『A BALLADS 2』on sale 2021.03.12

[Surreal17]

The one that will most likely be included on the compilation is JEWEL, given its popularity and timeless sound. I would love for "BALLAD" to be on the album as well, such a highlight in her career (ballad wise).

[Deep snow]

Originally Posted by Surreal17

The one that will most likely be included on the compilation is JEWEL, given its popularity and timeless sound. I would love for "BALLAD" to be on the album as well, such a highlight in her career (ballad wise).

JEWEL is a very strong contender, yes, but the one song that I have one billion percent certainty would be in this album is fucking Days.

I would argue its popularity among the Japanese fans exceeds JEWEL's by light years—and I find that really unfortunate because to me it's an overly sappy, OK-at-best song.

[orbitalaspect]

Originally Posted by Deep snow

JEWEL is a very strong contender, yes, but the one song that I have one billion percent certainty would be in this album is fucking Days.

I would argue its popularity among the Japanese fans exceeds JEWEL's by light years—and I find that really unfortunate because to me it's an overly sappy, OK-at-best song.

Yeah, but no one in their right mind listened to Days as much as we obsessed over SHUYA looking all adorable and cuddle-snuffly in the PV... Ayu was kinda OK in it. But by the end I was like, "Well, yeah, duh you were daydreaming he could be yours..." And then I was like, "Oh wait, at least she knows him. And they work together. And she can have him play her love interest like 50 times. And he'll do it. And he'll even do it wearing little to nothing. And he'll do it again on stage..." And then I just felt like the song, "life," you know? It's like that one song in Ayu's discography that tried to be something and never really got any attention because it was so outrageously outshined by the A-side on that single, which was only released because fans were so voracious about getting a full version of the interlude.

I agree though. GREEN was the track I wanted, but I mostly loved the promo CM of Ayu spinning in that cup and smiling. It was one in a series of CMs she'd done in 2008-2009, where she kind of recaptured that magic she had from years prior. Nothing beats that Honda Spark CM featuring Sparkle though. All of those are etched in my memory pretty hard.

[Deep snow]

Originally Posted by orbitalaspect

Yeah, but no one in their right mind listened to Days as much as we obsessed over SHUYA looking all adorable and cuddle-snuffly in the PV... Ayu was kinda OK in it. But by the end I was like, "Well, yeah, duh you were daydreaming he could be yours..." And then I was like, "Oh wait, at least she knows him. And they work together. And she can have him play her love interest like 50 times. And he'll do it. And he'll even do it wearing little to nothing. And he'll do it again on stage..." And then I just felt like the song, "life," you know? It's like that one song in Ayu's discography that tried to be something and never really got any attention because it was so outrageously outshined by the A-side on that single, which was only released because fans were so voracious about getting a full version of the interlude.

there's a lot to unpack here!

Originally Posted by orbitalaspect

I agree though. GREEN was the track I wanted, but I mostly loved the promo CM of Ayu spinning in that cup and smiling. It was one in a series of CMs she'd done in 2008-2009, where she kind of recaptured that magic she had from years prior. Nothing beats that Honda Spark CM featuring Sparkle though. All of those are etched in my memory pretty hard.

I agree with both points here. I'm a GREEN supremacist because that song improved by a lot from the demo we heard in that commercial (which is cute! I remember this). the recorded version just exudes dignity, for lack of a better term.

also—Sparkle! I was obsessed with this song since that Honda commercial. it was such a banger. Rule/Sparkle was such a powerful combo.

[hud]

Originally Posted by orbitalaspect

Yeah, but no one in their right mind listened to Days as much as we obsessed over SHUYA looking all adorable and cuddle-snuffly in the PV... Ayu was kinda OK in it. But by the end I was like, "Well, yeah, duh you were daydreaming he could be yours..." And then I was like, "Oh wait, at least she knows him. And they work together. And she can have him play her love interest like 50 times. And he'll do it. And he'll even do it wearing little to nothing. And he'll do it again on stage..." And then I just felt like the song, "life," you know? It's like that one song in Ayu's discography that tried to be something and never really got any attention because it was so outrageously outshined by the A-side on that single, which was only released because fans were so voracious about getting a full version of the interlude.

I agree though. GREEN was the track I wanted, but I mostly loved the promo CM of Ayu spinning in that cup and smiling. It was one in a series of CMs she'd done in 2008-2009, where she kind of recaptured that magic she had from years prior. Nothing beats that Honda Spark CM featuring Sparkle though. All of those are etched in my memory pretty hard.

I LOVE this post. don't know why but the "I mostly loved the promo CM of Ayu spinning in that cup and smiling" sends me! lmaoooo