I'm pretty sure I've enjoyed Step by Step decently every time I play the preview but seriously. I can NEVER remember what it sounds like afterwards. :S

single appeared at russian itunes, so european fans can download it too

thanks you, Heavenly, now I can hear only IPPO in this song xD

Waiting for it to show up on Canadian iTunes.

I know. It's a great song for summer but it's forgettable. Still love it tho.

Edit: i though I was posting in ayu-anything goes thread sorry. I got off topic...

I like Step by step a lot, though I'm never sure if I'm getting it stuck in my head or another song that sounds like it lol. Looking forward to the mini-album!

After listening to Step by step a few times now I have to say I'm not impressed at all. It's a basic j-pop song everyone could have released. I won't bother to listen to it the 7th time.
Since I was really disappointed by most songs of A ONE, I'm a little sad now, because I was hoping the mini would make up for it.
But well, we just have one song by now. And then again I only ever really liked Greatful days, July 1st, INSPIRE and fairyland out of her summer songs. Never cared for BLUE BIRD or glitter for example.

Step by step is not ground-breaking but it's good and already my summer anthem.

To be honest I am not sure what you're expecting. This song beats Greatful days easily, glitter as well. I think for me it's on pair with Sunrise, though time will really tell.

I think A ONE was superb and don't mind mini going down the similar path.

^I would like to have something like July 1st, INSPIRE or fairyland again. Or to be more precisley: something that is not your typical jpop summer tune. I don't want something that sounds like any of those three, I just want something more creative. The last summer song I really liked was fairyland and that one is almost 10 years old. I never was a big fan of Ayu's seasonal releases because a lot of them are just mediocre typical jpop songs every other jpop star also releases.
Walk, Zutto, the GIFT and Story are all so basic jpop ballads that I'm really tierd of this sound by now. Even if Step by step isn't a ballad, it's still basic.

if you don't like them why are you still bothered listening to her songs ?

I just listened to full single version of Step by step. I still think it sounds like an album filler (hell, many of ayu's actual fillers are actually much better than this and certainly worthy of being a single on their own). I hope the other songs are actually decent.

THIS. I can't stop playing it everyday now. It is much better than I have imagined and I like it more than 1 month ago when I first listened to it.

same here !

I can't get into Step by step because Ayu's voice is, for lack of better words, crap. She sounded fine on A ONE (minus WARNING and NO FUTURE) so idk the heck happened with Step by step.

Step by step is lovely!!
Lyrics is cheerful, music conveys what the lyrics said so well
It's nothing to "WOW", but also nothing to complain
as much as i listen to it, i loved this song even more
Summer is already hot, do not put Mirrorcle world, Rule, WARNING, INSPIRE, Wake up's tune to make hotter degree.

I just noticed how Step by step's arrangement and chord is sort of identical to July 1st. I can definitely sing along July 1st's lyrics to the verse, bridge and Chorus thought Step by step's chorus is definitely longer. LOL I think its just me but oh well

Whilst I like SbS I did have a moment when I thought this sounded very similar to your standard anime insert theme by an unpopular artist. It was a first for me listening to ayu's music.

I wish the arrangement was more edgier. The orchestral parts are pretty but too much too often makes it feel reserved and bland.

LOL I'm not sure who he is tbh I just thought he was incredibly cute lmao

My favorite summer songs of hers are some of her much older ones so I have no expectations for this mini album to be my favorite. :D Which is fine. I mean, my absolute favorite "summer" songs of hers are definitely Monochrome, Far Away, Seasons, and Audience. When I look at the tracklist for A Summer Best, though, I find it all to be pretty solid and that I'm pretty fond of all of those songs, especially You & Me.

I just hope to hear some of the other previews soon since I am just not completely impressed by Step by Step. It's ok, but it is pretty forgettable for me even if I try my hardest to remember it. My biggest problem with it though is just the background music. It sounds so computerized and fake to me. Like...what am I really listening to?XD

I don't really care for the song either, but it reminds me of The show must go on for some reason. But I have to say, Glitter is awesome!