[YouTube] The GIFT music video

[Aderianu]

Through an introduction from a mutual friend last fall, Ayumi made a request to JJ to compose a song. A heartwarming wedding ballad, combined with a beautiful melody and tender lyrics, was thus born. With JJ starring alongside Ayumi as hero and heroine to bring the feelings of “Love” to life, JJ memorized the Japanese lyrics to “The GIFT” upon filming of the MV in Japan. There’s even a scene in the video where JJ and Ayumi sings a duet!

On “The GIFT”, Ayumi commented “JJ isn’t just amazing as an artist but he is also a wonderful person, you can just tell, it exudes his personality and it’s a beautiful song. The demo that he made with humming the lyrics was just amazing – I wanted to realize the song while staying faithful to the perspective that he had. I personally really love the song, it would make me really happy if this song would grow to become something that reminded you of the most important moments in your life.”
“The music video really matches the atmosphere JJ created, one that expresses the “purity” of the concept in its entirety. I’m really happy to have collaborated with JJ on both the song and music video.”

JJ Lin left a message saying “Before actually meeting Ayu, to me she was Asia’s J-pop queen. For someone who has challenged various song genres, this song is a ‘GIFT’ to her, as well as a ‘GIFT’ to her fans.”


Video clip

download : https://yadi.sk/i/3tW_Z7scfJ3dQ

Making of

download : https://yadi.sk/i/aoahS-8YfKKKV

Promo image

Originally Posted by jiarongisme

A Chinese version of The GIFT (+ possible duet) MAY be in the works according to JJ Lin. (Skip to 1:34 for Ayu related questions)
Again, MR stands for media reporter.

Spoiler:

MR: Your recent music video with Ayumi Hamasaki has created a lot of buzz. How do you feel about the whole experience.
JJ: It's really beautiful; very dream-like. Ever since I've met Ayu (no more Ayumi Hamasaki haha) till her guest appearance at my concert, it already feels like a dream come true. And yet after that I got invited to Japan to be the male lead in the music video, it all really feels like I'm still dreaming. And I feel that the end result is really great. I'm very glad that I can be part of this process and also play the piano accompaniment for The GIFT. I hope we can collaborate and create more magic in the future. I heard she's interested in making a Chinese version so we're now in the process of writing the lyrics.

MR: The fans find it a shame that you didn't sing with her in the song. So will you be singing in the Chinese version?
JJ: A duet version? Well I can consider that! Maybe a different version, a duet version.

[tenshi no hane]

Beautiful!

The song is lovely but not something I'll be replaying a lot.

[DonkeyKongRemix]

I actually like this song. I prefer it to Zutto... thanks to her deeper voice that's not so high/squeaky. I also like the feeling behind it.

I think the PV is pretty!

Also...is this the full PV?

[truehappiness]

Wedding anthem of 2015.

Also when it panned out to show her on the piano I laughed a little.

JJ mouthing the words is a big no no in a PV IMO.

[Corvina]

It's beautiful, but a bit...boring.
The song as well.
But I love, love, love that piano intro/outro!
Would have prefered somehow an acoustic piano ballad with it.

[~angel*ayumi~]

Still able to resist... I wonder how long I can do that xD

[Tom Punks]

I lol'd every time they showed her standing up in that wedding dress. She looked like a centaur lmao.

I have to join Camp Zeke. now and agree that the vocals really ruin the song. She sounds schmaltzy and at the same time totally disconnected. Also, better mixing would've helped the song tremendously. It's not bad mixing (see: Last minute) so much as not really good and does nothing for the song. The arrangement is pretty boring as is, but the mixing is sooo flat. :[

I don't have much to say about the PV... It's pleasant enough and was competently made, so that's a step up from Colours.

[Yoake]

OMG OMG! I love the song. It's so peaceful and beautiful. I like the pv too. It's simple, aesthetically pleasing and Ayu is so beautiful.

[//ABEST]

Originally Posted by ~angel*ayumi~

Still able to resist... I wonder how long I can do that xD

me too! stay strong sister i'm gonna wait until whole album leaks and full PVs

[ayumisrael]

The PV and song are extremely beautiful. I love this kind of ballads way more than the usual ones.

I think I will be hearing it a lot.

[SKYia]

Visual-wise it's beautiful, the song itself is 8-9/10, it's pretty but not my jam, very classy though, but the video itself is top notch, nothing wrong with it, not even one flaw to me

[rikku1994]

Gosh this MV was perfect and her dress was beautiful (tho I kind of laughed when she sat on the piano and doing her iconic hand gestures but it's nice)

[Yannetakizawa]

Loved completely ... The PV is magnificent, even though simple.
There is an energy that makes me feel an immense happiness, ,maybe because I love JJ Lin and Ayumi

[Deibel]

From twitter and For"A"ver Club.

[Yannetakizawa]

Originally Posted by Deibel

From twitter and For"A"ver Club.

I Love it

[Raiu-Ayu]

I'm still not totally sold on the song (still think it should just be piano solo like JEWEL) but the video is actually gorgeous :p great angles, lovely shots of ayu and the dress. Even having JJ Lin there adds to it. It's not like the most magnificent video I've seen but its a massive step up from recent stuff. Looking forward to Last minute and WARNING now

[oaristos]

That's beautiful and not boring at all! <3

[Delirium-Zer0]

Lovely video, I like the full song more than I expected to after hearing the clips of it (the fact that it goes back to the darker-sounding piano for the outro really helps it, it makes you feel excited/nervous for what comes next).

REALLY not sure about the jazz-lounge style reclining on the piano though, seems REALLY out of place... lol

[xLuna&1LOVE]

Allright, I already explained in the downloads section, but seriously this video made my day. It was so nice and pretty to look at + Ayu and JJ Lin are so cute. I officially like The GIFT now.

[Aderianu]

This is nice and warm video. Not going to watch it again =) But I'm glad it exist