ayumi hamasaki NEW SINGLE "Nonfiction" Release 2022.04.22

[SKYia]

I'm missing a bridge in this song, it's kind of the same all the time, the PV could also use some twist or more close ups (I feel like they used some worse camera lens for it) with more depth maybe. I'm missing those interruption scenes she tends to have that blend together, eg in Moments or Inspire, this one is kinda "clean cut" between black and white (or rather pink and black).

I like the the fact she's doing something but I'm not into it enough to rewatch it more than I already did (3x so far).

[jarodaily]

Hope her new studio album this autumn is the same vibes from the last 2 release we're getting like 23rd monster and nonfiction <3 this is giving me NEXT LEVEL/Guilty/Party Queen vibes which is one of the best albums since My Story

[Toniayu123]

I just watched/listened for the first time. I FREAKING LOVE IT!!!!!! If this is a sign of the directions she’s taking I’m all in for it. The song is good for me, it’s catching and simple, positive but with the Ayu’s depth. The PV just a bunch of beauty shots, nothing more, but hey it’s different from what we’re used to and it’s cool visually. To be honest, this is not the style of music I enjoy, I’m more fond of the rockish Ayu, but I like it.

Anyone else gets Helter skelter vibes from the hotel scenes?

[summerain]

I really really wanted live arrangement for Nonfiction. I guess the addition of real drums and heavy guitar (miss you, Yo-chan!) would do wonders to this song.

[280301]

Nonfiction isn't my cup of tea. I appreciate that it is somewhat different for Ayu, however. I enjoyed some of the PV's aesthetics, but narrative wise...I kept waiting for something to happen, especially in the lounge setting, but nothing really did? It's cool that Ayu produced everything tho.

[SpiceSquad!]

Not bad!

although I'm hoping for another scene with an all-black room. from all pink to all black.

[adrtwb]

I love the MV! But it seems like she didn’t do a good job lip-syncing (same for DaD and 23m) and that bothers me.

And, can we expect the next mv that she will not feature her dancers?

[YUKARI]

wow finally she released something really interesting!

it reminded me of Sparkle so much, visually and musically too! it doesn't feel like Sparkle and Nonfiction have 13 years distance between them.

I hope she'll release a new summer single too. I feel like the queen's back!

[Cahz-]

Originally Posted by JinHamasaki

Omg I would have died happily if the rabbits exploded in black ink
all over her and the dancers in pink! Black Hair ayu vs Pink ayu 1:0…

Absolutely. This MV needed something messy to happen!

[FoxyPinkGirl]

I love the song. The PV I get the hint it was more of a collaboration with Balmain or at least Balmain inspired. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the outfits are already on their web shop.

**UPDATE** Yup. It’s basically one big commercial for the designer brand.

[hidekirby]

I'm far from being a fan of electro dance but I have the song on repeat since it's been released!
It is SO catchy! I admit it's a quite "classic" piece but it works and it's not like she has many tracks like this.
I also like the theme of the song. It's refreshing!

The PV is nice! I didn't expect much from the teasers (even if I could because, honestly, they looked damn fantastic) so I'm not disappointed.
Yes they could have used the hotel room set more efficiently but oh well... we should know better. This part was meh but I don't mind. Besides that both sets were extremely well done!
The pink part is beautiful. Loved the choreo especially when the screen is mirrored and everyone is interacting. The CG elements were nice additions too.
It's night and day with 23rd Monster which looked so dated on every aspects.
Also always loved the Cinemascope like ratios, and it fits this production so well.

I'm very glad she produced it all by herself. We definitely felt months ago that she was still completely lost career-wise during the video interview with Max. Yet she's back on track on every aspects with this release (well if I forget the terrible cover...).

Good job! I pray this is going to last.

[Ayufan11]

I'm unimpressed personally, I feel like this is a lost track from 2007/2008? I just feel like this sound doesn't work in 2022 and Ayu should really try evolving her sound or at least step out of her comfort zone to production styles in 2022. Maybe some folk, rnb, electronic dance pop?

This just sounds like her techno pop which worked in 07/08, but just doesn't hit the mark in 2022, kinda bummed because I keep waiting for Ayu to release something that makes sense in 2022 and not what worked in 2007/2008.

I still have to watch the video and I can say that I do appreciate that her vocals are still incredibly strong

[Zeke.]

It could be my bias considering I like 07/08 and like when Ayu releases something that’s on the mark for HER.

But, I wouldn’t say it’s totally the same. Yes it is familiar but, as she often does, changes it up just enough. It’s nuanced. At 2:35, she does have that dubstep wobble in there that makes it sound dated, but the break that comes after has more of a hardstyle vibe to it. And hardstyle is I think one of the more trendy spaces in electronic music right now. Not for the mainstream but within the culture of edm I think it is (and generally I hate hardstyle as I prefer hardcore and since hardstyle started to get trendy my favorite hardcore artists shifted their style).

Idk I think this track miles fresher than the stuff she put on Colours. This is what Colours should have been, or if she were to release Colours now.

[AyuCanada]

Originally Posted by Ayufan11

I'm unimpressed personally, I feel like this is a lost track from 2007/2008? I just feel like this sound doesn't work in 2022 and Ayu should really try evolving her sound or at least step out of her comfort zone to production styles in 2022. Maybe some folk, rnb, electronic dance pop?

This just sounds like her techno pop which worked in 07/08, but just doesn't hit the mark in 2022, kinda bummed because I keep waiting for Ayu to release something that makes sense in 2022 and not what worked in 2007/2008.

I still have to watch the video and I can say that I do appreciate that her vocals are still incredibly strong

Since Ayu said many times in interview that she does not listen to current music and doesn't not care about music trends, I doubt this will happen. She does what she wants when she wants. I think we must accept that she isnèt trying to be the 'it' thing anymore.

[love in music]

The song doesn't sound too dated to me. If she were singing in Korean, it would pretty much fit on any K-pop playlist with catchy dance songs released from the past few years.
But even if it was extremely dated, doesn't matter to me. It does what a upbeat dance song should do - stick in your head and make you want to move
The lyrics and message of the song are a nice bonus.

[AyuCanada]

I think it sounds dated but I don't mind it.

[njanjayrp]

Originally Posted by Ayufan11

I'm unimpressed personally, I feel like this is a lost track from 2007/2008? I just feel like this sound doesn't work in 2022 and Ayu should really try evolving her sound or at least step out of her comfort zone to production styles in 2022. Maybe some folk, rnb, electronic dance pop?

This just sounds like her techno pop which worked in 07/08, but just doesn't hit the mark in 2022, kinda bummed because I keep waiting for Ayu to release something that makes sense in 2022 and not what worked in 2007/2008.

I still have to watch the video and I can say that I do appreciate that her vocals are still incredibly strong

When did anyone act or do things like we expect from them? There’s many artists out there that do exactly what you want to hear. I don’t really see why she has to hit any contemporary marks. You’re gonna be waiting forever xD

I think she’s now at her absolute worst when it comes to the way she sings, but have decided to accept that and enjoy the amazing songs.

[aliceshields]

Originally Posted by adrtwb

I love the MV! But it seems like she didn’t do a good job lip-syncing (same for DaD and 23m) and that bothers me.

And, can we expect the next mv that she will not feature her dancers?

I told my sister the same (she’s fans of Ayu too) about the lip-sync failed, kind of bother me as well. 😑

[greggerz189]

It's not lost on me that Nonfiction shares chords with poker face. It's pretty interesting to listen to them back-to-back. I'm also getting Womanizer vibes from the opening notes of Nonfiction. Glad she's writing thought-stirring lyrics again, considering this is on the heels of Dreamed a Dream and 23rd Monster. I'd be down for another NEXT LEVEL-style album, considering her sound hasn't really evolved since 2010, but hope the jacket artwork is reminiscent of the Nonfiction PV rather than the single artwork.

[cdy2010]

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