[Charts & Rankings] 10th Album: NEXT LEVEL - ORICON STYLE - Page 22

bluegie · #**421** 27th March 2009, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

For some reason, Hikki always seems to get a special pass for that kind of thing. Probably because people consider her more of an "artist" than an "idol." Although it would be more fair if she took her share of the obaasan comments too.

Oh I'm relieved to hear that hahaha. I've always known for a fact that hikki belongs to the "artist" category. Even she dressed like obaasan (the time between her marriage), I think people didn't really care about that.

I guess ayu is in another category. Sigh.. idol's life is pretty short in Japan (esp to the females). I guess ayu will eventually be fallen to seiko's situation, or she may have another sparkle later on (just like namie). I hope the latter case will happen

.

v3lun420 · #**422** 27th March 2009, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UHPlus

someone who is 32 years old with 17 years career can sold over 1.5 million copies... why can't ayumi do so? Because she's losing it...

Shut Up and GTFO. It's been nice n quiet discussion in here and I hope this thread will stay this way. Don't start what you USED to start...
I wish Namie good luck after her down moments for years, Peace out bro....

Yoo Bin · #**423** 27th March 2009, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparkle glitter

Nope. But this is Ayumi Hamasaki. It's expected for her to have decent sales. These are below decent, they are terrible. Going to take that break from AHS now?

*eye twitches*

Dude, that's not how things work. =/ Sorry to disappoint you but ayu hasn't been selling decent since 2005. As many have said, no one stays on top forever. I think you need to wake up from whatever world you are in right now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by UHPlus

It's not a NA vs AH fight!

Just stating a fact that I used to believed that solo female artist will decline in popularity and sales when she getting older...

But looking at what Namie did for the past 2,3 years, age is not a reason for all these anymore. It's what the artist has, what she can do and what she did...

Ayumi just isn't heading anywhere all these years...she will not be having any new climax in her career anymore imo...

Time will tell aye!

v3lun420 · #**424** 27th March 2009, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UHPlus

Then she BETTER do something to cuz a sparkle! maybe she will starting sing hip-hop/R&B and rap!

Or maybe start to compose music again as CREA. (I would love this to happen

)

It's normal for most of the solo female artists to have down moments but whether they can climb back to their climax, it's totally another thing. VERY FEW can do so... almost none.

Quoting Yoo Bin: Only time will tell
ANd I definitely agree with you about CREA... I really hope that to happen, and one more thing I gotta admit. Ayu is kinda lazy recently... No promo no nothing. It is okay to have confident like that, and I am proud of her loyal hardcore fans, but she also needs to approach younger generations. If she stays like this, I don't think she'll catch up

chocopockymaster · #**425** 27th March 2009, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparkle glitter

Lol @ you trying to do a Namie VS Ayumi thing. Just slide on back to your corner listening to nothing but Namie. You're always trying to butt into ayu threads to say something about how Namie is better. Give it up.

Ahhh...I love forum trolls.

I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting in terms of sales...but quite honestly, I don't think the quality of NEXT LEVEL as an album is as up-to-par as (almost all of) her previous works, so it seems fitting that the sales wouldn't be as good, either. I don't think this album deserves to sell as much as, say, A COMPLETE (for a recent comparison) did.

sparkle glitter · #**426** 27th March 2009, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yoo Bin

*eye twitches*
Dude, that's not how things work. =/ Sorry to disappoint you but ayu hasn't been selling decent since 2005. As many have said, no one stays on top forever. I think you need to wake up from whatever world you are in right now.

Do you know what you're talking about?

How about that (miss)understood sold VERY well and Secret sold good too. It's the next level of her career. She needs to prove that she can still sell well. And is NOT doing that so far. But who knows, maybe she will surprise us and sell good during the long run. That's what i'm hoping for.

Also, why are you even here Shannese? It's obvious you aren't an Ayumi Hamasaki fan, from your comments on last.fm to your comments as Luv~Venus~ on here.

sparkle glitter · #**427** 27th March 2009, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UHPlus

Sorry. No rules mentioned that non-ayumi fans can't post here.

Btw, many handfuls for people are not even interested in looking into stuffs by ayumi in this forum. They mainly visits the asian chat forum and asian music download forum. People like me visit the ayumi news session once in a while and see anything interesting to look at or comments...

Just go to a corner and cry that your precious ayumi forum is invaded with non-ayumi fans, while listening to nothing but ayumi, u ayumi-stan!

Right. I'm not talking about the forum as a whole. I'm talking about this thread. I know your english isn't very good so it's hard for you to understand. There there..

v3lun420 · #**428** 27th March 2009, 07:03 AM

Before this gets bad... can u guys stop?
ANd UHPlus please be considerate, calling US names isn't really a kind thing to do. Afterall, this IS Ayu's thread

SURREAL__RAINBOW · #**429** 27th March 2009, 07:12 AM

lol the anti-ayu people is soo lame

the sales are good enough

if you think about the economic crisis and stuff

how many people lost their jobs etc

any artist releasing an album at this stage wouldnt have good sales at all.

but ayu did it

same as tonohoshinkitkykedjdjdj LOL

Ayumiko · #**430** 27th March 2009, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UHPlus

Like what i SAID, ayumi isn't heading anywhere for the past few years...

She stunned ppl with her lyrics with her debut album 1999. She made herself a icon with LOVEppears 1999. She changed her music style with Duty 2000. She changed it even more by composing music herself with I am... 2001. She went back to her more poppish music root for RAINBOW 2002. (when sales started to drop). Then she doing almost the same thing with Memorial address 2003. She had a new taste for more rockish music with MY STORY 2004. She did experimental type of music with (miss)understood 2005. Then she just isn't heading anywhere anymore with Secret, Guilty and NEXT LEVEL 2006~2009

I kinda have to agree with you....imo each of her albums have something unique that makes them different from one another till Guilty...coz its like Secret part 2. Although I really appreciate ayu trying something different with NEXT LEVEL, the more I listen to the album, the more I feel it lacks something. Not that the songs are bad, I enjoyed them all. I think ayu should take control again and not rely on 'professionals' that aren't really professionals...coz nowadays its not just her music...her pvs and even photoshoots are not that great....thanks to shitmomura. I think she's at her best when she's in control. I would love to see ayu compose again and spend even more time on her music...even if it means we'll get simple tours...which I don't mind coz I love pcdl. I think I'm enjoying the live cd more than the album...coz of the songs.

v3lun420 · #**431** 27th March 2009, 07:23 AM

^ Yes... I also feel Ayu is not herself anymore. It is either she is too lazy or too indulge in her fame lately, but it is like she's having this over confident feeling. I know she said earlier this year that she'd do things in her own pace this year, I know being an artist isn't easy and tiresome. But that's her job... I agree with UHPlus that she is going nowhere...

Edit: And now that you mentioned it Ayumiko, I also have another theory. Is it because of her staff? She's well-known for keeping her staff at her side. This, while good, can also have a double-edged sword effect. Probably she's going too soft with her 'preferred' staff and just say yes to almost everything her staff suggested her. But I dunno, just my thinking...

Ayumiko · #**432** 27th March 2009, 07:31 AM

Experimenting new things is a good thing and like I said before I really appreciate it...it was a refreshing change but ayu needs to know what is good change and what is not and also find the balance of new and old and not just stick to certain things....like not just use ishii and shitmomura and totally ditched leslie kee and wataru...shitmomura should really disappear. Thanks to him, I didn't buy the latest Vivi coz of the ugly cover.

I think one of the reasons the sales are the way they are has something to do with how she's been managing her career in recent years. Ayu needs to do something about it or she'll be like Otsuka Ai...keep falling. Ayu will always be my fav artist and I want her to rise again.

v3lun420: yea I feel ayu trusts/rely on her staff too much now coz they've been with her for a long time and stuff. It feels like she's not using her own judgment. I do like ayu being appreciative towards her staff, letting them be included in many things as if she's scared they'll lose their jobs...but its kinda getting a bit much now like its a ayu value pack.

TITANIC · #**433** 27th March 2009, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UHPlus

Like what i SAID, ayumi isn't heading anywhere for the past few years...

She stunned ppl with her lyrics with her debut album 1999. She made herself a icon with LOVEppears 1999. She changed her music style with Duty 2000. She changed it even more by composing music herself with I am... 2001. She went back to her more poppish music root for RAINBOW 2002. (when sales started to drop). Then she doing almost the same thing with Memorial address 2003. She had a new taste for more rockish music with MY STORY 2004. She did experimental type of music with (miss)understood 2005. Then she just isn't heading anywhere anymore with Secret, Guilty and NEXT LEVEL 2006~2009

she definately expand her name across Asia.
it's proved AC becomes best selling japanese album in Taiwan chart

Yumsushi · #**434** 27th March 2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UHPlus

But looking at what Namie did for the past 2,3 years, age is not a reason for all these anymore. It's what the artist has, what she can do and what she did...
Ayumi just isn't heading anywhere all these years...she will not be having any new climax in her career anymore imo...

Its interesting how you only chose to bring up the Best fiction era. Remember that Namie's decline in sales lasted about 6 years. Ayumi never sold as little as Namie during that time, even while steadily declining in sales herself. And now Look at Wild/Dr and compare it to Rule/Sparkle - in terms of first week sales anyhow.

But I do agree that Ayumi needs to put in a little more effort, in terms of promotion at least. Long gone are the days when Ayu appeared on the covers of tens of magazines to promote an album. Damn Avex for rushing everything, the greedy bastards.
Atleast we will have a #1 album.

AyUmIXx · #**435** 27th March 2009, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UHPlus

Nope. I also listened to YUI, BoA, D.A.I, Hikki, Yuna ito, angela aki, ayaka, koda kumi, mika nakashima and ayumi hamasaki

It's not a NA vs AH fight!

Just stating a fact that I used to believed that solo female artist will decline in popularity and sales when she getting older...

But looking at what Namie did for the past 2,3 years, age is not a reason for all these anymore. It's what the artist has, what she can do and what she did...

Ayumi just isn't heading anywhere all these years...she will not be having any new climax in her career anymore imo...

hmm i like Namie too..she's great she's like my 2nd fave artist after Ayu of course..

i think Namie could sell over 1 million copies album probably because, she seldom release singles? (just like Ayu does every year? releasing 2-3 singles before a whole new album), and people tend to buy her new releases because people are "missing" her SOO MUCHH.. that's why it could boost her sales a lot~~ because they want to know what's NEW of namie amuro

it's happened to Hikki too..once she releases something, the sales will be huge!

maybe Ayu can start to have the same formula? not releasing anything for a year, then all the sudden, she releases something.. i think it will be HUGE too~
sometimes if an artist who tend to release 2-3 singles in a year then the new album, i believe his/her music won't turn out to be that great~ it seems like the whole album ihas been made so fast~~ see..Ayu just recorded NEXT LEVEL new songs a month before its release?? that's kinda rush~

i still love NEXT LEVEL though, but i don't like the interludes as much as i like the interludes in Secret and GUILTY~ but i still appreciate her to try different things

NL is not that bad..

~~*ohh i miss Namie's concert DVD.. has she released BEST FICTION concert DVD yet?? i always buy her concert DVDs *~~

Rocky Raven · #**436** 27th March 2009, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yumsushi

Its interesting how you only chose to bring up the Best fiction era. Remember that Namie's decline in sales lasted about 6 years. Ayumi never sold as little as Namie during that time, even while steadily declining in sales herself. And now Look at Wild/Dr and compare it to Rule/Sparkle - in terms of first week sales anyhow.

60s70s80s first week sale sold less than Days/Green too, and it didnt tell us anything babe, cause now 60s70s80s sold 293k copies in total.
Not to mention that Ayumi always put alot of songs in her singles, look at WILD/Dr. tracklist dear!

Namie's decline in sales lasted about 6 years, It's true but that's because she transformed into a whole new music direction, ppl need time n interest to accept it! More than that, 2/4 of the singles were released on CD verison only

Don't u see, BEST FICTION includes almost her worst selling single during that 6 years n so what?!? The alb's still a hit alb. That proves that her worst selling single werent that bad, they were just released at the wrong time.

I just wanna say, every artist has their own DOWN TIME sooner or later, so dont worry if Ayu get low sale at the moment! Sale gonna be higher when it's time for it to be!

AyUmIXx · #**437** 27th March 2009, 08:45 AM

^

same goes to Ayu..
ppl need to adapt to Ayu's new music direction which is kinda techno now..
because, we know that it's not so not-Ayu~
and it is also not my cup of tea~ *i hate techno~*

AyUmIXx · #**438** 27th March 2009, 08:57 AM

^

hmm
i think she has..
rock and pop are still her strong music direction..
as for techno music, probably, she just feels like she wants to try it..

glad that most of the ppl in this forum love Sparkle a lot

njanjayrp · #**439** 27th March 2009, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparkle glitter

Do you know what you're talking about?

How about that (miss)understood sold VERY well and Secret sold good too. It's the next level of her career. She needs to prove that she can still sell well. And is NOT doing that so far. But who knows, maybe she will surprise us and sell good during the long run. That's what i'm hoping for.

Also, why are you even here Shannese? It's obvious you aren't an Ayumi Hamasaki fan, from your comments on last.fm to your comments as Luv~Venus~ on here.

WOW, I actually agree with you for once.

As for Luv, just learn to ignore her and all of her alter egos. It's for the best, as no one seems to be able to do anything about her.

As for the people who mentioned Namie's popularity, I think her last single obviously showed how lasting was her 2nd peak

and yeah we shouldn't really get into it.

lfe. · #**440** 27th March 2009, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UHPlus

someone who is 32 years old with 17 years career can sold over 1.5 million copies... why can't ayumi do so? Because she's losing it...

The funniest thing is that you didn't even get her age right since shes still 31.

So much for being the #1 namie fan