(miss)understood and RAINBOW: Turning Points for Fans?

[marty518]

I became a fan right before Rainbow was released, and I LOVE that album! It has a kind of unique style that really defines that era of Ayu. The style is kind of similar to Memorial Address, so I wish those two had really been one album.

Either way, though, I love all the tracks except like 2 of them. One of my all time favorite Ayu albums!

[TeamAyu]

Originally Posted by etheruraura

While I agree to an extent about I am... lacking variety, I think some people tend to forget how excellent the songs were on that album. Almost every song was passion filled, and it sounded like she was singing her heart out. Some of my personal favorites come from I am... (NEVER EVER, UNITE!, Daybreak). She'll more than likely never make songs like those again, and despite all of them having a similar sound, they are extremely good (imo.)

Well that is what many people have been saying, "Ayu doesn't have passion in her songs anymore". I really think "passion" is really up to the listener, I just think Ayu was going thru rough times while making "I am..." and with September 11th and all. I kind of think it is easier to portray pain and sadness in music as opposed to optimism and happiness, and not making it seem cheesy. People are like "Ayu has no passion in yadda yadda" say "Born To Be..." or "Beautiful Day". "It is SO CHEESY AND LAME", well how else should she express passion, joy, and happiness people?

Now even one of the most hated songs like "Bold & Delicious" has a TON of passion in my opinion. You can really feel her energy and how much she really loves the song. Ayu's voice is empowering really. Okay I'm rambling now haha ^^;;

[etheruraura]

I didn't really mean to imply she doesn't have passion in her songs anymore, because I think she does, but more of that she'll probably never make songs that "sound" the same as NEVER EVER/Daybreak, etc. I think those songs have a very distinct sound that separates them from other songs throughout her entire career. Its like I can only listen to those songs to give me a different feeling or sensation that others can't. Its like saying every Ayu song has a different personality that gives you different feelings, which they do. Thats just my humble opinion though ^^;

[TeamAyu]

Originally Posted by etheruraura

I didn't really mean to imply she doesn't have passion in her songs anymore, because I think she does, but more of that she'll probably never make songs that "sound" the same as NEVER EVER/Daybreak, etc. I think those songs have a very distinct sound that separates them from other songs throughout her entire career. Its like I can only listen to those songs to give me a different feeling or sensation that others can't. Its like saying every Ayu song has a different personality that gives you different feelings, which they do. Thats just my humble opinion though ^^;

Oh yeah I got that from your post, it's just many people around this forum now a day were saying that Ayu's POST-RAINBOW tracks are emotion/passion-less, which I totally disagree with. *Remembers how annoying this forum was during the time "INSPIRE" was released*

[etheruraura]

I remember that as well, it was so crazy back then, everyone hated it..(I've been a chronic browser here )

Its one of my favorite Ayu songs. The arrangement is amazing.

[JimmyKoria]

Originally Posted by TeamAyu

People are like "Ayu has no passion in yadda yadda" say "Born To Be..." or "Beautiful Day". "It is SO CHEESY AND LAME", well how else should she express passion, joy, and happiness people?

Now even one of the most hated songs like "Bold & Delicious" has a TON of passion in my opinion. You can really feel her energy and how much she really loves the song. Ayu's voice is empowering really. Okay I'm rambling now haha ^^;;

I think it's mostly to do with the fact that she uses English. Have you read the lyrics to those songs btw? She seems to be getting really redundant and repeating things she's used her whole career. We expect new ideas from Hamasaki, not songs she took 10 minutes to write because it fit pattern of lyrics already present in a different [English] version of the song.

I do have to say Beautiful Day has grown on me some, but it still feels so cheaply written.

Originally Posted by TeamAyu

Oh yeah I got that from your post, it's just many people around this forum now a day were saying that Ayu's POST-RAINBOW tracks are emotion/passion-less, which I totally disagree with. *Remembers how annoying this forum was during the time "INSPIRE" was released*

Inspire isn't her best song, especially since it came after the release of Memorial Address and Moments, which fans seemed to like more than RAINBOW. I think a lot of people were expecting something better than the songs on MA or something similiar. Moments was similiar to the songs on MA and I guess people got egar for a song that would have fit on that mini album. Also the song was written for a museum opening or something, wasnt it? The song just had a commercial feeling and some people didn't get that.

I do believe the lyrics to Inspire are a little underrated, they were different but I guess the fact that peopel complained shows that the song really isn't her best.

[gakkun]

Personally I thought Ayu's first 3 albums were her strongest works. I mean, she's had 19 years of life being just like every on of us which is why the lyrics were so heart-felt.

But now? I think she's running out of things to say. I'm not so sure if Ayu still has the sort of in-securities she had when she was younger. I speculate she's becoming 'out of touch' with everyday people. I mean a diva like her, even if she has alot of anxieties and worries, they probably won't be understood by most people. Nowadays she's just rehashing the same old ideas and sometimes not even from her own experiences. I mean just look at 'Born to be...' and 'HEAVEN' the lyrics were clearly written for the tie-ups (Olympics and the movie) not necessarily from her personal point of view.

[tinyppl]

When Rainbow came out, I became alot less fanatic. I do like a few tracks very much from that album like REAL ME and Everlasting Dream; just a few though.

It was unlike the Loveppears/Duty/I am times where I could listen to every track throughout the whole cd. I'm not complaining about this this that that on her new stuffs. I understand that change in inevitable and ayu is trying her best to make good stuff for her fans. It just happens that her recent stuff after Rainbow didn't impress me like it used to be.

Occasionally, she would release few songs that I like but that sort of liking of her new songs weren't as attached as her older ones. But that's just me though. I'm not very good with my words hope you get what I mean.

But even so, I do not stop listening to ayu. Even I find Bold & Delicious hard to listen, I still forward to her new works for stuffs that I'll appreciate and enjoy.

Sometimes, you can't blame other fans when they express their disliking for certain songs. Everyone has different taste and liking. As much as I dislike Pride, there are other fans who love this song. Just that I think sometimes fans can learn to express their disliking in a more polite way. I do come upon really harsh comments about ayu's works which probably made fans who think it's good uncomfortable.

[Yarumi]

I remember alot of people being disappointed after Rainbow... especially because it was RIGHT after I am... and people today still claim it's her best

I think My Story would be considered worse than (miss)Understood to alot of unhappy fans


I personally think her albums get better as time goes on... I know her style has to change with the times and I appreciate all the hard work she puts into her songs... I will always support Ayu! Even after B&D

[LacusClyne]

i don't know. i found rainbow only ok. it's the secong album i bought.but i prefer (miss)understood more then it.

[*Petit*]

Originally Posted by gakkun

Personally I thought Ayu's first 3 albums were her strongest works. I mean, she's had 19 years of life being just like every on of us which is why the lyrics were so heart-felt.

But now? I think she's running out of things to say. I'm not so sure if Ayu still has the sort of in-securities she had when she was younger. I speculate she's becoming 'out of touch' with everyday people. I mean a diva like her, even if she has alot of anxieties and worries, they probably won't be understood by most people. Nowadays she's just rehashing the same old ideas and sometimes not even from her own experiences. I mean just look at 'Born to be...' and 'HEAVEN' the lyrics were clearly written for the tie-ups (Olympics and the movie) not necessarily from her personal point of view.

She never wrote just her own experiences, not at any time, she wrote about her friends experiences etc too.

[[taskin.ayu]]

RAINBOW was actually my first Ayu album I heard. xD But now that I look back on it, it's an album I hardly listen to as the style is too abstract and experimental. I was really happy with (miss)understood though, MY STORY was much weaker as others have said, the only problem with (miss)understood was the lack of new material. (too many singles XD)

I don't think (miss)understood can be compared by sales, all the sales have been low recently. =/ I really do hope it isn't throwing old fans off her music though.

[LacusClyne]

^and the tracks in RAINBOW are kinda of messy

'Rainbow' IMO is Ayumi's weakest album release. I think after Ayumi peaked as a j-pop star in 2001, everyone's expectations were too high and so every release since then has been argued over for various reasons. I think with '(miss)understood', many fans felt disappointment over Ayumi borrowing Geo's songs because they felt it was 'not creative'.
Basically, you can't please everyone. Since Ayumi's been around for quite a while, it's understandable that some fans have walked away.