Thoughts About Sparkle and Curtain Call Pv

[sugarbasil]

I LOVED LOVED LOVED the Sparkle PV, but was unimpressed by the Curtain Call one. That's not to say that I disliked it, I just went "meh" afterward.

I think Sparkle was interesting, unique, and completely in-your-face. It was strange and mind-blowing and it threw you off. I think the parts in the beginning and end are there to sort of be like, "this is what I'm like on stage and in front of everyone. This is how I present myself to you. But sometimes I'm REALLY like..." But that's just my interpretation.

As for Curtain Call, I like the song better than the PV, but I didn't really think the song was anything special, either. That may have been ruined by the PV, though, for me. There were a lot of things off in the PV that just made me squirm uncomfortably. Like her mouth sang the words differently than I think she actually sang them. In other words, I think so was over dramatizing the pronunciation and singing. So it didn't quite match the song. The way she was walking was really strange, too. She was walking really quickly and in a straight line, one foot in front of the other (which is the way they teach models to walk), but she was moving too quickly for it too look elegant. Instead, it gave her a duck walking stance. :/ But I thought the background and how it changed was gorgeous, and her dress looks exactly like the one that she wore in one of her MY STORY era magazine photoshoots. I think it's the same one as with the big pink furry coat.

[jkm444]

For Curtain Call, I am not a fan of ayu's walking and singing at the same time type of pv so I don't like it. The only interesting thing I found in the pv is that ayu is walking barefoot. But the song is good.

For Sparkle I actually like the pv a lot, the only thing I wish that the pv show more is the 80's part. I don't mind it not having any storyline at all (If it did have or not have one).

For NEXT Level blah..boring... it seems as if ayu is giving us a grand driving tour of the beautiful desert in LA.. I only liked the ending where it showed ayu coming out of the car and we get to see her dress.

[Kazeyomi]

Sparkle

OMG is so unexpected
She looks soo sexy *_* i love the colors and when she has red eyes. Really refreshing Ayu sexy is sexy lol oh.. and finally the director dones a good job

NEXT LEVEL

I love this PV, fits well with the song and I love the horse scene.
She's also so cute when she was blinking at the man X°D lol really simple but really beautiful too.

Curtain call

The PV is nothing special even if is good in some parts. I laughed when the guy cover her with the umbrella X°D he looks so awkward. The song is absolutely amazing! Her voice is strange sometimes... but Curtain Call >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Days.



Well, i like them finally some goods PVs lol

[GRACE]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

^ Actually Curtain Call was by Loius Hernandez. But he obviously isn't a good director either.

Has that been officially confirmed yet =/? Because there's no way Louis is that bad, Pride was well timed at least, Curtain call was a mess.

[Jason]

NEXT LEVEL PV dissapointed me. But the song <3 Modern summer-ish song with abit of an 80's touch. Love it

[love in music]

Originally Posted by sugarbasil

As for Curtain Call, I like the song better than the PV, but I didn't really think the song was anything special, either. That may have been ruined by the PV, though, for me. There were a lot of things off in the PV that just made me squirm uncomfortably. Like her mouth sang the words differently than I think she actually sang them. In other words, I think so was over dramatizing the pronunciation and singing. So it didn't quite match the song. The way she was walking was really strange, too. She was walking really quickly and in a straight line, one foot in front of the other (which is the way they teach models to walk), but she was moving too quickly for it too look elegant. Instead, it gave her a duck walking stance. :/ But I thought the background and how it changed was gorgeous, and her dress looks exactly like the one that she wore in one of her MY STORY era magazine photoshoots. I think it's the same one as with the big pink furry coat.

i agree with everything you said. i actually think it's one of ayu's weakest PVs. and her acting was horrible, worse than days

[micster]

From my blog this evening

Spoiler:

Originally Posted by thoughtoftheday.co.nr

So this morning I saw the sample of the NEXT LEVEL video and I was planning on talking about how awful the video looks but now I can speak about a lot more than that. The Sparkle and curtain call videos have leaked [somehow. No idea how]. So I'll speak about them in the order I watched. curtain call. Now you may remember me saying the song preview of this was the only one I really liked and thought was going to be awesome. This video may possibly be one of her most epic videos ever. Its all [seemingly] one shot. Im not sure if the spin near the beginning is hiding a cut or not but either way its impressive. I personally have wanted to film a one shot piece for a long time but anyway. The song is amazingly epic and the video is like her walking around this large set with loads of things happening and basically like Pride, another Luis directed video for her, it breaks the fourth wall where we see her escaping from what she's doing and walking towards the camera singing. In Pride we saw the making of camera but in curtain call we see everything. Lighting rigs, snow machines, people holding the umbrella for her in the rain. Its awesome. The song is extremely powerful and honestly that combined with the video chocked me up which hasnt happened with any of her videos since HEAVEN in 2005 which coincidently was also a 1 shot epic video. What can I say really . . I mean if this is her curtain call and she retires after the NEXT LEVEL tour [which could happen] then I think this song is just ... amazing. I cant wait to read the translations because just holy ****ing ****. Really you'd have to watch it to believe how epic it really is

I cant wait for the album to leak now. Not to hear the other tracks which are disappointing from previews but just to have a 320 and DVDRip of this. Seriously Awesome. But then we get onto Sparkle .. I will start off by saying this, its an alright video. Its not awful but then again its not amazing. There is one thing I do like. I like how the intro is from the 80s so its in 4:3 and then when it goes boom it goes into modern 16:9 cos like widescreen wasnt done back then. Anyway I think I was going to hate this because of the preview - Whoever edited the preview must be shot because honestly it made it look like the video repeated a load of stuff, especially from the beginning. It doesnt do that - Well until later when it flashes up clips of stuff when shes in the latex. Anyway, I dont usually complain about women just being used as sex objects to make people go 'thats hot' but I think I must complain here. The video is just like 95% of her in latex, sometimes on her own and at other times being rubbed by people. The video gives us nothing great. Its nice to look at but its purely superficial. But the idea behind it is fine - But Kazuyoshi ****ed up. It keeps doing all these weird movements and it keeps going out of focus and blurry. I know its a stylistic choice but I hate it. Nothing does it well. Its distracting and really effects the video for me. As does her annoying facial movements and exaggerated lip syncing. And im not alone with that, She doesnt like it either but Kazuyoshi makes her do it. So why the **** do you keep choosing him if you dont like what he makes you do. Hell hire me, I'd work for free. Oh and one thing made me laugh a lot in the video though.



Oh hi there Lady GaGa .. WAIT. YOUR NOT USUALLY ASIAN. Yeah I was thinking for a while how to just come out and say that Ayu looks like that thing in a few shots but didnt really know how so at least I gave it a goo. Anyway NEXT LEVEL the pv is being shown in Japan and i'll probably see that tomorrow but the preview came out this morning and YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWN. Its just Ayu driving around in a car in America. Big whoop. Also the song is boring.

[happiholic★]

Sparkle: Greatest song/PV f of Ayu's career, IMO. I loved it. Loved it loved it. Words cannot explain how much I loved it.

Curtain Call: Simple and elegant. Like, since Sparkle was so out there, it's good that she toned it down when she did Curtain Call. Although, I do think that it is missing a certain 'spark', I still love it, and it even kind of reminds me of a Disney-type song, which I love.

[Chibi_Venus]

I'm actually very impressed with both music videos!

My thoughts on Sparkle:

Spoiler:

The "80s" Ayu was cute, but I really liked the transition into the sexy Ayu. I really love how it matched with the music!

Her long, black hair is amazing. I love her in the red latex. She looks very hot! Like, seriously. If I were a guy or liked girls... Kidding; just saying it's a new direction for her. I mean, she's taken the sexy road before, but this is even a step above that!

The people with the masks certainly take me back to the "Real me" PV, though I didn't necessarily think it was a copy or anything. (And did anybody else have any flashbacks of the "kanariya" PV? )

The only thing I didn't like was when she was in the purple outfit with the people in red. Like, seriously, what were they doing...?

My thoughts on Curtain call:

Spoiler:

Because of the way "Pride" was made, I could certainly tell this was the work of Hernandez.

The entire PV was beautiful. Her natural beauty really stood out. I love her hair pulled back like that sometimes. The dress looked fabulous on her. And her voice was absolutely perfect.

What I want to comment on more than the video is the melody of the song. Anybody know who composed it? It was... Gosh, it's just indescribable! All of those key changes... I tell ya, somebody knows how to put the emotion in a song! Whoever composed it really knew what they were doing.

The only thing that kind of turned me off was the opening of the curtain at the end; you know, everything that revealed that it was all "fake." ...actually, now that I think about it, that was a great idea. I've read the lyrics, but if the message is to try to throw you off by telling about an "end," the opening of the curtain at the end seemed to say, "It's never over." Do you know what I'm trying to say?

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by GRACE

Has that been officially confirmed yet =/? Because there's no way Louis is that bad, Pride was well timed at least, Curtain call was a mess.

She said that she was doing two videos in LA and that both would be directed by Hernandez. So yeah, its confirmed.

Originally Posted by Love Shine

Sparkle: Greatest song/PV f of Ayu's career, IMO. I loved it. Loved it loved it. Words cannot explain how much I loved it.

Have you seen all of her PVs? Sparkle isn't bad, but nowhere near the level of best of her career.....

[happiholic★]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

Have you seen all of her PVs? Sparkle isn't bad, but nowhere near the level of best of her career.....

Yes, I have seen them all, and I can honestly say that I like Sparkle best. There are other amazing ones, but Sparkle really appeals to me. Just a personal preference.

[NintendoHTF1242]

Sparkle - 80's Ayu is so cute! But then when we get to Red-Latex Ayu I start to cry at how terrible she looks. Her hair is really bad and the suit looks so uncomfortable. Not to mention Ayu needs to stop trying to be sexy. Go back to the 80's look Ayu D:

Curtain call - I don't like the beginning of the song cause her voice goes crazy, but the rest of the song was ok. But the PV was such a bore omg xD

[emikoishida]

I liked Curtain Call with the snow and stuff...
But Sprakle! It reminded me of red blood cells and stuff...

[Kikaru]

Sparkle: I like the fact that it's so ... in your face which nicely contrasted with the idol in front, but the colors used for that part kind of hurt my eyes in terms of how bright they are.

Curtain Call: for some reason I really like the concept, and I like the fact that there's a strangely down-to-earth quality about it. But I do think that the setting and the pacing would have worked better with an orchestra-powered power ballad, as oppose to a soft piano-driven song. It's not a bad PV for me, but would have been a better PV had it matched with another song.

Next Level: the song is quite catchy. The view is really really pretty (makes me want to visit SoCal in the summer)

[minna]

sparkle
Sparkle is AMAZING! I LOVE IT! it's fresh, new, different, funky & at the same time sexy! it just goes with the song! the 80's ayu was so cute ^^
some parts definitly reminded me of Ourselves.
I LOVE her hair. pony tail or not it was pure awesomeness~
I just don't know what to say XD I simply LOOOOOOOOOVE IT

curtain call
first. I want to say that she song is so beautiful! I don't know why but it reminded me a little bit of Heaven
anyway the PV is beautiful, simple yes but really beautiful. I loved the part with the fireworks~ gorgeous. I liked the fact that it was only about her, in the middle of the street, walking, black dress, no shoes. like kikaru said it's so down-to-earth. love it too!


next level
pretty PV. again simple but calm and pretty~
I really like the song <3
and the filming they did in the helicopter is awesome! amazing!
and I really liked the part with the horses!
there's a part that made me life when she waves to the guy XD kawaii ne~
again, love it ^^

[ll moments ll]

LOL. i definitely adore the "Sparkle" PV.
it was really weird & strange, but i liked it! xD

"Curtain Call" (the PV) was okay. i just liked how stripped down the PV was? the song is pretty, but i don't think it's going to be a favorite track of mine.

[Tony G]

Sparkle - Loved it. Ayu looked surprisingly comfortable in that red/purple latex suit. It's so different and shocking, plus those gas masks were cool.

Curtain Call - Also really liked this video. It's like Pride but it isn't, it's executed so much better. I don't really think it's Pride Part 2. Plus the song is fantastic, this might be the first time Ayu's made a ballad that isn't bordering or over the 5 minute mark.

I think what's so good about these videos is that they are different. Sure her story-based PVs are great but it's refreshing to see her trying different things. That's what this album is about.

[Evolution7/4]

Love sparkle!!! I love how (I could be wrong) shes not just mocking 80's idols but also the sexed up videos of today (lady gaga) hahaha Its like showing how backthen it was ultra cute and now its just totally in your face SEX. its like theres no middle ground.
I'd I love Ayu with black hair (cough signature haha) Like she pulls off blonde extremel well and naturally, but she looks so different with black hair and refreshingly new. She always looks like Chiaki kuriyama when she has black hair, especially in the Ourselves PV.

[happiholic★]

Originally Posted by minna

some parts definitly reminded me of Ourselves.

Agreed. I think Ourselves and Real me. I think that is why I love this song and PV so much, it's a mix of my top two favorite Ayu songs/PVs, mixed with like, a cyber sci-fi kinda theme, which are my favorite kinds of movies. She reminds me of Trinity from the Matrix with the skin-tight outfit.

[Kogepan_19]

Sparkle - I really wish she had just made it into a club theme video lol...but considering how artistic Ayu is hehe. I think the video promotes the song in a way with themes regarding to inner desire, etc. The idol back in the 80's probably had crazy ideas in her head but was totally repressed to act cute and all that.

Curtain call - Beautiful song...beautiful Ayu !