Opinions on Party Queen covers?

[Zahara]

To be honest, I feel that they just picked any old image from the past, made those the covers and said "She's sad and lonely!" It just doesn't mesh well.

But the covers are growing on me. She definitely did something different lol.

[channy]

Originally Posted by sugarbasil

I think a big part of the controversy and uproar stems from the fact that Ayu had created her image withouth sexuality being a prominent feature.

A lot of people value(d) that aspect of her, and this is such a sharp deriviation from her past image

YEEHEHEEHES!! D':

Did you read my mind? That's exactly how I feel. I've been always proud of her for not being extremely sexual or cheap! For me it's a really devastating feeling when I look at her most recent image changes...

Do you guys remember the Hamasaki Republic book? In these photos she almost seemed superhuman and full of melancholic feelings.

If I look at wonderful Hamasaki books that represent a completely different image, a classy image, and then get to see pictures like in the Part Queen thread I feel like punching my fist in my own freaking face D:<

[ren'ai]

I loveee the covers! except the one with the shoe, that one's okay, but the other two I love and woah her boobs look awesome.

Kumi did the whole lonely party girl thing with Physical thing but it's much easier to see the concept and get the message in lyrics and a video than it is with a photograph like Ayu is doing

But still, as covers, I love them. I was tired of seeing elegantly dressed, doll-faced Ayu staring blankly in to the camera. This is so different and out there for her, I really like it I would have preferred it if it didn't have the 13th album sticker and barcode though

[ayu_ready?]

Originally Posted by Kazeyomi

Seeing by only the cover itself it's really hard nor impossible.
Meanings comes along with songs and their lyrics though. That's why I said there's always a meaning behind her album covers at least.
Like for ASFXX. She's looking quite naive, insecure and sad on the album cover and it reflects the lyrics of the songs. It's not just a pretty face that belongs to a girl called 'ayumi hamasaki'.

But well that's just my personal interpretation

I know and I am waiting for songs & lyrics! but since we're talking about the cover, that is why I asked
by your logics, Ayu in the PQ covers looking happy and weird and this position again, her lyrics should be about fun and weird things, but she told us it was about the loneliness, no connection again...

no signs of sadness/loneliness, direct or indirect
I think Ayu & a mirror would be a good idea. Ayu on the outside - party queen, and in the mirror Ayu inside - some artistic dark image. or her partying hard in a crowd of people and in the mirror her image of 'alone' in the darkness...

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by ayu_ready?

you & your friend, both, always act like 2 old agressive unsatisfied virgins, I'm already used to it and I can only sympathise, because...
I'll tell you both, till it's not too late get rid of your problems, or probably it is already too late...
your mental state is to be of concern too. too many hang-ups I say

btw, I'm gonna find traces of loneliness on my ass and get back!
.

Thank you very much! You don't know how much it means to me to find another old agressive unsatisfied virgin! We should totally hang out sometime! It will be awesome! We will be BFFs forever!

[Aditmi Krisnasaki ~II~]

Or maybe she wanted to make it like Madonna's Confessions on a Dance Floor?
She wants to make people get on their feet and enjoy the party / fun while at the same time she's telling all her dark thoughts, sadness, loneliness.. Her most Vulnerable feelings???

[Kazeyomi]

lolwat?

[TeamAyu2004]

In all honesty, I don't think it has anything to do with her sexuality.

I mean if she is a lonely party queen this is a beauty picture to depicted that.
I mean has anyone ever gone to a party and seen that one girl who feels bad about themselves and always manages to take all her cloths off and wants to be the center of attention...
its sad and ayumi has "pictured" this really well.

[MeyChan]

I really dislike those covers...disappointing

[spanishfan]

Ayu is alone in the covers, we are these peoply partying and having fun around her...


(?)

[emi♡]

^I thought WE were BFFs


Anyway, I think it's sad that any sort of sexuality done in this way is considered trashy or cheap.

I know there are different ways to do sexy. Im fairly certain I have a good understanding of what most people would consider trashy or classy.

But I think sometimes it's important to remember that those parameters are still subjective, and that some people like to push, or be more brash, because that's who they are.

These covers remind me so much of MAA. MAA is always doing things that are really in your face and "trashy"...

but I don't consider her trashy, or ****ty, or anything like that. And even if she was, the music owns so, idgaf.

In any case, as much as I think the covers are poorly executed (which looks like it was a conversation in itself back there...damn) I still like them, and I definitely admire them and Ayu for pushing the sexy boundary, and blurring lines, bridging themes, and showing off her sexuality in general.

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

I love them...even BEFORE knowing the concept behind them. The concept just made me love them more.

Haters gonna hate.

[Andrenekoi]

@emi♡
We were BFFs before u friendzoned me ;----;

[emi♡]

pff oh please.

[lfe.]

I like the covers, I don't know what the fuss is about.

[TeamAyu2004]

^ at this point I dont think she cares about the casual listeners...
I rather think she is making music for her fans.
I understand the covers are not everyone cup of tea.. (hehe.. maybe that song has more meaning now!)
But I think they fit well with what she wants to do and what has been going on in her life.

Really this could just be all about pissing people off... I mean... after all the crap she has gone through the past year... I mean what better way to say "I can do whatever the hell i want."

[happiholic★]

Originally Posted by TeamAyu2004

^ at this point I dont think she cares about the casual listeners...
I rather think she is making music for her fans.
I understand the covers are not everyone cup of tea.. (hehe.. maybe that song has more meaning now!)
But I think they fit well with what she wants to do and what has been going on in her life.

Really this could just be all about pissing people off... I mean... after all the crap she has gone through the past year... I mean what better way to say "I can do whatever the hell i want."

I'm not sure why she would want to piss people off. Someone needs to pay for her Louboutins. And that's her fans. And just because I don't like the covers aesthetically doesn't mean I'm offended by the images. I would love these covers and the concept if I thought her hair looked better and the tabloid didn't look like it was done in Paint.

[TeamAyu2004]

Originally Posted by happiholic★

I'm not sure why she would want to piss people off. Someone needs to pay for her Louboutins. And that's her fans. And just because I don't like the covers aesthetically doesn't mean I'm offended by the images. I would love these covers and the concept if I thought her hair looked better and the tabloid didn't look like it was done in Paint.

OMG her hair is horrible!
But im just talking about the general public and maybe even the fans... She gets more grief from the people that clam to like her and enjoy what she does.
this is something like: here is the trashy thing I can thing of... shove it.

Originally Posted by emi♡

Well in any case, I hope her next PV will be a parody of the porn industry.

We do have Party Queen to look forward to!

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by TeamAyu2004

OMG her hair is horrible!
But im just talking about the general public and maybe even the fans... She gets more grief from the people that clam to like her and enjoy what she does.
this is something like: here is the trashy thing I can thing of... shove it.

This is how Madonna's Erotica was born... And it's her best album to date IMO

[truehappiness]

I don't think it's trying to piss people off, but it's certainly causing quite the reaction wouldn't you say? I doubt she chose these as the covers without expecting some kind of mini backlash of sorts.

I do think that the styling and layout is a bit less-than-standard for Ayu but I want to see the finished product first.

From what I've read by Japanese fans, they're okay with these covers, some even realllly love them. It's possible I just haven't seen any negative comments yet though. mixi is probably more honest, I guess. Can anyone with access to mixi tell us how fans there are reacting?