I felt this heavily in the ivy recording. I'm not sure if that is how the song was meant to sound or not, but I definitely get what you are saying.

^
Enka technique =)

People say on 2ch that they want she sing like in this video ! Like a young women ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQEAU...ture=endscreen

Well, this is a very common singing technique and a staple to japanese popular music. One of the things that make what is considered a good enka singer is how beautiful and controled their vibratos are...

Actually I think something has happened to yui's voice. I noticed at best artist as well that she was lacking power. Mika nakashima was also all over the place vocally. What's happening to all the female vocalists? lol. it seems as if kuu and Namie are the only ones that have consistently kept their voices in good shape over the years.

Kumi is very experienced in this domain however Namie I don't know what to say ? her voice on CD is the same but in live is very different since a few years and I find that sometimes unpleasant to my ear !
Didn't Mika has also a problem with her ear ?

Seriously? They want her to sound like a 10 year old? Lol, oh Japan

Yeah, I actually prefer those videos that were posted because while vocally not perfect, you can feel her passion and raw emotion.

Also, I believe the first video is right around the time when her ear problem first began; a lot of performances from then are off.

I think part of YUI's hiatus is that she doesn't feel 'right' anymore, and that if she keeps performing as YUI, her mind/heart will break? I don't know what she was getting at in the blog entry that mentioned this, but it seems like she's ready to check out of J-Pop for a while.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...type=2&theater
English subtitled video from YUI to fans about the hiatus or something, by the way, she looks really beautiful in this video!

Mika seems to be sick or something so her vocals (and appearance imo... sometimes she looks like she has a fever!) are a bit... off her game.

Namie's vocals aren't really anything to write home about, I think, considering a lot of her songs are very 'talk-singing'.

I only watched the performance once but I remember her going off pitch and out of tune several times and there were a number of notes that were not held as long as they should be. I think that is what the articles are referring to more than husky vs. high pitch voice. She really hasn't even sung seasons in her high pitch voice since like 2001.

It's just unfortunate because this is one of the most watched shows all year and it's the only one she has besides Kohaku. It was a good oppurtunity for her to remind everyone about her. But she really needed to hit the performance out of the park I think.

Even at her worst, Ayu can still out sing Namie and her flat vocals. The vocals on Utada's Distance album are diabolical tbh. Only Koda Kumi can challenge Ayu vocal wise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5-sYJ8f9xo In this one it was already different ^^

I'm wondering if it was a compromise with FNS because she didn't do a collab. Like, "if you aren't going to do a collab, then we want you to do one of your old hits." :shrug. She has a new release this week and a big stage to promote it on, so yeah it's weird.

I don't know about Mika, but yeah her performance was awful. By comparison Ayu was waaaay better. As for Namie, I might be in the minority here, but seeing her live, her vocals are pretty consistently clear and strong. Her voice hasn't changed much in 20 years, imo. She may not be a huge vocal powerhouse, but within her range she is very consistent. And for 20 years of touring etc, she must be doing something right to keep her voice in shape.

And I'm not the biggest kuu fan, but she has pretty much mastered her voice.

I'm sorry but, no. :). Even at her best, ayus strongest suit has never been her vocal prowess. Maybe if this were 2003-2005 ayu could have a fighting chance. As it is now, it wouldn't even be a competition. And then Superfly would come along, murder both Ayu and Kuu with her voice and leave their bloody corpses on the stage. :)

Wow, work is slow today. Too much time on my hands, haha

Good lifestyle Imo when you look at her interviews ! beside Ayu does not help her voice ! she works all the time ! sleeping at impossible hours, She does not spare herself etc...

I'm wondering if it was a compromise with FNS because she didn't do a collab. Like, "if you aren't going to do a collab, then we want you to do one of your old hits." :shrug. She has a new release this week and a big stage to promote it on, so yeah it's weird.



I don't know about Mika, but yeah her performance was awful. By comparison Ayu was waaaay better. As for Namie, I might be in the minority here, but seeing her live, her vocals are pretty consistently clear and strong. Her voice hasn't changed much in 20 years, imo. She may not be a huge vocal powerhouse, but within her range she is very consistent. And for 20 years of touring etc, she must be doing something right to keep her voice in shape.

And I'm not the biggest kuu fan, but she has pretty much mastered her voice.



I'm sorry but, no. :). Even at her best, ayus strongest suit has never been her vocal prowess. Maybe if this were 2003-2005 ayu could have a fighting chance. As it is now, it wouldn't even be a competition. And then Superfly would come along, murder both Ayu and Kuu with her voice and leave their bloody corpses on the stage. :)[/QUOTE]

That's okay~

Honestly, Ayu and Namie shouldn't be compared. Ayumi is an artist, Namie is a popstar.

I think it's not fair to compare each others because they have not the same style at all !
Namie or Utada would be unable to sing a song like Mirrorcle World or forgiveness but Ayu would be unable to sing a song like Deep rever or others ...But say Ayu can't fighting meuhh

^ well, it was mostly a joke. :). But I think you can compare basic technique and ability regardless of style. I actually think Ayumi would do a good job on deep river, lower register songs suit her.

My main point was that most of these singers aren't vocal perfection, there is always someone that could come along and be better.

Now I agree with you :D

RE comment about her vocal prowess, when I saw her Arena Tour this year I was actually blown away by how good her vocals are. Watching through a TV does not do them justice at all.

That's because Avex alters and fixes the vocals~
Compare the vocals from a TV rip of any CDL to the DVD version and you can hear the "alternations".

ooh, i like this one. i love them both but... this. so much this.