The A one era concepts analysis thread!

[Andrenekoi]

When the album came out, a lot of people theroized after Ayu said there was something hidden in the title, that the "A one" was actually "Alone" without the L. At first I didn't agree with that, but I'm on that boat nowadays :B.

"A" is frequently used by Ayu as an way of refering to herself, but it also means there's only one of something. So, you have two direct references of being alone, the "A", and "ONE" and a hidden one on the supposed "ALONE" of the title.

Why supressing the L? Maybe the L in here is for "Love", and without love, one becomes alone.

But it wasn't the wordplay in the title that changed my mind about it being "ALONE", but the song lyrics, as pretty much every single one of them but 2 of them talk about loneliness in some kind of way:

WARNING

Yes, you don't understand
I don't show you
You don't know the real me
I don't feel like sharing
I don't plan on telling you
I'm my own only

Lalalalalalalai Lalalalalalalai

The prevalence of this is growing
You're starting to demand too much
This hollowed out heart
Won't come back anymore

You got too close
Farewell

NO FUTURE

The backlash of loneliness
That comes after happiness
No matter how many times I experience it
I can never get used to it
Saying “goodbye” instead of “see you tomorrow”
Is just so cold
When “see you tomorrow”
Is always what I really wanted to say

Anything for You

Traces from that faraway day still remain now
Just how far have we journeyed since then?
Right now, someone else stands at the same place
Feeling the same emotions of confusion as we did

We were hurt so strongly that we couldn’t hide our tears
Our pain has always been relieved only with the passing of time

Last minute

I don’t wish to remember your last smile
Just go while I pretend to be asleep
I just wish to be loved, but I’m just
Not able to love anyone, you have surely
Realized that, right?

Zutto...

Forever and always, only mine
To wish that you’ll only be my love
Is that too selfish?
But you are surely
The very last person
For me

Even so, sometimes
A sadness comes from somewhere
Can I blame it
On this snow and season?

07 Out of control

Unable to shed tears, so heartless, loneliness controls me
On such a night, and I want to see noone but you
Noone, only you, can’t have anyone but you
But that’s just me, I have no reason to explain that

08 Story

We pass each other with smiles
Just like two strangers
While gazing at each other's backs
we'll wish the best for each other

From this point own, the album gets less dark and the lyrics finally start talking about finding some kind of companion, either in a relationship or with her public on stage. Funny enough, when you talk about not feeling alone anymore, you are still talking about loneliness, and Ayu sounds eager to finally find love and her public so she wont feel so lonely anymore.

The GIFT

From today, the two of us will live on
to make each other the happiest in the world
After all, this love is a gift from God
the only one in this world

The Show Must Go On

Today too I got to meet those smiles I love, right?
Today too I got to hear those voices I love, right?
No matter how much the ages keep changing
there's one thing that will never change
right here

In the end, even if Ayu can find romantic love or companion on the stage, she still is human, she still messes it up and people still turn against her. In Walk, a lyrics that somehow reminds me of Ivy and a song for XX, Ayu sings once again about how living life her own way can lead her to be alone again, but this time she embraces it, like in WARNING. If the price of being Ayumi Hamasaki is being alone, them loneliness it is.

Walk

Hey, just what do people aim for
That makes them selfish?
Hey, if I had lied
Will I be forgiven?
Hey, just what kind of measure
Do people use to judge others?
Hey, if there’s really a line
That tells us
Not to do it anymore
Who decides on that?

lalalalala lala lalalalalai, that’s my life
But I’m proud, uh, to live this way

Interesting thing is that some people got really bothered that Movin'on without you were an album track, but again, this song talks about loneliness, and of the pain and relief of the moment you decide to move on alone from someone who is hurting you. Again, loneliness.

Movin'on witout you

I've already forgotten
Those promises
I'll return the ring
So give me back my heart
I have to go without you

It's hard, so
I'll break up with you
Acting like a good girl
Isn't easy

I didn't expect it to be so painful
But why is it?
I wonder if it's still too soon