]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

I'm currently studying abroad in Japan and when I went to eat yesterday for lunch at a restaurant, as soon as I walked in I recognized the song that was playing - it was ayu's "forgiveness." Shortly thereafter, they played a Koda Kumi song. Today I went there again, and this time I heard ayu's "Greatful Days" and Kumi's "anytime." It's nice to be able to hear music that I enjoy playing freely out in the open when I venture out into the world. That's definitely not the case for me back home.

I just came back from studying in Japan and I can relate.
E.g. I once heard Kuu's Ultraviolet in a restaurant in Osaka and after that Ai Otsuka's Watashi. Or in Book Off's they often played older songs from Ayu and Kuu and also BoA (one time, Dearest, Alive and Merikuri, lol).
Now that I think of it, I've never heard Namie, hm. Probably coincidence and will be totally different right now. But it was so nice to just live your daily life and hear so many loved artists.

[truehappiness]

I think a lot of people thought she was doing so many lives because she only has so much time left. She can't stop the progression but she will probably still have her 'career' with less lives after this.

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I think a lot of people thought she was doing so many lives because she only has so much time left. She can't stop the progression but she will probably still have her 'career' with less lives after this.

Honestly, even if Ayu was contemplating retiring, I really don't think she would for the next couple of years now; if only to avoid the Amuro comparisons that would definitely come from the media.

I don't think she would retire anyway though. I can see maybe hiatuses or a slower schedule, but I think she'll be more along the lines of Seiko Matsuda - still releasing new material and holding concerts at 55(!).

Of course a lot of this will depend on her ear condition though.

[owlflight]

I just hope that she is happy. I would love to see her composing her own songs again but that is wishful thinking.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

Honestly, even if Ayu was contemplating retiring, I really don't think she would for the next couple of years now; if only to avoid the Amuro comparisons that would definitely come from the media.

I don't think she would retire anyway though. I can see maybe hiatuses or a slower schedule, but I think she'll be more along the lines of Seiko Matsuda - still releasing new material and holding concerts at 55(!).

Of course a lot of this will depend on her ear condition though.

Matsutoya Yumi still releases new material and has rather long and extravagant tours still at the age of 63. If Ayu find a way to record and perform around her deafness, I can easily see her performing until she dies of old age.

[Aga-chan]

Ayu's kind of toned it down, though, hasn't she? I don't know the reason behind it, but there was a break of almost a year between We are the QUEENS and WORDS, something that was unthinkable of back in the days. lol
I actually thought we'd see at least a mini-album after WatQ. Her second divorce, TA tour, Just the beginning - it felt there was a lot going on to give her inspiration.
Perhaps this next album will be really special to her?

I can also imagine her being like Seiko or Akina - releasing new songs, touring, maybe only at a smaller scale. If her hearing permits it, of course.

[SunshineSlayer]

^ She's definitely toned it down in terms of her releases, but not the touring; which you would think with hearing issues, that's the aspect to tone down. But this is Ayu. lol.

[Aga-chan]

^So true. lol
While I appreciate her passion, I really wish she'd think about herself first and foremost for once. But I guess to her being on stage is almost like breathing.

[Uknow!]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

^ She's definitely toned it down in terms of her releases, but not the touring; which you would think with hearing issues, that's the aspect to tone down. But this is Ayu. lol.

She has to listen so many songs to choose. Then she has to listen to write. She has to record which is not easy, she has to listen to learn lyrics, tones etc

Recording music is not that simple and it can hurt her... ^^

[SunshineSlayer]

^ I would imagine that compared to live performances and rehearsals though, it is nowhere even close. Especially with a live band; that's why basically every classic rocker has some kind of hearing damage that they just live with, basically.

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/rock-...-hearing-loss/

[Andrenekoi]

I gave LOVE again another try today, always though it as her weakest album, but today I found the album to be pretty nice actually... Only didn't care about two tracks.

I think I will give her other albums I dislike a listen...

[truehappiness]

I remember I heard a few Ayu songs in a Japanese restaurant here in CA as well as at a DAISO. They also had a Namie song playing at the same DAISO, probably cause of the radio service they use.

[CatGirl]

Same!! It's such a nice feeling. A ramen shop around here was playing Kuu's entire JAPONESQUE album once, it was great. When I was in Japan, I heard a few Namie songs at shops (CAN'T SLEEP, CAN'T EAT, I'M SICK and Sexy Girl) and some Ayu and Mika songs at a bar. It was super cool walking to Yokohama Arena for Ayu's concert because her music was playing EVERYWHERE. As soon as I walked out of the train station, some shop was blasting Voyage lol. And then when I got lunch, the restaurant was playing 2-3 songs from each of Ayu's albums in chronological order. It was so cool. I've never seen restaurants in the U.S. play an artist's songs when they're having a concert nearby

[voltron]

This is kinda great.

[Aderianu]

Duty & SURREAL were released at this day 17 years ago



Dearest - 16 years ago



yesterday Voyage celebrated 15th anniversary

[Miduhyo]

DEAREST! The song that got me into Jpop by the artist who's kept me here. God, I love that song.

By the way, what was the whole point of the leopard-print outfit? I've seen some people talking about it before, that it symbolized something, but I don't know what. (Sorry if this is a stupid question. I feel like I should know the answer, that it should be really easy, but I just don't know it.)

[Aderianu]

Originally Posted by Delirium-Zer0

Next, why were you considering following up last year's "white Ayu" and "black Ayu" with this CD jacket's "Leopard Ayu"?
A: Because for some reason I just really wanted to do it! (laughs) Before, I kept asking myself "Why do I wanna do White Ayu and Black Ayu?" and stuff but there was absolutely no reason for it, but lately, doing things with no reason isn't so scary to me. So it's just like, "I'm gonna do this!"

http://ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95766

I see her as beast at the cage.
There was interview somewhere around Guilty, she refers to Duty and that leopard print... Can't find

[truehappiness]

http://ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76540

Was it this?