A Ballads cover - Page 2

#21 18th February 2003, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chibinina4
It just doesn't look like something Ayu would do.

Don't think Ayu would kiss herself on the lips in real life.. not physically possible. <g> ^__^

Quote:

Originally posted by matt

If you bothered to read the articles posted, they say the 2 ayu's represent different things:

Ayu on the left represents Ayu from the past (with straight hair)

Ayu on the right represents current Ayu (wavey hair)

I think it's a really beautiful cover. And if you all looked past your really *really* immature "eww theyy're going to kiss!" opinions, you would too.

Thanks matt! I can't read Japanese, otherwise I would have picked up on that. I knew their had to be some sort of significance to it. I really like the cover, it's pretty and has an actual meaning - I like that. I also agree with what you said.

I knew it wasn't just a stunt to sell copies.

Now releasing four covers.....

Grass Monkey · #22 18th February 2003, 02:00 AM

I dunno, I kind of like this cover. *hits away the objects thrown at him with a nifty stick™*
Anyone know when this album should come out?

Man, what I'd give to be one of those Ayus.. sleeping next to Ayu... *gets pelted with objects that he didn't see coming.*

**EdenZone** · #23 18th February 2003, 02:00 AM

12 Mar 2003

fantaisie.sign · #24 18th February 2003, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by matt
I think it's a really beautiful cover. And if you all looked past your really *really* immature "eww theyy're going to kiss!" opinions, you would too.

I don't recall saying "Ewwww!" or being immature over the image but it's not typical of Ayu to do such a cover. Therefore, it could be a big turnoff for those seeing the cover(s) for the first time. No, I'm not immature but don't agree with the mechanism used to prove 2 parts becoming one not only with beauty but also with controversy.

ETA: In one autotranslation, the journalist stated:

"Moreover, CD jacket is a unique setup whose Hamazaki manages "two roles of one person." "

Again, I repeat (as Grant also mentioned) there are tons of ways of showing this with beauty, yet why suggest it in a sexual way? Yes there is some beauty in that also but it's both positive and negative. Nowadays people turn to sexuality for attention especially if you look at tATu. Past images that Ayu has done (such as RAINBOW, I am. . ., LOVEppears, UNITE!) turned to bodily image for both beauty and attention, but it seems like Avex is turning toward the growing trend of turning to sexual practices to get attention and publicity. The Ayus could have been holding hands, sleeping, hugging, planting flowers, etc. and that beauty would have still been there. As pointless as a trend it is, it's frustrating to see Ayu/Avex take part with the rest of the crowd.

matt · #25 18th February 2003, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chibinina4
I don't recall saying "Ewwww!" or being immature over the image but it's not typical of Ayu to do such a cover. Therefore, it could be a big turnoff for those seeing the cover(s) for the first time. No, I'm not immature but don't agree with the mechanism used to prove 2 parts becoming one not only with beauty but also with controversy.

I don't remember saying it was you, but if you look back, someone did say it.

I think the cover is beautiful, very tasteful, and not trying to be "provocotive" or "controversial" at all.

#26 18th February 2003, 02:13 AM

I have to agree with matt on this one. Not specifically you, Chibinina4, but it seems people can't get past the "they're going to kiss" thing. I don't think matt said that you said "ewww" but others did.

Personally I don't think it even looks like they're going to kiss. Sometimes I lay like that next to my little sister when she can't sleep, and I don't think it would appear that I am going to kiss her.

I think it's typical for Ayu to make beautiful covers - I don't see this one as being any different.

And the 2 becoming 1 thing could have been done to create controversy - the two Ayu's could have been "doing the naked pretzel". I see this as a calm and peaceful way to to that, laying next to eachother in silence and harmony.

That's just my opinion. I'm not trying to start anything (I hate when people do that), just defending my side of it.

CREA · #27 18th February 2003, 02:21 AM

I don't see where the all the bloody "controversy" is. Christ, get over it. Does it look like she's doing anything provocative? I'd say not.

Piccolo · #28 18th February 2003, 02:23 AM

That cover is insane. What were they thinking? I don't like it too much.

**Grantith** · #29 18th February 2003, 02:26 AM

I said ewwww because I don't like the cover. Now I'm not saying "they're about to kiss so I won't try to look at the meaning behind it." I see what the meaning behind it is, I just think there are other ways of doing it without being provocative. I'm not saying Ayu is bad and Avex is evil, I'm just saying that I personally don't like this cover.

They put her in a position so that she's not kissing, but she is soooo close to be kissing. If the two Ayu's were lieing there together in a calm and peaceful way, then I think I would like the cover because it's like the two sides of Ayu together in harmony. It's nice and beautiful, but when you put them in a position so that they are just about kissing, then I think it's not as tastefull. But that's just my belief. And not having arguments is a good thing. Peacefull discussions are good.

CREA we are expressing our opinions. We're not freaking out or going crazy. We are just expressing our thoughts, and anyone here can express their opinion as long as they aren't rude to other people.

shinji1698 · #30 18th February 2003, 02:34 AM

I think it's a visually beautiful cover. If you look at it as art, it's very peaceful.

#31 18th February 2003, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chibinina4
why suggest it in a sexual way?

Honestly, if they were going for sexy, she would have been lying in the bed naked. There are so many ways to be sexual, but I think that this is far from benig anything like that.

Grant - I still don't see the kissing thing. What you described as being what you would see if the kissing wasn't there is what I see right now, and what I think they were going for. Now, nothing personal, but it seems to me like you just proved what matt said - if you could just get past the kissing part. I'm not saying you're being immature, but that if you ccan get past the kissing thing that you could see what those who think it's beautiful see in it, ne? ^__^

edited to use the color tomato

CREA · #32 18th February 2003, 02:40 AM

I'm not trying to come off as rude, but some of the people who have posted are going a bit out of their way to make out this cover and concept are outlandishly controversial. Do you all have a problem with two females or males kissing on any other occasion? I don't find any type of "sexual" theme to this at all. I don't understand anyone else could either. It's just ridiculous. Furthermore, I have never seen an 'outrageous' cover from Ayu. I found nothing 'outrageous' about appears, UNITE!, LOVEppears, or any other cover she has shown some "skin."

**EdenZone** · #33 18th February 2003, 02:42 AM

haha...... peace..............

#34 18th February 2003, 02:45 AM

Crea, I agree. I don't think that the covers you mentioned were anything outrageous. I think that anything that showed skin was done tastefully, and not an attempt to be provocative or a cheap attempt to sell albums. I do know, however, that the LOVEppears cover did cause a bit of controversy in Japan.

For all those from the US - I'm reminded of John Ashcroft covering up the statues whose breasts were showing when he gave a speech. Is something art, or is it sexual? I think that's what's at the heart of this discussion

**Grantith** · #35 18th February 2003, 02:47 AM

Crea, that's your opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. What's outlandish and crazy to one person might be perfectly normal to someone else, because everyone thinks differently and they might see things in a different way.

shinji1698 · #36 18th February 2003, 02:50 AM

Well if you can't at least see one thing as art ont he cover, then you need to open your mind a little. Poeple are making it seem like it's pornography or something!

**EdenZone** · #37 18th February 2003, 02:50 AM

the cover gives me an ease of mind instead now..........

fantaisie.sign · #38 18th February 2003, 02:54 AM

Everyone has their own opinion of what art is. Some interpret it in one way while others interpret it as another. It is not anyone's position to criticize those who see art differently as others might.

I never said that art never involved sexuality. In fact, I never said it wasn't art at all. The only point I'm making is that I dislike how Avex carried out their idea of harmony with a suggested kiss between both Ayus and that there are plenty of other ways that this could have been done. Period.

Plus, it's very easy to see that a kiss is suggested. Look at the position of both Ayus' hands and the formation of the lips on the far right. If Avex was not implying this at all, then they would have never set them in such a position. Sure one could be lying upon the other or next to each other in some way, but not with the same arm position and lip position seen whenever 2 people will kiss. Call me immature all you want but it's in the picture.

trainspotter01 · #39 18th February 2003, 02:58 AM

this is an EXTREMELY BEAUTIFUL cover, really really like it
this is just the sweetest cover i've ever seen
personally, i dun see it as they r gong to kiss (and evey if they were, so wat?)
and it's not that controversal of ayu's cover.......LOVEppears? more a talk of the moment than a controversy stir up

some ppl think too much
i do think that sometimes ppl try too hard to put a lot of things in a sexual kind of way

#40 18th February 2003, 03:07 AM

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Crea just can't see your side of it, just as you can't see his side of it.

It's in the picture? Look at the different interpretations of it already. Obviously, what is in the picture, or what it means is also a matter of opinion.

I didn't say you said that art didn't involve sexuality, or that this wasn't art. Not everything that is being said is directed to you personally ^__^ What I said was that at the heart of the discussion is the issue of art vs. sexuality - is it just trying to be an artistic expression, or it is trying to be something more provocative.

Obviously, I don't see it the same way as you, so to suggest that it's very easy for someone to see two people (or would that be one person

) about to kiss, is all a matter of interpretation - I think, because personally I don't think it is that easy to look at that and see it, but maybe that's just me.

What Avex is implying? Or *your* interpretation of what Avex is implying?

Would it be appropriate to say what Ayu is implying? who knows, I think it would be safe to say that if it's suggesting something so personal, that Ayu had a big role in it. She probably didn't want this compilation (from her dislike of the A Best) but she'd probably have some control over the artist vision of it - she has a lot of control over her image. It seems that when people talk about something they see and don't like with Ayu that Avex was in control of it, if they see something they like Ayu was in control of it. I've noticed that before. If it's done subconciously, or just from a lack of really knowing who's making what decisions, who knows.