Ayu ~Anything Goes~ XVI

[truehappiness]

I think it's just a product of her lifestyle and newfound comfort in her own skin IMO. Will take time to get back to her usual Ayuness from a 'reset'.

[Baernash]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

My main questions nowadays for critics are:

1) When did you become an Ayu fan?

2) Why do you like Ayu?

3) Do you see yourself as someone who enjoys change?

1) In 2003 but I heard her before (2001/2002)
2) Music, lyrics and the fact that when I became her fan she was involved in her music as composer, what makes me see her as true artist not just singer/performer (this is something I really missing in past years).
3) Depend.

[Zeke.]

2002? Or 2003. Probably right before A BALLADS was released.
Ayu's music had always been so lush, rich, and vast. Also, I've always been a fan of higher-pitched, emotional vocals. Ayu happened to embody everything I loved into a single package. Also, melancholy. Ayu owned that. She's still able to deliver on that from time to time, but I guess one reason I loved Ayu was because her music operated at 100%. I often felt the songs were birthed intricately and perfectly; like I couldn't image how they could have done anything differently. And the choruses were the best I ever heard. It felt like they were constructed logically. Like every note was either a call or answer to the previous/post, and it felt natural. Like each phrase in the melody, or even the layering behind the melody, made sense. It felt like they made you want something, and the delivered on it. I never felt that type of engagement before. Now, it doesn't happen as often but now and then she still delivers something that grazes the surface of that.

As far as change, no. I'm the kind of person who can eat the same dish everyday if I fucking love it. When it's perfect, why change it? It's like a good relationship; You don't go sniffing around for excitement or thrill when what you have delivers on every aspect so perfectly. I like to know what I'm getting because I've usually committed to it for a certain reason, and I want to continue receiving whatever it is that I was drawn to in the first place.

I'm open to change usually as long as it either improves on the original, or at least can tackle change while staying true to its core.

[ayu-michan]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

I'm open to change usually as long as it either improves on the original, or at least can tackle change while staying true to its core.

Very well said Zeke I agree with this view toward change as well.

[truehappiness]

Hm... I think with Ayu, a lot of change is more of a complete departure rather than trying to change something that was "originally a certain way" especially lately.

For her image and overall vibe now, she seems to have hit reset so last year we were on ASFXX mode and should be entering LOVEppears/Duty now.

I guess for me, a big part of why I love Ayu so much is that she is constantly changing even now but not as drastically as before image-wise of course. The only commonality between years now is concerts. a-nation, CDL, a tour... and everything else is a mystery!

[4Seasons]

Originally Posted by ExodusUK

Listening to (miss)understood..I don't know how Ayu has gone from making bold and strong tracks like Alterna, Fairyland, Ladies Night, Pride, Heaven, etc to midtempo bland ringtone music garbage like Summer/Winter Diary and the rest of the boring ballads from A ONE and Six.

+99999

This is what I've been thinking about her music since LOVE again..with the exception of Colours, which is not my taste at all, but I love it because it's so refreshing and bold.

Although I love "boring ballads", I want them to be strong and interesting like rainy day, Secret, walking proud, etc.

[NintendoHTF1242]

Honestly, Ayu always has a gem hidden on each album for me so that's why I'm still sticking around. I think A ONE as a whole is a boring mess but a Bell and Story we're some of my favorite songs from 2015. I do wish she would do another attempt at a Colours type release but only because I really enjoy EDM. I wouldn't mind another Terminal (if she controls her voice better lol) or Merry-go-round. Hell, she can keep working with DAISHI DANCE too. It's always nice to hear her spice things up. Tired of Yuta Nakano and tasuku lol

[4Seasons]

Won't there be a CDL15-16 MADE IN TOKYO release? :/

[primavera♥]

Originally Posted by NintendoHTF1242

Honestly, Ayu always has a gem hidden on each album for me so that's why I'm still sticking around. I think A ONE as a whole is a boring mess but a Bell and Story we're some of my favorite songs from 2015. I do wish she would do another attempt at a Colours type release but only because I really enjoy EDM. I wouldn't mind another Terminal (if she controls her voice better lol) or Merry-go-round. Hell, she can keep working with DAISHI DANCE too. It's always nice to hear her spice things up. Tired of Yuta Nakano and tasuku lol

It's a shame that Story was stuck on an album with a bunch of ballads, many of which not nearly as good as it (the only other one I really loved was Walk). Like both of those songs would have felt more special if they didn't feel so tired on that album. I'm really hoping for a lot more with this next album.

[Heavenly]

Originally Posted by 4Seasons

Won't there be a CDL15-16 MADE IN TOKYO release? :/

Maybe in a combo-pack with the album, like Party Queen ...

[//ABEST]

^ no way! avex will do anything to milk some more money from fans

[DonkeyKongRemix]

1) When did you become an Ayu fan?
around 2006 or 2007
2) Why do you like Ayu?
I see her as a strong, inspirational person who made "it" work when she came from nothing. And she doesn't even have to be the biggest star at the moment for her to try her hardest and for her to be sincere.

Her music is so enjoyable for me, even if I'm not listening to it too intently. I like to draw and write comics so when I'm in a mood and I'm working really hard, it's nice to have her albums playing in the background.

3) Do you see yourself as someone who enjoys change?

Typically, not too much, especially with real life issues. However, I accept it as it is. I enjoy at least something about each and every album she's released because I feel like she is trying to tell us something more about herself each time, even if it doesn't always come out in a good way.

Btw, I feel as though a change is happening with her new album. As someone said, she seemed to have hit reverse what with A One going back to ASFXX and then this new one looking as though it's also started over. (that's really hard to describe...) I am very excited about this change. I sense that she's had some kind of breakthrough.

I hate to sound...preachy or lame by saying this...but bear with me. When I took figure drawing, which was college level drawing III, we had to do gesture drawings of our nude models. We would do up to 50 a day and keep like...4. There were some of our gestures that were not great and would get thrown away but they did serve a purpose and that was getting us into our drawing "groove" and to teach us what was important in the human figure to place on the paper in 30 seconds. These 30 second drawings got us into practice for when we did say...2 hour drawings.

I learned a similar process in painting but in that class, you are expected to have finished pieces. We were expected to complete 5 paintings by the end of the semester, I did 10. Each painting added to the next one. I always take an idea and improve it. Except for some of the pieces in between where I completely threw out the main concept and did something totally different for exposure and experimentation.

I think about the way she does her music. I'm not going to say her last few albums have been more than spectacular. I liked A One as an idea but execution left me feeling frustrated. However, if all of those albums are practice for her to find what she truly likes or how she should truly sound, so be it. I like art a lot and chronology. I love seeing someone's process throughout their career. Ayu's an artists just like me and I understand what it means to "finish" something then feel like you're not finished at all, that you simply have to start up something new and take what you can from your past work or throw it out completely to force yourself to be honest or experimental.

[oaristos]

Originally Posted by ExodusUK

Listening to (miss)understood..I don't know how Ayu has gone from making bold and strong tracks like Alterna, Fairyland, Ladies Night, Pride, Heaven, etc to midtempo bland ringtone music garbage like Summer/Winter Diary and the rest of the boring ballads from A ONE and Six.

I think it's just normal for any artists. (miss)understood is too good of an album and it'd be really, really hard for her to release something better than that. The same applies to Secret, which is in my opinion a masterpiece.

Originally Posted by NintendoHTF1242

Honestly, Ayu always has a gem hidden on each album for me so that's why I'm still sticking around.

I agree! I'm always excited for her music because it's never completely disappointing. In the middle of not-so-good tracks there are always a couple of song that remind me why I'm a fan of hers.

[Surreal17]

@nalini-dahlia
Very interesting analysis. It was nice to read.

[mi|kshake]

Am I the only one who doesn't rate Story as highly as the other ballads on A One? I like Story but I rank Anything For You and Out of Control, especially, above it.

[4Seasons]

Originally Posted by mi|kshake

Am I the only one who doesn't rate Story as highly as the other ballads on A One? I like Story but I rank Anything For You and Out of Control, especially, above it.

No, I agree with you. I don't think Story is very special. Out of control is the best song on the album for me. I love the classic nostalgic feeling, but it doesn't feel overdone.

Anything For You is nice but it drags on soooo much, I would never listen to it haha. Good for concerts I guess...

1) When did you become an Ayu fan?
2) Why do you like Ayu?
3) Do you see yourself as someone who enjoys change?

Just to answer point 2:

I love Ayu primarily because her music can contain strong statements. Sexy little things, Ladies Night, my name's WOMEN, XOXO and Real me are all very self-empowering. I can't find the same resonance with any other artist. Sadly lately none of her music really stands out in the same way.

The lyrics we've gotten for MADE IN JAPAN sound very promising, though.

[truehappiness]

I think lately, she's in a period of rediscovery. Sometimes that involves going back to the basics and not really challenging too much.

As a creative person, I think Ayu kinda threw away that old persona and is now a new "Hamasaki Ayumi" that will take a bit of time to blossom like before.

Story IMO is equal to some of the ballads on LOVE again. It's good, but not fantasmic.

[ExodusUK]

Anything For You is the best ballad on the album IMO.

[Ryusei]

Out of control > Last Minute > Anything for you > Story for me

[truehappiness]

That's the same for me.