Ayu ~Anything Goes XIX~

[Zeke.]

A BALLADS.

[YUKARI]

Originally Posted by ExodusUK

The worst copying thing is the period late in the RAINBOW era when she went out of her way to copy Britney at the time with the strong tan and wavy blonde hair.

oh my god, I totally hate that look from late 2002. she looked so bad that hair color, that fringe, that tan, hairstyle and make-up and her lace dresses.

[Xianghua]

I actually really like the rule/sparkle cover, but only the one that's a close up of her face. I think her hair/makeup and expression looks cool. I don't like the cover with the full body shots, looks awkward. And I think the carols cover is really pretty.

On the subject of covers, I was looking at the secret cd only version, and they photoshop her body too much. It looks really weird and it bothers me, the top of her is disproportionate to her bottom

[EndOfTheWorld]

Originally Posted by ExodusUK

Remember this?

I remember. Back then I would see those photos and always admire Maro's style. Ayu was also looking pretty chic.
Maro may not be well liked anymore but I still LOVE his fashion.

[YakuSoku]

I'm watching CDL 2004-2005 and noticed that during fly high, the bg singers ( Peko and are princess) also spinning around and doing a great part of the choreography too.
Nowadays they aren't.
Oh and the dancers look so young

[mi|kshake]

So many favourite covers but coming to mind instantly is A Ballads and Voyage.

[DonkeyKongRemix]

I will always be a huge fan of the cover for A Song for XX. It is so fascinating to me.

But, I think RAINBOW really does have my favorite album cover of hers, though I love the covers she did for NEXT LEVEL. I also find GUILTY to be so remarkable...Maybe that one is my favorite, now that I think about it. It has my favorite look of hers. And the booklet looks so beautiful.

As for singles, Bold & Delicious's cover is sooooo gorgeous.

[jiarongisme]

& is probably one of her best covers ever to me.

[rainbow_smile]

I choose Sunrise/Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~

[Toniayu123]

I absolutely love Guilty covers, I think those are my favorites. Not only the covers, the album itself is her best imo. I really liked next level ones too.

[DonkeyKongRemix]

I sometimes listen to My Story and wonder if I'm the only one who lovesss Winding Road. I don't see it brought up much here.

I think it is such a solid track.

[voltron]

^ I love it, as well -- but I have to be in a certain mood for it.

I kind of feel that way about My Story, overall. I loved it when it first came out, and it came out right before I went to Japan for the first time and was getting ready to see her for CDL 04-05, and I remember listening to the album on repeat on the endless plane ride. But over the course of time, My Story hasn't held up for me the way some of the other albums have. I don't dislike it at all, but the production is very moment-in-time for me, and I have to be in the right mood to really get into some of the songs.

[mi|kshake]

It's a track I sometimes forget, but I do have a lot of time for Winding Road!

[stepYOU1234]

Originally Posted by voltron

^ I love it, as well -- but I have to be in a certain mood for it.

I kind of feel that way about My Story, overall. I loved it when it first came out, and it came out right before I went to Japan for the first time and was getting ready to see her for CDL 04-05, and I remember listening to the album on repeat on the endless plane ride. But over the course of time, My Story hasn't held up for me the way some of the other albums have. I don't dislike it at all, but the production is very moment-in-time for me, and I have to be in the right mood to really get into some of the songs.

I also listened to My Story on a plane to Japan but I hadn't heard of Ayumi Hamasaki before. Weirdly I listened to HONEY the most! I'll always love My Story but it had aged a bit I suppose.

[Miduhyo]

I loooooooooove My Story, my first Ayu album. But I don't like Winding Road. It kind of... draws on a bit. I can listen to maybe the first two minutes and then I'm good. I still listen to Hope or Pain and Happy Ending all the time, though. Great songs IMO

EDIT:

Oh, damn it. I got Winding Road mixed up with Walking Proud. Which I do all the time.

I actually don't remember what Winding Road sounds like... O.O Guess that goes to show how much I like it xD

[EndOfTheWorld]

I've always thought that My Story was one of Ayu's weaker albums and I never really listened to it that often. But lately this year I am starting to really love it.
I suppose my slightly negative view of it came from feeling as if it was the first Ayu album to sound less like Ayu and more like jpop/jrock. I just felt that the production sounded more generic and genre specific.
Hope or Pain is really a standout for me. I love it. I also have really warmed up to Inspire. I used to think it sounded so cheesy but the chorus is addicting.
I would like it if Ayu's next album was a mix of Memorial Address, My Story, Secret, and Guilty.

[truehappiness]

MY STORY was the last album with a bunch of CREA tracks. I know it's not likely but I would love for her to have CREA come back even if just for a song to see what she has up her sleeve.

[xLuna&1LOVE]

I love MY STORY until HONEY. Cannot get through the last three songs, even though winding road is not really bad. But it just drags alooooong forever. It is like the 2004 version of other loooooong songs like Walk or Ivy.

GAME is my long life best friend. I just could not get enough of it.

[YUKARI]

MY STORY used to be my no.2 fav album after I am... back when it was released the AT 2005 was also great.

I need CREA back too, but I lost the hope about it.

[jiarongisme]

MY STORY is like, my ultimate favourite album from Ayu.