Lets vent about ayu?/why did your fandom decrease

[Pinguu]

I never post often but I thought I could contribute to the discussion here - first, I'm absolutely not disappointed or anything about ayu, actually my interest for her is pretty high, but if I could mention anything that actually bothers me is that every album is always some kind of compilation, I know it's kind of the same thing for the other very few Jpop artists I still listen to, but... Maybe you know Laure Shang, she's a very popular singer in China, and actually every album of hers are like one package showcasing everything she wanted to show, to voice, to picture, etc, one album is one artistic cohesive piece.
And I think that's what's missing with ayu, every album feels like a bunch of (good) songs, but just gathered together, and even though an album might have some vague direction (Next Level, Rock'n'Roll Circus kind of) it never feels cohesive. That's why actually I'm pretty excited for her next album, even though I'm not a fan of EDM at all I feel like it's going to be a cohesive project (well Pray might still stick out like a sore thumb though).
She doesn't need to do avant garde stuff (what's avant garde stuff anyway for a mainstream pop singer ?) but I think she needs to give some identity to every album she does, not necessarily reinvent her music, which anyway would be a disaster.

[Coelacanth]

Originally Posted by Pinguu

I think she needs to give some identity to every album she does, not necessarily reinvent her music, which anyway would be a disaster.

I don't know about you, but I like that Ayu is able to shift styles/moods on the same album.

Not many artists are even remotely capable of making a pop album in the vein of MY STORY or Rock 'n' Roll Circus.

Many of you seem to be taking for granted what Ayu does best...

[Delirium-Zer0]

Even on albums like LOVEppears & Duty - which jump from bubblegum to rock to ballads to r&b and back again - she had a cohesive theme running through it, lyrically & musically; she had a graphic design concept that was interesting & specific to those albums that had a theme; she had a great single released the same day as those albums with graphic design that tied into the album. Just overall, each album had a "brand" to it, both visually & aurally. Albums since 2006 or so have been easy to kinda get mixed up & muddled together. It's easy to forget which token summer song is on which album, it's easy to forget if a song was on "Love songs" or "LOVE again," that kind of thing. And for new fans that's probably gonna make her discography even more intimidating than it already is.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by Delirium-Zer0

Even on albums like LOVEppears & Duty - which jump from bubblegum to rock to ballads to r&b and back again - she had a cohesive theme running through it, lyrically & musically; she had a graphic design concept that was interesting & specific to those albums that had a theme; she had a great single released the same day as those albums with graphic design that tied into the album. Just overall, each album had a "brand" to it, both visually & aurally. Albums since 2006 or so have been easy to kinda get mixed up & muddled together. It's easy to forget which token summer song is on which album, it's easy to forget if a song was on "Love songs" or "LOVE again," that kind of thing. And for new fans that's probably gonna make her discography even more intimidating than it already is.

I have to disagree, most of albums still have a whole theme from begining to ending, that usually goes through the music, the lyrics, the booklets and her fashion choices (but I agree with seasonal singles). And I don't get how can mistake Love songs for Love again, as even if both are heavily inspired by mid-tempo 90's jpop, the former is focused on Ayu's trademark mix of poprock, dance music beats and orchestral music chords, those having the spotlight through the whole álbum. The album deals mostly with Ayu (finally) becoming an adult and noticing that even if she loves her career, there's nothing to her but her popstar live. Love again mixes several 90's musical influences, without having much of a sound indentity while dealing with the process of falling in love, breaking up, healing and falling in love again while being judged by everyone...

I'm glad she is avoiding the seasonal single thing.

Also, nops, I'm not a girl and I'm not trolling for attention, but if an artist stops releasing stuff I like, I stop following them... I have better use of my time than listening to stuff I dislike for the sole pleasure of complaing stuff were better before.

[Coelacanth]

Much of her past work is UNTOUCHABLE and it's futile to hold any of her current work to the same standard.

For me, it's mostly due to her vocals (even in the studio). Her voice simply doesn't have the same quality/emotive power it did in her peak years. Her vocals will never return to that state, so it's something I really have no choice but to accept.

[Delirium-Zer0]

Even in her age she could still be emotive. I just don't feel like she feels too much anymore. "Tell All" was quite emotive, for example - NOTHING on Love songs or LOVE again feels as emotive as that song does, even intense songs like "Wake me up." And only a few songs on Party Queen feel like she's feeling anything as she's singing (like "reminds me"). It's like she's reserving herself too much in the studio, she's not pouring herself into the performance anymore.

[primavera♥]

I think is still emotive in songs. As Zeke said, November is powerful. Goodness. And also I think the emotion just comes out differently and depends on the song. In fact, that's why I still like her current music. Love song, do it again, and Novemver are great examples on Love songs. But do it again for example, seems to express it differently from how she would in the past. Same for RnRC. Microphone is one you would expect. But songs like Slt appeal to me because it has this not so serious music but more serious lyrics. It's an interesting and somewhat sophisticated way to express herself. Same with Eyes, Smoke, Magic...she sounds happy but there's this underlying sarcasm and irony and etc. And I like the feelings I get from that. Idk. I certainly don't see how ayu doesn't have feeling to her music anymore. If there is any aspect that I say has stayed true, it's that one. I mean, I can understand if people aren't as emotionally attached to all of newer songs and so relate that with Ayu not having feeling.

I feel like Tell All is kind of that obvious in your face emotion that she does sometimes. But I don't think that all of her songs need to be that way to perceive emotion. I like the varying kinds of emotion as long as they're still there.

And about themes, even if people don't like them, I still think her albums have a very persistent theme throughout. Except for RnRC. It loses that pretty much after countdown lol. I get a certain vibe from these albums: A Song for XX, LOVEppears (though a very simplistic one), Duty, RAINBOW, MY STORY, (Miss)understood, GUILTY, NEXT LEVEL, Love songs...maybe LOVE again...

So I guess I am.., Secret, and RnRc are more like messy collections of good songs to me. Though they have nice themes.

[Andrenekoi]

^I believe Secret does have a theme, evento if a very simplistic one, as Secret as the album ender negates the idealized image she creates during the other tracks, as if Secret really tells the album's secret.

RNRC compares her life to a, well, rock n roll circus, starting with her career, hearing loss, and other personal issues, once she decides she will stop suffering from the past and will move on, opening the most optimistic, and even bolder, part of it.

But I also see Secret, RNRC, I AM... and also MY STORY, ASFXX and Party Queen as album following the same pattern, always dealing with harder topics and putting lyrics way over the music.

[primavera♥]

^Most of her albums are good when it comes to lyrics with themes and their flow. But to me, the combination of the lyrics and the music is how I judge it. Though I understand your interpretation of those albums.

[Andrenekoi]

^Party Queen aside they are all among my least favorito! But I noticed the most personal the lyrics, the less adventurous the sound...

[Delirium-Zer0]

I have to disagree there - I don't really see a correlation. She'll sing about feelings & situations that are quite personal and have a really amazing sound (monochrome, BRILLANTE, Last angel) and she'll sing about things more directed at her audience than at herself that sound very dull and run-of-the-mill, like Thank U. Even her less personal songs will have a hugely personal component though, so it's hard to gauge really. It's just that alot of personal songs deal with topics she's already talked about so many times that it's gotten diluted over time. She recycles lyrics & concepts - not just making deliberate reference (which she often does, like any prolific lyricist would). So in her delivery, it's like she doesn't actually FEEL what she was feeling at the time anymore, so you can tell when a song's feelings are still fresh in her memory and when they're not. More "personal" songs recently, dealing with older feelings or being written when she's not feeling things so intensely, have therefore been very lethargic sounding.

[Leaf King]

Having stumbled upon this thread after a long time of non-activity on my part, I decided to impart my thoughts to you all.

I look at Ayu the way I do at any other celebrity: with an open mind and eye. What I mean by that is, even if someone seems or seemed to be transparent that doesn’t mean what we see is what we think we see or would like to see. It doesn’t even mean it’s real. So, I can say that in the past her emotions were easier to see, or that she was easier to read, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that by observing her 10 years ago I knew her better than I do now when I watch her 10 years later. I don’t dispute the fact that some of her music is less-than-interesting, but I don’t know whether it’s the result of her feelings remaining in one area or a loss of feelings in another area thus effectively hindering her efforts in getting her message across. She has said that her current music is like an update on her personality/life, so who am I to say that it’s not truthful at this point. Maybe it’s not as passionate as I’d like it to be – then again, who am I to say what emotion is and isn’t passionate, when there are different degrees of that fire that can pertain to any emotion? The bottom line is: I won't buy her music if it doesn't resonate with me. I don’t have a lot to compare Ayu to, as I’m not really a pop-listener. I’ve been following her for a long time, and whenever she has a new release, I make sure to check it out. I love Rock’n’Roll Circus and Love Songs, I loved the R’n’RC tour, CDL ’10-11, POWER of MUSIC, and even HOTEL Love songs, but since then have found it hard to connect to her. I want her to do well, but I won’t buy her stuff if it doesn't impress me.

[tsumekaze_]

not so relevant zodiac rant:

ayu is a Libra, she's the embodiment of susceptibility in a woman body.
Chances are nobody (staff, friends, family) dares to contradict or criticise her for fear of being fired or cut off from her life lol.

(I do not mean to offend anyone, it's just a joke, I'm very susceptible myself XD)

[mi|kshake]

I appreciate her use of classical instruments but its annoying when every song is like 6 minutes long and follows the same verse, bridge, chorus, verse, bridge, chorus, 2 minute instrumental part, chorus, chorus formula. On top of that, every song has to have every instrument that ever existed in it - like 80 violins, chellos, harpsichord, rock guitars and kazoos and all kinds of other shit

Haha, this is one of the reasons I love Ayu!

[My Rainbow]

long ass boring thread

[rikku1994]

Originally Posted by My Rainbow

long ass boring thread

A long thread about people endlessly complaining about Ayu... It's like nothing can make them happy.

[channy]

I'm reading all of this while listening to Mad Professor's "HAPPY ENDING" remixes

[Zeke.]

As much as it is annoying to see surreal~evolution on Bluray/DVD constantly, as a concertgoer I would be disappointed if I went and she didn't pull that one out. It's a real crowd pleaser and tradition to see ayu perform that.

[Andrenekoi]

Will I be an attention seeking troll if I remind you nobody forced you to read through it?

[maneayu]

maybe after all that has been already said, we could make a list of all of it, since there are a lot of stuff that gets repeated along the thread.

So...
So far from what I've read, results are the following.

"My fandom decreased because:"

VOCALS / INTERPRETATION
- ayu's vocals don't have the same quality/emotive power it did in her peak years.
- ayu sings like she doesn't feel too much anymore.
- Her vocalization was more natural and smooth a couple years ago, now she sound like she's kinda forcing it out. Even nasally at times. She just sounded a lot cooler on her older era.
- she wants to sing with her high pitch, screechy, ear bleeding vocals, when obviously, she can't anymore, and have to push/force her voice and then destroy it.
- The amount of lip syncing during her recent CDL is excessive
- a lot of her live performances have been just plain terrible lately.

IMAGE
- The only thing I see [in her Dearest performances] is a inconsistent singer with a runny nose dressed on a birthday cake while singing a generic ballad...
- ayu drops in self indulgence
- I've lost more and more interest in J-Pop as a whole.
- fans have lost a feeling of "connection" with Ayu
- her persona from years ago was simply more likeable... but it wasn't her. We didn't really know anything about her. Now she can be herself and do what she wants, and she's... kind of boring. Champagne, sunshine, pools and millionaire friends are only interesting for a short while. So, I guess, her life now kind of breaks the illusion in a way. It makes you realise how crafted everything has been all along.
- When I look at her pictures in magazines and on album/single covers, all I see is a Diva. When I listen to alot of her new songs, all I can think of is how uninspiring her music has become.
- Maybe the fact that I changed and she changed and we're no longer as compatible as before (in terms of personal feelings and taste)

PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS
- I miss the Ayu with a meaningful yet low-budget PV
- The music videos have been lacking a bit
- "Feel the love" PV shocked me

MATERIAL
- ayu's material hasn't been great recently
- I want unique merchandise

LYRICS
- her rich lifestyle makes her write bad lyrics
- Her lyrics aren't as lyrical as before
- Like a TON of high schoolers who became fans of Ayu between 1999 and 2000, Ayu resonated with me for her honesty. Even not understanding her lyrics, you could tell she was baring her soul - the arrangements and melodies and her vocal performance had true honest emotions behind them. To this day, my favorite ayu songs are the ones that make me feel whatever she's feeling. So when she sings about being happily in love, dancing, and superficial romantic pain just like every other pop star... it does nothing for me.

PRODUCTION
- ayu was more creative before
- she isn't that active anymore
- Before, she gave me the image of someone strong, who cared, and was giving her best, now I just feel lazyness from her
- ayu have same dancers, doing the same old choreography, crying over the same songs, making the same fake phony sad faces, singing the same damn set list that she has sang at almost every concert for the last 10 years.
- Ayu's current stuff sounds like a cheap rendition of her own stuff from 10 years ago.
- She also tends to recycle stuff in her concerts way too much for my liking.
- releases are no longer accompanied by decent promotional efforts by ayu herself, well thought-out and planned, with a well defined concept, extensive preparation, well prepared schedule and thought process behind the whole thing, as it used to be before. Standards are sinking throughout time.

MUSIC
- Her music just doesn't resonate with us anymore. Probably because of her age and her values.
- ayu's old music was technically better. Better composed, better arranged
- ayu's music is too generic and unoriginal. There is no innovation or originality. It's copy cat off of her old styles and what everyone else is doing
- 2 things: LOVE again and Love Songs. I hope she never release albums like that again
- Party Queen


OTHERS
- To be honest, one of the biggest disappointments in the Ayu fandom is how some of the fans treat each other. I'll never underestimate the value of the fans I've befriended who aren't assholes.
- She's 35 years old
- I've been too focused on other artists
- I've been too busy
- I lost my iPod! Even my 32GB iPhone 5 won't fit everything because I also sync photos to it...


I hope I could convey everybody's feelings here