Lets vent about ayu?/why did your fandom decrease

[Max_ZZZ]

Hey ive been laying low here for a while, but with the new album coming out im wondering if anyone stands with me on ayus career at the moment because im a bit put off from it. even with her decline I always thought she was keeping true to her reputation for innovation, all the way up to FIVE. Brillante was incredible, and I was excited for what came next. Then I really felt like she lost a lot of quality in her work. The songs were mediocre or not amazing, and her image was aweful. A summer best was stupid af, the "minialbum" thing was akward and unnecessary, and I swear if she does fishlips one more time ill fly over and cut them off. Lol idk, theres a blog jpop random and he said it best for his party queen and love again reviews.
Dont get me wrong, im still a fan. Im here still cause I have hope that she has a few more kickass moments but idk everything seems basic girly love story lets dance instead of, what will be new?
Let me know your thoughts!
Ps. Feel the love is garbage... to each his own but gotdam

[J0nB0yH88]

I'm not fond of the 2 new songs, but I'm not going talk smack about ayu. She can try other things, not everyone is going to like them.

If you aren't a fan anymore why bother coming on the forum?

[Ayusan]

Originally Posted by J0nB0yH88

If you aren't a fan anymore why bother coming on the forum?

Oh please someone losing interest doesn't mean it's not a fan anymore, otherwise, he/she wouldn't even bother to post....


For me, it began with Progress ... then all that went after, the lame image, the "I'm not even trying/don't care" attitude, the lazyness, the leeches around her... Before, she gave me the image of someone strong, who cared, and was giving her best, now I just feel lazyness from her! People always blame the staff for this but you really think she is a victim in all of this?!

-Releasing maxi single as mini album, then pack everything and call it an album.
-Classical album, hey let's ask someone to draw the cover of one the mini album, relation between the two? Who knows...
-Tour logo? Lets' steal someone else's work then say it was "inspired" by a fan when people got the fraud... though this, she could perfectly ignore it, even now, but it shows the little respect of her staff to her....

-Her last, using a picture from a magazine shoot as live cover .... she didn't even try and shoot something just for this cover (if she didn't wish for live picture), no... hey guys let's just slap on of the pic and that's it *leaves to paint my nails*


I won't swallow the fact she is a victim in all of this! Ayumi, with her status, is a victim of an evil staff? ...


But the main thing that drive me crazy is her voice (and the garbages she released lately). There was already something in LS, but it was still ok, PQ, some were listenable but something was off and now I don't even want to think about, I can't listen the majority of LA just because of her vocals on it.

I do not understand why she want 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, force it more, destroy it more. That era is over, period! Her coach isn't able to tell her?!
But since how her voice is now I think she should just fire her coach... but yeah she loves to build her little family and be all so nice with them even when they stab her in the back ... hope she learnt her lesson with Kee... speaking of him, what a waste to have worked with him, most of his work with her was awful!

I don't care if she tries something new as I don't care if she doesn't, I just want she works, care, does her very best and stop to be so childish at 35 years old, the corny love story lyrics, PV/peach color pics and everything make me sick! We all know what she is capable of and ...seeing/hearing this?

I also wonder why there is no poster anymore? No lottery anymore? That's funny how the end of that kinda coincide with the lost of interest from people.... I highly doubt they don't follow her, buy because of this but it helps to create a hype in a way.
By the way, why to stop? Money? Just cut off the budget for bad/useless PVs and it will do the trick!


Now, I've never cared about Jpop, and still don't care. Ayumi was the "little something" in my music library, but if she keeps her path of bad, lazy and botched work, I will just stop to care about her.
Of course she has a life and don't have to dedicate it, only to music but before to release something she should ask herself : is this really the best I can do?

Honestly, if she reply yes to this about her last works...

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by Ayusan

Oh please someone losing interest doesn't mean it's not a fan anymore, otherwise, he/she wouldn't even bother to post....


For me, it began with Progress ... then all that went after, the lame image, the "I'm not even trying/don't care" attitude, the lazyness, the leeches around her... Before, she gave me the image of someone strong, who cared, and was giving her best, now I just feel lazyness from her! People always blame the staff for this but you really think she is a victim in all of this?!

-Releasing maxi single as mini album, then pack everything and call it an album.
-Classical album, hey let's ask someone to draw the cover of one the mini album, relation between the two? Who knows...
-Tour logo? Lets' steal someone else's work then say it was "inspired" by a fan when people got the fraud... though this, she could perfectly ignore it, even now, but it shows the little respect of her staff to her....

-Her last, using a picture from a magazine shoot as live cover .... she didn't even try and shoot something just for this cover (if she didn't wish for live picture), no... hey guys let's just slap on of the pic and that's it *leaves to paint my nails*


I won't swallow the fact she is a victim in all of this! Ayumi, with her status, is a victim of an evil staff? ...


But the main thing that drive me crazy is her voice (and the garbages she released lately). There was already something in LS, but it was still ok, PQ, some were listenable but something was off and now I don't even want to think about, I can't listen the majority of LA just because of her vocals on it.

I do not understand why she want 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, force it more, destroy it more. That era is over, period! Her coach isn't able to tell her?!
But since how her voice is now I think she should just fire her coach... but yeah she loves to build her little family and be all so nice with them even when they stab her in the back ... hope she learnt her lesson with Kee... speaking of him, what a waste to have worked with him, most of his work with her was awful!

I don't care if she tries something new as I don't care if she doesn't, I just want she works, care, does her very best and stop to be so childish at 35 years old, the corny love story lyrics, PV/peach color pics and everything make me sick! We all know what she is capable of and ...seeing/hearing this?

I also wonder why there is no poster anymore? No lottery anymore? That's funny how the end of that kinda coincide with the lost of interest from people.... I highly doubt they don't follow her, buy because of this but it helps to create a hype in a way.
By the way, why to stop? Money? Just cut off the budget for bad/useless PVs and it will do the trick!


Now, I've never cared about Jpop, and still don't care. Ayumi was the "little something" in my music library, but if she keeps her path of bad, lazy and botched work, I will just stop to care about her.
Of course she has a life and don't have to dedicate it, only to music but before to release something she should ask herself : is this really the best I can do?

Honestly, if she reply yes to this about her last works...

It's nice to read someone being so blunt and not sugar coating things. I can feel your frustration, and it goes to show that stupid comments like "if you don't like her then don't post / don't come here / don't listen to her / move on." Obviously frustration like this is an example of passion if anything. We care, but there is so much junk in the world of music today - it's sad to think of Ayu joining the ranks of that shit when we know she is capable of SO MUCH MORE.

Then there's always the argument that "she's trying to have more fun with her career now at this point." What that translates to is she is taking things less seriously which translates to she doesn't care as much to make a polished and complete effort. It seems like more of a hobby for her now. Wonder if someone who wasn't a star went into their normal jobs and said "I'm going to take this job less seriously from now on" how their bosses and people would react...

[happiholic★]

I've been feeling like her latest efforts are a little half-assed. I was incredibly disinterested in her for a very long time, but for some reason, lately I've been into her older stuff again. Probably because I didn't listen for a long time.

[marty]

I don't really relate to you, 'cause my interest in her is VERY high, but I've sure felt disappointed quite a lot the past year. I hated the whole, cheap way they handled her 15th anniversary and I do feel half of LOVEagain was lazy as hell. And I still hate LOVEagain covers more than (miss)understood ones, and that's saying something, lol.
But the best thing about Ayu is she's always, constantly changing, so chances are you'll find some way to like her again in the future, 'cause she's gonna change her game once again, that's for sure.

[Benikari47]

My interest for Ayu is still pretty high, however just like you i find her releases after FIVE kinda lackluster. The songs aren't even bad or anything, just boring and most of the time i find the tracks to be weaker versions of older songs. Party Queen took a few chances, some good (NaNaNa, Return Road) and some bad (Eyes, Smoke, Magic) but the rest of the album is just pretty.. blah.

Then she released LOVE and Song 4 U instantly became one of my favorite Ayu songs and Missing was a really great surprise as well, then came Again and she continued the high quality with Wake Me Up and Snowy Kiss. I was so stoked for LOVEAgain, i could hardly contain my excitement and then after listening to it i just blanked out. I liked some of the tracks at first, but after i finished the album i just sat there unable to remember any of the new tracks.

What was before Ayu's biggest strength has became a bore to me now, her ballads have brought me so much joy, sadness and nostalgia over the years but almost all of them sound the same today.. I like Pray, but it's not a track i feel like replaying over and over.

Merry Go Round was a nice surprise though, and the news of her new album being very up-beat and EDM sounds interesting. It could be a Next Level part 2 and since i love that album so much i'm really excited!

Just don't sound like Feel The Love.. PLEASE just don't!

[Bigtop]

Look here, I've been losing interest in Ayu, and for a number of reasons...

• She's 35 years old
• I've been too focused on other artists, such as Ayaka, miwa, Sayuri Sugawara and Yanawaraba (and even losing interest in Arashi/Johnny's as well, it seems...)
• I've been too busy studying at school, and need to study more, especially after I "only" got a 2.5 in my math class last quarter
• I lost my iPod! Even my 32GB iPhone 5 won't fit everything because I also sync photos to it...

And the list goes on and on. I do also believe that, partially because of her age, it seems her efforts are underwhelming, there hasn't been any promotion...I think we have lost much of her lust back from years ago! And, yes, even the 15th anniversary - I call that "lackluster" as well! I don't understand how much action was Ayu putting on her "15th anniversary year" - I just feel it's not acceptable to my standards! There's also this cannibalization of girls' J-pop music by AKB48, and... It's just too many reasons to say...

One thing's for sure to me - I'm not "Feel(ing) the love" with Ayu pretty much anymore. It's time for me to move on. When I first got interested in Ayu, I was 13, and she was 28; now, I'm 20 (almost 21), and she's 35; there are better options than this.

[chocopockymaster]

Originally Posted by Max_ZZZ

Im here still cause I have hope that she has a few more kickass moments but idk everything seems basic girly love story lets dance instead of, what will be new?

I grant you, there was a lot of that on LOVE again. But you can't deny that MY WAY, at least, even if it's a collaboration, is a totally new direction for her. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on that track in particular.

Originally Posted by Bigtop

Look here, I've been losing interest in Ayu, and for a number of reasons...

• She's 35 years old

What on earth is this reasoning? You're losing interest in an artist you once loved because she's no longer in her twenties? You have to be kidding me.

One thing's for sure to me - I'm not "Feel(ing) the love" with Ayu pretty much anymore. It's time for me to move on. When I first got interested in Ayu, I was 13, and she was 28; now, I'm 20 (almost 21), and she's 35; there are better options than this.

kthxbye, don't let the door hit you on your way out.


I will honestly say that I, too, have gone through some periods over the past few years where my 'faith' in Ayu (if you can call it that) wavered a little bit. Party Queen was probably the beginning of that...I understand some people's reasoning as to why it was really a genius album (Deli's post on it comes to mind) but it fell totally flat for me with the exception of, like, Reminds me. I threw myself into her previous material and tried to wait it out, but she didn't exactly deliver with her releases after that either. I just kept reminding myself of what her music has meant to me, and how I didn't want to feel distanced from that. I never want Ayu to be just a 'phase' of my life.

I'm far from being the first person to say this, but when an artist has gone through as many 'evolutionary stages', so to speak, as Ayu has, there are bound to be some releases that don't just click with you. It's unfortunate that you've fallen out of love with her, so to speak. Personally, I loved FtL/MgR/Pray/MY WAY, and I'm excited that she finally seems to be experimenting more. I hope there are at least a few tracks on the new album that you can get excited about, since there's a lot to look forward to!

[J0nB0yH88]

Originally Posted by chocopockymaster

I grant you, there was a lot of that on LOVE again. But you can't deny that MY WAY, at least, even if it's a collaboration, is a totally new direction for her. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on that track in particular.



What on earth is this reasoning? You're losing interest in an artist you once loved because she's no longer in her twenties? You have to be kidding me.



kthxbye, don't let the door hit you on your way out.


I will honestly say that I, too, have gone through some periods over the past few years where my 'faith' in Ayu (if you can call it that) wavered a little bit. Party Queen was probably the beginning of that...I understand some people's reasoning as to why it was really a genius album (Deli's post on it comes to mind) but it fell totally flat for me with the exception of, like, Reminds me. I threw myself into her previous material and tried to wait it out, but she didn't exactly deliver with her releases after that either. I just kept reminding myself of what her music has meant to me, and how I didn't want to feel distanced from that. I never want Ayu to be just a 'phase' of my life.

I'm far from being the first person to say this, but when an artist has gone through as many 'evolutionary stages', so to speak, as Ayu has, there are bound to be some releases that don't just click with you. It's unfortunate that you've fallen out of love with her, so to speak. Personally, I loved FtL/MgR/Pray/MY WAY, and I'm excited that she finally seems to be experimenting more. I hope there are at least a few tracks on the new album that you can get excited about, since there's a lot to look forward to!

well said! I also think ayu will give us a lot to look forward to.

...losing interest in a great musician because she's in her 30's just astounds me. there are MANY wonderful musicians who are a lot older than ayu and are still absolutely fantastic! that 'reason' is just completely ridiculous.

I must find this song MY WAY!

[Max_ZZZ]

Wow, what great responses! I'm glad people are understanding, I feel like old AHS would've cast me off as a leper lol. "WHY AYU HERE IF YOU DONT LUV HER, OUT OUT!!"

Anyways ya, it's great that people liked Party Queen and on. It wasn't TERRIBLE music, but aside from that her image and videos were either whack or lackluster for me.

Originally Posted by chocopockymaster

I grant you, there was a lot of that on LOVE again. But you can't deny that MY WAY, at least, even if it's a collaboration, is a totally new direction for her. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on that track in particular.

No I agree! There were some good moments. I LOVE Melody the song, as much as anything before. The video too. Even the Sweet scar video is really good. LOVE again was definitely a pick-up musically for me, but then Feel the Love got released and personally I think it's her worst song.. ever haha. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those people who will never be pleased unless it's like the past. I started fandom in 2006 with JEWEL. After Rock n Roll Circus the whole "she doesn't sound the same!" started, and I was still open minded towards everything. MOON was like Moments caliber quality. Love song was incredible. etc etc.

Also about my way, I do think it's great she's trying to branch out. Props to her hustle. But I just don't think the song is that good. Not really catchy and whatnot. Buut hopefully the darkchild song turns out well. I'm crossing my fingers for no hippity hoppity engrish LOL. But alas... Noooot to compare, but if it's anything like Utadas old r&b stuff, then I'll get on my knees and Pray (pun intended).

The music is something I'm not too worried in. She always has at least one really good song. I think even people who hate Party Queen like me have that one track (mine is Return Road, so good!). But her image is soo akward. I want her to step up to the plate and shock people or something lol.
PS again- in the Love again video trilogy, in her and Maros broken love story was I the only one waiting for him to hit her?? Someone needed to get hit I swear

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by Max_ZZZ

Wow, what great responses! I'm glad people are understanding, I feel like old AHS would've cast me off as a leper lol. "WHY AYU HERE IF YOU DONT LUV HER, OUT OUT!!"

How so? There's a thread like this one every 3 months...

[Max_ZZZ]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

How so? There's a thread like this one every 3 months...

I haven't checked the chat room in a long time, so I wasnt sure how this would be received in the current fandom

[marty]

Originally Posted by Max_ZZZ

PS again- in the Love again video trilogy, in her and Maros broken love story was I the only one waiting for him to hit her?? Someone needed to get hit I swear

They hit each other quite a lot, if I remember correctly... Or maybe they just push each other around, I can't recall really, I NEVER watch snowy kiss PV, for me that PV should've been about Ayu dumping Maro Whatsapping him, on a first class plane, drinking champagne.

Anyway, I think sometimes you're just not in the mood to listen to some singers, and that doesn't mean you're losing interest. Especially if you used to listen to them every single day, maybe you're just in a break fase.
I usually take a step back with Ayu music for a week or two (lol, who am I kidding, for a few days at best) every three months, it helps a lot when I listen to her again like crazy.

[YuriChan]

Originally Posted by Bigtop

She's 35 years old

I'm sorry... But that's a dumb reason to lose interest in ayu. The guys of B'z are in the mid 40's and they're still releasing great music! It shouldn't matter the age of your favorite artist, but the quality of music that they release.

[adantatu2]

Originally Posted by Bigtop

Look here, I've been losing interest in Ayu, and for a number of reasons...[list][*]She's 35 years old

Really ? And the music isn't important ?

[channy]

I don't know of any possible alternatives regarding Ayu's music. She was able to introduce the listeners to her very own pop genre. She's not a teenage phase to me. I will defend the glory and acknowledge the accomplishments that speak for Hamasaki's uniqueness forever.

[Delicious n Bold]

Age as a factor for losing interest in someone? A damn mess.
It 'makes sense' that somebody would put less effort as they age, but there are people that continually make good music as the age. Just look at kylie minogue. Kiss me once is one of her best songs and she recorded it in her 40s.

And as for my reason: I overplayed her to death. Like 20000 plays in a year, sometimes 1k plays a week. But I still check on Ayu/will be buying the new album.

[VegetaLove]

Party Queen. That's why.

[truehappiness]

My fandom wanes every once in a while but it's usually because she's touring and is basically doing nothing.