Now what?

[SheFliesHigher]

^Lolz.

Ayu has proven that she has some serious staying power. It's fabulous. Next she needs to try some death metal with monster screams! Could you imagine something like a Dir En Grey / Ayu tour? Dir En Grey would be screaming and destroying things, and then when Ayu pranced onto the stage she would slip on the fake vomit.

[Mad_Cactuar]

Next up, I want her to indulge herself into electronic and trip-hop. Really good dance songs with thick synths and maybe ambient elements. It'd be so cool!

Coupled with a new image, it could start a trend. I've had enough rock/pop/ballad Ayu for the moment. When's the experimental phase coming? Something like Exodus, in Ayu's own intepretation, would be massive. As long as it retains the catchiness and melody Ayu is capable of, I predict a surprise hit.

[Keishi]

Originally Posted by *Petit*

I woulden't really mind bouncy dance tracks like the ones on LOVEppears again.

As for jazz, I don't think she'd do that. She's never, not as I am aware of at least, done anything clse to it at all. And frankly I don't really mind as mika-jazz more often than not puts e to sleep. I would never ever ever want her to release anything like "NAKED SONGS" by aya.

Her style seems to mostly be heavy electronic influenced, extremely delicate classical stuff or rock, which also often is very synthisized. The kind of mellow muted disharmonic jazzy stuff doesen't seem to be her cup of tea.

Another thing I am uncertaïn of is how well her voice would fit it. But as her voice seems to devellop quite a lot, she might pull that off. As for now it has a very different quality than what I would consider suitable (allthough it might be interesting).

I think she could definetly try more RnB/pop, as long as it's done her way. Nothing heavy though.

I don't really mind her sticking to one genre as long as she keeps fresh and more importantly, has good composition, melodies. Sadly, her remix albums days seems to have gone, so we won't be able to hear different versions of most songs. THat often made it all more intersting to me.

Even though she seems to have done it all now, who knows? There are songs on this album that are somewhat different from her past stuff, like Born to Be... and JEWEL. Pop knows no boundraries. =P

Well there was a jazz-esque version of White Christmas that she sung for SUNTORY Freixenet Wine CM

[alternarist]

lol.. ayu can do anything!! from R & B (in the corner) till Bold & Delicious. till Ladies Night... ayu can possibly do anything and everything!!

jazz would be a good idea though.. but if response turn out like that of B&D, den.... *sighs*

after she releases her album, its time for her to focus on her CDL

[LacusClyne]

i just don't want ayu to fo hip-hop. i don't think her voice suits that

[HanabiChick]

I don't really know what I'd like her to try, though probably wouldn't like her to do r&B/hiphop etc or more dance. Maybe some more classical - that would be nice.

[Raleigh]

I'd love to see an acoustic orchestra album for Secret next.

[jeffycue]

Originally Posted by monsoonbaby

We never what Ayu will do, she never fails to surprise me. But I really miss her "LOVEappears" days.

me too.

[theprojectzero]

Doh... Ayumi doin' Jazz is the last thing she could ever do, man...

[immel]

Apart from that Secret was very good I didn't find it very new. Ayumi often tries new styles, but she's been going rock since the past few years, which I love.

The only new style tracks, to me, is Born To Be... and Startin'.

I don't think the next album will have too much of a new style either, it'll most likely remind me quite a lot of her recent work. I do think she'll still be able to keep it good, though.

[freedreamer]

I love her rock..its what attracted me...i think through Ayu i found the real music i like deep down instead of Chinese Pop..

I WONT want Ayu doing Jazz UNLESS she adds some other elements in it (then it wouldnt really be jazz would it)..and unless she makes it gd..then she will be the one and only who changes my perception of jazz

i dun think she will do R&B / Hip coz she doesnt dance unless thats a deep hidden secret...

Yea, i would prefer [Naturally] style...more CREA...more rock and ballads just carry one with this..but of coz making each time more special then i m happy...she doesnt tire me anyway...haha

and enuf Gospel for now...the retro aint too bad too...

What i WOULD want is songs with Bridge! Climax! Yume no Uta style! That's power ballad Ayu..! DO ONE!

[Keishi]

Well, she is known for being versatile & bringing up fresh sounds every time. I don't think it's a bad choice to try a new stuffs like Jazz & Hip Hop. I wonder if she's finally pregnant and go on hiatus, she will undergo Namie's experience. Losing fanbase, etc and then coming back with urban-sounding music, like Hip Hop/R&B. Who knows? Things happened.

I hope I'm not jinxing it though.

Ayu has done great jazz, haven't you seen her perform with EXILE on Ayu ready?

[immel]

I would love her to have some Jazz influence on the next album, the album should also have the basic ballad and rock songs.

She'll probably merge the Jazz sound with pop and make some kind of hybrid, but that's Ayu for you .

[moombasista]

I'm surprised that so many of you are open to the jazz idea!

That's great!

But imagine this... dance-jazz-electronic-hiphop fusion! OMG *dies*

Who knew ayu would be so big?

When I first discovered her like in 1999 I thought she was really annoying! LOL

I never knew she'd be this big, this long

She must look back at her achievements and be like "OMG I'm awesome!"

[truehappiness]

I think she might begin to fuse genres together more often than before..

Trancey jazz.. I wonder if that's possible. Aha.

[*Petit*]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I think she might begin to fuse genres together more often than before..

Trancey jazz.. I wonder if that's possible. Aha.

That would be cool. Problem is though that she doesen't really make things herself, so she'd have to rely heavily on the arrangers, and she might not get what she had in mind. Or she ight not like what she had in mind when she hears it if the arranger gets it properly. I don't even know how specific she is when she speaks to the arrangers, perhaps she only gives the general feel of the song, not even genre. It would be interesting to hear how they do it...

Originally Posted by immel

Apart from that Secret was very good I didn't find it very new. Ayumi often tries new styles, but she's been going rock since the past few years, which I love.

The only new style tracks, to me, is Born To Be... and Startin'.

I don't think the next album will have too much of a new style either, it'll most likely remind me quite a lot of her recent work. I do think she'll still be able to keep it good, though.

I agree. Especially Born To Be... is quite unlike stuff she's done before. She tried more new things on (miss) understood. Most of the type of songs she has on this album have been more or less present since RAINBOW i guess...

Originally Posted by Demure_Dusk

I'd love to see an acoustic orchestra album for Secret next.

It would be cool if she made an exclusive acoustic live too! NOt a concert, but a special classy live with a small orchestra and perhaps some type of food for the guests attending. That would give the album more attention also.

[freedreamer]

the acoustic live..oooo..like HS's Crossover II...

at least she is trying new things...more variety..and keeping up with the changes...

i look forward to her work always..

[Rebirthia]

i don't think jazz suites her... but she can experiment more on rock... and she should act!!!

[neokyotodragon]

Honestly I don't think jazz is Ayu's thing at all....leave that to Mika. She should stick to the rock style stuff and possibly dive deeper into it. She should also stick to the ballads and should start doing techno style stuff again. And I don't think hip hop or R&B is her thing either...leave that to Koda and Namie. That is one thing I think that sets her apart from Koda, Namie, and any other jpop queens: her rock style songs.