Any new Songs that transcend time?
 

Okay, I personally haven't listened to ayu in...probably over a year. But today, I don't know, I was just in a bad sort of mood, and so I listened to glitter because it always makes me happy.

And then I switched over to I am..., starting with Connected because I love it. And it's just like, every track that plays is genius in soo many ways. Right now I just finished M.

And while I'm listening to M, I just think, "wow...see this is Ayu at her best. One of her most awesome and powerful songs. There's nothing she has now that can even compare...."

And I realise that, what I think I really miss about Ayu's music, is that, I feel, that "back in the day" her music really felt timeless. And I really think that a lot of it really is (except imo a song for xx album which sounds dated to me, but whatever).

So, to the point, what I'm asking you guys is, do you think that any of Ayu's new songs (new probably meaning MY STORY on?) transcend time in the same way that her stuff from I am... and duty etc. do? Maybe you don't think any of her music is timeless?

(i am lovin M right now Lol)

I'd say.... offhand, "walking proud" and "talkin' 2 myself" are the only ones that will probably never sound dated. "walking proud" because it's just classic, mid-tempo ballad Ayu (similar to, say "Dearest", "Who...", and to some degree "Far away"). "talkin' 2 myself" because it's classic key-changing rocker ayu (similar to "evolution", but with a darker tone like "End of the World" and "Because of You").

I don't think timelessness is her biggest problem though, it's that the uniqueness is gone. After so many years, it's to be expected... but "decision" sounds exactly like "is this LOVE?", "momentum" sounds exactly like "M"... she's got nothing that sounds like "Key" or "Connected" (unless you count remixes) or "vogue".

well i think so about Pride, criminal, alterna, (miss)understood, it was, Secret, JEWEL, GUILTY, untitled ~for her~, MY ALL and some others songs! I love her new songs as well

I can't believe that you are in an ayumi hamasaki forum and u didn't listen to her music....

that is LAME

and yeah

ayu have seen better times in music before



but I think that right now, she can be herself, shes way strong than before too...



M is an awesome song, and I also think that that song is from her best times

^I listened to nothing but ayu for a very long time.

I have also been a member here for, obviously a lot longer than you have.

It's not lame, it's actually quite natural.

It's just...probably after (m)u came out, for me it started going downhill, and other artists soared.

But this thread isn't about that. It's about whether or not you, the replyer, think Ayu has any new songs that transcend time.


and btw, long time members here losing interest in ayu = a very old story. I'm not even an old member.

fair enough darls!


;)


LOL

To be very honest, I can't stand M. I don't really like what it is about the song, maybe the music, maybe that way she goes "MARIA," but I don't like the song.

Endless sorrow is definitely a song that could make a strong impression, but that's not new.

HEAVEN is one of her strongest songs from the "modern" era (m(u) and on). Otherwise, she has a lot of good songs, but for the moment nothing seems to really be making a strong impression. Nothing as big as how M is anyway. These things may take time.

^ I don't like M either. It feels so incomplete. But I don't think HEAVEN is a strong song either. I've always thought it was a really weak release.

As far as "timeless" songs go... I think Mirrorcle World is definitely one of them. When it came out, one of the reasons I loved it SO MUCH was that part of it reminded me of the old Ayu.

Together When... and JEWEL are the only "new" songs I would consider timeless. The whole atmosphere surrounding those songs just reminds of the classic ayu where her music actually had an impact on me when listening to them.

I would say up until MY STORY she still had "transcending" tracks (even more memorable than anything put out during the RAINBOW era). Moments is definately a masterpiece - it never seems to get old for me. It kinda just sinks in, but it never ceases to make my heart beat a little bit faster each time I listen to it. Same goes for GAME. No way to say and STEP you kinda fit in there as well. is this LOVE? is great too but that's kinda headed in the "new Ayu" direction but I think that was her best time. The start of "new Ayu". All those songs from that I kinda just gravitate towards, even more so than her older works (they kinda all just fit into one big clump). Maybe because that's when I got into Ayu (although I started with Depend on you/LOVEppears but when I first got into Ayu I started with those works but she was already releasing Memorial address around that time). I still love her music but that era just shines for me. JEWEL as well.

I'm not even an old fan of Ayu. I've been a fan since 2005 or 2006-ish. But, I first heard Dearest by Ayu. (My sister used to watch InuYasha, so I heard the songs after the show and liked some of them. Especially Dearest ^_^) Anyway, I looked Ayu songs up and got old ones. The first songs I heard after Dearest were SEASONS, Trust, Depend on you, Real me, End of the World, POWDER SNOW, Fly high, evolution, Boys & Girls, etc... I think the reason I liked her was her sound. Some of her old stuff sounds so different from music you normally hear on the radio.

Anyway, to get to the point of the post, I really only listen to her old stuff now. Before, I would buy her new CDs and like them, and I kind of forgot about her old songs. After a while, I strated to listen to I am..., Duty, LOVEppears, and I really enjoyed it more than her new music.

I think after being in the business for so long, there are less ideas to use for lyrics, composing, instruments, etc. Maybe that's why some of Ayu's newer songs don't make an impact on people.

To answer the question, there are only a few new Ayu songs to be considered "timeless". Mirrorcle World for sure, Moments, alterna, and some others too. The songs imo just don't sound original anymore. It sounds as if I've heard them before. For instance, I love the song Duty. It is so interesting and different sounding. The lyrics are also very powerful.

I hope Ayu starts releasing things like I am... and Duty again. In my opinion, they are two of her best albums. But for now, some of her music is just... I don't want to say it, but boring.

Well we have to realize that many artisits do not write all of their music or lyrics and a masterpiece takes time to create. What we as fans have to realize is that it is difficult to constantly write your own songs when you yourself is stuck in a rut, or if you are always pressured by fans and the recording label to put out more songs and to have people expecting you to have albums like I am yet they do not understand that people get writers block and that they are still pressured to create great music. However, listen to the music yourself and figure out which songs YOU think transcends time because only you know which music you like.

Not sure it's a matter of transcending time, but I have been trying to understand what happens over my brain (I know what it is though lol). I think many of her recent songs are good as much as the past ones, but ayu has become so flat to me these last years. There were songs that like I'd have a strong excitement playing them, but then everything became flat. I don't blame ayu, but some sort of reaction that probably involves my limbic system's reaction to overplayed music. A year ago, I was complete crazy over listening to madonna. Heck, I would get withdrawals if i didn't listen to her for a while lol Now her whole discography has gone flat on me too :shrug I was recently listening to ayu's album though, and to my surprise, one of her albums "unlocked" itself from flatness, which was Memorial address. I listened to ourselves and I could definitely feel the song again. I remember I listened to it last year over the A BEST 2 release and I felt it was completely tasteless and flat, so it was definitely a big surprise. I'm also enjoying Greatful days again. Hopefully other pieces of her music will get "unlocked" away from flatness, I think all I need is time.

IMO, most of her transcending songs show variety in the song, and doesn't have all verses and chorusses sounding the same. And it should also sound unique. (And of course it needs to be an actually good song, but that's beside the point. =p)

E.g.
evolution, M and monochrome are definitely not mass-production songs. They sound unlike any other song, and they have unique arrangements.

But..
E.g. momentum, Will and criminal; these songs have the verses and chorusses sounding pretty much the same, creating a negative predictability. And they're relatively generic. Those songs have less of a play-value over time.

At least that's how I see it. ^^;

From the albums after RAINBOW (where I feel she started doing more generic music and arrangements), the unique gems are:
Because of You, forgiveness, Moments, CAROLS, GAME, HEAVEN, STEP you, BLUE BIRD, JEWEL, Marionette and Mirrorcle World. talkin' 2 myself is half/half.
This excluding personal favorites of mine such as ANGEL'S SONG and INSPIRE. :3

I find it harder to pick these songs for later albums than earlier albums, because the earlier ones have more of them.

^interesting you put Will in that category. A lot of people feel differently.

hmm criminal because i feel the song is like dark rock-pop~ so in a way reminds me of RAINBOW album
momentum and JEWEL are the songs that can sometimes make cry just a little bit, and the lyrics hits me stronger than her other current songs
MY ALL also hits me a lot..sounds so happy, but the whole song makes me cry...kinda remind me of putting on a happy face, but looking sadly into the past is what i feel~

it depens on every person... i mean for me M is not a timeless song... for you yes? okey, but for me M had a period when a loved it and then --------- for me is still a good song but ayu have changed... and also I have changed... for me more rockish songs will be good even in 10 years because are the ones i love...

a par fo that I think there's some songs that almost EVERYONE love and still listen always... this are A song for XX, who, SURREAL... songs like that...

but hey! recent songs are that.. recent!! i mean... when who.. was created nobody though, "ooo this is a classic", or "this song will never be forgoten"... songs became a classic when years have passed... we can't say Talkin' 2 myself is a classic... but maybe yes in some years...

So new songs will became special someday because they were from this present we are living now..., sure!

Mirrorcle World and Ladies Night. :)

As I'm writing now, I'm listening to a mega mix of Ayu songs. I don't remember who but someone here uploaded a file where bit of songs from 1995 to 2008 are complied together (I mean every song!).

I do hear differences between Ayu's older works compared to now but that's surprising since it's been 10 years. Falling into creative block is completey normal.

Songs I find "time transceding" are Together When..., HEAVEN, Bold & Delicious, JEWEL, Moments, kiss o' kill, Until that day, and Mirrocle World. There are many more I would name but I think most people don't consider those songs "time transceding".

@Melrose
I happen to love Will and momentum.

I think HEAVEN is a timeless song. It's so simple. Like Jewel except I don't particularly like Jewel. I think Endless Sorrow is also timeless.

ONE letter: HEAVEN & HANABI. but more HEAVEN

I think songs like alterna, my name's WOMEN, STEP you, Ladies Night, Bold & Delicious, Pride and rainy day will become timeless in much the way we think fondly of the Duty and I am... eras now - like we think of evolution, SURREAL, M, etc.

However, I am sensing elements of songs being recycled now. As a previous poster mentioned rightly, there is a lot of is this LOVE? in decision, and I can see a huge similarity between fairyland, BLUE BIRD and glitter, the latter song being the only one I can say I 'love'. I'm hoping for some more original sounding stuff on the new album.

I'd definitely have to say (miss) understood and Mirrorcle World.

i think lots of songs,
just like the commercial ones (hey theyre commercial for a reason)

like HEAVEN, JEWEL, Moments, CAROLS, Step YOU, Together When...

maybe just for me, but these songs all give off that emotional nostalgic feel

I got into ayu after Secret... so songs like Together When... have that quality where it was a good song and it was anticipated and it was so emotional and whatnot, so maybe that's why that song was timeless, because a lot of people thought it sounded like key and w/e (although it has no guitar)

maybe... Mirrorcle World is timeless? lol it sure is unique

I pretty much agree. I do feel that much of her music from My Story on kinda lost that timeless classic feel. Her music is still enjoyable, no doubt about that, but it's been quite a while since I heard one of her songs and immediately thought "Wow, this one is going to be a classic." Some of the songs come close, like maybe Together When, but nothing reaches the level of an "M" for example in terms of timelessness.

I think maybe the last time I got the "Holy wow, this song is perfect" feeling from Ayu was alterna.

I don't think any song is timeless for me. The closest might be Boys & Girls because I like the music even though I don't like the live version of it. And maybe Real Me, Mirrorcle World, and M.

But there's a particular live performance that would be timeless for me, and that would be Glitter. I don't think I'll like the song if I hadn't saw the performance. As a whole, the performance was so positive, fun, and happy without being cutesy. The dance was well coordinated and makes you feel energetic. And it wasn't a generic dance where the whole group dance together doing the same thing, each dancer had their part and I could feel the individualism in the performance (In contrast to a dance performance like in Real Me). And everything else just works so well together. I could also say the same thing about some of the Step You performances. Glitter was a good song, but adding more meaning to it with more energy via a performance, made it an excellent song IMO. I'll never get tired of it. (I'm mainly referencing to Count Down Live 07-08)

In what way do you guys define a song as timeless? Is it because the music to that song is unique? Or the way she sung it? That seems the way you guys seem to be describing it! If that is the case, I'd say STEP you is somewhat timeless, at least to me.

^i think it is too.

For me it has a lot to do with the composition...but i think people have different views, obviously, so it's a little difficult to describe.

Together When... definitely..
HEAVEN
STEP you
these are the more recent ones i feel...it just has that typical-A feel hahah

the rest..people would have mentioned

Classics-timtless songs for me: Moments, GAME, STEP you, Startin', Together When...

Classics-timeless songs generally for Japan: STEP you, HEAVEN, BLUE BIRD and maybe Together When...

Even if BLUE BIRD is a summer song and a lot of us don't like it, it's a classic for the japanese.

Yeah, BLUE BIRD was the most unexpected requested song on the radio or something right. like the radio show where Who... (1Oth Anniversary) was first leaked.

alterna, CAROLS, GAME, INSPIRE, JEWEL, kiss o' kill, Mirrorcle World, my name's WOMEN, talkin' 2 myself, until that Day..., 1 LOVE

Those are timeless for me, but yeah, I find most of her "classics" during de LOVEppears-RANBOW eras

I think a lot of her ballads would transcend time.... HEAVEN, JEWEL, Together When... Her ballads have a way of becoming timeless... look at Who... and A Song for XX =/

For me, from 2003 onwards, all her "Winter ballad" songs have the timeless effect.

No Way To Say - Carols - HEAVEN - JEWEL - Together When...

CAROLS, voyage, heaven and forgiveness transcends time!