Your biggest Ayu disappointments

[ayu_ready?]

Originally Posted by xLuna&1LOVE

There is at least one song on each album which disappointes me and a few videoclips. But the biggest disappointment is maybe the opinion I created about Ayu I have nowadays. I have the feeling that Ayu is proving herself over and over and actually lost her mind about how she really wants to be seen as. It's also to hear in her songs and to see in her videoclips. Might not be the lyrics - that element has never been a problem for her - but the instrumental and the videoclips may. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't like it. Thát way of how I am looking up to my idol disappointes me.

I agree, but to paraphrase your words it means that she has actually lost her direction? it surely can be seen. probably she has been just lost in her experimenting with everything. it's okay to expirement with fashion but with music she has probably tried everything she could in terms of musical styles. probably that explains the lack of motivation to do smth new & fresh, and over repeating pattern of songs & music?
I agree though, I really agree.

it can be appealed just to maturing & changing. people change, grow up mentally etc, due to various reasons. I think she as a person has changed, maybe even in character, and probably that influences music too. not telling you it may be bad, but earlier it was better.

she changed her composers, directors, music creators, dancers, lyrics, style, make-up artist, even nailist, lolz. completely eliminated that old self with the old crew of HAL, DAI, BOUNCEBACK, bancho etc.

Originally Posted by gogirlanime

-(2/10) No PV's for the "A" single I would have loved to have seen End roll as a PV, something kinda like TO BE. Not a "disappointment" per say, but more like "awwww man"

agree. A is a great single, now it may seem nothing special but for "old" Ayu fans it's really something End roll is my forever favourite, always crying to it. one of the best sad ballads but rarely anyone reemember/like it now

Originally Posted by njanjayrp

Duets with Naoya Urata, her back vocals and her dancers. Wish she would get rid of them all.

yeah, the dancers are annoying because she promotes them everywhere. it's okay that she has good freinds, thank God for that, but still I wish she wasn't putting them everywhere.

[relmy]

^ That make a loooot of sense actually.

Like she feels like x, but wants to try out y, but instead of becoming xy she becomes z and loses the original idea.

[gogirlanime]

Originally Posted by pepper

- no more Crea
- 48-49-50 singles (ballads, medium, ballads, ballads... but I still like all of them Just for that occasion i was waiting for something more special)

Yes I want CREA back!! yes those singles I felt were very weak (except crossroad is one of my favorite Ayu songs ever) but L was pretty bad for me, I never listen to it, it was just so bland and boring

Originally Posted by pepper

I remember also HOW dissapointed I was especially for "identity" and "Love & Hate" songs. They BOTH sounded so good on previews and then they was just.. ok. The first secods of L&H makes me "OMG this is gonna be a bomb" and then it makes me "I dont want to live on this planet anymore."

I totally respect your opinion I just find this shocking I LOVE identity it is so intense, but again I respect your opinion. I would critique it and say that sometimes it sounds a little too noisy

Originally Posted by pepper

Oh, Don't look back. I remember reading comments like "This is awesome" etc, and when I played the track... "Wait, we are listening to same thing?"
I never applaud this song. It's ok, but freakn' boring.

I love this song but I respect you opinion and I can see why some might not like it, it doesn't really intensify or change it's kinda flat the whole way through. That is what I kinda like about it, the same way I like Rainy Day and ANother song, sometimes it's nice to have just a chill or chilling song.

Originally Posted by ayu_ready?

PV for Duty (anyone here even remember this song, LOL?)
RnRC is still a crappy album for me

I do!! I love Duty! RnRC is still one of her weakest, I agree, but it has the wonderful Microphone and Don't Look Back

Originally Posted by Ashen Twilight

Lady Dynamite. Easily her worst song ever.

I don't know what I would officially call what my worst Ayu song is, though this song was pretty weak, I never listen to it.

Originally Posted by artcika

omg I think I just found the bigest dissapointment:

I am not upset with Ayu for this, it was not her fault, I am just upset with society and the photo team for feeling that a beautiful woman still isn't beautiful enough, sometimes technology is a curse

Originally Posted by kalikagai

2. No more HAL. Bring them back to me, I beg u.

Haaaaaaal!!! Both in originals and remix, always pure gold!

Originally Posted by Yumsushi

- The fact that she contentiously works with the same people, whether the results are good or bad.

I agree, though I think the reason why is because it is a very strong Japanese culture thing to be loyal to certain companies or people for your whole life

I have never really been "disappointed" with Ayu she is a brilliant artist and I will always love what she does. There have been many things over the years where I have said to myself, "come on Ayu you can do better than this" bottom line with me is that because everyone is so different it is near impossible to satisfy everyones tastes in music so of course everyone is going to have "disappointments" with Ayu.

These are some things she has done were I was like, "I don't like it" or "it could have been better" but all the while I still say to myself, "it's still better than most of the Jpop out there so I am not going to complain"

Disappointment level 1 being barely a disappointment and 10 being "omg I wish Ayu never did this, it is just purely GARBAGE"

I LOVE AYU AND FOR THOSE WHO FEEL THAT THIS MATTERS AND "QUALIFIES" ME AS A "BETTER JUDGE" OF AYU'S WORK, I HAVE BEEN A FAN SINCE RIGHT BEFORE DUTY CAME OUT. Remember the rating of disappointment I gave on these things, instead of listing my "biggest" disappointments I kind of listed all of them. So I listed a lot, but many of these weren't really big disappointments

-(4/10)These remixes from ayu-mi-x 6 they are just so ear bleeding, the others were EXCELLENT. Specifically these were "disappointing"
-INSPIRE (ARMAND VAN HELDEN Radio Edit)
-Startin' (SHINICHI OSAWA Remix)
-HAPPY ENDING (MAD PROFESSOR Remix) (WTF...)
-part of Me (CARL CRAIG Remix - Radio Edit)

-(6.5/10)GREEN / Days single, it just did not appeal to me in any way really, I never listen to either of the songs. I felt like the PV's were weak as well. They aren't really that bad, but for my Ayu tastes this single was kind of disappointing

-(7/10) glitter / fated I reaaaaaaally don't like this single the PV's were... yeah, terrible (in my opinion) and the songs just were not special enough, very standard Jpop (but again it's Ayu and anything she does is better than most J-pop) I LOVE the fated orchestra version though, it's one of my favorite mixes ever. I think the mix of the original fated just doesn't suit the song as much as the orchestra version

-(7/10) (with some exceptions) 48, 49, 50 singles (MOON, crossroad, L) I feel like these were "hurried" to reach the 50th single so she could "flame" her 50th single anniversary sooner. I LOOOOOVE the song and PV crossroad, it is one of my favorite Ayu songs ever so I can't say these are a complete disappointment. Songs / PV's MOON, blossom, Virgin Road, Sweet Season were pretty darn bad... They were boring (to me) unoriginal and just... BORING. MOON I hardly got through the whole PV (the single covers just creeeeep me out ) and the song itself isn't that bad but I still give it a 3.5/10 (compared to the rest of her work) Virgin Road has grown on me a bit, same with Sweet Season but they still get like a 5 or 5.5 (comparatively) I really like Last Angel and I kind of like SEVEN DAY WAR. And I do love the Microphone remix

-(7/10) MY STORY was pretty disappointing I feel like she just threw in as many songs as possible to compensate for having a mini album before. I NEVER listen to
-Liar
-HOPE or PAIN
-HAPPY ENDING
-HONEY
-winding road
-Humming 7/4
Then I never watch the walking proud PV the obviously fake background clouds and the whole set up, it was like a cheap 1980's fantasy movie (like the never ending story only worse) So not counting the interludes (making it 13 songs) I hate 1/2 of this album these songs are just so forgettable I can't even think of what the main tune is for any of them. Even the songs that I like are still not some of my Ayu favorites. The album was over all pretty weak.

-(8.5/10) (with some exceptions) Rock 'n' Roll Circus, this in my opinion is her weakest album yet. I NEVER listen to... (I can't even think in my head what the tune is)
-count down
-Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~
-BALLAD
-Last Links
-Lady Dynamite
-Sexy little things
-Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~
-meaning of love
-All interludes (3 of them)
So 11 tracks out of 15 that is pretty terrible, this album just had no impact and I felt there was no unison the album was just all over the place it has it's "saving grace" though Microphone and Don't Look Back are brilliant and two of my favorite Ayu songs ever. Though the Sunrise / Sunset PV's and songs are just... terrible. Then the album only tracks are terrible. I listen to Sexy little things sometimes when I want something funky (and I do love the PV)

-(8/10) Beautiful Fighters. Everything about this song just makes me cringe, her vocals, the music, the PV. It sounds like a cheap Morning Musume song.

-(5/10) Secret's booklet photoshopping I am not a professional but even I could have done a better job than that!

-(9.5/10) Sunrise / Sunset EVERYTHING about this single is just TERRIBLE. The single cover, the PV, the un-original song (which is made into two version) just blah! This was a machine-pumped and forced-out single they might as well have never made it. I never listen to it.

-(4/10) They didn't make Together When... into a physical single, I wish they had and added some remixes to it

-(2/10) No PV's for the "A" single I would have loved to have seen End roll as a PV, something kinda like TO BE. Not a "disappointment" per say, but more like "awwww man"

-(2/10) In general singles with no PV's, again, it's more like "awwww man I really wanted one"

-(6.5/10) The re-released Ayu trance tracks, it's like "really I am paying top dollar for you to re-release or semi-change the same track "

-(7.5/10) BLUE BIRD PV... wtf I can't even remember it at all that's how bad I thought it was when I watched it all of like 2 times. I think she is on a boat smiling a lot and just walking around on the beach, it was cheap or boring

-(6.5/10) GUILTY album, I NEVER listen to 1/2 of the album
-GUILTY
-fated
-glitter
-Marionette -prelude-
-The Judgement Day
-MY ALL
-rebirth
-untitled ~for her~
Again, just not a strong album (though nothing will be worse than Rock 'n' Roll Circus for me)

-(8/10) Love Songs is either my favorite or at least in my top 3 favorite Ayu albums though the PV's were the worse in her career. They were so boring, cheap, confusing, unoriginal, just blaaaaah! MOON was so boring I only got through it once, same with Virgin Road, Last Angel, blossom, Love Songs, Sweet Season. I like Do It Again quite a bit, it was well-made and had a nice deeper meaning to it. Crossroad isn't amazing but because I love the song so much it has it's own charm. I only bought the CD+DVD for this because I like to collect those versions otherwise I would have just bought the CD only.

-(7/10) This is a disappointment towards Ayu fans, I respect your opinion, but whhhhyyyyy do you guys put "M" on the top of a mountain. It is a pretty song and I like it but there (in my OPINION) is really nothing super special about it. I think it's because she released it at the peak of her career and that is why it is so popular. If she had released this song now, we wouldn't have loved it so much.

-(6/10) NEXT LEVEL PV, like the BLUE BIRD PV I can't even remember the whole thing watched it once and I was done. She's just like... driving in a car?

-(7.5/10) Voyage, I like the song a bit, though the PV was just horrible, Ayu looked like a creepy alien with that tan, make-up and obviously fake cheap wig. I just felt it was weak and cheap and just "pumped out"

I LOVE AYU AND FOR THOSE WHO FEEL THAT THIS MATTERS AND "QUALIFIES" ME AS A "BETTER JUDGE" OF AYU'S WORK, I HAVE BEEN A FAN SINCE RIGHT BEFORE DUTY CAME OUT. Remember the rating of disappointment I gave on these things, instead of listing my "biggest" disappointments I kind of listed all of them. So I listed a lot, but many of these weren't really big disappointments

Sorry for being so long

[xLuna&1LOVE]

Originally Posted by gogirlanime

These are some things she has done were I was like, "I don't like it" or "it could have been better" but all the while I still say to myself, "it's still better than most of the Jpop out there so I am not going to complain"

Why should you tell yourself that? Even when you are a big fan of someone, you are free to share opinions and you do not have to like everything she's doing. You are a fan of her because of other work she has released and that is fine. Others do like other stuff Ayu has done. Everyone his or her opinion. But that does not mean that you are no fan if you do not tolerate everything your muse is releasing. So... give that critism and shrug about whatever the rest tells you.

And for all those disappointments, you actually have a reason. On the other hand you give also lots of examples of Ayu's work you love.

I LOVE AYU AND FOR THOSE WHO FEEL THAT THIS MATTERS AND "QUALIFIES" ME AS A "BETTER JUDGE" OF AYU'S WORK, I HAVE BEEN A FAN SINCE RIGHT BEFORE DUTY CAME OUT. Remember the rating of disappointment I gave on these things, instead of listing my "biggest" disappointments I kind of listed all of them. So I listed a lot, but many of these weren't really big disappointments

The only one who could qualify as a better judge of Ayu's work is yourself and also that has nothing to do with how long you have been fan of Ayumi Hamasaki. I have the feeling you are afraid of hatemail or nasty comments and that is why I want to say you do not have to.

[gogirlanime]

Originally Posted by xLuna&1LOVE

Why should you tell yourself that? Even when you are a big fan of someone, you are free to share opinions and you do not have to like everything she's doing. You are a fan of her because of other work she has released and that is fine. Others do like other stuff Ayu has done. Everyone his or her opinion. But that does not mean that you are no fan if you do not tolerate everything your muse is releasing. So... give that critism and shrug about whatever the rest tells you.

And for all those disappointments, you actually have a reason. On the other hand you also lots of examples of Ayu's work you love.



The only one who could qualify as a better judge of Ayu's work is yourself and also that has nothing to do with how long you have been fan of Ayumi Hamasaki. I have the feeling you are afraid of hatemail or nasty comments and that is why I want to say you do not have to.

Thank you, yes I understand I am entitled to my opinion around here better than most. I said those things to help prevent any spam towards me as much as possible. Some people on AHS will just flame you if your opinion doesn't match their own which is sad. Some people on here call things "a fact" when they feel strongly about their opinion and shut out and call everyone else's "wrong"

[LONJJONG]

^ wow you have such plenty disappointments about Ayu o_O

Personally I also don't really listen to Rock'n'Roll Circus, because there is too many ballads... its title is Rock'n'Roll huh? -_-

But I do love MY STORY veryyyyy muchh...

[gogirlanime]

Originally Posted by LONJJONG

^ wow you have such plenty disappointments about Ayu o_O

Personally I also don't really listen to Rock'n'Roll Circus, because there is too many ballads... its title is Rock'n'Roll huh? -_-

But I do love MY STORY veryyyyy muchh...

Yeah again, as I said, only a couple of those are REAL disappointments, most are just things where I was like "uuuuugh it could have been better" or things I didn't really like that Ayu did, but not really like "omg horrible it's such a disappointment" I could make a list 5x longer about things that I am so proud of Ayu for.

[Ranma Matsuri]

The first true disappointment for me was when I saw the Sunrise/Sunset covers for the very first time on an Asian music site. I wasn't following Ayu much at the time, still new to the fandom and so far, most of what I'd seen of her had been impressive so seeing those atrocities was like a swift kick in the gut. Then the song and PV didn't turn out much better so I just look at it as her worst single overall for me as I like nothing about it.

The biggest disappointment for me however is hands down the RnRC album. It was the first Ayu album I got to anticipate and preorder before it hit stores. I loved Microphone, Don't Look Back, and Sexy Little Things and the covers and promos were wicked awesome. Then I heard the final product. I think now, I occasionally listen to Microphone but the release overall was a complete waste of time and money. I had the choice of getting that or a Pink Lady Greatest Hits CD at the time and still wished I had went with the latter.

(n I dun curr whatchu bishes say LOVE'N HATE is flawless, k? kthnx *hurflip*)

EDIT: Also, another big disappointment was after watching three concerts, I already knew Ayu's concert pattern. Oriental section-->rockish storyline section-->ballad with love story section--->cute, kawaii desu~ section---> party, let's all chant and be genki! section. *facepalm* Not that I don't like any of these things but it's just SO much of the same. Her setlists suffers from that sameness too, every time I see evolution~SURREAL~evolution I cringe. There's no reason someone with as big of a discography as Ayu should have certain songs or mixes popping up on just about every setlist. She has CDL, a-nation and at least one tour a year, it won't hurt to leave B&G, evolution, and SURREAL off of at least ONE of them.

[Andrenekoi]

Her setlists suffers from that sameness too, every time I see evolution~SURREAL~evolution I cringe. There's no reason someone with as big of a discography as Ayu should have certain songs or mixes popping up on just about every setlist. She has CDL, a-nation and at least one tour a year, it won't hurt to leave B&G, evolution, and SURREAL off of at least ONE of them.

She tried more than once, but the audience always asks her to put those songs back on setlist...

It's normal that most of the concerts have some of the artist's/band's signature songs anyway...

[njanjayrp]

Duets with Naoya Urata, her back vocals and her dancers. Wish she would get rid of them all.

[pchan1986]

things started going downhill from Next level. i like and tolerated most songs that people disliked but now her song are mediocre and similar. i want something new, fresh yet have some "young" ayu spark to it like she had during her prime years ;O;

[AYUCREA]

collabs on FIVE

hidden track on FIVE

CD cover such as S/S, L, crossroad..

[bondingo]

-(miss)understood's covers
-glitter/fated (I still only sort of like glitter, but fated is awful)
-A COMPLETE's existence
-NEXT LEVEL's album tracks
-Sunrise/Sunset
-Sunrise/Sunset being included on the otherwise great R'n'RC
-MOON/blossom's covers
-blossom
-EVERY PV on Love songs except MOON, crossroad, and Do It Again

and lastly...
-the fact that we haven't had another song like Sparkle

[teamMessAge]

• The fact that her name is listed as "Ayumi Schwarz" on her Wikipedia page.

• That no one likes Glitter. Come on, people! It's a good song!

• Also the fact that no one likes Secret. It's one of my favorites!

• GUILTY

• Bad grammar (Are You Wake Up?)

Worst-case scenario: Maybe it's just that at the beginning of her career, Ayu actually had something to write about and actually had a vision of what she wanted to do and where she wanted to go. Maybe she's already reached where she wanted to go and now she's just having "Ayu's Party" with all her dancers and staff, and she's lost sight of the product.

She just needs someone to help out with fresh ideas. It seems like she's suffering from what everyone else is suffering from: the let's-allow-Lady-Gaga-to-come-up-with-our-ideas-for-us syndrome. Stop doing that and it'll be ok.

[emi♡]

Originally Posted by teamMessAge

• The fact that her name is listed as "Ayumi Schwarz" on her Wikipedia page.

omg when did that change?

Is Schwarz even her legal name?

[bondingo]

Originally Posted by teamMessAge

• The fact that her name is listed as "Ayumi Schwarz" on her Wikipedia page.

I had no idea! She really just needs to divorce Manny tbeh. I'd give them another few months before it's over.

Originally Posted by RayJason

progress' PV (How I HATE it)
CREA seems to be absent
Her short hair she tends to 'rock' lately.
Those background singers she has in her concerts.

I agree with all of these:
-Having a video that looks like a college student's art project is not a sufficient music video Ayu
-Start composing again, because clearly your composers are failing you
-You have always looked prettier with long hair Ayu, bring it back
-PECO and the Princess need to go, as does Shuya

[Jason]

Originally Posted by bondingo

-Start composing again, because clearly your composers are failing you
-PECO and the Princess need to go, as does Shuya

I completely agree with these two!

I miss CREA and I've been saying for years that PECO and Princess need to go and ruin someone else's vocals. As for Shuya; ndbhsufigsdiufg!! Don't get me started -_-

[RayJason]

Repost

Negative threads are gaining popularity in here .

Originally Posted by HTMSD

Urata Naoya and JUNO

+1

Mirrorcle's World PV was the biggest disappointment for me, it has an storyline if you look deep into it, but it's just too complicated and even when I understood that the 'different' ayu's were expressing their selves I still found it too be extremely random and off.

I hate the intros of Mirrorcle World and Last Angel.
progress' PV (How I HATE it)
progress' extended/final music mix
CREA seems to be absent
Her short hair she tends to 'rock' lately.
Those background singers she has in her concerts.

Originally Posted by Mai82Go

Not about to bash, but if promoting Love Songs by marrying Mannie really was Ayu's masterplan she failed miserably

I laughed so hard lol.

[ayu_ready?]

Originally Posted by RayJason

Mirrorcle's World PV was the biggest disappointment for me, it has an storyline if you look deep into it, but it's just too complicated and even when I understood that the 'different' ayu's were expressing their selves I still found it too be extremely random and off.

Those background singers she has in her concerts.

these

Originally Posted by deebosco

RnRc sucks, the end.

it does.

[deebosco]

RnRc sucks, the end.