I made my avatar an edited version of the DVD cover. I just covered her ears and added a fake sun. I think it looks decent IMO.

Maybe you misunderstood me. I did not say this single would directly end her career, but it won't help it. It's shaping up to be Glitter/fated part 2. The summery song, the overly photoshopped covers, Sunset rumored to be a ballad. Ya.

I also don't agree with the "if you don't buy it because of the cover, you are not a true fan" line of thought. It may seem like a shallow reason not to buy a single but, the cover IS part of the product you are buying. If covers truly didn't matter (as fans like to say), than no record company would even bother making them to begin with - they would just put the name of the artist and song on the front and thats it. Like it or not, covers do make a difference in the sales of a product. People aren't going to buy things that don't look appealing.

And btw - loved your blog post. Only I would take it a step further and say it began in the second half of 2006.

I think she needs to fire everyone and start over, new music video directors, composers, get the hell rid of peco and princess, god knows they're well in their seventies and ruin every live performance they sing with ayu.

oh no hopefully no Glitter/fated part 2 *shivers*

from what i read in the short lyrics of sunset it does sound like a love song
no matter what i will still support ayu
i said i wasn't going to buy the new single but i will:yes

Thankksss. Yes in retrospect it was late 2006 as Secret was the first album where she started experimenting with all the electronicy stuff

Ok this is becoming ridiculous... I've expressed my opinion that I did not like the covers.. But at the end of the day its my personal taste.. we all like different things! Nobody is going to convince someone else to like/dislike it.. We are on a FORUM.. It would be boring if we all agreed. People are going to have opinions... That is part of the fun! The best we can do is listen to each other and have conversations. I hate how some people have a superiority about them (on both sides) if you don't like something it does not mean its crap.. and if you like something it does not mean that everyone else will. Its all subjective...

Also if people don't like the cover and are freaking out.. its not because they don't like Ayumi but its because they are fans and want her to do well.. We are on an Ayumi Hamasaki fan forum!

Lets all calm down... Can't we all get along? haha


edit:
sorry if my post seems out of place.. I was reading another page where people were arguing.. I did not realize we were at page 24! lol

edit 2:
Oh my... page 25! hahaha

歌詞良いよねー、って思える曲です。何だかもっと人間らしくて、もっと素直な歌詞を
書いてみてくれた様な出来ですかね。話し言葉やら、独話かの様な雰囲気がします。

I really like the lyrics--. They seem kind of like someone thinking aloud to me. Not so polished as her usual lyrics. Kind of reveal a more human side. Even references to "We're not perfect because we're human, my dear//But that's what makes us lovable" (roughly). It's definitely a summertime kinda song to me.

^sounds like a love song

i agree with hot boy here :lech:yes

lets all be friends people :grouphug

^ yeah cause we can all speak perfect japanese right?

(refering to the post above mine)

wouldn't it be funny if this all was a joke :D


well it would...:eyebrow

is that supposed to be rude but whatever i wont bother

i recognize some words but maybe you can't

it looks great! :yes
and lol SO MUCH at people here. that is all i'm going to say

I just translated it really quickly while listening to the lyrics; there are bound to be errors and imprecise lines. Think of it as my interpretation in English rather than a verbatim translation (which is impossible in any case, if I may say).

Come a little closer... Try believing a little more...

I know there were tears glistening on your cheeks
Until just a moment ago, on that smiling face
That I love best when you're smiling innocently
I won't say it's easy to show me the real you
But I have confidence I can accept this side of you, too

Hey now, in a louder voice
I wanna present you with a bigger love
I wanna make it resound in your heart
Hey now, in a louder voice
If I shout for a bigger love
I wonder if it'll reach you just a little
The long way around is just right
Cause I know we can understand one another

I get the feeling I can more or less imagine what you wanna say
Just when I think I'm facing things, I'm running away
If I say I'm not afraid, honestly it's a lie, you see
<Next line is incomprehensible to me; can't make out what she's saying>
[I've prepared for whatever may come]

Come a little closer... Try believing a little more...

You can hear this shaky, wavering pulse of mine so
I want you to come a little closer, to try believing a little more
Listen carefully to your heart
Reassuring one another has come to an end
Because we know we feel the same way about each other

We're not perfect or anything
Because we're human, my dear
But that's just fine--I really think so
Those are the parts of us that make us lovable

Hey now, in a louder voice
I wanna present you with a bigger love
I wanna make it resound in your heart
Hey now, in a louder voice
I wanna shout for a bigger love
I wonder if you felt it just a little
It's just right if we take the long way around
I'm certain we can understand one another

________________________________

As I said, this is just a simple and quick translation. I cannot vouch for its accuracy depending on your view of how things should be translated. I tried to make it read more naturally in English, but I took some liberties. Tell me what you think. I really like this song. It makes me smile.

thanks for the translation. it's a bit more understandable to me now. i love these lines:

"We're not perfect or anything
Because we're human, my dear
But that's just fine--I really think so
Those are the parts of us that make us lovable"

and i remember she had that in her TA message not too long before the song came out. people were right in thinking they were lyrics :yes

Thanks for the translation!!!
I really love Ayu's lyrics. They are (in my opinion) always great!!!

Thank you! I really liked that part of the lyrics, too. It made me sit up and take notice more than any lyrics she has written in a while. I think it's an affirmation of her current feeling about life and things. It's a little more candid than some of the other songs she has released in that it is a little more accessible and closer to spoken words than polished lyrics.

From CDJapan:
Natsu barrado = summer ballad.

fated was a midtempo ballad when 'announced' so I think this should sound kind of like HANABI moreso than fated. To be honest, I don't see the problem in having a fun summer song like Sunrise and another ballad.. it pleases the people who like her upbeat stuff and/or the people who like her ballads!

I think it's a perfect set to have an up-tempo tune and a ballad if doing a double-A side single. People might get tired of such a pairing, but especially in the summer, one that celebrates the season and one that looks at the difficulty faced in love by people during the summer--in spite of how much fun they might be having--is a good thing, too. I dunno. I just enjoy what she releases much of the time. And her lyrics have supported me for 10 years, since around her LOVEppears days. ^-^/ I owe my current interests in languages in large part to her great lyrics.