I very much doubt that what overseas fans think will affect how the release does in Japan. At the moment, both the limited edition and CD+DVD are in the top 15 on Amazon.co.jp (#7 and #13 respectively) which is pretty good considering the releases ahead of her are like... AKB / Masaharu Fukuyama.

I would say that this so called negative judgement of the mini album is about the norm for Ayu releases. Love songs and Rock'n'Roll Circus were received surprisingly well I thought, with few people hailing that they were the worst albums of her career. It's interesting how different opinions can vary, but for now I think it's a mix of being desperate for new Ayu and not getting what you might want to hear from her.

I think that the insertion of collaborations into this album sort of ruined the 'groove' of FIVE. beloved and progress are both so very much Ayu-ish songs that I think if they had not included Why... and ANother song, she probably would have had a much stronger mini-album in people's eyes. But since essentially half of the album is made up of collabs and almost every track is of a 'medium' feel, it doesn't really feel right.

As for 'fierce', if you think about this as a 5A-side (which would be classified as a mini album in Japan anyway), it's pretty well balanced at the moment with one fierce/powerful track and a few other genres mixed in there (mostly ballad/midtempo though). If she were doing a full album, I think we would've probably seen some more upbeat tracks mixed in. Personally, I would've liked to see a summery track on the album but I'm happy with what we have so far because I know that eventually she is going to do something upbeat, so why be disappointed that it isn't here right now?

But I don't see how Ayu could be forced to release this at this time. I think avex would have been plenty happy with a single - we haven't had any between Love songs and FIVE at all! With Leslie calling FIVE "a new revolution" and so on, to me this seems like Ayu stand behind this product 100%, just like all of her other releases. I could see them forcing her to release something if it had been a LONG time since her last release, but this is the quickest we have ever received an "album" ... I don't know but we all know Seiko used to sell trillions (lol) and look at her now. I guess all good things must come to an end and we must accept the fact that things change.

I do not mean to sound negative or whatever, I'm just speaking my mind on this matter and how I believe Ayu's career will be affected because of this release.
Those releases were, for the most part, at least something FRESH. I guess this release still has that "something different" than Ayu's past works thing going for it but not in a good way. NEXT LEVEL was foreshadowed as a new chapter. new excitement. the "NEXT LEVEL". That both worked in favor and against it as a release. Sunrise/Sunset was just a single to begin with and although Sunset was a little boring, Sunrise was just as exciting as a Summer single can get. Mirrorcle World's PV was a disappointment but hey the song more than made up for it. And B&D, that was the single before an album (that turned out to be great) and Ayu made up for it with releases before and after. This is almost 6 years later, she cannot afford that kind of disappointment.

Well, maybe I'm just trying to not lose all hope for Ayu's future releases, lol. But I really haven't been getting the impression that this is a release she REALLY cares about. In all honestly, this release seems to me like Ayu just doesn't want to start a new era yet because she wants to perform HOTEL Love songs, but she has to release SOMETHING this year because of her contractual obligations or w/e. So she just pulled out a few Love songs rejects and threw in ANother song (which to me, sounds like a reject from the Dream ON single to begin with) and maybe BRILLANTE. I mean, in my opinion if she was really behind this, it would be more polished overall. I mean how could no one who was producing ANother song notice that the synth isn't even in sync with the rest of the song. The synth track that is playing through practically the whole song. IS NOT IN SYNC WITH ANYTHING ELSE. That's just unforgivable for me, and it is in part what makes me feel like she dgaf about FIVE. Of course I may be tooootally off here, but that's just the impression I've been getting. But I hope that I'm right because at least it would give me hope that her future songs will not be this horridly produced. :'(

You are talking as though Ayu is doing terribly though... she is still selling better than most acts out there save for anyone who is the flavor of the week at the moment. Other than Ayu, the only other artist from her era doing as well is Namie. Sales as a whole minus AKB/some groups have been pretty bad nowadays with 100k-200k (if that) becoming "good sales" with exception of AKB, of course. (I still don't understand that phenomenon, haha.)

I would say that the main reason for the looooooooooong delay was Tales of Xillia. avex probably wanted progress to be the first thing out after Love songs, but since the game wasn't coming out until late September, about nine months after Ayu was announced to be attached to the project... this ended up being what we got. The earthquake in March might have also played a part in it as well.

I've always felt this way too when people bring up Ayu's sales. I think "who the Hell IS selling better than her?" because I always see her releases come out on top even in the yearly reports. But we have yet to see the sales for FIVE and I am just bracing myself and think others should do the same.

I think FIVE will probably end up selling more than say, L or crossroad, but it probably will not be able to sell 200k+.

The fact that it's all 100% "new" is pretty nice, but I think they should have probably lowered the price point since you're paying the same price for less than half the usual material you get for ~3000 yen+.

We might see a bit higher sales than we normally would because of AAA, JUNO, and Tales of Xillia though. It's interesting how the edition with the special ToX costume has been the best selling version for the last two months.

I just think people are being too overdramatic...

AHS opinion about Ayu releases almost always differ totally to general japanese public opinion... People over there tend to love the same tracks we bash over here... Face it, saying that AHS is responsable for 10k copies sold is being naive, I wouldn't be surprised if people over here together buy less than 1000 copies of her releases...

and @Zeke., I know u can have your own opinion, but shouldn't you wait to listen to the tracks before getting in panic? x________________x Besides Tom Punks I don't see anyone really hating it more than usual... (and I'm not saying is wrong for Tom to hate it)

Well I'm going by everyone else's opinions. My single opinion will not change the success of this release. I hope I do like this release though...

I think the only bad thing about this release is that there isn't the variety that is normally there that we have with a full album, so the 'hate' seems magnified.

Memorial address had help with having & and two ballads before it was released. Perfect balance, I think. Without any singles though, this release does seem to pale in comparison. (2 pop/2 alternative/4 ballads vs. 3 medium tracks/1 pop-rock/1 ballad)

How much of the clip you have seen? I don't think, she will not be in the clip. Maybee not in the part you saw.
In vivi-Preview we saw her making the clip!

Ayu wasn't in endless sorrow and it's one of her best pvs ever <3

I like the new songs, but they aren't good or mind-blowing by ayu standards, she could do so much better.

I put my money on BRILLIANTE, but not really, if it's going to be another drag queen inspired pv, hopefully it isn't too trashy. Oh well, as long as the song turns out amazing.

Sales are important but while I gey emotional with Ayu´s song I will be her fan...n__n

I expect BRILLIANTE to be the second INSPIRE
please please please :P

I am not expecting anything from BRILLANTE. Of course I hope it's good, but I'm not placing my bets on it. From the sound of it, BRILLANTE has a lot to live up to.

better if you don't, so you don't feel even more disappointed.

I think from what they've said about BRILLANTE, it will probably have a medium epic sound like do it again did? That's what I think of when I read 'movie soundtrack' anyway.

It's kind of awesome that we're gonna be getting 5 new PVs next week~ I want to see previews nowwww~

^^ yeah I know

but I just want to hope for something lol
let it be at least WELL-PRODUCED song with a decent arrangement and memoramble melody.

lol yeah, I just feel the bland feeling of this album was almost intentional, I don't know if they are bringing it down so the kids can jump on it or something :P (kids= urata, juno)

I'm just surprised people are complaining so much about this release when they didn't complain about the last 2 years of her career....tbh. Everything since Mirrorcle World seemed to be some half finished thought that could have been a hit, but was rushed to generate sales or make convenient release dates. In the end, FIVE is going to fulfill its inherent purpose anyway, which is to grant her another #1 mini-album and satisfy a release deprived fanbase. Just be happy she didn't retire yet.

True, but the way we all feel about her releases is subjective.

You can't expect everyone to think the same way.

Agree.

oh no, she won't retire in near future :lech

this girl loves attention, she'll keep releasing new things in order to stay in spotlight.

Lots of people have been complaining for a while now. I agree that everything since Mirrorcle World was lacking somewhat (with the exception of Love songs, which I adore), but really, the stuff that's been released so far has made me feel so bad for complaining about NEXT LEVEL and Rock'n'Roll Circus because I do think that this release is like twice as bad.

OMG, I fear for the worst. :(

She's showing up at the end of the musicvideo, grabbing the feather which fell from heaven.

Maybe the TV/DVD versions slightly differ from each other.

XD I feel the need to put a disclaimer here. The general consensus seems to be that the songs are just really boring or forgettable. Personally, I think that on top of that, ANother song is just a really bad song that should never have made it to a finished product. Of course I have the most negative opinion here apparently, so try not to get too scared. XD

On the other hand, you're like me and don't like Rock'n'Roll Circus but love Love songs so... yeah. We'll see. Can't wait to see what you think of the songs when you get to hear them. :P

I was so disappointed with Love Songs and I must say that i LOVE all the tracks that leaked for the moment
ANother song is so good, kind of Itano Tomomi/Kana Nishino

wait so, zeke hasn't listened to the new songs yet? :thud

are you like complaining beforehand just to make sure :laugh


and in my case:

I loved GUILTY and NEXT LEVEL, RnRC was okay, don't like Love songs.

Eh, it's best to just decide for yourself whether you like the album or not and avoid letting other people's opinions influence you.

Overall, I think this is a solid release with the only downside of having very un-Ayuish tracks in the form of collaborations. Those should have been on a single... a double bro-side or something.

Omg, the drama.

It's quite unbeliveable the reaction of AHS.
The impression that I've got from FIVE, it's that this is NOT a release to western fans, international fans, whatever, it's for Japan.
Many tracks which we love, adore, OMG IT'S UNBELIVEABLE HOW GOOD IT IS makes no success in her country, as an example, talkin'2myself.
People in her country, in general, loves this type of song. And I think she's aiming to them. Going all the way out with the thought of she's relying in her fanbase. Maybe it's true, and maybe, she just get tired of it and she's trying to gather some new fans.
I think the reaction of a-nation wasn't from the audience, but from her loyal fans that seeks every little point of her career and send her a lot of tweets complaining.
I don't know. Many people are saying that old story of "her old releases were good, perfect than what we have today", but many of them adore Love songs, and, hm, let me think, it's her last release currently.
Well, I love her career, I consider "NEXT LEVEL" as one of her most enjoyable albums thus far and I'm pretty normal with this release. I didn't love all the songs, but I'm fine with what I have. Maybe the next release will be more mind-blowing.
But I don't think she's arruined, this will be a crucial point, no more will listen to her and etc. end of year or in 2012 we will have new stuff and people will get happy again. Yey.
It's too drama for too little thing.

PS: sorry for the English =b

I don`t understand what`s wrong with FIVE... For me this release is one of the best! I love when something comes new from ayu because I`m bit tired of those songs like Mirrorcle World, evolution, HONEY... I really needed something like this mini album :heart

I actually like ANother song.
The melody is really really pretty!!

I agree.

It makes me think of ICONIQ, AZU, and other R&B singers in Japan :)

Aww, well said.

I think this mini album is good, but because of the lack of promotion, it hasn't reached the hearts of all fans yet. I guess everyone's tastes are different. I'm in love with Beloved already. I've only heard it a few times and it sticks in my head. Of course, being a big fan of Guilty, I would like some more rock ballads, but I'm not complaining because Guilty is Guilty and Five is Five, so there's no point in saying I wish it was more like such & such album, they're all unique in their own ways :)

I agree :yes

Also known as the artists I don't listen to. So far I can hardly say that FIVE is shaping up to be a master-piece. Sure progress is amazing, but I am not so sure about the rest of the songs. Let's wait and see though.

ANother song is a really good surprise!!
the melody is nice and the voice of him sounds good.
this is something new, and i like it !! It's a mix between Kana Nishino and Tomomi Itano !!

lol the dissatisfaction for FIVE is nowhere near the dissatisfaction of GUILTY or NL. not even close.

also, tbh whether she releases amazing music or crap music she's going to "flop" either way and be at a "bottom" saleswise, judging by the decline in sales of each release, even if the quality of one is 10x better than the previous one. I still love her but she's just not young & hip anymore to Japan, like it was explained in the ayu's reputation thread.

I hate the collabs. Now that I've heard them, I know I'll practically never listen to them.
beloved is sweet but forgettable, a typical meaning of love/close to you type ballad.

progress is good, I need it in HQ. BRILLIANTE better STUN me or I am going to be so extremely disappointed (I mean I already am). I think this is one of ayu's worst releases ever...and that breaks my heart.

I mean...I've loved every song in the last 12 years...with a small exception for Will. And...this...is...blah.

^ I agree. GUILTY for me was the album that did NOTHING for me. I never go back to listen to it. I remember first getting the (dont)leave me alone PV and just being over it haha. (Sucks because I love Glitter/Fated) so much.

For this album, I am not getting that POWER that is in all of her other albums. In Love Songs, there was Do it Again and in RnRC there was Microphone that caught my attention right away.

Hopefully Brillante does that?

I'll just say what I said in the ANother Song thread...
lol @ people totally getting their panties in a twist about this entire release. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the reason most of the songs are quite simple and calm is because of all that's been happening in Japan this year. It's sort of been her theme, and I think if she bought out a bunch of Microphones or Sparkles it'd be a bit weird....
Is it the best release ever? No. But people are overreacting, as usual.

interesting way to look at it, you could be right.

but i think people are still forgetting progress when calling this whole release bland... there's nothing simple or bland about that song. I hope BRILLANTE is the same.

Someone hold out their arms, I may faint! I can't handle this. Hand me a drink! :drunk

I love GUILTY.

:yes

Progress is one of those amazing standout tracks.
Personally I think the PVs will be amazing. The cover art is already gorgeous. The inside scans will be sooo good, I can just feel it.
I'm not a massive fan of the other songs, but not a hater either.

They'll probably grow on me like GUILTY did. Ok whoever dissed that...
:no it's such a great album.

Wondering why I'm spending $75 on this.

Guess I should look at this as a progress/beloved/BRILLIANTE triple A side single.

I don't mean to be rude, please try not to take this the wrong way, but you wrote something similar in another thread. You don't seem to know what 'general state of opinion' means. Also, you don't know if GUILTY or NEXT LEVEL have as much admirers as they do critics. Are you making an assumption? Given your choice words, it seems like it. Don't forget you are an internet user too.

I'm more embarrassed by the fact people are writing long ass paragraphs about how they're disappointed. Like...sh--t....they're just songs. Don't like them, don't listen to them :shrug

ANother song isn't even that bad :\ It's just that their voices do not mesh well which makes me not appreciate it as much.

Now I also want to throw in my two cents:

To be honest I will never get this kind of negative reactions about every Ayu release.
I think it's natural that more people seem to complain and don't like a new release because if you didn't liked something you feel the need to say so more than if you liked something. What would be the reason why more people say they don't like the new release than people who say they like it.
Furthermore it's just normal that not everyone likes everything Ayu releases, of course there are also songs from Ayu I don't mind to listen to.
It doesn't annoy me in any way if people on ahs say "I don't like this", "I can't stand this at all" or "for me it's her worst release ever". This are just personal opinions.
But what bothers me is all the drama over here and people acting as if it is a fact that Ayu just releases lousy music the last few years. Maybe some people might don't like anything of the recent stuff, but there is no need to state a personal opinion as fact.
Besides if you don't like an artist anymore than move on and listen to someone else. Of course it's not easy to accept that your favourite artist isn't making music you like anymore, but that's life. And of course even if you don't like Ayu's new stuff you can listen to every new release and say you also don't like it. But keep in mind that your opinion isn't a fact. We're just talking about music here and there are thousands of other artists and I'm sure there are a few out there you will like.
Maybe Armageddon is near, I mean next year is 2012:P, but don't liking a new release won't bring the end any closer.

I decided that this is a topic, for which no one really can tell what is fact or not. I even deleted the post you were quoting but it seems I haven't been fast enough with that xD

Let me just put is this way:

Of course I am an internet user myself and I sure do post my opinions like other people use to do as well, but the point I start to be intolerant is, when there are statements coming up that try to make clear, what a specific group of people is said to think or feel.

The similar text I, like you mentioned, posted in another thread, was about a user who tried to tell us what the japanese public thinks about Ayumi Hamasaki or her recent image (I cannot even remember it clearly now).

Now: I for one strongly believe that it is not possible to make reliable assumptions for people's opinion about something. I don't see a possibility to do that. So if someone says "Man, FIVE gets so much hate, but it's not even close at the disappointment people faced with [INSERT ALBUM NAME]" I just think "How can he/she tell?".

Show me polls of 130 million Japanese that voted for Ayu' best/worst album and I might give it a chance in the future. Otherwise it's just pure theory and simply not reliable statements.

I am really disappointed in Ayu, this seems to be a really substandard release. The sooner this release is done with, the better..

I removed my reply as soon as I saw that you deleted your comment. Don't feel pressured to argue. I restored my reply in case other people want to read it.

Anyway, are you saying you need the entire Japanese population to vote in order to satisfy a 'general opinon'? Instead of wishing upon something impossible, take a look at her sales. If you can't trust the words of people at AHS who live in Japan then her sale records are the best thing you have.

You were wrong to make the assumption that GUILTY and NEXT LEVEL share an equal amount of like and dislike among listeners. Our forum friends who are living in Japan did not make any assumptions. They made sure to ask their Japanese friends, co-workers or whoever before writing a comment. Remember, we are talking about the general opinion.

It's an error take the sales as an argument.
If so, Ayumi Hamasaki is still the best female solo artist for many, many years and her popularity hasn't decreased a little.
We know that this isn't true.

Therefore, the sales has decreased to ALL artists.
------------------
Imo, Ayu is and will always be an icon in japanese music industry, people can say she's not attracting any new listeners, she's someone from the past. But no one can ignore her achievements and all her influence over these years.
I'm not living in Japan, and even if was the case, I wouldn't take opinions from a bunch of people as facts. If this was the absolute truth, I couldn't believe in how she still manage to sold out many concerts.
Everything don't surpass the mere supposition.

Anyway, I hope people don't think that because an album is less sold, it's more hatred and stuff. "NEXT LEVEL" for me it's one of her best albums to date.

THIS. And the two collabs could be considered as bonus lol.

But ANother song is not that bad. Comparing the two collabs, I think I like ANother song more for the time being. Maybe part of the reason is that ANother song has higher quality than Why...

I am surprised that BRILLANTE's composer is not a Japanese.

Thats the triple A-side she should have released!!! And the other two songs could be released later... ANother song as Urata's single and Why... maybe as an album track or bonus track on triple A-side.

I agree 100%. I can't believe the complains about promotion and it's been that way since NEXT LEVEL era. We ayu fans are spoiled

also I bet no one will be able to answer your last question lol

I disagree. It is not an error. I don't mean overall sales either. That should have been obvious. Ayumi releases new CD's much more often than say, Utada or Namie. Ayumi's sales consistently goes down but Utada and Namie's sales fluctuate.

You're not suppose to take opinions as facts. I'm glad you don't. However, observations are not opinions. Like other people here, you are thinking about yourself and not the general crowd. I would hope you still enjoy her music despite lower sales. I loved NEXT LEVEL, by the way.

Like I said, I am still keeping an open mind about this release. As I have heard, everyone is saying "Why..." is very Jpop-ish, which I love. So I have faith but I am not expecting anything. I don't do that with Ayu releases anymore. All of my rants (if you want to call them that) and opinions regarding this release is just based off of the information I have compiled while reading comments and reactions to the leaks, coupled with the promotion and the current state of her popularity/career. Therefore I am not complaining much since this has little to do with my opinion regarding this release. It has just been my input and how I feel this release will affect her career and what type of foreshadowing I am getting from this...

That's a very strange way of doing it since the people who are most dissatisfied tend to be the most vocal about their disappointment with the release each and every time. Very rarely will you find more people saying "I LOVE THIS." except during some exceptions.

i kinda feel that too. =\

im done with her producers... she could try working with new people, maybe not japanese ones, that would surely bring new sounds to her music...

ANother song just sounds like it should be sung by kumi instead of ayu.

and why is urata first to sing on the track? Ugh I'm so freaking annoyed

all hope goes to BRILLIANTE, since it's composed by British musician :yes

I like progress ! *O* ! .... the other songs are very random ...

i like progress ....the other songs are very random -.-

at baidu someone said FIVE (CD+DVD) has a hidden track (like kanariya and flower garden)

http://imgsrc.baidu.com/forum/pic/it...90b0fb95f5.jpg

I think that's just rumor
it's too good to be true xD

I hoped for a hidden track too xD
CD version contains 6th track "beloved -Acoustic Orchestra version'" right?

from ayuchina

^ that person from Ayuchina just got it from Oricon's Baidu~

yes this is what I thought at first listen too. I thought of this for beloved as well.
both sound like her bland throwaway ballad b-sides.

omg I hope it's true!

Someone compared the album duration~

↓ from ayuchina
1.progress
Lyrics: Ayumi Hamasaki
Composer：Yuta Nakano
Arranged by：Yuta Nakano
00:05:05

2.ANother song feat.URATA NAOYA
Lyrics: Ayumi Hamasaki
Composer：Yuta Nakano
Arranged by：Yuta Nakano
00:05:21

3.Why... feat.JUNO
Lyrics: Ayumi Hamasaki
Composer：Kazuhiro Hara
Arranged by：Yuta Nakano
00:03:57

4.beloved
Lyrics: Ayumi Hamasaki
Composer：Yasuhiko Hoshino
Arranged by：Yuta Nakano
00:05:19

5.BRILLANTE
Lyrics: Ayumi Hamasaki
Composer：Timothy Wellard
Arranged by：Yuta Nakano
00:05:52

Yuta Nakano arranged 5 songs <3!

oh no, they all were arranged by Yuta Nakano >< hope he didn't spoil BRILLANTE (I just noticed it's not BRILLIANTE lol)

^And what's wrong with that? o_o;

Hidden track?! An upbeat song?! <3

^^ why? does Yuta Nakano suck at arrangements?

^do you think ANother song and beloved have a great arrangement?

I don't like the idea that all songs were arranged by the same guy. I'd love to see CMJK as arranger for at least one song.

new pics of BRILLANTE pv ... ayu just tweeted'em

http://twitpic.com/6aicsl

http://twitpic.com/6aicya

http://twitpic.com/6aid4l

she looks cute

omg hidden track!!! I really hope so!

Hopefully it doesn't sound like + or flower garden and more like Memorial address <3


Maybe it's going to be called FIVE :thud *dreams*

^ I hope too! *cross fingers*
it will be great if she surprises us with a hidden track!!!

reuploaded from twitpic

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1.../380449605.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1.../380449810.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1.../380450037.jpg

^ btw she commented these pics as 肉 which means "meat" ~.~

Sorry I just had to :innocent

Hidden track will be interesting. I like + but I am not hoping it sounds like that. I won't be disappointed but as far as a bonus track I guess I'm like most people and would like a more rockish song like Memorial address. I just think it's the perfect "bonus" song.

I don't think ANother song is as bad as you guys are saying but it is nothing special. However, I think I will like this album because of the variety it offers.

As long as they make BRILLANTE an electronic / dance song then this album is good enough for me.

btw

beloved : 5:19
beloved (Orchestra version) : 6:10

anyway I think we may get a full CDrip on 27th:luv2:luv2
:tired if there is a hidden track we will get it soon

Oh, apparently one of the models used in BRILLANTE was in the ever free interlude video during concert tour 2000? He must have been a little kid!

theres no hidden track..
beloved (Orchestra Version) has a bigger length.

waiting for 27th *_*

The orchestra version is on the CD only version. People are saying that there might be a bonus track because the CD+DVD has a longer duration than the CD only [Tales of Xillia] edition.

= =:tipsy ah I see....
= =:thud:thud

im waiting for another songS! another singles, another great album as Rock'n'Roll Circus was... another great tour as ARENA TOUR 2009...

..........................:thud
:tipsy
so I didn't misunderstood=_=

It's not an electronic dance song. It's a medium tempo song.

BRILLIANTE PV will be the best ever. Gangbang me now, please!
Sorry, had to say it. lol

LOL

this hidden track maybe something stupid... like Ayu&Urata comment xD
I know artists who did something like this

maybe this is re-arranged in game style progress...

maybe orchestra version something from Love songs...