I really don't get the retire thing with japanese artists, specially women. Stop listening if you want the artist to stop so badly

Artistes retire due to a variety of reasons and not just Japanese female artistes do that , Japanese male artistes do so as well

BOØWY's Himuro Kyosuke-san retired 2 years ago due to problems with his hearing

I'm not so sure about that. I mean, in general public opinion for Namie is extremely high and has been for a very long time. Even at her low points, her vocals, looks, music etc., were never really criticized, only her personal life. For Ayu though, she gets criticized about absolutely everything and has been held in fairly low regard publicly for many years now.

I don't think that's right at all, and I do think there are asinine reasons for it, I just don't think it's right to say that Namie went through the same thing and would likely be going through it again. The two aren't all that equatable imo.

Ayumi is definitely more comparable to the back clash that Seiko Matsuda or Akina Nakamori got in the 90´s after a full decade on the top during the 80´s ... especially Seiko with her tremendous love life lol
The exemple of Namie is quite an anomaly on the Japanese market and it will probably remain unique !

I started to listen to jpop around the time Namie was at her lowest, and on the forums I read she was treated her like a has been that only fanatic stans cared about, desperate to sell through a growing sexualized image that should retire already. Some even started "ironically" liking her before being completely sold around the Queen of Hip hop/Play/Best Fiction eras.

I think the comparison works when we're talking about Western fans, because I was around in the early 00s and listening to both ayu and namie and... yeah, the air online was definitely the opposite it is today. From Break the Rules -> early QoHP era things were dire for Namie fans. I got into her through Put em Up and woo boy the crap I got, lol.

I do compare Ayu's trajectory more to Seiko and Akina though. Seiko is probably more comparable, but Akina is my second favorite artist after Ayu and I see a looooot of similarities. But it also makes me kinda happy because Akina is still releasing great albums (well, I really loved her recent 80's cover album and FIXER and I'm probably one of the only people who liked DIVA) and doing her thing. Of course, it would only be worth it if it's what Ayu wants to do. She's said as much, but I can imagine all the constant criticism doesn't help one's mood.

My partner is the huge Seiko fan in our relationship and through her I've learned all about THE DARK TIME OF THE '90S lol. There are definitely similarities in terms of public opinion WRT getting more westernized and the relationship dramas. Unfortunately Akina's big downfall moment was the suicide attempt :\ Her image never quite recovered through the 90s and she's had a lot of issues, both mental and physical (hey-o scabies), since then. I have a feeling Ayu's career is gonna be a lot like theirs in that she'll be an active legend doing her thing. She'll get some press for new releases, she'll have her hardcore fans and those that come and go as the nostalgic winds claim them, and people will be analyzing and picking apart their careers like we are now lol.

Basically, being a top J-pop diva is hazardous to one's health. Some definitely navigate it better than others, though. I hope Ayu can stay strong and keep on doing her thing, whatever that is.

I also started listening to Namie in the early 2000s's, and yes, that is true.
I mean she went from million sales after million sales in the 90s to much less, so that kind of criticism was inevitable. But again, she was never criticized for anything other than being a has been with some spotty personal life bits here and there, but nobody criticized her really beyond that -- vocally, looks, etc. But I take your point; just don't really think it's the best comparison.

I like the Akina/Seiko comparison more, although Seiko did have the anamoly big hit in 1996, six plus years after her prime.

Week 2 Day 2 - #7

https://tieba.baidu.com/p/5852279370

Wow :O

^Wow! From #38 to #7 in a day. I wonder what boosted the sales.

now this is a surprise :luv2

Oh wow!! I was hoping so badly for another boost. This is really good!
I wonder how much more she's going to sell after a-nation.

The drop to #38 happened due to the new releases being out. Majority of those probably sell really badly, so they dropped to under 300-400 copies xD Would be nice if it were an actual boost and that she manages to crack 30k this week.

Wow, I just looked and that's a shocking drop. It must be hard to see your numbers change so much.

2nd week digital
#6
Sales: 1,476

First post updated

I am so glad that sales are getting better :)

some fans say that avex were replenishing TROUBLE's stock, hence the boost...

Ayu is also much older now than Namie was then. That likely plays into the backlash, too. "Almost 40, two divorces, no children." :rolleyes

When it comes to Ayu's voice, I observed something. Reading the comments to an old performance on youtube (I don't remember which one) someone asked who made her sing from her throat, because that's bad for the throat. Someone said that if it wasn't for that high voice she wouldn't have been selling as much. So it's basically not about skill and technique, but about her tone.
I'm curious to know what would have been if she'd properly attended singing classes before her debut. We'll never know.

I was also suprised to see that Otsuka Ai's latest albums (I don't know about LOVE HONEY, though) didn't even make it into the top 20. So Ayu isn't doing all too bad for herself.

Week 2 Day 3 - #27

https://tieba.baidu.com/p/5853622460

^ Drop again? Maybe tommorow she will chart better.

I don't think Ayu ever got proper vocal lessons until the 2010's to be honest. Before that she was always going for that iconic but unhealthy singing she is known for. Over here, not that much, but there is always a comment here or there on Youtube videos complaining about her singing while she is actually doing well.

I still think she sounded best from 2003 - 2005 and I blame PECO in a way as it's only when she joined that ayu's singing technique changed :D

^A lot of the time people blamed Peco it was just Ayu failing the harmonies.

Realistically, ayu didn't have the best singing technique in her early career even if it sounded nice for us and she honestly probably wasn't taking much care of her voice either based on what I remember from forever ago. She really tried to make the high pitched voice work for her, even using certain sounds to made higher notes easier for her. There are some early performances when you can tell she's straining already.

Eventually all of that catches up with you. Now, every now and then, she mentions vocal lessons, but at this point I really think she can only do so much. The hearing loss doesn't help either.

I know. However she made Ayu sound like a dude sometimes.

Yes, she appeared strained and her singing was unnatural in her early, early career, but not in the years he mentioned of 03-05. Her performances back then, honestly, looked effortless and her way of singing changed significantly from 00/01 for example. Imo, she clearly got some vocal training because her entire technique changed significantly. I do wonder if Ayu Ready might have been the cause. She was singing weekly with other artists, so maybe she did put a larger focus on her vocal ability.

I agree in 2001 her voice sounded less strained and I also think she did some training on 2004 because her voice and technique sounded smoother than before...

me too, but that is the pre-digital/CD era. Everyone was crazy to buy CDs. Now.... all the CDs are like..."bitch where you going?"

I will forever say, for me, her perfomance of Haru yo, Koi shows the pinnacle of her vocal ability

:yes Which was 2003.

It’s seems that trouble reach sales of 20k in China !!

«NEW album "TROUBLE"
Delivery, the number of delivery purchases in China has exceeded 20000 -!
It is the highest record of Avex solo artists! ! ! !
Japanese TOP singer ! ! Proof of popularity !»

Week 2 Day 4 - #5

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5854893477

It’s holding up pretty well, 30k-40k here we come. :D

^ Wow, it is good :)

Wow she did really well in China. Would be cool to have somehing like Boys & Girls Chinese Version like she did with Who...

Remember that this is data from only 1 digital shop ;- )

That is one of the best live performances in the history of humankind.

Yes along with RAINBOW and A Song for XX, they were her best live performances, definitely her best vocal era (2001-2003). Unfortunately she changed her voice again starts from Moments single release. :(

SO happy for the numbers! I hope she reach at least 40K total.

Week 2 Day 5 - #16

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5856098279

Week 2 Day 6 - #25

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5857386187

Thanks!

Thanks Karen!

TROUBLE 2nd week position & sales - #19 ; 3,669

Total 2 week sales - 27,816

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5858515660?pn=2

I was waiting 1k so these numbers are good. I think 30k in total are totally possible.

She is almost 30k, I am hoping that a-nation concert/promotion will help her with sales.

hope she hits 30k!

So close!! 30k

Whats the ranking for today?

I read something like that. But I don't know if it was ever confirmed or if it's just speculation. Though seeing as her singing technique changed over the years I kind of find it hard to believe.
Honestly, if she says the stage is her ibasho, then I'd expect her to care more about her voice.

I think it's kind of sad and annoying that she could slay every note with her current voice and some people (mainly Japanese ones it seems) would say it's a bad performance just because her voice isn't as high anymore.

I'd like to know what Peco had to do with Ayu's voice changing, though. haha

Yesterday - #38

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5861430344?pn=2

The day before - out of top 50

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5859989686?pn=4

Kinda out of topic but did oricon just announced that from 19 dec onward, they are gonna combine physical sales, digital and streaming for ranking? Not gonna be only physical copies..

How much has she sold with digital then? About 30k?

In Japan (oricon chart) only 2,332. She didn't chart in the 3rd Week.

In China I believe that +20.000 in only one platform.

Yesterday - #34

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5862930658

Ah cool, so she’s passed 30k with combined sales.

Yesterday - #30

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5864341936

Yesterday - #39

https://tieba.baidu.com/p/5865606662

Can she sell 30k for this week? :(

Yesterday - #46

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5866868526

TROUBLE 3rd week position & sales - #41 ; 1,458

Total 3 week sales - 29,274

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5867952053?pn=4

Looks like 30K for TROUBLE is possible now , by next week perhaps ?

So close to 30k! :-)

I doubt she will chart in top 50 another week

Out of Top 50 yesterday

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5869418770

Yesterday - out of top 50

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5870667884

She's so close to 30,000... I'm sure she'd reach if TROUBLE charted for two more weeks.

Yesterday - out of Top 50

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5871881973

Yesterday - out of Top 50

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5873015187

Sat - #46

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5874105722

Yesterday - out of Top 50

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5875270112

TROUBLE 4th week position & sales - #68 ; 720

Total 4 week sales - 29,994

https://tieba.baidu.com/p/5876317994

30K next week :yes

Thank you for all the info Karen, really appreciate it :)

Any volunteers in Japan to buy 6 copies and be famous here? xD

Yesterday - out of Top 50

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5877671576?pn=3

I still haven’t got my copy, as I’ll be there in January for the tour...By that time though, surely, 6 people will buy it.

She is almost there. Just few more copies.

Yesterday - out of Top 50

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5878921931?pn=2

Yesterday - out of Top 50

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5880164105

Yesterday - out of Top 50

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5881385731

Thank you for keeping track! Hope to see her back in top 50!

^doubtful. What we should hope for at this point is for her to sell enough so some more weeks of sales will be reported.

Yesterday - out of Top 50

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5882544819

Trouble has decent sales. I hope her next release will be soon.

In general, sales are so low. For an album in the top 100 I waas expecting at least 1k.

Yesterday - out of Top 50

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5883807512?pn=2

was she in the top 100 last week? did she managed to sell the 6 missing copies?

TROUBLE 5th week position & sales - #95 ; 477

Total 5 week sales - 30,417

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5884944015
http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5884938283

Yay!

Wow, finally :)

For me is shocking that people is still buying it! :O

Woohoo! Finally :heart

Finally 30k! <3

I bought mine last week (mu-mo version).

Yay, happy for 30k

Awesome!! Finally 30k!

TROUBLE 6th week position & sales - #150 ; 388

Total 6 week sales - 30,859

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5893067814?pn=3

^Thanks for the info Karen

I'm surprised it's still charting, that's awesome. Thanks for keeping us updated, Karen :)

Yes! Glad to see it has broke 30k.

No problem everyone

TROUBLE 7th week position & sales - #202 ; 330

Total 7 week sales - 31,189

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5900779829?pn=2

Glad to hear that it is still charting.

We know the sales only if it is within the top 300, right ?

That's right

===

TROUBLE 8th week position & sales - #214 ; 264

Total 8 week sales - 31,453

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5908009334?pn=4