Ayu ~Anything Goes~ XV (AHS' Ayumi Hamasaki General Discussion Thread)

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

I guess it's not so much the case today as it was 2, or even 1 year ago.

I don't think she had a release that was mostly loved around here since Secret...

[ExodusUK]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

I don't think she had a release that was mostly loved around here since Secret...

I think 90% loved Love Songs but of course there was the whole "too much TK" thing for some people. 2010 was pretty great really and happy times for AHS until the whole Mannie thing became evident in early 2011..

[axmish87]

And Party Queen cover and album , mini albums that were singles , then songs from mini albums being released again on full studio album, the word LOVE used XYZ times...
My, those times were chock-full of drama... glad that was over(?)

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

I don't think she had a release that was mostly loved around here since Secret...

The "if you don't like it, LEAVE!" type of comments and argument has been around for aeons. I know because I was dicked by it many times.

[truehappiness]

I think people for the most part LOVED Love songs and even FIVE, but since then it has been hits or misses. Most recently, "hits", but only after things like Mannie, LOVE again and Maro.

sixxxxxx and A ONE were relatively liked, without too many detractors imo.

[ExodusUK]

Originally Posted by axmish87

And Party Queen cover and album , mini albums that were singles , then songs from mini albums being released again on full studio album, the word LOVE used XYZ times...
My, those times were chock-full of drama... glad that was over(?)

Yeah, I feel like last year we came out of that dark period of being an Ayu fan...with two albums and Ayu seemingly suddenly interested in her career again. The only thing bad thing for me was her obsession with pushing MOWY.

[truehappiness]

I think there was a little too much 'drama' after 2010/2011 and we only really got out of it after 2014.

I personally ADORE Colours still as an experimental album.

[axmish87]

Originally Posted by ExodusUK

Yeah, I feel like last year we came out of that dark period of being an Ayu fan...with two albums and Ayu seemingly suddenly interested in her career again. The only thing bad thing for me was her obsession with pushing MOWY.

That cover song was something that I was also obsessed with when it was released and I still love it very much but I can see that she kind of oversaturised us with sheer number of perfomances of that song. The only thing that I do mind is that whenever she performed it live she was singing it in cutesy voice and really there is nothing cute in those lyrics

[truehappiness]

I think she overdid it for sure, but I think it is out of her system at this time.

(A COVERS tho pls)

[axmish87]

A COVERS would be an interesting release and I could be mistaken but she has a number of songs already done that are scattered on already released singles and albums.
That Haruyo Koi live version is good but it really needs a studio version with instruments and everything

[DonkeyKongRemix]

Originally Posted by Chibi-Chan

I think most artists get waaaaaaaaaa~~~~~~y to much credit for every bullshit they put out. The first time I REALLY hated an Ayu release was A ONE. I get why she released it, because it's the same bullshit most jpop artists release and what the public likes and actually the public and even AHS liked it. But it's a shitty release non the less. It's so bad I would be ashamed to show it to any true music lover who takes the time to REALLY listen to a song and who not just searches for popular tunes. I don't like her social media character anymore, I think it's superficial as fuck. But I always appreciated her tours and album releases. The first time I really criticized an album was LOVE again because as an album it was boring as hell. But despite the production of the songs a lot of the arrangements were pretty creative compared to most jpop. I still really like to listen to the songs seperately. But A ONE is bullshit. It's arrangements are shit, the production is shit, mostly everything is shit. God I'm still so disappointed. That never happened before. I always saw Ayu as more than just a performer. I still see her as an artist and I would love to discuss more deep stuff at AHS about her like analyzing performances/lyrics etc. but sadly most people are just interested in discussing how sexy and young she looks.
I don't know. But often I feel that's also a reason why I'm so harsh on her lately. No one takes the time to appreciate her artistry and everyone is superficial as fuck about her. Only thing that matters is how she looks. I feel as if the only thing people comment about her are her looks. So there isn't much more left to comment than her celibrity life for me.
I don't know, Namie, Kuu, Ayu... everyone released shitty releases that had no musical value to them for 90% of their albums and people still celebrate those releases and mostly talk about how beautiful and sexy they look.
And if you haven't noticed until now, yes I'm bitter about the current state of jpop. lol

Mannn, tell us how you really feel!

I think in general, I feel more open about her music. Instead of simply accepting it and liking it because it's hers, I at least try and form my own opinion and understand what could be better, etc. I don't pressure myself to love her music anymore, but I don't pressure myself to dislike it either.

Because her music has been kind of not super great for a while, I comment on her appearance more because I think she looks great these days, so mature and refined, but her musical releases have been so-so to me. They could be miles better.

I agree that A ONE has terrible production, which sucks for me because I like the ideas for the songs... I just think they could've been done so much better.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by Chibi-Chan

I think most artists get waaaaaaaaaa~~~~~~y to much credit for every bullshit they put out. The first time I REALLY hated an Ayu release was A ONE. I get why she released it, because it's the same bullshit most jpop artists release and what the public likes and actually the public and even AHS liked it. But it's a shitty release non the less. It's so bad I would be ashamed to show it to any true music lover who takes the time to REALLY listen to a song and who not just searches for popular tunes. I don't like her social media character anymore, I think it's superficial as fuck. But I always appreciated her tours and album releases. The first time I really criticized an album was LOVE again because as an album it was boring as hell. But despite the production of the songs a lot of the arrangements were pretty creative compared to most jpop. I still really like to listen to the songs seperately. But A ONE is bullshit. It's arrangements are shit, the production is shit, mostly everything is shit. God I'm still so disappointed. That never happened before. I always saw Ayu as more than just a performer. I still see her as an artist and I would love to discuss more deep stuff at AHS about her like analyzing performances/lyrics etc. but sadly most people are just interested in discussing how sexy and young she looks.
I don't know. But often I feel that's also a reason why I'm so harsh on her lately. No one takes the time to appreciate her artistry and everyone is superficial as fuck about her. Only thing that matters is how she looks. I feel as if the only thing people comment about her are her looks. So there isn't much more left to comment than her celibrity life for me.
I don't know, Namie, Kuu, Ayu... everyone released shitty releases that had no musical value to them for 90% of their albums and people still celebrate those releases and mostly talk about how beautiful and sexy they look.
And if you haven't noticed until now, yes I'm bitter about the current state of jpop. lol

Every time I try to push the conversation in the direction of what she is doing, how is she doing and why she is doing people over here imply (when I'm not openly say) I'm fanatic and biased, even when I myself don't really like the release and am just trying to understand were it came from. Even by you, btw, so I find this post of yours really funny

[truehappiness]

I think it's pretty clear that Ayu has been in a slump as far as "unique" live performances go since 2010ish. I really liked Rock'n'Roll Circus and POWER of MUSIC, but since then it has seemed as though everything has been a bit of a retread of something from AT05 or AT06 or AT07 where she sort of made the "baseline" for lives since then.

I'd like her to try to push herself out of trying to infuse "Vegas" showmanship into things and go a different direction for performances while still utilizing the dancers and such.

[Aderianu]

AT12 was interesting, except thing that it was tour with drag queen Timmy and I can't stand it

[truehappiness]

I like Timmy, but I think sometimes his outfits (that Ayu wants him to wear, I know) are WAY too distracting.

[Aderianu]

I know he is very nice guy and I have nothing against him and his talent
I just hate octopus, huge heart and other shit that he wears. That's so embarrassing!!

[//ABEST]

Originally Posted by Aderianu

I know he is very nice guy and I have nothing against him and his talent
I just hate octopus, huge heart and other shit that he wears. That's so embarrassing!!

he should burn his outfits

[SayukiChoco]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I think it's pretty clear that Ayu has been in a slump as far as "unique" live performances go since 2010ish. I really liked Rock'n'Roll Circus and POWER of MUSIC, but since then it has seemed as though everything has been a bit of a retread of something from AT05 or AT06 or AT07 where she sort of made the "baseline" for lives since then.

I'd like her to try to push herself out of trying to infuse "Vegas" showmanship into things and go a different direction for performances while still utilizing the dancers and such.

Oh man, I completely agree with you on this one. I love POWER of MUSIC and I wish she would try something similar again (maybe with less fake looking lips but that's the only thing I complain about ). I love the costumes, the songs, most of the "new" arrangements of the songs. Someone here said that her vocals were terrible during PoM and that her voice was drowned out by the orchestra but I still like the overall concept of it. I'd also like her to stay away a bit from those "Vegas show" like performances.

Originally Posted by Aderianu

I know he is very nice guy and I have nothing against him and his talent
I just hate octopus, huge heart and other shit that he wears. That's so embarrassing!!

Lol, I love Timmy but yes, his outfits are the worst Though I still think that we have to blame Ayu at least partly for them.

[Chibi-Chan]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

Every time I try to push the conversation in the direction of what she is doing, how is she doing and why she is doing people over here imply (when I'm not openly say) I'm fanatic and biased, even when I myself don't really like the release and am just trying to understand were it came from. Even by you, btw, so I find this post of yours really funny

Like I wrote, I get why she released A ONE, but it's a bad release nonetheless. I don't think there is much to discuss there.^^
What I meant by analyzing was something like the threads you made a while back about discussing themes, PVs, lyrics etc. of her albums. I really appreciated those threads but sadly they died very quick.

[truehappiness]

I loved A ONE, but it has quite a lot of "bland" J-Poppy tracks. However, there was a bit of a concept going into it and you can't say she didn't follow through.