you needn't apply that hardliner definition to everything.

That connection with old songs sounds nice, but I prefer new stuff.
I agree, completely original stuff almost doesn't exist anymore maybe she can do different songs like Sparkle.
That, was really original from her :yes

btw I'm looking forward the long preview (or the annoying ringtone parts meh) :heart
Hoping to won't be disappointed like with Sunset lol.

Mhh I do'nt know... I think you can take inspiration while you're creating original stuff.
One example : Bold & Delicious might not be really original in itself, but in ayu's discography, it's Unique.
That's why I loved (miss)understood for example, it's not really cohesive as an album, but when I listened to it I was really amazed. It sounded so original. Sparkle is another example. There is inspired things like that which are original (to some extent of course).

But I also think that you can create brand new things, with inspiration or not (that's what I'm trying to do right now). Yet, it is really difficult, and it is more difficult as time goes on.

No, that' impossible for a human, we can't do what we don't know yet, it's the way our brains work. You can combine things you know, but it will never be brand new or completely original, it can be different from what you have done before, but that's about it.

I agree with you for all kind of art. Human music was inspired by bird music by example. Anyway, the only things they could invent by themselves is weapon and some stuff as needle to do clothes.

So... you can create original things?
I don't share this conception of art. It's a matter of inspiration, of course. But inspiration can lead to originality. If this concept doesn't exist, why is it it used so often? Why this word even exist?

When the first humans drew on rocks with animal blood, don't tell me that was not original... :no

I don't want to go off topic that much, but I think it's interesting to talk about such things.

^ they knew that blood leaves traces, the knew the traces were left on stones as well and they knew how things looked, all elements were known, they only combined them

The word "original" is just a little wrongly defined, completel originality isn't possible, only something that is near being it. You could already say for music it's impossible because music consists of notes and that's something every single song out there has in common.

interesting talk of human originality from a 15-sec preview of a new Ayu song... :laugh

well, reinventing is itself another form of "originality" if you look at it, so...

Yeah, I completely agree...

So in fact,it is the conception of "originality" that is questionable. We seem to don't have the same conception of it. Being inspired can lead to creating original things for me.
So I just hope this album will turns out to be original (to some extent yes).

Haha yeah, I know ^^. but isn't it better than "this song seems good/bad" on 12 pages ? Haha.

I agree!

This is exactly what I believe. All originality is really reinvention, and that's what I think Ayu means when she says the album has a feeling of the old :yes!

Indeed. However I don't see the need for Ayu to re-invent herself :innocent She isn't an average pop star and imo, she doesn't need to follow the trends just so she could be hip and poppy with the kids :yes

that pretty much sums it up

Now I'm really really really anxious about the new album. I already was before but now because it feels a bit closer I'm getting more and more excited about it.

The song sounds really cool; I have a feeling this album is going to have a hint of a rock element to it, maybe something like MY STORY. It'd be great if it was because MY STORY was the first album I fell in love with. I really look forward to this; the song kinda reminds me of kiss o' kill but something about it reminds me of GAME also.

I have loads of hope for this album, go Ayu! :vbhappy

She could always reinvent herself so she would improve... or at least that's what I feel lol. Staying in the same spot all the way wouldn't help in anything and that is unfortunately I've been feeling from her ever since 2007.

This new year, however, is spelling new directions (in a way) for her music so I'm really excited i.e. announce the new album already!

^ well for me, NEXT LEVEL was kinda new and different, at least compared to GUILTY. Sunrise was something fresh as well. I wouldn't really want her to change musical directions, as I am really fine with her being influenced by rock music :) as besides GACKT and her, no other jpop artist does it so well.

^ different musical styles and genres but almost everything else has been similar/stagnant, no? :P

and she doesn't need (nor do I want her) to go for a drastic change as well... R&B/Hip-Hop Ayu... :no lol

Reinvention is the difference between an average popstar and an amazing popstar. An amazing popstar is able to reinvent themselves, and Ayu's done that almost every album :D

Omgomgomg I love the song name!!! *_* I am sooooooo excited for this new album now!!!!!!! *squeals*

I don't think Ayu will ever do that. If she cared about that, I'm sure she would have done it a long time ago. And reinvention doesn't have to mean "going mainstream to impress poppy teens," it could be redefining herself and creating something different from within herself. You know, progressing and growing as an artist. I think (or I hope) she's bringing all of the elements throughout her career together to make this album. What some may see as "recycled" could really be elements from songs coming together. Some say Microphone sounds like T2M, Marionette and Kiss 'o Kill. What if it's all of those elements together? Or Sunrise being elements of all of her summer songs, BALLAD being elements of all of her oriental etc etc etc. Some people are ALWAYS complaining that they want Ayu to return to her old style of music. She might be actually doing it this time. Incorporating old with new! I don't know about you all but I'm super excited! :D

^ I guess ^^. Well I sure am excited as well and can't wait for more news on the new album.

@GRACE - well I don't think she has re-invented herself truly with every album, but with every 2 albums or so, she sure did (I mean Memorial Address/MY STORY could work well as one and it's almost the same with (miss)understood and Secret), so yeah, I do agree to a certain extent. I guess the fact that she releases so often is to be blamed.

Well I don't think GUILTY's and NEXT LEVEL's lyrics had similar themes? GUILTY was more about life and death xD While NEXT LEVEL had a more positive and straightforward note to it. I am not even sure what CAN she change :thud