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14th album 'LOVE again' out February 8th, 4th of five 15th anniversary releases [V]
Covers
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Official digest + previews of all new songs Spoiler:
Tracklist + Special version goods Spoiler:
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Early information Spoiler:
Related links 14th album out February 8th, 4th of five 15th anniversary releases "The 8th is Ayu Day", 5 Consecutive Months of New Releases 14th NEW ALBUM『LOVE again』 tracklist & covers! 14th album 'LOVE again' out February 8th, 4th of five 15th anniversary releases [II] 14th album 'LOVE again' out February 8th, 4th of five 15th anniversary releases [III] 14th album 'LOVE again' out February 8th, 4th of five 15th anniversary releases [IV] |
so much to say about something that's not even out yet
*impatient* 8| |
i wish the play button was switched with the blu-ray...
:*( |
This is pretty normal though, haha. The speculation tends to add up, but since there's so many releases in the last few months, it hasn't been as crazy. I mean, we'll be getting the album in less than a month already!
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I hope we'll get the melody's pv (or at least a short version) soon.
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I CANT WAIT FOR IT
This album I'm actually waiting for the album to get shipped to my house before I listen to any of the new songs And I'm going to avoid reviews until I hear them for the first time This way it'll hype me so much :D |
I dont get it.. Almost a month to release and no promo? I guess they really just expect the name to sell itself
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There are magazines at least. She's also not in Japan at the moment... I think?
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i hope ayu will surprise us all with and add another pv~
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It is kind of surprising that there are no more PVs.
I wonder if they will be featured on the next release? I know that seems unlikely, but it seems possible. It sounds like an Avex inspired marketing scheme. xD |
^ I wish but that would have no sense. Where would they put them? PV's on new album from another album? If so, it would be maybe only ONE pv on new single/mini album(that look like single) like they did with my name's WOMEN (from album to next STEP you single) But I don't think that will happen.
Only chance is to put extra on this album as a surprise/last minute changes (like Missing was switched with Melody). But the chance is very low :P |
They'd find a way to put them out there somehow, haha. This would be the first time that no new album tracks got PVs though in a LONG time.
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^ and that's pretty sad. It's like no promo afterall in tv. (besides short cm and maybe live... but we know HOW much lives she is doing, so...)
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this album is definitely gonna be one of her best judging from the already-released materials. the new songs need to live up to them.
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I love every track released thus far for this album.
It's gonna be good. |
No posters or folders for those who preorder at hmv, cdjapan or similar? :( Such lovely pics deserve a poster so much... Way more than RnRC covers...
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Ohhh I'd love if she pulled another my name's WOMEN. :D
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The limited edition keeps getting out of stock in mumo, sad, totally no chance for me to to get the clip :(
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So glad I bought the limited blu-ray edition right after the album was announced for once lol. |
I'm not dreading this release, but I'm not mega excited about it either, just sort of... still not really getting my hopes up... oh dear what's wrong with me, eh? Everyone else seems to have got over the initial furore and settled back down into happy anticipation... For some reason I just don't feel the same...
Snap out of it, girl! |
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It feels like I'm not making any sense right now, but whatever. I have trust in that Ayu will bring us good material, that's enough for me. :) |
The shoots have been bland, but not bad and there is not so much promo. Plus, we all have heard more than half the album.
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Well LOVEppears and I am... had 5 new songs as well =P
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^ i know! lol... and those were such good albums...
Love again is basically the same... like the I am era and LOVEppears era's... 6-7 singles (we get two mini albums with 7 songs which would equal 6-7 singles) and 5 new songs with 2 interludes... this is the cloesest she has come to that platform for releases. |
Everybody keeps on talking about melody pv.
Is it rare? |
^ we havent seen it yet.
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I wish I could just let everyone be happy, but...
I really wish everyone would stop chalking this release up to be "one of her bests" - that is said about every single album release. Yes, some of her recent songs have been better by comparison to the songs that came right before this era. However, they really are not on the level that everyone seems to build them up to be. You & Me: Generally, not very good. Very "dated"/"cheap" sounding compared to her more "lush" compositions and arrangements from her best songs and eras. Childish lyrics. ------ Song 4 u: Vocals are pretty nice on this one, but overall, what a bore. I never understood the love for this song. So far off from the type of music Ayu should be doing and is known for. Missing: Wonderful. This song is the closest thing to everything that has been missing (no pun intended) from her in recent times. Some say it's "typical", but it's pretty much the sound and quality many of us have been yearning for. Melody: It's alright... Verses nice, but it becomes a drag during the pre-chorus - what an unnecessary addition to the song. I know Ayu releases songs like this often (can be put in same category as winding road, Replace, etc.) but it's definitely at the bottom of that genre. Some of those songs are very sweet sounding and may have not been high on the roster during their time of release, but they definitely outshine MANY of the releases that came years later. ------ Wake me up: Finally, something that gives off that "fierce" power Ayu used to be able to portray so well in her music. Sexiness, modern, has a sure-fire "kick" to the chorus... Finally something that is on par with other POWER tracks (although the end of the chorus isn't so wonderful with the awkward english but overall I will accept this song as a gem). Sweet scar: Do not like. Do not like. Do not like. The instrumental is nice - I love the arrangement... but, it's just a drag to listen to. I wish it evolved more toward the end at least. But overall, this song is a pass. It had promise, but still needed a lot of work to make really make it excel in it's category. Snowy kiss: The overall sound is superb. It's fresh, yet it's somehow slightly familiar - the perfect combination. However, this is one case where a "longer" track does not necessarily mean a better track. Many of Ayu's best tracks I feel I want to play over and over again after hearing them, but after listening to this one JUST ONCE, I feel like I had it on replay for 4 times. It's quite exhausting to listen to. I wish there were more variation in the chorus itself. Ivy: This one sounds nice but again feels repetitive the more you listen to it. ------ Overall, this era to me is the era of "promise but does not quite excel to the level you expect"... Maybe this is all leading up to her NEXT era in music, or at least I hope so. She's improving, I'll give her that. But it's nothing to get caught up in for the time being. I shall sit back and await the full album. There's better to come, but this stuff is definitely not "THE BEST" it could be. And the fact that there is very little chance for some of those POWER rock tracks in the full albums release already works against the release. |
Her last few albums have been rather amazing when it comes to the music, with varying outliers who absolutely hate it. I mean there are some people who have not liked a single thing since I am...... does that mean that her work since then has been horrible? Some started hating her material after GUILTY or Secret but she's still satisfied fans since then. She must be doing something right.
IMO, you cannot let other people's opinions influence your own view on how something will sound because that's just stupid. If some people think that it's great, that's what they think and not what you are going to think. I never take what people say around here and for some reason think that it's going to be how I feel about the song because not everyone listens to Ayu in the same way or is looking for the same thing in her works. If you hate Melody or Sexy little things, be my guest, but that isn't going to stop the people that like it from enjoying it. (the same goes for people who talk about how much they love it not being able to convince those who hate it otherwise) However, I've always felt that it takes time for Ayu albums to sink in. It usually takes about a year or two. So far though, this era seems to be the most positively received in a looooonngggg time. I'd say the last time people were so satisfied with an Ayu release's music as a whole was maybe (miss)understood barring B&D/Pride. Love songs as an album was really positive but the singles did not meet such positive reception. |
how about to each their own.
THis IS some of her best work in a good while, not saying that the other stuff (FIVE-Party Queen) isn't good, but it reminds me and some others of her older stuff. |
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Maybe I am making assumptions about people, but even in real life if I am expressing why I love or dislike a song to someone who feels the opposite way, they can never express why they themselves like or dislike it in an argumentative way. It's usually "idk, i just like it...". I am the kind of person who wants to understand why a song sounds SO GOOD to me, so I pick out what I love and I notice what I don't. When making a statement on why I love a song I will use pieces of the song as example, where as most others generally just hear the noise and everything on the surface. You can't make a statement unless you truly dive into that piece of music and decide why you think it's good or bad. Pay attention to it - don't just put it on in the background. Really listen. I guess some people aren't like that - well, a lot of people I suppose. And I should learn to let them "like" or "dislike" something even if they only pay attention to the "surface". |
It's called over analyzing and it most of the time ruins everything.
I do this with movies and I had to stop, because it just came down to never watching a movie again because you can always find something wrong or just stop analyzing and enjoy it. Sometimes there is no reason on why you like something, you just do and there is nothing wrong with that whatsoever. |
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yeah, I understand that... I want to make movies and used to do that with all my movies, but I also came to understand if I do that I just don't enjoy the movie anymore because its more like breaking apart every piece of it and deciding what works and what doesnt and it ruins the entire movie experience.
Some things are just meant to be enjoyed and nothing more. |
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Personally I still love all of the Ayu songs I loved back when I first became a fan and the ones that came out afterward just as much as the ones that come out recently so I don't think it's 'freshness' that has to do with it. (You could say that for some artists who BARELY RELEASE ANYTHING so people basically are hyped because of a lack of material) New Ayu imo is always good since it's something we've never heard before for the most part. I try to keep every song as a new experience and not think of "OH THIS SOUNDS LIKE XXXXXX" I feel like when people are around during a release as opposed to say ASFXX/Duty/LOVEppears/I am... etc, they judge the songs differently... but maybe it's just me. |
I'm actually looking forward to this release. I mean, I usually look forward to every release, but I haven't been absolutely hyped for an Ayu album in ages. I wasn't even this excited for Love songs and I know that a lot of fans still consider that to be her best work of the last five or so years.
Both of the mini-albums were really solid to me. However, this isn't what makes me over zealous. I prefer Ayu's album only tracks overall. The fact that a 'single' release has above average (or at least in my opinion) tracks on it excites me as it is generally a reflection of what the album track quality will be (at least by Ayu trends anyway). I hope we get previews soon (I'm going to say this everyday haha). :heart |
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Sometimes I just get lazy when I go into a rant and partially through the post on praising or negatively speaking about something I will use general terms because I then realize it's a lost cause anyway. At least I try to break it down and single out certain sections. I use the term "fierce"-ness to describe those power-house tracks that Ayu gives attitude in. I don't use this term in my daily life, only when referring to those tracks by Ayu which make you feel like she's really kicking her foot down your throat, holding nothing back, and you're loving every minute of it. Those rare occurrences where I feel her foot is so far down your throat or up your ass that she honestly has left nothing on the table. I miss those songs, as those songs are my utmost favorite. It's what makes listening to Ayu different than anyone else I listen to. Songs like "my name's WOMEN" with that whammy! of a synthesizer; songs like 1LOVE which blends attitude, guitar, and detail all into an angry somewhat stripper-esque butt-kick atmostphere; songs like talkin' 2 myself, is this LOVE?, GAME and Microphone, where Ayu transforms into the most badass B-I-T-C-H you've ever encountered is where her chameleon-like qualities really OUTSHINE the rest. Forgive me for speaking in general terms, but no matter what I say and regardless of what kind of language I use to express my like or dislike for something - it's usually seen as over-critical and biasedly opinionated anyhow. |
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Forgive my ignorance. I just REALLY LOVE what I love and I REALLY HATE what I hate. And for some reason, I feel the urge to let people know that. Lol. |
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I guess for me personally, it's a bit odd to see someone almost always (in the last few years anyway) like "Why is everyone liking these tracks? They're not that great, everyone. I mean I don't like them that much at all." It's like Debbie Downer much?
IMO, that's the last thing the Ayu fandom needs. I understand that not everyone is going to like everything that Ayu releases, but it's somewhat odd to make comments about how people are really looking forward to this album because the music has been really strong (in their opinion) but basically say "The music is not s good as you think." We know you have been disappointed by hype in the past (especially Rock'n'Roll Circus) but for some people, I think Rock'n'Roll Circus/Love songs was one of her strongest and most well received eras as of late, ESPECIALLY after the flame-fest that was NEXT LEVEL. People eventually grew to not like Rock'n'Roll Circus as much and instead gravitated towards Love songs, but I had never personally seen people so satisfied by Ayu releases until then, though FIVE kind of ruined that since people were totally fine with the covers and such but the songs were hit/miss for most. Now that LOVE and again have come out and were pretty much universally praised with the exception of maybe Melody, she's set the bar really high for the potential of this album which I am sure people will not be disappointed by even if the latter half does end up being a ballad-fest. |
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Ok, I have explained myself enough. |
How to change my life so the centre of my living will be posting subjective compositions on message boards? Any help? :(
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Ivy and Sweet Scar are my favorite instrumentals for her. whatever anyone says, I am looking forward to this!
I have been a massive fan since 2011 ;) |
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I just miss Ayu rock songs. There wasn't any angsty rock songs since Microphone :< Only Love song was close to that, but still it was a acoustic guitar song, and it wasn't that angsty. But yet, it's epic.
I don't count Party Queen rockesque, it wasn't type of song I wanted. The songs I mean are Rule, Microphone, talkin' 2 myself, decision, GAME, Because Of You, 1 LOVE, is this LOVE?, or even sth in alterna type :< that ONE rock song that makes you WOOOOOOOOOOOOOAH. |
^ How about "Return Road"?
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i think this song have the angsty factor too... but yeah it more ballady like return road :rolleyes |
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yet it's still that "epic track". and reminds me is that kind of track like (miss)understood or It was - a good rock song, but not a MAIN rock track. a good filler track. |
If Ayu is going to do a rock song, I hope it is reminiscent of something like Street Spirit (Fade Out) by Radiohead. :heart
The fact that half of her harder rock songs are based on love puts me off them a bit. :/ (but perfect for this album!!!) |
^ my ultimate favorite lyrics are GAME cause they perfectly matched my break up 3 months ago.
But tbh, GAME lyrics could be about anything not love based :) It's about pain, but it matches everything about it. Microphone, Rule, t2m and so on are not love based :) Two very love based songs are is this LOVE? and Because of You. I need no makeshift words Which I'll probably forget about this time tomorrow I had made this game a little longer than usual No problem, I'll be able to find another one I got chills everytime I hear this song. Because I feel like she made this for me, like she's been through the same. And it was my first ultimate favorite song from her. |
^ GAME also gives me chills. The last two minutes of the song is absolutely amazing!
Yeah, my favourite hard pop-rock Ayu songs have always been the Mirrorcle World/End of the World types. I just find the love themed ones pale in comparison (as in, in terms of how they relate to me), but this is so subjective due to our personal experiences and tastes in rock music. :D (Because of You and GAME are the exceptions though :lech) I'm still waiting for the day that Ayu sheds her pop-skin and fully embraces the rock child that she actually is. :heart In terms of LOVE again, I think if there was to be a rock song, it'd have to be something like reminds me. I think anything with a lot more going on would unbalance it a bit based upon what we have already heard from the minis. |
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I wouldn't mind some new rockish songs though. I have high hopes there will be at least one rockish track on LOVEagain lol. (I'm one of those wishing for Gloria to be a rockish song, but something is telling me it will be a ballad lol) |
just hoping she pulls of a snowy-kiss-misleading-title one more time haha
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Gloria is gonna be the biggest ballad that anyone has ever seen, lol.
also return road is more rock then reminds me, but both are pop rock. |
Gloria will probably do an Eyes, Smoke, Magic and troll everybody. xD
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reminds me was the closest thing to that "WOOOOOOOOOOOAH" and it definitely was more rock than Return Road. Looking back, how has everyone's opinions changed regarding Return Road? Have they changed at all? Perfect example of a song that caused people's faces to melt off by the reactions I recall people were having... Lol. |
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I'm not in any kind of mindset to appreciate that kind of song ESM came to me when I embraced ayu without bias now on the other hand... |
I don't mind Eyes, Smoke, Magic. It was pretty funny though when the previews came out though, as everybody had been really anticipating that one because of its title...
And the rest is history. :D I still think the title Gloria is based upon 'glory'. Unless she knows somebody called Gloria/finds it significant in some other way. It would be odd if something focuses on the concept of glory and winning was a ballad though. Though, Ayu could be going for a sports anthem vibe. Who knows. Maria and Hana aren't the only female names mentioned in Ayu's discography anymore (SAKURA too has added to this)... |
^ i think i am one of a very few who actually loved the song xD
i loved PQ personally it had more rock than what she's been releasing after RnRC. i wouldn't say any of the songs actually had that strong ock flavour tho. they were pretty dark but nowhere near her rock stuff. i don't think that untill she changes her image again we'll get anything really dark. she's all nostalgic and butterfly pink now....:innocent |
^ Yeah, I found PQ very pop rocky. I would like to see a release with more rock essence, less pop essence.
I'm hoping for the opposite of minimalism next time. Ayu does well with decadence. :D Though, if Ayu went all vampire again I think that would be awesome too. :D |
well, Gloria reminds me of M song the most. Ballady, but with a choiral atmosphere, church and stuff.
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^ haha yes, a cutessy song called Gloria :> But it does make sense.
But it's the ballad section... so it will be probably a weird slow tempo song, classic boring ballad or sth powerfull (like M) |
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Look! And yeah, the big clip is just... a giant paper clip lol
http://i.imgur.com/utus2.jpg http://i.imgur.com/cwOZZ.jpg http://i.imgur.com/kyYA3.jpg |
It's not even worth it i think...
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Ayumi Hamasaki Sekai
The only place on the world people has the ability to foresee how a song will be in details just based on it's title. |
I guess her poor use of rock genre nowadays can simply be linked to her ear and voice problems. idk how she can pull off singing it well
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I heard the new songs last night in my dream:
04. SAKURA - enka with a lot of oo la la ss 07. Bye-bye darling - pop rock with a bit of rap thrown in 10. petal - jazz / swing / big band 12. untitled for her... story 2 - country style folk song with banjo and fiddle 13. Gloria - power ballad with organ, choir, church bells and pigeons |
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It's secretely subtitled Pride ~episode II~"Take this in your ears ******es" ver.~ I know it's stupid but I'm expecting a lot from a song with such a title! |
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I get that its fun to speculate...and I can understand from looking at the tracklist to help work out what genre a song will be like, but I don't really get all the comments saying "i bet X sounds like Y!", I just keep thinking there's new info or previews :P |
Return Road was frankly ruined for me by the backing vocals that come in near the last verse or something. The "hoo~o hooo~~o hoo"s. That might seem nitpicky but it just sounds so out of place/tune. I always skip to the next track about halfway through because of it lol *sad*
And about the earlier conversation about her fanbase only listening to the surface these days and therefore enjoying her stuff, I actually feel that to enjoy songs like LOVE or Ls tracks (the "boring" songs) you have to pay attention to more than the use of "basic" instruments and the lack of hooks and gimmicks, to notice the uniqueness and the delicate ways the song expresses itself. Not saying that bland songs are always better when examined like that. Just that when you enjoy a song because it has obviously oomph due to big, fast paced and loud arrangement you're then likely listening to the surface only. (Aand not saying those songs couldn't be great when examined in depth) Quote:
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Im still waiting for my "before-realese-dream". But they never come true :<
I dreamed about Ayu's pop-rnb-dark song with an amazing pv where her hair was changing colors into rainbow pastels :'((((((( And she was dancing sensual with Midori again ;'((((((((((((((( |
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ah man! so is it like a bonus or something with ordering through that site??
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I ordered CD-only with mu-mo bonus, CD+DVD with TA-bonus, and of course the Playbutton so I'm getting all three bonuses. :D |
I think TA gets the clip and notebook if they preorder through the TA shop.
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I would like that paper clip.
Is cute. Quote:
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22/21 days left
Holy 3 weeks! 2 weeks till leak.... Hmm |
When should we get previews? :D
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^ +1
I really want to know if all the new songs are ballads |
I think they could release them as chaku-uta first.
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i highly doubt they would ALL be ballads... that doesnt seem balanced at all...
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People thought Love songs was going to be full of ballads too right?
I don't think they'll be all ballads but... you never know lol |
Party Queen previews were released a week and a bit before release. :D
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And in OFFTOPIC I got a conclusion, LOVE again is the same thing of Love songs An actor (Mannie) in the story of the Pv's and ayu promoting that she is in Love. And we now after Party Queen album got exactly the same thing, and actor it dancer or who cares (Maro) in the story of the Pv's and ayu trying to "Sales us" that she is in Love "again" do u know what I mean?. But Love songs is Amazing and that album will be Epic!!! |
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Ah, really? That stinks. I thought they used to give you both.
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http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/a...psa6e47cf9.png The first is with notebook bonus, the second with big clip bonus. My memory tells me they first started doing this with the release of "A SUMMER BEST" but I'm not sure. |
i think its time for me to join team ayu, lol.
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Where are dem previews?
Weren't party queen previews up early? |
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