why "Maria"?

[M_aria]

For a brief moment I was going to say that I've heard the name "Maria" in a lot of J-pop songs, but now only two come to mind (Ayu & hitomi). Anyways, is there some religious aspect to these songs? I've read translations for both of them and "M" sounds like it has a bit more spiritual influence in comparison to hitomi's "Maria", does Ayu refer to the Virgin Mary in "M"? Cause, in a way, it sounds like she's praying. Also, is Maria a popular name in Japan? I swear i've heard it in some other songs, I just can't remember who...

[kournikova]

yep that song is for virgin mary ^^ i often sing it before i pray

[Aga-chan]

Yeah, some J-Artists have songs entitled or with references to "Maria".
Gackt-san has one, too. And LUNA SEA have a song called "VIRGIN MARY".

[starr5245]

so cool and so nice!!

[Chrono]

it's weird, isn't it. i doubt the people are christian.. somehwo they just like maria

[sxesven]

It has been rumoured a lot though that Ayu is a christian. I dunno, I'm guessing she isn't but I can't be 100% sure.

[Chrono]

well... she's always wearing those crosses... i can't really picture you doing that ^^. at least i wouldn't... but maybe if the record company demands...

aargh... it's... so......... confusing!!

[sxesven]

She flirts with all kind of religions, not just being a christian.

[Chrono]

all kinds? which other? i never saw her with anything else than a cross....

[sxesven]

Buddhism and such.

[Chrono]

well, i don't really hear songs about some buddism people.. only maria... isn't weird...

what a coincidence.... maria just starts playing here on my winamp shuffle mode ^^

[Shiso]

The www.ayu-mi-x.com 's database says that Ayu's 'M' isn't a song about the 'Virgin Mary'

From the site:

Ayu wrote this song after reading the story of Mary Magdaline. For those of you unfamiliar, Mary Magdaline is NOT the mother of Jesus (as according to the christian bible) - thats another Mary - but rather a reformed prostitute and friend to Jesus and Mary (Jesus' mother). The story of heartbreak and seperated lovers im 'M' was drawn from Mary Magdaline's story.

[sxesven]

I wasnt talking bout songs, Chrono, but about image. Uraayu book.

[Chrono]

aha

now the lyrics make more sense i think

[ricekid]

Originally posted by Chrono
aha

now the lyrics make more sense i think

yea, the virgin mary and love didn't quite connect...

I highly doubt ayu is anything other than christian. she always wears crosses, she did that whole thing on joan of arc (though joan of arc can be seen as a feminist figure rather than a christian one) and, of course, M.

if she does do buddhist thing (none of which I'm aware of) it's simply cultural.

[jerms]

shiso's right, but it wouldnt be that odd if it was the ohter mary

[Shiso]

Originally posted by ricekid
I highly doubt ayu is anything other than christian. she always wears crosses, she did that whole thing on joan of arc (though joan of arc can be seen as a feminist figure rather than a christian one) and, of course, M.

The cross thing isn't necessary a sign she's christian! Crosses are really popular in Japan even though some Japanese don't know what they represent... the topic "is Ayu a Christian?" is an often topic here... there aren't any proofs that she's a Christian or not... and about the crosses - I wear a cross too... on a lace, but I'm an atheist...

[Chrono]

but the music video made it very confusing.. with the church and stuff..

the option 'different mary' didn't even pop up here

[ImpactBreaker]

Originally posted by Chrono
but the music video made it very confusing.. with the church and stuff..

the option 'different mary' didn't even pop up here

I still think Ayu is representing Virgin Mary and not Mary Magdaline.

Reasons:

-Virgin Mary is much more well known worldwide, even for people from different religions. While Mary Magdaline, some christians don't even know about her so how would ayumi talk know about her like that?

-In the PV Ayu is in a wedding dress...ok so what does it matter? well the dress is WHITE! A girl who marries in white represents that she is VIRGIN. Thus Ayu is representing Virgin Mary (Nalso notice that she isn't marrying of course because she has no pair. The wedding dress was just a way to show Ayu is representing a virgin). And Magdaline was anything but virgin lol

-Ayu is praying in the PV. Most obviously to Virgin Mary and not for Mary Magdaline I've never seem someone praying for Mary Magdaline.

[hanabiwings]

Hmm... I dunno. It makes sense that it was a story about Mary Magdaline that got her thinking along these lines, but it's not possible that she was praying to such a person. She's praying to the Virgin Mary in the song, known in Japanese Catholicism as "Maria" just as in Spanish and Portugese culture.

In my experience, the Virgin Mary is seen in Japan by non-Catholics and perhaps some Catholics as a deity of mercy. Popular culture associates her with love, though this is likely not the intention of any Japanese Catholic. I remember reading an article about Ayu's thoughts on the song and said something like she had regarded Mary as some holy person but then understood that she was a person as well.

Okui Masami sang a song called Maria some years ago on her album Her-Day and it mentioned "cross" and "love" as concepts along with a song-prayer to the Virgin Mary. Ayu's seems very much in line with this song as well. I think that she is seen as a deity of mercy by people in love. I could be wrong, but in my experience, this is the feeling I get.

The translators at Centigrade-J (http://centigrade.blandplanet.com/) said this on the song in their translation notes:

MARIA is the Christian Religion Holy Mother of Christ. The whole song is a prayer to MARIA to help Ayu find everlasting love in a world where that doesn't seem possible.