It's official, I like BALLAD much more than You were...
It has this Ayu feeling I missed lately and I really like the chinese influence in it.
It's a smooth ballad, nice one.

Omg if she made another Will that would be EPIC *-*

I wish I could see through your eyes, because I don't know how this PV is ugly at all. I can see "low-budget" cheap more than I can see ugly anything LOL.

And the only song by alan I like and know of pretty well is her oriental one RED CLIFF. Which is probably my all time favorite ballad. But just because someone else does an oriental song doesn't mean it's "alan-ish." BALLAD sounds nothing like her music.

I love BALLAD, but I wish it were more depressing LOL!

I'm in love with 3:02-3:54 so much in BALLAD. :cry

That part is so gorgeous! Sounds like something off a Chinese film instrumental soundtrack lol.

BALLAD is absolute garbage. I haven't hated an Ayu song this much since Beautiful Day. It's really dreadful, there's no emotion, I've totally heard the melody before, and her vocals suck.

Sorry Ayu, but you failed. You REALLY screwed up here.

:roflmao

The only thing I dislike about this song is the fact that the emotion in the lyrics are not portrayed in the song that well in my opinion. The song sounds like it could be about anything, mainly love, but not lost love. I was hoping for major emotion like in HEAVEN. This song doesn't make me cry or anything. But don't get me wrong, It sounds great and I love it! I just wish it were a little more raw and tear-jerking. It just sounds beautiful xD;

BALLAD sound so much more beautiful in HQ...I love the instrumental especially the beginning, bridge, and end. I can't wait for the pv!

I think the opposite, when I first heard the clips I teared up because of her emotion. But I guess you either hear it or you don't, it's very clear to me and it makes me feel so sad for her, like she's about to cry while singing it. :(

I still prefer You were... but BALLAD is good as well.. won't become my favourite BALLAD, but I love it's melody and arrangement *-* it sound so epic.. and I really feel emotion on it.. specially in the las part of the song... that her voice is sweet and soft doesn't mean there's no emotion... this song makes me really sad... :(

I wish I could feel that ;-;

I really do! Maybe it's something that will develop over time. Or in You were...'s case, I cried when I saw the PV so maybe BALLAD will be the same. :)

BALLAD is the perfect traditional chinese melody with an epic orchestra arrangement.
After some listenings her voice doesn't sound so awful like before. Ayu seems tell you a sad story with a gentle voice like Secret, but little bit more powerful than it.

Overall is a beautiful traditional ballad, and I love it :heart

I think the people hating on BALLAD are on some sort of drug. xD Ah well, I hate the You were... PV and everyone else loves it so I guess to each his own, huh?

Anyway, I think BALLAD is GORGEOUS. I think it's her most emotional song in years. It actually brought tears to my eyes listening to it the first time. I haven't got teary eyed with an Ayumi song since Memorial address was performed live at AT03-04.

It's a beautiful and serene song. The adlibing after the final chorus gave me CHILLS. BALLAD totally pwns You were... in every aspect. I actually sort of dislike You were... after hearing how epic BALLAD is. :heart :heart :heart

When did Ayu produce such mediocre songs and release them as lead singles? It's not new sounding and it's very uninspiring to listen to.

You Were... sounds nice, but it's very common sound for ayu. It's not very distinct and gets repetitive by the second half. This is the first time that a pv makes me dislike the song to some extent.

Ballad, although sounds nice at times, is too bland. The previews were promising, but the entire song wasn't as powerful because there isn't a good transition between any of the parts. The melody is forgettable too. Maybe the PV will help me like this song better like days.

It's like she took a step back in musically, de-evolving, instead of re-inventing like Next Level. At least days was new for her, even though it's a generic ballad in the Jpop scene and sounds a million times better. Overall this single is way worse than Sunrise/Sunset for me. I think I'm going to cancel my orders now.

No wonder they changed this single release's date against that guys.

Alright, I've only got an opinion for the "You were..." PV.

i think ballad sounds beautiful...it is most definietely not trash. I definetely like it more than you were.....her vocals in ballad are amazing, they sound so soft. this single should have been ballad/you were....

they orchestra sounds amazing in this song as well

She uses her voice amazingly in BALLAD imo... :heart The final notes really are the icing on top of the cake. I'm also seriously in love with the chorus melody... :laugh And the arrangement is so soft and sorrowful at the same time, beautiful! I really agree with those of you who describe it as epic. I say this song really goes there on the line with her greatest ballads. :yes

Now that I have heard the high quality version of Ballad, I will comment. Honestly, I can't believe this is being billed as a double A-side. It's pretty, yes. But it is also boring. And boring is rarely a word I use to describe an Ayu song. Even the ones I'm not too crazy about, usually I don't find boring.

You Were's PV so far is the best thing about the single.

... lol ...

hate beautiful day?

another lol