Uh well, that song deserved better. Put 1999 ayu in there and no one would know the difference, it looked so low budget it was like the first or second video from a new artist's career. Sure it might have more meaning than some of her other videos, but I can't get past the cheapness. She looked pretty, that was about the most enjoyable part, and a few of the artistic shots. It does get better as it goes along, but still. Eh. The song is so nice and now it feels cheap.

I only herd/saw You were... and I was very impressed. The PV has a JEWEL-ish feeling to it. The lighting and funky looking people also make it feel abstract like some of her older PVs alterna/ourselves/etc. The song is also really enjoyable and its easy to like just from the first listen.

I love "You were..." after hearing the full song. It's been a long time since there was a ballad from a single I really liked.

The PV is okay, I might watch it a few more times to see if I might like it more.

I really dig the setting. The fakeness of it all seems to symbolise that it is not real--the setting that Ayu is in is simply part of her mind, it doesn't exist in reality. So this PV does explore the workings of Ayu's mind, or maybe just someone's mind, and feelings. I feel that the clowns show the thoughts, and the lighting is very important.

Most of all, the fire--the pain!! The climax of the song showing the clown surrounded by fire is absolutely beautiful. I can't quite express what I think it means yet but it tugs at my heart.

I watched again and again the PV, but i'm not really able to find something meaningful.
Although the amazing explaination by waterballon and keikeiaznqueen i still feel the PV too weak respect the song.
Maybe i'm a dumb -__-"

This is by far one of the most bizarre videos she's ever made. There is A LOT of symbolism in it, and that's odd in and of itself since we haven't had a video this complex since...ehh, I don't know "Ladies Night" perhaps? Of course that doesn't mean that it isn't cheaply made. The editing in and of itself is an atrocity---did you all see the tree zoom-in towards the end? One tree was white & the other was brown.

I can definitely see Greek-influences throughout the video---her dress, her hair, and the simplicity of her makeup, the two-horned demon-person, and the costumes of a few other demon-persons/clowns. (I really don't want to call them clowns, but I guess it's better than saying demons.)

The color schemes also play a good role in this video as well. I haven't read the english translation of the song (and Idk if its even avaliable now~forgive me, it's exams week), BUT I do think that in the beginning of the PV it's a "you were everything to me and I'm so dark and lonely without you" and in the end it's a "you were everything to me but I'm okay enough to move on".

Overall, one of the weirdest videos ever released by Ayu, yet it's the most beautiful song she's put out this era. I'm really shocked at how this song got a beautiful single cover, the opportunity to be an A-side, to be beautiful in sound, and STILL end up with a cheap PV. I hope BALLAD looks better, but knowing Ayu's track record lately it will sound horrible to me but have the better PV.

Of course, why should I complain? I'm just glad Shuya and his bloodshot-eyeball~self hasn't shown his face in anything since the tour.

I didn't read all the posts, but am I the only person loving the cardboard trees? Probably because I love theatre.

Pretty much agree with everything in waterballoons interpretation.

Well then I must be dumb too. Cause I feel the same way.

Except I only watched it once. I can't bring myself to watch it again... Maybe in a few weeks....

omg i like the pv and the song a lot!
the song was so understated by the lq version...
Thank god the actual song is so much nicer.
The pv.. though it looks cheap with the fake trees, i think it is rather interesting but i shall read on the translation of the song after my exam, in order to understand the meaning of the song pv

For most of you saying that it looked cheap, I'm not sure where you'd like the cost of the video to go but I think the editing was really well done and a lot of detail was given to it.

Look at videos like Greatful Days and HANABI ~episode II~ .. there are transitional scenes that blend together and then one just cuts out and it looks so messy. You were... is really clean visually and definitely better on production.

I see absolutely nothing wrong with the scene full of the white tree cut outs. If I read a lot of your interpretations of the video correctly this is a reflection all internally done. Why would someone have such an active imagination with every other scene and then have to have accurate/real trees in the next scene? I think the white trees continue the notion that this is all in her mind.

Someone made mention to the one tree being brown. I don't think the tree was brown I just don't think it was lit. If you look at other trees around their base you can see that they put lights behind them to light all the other trees going back.

Also, the path lighting up. We all know that Ayumi loves her damn paths.

The cardboard trees are intentional people. If they wanted to use real trees, they could have gone outside and filmed her near some. It doesn't take money to use a real tree.

I don't see how this video is cheap. Besides for the "cardboard" setting of the trees/path, none of the other effects look cheap in any way.

NICE ONE WATERBALLOON! makes so much sense. I think what i interpreted on apge 6 is just another interpretation haha..

^this
if she uses real tree, there will be complains too...

I liked the bear in the begining.

It was interesting I guess.

I don't care for the song or PV but it's an upgrade from stuff she's been doing.

Staff: Ayu! Just watched ur new video and we found a problem! U used the cardboard trees and forgot to use the CG effects on the scene so they would look real!

Ayu: Damn! The pv is set for its debut tomorrow!

Staff: What can we do?

Ayu: Let`s pretend the trees are not there, no one will pay attention on it when they can see me! ;D

Staff: But Ayu, and what will we do if someone notice?

Ayu: My stupid fans at AHS will create some bizarre interpretation to it! Now, I need to see a doctor, I'm going to make my eyes bigger for CDL!

---

I find it easier for the trees being like that on purpose xD

omg LOL @ people thinking that the trees were supposed to look real.. umm..

i love the cardboard trees, it's like a pop-up storybook setting or something.

I thought the PV's storyline was pretty clear. Here's how I see it (I'm not going through everything). I'm going to refer to the 'I'-person in the song as SHE as I find using Ayumi awkward.

First of all, I believe the the artistic scenes with the marionettes are flashbacks.

In the scene with the male and female marionette, they look awkward. The female one tries to approach the other, but the male one isn't interested.
The person SHE is in love with didn't want to be with her.
(Note: This female marionette can also be seen as a new lover, which brings another meaning to the PV, but they look awkward so I don't see them like that.)

Then there's the scene in which the MALE marionette burns by a large fire. SHE needs to burn her love from her memory otherwise it is too painful, or the fire simply represents the pain SHE is in because he doesn't love her.

The face in the hair of the other female marionette represent how she feels as one with the person she loves, and how the person she loves has taken over her thoughts, etc. The fire bursting from her hand represents pain and burning desire.

lol, for this..why everyone is complaining bout the tree?nwey i didn't read all posts but i think it's more artistic with that cardboard tree..seems like ayu wanna tell that we're always in our own old,dreaming of something that never happen..just to differentiate the real live and the things around us..and yes the fire means the pain,and the teddy bear at the beginning show that maybe when we're lonely or feel lost,we have no idea of where to go but however we have to keep on moving...

that's all i can say for now,but for some reason,this PV is soo intense and has a strong meaning..it makes me cry for the first time watching it..

and like Disney said,and Ayu looks like tinkerbell in this Pv..

I really have no idea what the PV is about. It did remind me of some of her older PVs... I do really like the song. :)

no,noidea i'm second for this,i really like it,for me it has it's own special meaning :yes

yes i can see the tree and i wonder why just one of it? :rolleyes and i agree for the greek influence, and Ayu's hairdo,dress,and the path with the fake snow and the carboard tress really reminds me of the witch in The Chronicles of Narnia, the witch and the wardrobe :yes i love this PV

and thank god no overdramatic lead man (Shuya of cos) :D