That's usually pretty normal for a track that wasn't focused on as much. Plus it never really got much attention other than one live or so.

I remember it as the track with the uhh lalalalalalas and a sing song-y melody.

I love Walk so much! The live from CDL 2014~2015 is one of my favorites too. So emotional <3 I was pretty upset that she didn't perform Walk during the AT 2015 (the one I attended).

My favorite winter song of her is no way to say and JEWEL. Everytime I hear JEWEL I feel like I'm the middle of a desert of snow wearing white faux fur and diamonds lol

I found Walk to be pretty memorable with it's soft wintry piano and swelling orchestra like arrangement.:thumbsup
Zutto was my least favorite, the only thing that comes to mind when I think about that song is that she says Zutto so many times.:laugh
I did start to like it more when Ayu performed it live sitting on the crescent moon. I loved that.:heart

All I can say about Walk is that it will eventually grow on you... like a rash, as Bianca del Rio would tell you.

This performance is so powerful.

^ That performance right there was my very first live introduction to ayu. After watching that I became her fan right away.

Do you think she has it in her to make any more hit-quality songs in the future?

I'm starting to think the production value and unwillingness to use people with different visions than what she's used to is holding her back.

I mean I'm listening to alterna, which certainly wasn't a "hit" song, but the quality is so good. And it's not even a super experimental song.

Same with is this LOVE?
Not a ground breaking song, but it's still made so well.

I'm not expecting a hit song, per se, just something that has the quality to be one. Longevity as a fan favorite as well. I feel like for the past 6 years, she's released only a handful of songs with such quality and possible longevity and general overall likability.

Of course everyone's tastes are different.


For PVs however I've pretty much given up. Again, I think this goes back to possible unwillingness to film over a course of a few days. Really limits ideas.

I think it's possible if she shakes up her composition staff a bit. alterna was created by a duo that only really worked with her for that and then half of that group worked on another song later on (fated). With tasuku back, I think it's only a matter of time... however the mixing is kind of holding tracks back but it is getting better.

And PVs are always gonna be a bit iffy since they don't do more than one day shoots anymore possibly due to lack of funds for PVs? I think the money she's been getting has been invested back into the tours more than videos since probably... 2011? 2010 was the last year she took 2-3 days to shoot IIRC. IMO her tours after 2012/2013 were a bit grander than usual with more attention paid to some sets or fancy costumes for others aside from Ayu.

The surface of the Earth still hasn't recovered from the impact is this LOVE? had on it. That shit is A-MAAAAAAAZ-ING!! Seriously though, the energy that song has is unparalleled. The pain, the heartache, the irony, the chaos. I mean it really captures the essence of a VERY particular emotion EXTREMELY well, so much so you feel that you're standing in the middle of it! Everything about it is just worship-worthy. I feel like if you took ayu's heart, and literally twisted it, that's the sound - the song - that would drain out of it.

Miki Watanabe, please make a new track one day~ So far they have only made is this LOVE? and Rule for Ayu, but at least they are still active doing stuff with the new Macross Delta idol group.

I was mostly talking in terms of her discography, it wasn't veering too far from what her sound already was.

I agree that it's a fantastic song haha.



In terms of money towards videos...I mean yes that's certainly a factor, but some of my favorite videos are on the cheaper side. I think Daybreak is a fantastic video. Along with Hanabi II. Both very simple in setting and rely mostly on camera work.

Also, Miliyah is an example of someone who doesn't have expensive videos but still manages to make something artful and fun to watch.

Ayu doesn't take advantage of the immense amount of talent and inspiration that youth designers, creators and directors have. Perhaps this is a commentary on japanese society and the idea that career length = talent lol.

To be honest, I don't think production quality is tied to hit potential. I was listening to _genic at the gym the other day and was really shocked by the poor mixing on some songs...very noisy.

I don't think that Ayumi is super motivated to release something the Japanese public would consider "cool."

But I totally agree about the 1-day video shoot.

I think it helps a bit. If some of those older tracks were not mixed as well as they were, I don't think we would have appreciated them as much.

And she could probably do more with her video staff but it's possible she isn't trying to push them hard enough there. Or rather, perhaps this is an issue that's affecting all aspects of her career where she isn't demanding as much as she used to from her staff.

One-shot music videos, or music videos with very little shots made to look like one shots are an aesthetic trend and several artists released them lately. It only looks like Ayu is "stuck" on it because during the trend people released one or two albums and she released 4 or 5, and so, many more pvs.

I don't think she stopped doing experimental fan favorite songs... She always liked to play with her experimental side. We had BRILLANTE that is really experimental and different, even FLOWER is kinda different, and she really shake things up with Colors working with different producers. I love what she did with NEXT LEVEL with the electro sounds and then switching to "rock and crazy" during RnR Circus. I just wish she hold to her experimental side more often and get a bit crazy with the sounds and production.

Her older songs weren't always perfectly mixed and mastered but were still much much better than the last few years. I know I would enjoy We Are the Queens a lot more if it didn't have a terrible dynamic range and so LOUD.
The Loudness War still continues even in 2016 sadly.:(
I also am feeling down about her recent videos. But I think music videos have been declining everywhere. I always have felt like music videos aren't as big of a deal as they once were. They used be a big part of culture but now they just upload them online and that's it. They really just use them as promo. They aren't really the big art production like they were in the 20th century and 2000's. I also second that most of the Ayu cash is invested in the concerts above all else, not videos. At this point Ayu seems to be releasing albums to support her tours. Usually artists go on tour to promote their new album and to please fans or make new fans. But Ayu's albums have been almost like introductions to what is to come. She uses the album to expand on it's concept later on in the tour.
As for experimentation in her songs, I think she still does. Who was expecting You are the only one on Made In Japan to sound like it did? Or Survivor? Which I don't like but still was not expecting. Maybe she doesn't do it quite as often anymore, most likely because Avex tells her she needs at least a few songs that are mainstream enough to be commercially successful.
I think Ayu needs to take a break after this year's Countdown. During this time she should take time to rest and relax and also prepare for her 20th anniversary. I thought the 15th anniversary was disappointing. If she takes two years off she could rest her voice for the first time in like 20 years?:laugh Taking time off did both Gackt and Utada well, I think Ayu could do the same. It would be so nice if she could do something big for the 20th.
Perhaps two years is extreme to some but that's my suggestion. I think it would help fix or make better a lot of the issues going on with Ayu personally and within her career

^ 2018 is her 20th anniversary so that would mean only 2017 would be spent on hiatus, i agree with you, i wouldn't mind Ayu not touring/releasing something for a year, it would be weird and i would miss her of course, but if it's for the better i'm fine with it.
Not gonna happen tho lol

Can someone tell me the name of the male dancer in this performance?

I mean...if there IS gonna be a CDL :/
They are quite late announcing it this year.

^^ Maroka Uchiyama (Maro), her ex-boyfriend, dancer, model, porn actor, politician and loves to eat grass.