I don't really hear the "this is recent Ayu" either. If anything it sounds more like recent Ayu trying to be early 00s Ayu.

I can picture it as the ending of some shojo/drama anime, it would be perfect haha

Yaaaaas new music!

I feel like WORDS is quite a good mix of the sounds of A Song for xx and sixxxxxx. I really enjoy the song.

What a beautiful song. I really love listening to it

is there a romanji i can sing to?

I can probably agree about LOVE again. I just can't with A ONE or MIJ, and it's even a bit of a stretch for sixxxxxx. The closest comparable thing on sixxxxxx is Shape of Love, and that wasn't as much of a throwback in production as WORDS is. This is still a bit more similar to older Ayu than even what's on LOVE again. But I can probably agree about giving LOVE again vibes.

Yeah, I agree, I also don't hear the similarities with her recent stuff... Especially sixxxxxx, A ONE and LOVE again... They have a completely different vibe. It does remind me of Breakdown/Mad World though, but only slightly.

Agree!

Nee anata ni iwa zu ni i ta keredo
risou douri no you na ano heya ga
daikirai datta yo

doko ni mo ibasho nante naku te
iki o suru no mo yurusare nai you na
shihai sare ta sekai

demo warattere ba
mou dare mo kanashimaseru koto naku
nantoka yarisugoseru to
omotte ta noni ...

naki nagara nigedashi ta ano hi
hitori ame ni utarete ta
korekara dokoro ga ima sae
wakara nai mama de

tada hitotsu kono yoru ga ake te
hoshiku nai to negatte ta
ashita no ko nai sekai ga moshimo aru no nara to
sagashi te i ta

sou ie ba odayaka na yoru toka
korogaru kurai mawaru yoru da to katte
kono kanji datta ne

mou ashita ni obieru
watashi ja naku natta yo to
itsuka wa ieru hi ga kuru to shinji tai

'aishiteru' no hitokoto da toka
tada soba ni iru koto toka
kodoku o wasure rareru you na
shunkan dattari toka

tsunai da te no nukumori da toka
manazashi no yasashi sa toka
wasure te i ta nanimokamo o
kimi ga seiippai sashi dashite ta

'aishiteru' no hitokoto da toka
tada soba ni iru koto toka
kodoku o wasure rareru you na
shunkan dattari toka

tsunai da te no nukumori da toka
manazashi no yasashi sa toka
wasure te i ta nanimokamo o
kimi ga seiippai sashi dashiteru

thank you!

Sounds so nostalgic, the song could fit in a few older eras like Love Songs... I could even see this song thrown between 'Will' and 'HEAVEN' on (miss)understood. Aside from not loving the cover, I'm not in love with her vocals on this track, but it is good to hear new music from her, and I love the lyrics. I can see this definitely growing on me.

After 3 listens, I'm definitely really into this track now. It does feel really nostalgic but I have trouble placing it. It just feels nostalgic but fresh still in its own way.

The lyrics to this song are some of her best of all time in my opinion.

Spot on description.

I really like this song but after 10 or so listens I'm still struggling to remember the composition off the top of my head (does that make sense?).

I agree.

It takes a while for new music to sink in.

What a lovely surprise... I haven't heard a new song from Ayu in ages! :weep and of course, she knows exactly how to bring on them feels - I'm loving "WORDS" so much! Now I wish we had a new album or something else...we miss you, ayu! :heart

*squints* Did she just use an Instagram photo for a cover?? Or is there going to be actual album art when playing it on a device?

Regardless, the song is very pleasant. Like when someone buys you a small, but thoughtful gift, randomly.

the guitar riff after this line <333 and I can imagine only Yochan can do this best druing live and Ayu leaning against him