What's wrong with fans? O_o

[Thulanks]

Sum fans seem to have got bored of Ayu. 'N Some of 'em say she should retire!! WTH!! I like her like the first day 'n I think her music is getting better with every album. So I'd like the fans-who-got-bored-of-Ayu to tellme in this thread why don't they like Ayu as much as you did when u started listening to her

[Mad_Cactuar]

I love Ayu more than anything else. Her new stuff are so bloody good. But I thought she should retire. Now I don't think she needs to. She should keep on releasing stuff that she likes. Its good! But I hope she releases a mega-hit soon.

[elepop]

I guess they demand too much. Or they just think her new stuff sucks.

[Tasked]

alot of fans tend not like change. They're expecting new stuff to be just like the old stuff.. Why? I don't know. It's much better to have alot of different songs than the same types repeated over and over again. But it is logical that people get bored with Ayu. She released like 100 CDs in just 7 years. Most stars are only popular for a year or more. Most likely this will also happen with people like Ai and Koda. But Ayu has been at the top for many years. Gosh, she's almost 30! In Japan's music industry; 30 is way to old for a female star.

[Lumix]

I don't think people are bored of Ayu at all. Some people are just bored of saying "I love Ayu! She's the best!!! <3" , IMO. And maybe some of them think they are interesting when they say "she is loosing her shine.. bla bla, bad songs, bla bla.."

But I'm not bored of it, I LOVE HER SHE IS THE BEST!!!

[elepop]

Originally Posted by Rody!

alot of fans tend not like change. They're expecting new stuff to be just like the old stuff.. Why? I don't know. It's much better to have alot of different songs than the same types repeated over and over again. But it is logical that people get bored with Ayu. She released like 100 CDs in just 7 years. Most stars are only popular for a year or more. Most likely this will also happen with people like Ai and Koda. But Ayu has been at the top for many years. Gosh, she's almost 30! In Japan's music industry; 30 is way to old for a female star.

Actually, people WANT change. But they are never satisfied.

[HanabiChick]

I suppose it's a personal thing. Me, I just get bored with the amount of weak tracks, there's just too many for my liking. I wouldn't say she's ready to retire yet, though.

[ph33r]

Most people tend to compare her new stuff with her old stuff, with the old stuff being better to them. And if the new stuff isn't up to par with the old stuff, they start to say how her releases suck now. In a way, it also seems like they are trying to hard to be "veteran" ayu fans. No offense.

[Raleigh]

Well it's just a matter of.. well time. Ayu has been around for ages and it's obvious that fans will get tired of seven years with one artist unless they're hardcore fans but we have to remember that most fans are not so hardcore and only like Ayu for the kind of products and style she releases.

However trends change and now hip hop, rap and r&b is more "in" and so you can understand how the audience looks otherwise.

[sexysaucestar]

Some fans continue to try to attain the unattainable through Ayu..if that makes sense...o_o; They keep wanting change/innovation from Ayu but you know, she's human as well...so...she can't satisfy everyone's tastes. But I don't think Ayu is really losing too much fan base.

[alternarist]

Ayu isnt out there to please everyone.. no one can do that... i dont see why pple should hate her.. her music sucks? No... same genre throughout? No.. look at Bold & Delicious... she is constantly trying out new things recently.. so why shld they hate her? i dont understand why

[Ayuchan30349]

I think Ayu is still popular enough for the time she has been going. Most stars, going as long as she has, would not remain at the top or as CLOSE to the top as she has.

I agree that she is always trying out new things and is interesting. She can't retire, she needs to stay around longer and show us more interesting things! Ayu still has a great number of fans, even if they are decreasing, it's not like everyone is suddenly going to dislike her. If she loves making music, she should keep doing it, and people will keep loving her. She shouldn't succumb to what people say is "in" at the moment, so what? Music is music.

Also... her PV's are probably my favourites of any star I've seen... they are so creepy sometimes and so interesting and Ayu is the most gorgeous girl. XD She's got a bit of surreal quality to her. Especially in her vids (I suppose that is done purposely).

I talk too much...

[bluegie]

I think you guys interpret the meaning of "retire" in a different way, at least from the people thinking ayu should retire. If I thought ayu should retire, it's NOT because
1) we want something new and BETTER;
2) we want her to make old music; OR
3) we're bored of ayu... etc.

It's just a sense that it would be the best to leave the stage when she's still the best or so. There's not a single artist who can stand at the top forever. One day ayu will not be getting no. 1, her cds may only be able to struggle to top 20. Of course we will say we dun care we still love ayu no matter what. Somehow we'll feel sad... it's not ayu can't get no. 1 for us tho. We feel sad because ayu doesn't deserve an ending like that. She is one of the jpop queen in the music history, and who wants to see the last few pages about the queen that "Ayumi Hamasaki left without notice after her 70th single had got no. 45 on the first week..."? Of course we can look at things positively. If she is going to release 70 singles and the last few ones will be able to get to the top 30 or 40, that's a good thing. At least it still proves she can stand againsts all odds.

On the other way of looking at "retirement". It's not every artist has a chance to leave the music industry with glory. How many Jpop artists, who retired, still have places in people's heart? I'm not really familiar with the older jpop generation, but I know that Momoe Yamaguchi (sp?) was the songtress of the 70's. Most Japanese remember her glory because she retired when she's still at the top. She is like a miracle in Japan. That is why people want ayu to retire as well. She can be the mircale in the 00's. Every Japanese will remember there was a shining queen in 1999 - ??.

Probly it's just personal.. I want ayu will shine forever...

[AyuDan]

Tired, only because shes over played in Japan, just like Britney Spears back in the day, and Mariah Carrey right now in America

[Brittany]

People can't always get what they want with their favorite artists.

[ImpactBreaker]

Originally Posted by bluegie

I think you guys interpret the meaning of "retire" in a different way, at least from the people thinking ayu should retire. If I thought ayu should retire, it's NOT because
1) we want something new and BETTER;
2) we want her to make old music; OR
3) we're bored of ayu... etc.

It's just a sense that it would be the best to leave the stage when she's still the best or so. There's not a single artist who can stand at the top forever. One day ayu will not be getting no. 1, her cds may only be able to struggle to top 20. Of course we will say we dun care we still love ayu no matter what. Somehow we'll feel sad... it's not ayu can't get no. 1 for us tho. We feel sad because ayu doesn't deserve an ending like that. She is one of the jpop queen in the music history, and who wants to see the last few pages about the queen that "Ayumi Hamasaki left without notice after her 70th single had got no. 45 on the first week..."? Of course we can look at things positively. If she is going to release 70 singles and the last few ones will be able to get to the top 30 or 40, that's a good thing. At least it still proves she can stand againsts all odds.

On the other way of looking at "retirement". It's not every artist has a chance to leave the music industry with glory. How many Jpop artists, who retired, still have places in people's heart? I'm not really familiar with the older jpop generation, but I know that Momoe Yamaguchi (sp?) was the songtress of the 70's. Most Japanese remember her glory because she retired when she's still at the top. She is like a miracle in Japan. That is why people want ayu to retire as well. She can be the mircale in the 00's. Every Japanese will remember there was a shining queen in 1999 - ??.

Probly it's just personal.. I want ayu will shine forever...

What is the glory in giving up? Sorry but I find that kinda twisted, I actually see much glory in someone who, regardless of popularity will still keep on doing what they love to do. If ayu loves to make music, to end her career with glory wouldn't be quitting just because she's still popular, for me true glory would still be working and producing stuff be the public huge or not.

[momobean]

Frankly, to fair, the "OH NO! Ayu's going down" statements aren't as ubitiquous as before (I saw them on nearly every Ayumi forum/thread I visited.. very discouraging for a new fan)

Anyway, I never understood... fans complained that they didn't like the new genres and she should go back to her "old style", whereas I see non-fans saying she should take a break and reinvent herself... so is she recycling herself or not?

Also, if I lived in Japan with all the constant Ayumi promotion... I'd probably be too sick of her to even try her CD like I did last time.

In a way, it also seems like they are trying to hard to be "veteran" ayu fans. No offense.

Hahaha, occasionally it seemed that people were trying to alienate those who got in through her "newer stuff". I guess most people don't mean to though, they just look at sales numbers, feel bad for Ayu, and the new genres don't suit their tastes.

[hana_sanctuary]

Originally Posted by bluegie

I think you guys interpret the meaning of "retire" in a different way, at least from the people thinking ayu should retire. If I thought ayu should retire, it's NOT because
1) we want something new and BETTER;
2) we want her to make old music; OR
3) we're bored of ayu... etc.

It's just a sense that it would be the best to leave the stage when she's still the best or so. There's not a single artist who can stand at the top forever. One day ayu will not be getting no. 1, her cds may only be able to struggle to top 20. Of course we will say we dun care we still love ayu no matter what. Somehow we'll feel sad... it's not ayu can't get no. 1 for us tho. We feel sad because ayu doesn't deserve an ending like that. She is one of the jpop queen in the music history, and who wants to see the last few pages about the queen that "Ayumi Hamasaki left without notice after her 70th single had got no. 45 on the first week..."? Of course we can look at things positively. If she is going to release 70 singles and the last few ones will be able to get to the top 30 or 40, that's a good thing. At least it still proves she can stand againsts all odds.

On the other way of looking at "retirement". It's not every artist has a chance to leave the music industry with glory. How many Jpop artists, who retired, still have places in people's heart? I'm not really familiar with the older jpop generation, but I know that Momoe Yamaguchi (sp?) was the songtress of the 70's. Most Japanese remember her glory because she retired when she's still at the top. She is like a miracle in Japan. That is why people want ayu to retire as well. She can be the mircale in the 00's. Every Japanese will remember there was a shining queen in 1999 - ??.

Probly it's just personal.. I want ayu will shine forever...

I have to agree... I love Ayu dearly and she'll always have a place in my heart... however, I'd feel much more honored as a fan of hers if she were to bow out of the limelight while she is loved and adored, not shoved out by "fresh, young, new" artists if she were to stick around.

It's not about the fight that can be put up if she were to stick around... yes, that's totally acceptable and admired. However, people usually seem to not think as highly of artists who keep putting out records that are obviously not doing well. No disrespect to either Madonna or Michael Jackson, but look at how they're doing. While I don't mind their recent works and releases and I'm sure many people do like them ((no doubt about it)), however there is a vast majority of people who simply remember "the old days".

And I don't think it has to do with change or anything of the sort and people saying that some pieces are weaker than others or fan base diminishing. It's the ability to walk away and be content in your world with what you have without having to push to the point of deplession or to the point to where people just don't want to see your face anymore.


Another sort of metaphor is such things as that one dude that ruled the Roman Empire as a dictator just long enough to get the job done and return to his fields. Or George Washington.


People tend to respect and admire leaders or people in the position of public standing who know when is the correct time to step away, passing on the baton.

[Paper Bear]

Hmm... The problem with some people is that they're never satisfied. They expect one thing from Ayu all the time. They fail to realize that Ayu is full of surprises, and she doesn't stick to just one genre of music. And older fans who were fans of her very early stuff tend to compare her newer stuff to her older stuff, and then say things like "Ayu's gone downhill! Her newer stuff is horrible! It's nothing like her older stuff!" Well, of course it's nothing like her older stuff. How many other musicians change their 'style' over the years? Ayu's not the only one.

There's nothing wrong with losing interest in a singer though. I've lost interest in quite a few just because I lost interest in their music. Some people just go overboard sometimes though, and that's what bothers me. :/

[JinHamasaki]

You may think its in her best interests for her to retire during her glory, but Ayu isn't the type of person to just stop releasing music. She makes music because it expresses her emotions to her fans that (I think) she honestly cares about. Thus, I think she will continue to release music because that is what she loves to do, no matter how many people like it or not. She has plenty of money, now she turned her career into something she loves to do.

An example would be of "Bold & Delicious", which she constantly talks about how much fun she had singing the song. Granted, its not her best song, but she loves it!

I don't think it's Ayu's main motive to release a song because "I want to make MILLIONS of dollars!" (Of course, she does want to make a living, though.) Remember, she didn't want to release A BEST because she was not ready, nor did she want to release A BALLADS.

A lot of people compare her older works as "better", and I think that they think its better because Ayu was still fresh and new. She's been around for nearly 9 years, and now our brains are inundated with her voice and style of singing, so it seems her songs are old and the same. Her new songs don't exude the same freshness because we are so accustomed to her now.