A Classical cover & tracklist

[Jawdarna]

Ah~

I was hoping for a surprise like naturally, SURREAL (this would have been amazing; so surprising it's not on there considering it's popular), ourselves, or And Then (a personal favourite)...

Actually, I wonder if the other three most popular tracks (places taken by Song 4 u, Missing and You & Me) were actually Boys and Girls, evolution, and SURREAL...

Anyway, enough with the negativity!
M, SEASONS, Dearest, Voyage and BLUE BIRD still made it, and I'm sure they'll make it great.
Although not a fan of You & Me, I'm quite curious to hear the classical version.

[PrincessJenni]

What a disappointment! Kudos to the artist that did the redraw of the cover but if they had talent they'd create their own ayu pose/image.
I don't care if it's hand drawn i feel jibbed. And seriously that track list is off. I don't even think i'll download this album it'd be an insult to my pride and dignity

[adantatu2]

I understand the cover for MY STORY -Classical-, but why the cover from LOVE in this compilation???
The tracklist is good, but it would be amazing if they add 5 or 7 songs, XD.
Anyway, i'm glad i'm not a huge collector, XD.

Now i'm excited for the new february release, i hope isn't another compilation (I don't want A BALLADS II, A SPRING BEST, AYU-TRANCE or any remix album)

[SURREAL__RAINBOW]

The only song that bothers me is You & Me, How can such a song work as an orchestra song??

I have no feelings for this release or whatsoever, I'm gonna wait and see how it turns out. It all depends on the songs at the end of the day.

And I'm sure it'll sell as much or less than a remix album, which is pretty much expected I guess.

[primavera♥]

Originally Posted by SURREAL__RAINBOW

The only song that bothers me is You & Me, How can such a song work as an orchestra song??

I have no feelings for this release or whatsoever, I'm gonna wait and see how it turns out. It all depends on the songs at the end of the day.

And I'm sure it'll sell as much or less than a remix album, which is pretty much expected I guess.

I'm excited to hear You & Me actually. You can make it work. Just different instruments.

I'm still excited to hear what the songs sound like even if not all are my favorites. I kind of can't hate this release like some people until I hear the actual music.

[visionfactory]

Originally Posted by SURREAL__RAINBOW

The only song that bothers me is You & Me, How can such a song work as an orchestra song??

THIS.

I think this release will sell like 10k copies...

[FoObY]

This release seems rushed. I bet they will use the same arrangements from POWER of MUSIC for the songs that were in that set list.

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by FoObY

This release seems rushed. I bet they will use the same arrangements from POWER of MUSIC for the songs that were in that set list.

POWER of MUSIC did not have a full orchestra.

And this rushed thing needs to not be said about Ayu releases again since they're almost always 'rushed' so it's not even a valid criticism.

Originally Posted by Delicious n Bold

I have been reading around the internet that people think these past few releases have tarnished Ayu's career, and maybe ruined it. Apparently A CLASSICAL has sealed the deal for some.

Anyone agree?

It's the Internet. This is the same place that also says Ayu should have retired years ago because she's a hag that can't sing since the early 2000s. For some reason with any period where we get a lot of releases, fans always seen to get offended or seem a lot more entitled than usual when they don't get something they are satisfied with. I remember when crossroad and L came out, it was kind of more of the same.

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

It's the Internet. This is the same place that also says Ayu should have retired years ago because she's a hag that can't sing since the early 2000s. For some reason with any period where we get a lot of releases, fans always seen to get offended or seem a lot more entitled than usual when they don't get something they are satisfied with. I remember when crossroad and L came out, it was kind of more of the same.

Yes that is true, but I do feel this is a different case. I was thinking today, I think Ayu and avex had it in their head that her career in a sense could never be ruined. That she would at the very least, remain roughly where she has been the past few years. But, honestly there have been so many bad choices in such a short time-frame that it's hard for anyone to look past everything that has happened recently. Honestly she has become such a gimmick now. I hope this isn't the case, but it seems quite so.

I was going to say You & Me might sound nice since that beginning part before the electro kicks in is calming, but then I remembered those God-awful lyrics during the verses and honestly it will just sound ridiculous.

[Delicious n Bold]

I have been reading around the internet that people think these past few releases have tarnished Ayu's career, and maybe ruined it. Apparently A CLASSICAL has sealed the deal for some.

Anyone agree?

[TeamAyu2004]

not me. LOVE and again both show that ayumi still has it!
this remix album is just that... a remix album.

[MeltingCORE]

...I'm not usually disappointed by Ayu releases but I'm disappointed with this so far... You & Me? Really? M, Dearest, Song 4 u, and Missing are also unneeded imo... Maybe the arrangements will be amazing? Love song and BLUE BIRD will be nice to hear...

[emi♡]

I don't really understand how any of these past releases are "bad" in any way. Sealed her career? idk. That's odd to me, cause I've said before, there are people still amazingly active in Japan, selling way less, and releasing way less...so.

Unless her albums start capping themselves at like 2000 and she can't even fill one arena...I think she's fine.

I guess I can see the tarnishing thing...but meh.


Anyway. Someone threw out Naturally and SURREAL and...ew cause I totally forgot about how amazing those songs are and how much it sucks that they aren't there.

I don't understand why they couldn't have had at LEAST 12 tracks. That's really the only thing that bugs me about the tracklist (besides the new songs, the ****, seriously).

Maybe it's too much for one guy, idk.

[SURREAL__RAINBOW]

It's fine if people don't like this release so far but, it isn't any worse than the China orchestra album tbh. And MY STORY classical was a very random release and the cover is much worse than this one lol

At least we're getting different songs and not a Party Queen CLASSICAL lol Seriously every time I check this forum the World is ending.

[Jawdarna]

I think it is extremely subjective. I think that the Ayu from the past is still around definitely. Songs like Return Road, reminds me, BRILLANTE, Sweet scar, Sexy little things, don't look back, countdown, November, last angel, Love song, like a doll, crossroad, Microphone, progress, MOON, snowy kiss are all from the past two years and are stand outs in Ayu's discography. That's the problem though. There's only a few of them.

When comparing the newer albums to an album like I am..., where every single song could have been released as/was a hit, I guess it is a bit disappointing. However, imagine trying to outdo yourself every time? It would get to a point where you were only making music to retain your 'legend' status, instead of making music for the love of it. Also, popularity and youth doesn't last forever. I believe this is Ayu's mentality.

Can I also mention that it doesn't seem to be the music that is getting everybody riled up, it's her concepts. Personally, apart from the trilogy, M, Free & Easy, Duty, LOVEppears, I am..., and A BEST, all of her concepts are mediocre. Hell, if the I am... Original concept of the day in the life of Ayu had made the cut, it probably would have been more mundane than Party Queen.

The problem at the moment is that we only received Love songs 2 years ago, Ayu only split from Mannie this year, and now she's basically repeating the 'love' concept instead of trying something new. The music is fine, if not better than anything since GUILTY. She's really lifted her game, and her only mistake with A Classical it seems is reaching out to her fans by allowing them to choose most of the tracks, and making this even more symbolic by using a beautiful drawing from a fan as the cover art.

Every artist has a rough patch, but music wise, Ayu has never been completely tarnished by a release.

[jbrat2219]

Originally Posted by Jawdarna

When comparing the newer albums to an album like I am..., where every single song could have been released as/was a hit, I guess it is a bit disappointing. However, imagine trying to outdo yourself every time? It would get to a point where you were only making music to retain your 'legend' status, instead of making music for the love of it. Also, popularity and youth doesn't last forever. I believe this is Ayu's mentality.

I totally agree. It seems like some fans aren't happy unless every single song/album meet the standard of I am... They complain about what's missing instead of enjoying her music without the stigma of "it's not as good as..."

[Uemarasan]

Originally Posted by jbrat2219

I totally agree. It seems like some fans aren't happy unless every single song/album meet the standard of I am... They complain about what's missing instead of enjoying her music without the stigma of "it's not as good as..."

The standard that Ayu set back then was that her music was better than nearly everyone else's, including non-Japanese artists. Unfortunately, that is not the case right now.

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by Uemarasan

The standard that Ayu set back then was that her music was better than nearly everyone else's, including non-Japanese artists. Unfortunately, that is not the case right now.

For some, her music is still better than everyone else's so why is it 'not the case right now'?

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

For some, her music is still better than everyone else's so why is it 'not the case right now'?

I think right now if you are a fan of Ayu you will continue to listen to her releases but her music isn't 'better' to the point where it will intrigue new listeners.

[truehappiness]

I think the Ayu of the past would give the Ayu of the present a brofist and then go out drinking with her, because it's not like we really knew Ayu back then. (though some people may think otherwise for whatever reason) In fact, we're closer to her than ever before. Ayu has had one on one contact with some overseas fans and knows some by name which is something no one could have ever thought possible in the early/mid-2000s.