23rd Monster has been added to official playlist "Women's voices"

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37...0dd7dd9ca146ba

Agree with this lol reminds me of something she'd release maybe a few years back as well. But at least it's an interesting song with killer lyrics

I was wondering about whether she would appear in the video at all, considering how pregnant she appear to be.

I feel the same way about the lipstick-and-hat getup, but I gotta say I love her look on the single cover (that MASK oh my word) so I hope to see more of that!

Oh yeah! I can hear similarities.

Your image is funny because this is EXACTLY the one I have in mind when listening to Haru Yo Koi haha. Wanted to write about it here back then but though nobody would understand haha.
Yet I didn't feel it on this new song. maybe I have to listen more carefully.

Obviously she will since her image was shown on the tv screen on the mv teaser. Plus with all the pictures she posted on Instagram with her in the black hat and red lipstick. She just won’t be shown in any other angle or length.

I hope we get to see the full music video soon! Meanwhile I made this "video" with translated lyrics (credits to tenshi no hane :) )
https://vimeo.com/534534677

I especially don't like the way she pronounces the "u" now ... "oooo" is definitely better than the horrible "huuuu".

The song is great! I feel like it was made by the same duo who did it as H/\L for talkin' 2 myself. Sounds as if she asked them specifically to recreate that kind of sound for this track but they're no longer under the H/\L name.

23rd Monster sold 2,276 on its first day digitally.
httphttps://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/dis/d/2021-04-08/://

Streaming is not so good, it's on #54 for its first day on Line Music, but apart from that not charting on Apple Music or Spotify and also currently not anymore on Line Music.

A Ballads 2 is at #41 for its first day on the album ranking of Line Music (currently on #83) and also currently on #94 on Apple Music.

It's first day has been a Thursdays, and in case of Spotify new releases are most of times shared on Fridays. So, hopefully, the song will get a boost this weekend.
However for a "random drop" without any promo or hype beforehand, I think it does well.


That being said, I like 23rd Monster, but it is so... noisy. My ADHD kicks in whenever I listen to the chorus.

^ do the streaming numbers include YouTube streams? She released the full song for free on youtube, maybe that’s affecting things on the paid services?

I was only citing different big streaming services.
Oricon only has a weekly streaming chart and there the youtube streams are counted, yes (Spotify on the other hand isn't counted).
But to pop up there numbers have to be pretty high.
And most artists do upload the songs on youtube, it's pretty common nowadays.

Thanks. I just wasn’t sure if YouTube counted toward those streams or if it’s counted as it’s own thing. Yes, I think most labels/distributions upload to youtube by default now and you’d have to actively choose not to with new releases. I saw they even started uploading tracks from a Ballads 2 now on YouTube.

I loved it <3 I just can't get enough of her rock songs

23rd Monster is #2 on Rechochoku :
https://recochoku.jp/ranking/single/daily

Enjoying every moment of this song :)

The verses are really the winner here. The prechorus is heavenly! Production isn't Golden era Ayu standards but the production and melody is her best song in years easily. The song would fit right in between identity, Rule and Love n Hate on Next Level. Revisted Dreamed a dreamed and it blows that out of the water!

It's already dropped out of top 10 on the oricon digital singles chart

The teaser looked excellent! I'm very much looking forward to this (^.^)

Where has THIS Ayu been all these damn years??? It’s been a decade. My God, so she still has it in her. This song actually sounds like something with thought, effort, and artistic vision behind it rather than the dross she’s been lazily churning out. Might actually purchase the next album.

Don’t really get the complaints about the quality of production/sound/mixing. The song sounds fine with a decent set of headphones.

Her change of voice is a natural evolution.