Super interesting!!
I'm so curious about Ayu new style. Damn, if it really isn't anything "kawaii princess", I'm gonna do a thank-you dance in my room, lol.

You've gotta have an eye for that as well it isn't easy. But well yeah. There's so much more work put into MAKING an outfit than putting it together.

http://ayufan.com/blog/?p=12677

All the descriptors with 'stylist's own' could be his creations but they could also be vintage items or something. (rings, vests, the wave dress) Basically, he's a makeup artist + stylist + creative director + designer all in one, it seems.

If you look at his Instagram, it seems like he designs clothing too judging from the bolts of fabric he's been buying. Maybe he's been showing us sneak peeks at what we might see on stage? (Lots of gold/red/metallics?)

http://i.imgur.com/3WPM2lu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/YfDt7ze.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/CrqPD4Y.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yCxb6RU.jpg

https://zh-cn.facebook.com/alvingohk...?stream_ref=10

His design work is pretty out there. He made that golden crystalline dress and the kind-of-blurred mirror dress you see in the above link and he's worked with some pretty huge stars like Tilda Swinton, Uma Thurman, Emma Watson, and Milla Jovovich. His name must get around!

hahaha though metallic, i trust he'll work something amazing and not tacky :P

I don't think he is really that arrogant: he is aware of his own business. He seems to be very confident, so I'm curious to whatever he comes up with.

As being a student in stage and costume design myself, I hope Goh could make come true whatever he is calling style, fashion and international. I am not really fond of Ayu looking like a circus performer (which she sometimes does on stage), so hopefully his approach could give her image a little more sophistication and edge.

can't wait for alvin goh's designs and styles for ayu's stage costumes!

i hope for dazzling lights, bright outfits, a shining stage

I just hope her new releases won't just be full of unthemed photoshoots with her wearing crazy outfits. Something cold you would find inside magazines.
I'm not fond of the diva image at all.

Yeah my favourite album booklets are always themed ones. I hate it when it looks like a random set of pictures for various photo shoots (probably from different eras!)

I really hope Alvin can bring a new breeze to Ayu's costume department. I've been waiting for her to work with someone with fashion background for the costume like Madonna or Kylie, not that I don't appreciate her usual costume designer but tbh her designs are getting duller imo

Her usual designer (Akira Noda) stopped working with her in 2011 or 2012, I think... so lately it's been this newish guy.

^Ah I see, that's probably why the costume at AT13 are not as new looking while the latest CDL had a new vibe in it.

All the costumes from the latest CDL were rehashed.

^I thought only the glittery coat and hoodie were the rehashed ones. If not the rest looked more improved (or maybe I forgot about it)

The latest CDL is the newer guy (Masataka Kato) while I think the last a-nation or two may have been done by Alvin Goh. Not 100% sure on that but some of the stuff looked pretty different IMO... mainly the bodysuit.

^The body suit for that event (I forgot) really reminds me of the Alvin photoshoot, and I thought she should've wear that instead that black Madonna-esque studded corset in AT13

The costume she used for is this LOVE? was used for INSPIRE/Don't look back during AT2010. The stuff she wore under the coat was used last year during the tour and other lives as well. The CAROLS dress could be new, but she had so many similar dresses in the past.

Some costumes were altered, but I can't recall a single costume I haven't seen before atm XD

She actually did have a bodysuit for that performance in A BEST LIVE but she swapped it out mid-tour. She did the same with a few other outfits, I think too.

^I forgot her original choice of costume before switching to the ultra music fest silvery costume, that one looked like a wrestler lol reminds me of Madge's HARD CANDY

The under layer is indeed that one, I just give credits for her giving it a new outer layer. Is Free & Easy too another rehashed because I'm not sure.

Now that I went back and looked at it again, A BEST LIVE's ASFXX original outfit is a lot like her Rule outfits with some gold accents added on, haha.

http://i.imgur.com/vZ9e1vz.jpg

i felt that at the beginning of A BEST LIVE there was some cool looks which all got changed towards the end

Which other A Best Live outfits got changed apart from the first one?

I recall the You & Me/BLUE BIRD outfit originally matched the dancers (lots of colors and stuff hanging off) and there was a slightly different outfit that had the 'sewn together' look for the Wake me up/Tell All section instead of the pleather CDL07-08 variant that we got in the final performances.

http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=117726

You can see all of the outfits here, but they are also seen in the credits section for the most part. She changed the hair for M/No way to say mid-tour too so that it was completely pulled back instead of having bangs/fringe visible.

I'm a little more saddened that we never got SAKURA footage since it seems like that outfit got a bit of a different skirt with a swing.

^Love the opening outfit, it's so much better than the Ultra Music Fest one. I also love the original BLUE BIRD costume with the colorful sewn together look, it's cool. And the Tell All one is also better than the decision CDL outfit. I wonder why she changed them all, it's quite many of a costume change, isn't it? She usually only change one or two at max if I'm not mistaken

YAY :love:yes:cool

^I can't waiiit !!!

I just actually bothered to look at A Best Live's costumes. I'm not a fan. What I hate most, though, are her shoes. She has always worn the worst shoes during her concerts. They are too... sensible. I've seen other singes break it down in stilettos, but Ayu barely dances and she insists on wearing shoes that have the comfort level of Crocs.

I hope Alvin can give her new life. Harper's Bazaar photoshoot was to die for.

Crocs? I think you're over exaggerating. Cos I've not seen any to that level.

That outfit was worn during INSPIRE at the asahi performance.

The costume for is this LOVE? is different from the Don't look back/INSPIRE @ rnrc...

Yes, that was the point :P

It's possible Ayu's had bad experiences with heels during performances so she defaults to booties/sneakers/boots. I can't recall the last time she wore something like stilettos during a tour if at all. But we DO know she loves her shoes so it's not like she never wears them, hm..

And she doesn't even dance. Unless arm flailing counts.

Maybe so, remember there's time when she lose balance on stage (during rehearsals) and all, she probably preventing things like that to happen. She loves shoes and stilettos but maybe it's too much for her to wear one on stage plus she's not Beyonce lol but I do hope she wears a more flattering shoes like Kylie who's not afraid to wear her collection on stage

You all must have run out of things to criticize ayu about if you're picking on her stage shoes, come on now lol :laugh

^:laugh I know it seems trivial at best but when someone points it out I noticed she rarely wear a bold looking shoes. An example would be her shoes for SURREAL in AT07 that's really lovely and cool, and I can't remember anything that's as lovely looking :D

I know. Critiquing ayu for being sensible lol. I think it's just that she's a pop star so people expect her to perform in god knows what type of shoes.

Shit. I would wear comfy shoes too. I love how Tatsurou from MUCC sings so beautifully with no shoes and it's great. Ayu should just go join some band lol.

Anyway, if the outfit works and the shoes work with it, I'm good. No need to be a masochist if you don't want to.

best comment :D

I too have to admit some of her costumes over the last concerts haven't been flattering, but as long as Ayu feels comfortable in it and it serves its purpose on stage, why not? If you don't like it, you don't have to wear it, right? I just say personal taste!

Also the shoes. What if she does stumble on stage with sky high heels and breaks a leg or worse and has to cancel or postpone the tour. You all (at least those trying to attend concerts) would be more that pissed and blame her for her stage shoe choice again.

She can't please everybody. Just let her do her thing!

She looks like botox filled-up like.
Her face expression doesn't change even if she smiles, and her face looks swollen.

I was about to say this. :laugh

And btw, by the amount of stage performances Ayu does every year, it's way more healthy not to perform in stilettos.

I can barely walk in heels. I can't even begin to imagine performing in them.

I am kind of interested to see what the tour costumes will be like. I do have a few favorites from the past but I would love to see something new and interesting, not just an old one rehashed. Guaranteed a few of them will be covered in sparkles!

You guys are free to think that criticizing Ayu's shoes is a sign that I've run out of things to say, and I'm free to think they are ugly as fuck. It takes something away from the concert for me. I took fashion in school, this is something that interests me. Something I've been trained to notice. So, no, I haven't run out of things to talk about.

yeah, every other performer manages to find not only comfortable but also visually pleasing shoes. Ayu's shoes are always the black hole of her costumes.

LOL, how would you know other performer's shoes are comfortable? i swear, some of you talk like you been on tour/worked in production... I mean really, bye.

more info on the album please.

^I used to dance, and I've been in many kinds of shoes to perform on stage, so yes, I can talk like that.

^^yeah i actually work in film production and fashion design so i know for a fact that you actually have to try a bit to make shoes that look that ugly.

ayu needs to watch more fashion police

I don't think her shoes are all that ugly, but they do seem a bit boring. If it's not a knee high boot, it's a thigh high boot. If neither of those, it's an ankle boot. We see an open toe shoe maybe once in a while (AT12's the next LOVE~Eyes, Smoke, Magic, AT10's Sexy little things~STEP you) but they usually tend to be thick wedge-type heels.

What types of 'less ugly' stage performer shoes have you guys seen lately? For a lot of performers, it helps that they have fashion houses/designers designing the entire looks for them and probably also giving them custom shoes.

Damn you Ayu for not wanting to kill your feet/back while performing for 2+ hours!

I've always thought Ayu's live shoe choices were pretty bland but really, I wouldn't want to be performing in 5 inch stilettos. And just because some people do, doesn't mean Ayu automatically has to. It's a concert; not a fashion show. I've always personally really liked that she doesn't have designers doing all her costumes.

Totally agree with this. :yes

can't believe some of u guys could actually comment on her stage shoes.. come on guys, it's not liked she's wearing some ugly shoes like gaga's weird taste of shoes *no offense to the fans* i'm also quite a fan of her.. haha
one of gaga's bizarre stage shoes lol http://brandontiminsky.com/blog/wp-c...tion_iuolp.jpg

I could give a damn if she had dried cow shit on her feet. Shoes are the absolute last thing I'm worried about.

Wow well it sounds like you've just got it all figured out! Can't wait to buy tickets to YOUR concert instead of Ayu's! Your beautiful shoe choices make me a fan!

Shoes is all?

I do notice that some people are very dissatisfied with Ayu's costumes/hair/shoes/nails as soon as concert info leaks, then once we have a DVD release they change their tune and suddenly like her choices. It's just one of those things, I think. :shrug

:yes:yes:yes:rolleyes:rolleyes

J-Pop acts like "Perfume" are not rarely performing two to three hours of heavy dance moves on their high-heels. I assume Ayu is just as good at it as her colleagues.

Oh, come on... what's the difference between critizing an outfit and a pair of shoes? They were just talking. It's not like they were sharing epic critics about Ayu's vision of music or anything.
Of course it's not a big deal, but if I don't like a pair of shoes, can I bloody say it? Chill out.

No one took away anyone's right to speak. They merely commented on these opinions. Perhaps you should chill out, because you're exaggerating a bit.

No one said that a person can't hate a pair of shoes or complain about ayu being too sensible or comfortable. But I can also say what I think about what they said. It doesn't even matter whether they're talking about a dress, shoes, or music. Just like if someone has an opinion that differs from a positive one, I can have one that differs for a negative one. Ayu has had shoes I don't like, she's had shoes that I do like. They tend to be simple, it's fine. They don't ruin outfits for me. I have no issue with them being comfy or sensible (and so therefore not as cute) as opposed to prancing around in stilettos. I think I can say that and people who disagree will live because no one is saying that they have to think otherwise. It was more of an opinion of the way ayus shoes were being critiqued and the reasoning lol. Anyway, I don't think her shoes are so bad or ugly, don't really care if my opinion isn't valid in the fashion world, and still like her more comfy, basic, shoes for the most part and can find them visually pleasing.

Obviously, you can say you don't like a pair of shoes. And Zeke can say he doesn't care if she's wearing cow shit lol

^
Yeah, I agree, the point is how you comment on something.
And, honestly, comments like this one:
seriously piss me off. Like, REALLY. They make me furious. We're not in a kindergarten.
But it's my bad for commenting in a discussion I don't even really care about. I had it coming.

Naturally, I understand. It's also just better when your comment doesn't seem to generalize to everyone. If there's only like one or two people being really rude in your eyes. Because then, I will say something.

I think people get more bold with comments when someone seems to imply their opinions are better (on something not technical) because they study and critique x, y, and z. Whether or not they actually mean to....but going off topic here....

Maybe we just need more album info lolol

So excited for the song with Armin Van Buuren after the tweet about how he played it at his concert!

^ whaaaaat? He did. I want to see it :(

http://onehallyu.com/index.php?/topi...yumi-hamasaki/

There is him and Ayu in 1 photo + super short video of which you won't get much. But maybe sb can provide longer clip.

I know I am late, but I haven't had time to visit the forum and Ayu's new info. I am really happy to have a new album!!!! I am really curious to see how it touns out to be...she's working with really different composers this time

I deemed it necessary because the person I was responding to was being condescending towards people whom they disagreed with, acting as if their opinion was holier-than-thou because they "study" this or "have experience" with that. You get what you give out. If they want respect then they should not treat others with such blatant disrespect.

On topic, I really do feel like all of this tension is due to no news. Hopefully some is revealed soon. :laugh

I get what you're saying here, but I only brought up my experience in fashion and stage because people were wrongly accusing me of having nothing better to talk about, or having no experience dancing in various types of shoes. I wasn't trying to sound like an ass, I was explaining my comments. I was trying to explain, I'm not being a hater for no reason. Its something that makes a difference to me, based on my tastes and life experiences. No "disrespect". Then you have people purposely making asshole-ish comments because they misunderstood my reason for explaining. But, really its just sad how hurt some people get that I'm complaining about shoes. Despite that I love Ayu to death and overall, I'm a huuuuuuuuge fan. I'm an ass for not liking her shoes and then explaining why I feel that way. God forbid I complain.

Bro did you know how cool that sounded, and I totally forgot about him working with Ayu omygawd now I'm even more excited.

Honestly, I think shoes are really important in photoshoots, but I can't even watch them on the concerts because i'm always watching ayu's face or the army of dancers.

And if someone doesn't like their shoes, I think is OK.

Not trying to point fingers at anyone in particular, but I find it funny how people can make disrespectful comments about ayu in the form of an opinion yet if we disrespect each other in forms of opinion, there's a problem.

People can say what they want, I've learned to let the so-called-fans hate as much as they please. But don't ask expect people to respect your opinion when you make disrespectful comments about someone we all claim to love and admire. They know it creates a hostile environment when they trash an artist on their fan forum and then turn around and act like the victim when they get called out for it.

On topic, I'm so pissed that person is screaming in the middle of the song!!!! But it sounds amazing from what little I can make out lol. Looking forward to it :)

But, what is supposed to be discussed on a forum about a singer? We can't always love everything about a singer. I don't see anyone calling Ayu an old bag of dirty, ugly and used up socks or anything else. I feel like saying things like, "I don't like this magazine shoot" are perfectly valid things to talk about. As long as people aren't purposely baiting each other, what's the issue?

I agree with you, but just because you don't see it doesn't mean it isn't there. I have no problem with someone not liking ayu's music, shoes, photoshoots, costumes, etc.

But when people express opinions in a disrespectful manner it's really immature and it doesn't create an environment for discussion. Like I said, I'm not going to point fingers but I saw several comments from one user the other day that were tasteless and provoking. And to be honest, if people really have such ugly opinions about ayu they shouldn't be here. Coming here and making ugly comments is not only disrespectful to ayu but the fans as well.

My mistake then. If there is someone making rude comments about Ayu is a baiting way then yes, I agree that it seems pointless that they even bother to post. There is enough negativity in the world, why bother to create more? On the internet, no less. But, really, it just speaks volumes about that person. Happy people don't go around making others unhappy. Really, you just have to feel bad for them.

She said she heard it at his show. Guess it was a really new piece that he stuck in there. No one seemed to recognize that Ayu was featured from what I've seen...

But hopefully we get some more info or maybe someone who did recognize that Ayu was a part of his set!

Really over Ayu 'feeling the love'

No worries, you can complain all you want. I don't think most people are hurt. Though anyone can comment on complaints still.

But yeah, being rude is never necessary in my world

___________

So do you guys really think that's the ayu song, I can't hear well.

Sure any one can comment on my "negative comment" with whatever they want. But, there is a difference between someone saying, "I disagree with your comment about Ayu's shoes and I like them because sensible shoes are really cool to me" and someone saying, "Well, clearly you have nothing else to talk about". One adds something to the conversation, the other doesn't. In my opinion, one is rude. An that brings me back to my point that there is no reason to bait other people or be rude to them for no reason.

People don't have to be rude, period.
Sometimes it's difficult to judge, because one is being just too sarcastic without meaning bad. Being sassy is not being evil, but since there are so many people here that come from such different environments, it'd be impossible to discuss something if we're not being careful!

Anywaaaaaay, I listen to the preview and wonder how Ayu is gonna put all the songs under one roof. It seems it's gonna be an album with a lot of variety.
I mean, Pray, then Hello new me, then this. I wonder what kind of concept she will give us to tie everything together.

Here is the same clip but without the earthquakey filming and shouting.
(Starts from 00:45)
Armin Van Buuren "Fine Without You (Sied van Riel remix)" feat. Jennifer Rene, live at The Forum (LA) 2014/05/09
http://youtu.be/05T8aRoUa6o

Is this really the part of the concert where Armin played their new track?
I'd say no, but I can't be sure. ;)

Edit: Compare the same performance given in Vancouver some days before and see what you make of it (starts at 01:40)
http://youtu.be/-0pV5F2atsc

Ayu tweeted this photo from within The Forum
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BnQBF8bCUAAo4JP.jpg
Not sure if this was when her song came on or not.

i just hope the song has proper ups n downs..and its not just one hot electronic mess. *still dreaming of Sparkle 2.0*

Seeing that she's working with DJs and listening to the Armin Van Buuren song, I wonder if she'll do an electronic thematic tour? I wish she would with Sparkle, WHATEVER and many awesome remixes that she has it'll be fantastic!

Ugh I should've known it was fine without you! That's my favorite armin song, although I don't like that remix. The original is amazing though!!

Last performance of WHATEVER is at CDL 04-05, right?

^I recall so, I missed the song so much, she can performed it live with contemporary remix and arrangements, it'll be so kickass

Omg if ayu performed WHATEVER.....I would be quite happy. I would love Connected live personally too

Indeed! "Connected" live would be a dream come true~♪

Whatever, And then, immature, Monochrome, connected naturally, Sparkle, Rollin' + new songs etc... it would be incredibly amazing :luv2

No thanks, original instrumentation + vocals is what makes it so powerful. Nothing can match her vocal performance of 04-05 for that song. :s

wow
great setlist :D

Bless....

There was already a live for Connected on CDL 2001-2002 but yeah she definitely should perform it again!

I'd kill for a completely dance themed tour this year. It'd just annoy me that I never got to attend it! Scared that by the time I'm old enough and have enough money to see her that her tours mightn't be as fantastic as they are today :(

Let's all send a prayer in the sky for a electro/dance themed tour...

i really felt that, Ayu wanted to go in that direction until Pray showed up like she said AHHA! I imagine the atmosphere to be so amazing :D

i would love to hear an electro song but with some nostalgia like LOVEppears sounds. *__*

I wouldn't even be upset if Pray were left off the album haha.

Though I'm sure it'll be included :-p

She should make a 10 track electro disc and maybe a 7 track ballad disc.
but at this stage, im sure we wont get such gimmicks from ayu/avex anymore lol

Ugh god please not a ballad disc...

One dance disc and one more "natural" disc, sure. But lord no not all ballads lol

Why does she have to make discs with just one genre? I just want another Party Queen with a little bit of everything.

There will probably be one weird patch of the album that is made up of Pray/Hello new me/the rock song/maybe the DAISHI DANCE track.

just like (miss)understood :))

Exactly.