What do you think will Ayu's next Album be like?

[HanabiChick]

I don't think the next album will be a mini-album. She'll probably go back to a studio-shoot for the booklet and cover, because the last booklet and covers didn't work well. I agree with spacelion, from the songs released so far, it's mostly going to be a generic-sounding pop album, with perhaps a couple of rock/pop-type songs... though that could change with the next couple of releases. It would be nice if there was a track or two like alterna, that type of style, instead of more pop style tracks.

[YumeHamasaki]

i don't think that so many people should be giving up on her or saying that it'll be horrible. I mean, she's released a summer single so maybe she'll have soemthing diff later on. But i mean, you shouldn't compare her Albums with other ones cause, as we all know, she's a changing woman. She writes lyrics from her heart and so, if she hasn't had something horrible happen in her life recently, maybe she won't be having another Because of You, or a sad ballad or something, i dont' think she should be compared to her past albums. I think that she's too tired personally, and since it's Sweetbox...yeah, diff music. So, i think it's too soon to say anything besides the fact that i don't think teens will be on it and hee cover is gonna be something creative and colorful(since she's had that mood if you ask me). And yeah, her era seems to be fading, but no one lasts forever, but i think that if she takes a break for year, and comes back with something totally hot, unque and completely different, but still Ayu-ish, then she'd bounce right back and have more fans with people that might think she's some new artists, you know? Sometimes, delaying yourself is a good thing. Utada Hikaru did that and it was pretty awesome.

About her pvs, i think that she's had really expensive pvs, i dunno for sure but wasn't fairyland really expensive, and many of her recent pvs seem like they aren't as original, but they'd cost the average amount of all of her pvs i guess. She might be saving up the money she has for a really strong pv or something. I think that maybe it'll be a mini album and she's having a transition in the album that might be from her popish beats to rock or something, but if that happened i wouldnt' be suprised. Like i said, it's too soon, i think we should wait for a fall of winter single.

[SKYia]

I'd like it to be more like Memorial Address. My Story was... let's say a bit pink, nevertheless, I still liked it, but I was afraid Ayu will go in this pinky-cute-pop way in the future and I was right. MissUnderstood was just too plastic to me and now I'm afraid that the next album will be even more american-a-like. I'm not talking about the songs themselves, they are still good, but about the whole background like covers, Ayu outfits, PV's etc. I like Ayu being cute, but lately she's similar to american pop stars and that's something else. I still think I'd like B&D or BF more if she wouldn't do it in such pink-frill-sweet-american style -_- I want the new album too be less commercial and more like old Ayu, but I'll not be suprised if she does it the other way round.

Originally Posted by YumeHamasaki

she's a changing woman

Changing for worse IMHO, but it depends on what you like. To my mind she had a good taste and her clips etc were quite mature in the past and now she pretends to be careless american pop idol.

[No_Doubt]

There seems to be a huge misunderstanding. Just because she isn't popular in North America doesn't make her some undergroud artist. Ayu has always been a commercial, mainstream artist. She did start out as a prepackaged jpopper. That being said, it isn't a crime to be commercial. Obviously throughout the years Ayu developed more and more musical integrity and thus more control over her image and music, while still being a commercial artist. So in my opinion, Ayu's most current release will always be most representative of how she is feeling at that time. Therefore, releasing a pop single doesn't make Ayu any more commercial, nor does releasing a rock single make her any less commercial.

As for her PVs this year, it really depends on what you make of them. For instance, I loved the Startin' PV. In my opinion, I thought it was a satirical parody of American music videos for several reasons. First of all, the song really isn't a serious one and the arrangement gives it an intentionally cheesy feeling. Furthermore, the PV is one of Ayu's only PV's with an overly long, extended intro that is ridiculously stupid, just like the American videos she's parodying. Additionally, there are some obvious jabs at American music videos. For one, there is the Britney outfit (I'm sorry, but when Ayu tries to be sexy it comes off as comedic, which definitly suits the tone and theme of the music video). Secondly, there is the Missy Elliot style dancers and even the strange affinity American videos have for motorcycles is present. However, if you think of the video as a blatant rip-off of American videos (which I doubt it is) and not a parody, you'll probably think Ayu is becoming more commercial.

In conclusion, Ayu has a ton of control over her music and image, so if she feels like doing a pop album it's because she wants to, not because some producer is forcing her to.

[SKYia]

Even if it's a parody it would be okay if she had done it once or twice, but after B&D was also Ladies night, Startin' and Beautiful Fighters... A bit too much as for a parody and PV's are not everything, also almost each photo session in the last few months was american-a-like. If I'd met Ayu just yesterday I probably wouldn't even stop to hear her music. Sorry if my words offend anyone, I just don't like that recent change in Ayu's style and hope that it is only a seasonal obsession, and the next album will be more like the previous ones.

[Ani_C]

i think it'll be very energetic/poppish i'm hoping some energetic rock stuff ^w^ and one of those soft songs where outta nowhere her voice just goes BOOM and u go like waaaaaaa~ (i doubt it will have something like that tho) Oh well let's wait and see what Ayu will give us this time

[No_Doubt]

Originally Posted by SKYia

Even if it's a parody it would be okay if she had done it once or twice, but after B&D was also Ladies night, Startin' and Beautiful Fighters... A bit too much as for a parody and PV's are not everything, also almost each photo session in the last few months was american-a-like. If I'd met Ayu just yesterday I probably wouldn't even stop to hear her music. Sorry if my words offend anyone, I just don't like that recent change in Ayu's style and hope that it is only a seasonal obsession, and the next album will be more like the previous ones.

I have to disagree. Both the Ladies Night and Beautiful Fighters PVs are far from Americanised or too commercial, especially the former. The Ladies Night PV is by far one of her best and most original. It's just filled with allegory and symoblism and its done with a ton of style and panache. The rainy day PV that was released just after Bold & Delicous/Pride and was also beautiful and creative. The (miss)understood album has so many intelligent, creative PVs. Startin' as I stated before was a parody in my opinion, and Born To Be..., while it was by no means a good PV, had some very touching, inspirational moments and suited the song perfectly. BLUE BIRD is a genuinely fun, classically Ayu style PV, and as for Beautiful Fighters, while it's not the most creative PV around (though the song definitly is very creative), it is definitly no American-like. If anything, draws inspiration from recent Japanese PVs such as Hikki's "Keep Tryin'" and Koda Kumi's "Koi No Tsubomi".

About the photo sessions, I have no idea why people are calling her recent single covers too American or too sexy. She has done far more risque covers before. I mean, she's been topless on LOVEppears and UNITE!, in a cat suit on Duty, and nude on RAINBOW. All her covers though, including the most recent, are tasteful, often artful and done with class, and far from "American-like".

I'm not trying to say you have to like her singles this year, but don't make it seem like she's becoming more commercial when she has always been a commercial artist. Like I said before, if Ayu wants to make upbeat, uplifting, and catchy pop songs, it's because that's the direction she wants to take. Thus far, all her albums have been dark or atleast had some very darks songs, so i find it refreshing to just have a lot of fun, bouncy pop songs. Sure, the new singles and new album may not be to your liking, but I don't see how one can justify that Ayu is becoming a pop tart simply for releasing pop songs. Anyway, Ayu is everchanging, so don't expect her to stick with this pop style forever.

[immel]

^Couldn't possibly express in mundane words how much I love reading your posts, nor how much I agree with what you are saying.

The surrealistic Ladies Night PV is one of the best music videos I have ever seen, also one of the most well made apart from the "speech" part. I have tried some times, putting on mtv for 30-60 minutes, killing my brain with some of the worst crap I've ever seen, then I go look at any Ayu PV and I'm totally blown away. None of her PVs (with a few exceptions) is bad, or even nearly as bad, as the mainstream american/european PVs.

Sure, my absolute favourite PVs is not made by Ayumi, nor are they made in Japan or Asia, but compared to the absolute majority of PVs being created nowdays Ayus really stand out.

Remember that PVs aren't supposed to be as entertaining as a top quality movie, it's just a short clip that is supposed to fit to/enchance/promote the music it was created for.

[truehappiness]

People are crazy sometimes. o_o

Just what is it that we expect from Ayu? Do we expect her to create something that is always going to be 'mmm' to our musical taste buds? I don't think that even Ayu's capable of that. Right now, I think that Ayu's been having the most fun creating the music and PVs that she's been doing now. I mean surely it looks like 'Oh. Popstar. *shrugs shoulders and walks away*' But why is it that people keep generalizing that her fun is the same as some generic pop act from the states? She's stated before that the music that she makes is what she likes most at the time [after all she did MAKE IT D:] in a TIME interview and that her feelings at the time are also shown in the music.

I think it's fun to see this less-dark, HAPPY Ayu.. and it's also a bit sad that she doesn't really want to reveal her 'true self'. Like she said in the TIME thing:

"The "Hi, this is Ayu" person on TV is the person I know they want to see. I understand it's my role to realize people's dreams. I'm okay with that so long as my songs are my own. No one can take my songs away from me. For instance, hundreds of people work at Avex. They work hard for me. I understand my words are not my own, that everything that comes out of my mouth affects them. But my songs are my own. "

I just wonder why people are so turned off by what she's doing now... is it because it no longer feels like what it used to when listening to Ayu? [but honestly, can you really expect that to happen? She's ever changing with a new image every single.. o_o] But one thing's for sure.. she's gonna give us a few rock songs! >3<

Whatever happens, I just know I'll be a fan of Ayu. :p I hope she doesn't quit anytime soon though.

[immel]

^What you say is very true. There's one problem though, the TIMES interview is 5 years old and there's nothing that says for sure this is what still applies to how Ayu feel about her music, I think she probably does.

[Aga-chan]

I didn't go through the whole thread, so sorry if I repeat something that already has been posted...

I guess it's just the fact that we're... people. And people naturally want what they don't/can't have. "Why such philosophical talk?" you might ask. But it's true. Some people want ayu to make a second "I am..." it seems (or whatever their favourite album is). We didn't get it. And we'll never get it. Because ayu changes, like we all do. As others have already pointed out: ayu's music is true to herself. She isn't the lost girl she was back then, when she started her career with avex. (Most people could take themselves as an example. Are you now who you have been 5 years ago?) She came to peace with certain issues (her childhood, lost love etc.) and matured. I think she almost fully narrated all her personal experiences from "A Song for XX" up to "MY STORY". Making "(miss)understood" an album that narrates general topics. And the songs after it continue this (best example are the lyrics for "Startin'" - amazing, in my opinion).
She may choose poppier tunes to emphasize the "happy" feeling. "Happy", because though they sound cheerful, they still bear a thread of sorrow inside (like "BLUE BIRD" or "Beautiful Fighters"). I think immel once said in a thread that he wants ayu to make the music she wants - I think the same. As long as she makes the tunes SHE wants, it's fine with me.
I mean, take it the other way around. What if all the albums after "I am..." (or insert your favourite album here) had the exact same style and feel? There would still be people who wouldn't be satisfied. If we'd ask 100 people to write a song that they want ayu to sing we'd get 100 different pieces of music.

And as for being americanized: It's nothing new, isn't it? I don't mean that she's americanized, but she's been a fan(?) of the USA since long. Recorded music and PVs there, made photoshootings etc. So I don't see the point. I've to admit that certain songs have an American feel (by name: Bold & Delicious, Pride, Ladies Night). But what's American anyway? And what's Japanese? Doesn't it become Japanese by the fact that it was created by Japanese people (as to her post-(m)u-songs)? Does it really matter in the first place? Maybe it's just that people connect it to artists they don't like? Or maybe they fear the loss of uniqueness?

ayu already surprised me a few times. I was afraid that the lyrics on "(miss)understood" wouldn't be so good, but she proved me wrong (f.e. "In The Corner"). So let's just wait and see... (RISUKU)

(Sorry for rambling... I seem to have that... habit. Posting like once a year but then I overdo it a little. ^^; _-_)

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by immel

^What you say is very true. There's one problem though, the TIMES interview is 5 years old and there's nothing that says for sure this is what still applies to how Ayu feel about her music, I think she probably does.

I think her feelings are the same for her music no matter what time [lol pun] or year it is. :3

[immel]

^I think (hope) so too.

@Aga-chan Amazing post, I can imagine how much you'd add to those boards if you posted more... I sincerely wish you will/would.

Originally Posted by Aga-chan

And as for being americanized: It's nothing new, isn't it?

It's nothing new, especially as her basic genre is "j-pop" the "japanized" version of the American genre pop.

I'm sorry I don't quote/comment on more of your post - it really deserves being commented on better - but all I can really say is how much I agree on every single word you say.

[ComatoseBunnySnatcher]

I honestly thought
" ugh, her music is getting unoriginal", but shes a hardworking girl
and I know I'd be over my head if I had her job. So just wait and see what happens.

P.S. Startin' is the best motherfreaking song ever!

[truehappiness]

People should place themselves in Ayu's shoes. D:

"It's been 8 years, and people want even newer things.. that sound BETTER than things I've made before. What do I do!?"

It'd probably suck to be Ayu or some famous artist and go to a forum like this where people just say that everything you've done from a certain point onward SUCKED. D:

[immel]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

"It's been 8 years, and people want even newer things.. that sound BETTER than things I've made before. What do I do!?"

Interesting thought, it might be that Ayu has decided to just have fun instead of pondering this question .

It'd probably suck to be Ayu or some famous artist and go to a forum like this where people just say that everything you've done from a certain point onward SUCKED. D:

Yeah, I can imagine what a severe depressing effect that could have on any artist, especially Ayu who at several times claimed her fans if something of the most important she has, which I can easily understand... I would value having several million of people cheering me on. Luckily that has not happened yet, far from everyone here think her recent work suck.

[ComatoseBunnySnatcher]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

People should place themselves in Ayu's shoes. D:

"It's been 8 years, and people want even newer things.. that sound BETTER than things I've made before. What do I do!?"

It'd probably suck to be Ayu or some famous artist and go to a forum like this where people just say that everything you've done from a certain point onward SUCKED. D:

Amen.

[SKYia]

I know I'm boring with this american style but, as somebody said, although Ayu was always commercial, it seems that now she stresses it much more. Everybody knows that many Japanese, esp. young people are freaks in case of Western and especially American things, so I believe Ayu wants somehow to resque her carrier (it wasn't in danger of course, but the selling is lower that few years ago) in this way, I mean making more pinky-pop style songs. As truehappiness said about placing themselves in AYU shoes, maybe she wants to achieve something in this way. No_Doubt said it's only a parody, but I cannot get rid of the idea that she uses this style to gain new fans or sth. These are just my thoughts.

[immel]

^I can't say the same thoughts or feelings come to my mind when I consider what you're saying, but I can clearly see your view and I can see how it might be interpreted that way.

[evolution7931]

... Yeah, I know.. because using the American Flag on "evolution" was SO NOT American-like!!!!

using a Church in the 'M' PV was SOOO Japanese-like! Like, when are you ever gonna see something like THAT in the West?... NEVER!

The appears PV was filmed in the USA... BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT IT WAS FILMED IN A JAPANESE STUDIO AND AYU WAS JUST STANDING IN FRONT OF A JAPANESE-MADE GREEN SCREEN.

edit: I'm just being sarcastic/joking. !! Don't worry