[News] ～A BEST LIVE～ DVD/BD on 2013.10.30 + Live CD on 2013.9.18

[ComatoseBunnySnatcher]

Originally Posted by js_surrealism

Really? Singing wrongly? Ok, because she sounds largely awful here (you want more examples? Dat No way to say chorus). So I guess I simply think she sounds better when she was singing "wrongly".

I am also very surprised that anybody thinks she sounds BETTER live now since I Was also under the impression that the consensus here was that her best vocal years were the Duty~I am era, followed by the My Story~Memorial Address period. Maybe I am wrong, in which case, power to you.

But once in awhile she puts out a good vocal performance these days. I quite liked Teddy Bear here.

Just to clarify - I'm not saying it's her fault if she sounds bad. I am aware that singing styles change and all that. And I hope people don't see this as a personal attack on her or whatever (which appears to be the case currently). I just thought she sounded horrible on this album mostly. And the production too - I really wish they did a better job if they were gonna put out a live album. If anything, this should be read as a criticism of the album rather than on Ayu herself.

LMAO at this basicness.

[js_surrealism]

Originally Posted by ComatoseBunnySnatcher

LMAO at this basicness.

It's always charming when somebody uses a personal attack as a replacement for actual analysis.

To everyone else who actually tried to make a coherent argument and to explain their point of view - I appreciate it; it makes the forum a better place for discussion.

Back on the subject of the way she sounds here - I suppose then it boils down to a matter of taste. I far preferred the tone of her voice back in the I am... era. I am not classically trained, so I don't come from a school of thought that insists that certain techniques are better than others, but I know what sounds good to me and what doesn't. If you like how she sounds this album, wonderful; I'll be listening to her studio albums until the DVD for this comes out.

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

Sorry, it's a completely different experience if you're actually there. I can finally say that after 15 years. I think her vocals were stellar throughout. She didn't shout or really do any MC, but I'm OK with that. The shouting that she DID do (A Song for, Fly high, You & Me, etc...) was enough to get me screaming, jumping, and crying, so I'm good.

[js_surrealism]

The live experience always changes things. I thought Shiina Ringo and Tokyo Jihen sounded spectacular at Rising Sun Rock when I attended, but when the TV telecast came out her vocals sounded like they were in really bad shape. No regrets attending though - best concert experience ever.

[SolarAngel]

Though I appreciate that Ayu has been trying to change her vocal technique to a deeper richer tone for several years now, as some of you have mentioned she doesn't sound good live. Song 4 u for example on hey hey hey sounded pretty shaky and this is what the general public sees (hears). Anyways it's not doing her any favours.

I also understand the part about listening to her studio albums and wishing she sounded like it live. Partly what drew me to her was being so impressed that her live seemed as good as the album sound (CDL05-06 being the reference).

[js_surrealism]

^ I will say that the one song that has benefitted from that new 'technique' is Bold & Delicious. Her lives of that song just keep getting better and better I wish she'd perform it again some time.

[njanjayrp]

Originally Posted by SolarAngel

Though I appreciate that Ayu has been trying to change her vocal technique to a deeper richer tone for several years now, as some of you have mentioned she doesn't sound good live. Song 4 u for example on hey hey hey sounded pretty shaky and this is what the general public sees (hears). Anyways it's not doing her any favours.

I also understand the part about listening to her studio albums and wishing she sounded like it live. Partly what drew me to her was being so impressed that her live seemed as good as the album sound (CDL05-06 being the reference).

I heard her live only twice, but imo she sounds way more powerful live.

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by SolarAngel

Though I appreciate that Ayu has been trying to change her vocal technique to a deeper richer tone for several years now, as some of you have mentioned she doesn't sound good live. Song 4 u for example on hey hey hey sounded pretty shaky and this is what the general public sees (hears). Anyways it's not doing her any favours.

I also understand the part about listening to her studio albums and wishing she sounded like it live. Partly what drew me to her was being so impressed that her live seemed as good as the album sound (CDL05-06 being the reference).

CDL05-06 was crazy good. I wonder why she had to lipsync theme of a-nation '03 though, honestly...

2005/early 2006 was probably her best era 'vocally' from an aural aesthetic standpoint despite still singing through her nose and all that. The vocal damage doesn't help either. It was probably a combination of drinking all the time, singing the 'wrong way', and some other things which led to a quick deterioration in late 2006-2007ish. She never really did anything about it until that situation in 2008 or 2009 where she basically screwed up You were... and evolution. And then AT10 was amazing.

If only she started doing this earlier on in her career... BTW, she still does sing through her nose every so often, but only for certain tracks like poker face, hahahaha.

[marty]

I know nothing about proper singing techniques, but for me it's very obvious it was just a natural change due to her growing up. And maybe a little bit the result of her constant singing training in the meanwhile. I really find her early way of singing adorable and charming, and I think she had more power in her voice at that time too. But it's kind of normal, she just has started. Even Mariah Carey can't really sing the same way as before right now, it's bound to happen if one keeps on singing day after day.
I love her current way of singing, and I find her discography very interesting because of this gradual changing on her voice as well. I mean, it's so fascinating when you listen to her albums one after another, and can actually pinpoint her vocal evolution! Isn't it more interesting than a voice that's always the same through the years?

[js_surrealism]

^ and like Honey, which was basically written with that voice in mind, basically. Imagine if she sang that the same way she does in You were... lol.

Also, on a related note, I don't think anybody here is disputing the fact that her voice would naturally or otherwise mature/deteriorate with age (as some people have snarkily been implying). The discussion has always been about whether people like the way she sounds now. Some people do, some people don't.

That said, even voice 'maturation' can happen in many different ways. I think hiro from SPEED is a good example of a singer whose voice has grown better after maturing.

[marty]

Originally Posted by js_surrealism

^ and like Honey, which was basically written with that voice in mind, basically. Imagine if she sang that the same way she does in You were... lol.

LOL. Omg, that's a horrible image (but I am kind of curious)!
And of course there are some people bound to dislike her current way of singing. Just like a lot of people don't like her voice in early albums and theyr'e totally entitled to do so (and I'll never understand them, but whateverXD).

[TeamAyu2004]

I loved her live voice. It's not as good as her computerized voice, but um, who's is?

I like her singing voice now more then it was in the past. She sounds like she has matured along with her music, and her age, and in her life... wait... OMG... I mean... are people ACTUALLY suppose to MATURE with age?!?!
Novel idea right there.

[Livey~]

^ Unless you are Benjamin Button, yes, it is how it's supposed to be.

[Heavenly]

Originally Posted by Livey~

^ Unless you are Benjamin Button, yes, it is how it's supposed to be.

I think his post was a bit ironic

[Livey~]

^ Of course it was, but I couldn't resist XP

[TeamAyu2004]

Originally Posted by Heavenly

I think his post was a bit ironic

Originally Posted by Livey~

^ Of course it was, but I couldn't resist XP

not really. He didn't age, he deaged. He still matured over time.

[jbrat2219]

You were... is perfect the way it is. One of my favorite winter songs by far. She sounds so powerful in it. I dispise HONEY....

[Heavenly]

I would really like to know what would a HONEY-with-normal-voice sound like ...

[SolarAngel]

Originally Posted by Heavenly

I would really like to know what would a HONEY-with-normal-voice sound like ...

I thought she did that for AT2005. She sang the beginning part with the baby voice, laughed a little and went back to her normal voice. At least what's normal for her back then

[truehappiness]

They should just rearrange HONEY to be a heavy rock track or make a version called HONEY ~bittersweet~ that will be done at concerts. Kind of like how I want Ayu to perform Ladies Night ~another night~ at concerts only since her usual performances are all the cutesy ones.