^
wow the new logo font works perfectly with the old logo imo :heart

I wouldn't mind something burlesque for CDL though.

That logo is horrid! Love the Arena version but not this.

I really don't understand her design team.
The arabesques surrounding the subtitle is not even properly mirrored.
Those strings hanging from both sides of the mask... and this "ayumi hamasaki"... :no
A logo has to be simple.

lol

I don't mind it, but I think it's funny.

Sometimes I feel like it's one of those things where they just associate the idea of old grand hotels with like English and European traditions.

about the ayumi hamasaki...I suppose they had to put it SOMEWHERE...But I don't really like it in the A either.

very bad logo, i don't like CDL logo, purple masquerade makes very bad
and... purple again ??? butterfly on CDL 2010-2011 -do it again- logo coloured purple too

...and it's not even like, a nice purple.

how is that purple, thats pink, really strong pink lol

hmm it's like mixing high fashion with cheap taste...that's how Ayu's logos are appearing to me.......it's like someone does the drawing and designing, then someone throws them together....something isn't right with her team....there's barrely some balance there....Like in the first one they used the cheap font with a great logo design, and the new one is the other way around....*shrugs* I don't get it lol

i like the CDL logo.. it ain't bad O_o' ppl always complain too much...
the only thing i don't like so much in the logo is the font of 'ayumi hamasaki', they could have choosen a better one for that, but the rest is just fine by me :yes

aww the logo is adorable. a lot cuter than the previous one

The logo is gorgeous idk why people don't like it

I like the logo. The only things that bother me are the two different fonts for the HOTEL Love Songs and Countdown Live, but all in all it's cool ;-P

^LIVE from tokyo?! omg..really?! they had that. that would be so cool seriously..and i'll feel so honoured

TRF’s famous piece 「Happening Here」, which will be covered by ayu, was the original theme song for “ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2011 A ～HOTEL Love songs”. Now, this cover song will be the theme song for the 2 tours “ayumi hamasaki COUNTDOWN LIVE 2011-2012 A ～HOTEL Love songs～” and “ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2012 A ～HOTEL Love songs～”!!

The theme song will be available for download from 21 Dec onwards!

http://misachanjpop.wordpress.com/

original song:

^ że what? more covers? I don't know, there're so many great songs Ayu could cover but I don't see it as a theme for a show that should be represented by her song. +AT12 Hotel Love songs again? Doesn't sound real, but it sounds like Ayu, her ideas drive me crazy recently, not always in a good way, we shall see.

so 2012 will be ayumi hamasaki arena tour 2012 ~HOTEL LOVE SONGS~

Its gonna be awesome.....

Eh? So we will get to see HOTEL Love Songs? Cover theme song? Kinda like what SEVEN DAYS WAR was for 7 Days Special...?

Eh, as long as she sings November at some point in either HOTEL Love Songs, I'll be happy.

TRF are so over-rated, honestly. :shakehead

What about the new album's tour? Hm...

oh....

that's the song...

Well, as long as she's happy. Thank god other artists are amazing right now.

It's possible that the new album will be completely put on hold until later on in the year which would result in a 2013 tour but hey, I'd rather HOTEL Love songs for now, lol.

I totally think Ayu could make Happening Here work. The one thing I'm excited about is that the singing is rather fast. While the song itself is a bit laid back, the actual lyrics are fast paced. YU-KI takes almost no breaths during the verses haha. PS I hope TRF appears at one of the lives haha.

If I remember, Ayu and TRF performed together in one of the earlier tours??

It seems Ayu likes recycling nowadays. Was hoping for something more "future-oriented." Don't know why, TRF sounds sooo old to me!

To be honest, the trf's song isn't anything special. Too much old school lol. I hope the Ayu version will be better.

I'm so excited for this upcoming CDL though. As every year :laugh

CDL 2002-2003
and a-nation 2003(?)

I kinda think that Ayu is recycling her 2003 era for her 2012. We got the 2012 calendar the newer version for 2003 one, the Happening Here also, i guess from 2003? :shrug

I can see so many 2003-ish will happen in 2012.

Happening Here...WOW WAR TONIGHT...ayu's having covers lately..
and i hope it aint one of the 12 new songs.

Wonder when that new album is gonna come out >.<
she could tour from JAN-MAR
push out the new album...
tour from SEP-NOV again right?

I wonder when the setlist will be announced..I'm so curious!

^after first concert, as always

We'll try to get the setlist as soon as we can! (A few hours after the concert ends)

It usually ends up on mixi first though.

Ayu tends to do rather well when recreating songs of days gone by (WOW WAR TONIGHT, SEVEN DAYS WAR, etc.) so I'd like to see what she does with this.

Ahaha I actually really like the song despite the cheesiness. I hope Ayu does a globe song next to continue the TK cover trend...seize the light, get it on or many classic moments :heart:

I'm guessing it won't be. The official website stated it as the theme song for AT'11, which means that ayu probably already recorded it early this year. The song will probably still end up as a bonus track on the new album, but I'm sure it's got nothing to do with the 12 new songs she did in London. :D

Happening Here sounds good, something I could listen for sure :)

Getting excited lol

O_O

The part where she's just rapping in Happening Here is tolerable but that chorus part where there's all those other voices is atrocious. D;

Holy **** her vocals are incredible in the cover! One of her best vocal recordings, very clear and controlled!

OK where can I find the preview? The I-tunes site doesn't tell me much xD

edit: ignore me.

Her vocals sound very Fly high-ish. Though the Engrish is bla, but that's pretty much the case with all the TRF songs.

the song itself even says "HOTEL Love songs" within the lyrics, so i think if anything it will be a bonus to something.

I want to see the new goods~

Does anyone know if there will be a ustream live streaming like with Power of Music?

^
@TA0413: Can we have live streaming on UStream or Ameba Pigg?
@ayu_19980408: Foffooi! Daddy Pei’s announcements are not at an end yet (￣▽￣)♪

^haha, love Ayu's reply! xD

Just went to the ticket shop. It will NOT be the PoM stage. It will be like A-museum.

woo!

awesome!

woww....
thats good...
Coz i dont really like center stage like POM

Can someone tell me, what kind of stage design that they used for A Museum

wasn't A MUSEUM stage sorta like CDL 07-08? i don't exactly remember

Yes, the same as that. A long cat walk that goes to a small stage in the back of the arena. I'll be going tomorrow😄

How is the ticket shop so positive? They had no idea last year?

Usually the ticket shop knows. They have the specific plan for that seat set up right next to the tickets. If its wrong they will have upset customers.

Also the tickets are back to a-block being the most expensive.

They didn't have it last year, and each time I ask the ticket stores for a seating arrangement, they just flip out the book which has seating arrangement of all the arenas in Japan and show me Yoyogi.
Which ticket store did you visit by the way? And which nights are you going? 29th only?

^ This was the ticket store in Shibuya - and yes, they have the specific seating plan pictured with the catwalk and the end stage posted right next to the tickets. I don't know about last year because I got my ticket through the fan club then. In general though, I've never known the ticket shops to be wrong about what kind of stage it will be. I suppose I will find out for sure tomorrow though. :) If they didn't know about the stage last year than they must have received a lot of complaints and probably made sure that they knew for this year?

Yep, just the 29th. I have family here in Japan, so I spend actual New Years the Japanese way now. :)

Ah great, must be true then if they post it right next to it!

Im going tomorrow too, have a good time!

^ Oh really? Ok, I'll try to look out for another foreign Ayu fan. :)

Shuya updated his blog, took a pic inside Yoyogi but took it such that you cant see much.
I think he said the stage was finished today.
http://ameblo.jp/shu-ya-m/entry-11119184294.html

Interesting. The center stage seemed like it was going to be used for HOTEL Love songs but hey, I guess this is more traditional Ayu. I wonder how the height/view obstruction thing comes into play here though.

Should be fine for me, I'm 1.77m and isn't short by Japanese standards at all. Can't wait!!!! 26 hours till I see the stage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guess I'll be seeing you guys at the concert tomorrow, too! I bought my ticket today and camped outside Yoyogi for a bit to see what was going on--she was inside rehearsing a few songs and I heard her practicing some older classics ;). I think we should do well to expect a fantastic show.

Where are y'all sitting, by the way? My ticket is in the front row near the side stage...

Old classics, hm? That sounds nice! Hopefully we get a huge handful of Love songs tracks too!

I'm a bit disappointed we're apparently back at the CDL0708, CDL0809, CDL0910 stage, I was hoping for her to never use it again because it's so boring...let's hope she didn't just completely reuse it with a new can of paint and a new screen like the last times...

Makes you wonder if AT12 will feature the circular stage again since it's HOTEL Love Songs, too, and the CDL stage is so big it's probably NOT portable. It was made for Yoyogi and a) is huge and hard to transport and b) might not even fit into arenas with different sizes.

Ohhhhh I think it gonna be circle stage.I just assumed from this stage has been designed for CDL10-11 and HLS in 2011 at first before changed to POM tour then.Also, i prefer for circle stage. A-museum stage has been used for 2-3 CDL and it should be enough(or not).
I love how can i see Ayu in CDL 10-11 (in DVD) everything was gathered in the center,it's amazing


Anyways, I really don't know. can't wait until tmr, we will know it!!!!

^ didn't people who bought ticket said it's A Museum like stage?

I was counting for rehearsal leaks...

Yes, they did.

And greggerz heard specific songs and only said they were classics. Hopefully she has more than enough Love songs tracks!

We should get a setlist tomorrow =D

14 hours or so till the show starts!

the bad thing about having 3 dates this year is, I will have to hold not looking to setlist or costume photos 1 more day.. hahah

I can't wait to see what the setlist looks like

and of course I want to see photos of the concert, too

I hope ayu wears nice outfits

Haha, so hard to resist it, isn't it?

It is... in fact this is the first time I'm watching it live on Ustream, so I dont want to know the setlist. Anyways, I dont know why, I have the feeling that the costumes will disappoint me this CDL, and I will like the AT12 much better. And also, I hope the AT12 will be long hair featured, she's been almost a year with the same short haircut... =(

^ Well, good news is Ayu changes hair CONSTANTLY (and nails), it's almost an addiction. :laugh

A Muesum stage huh? I was presuming a circular stage.
Anyways so excited for the tracklist, outfits, everything! The show is starting soon... crazy..

Something non-blonde would be nice for a change, at least a wig for two or three songs...

hey~ A japan ayu fans heard the setlist

01.do it again
02.Happening Here
03.MOON
04.fated
05.NEVER EVER
06.sending mail
07.Sparkle
08.Humming7/4
09.evolution
10.flower garden
11.RAINBOW
12.November
13.Ladies Night
14.??? (new song)
15.Love song


ENCORE
16.how beautiful you are
17.Trauma～AUDIENCE
18.Boys&Girls
19.MY ALL

wwwoooww ! if it's really that it's ok for me =)))) arf not Like doll ...

I wouldn't mind such setlist, many good points but still something is missing, I wish she sung some never recorded songs from R 'n' Roll Circus, I only don't like My all to finish the concert :3

Sparkle ♥

yuck, that setlist seems so off.

NOVEMBER !!!!!!!!

it sounds like nothing connects with each other but still I wouldn't mind :)

Wait but if the concert supposedly didn't start yet, how does anyone know the tracklist? Unless she soundchecked/rehearsed the entire show at the venue beforehand?

The songs I heard her rehearsing yesterday are all in that setlist, so I'm inclined to think that's probably correct...in which case I'm a bit disappointed since I really wanted to hear crossroad, Virgin Road and SEVEN DAYS WAR. Oh well, lol.

Who else is going? Anybody want to meet up before the concert starts? =D

Yup, we will find out in 10 hours :D It's almost 1am here so I'm off to sleep and will wake up just in time to read the news :3

I would actually quite like that setlist :) sending mail, Sparkle and Ladies Night :)

Sparkle and November, I already love that concert. Go Ayu, Go !

er could someone explain me the point of making few dates for so called countdown live? And do they sort of have different concert arangement for first two dates because the 31st probbaly has the COUNTDOWN to new year somewhere included in the mid of the song..
I always tought it's the only date on 31st, i mean it's called countdown live for a reason right? :tired unless they are also counting down the days too lol

They just don't do the countdown in the song that has the split. Tickets sell out like hotcakes so they do two [now three] shows.

We knew basically the entire setlist for Future Classics due to this. do it again had bits and pieces.

It's probably legit since people have been camping out each year for the last few years listening to the dress rehearsals.

do it again, fated, NEVER EVER, sending mail, Sparkle, RAINBOW, November, Ladies Night, Love song... I already love this CDL so much!
(I will just pretend Happening thing is not in the setlist).

I'm glad we don't have Thank U but MY ALL. Flower garden is quite rare too nowadays!

I wonder if Like a doll got pushed to a tour-only spot. Not really sure how to feel about it if it isn't in the show, but it's okay if they really did leave it for the tour.

fated, sending mail, november!! <3 OMG! but where's Last Angel? D:
I hope she doesn't sing Evolution in this CDL....

At first glance, I was a little disappointed and thinking that this left a lot to be desired...but looking again, I'm pretty excited. Kind of annoyed with the staples, but it's not like it's surprising that they're there.

Kinda sad that she doesn't end her concerts by singing Who... anymore. :/ Wonder why that is.

Two new songs though?! That's pretty freaking awesome...can't wait to know the title and hear it!

Maybe she will add some songs on dec 31st...

Last CDL she closed it with do it again, this year CDL she will opne with do it again...
Cant wait to see it...

Hope she will add virgin road, progress, and brillante on the final show...

I think the songs I'm looking forward to the most are

do it again
Sparkle
Ladies Night
sending mail
RAINBOW
November
how beautiful you are
+other new song

The tracklist looks great!

I love the setlist, although not really a "Love Songs" focused concert, 5 songs from the album. Seems more like her usual CDL setlists which feature a mix of old and new.

and yes, massive hole left from lack of like a doll. I imagined it to be the "centrepiece" song for her concert.

the concert set list look good
except for :

08.Humming7/4
09.evolution
10.flower garden

happy for never ever and rainbow~~

I know it's supposed to be centered around Love Songs...but I actually like when CDLs are a mixture of all her old and new songs.

5 songs from the album is 4 songs too many imo :laugh but who cares.

I think that it'll probably be super theatric so it'll be at ARENA TOUR 2012 instead of CDL11-12?

boring setlist, like urghh.

I like the set list only if the below are performed in a different way or simply taken out...

02.Happening Here
04.fated
05.NEVER EVER
08.Humming7/4
09.evolution
10.flower garden

^^Yeah, don't hold your breath on that one...