[News] Just the beginning -20- TOUR 2017 DVD/BD release

[EndOfTheWorld]

I know Leslie had been working with her for many years prior but it was around this time he started making those Super photobooks, Super Ayu, Super Manny etc. I don't think it's a coincidence that the Party Queen photoshoot and PVs came about when both Timmy and Leslie were working closely with Ayu. But yes, it is ultimately her creative decisions.
I do also agree that Ayu always gave us a glimpse into her sexual part of her. But back then I felt it was depicted differently than now.

[Andrenekoi]

Those evil gay people corrupting pure virgin snowflakes

[summerain]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I think that showed itself during the Mannie marriage and then became more obvious with later relationships and performances. Back when she did my name's WOMEN's video, it was like "Oh, it's so cute she's trying to be sexual" but it's probable she's always loved sex and it's just become apparent "recently".

See sadistic and very sexualized version of that performance at ASIA TOUR. 2008.

[AJFmzk]

Originally Posted by hidekirby

Seems like they didn't over-edit her vocals this time which is a relief. I'd rather have flawed but correct vocals over perfect-robotic-emotionless ones.

I wasn't interesting in watching those lives at all but the reactions here make me want to give it a try!

Yeah, chapter 3 sounded more like it did on the actual day, though the hoarseness and vocal flaw are more apparent on the video, and I agree, sounds better the less they fix, generally speaking.

[cosmicfirefly]

Talking about Ayu's sexy side just makes me think of STEP you, where one of the versions of her was the sexy one lol. Since then, and before with my name's WOMEN which was mentioned, she's had more sexy videos and performances (Lady Dynamite, Sparkle, etc.). But I wouldn't worry about her being a sex addict or anything for enjoying sex. She's a grown woman who seems to be more and more comfortable with sharing that side of her in her music. And she's not the only female J-pop singer that has had sexual videos/songs. I get it's not everyone's cup of tea (I personally prefer her more subtle sexy stuff for instance) but I wouldn't blame Timmy, Leslie, or anyone else for her decisions.

[KPL]

I watched Ch1, Ch3, and namie's Final Tour on DVD, and I can't help but begin to notice what different kinds of performers they are.

Granted that ayu's concerts nowadays have much lower production value and that her vocal quality has been unstable, somehow her performance conveys much much more emotion and, to some extent, energy, which really reach the audience even via DVD. Idk, maybe it's her movement, or her expressions and voices (these can be overkill such as in Last Minute), she really has a unique and extremely powerful way of connecting to the audience. It's a fascinating paradox - on one hand, she's an actress performing a story line; on the other, she's a real person whose emotions are more genuine than anyone.

man, talking about individual performances: appears in Ch1 was just beautiful in every way (arrangement, stage, costume, dance, singing). ASFXX in Ch3 = <3 for reasons I wont repeat. And the two ourselves at the beginning and at the end - that's some well thought-out and fantastically delivered concepts there.

I was reluctant to watch ayu's recent concerts because they don't look appealing on paper. I didnt want to watch them also because they can be easily overshadowed by other artists' more expensive, dance-intensive and well-advertised shows, but I'm glad I gave these two a try - her unique way of performing just cannot be captured in still images or 1-minute digest!

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by cosmicfirefly

Talking about Ayu's sexy side just makes me think of STEP you, where one of the versions of her was the sexy one lol. Since then, and before with my name's WOMEN which was mentioned, she's had more sexy videos and performances (Lady Dynamite, Sparkle, etc.). But I wouldn't worry about her being a sex addict or anything for enjoying sex. She's a grown woman who seems to be more and more comfortable with sharing that side of her in her music. And she's not the only female J-pop singer that has had sexual videos/songs. I get it's not everyone's cup of tea (I personally prefer her more subtle sexy stuff for instance) but I wouldn't blame Timmy, Leslie, or anyone else for her decisions.

Because of You

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by summerain

See sadistic and very sexualized version of that performance at ASIA TOUR. 2008.

Or the whole Sparkle music video. I don't feel like this is new. Well, particularly I don't because I went to the Team Ayu 2016 tour and Shake it was performed exactly the same way.

[cosmicfirefly]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

Because of You

I can't believe I forgot that one! Actually, if you think about it, her sexy image even goes back to her early album covers: LOVEppears, I am..., RAINBOW, even Duty, although these are much more toned down in comparison to ones like Party Queen and the box cover of TROUBLE.

As a side note, every time I remember the original Party Queen shoot I wish she hadn't scrapped it, or at least had released an alternate version using it. It was so well done.

[yamadashun]

Originally Posted by cosmicfirefly

As a side note, every time I remember the original Party Queen shoot I wish she hadn't scrapped it, or at least had released an alternate version using it. It was so well done.

What is that? Have I missed something?

[truehappiness]

It's the shoot they used for how beautiful you are and then shown in 'full' in SUPER Ayu sold at the tour. It seems to embody the "Party Queen" aesthetic but it appeared she scrapped the concept when she wanted to do the one we ended up with.

http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=112605

They originally planned a photobook too for the same day as Party Queen's release but the entire thing got scrapped until it resurfaced as SUPER Ayu.

[jean-baptiste]

^Wow, I had no idea! "how beautiful you are" has one of my favorite covers so I always felt it was a shame it was used simply for a digital single. Such potential.

[Zeke.]

It's funny cause I think a lot of people might give ayu more creative credit than she actually deserves. Sure she is talented, but those early years where everything was super polished and iconic probably wasn't her doing at all. Either that, or her team nowadays doesn't know how to execute her ideas properly anymore.

The Party Queen concept switcheroo, as well as the LOVE + again thing were her ideas, or at least I feel so, and they kind of fell flat. Perhaps not entirely terrible ideas, but they have the feeling of not being carried out in a solid and professional manner, which in turn feels unpolished and amateur.

[Amalgam]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I don't think anyone is really to blame since this has probably always been there. If not them, someone else would have awoken it. Leslie had been around Ayu for ages so I don't think he was the reason for anything and he even did the original Party Queen shoot with the crowns and purple dress then Ayu may have been like "I don't like this concept" or something.

Loveppears and Duty’s covers were considered “sexy” back in the day too.
I think that’s it’s always been there, just in tiny doses.

[Uknow!]

1LOVE pole dance, the prostitute in the PV.
Because of You.
Sexy Little Things (bisexuality in the video of the arena tour)
until that day... orgy in the performance.
Never Ever from Best CDL.
GAME and My Name's Women performance from AT2015.
Decision from AT2008.
Wake me up performance.
Step You from AT2006.
Connected CDL01-02
Naturally Arena Tour 2002.

She has been expressing her sexuality and being sexy in her career for a long of time, that's not the only meaning she wanted to convey with these performances though. Moreover, I always felt that Ayu is very sexy when she is singing rock. About You from AT2010 is pure sexyness with her gaze, in a sense that she's atractive to me not that she is trying to be/look sexy.

[PinkShinigami]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I think that showed itself during the Mannie marriage and then became more obvious with later relationships and performances. (...)

Yeah, I remember thinking it was a bit funny that she married a "male model"... I just couldn't imagine it (but I was like 14 at the time, young and stupid lol). Then when I found out a few weeks back that Maro had his porn debut after they broke up, that was just downright hilarious.. Oh Ayu, which types are you going for?

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

Those evil gay people corrupting pure virgin snowflakes

I knoooooow Does anyone know if Timmy is actually gay, though? Not that I mind at all, but the whole gay pride thing he's got going on at stage is just too much. It's not sexuality, it's fetishism. And it would be fine if it was during my name's WOMEN and Shake it<3, but I find it awkward that he's always dressed like that But again, not judging, that's totally up to them... I just think it's very misplaced, especially next to sweet, innocent(looking) Peco.

Originally Posted by cosmicfirefly

But I wouldn't worry about her being a sex addict or anything for enjoying sex. She's a grown woman who seems to be more and more comfortable with sharing that side of her in her music.

Nah, don't worry, I didn't mean it literally. That's just honestly what I thought of when I watched Chapter 3 - as I said, it has to get more and more crazy. But it's not like it's crazy at all compared to what happens behind people's closed doors And even if we like the style or not, I think it's great that she's confident enough in her ways to actually do it. As it gets more sexy on stage her popularity keeps falling, but she doesn't care, she does what she wants - and compared to so many other artists, she looks like she's having so- much- fun- at every single concert. She's having a blast and that's the most important part!

Originally Posted by LUOYUXIANG

And the two ourselves at the beginning and at the end - that's some well thought-out and fantastically delivered concepts there.

Ugh, I thought ourselves sounded horrible in chapter 1 - she just couldn't match her voice with the song at all. But in chapter 3, it was absolutely amazing and a huge relief to me!

[Andrenekoi]

^Yeap, Timmy is as gay as it gets

[BlackSilence]

Originally Posted by melissalove

Her best since rock and circus 7 days. Timmy had me rolling, dancers weren’t in the way and ayu was the focus. Couldn’t have asked for more.
Edit: Chapter 3

This is literally me.

I didn't understand a few choices they made there, but everything else was great.

I haven't watched any of her concerts in ages, and after watching these two and a-nation, i kind of forgot how much power and prescience on stage she's got. She is a performer for sure. And just once again made me think of GACKT from back in the day. So far she's the only one i haven't given up on yet. And hopefully i won't need to anytime soon.

Also somehow watching the two concerts made me appreciate the whole gang more, it's not an Ayu concert without them lol
And i loved the fact that they got fans on stage, i really thought that dude will be a bit uncomfortable but he was surprisingly fine xD

Someone pointed out she's way too dramatic in some songs, i actually like when she goes mad on stage. I like that explosion.

P.S. I am always amused by how she's covered in more and more glitter in every concert lol

[jiarongisme]

Wow I just watched Chapter 1 and I have to say I enjoyed the TROUBLE version more than the WOWOW version. Not the best Ayu concert by any means by still rather enjoyable. I'm not really a fan of her trying to be a hype girl for her dancers/band/the audience though. She hasn't been really great at doing that in recent times and she's just doing it so much more often in this concert ahahaha. At least it wasn't as bad as during the CDL I guess.

[freedreamer]

I just watched Chapter 1 last night. I would the concert's energy was VERY HIGH and there was just so much jumping and pumping fists kinda atmosphere going on. I do love the stage design. Always loved a stage that was more than just an extended runway.

But I couldn't get over how a lot of it was very conceptless. I didnt get what the concert was going for. It had Moulin Rouge moments and then that Military moment but Fly High came out half cute half badass which was such a pity. I mean, the only thing I did observe was this "ONSTAGE PERFORMER - BACKSTAGE DRAMA, MELANCHOLY" idea. Was she trying to say something to the audience?

I felt like the lightning was VERY one note. It was purplish/pink and bright. The only wow part was the fullblown red scene in WARNING's opening. Back in the day, we probably got more lasers and pyros idk. It felt disjointed to me but Ayu was the one that was sustaining the whole energy and vibe. Sometimes I just felt like she let those acrobatics do too much. In this concert alone, they had so many flip around moments during her non-singing parts. Every song could potentially go in that direction.