Except, she recently mentioned on twitter that she DOESN'T have the freedom that all you guys keep saying she does. The top hats at Avex told her no to something on the setlist, and she couldn't perform the setlist that she wanted. I don't think that's the definition of freedom.

^ It seems that JUNO was originally not allowed to perform, I am not even sure how she got him to sing with her at all.

Yeah, I have to agree with this. Look at Love songs. I find it hard to believe that Ayu was working with TK because she wanted to when he obviously owes/owed avex a LOT of money and was apparently composing songs for a bunch of artists at avex at the time.

Greatful days
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_kSz...layer_embedded

2 years in a row without Summer single =)

Hope there won't be a winter tacky ballad this year, and then it will be 2 years in a row without winter single...

What doesn't mean she can't still do whatever she wants, fans liking it or disliking it...

Thanks!

Who was it that went after Ayu?

Everything has it's limits. In the end she might be forced to switch to another label. Who knows.

I don't think it's that Ayu completely doesn't care what fans want I just don't think it is a powerful factor in her decision making when it comes to her music and/or her performances.

Hey people, do you think it's really for this reason she's not the last performer? I mean, since the start of the a-nation she has this tracklist & avex said her something only for the last show? Excuse me, but I think there is another reason! & avex don't want that reason spread!

It's in the Twitter thread. avex wanted Ayu to change the set list (I'm guessing to get rid of Naoya) and she refused so she wasn't going to perform at Tokyo. Then they made a deal that she could keep her set list if she let THSK go after her. Well, that's what it seems like at least.

If FIVE is the beginning of Ayu doing what she wants those are the last days of my ayu fandom

I think FIVE was a mix of what Ayu wanted to do and what avex wanted (a release)~

I personally think it's a step in the right direction, but she just needs to get her foot out of the medium tempo pothole.

As for what Ayu wants and what fans want... isn't one of the reasons why a lot of people love Ayu because she does what she wants (to the best of her ability anyway, definitely not the case with avex-nation vs. ayu-nation) and takes risks even if they might not be smart ones? It might seem a bit stubborn, but I think her unwavering determination or whatever you might call it is one of the reasons for her success in the last 13-14 years.

Yes, her fans are her customers and in the end they are the ones who will decide her 'fate' in the industry, but at the same time I don't think she has to heed fans' every word so long as she is simply being honest to herself and creating work that she believes is good. The minute that Ayu creates something just for the sake of pleasing fans (dedicating =/= pleasing) would put her down a few pegs in my book as that is something I doubt she has ever done during her career.

Some fan you are... I can complain every now and then, but if you are going to diss her off over a couple of songs...

I hope ANother song isn't what Ayu wanted, as that would be everything, but what I consider the RIGHT direction :) The rest of the songs aren't really new direction wise.

They aren't, but I don't think it was an attempt to step into new territory for Ayu. I don't really think she's done that with any of her albums with the exception of NEXT LEVEL anyway, and that didn't exactly fare so well. (when it was released anyway)

On the topic of a-nation, I wonder how the DVD is going to be divided up since there are a LOT of high profile artists this time around...

^^ Its not because of the songs, I guess I explained it bad. I always loved ANother Song and Why... is beautiful. I also think that seeing Ayu collaborate with other artists is refreshing. Is just that there is always some drama around her, she has an attitude that I don't like. And her new songs hardly have the feeling that they used to

^ Oh well xD It's alright then.

That's how I feel as well.

Hmm I am guessing only the avex artists will remain and the rest we'll prolly never see?

The reasons for her being only second to last sound more serious than I thought. And somehow it makes my love for Ayu even stronger (if that's even possible) ! I support her through the bad and good times. Go Ayu!

I totally agree.

well, avex DID release an orchestral album with Hikki tracks on it... Actually, only Hikki tracks on it