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Ayu: Anything Goes - the XXX (30th edition)!
Umm...yeah. The 30th edition. Or the dreaded 'XXX' edition of this thread. To ring in the new year.
(And it took us over 14 months - from late September 2020 (!) - from the beginning of the previous thread just to get here.) Happy new year (2022) everybody! |
Happy new year!!
I wish Ayu and her blood/staff family, and everyone on this forum, my best wishes. Let's hope this is the year the album drought comes to an end :weep |
Happy New Year! Tons of health and luck to all of you. Let's make it a good one! I'm sure ayu will surprise us somehow ;)
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Happy New Year everybody best wishes to you all :) . I wish this year bring us new album or at least mini album from Ayu, but i doubt it. Well, we could hope for the best.
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Took a quick look at ayu's wiki and saw A BALLADS 2 was released in April 2021. Why does it feel like so much longer ago? Is it just me?
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The announcement of A Ballads 2 was so exciting last year! And I really enjoyed the tracklist and Haru Yo Koi reveal on Youtube! Looking forward to seeing what she has in store for us this year!
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Max was at Ayu's concert.
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Max is so active on YouTube now. He said LOVE ~Destiny~ (he calls it simply as LOVE) was his favorite song and it made him cry, especially the piano version made by Tsuji. I've never heard it before!
but it's really beautiful. I never liked this song that much but it seems to be getting better slowly year by year. |
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I'm not sure whether Matsuura is trying to regain some of his honour after 'Aisubeki hito ga ite' or whether he is just trying to capitalise on it... In the weird interview/chat thing he did with Ayu after 17Live final, he responded to the Q of what was his favourite song by saying he couldn't really pick one, but then in a 'candid' video in the car later he said it was 'LOVE' and then released a clip of him watching her sing it at the CDL - it feels like someone told him to pretend to pick something that sounded like she wrote the lyrics about him, to attract some attention with controversy... maybe I'm too cynical?
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^Love ~Destiny~ e a pretty popular ballad from her early years, though... Hirai Ken even covered it for his Ken Bar series. It's also her first song to reach #1 in Oricon, so I wouldn't be surprised if it do hold a special place on his heart as her producer and lover at the time.
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I kinda enjoy watching Max Matsuura on YouTube. I think I've never heard him talking before. I even think about starting a thread here with the translation of his comments on various things connected to him and ayu and their collaboration and jpop in general. hmmm
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I enjoy him too!
I like that he’s been relatively frank and straight forward and doesn’t really sugar coat things lol. Like how most young people now, upon seeing Ayu on tv, would ask who the obasan is without realizing how big she was in her prime. It’s a very real and honest comment. It’s completely opposite of Ayu’s stance for the past several years, which is to avoid the question altogether lol |
Looks like Ayu is going to cover One Night Carnival by Kishidan, along with a lot of other folks covering the same song. I really enjoyed when she performed it with them during Hotel Love Songs.
https://www.kishidan.com/sp/news/#news96772 This has been bugging me lately. I have been listening to Secret (the album) a lot since it is that time of year, and I am trying to decide what the original 7 tracks were given the number of previously released songs. Thoughts? |
I always assumed the ones that ended up having a clip?
Startin, Born to Be, Blue Bird and Beautiful Fighters for sure, and then I would have said 1LOVE, JEWEL and Secret. |
Until that day was also an interlude but Ayu loved it so much, she transformed it in a song ! When I had my website on Ayu (Ayu Paradise) I translated an interview about Secret transforming into a full album. I'll check if I have the file somewhere
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I'm so glad Until that day became an actual song, it's one of my favorite and I still use it as ringtone
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I tried to translate this part at the beginning of the video (it was more difficult than I expected as none of JA&EN language is native to me :D) Max: "Hamasaki Ayumi in her heyday? Well, her heyday was amazing. I guess you guys don't know about it well. I think, looking at current ayu, young people nowadays may mistakenly think something like "Oh, isn't she some kind of enka singer obasan? Or was it Koda though, must be one of them". Well, her prime... I think young people now can't imagine, how incredible the situation was those times. Like when ayu started to attach a furry tail as an accessory, all gyaru girls in Shibuya started doing the same. That's how huge her impact was. She was tremendous." I personally love this part about enka obasan :laugh I wonder how ayu reacts to such words though. |
I'm really shocked with this fanmade remaster
Normally, these HD / 4K remasters based on a TV recorder / VHS are usually very good, but they need to filter the images so much that people's skins looks like plastic. In this case, it looks VERY natural and sharp. I'm amazed. Really hope someday Avex (:rolleyes:rolleyes) will do something like that with her previous concerts |
^ Oh yeah, I've been doing it with AI software I bought and have gotten some pretty good results with it.
Another note: Kago Ai, ex-morning musume covered Boys & Girls on her Youtube channel. https://youtu.be/hya5JlbavXU |
New tour logo is cute :) love the Barbie reference.
The font is… well, I like the silhouette and bringing back the AH monogram! |
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I think ayu understand her current position better than anyone else. |
…I’d like to meet the person designing the goods and have a conversation with them. Lol
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Yeah, I find logo tacky - there's too much going on and I dislike the font.
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I wish they stole fan designs like they use to. Now it's all bland boring and ugly af..
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Nothing to steal, fans stopped to design anything
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:mischief |
Party Queen is Ayumi's Artpop. you can't tell me otherwise.
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I was just thinking of Ayu's relationship with Manny and like... did we ever see what was inside the Super Manuel photobook? lol (and if so - I'm curious so y'all better link it :think)
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Except it's probably not as dividing - everyone seems to hate Party Queen ahaha I have always loved how it works with Love songs - one polished and classic-Ayu, the other rough around the edges and very different sounding. There are so many parallels, down to the albums being led by a 1st song one letter/capital letter away from the album titles. There is something so tragic about the way they answer each other! |
Random.
I just noticed “Greatful Days” on AB2 WHITE (Spotify) has a longer intro. Just saying lol |
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Does anyone know what happened to the ayumix2020 project?
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Wasn't this project just an entertainment for people while they were sitting at home? Ayu only promised to add few videos to the playlist on official channel
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I thought it was more serious, something like new ayumix project. At some point it was popular topic trending for a while on youtube and here also, just suddenly faded out, it seemed like it wasn’t over. I'm just not up to date with the information.
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I know it's kind of known that ayu has a varied discography but does anyone ever review it occasionally and realize just how varied it is?
It's a bit wild when you think the same woman who put out "Mirrorcle world" also put out "from your letter", "Duty", "ANGEL'S SONG", "Sparkle", "ourselves", "Liar" "In the corner", "Sweet season", "Eyes, smoke, magic", "Survivor", "My way", "Don't look back" , "Terminal" All of these songs are so incredibly different that if you put them on a playlist it would be difficult to give them some sort of flow, and at times you'd question if it was the same person in each of the songs. I love this about her, and I think that's why I have been a fan of her for so long. You never really know what to expect. Yes she still has some similar sounding songs, but over the course of her discography there's a lot of her branching out and trying different styles/sounds. |
^I want to print this and frame it. One of the many reasons why I love her.
Somehow that's why I'm not mad when she brings out a song I find weaker or just don't like, if it adds to the discography. My Way comes to mind, in the sense that I'd never listen to it normally, but every time it comes on I'm like 'oh yeah, she did that!' |
I feel the much the same as you two! Ayu has an incredible catalogue of songs, it's hard to match.
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I'm following a few Ayu groups on facebook, with the new snippets of the mv out, someone is again whinning about how she needs to quit plastic surgery. Why are some people so buthurt she doesn't look like she did in the 90s? She literally looks the same to me. Why is she the only one always being dragged for it and questioned about her apparence? Why is none dragging Utada, Koda or Namie?? The woman is 43yo not 75..jeeez. And even if she had stuff done, people need to get over it already. It doesnot affect her music.
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Do u guys hate it why u mentioned that u like ayu, people tend to say. “Oh I prefer Misia, Namie etc…” LOLLL
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I totally agree that it’s frustrating seeing comments only about Ayu.
But if I had to theorize why… Ayu, particularly now, kind of plays up the robotic doll aesthetic, so I think that might have something to do with it. And she’s mostly only seen in recorded or photographed (edited) instances. She doesn’t really do “natural” photo shoots anymore, or makeup. Her casual, down to earth persona that she once had is pretty much nonexistent now, too. I mean, she used to appear in jeans and a t shirt haha. Koda Kumi, Amuro Namie and especially Utada Hikaru have kept a sense of realness to their persona. I’d say Koda Kumi is closest to Ayu in terms of negative online comments, but Koda also appears on TV a lot more (without digital editing), and with other artists, so she doesn’t have that “queen all alone in her tower” aspect about her lol. Her being from Kansai also gives her a bit of friendly relatability. I’m not sure what caused Ayu to sort of shun public appearances now, but I suppose she’s earned it given how much of her life was spent in it. I don’t think she’s had nothing done, but I don’t necessarily think she’s gone overboard—at least permanently. There was a moment where her fillers were a bit much, but I think she looks fine now. Personally I think the colored contacts are the most jarring. I still think she’s beautiful though. |
Her face has very much transformed. Her eyebrows used to angle downward in the middle, which gave her more of a distinct and sometimes aggressive look. She has since diluted distinctness and smoothed out her features.
As far as her image, yes, she really leans into the notion of being “inaccessible” now, whereas much of her earlier persona was built on the inverse (or at least included a healthy balance of it). Basically, although there was always an element of Ayu being “aspirational” to many, it’s now like an inflated sense of aspiration with zero sense of accessibility. |
It annoys me a lot that the press tore into her when she started to age and then when she had work done they tore into her for not ageing… women cannot win
Also she’s had 2 kids - this changes your body in immeasurable ways. I don’t blame her at all for being self-conscious of how she looks given how cruel the media is. More power to her! |
I’m a firm believer that she hasn’t had any surgery done at all. Fillers? Lots of them, but can we consider that plastic surgery nowadays when literally everyone can do it in a few minutes? Don’t think so. As for media and people... everyone is going to have something to say or criticize, we’re all bored we need some entertainment, don’t take other’s opinions too seriously.
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We gotta be careful what's fiction ♫
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I've just watched Nonfiction PV for the first time then immediately rewatched Sparkle PV and making of Spakle PV and thought about what an amazing professional ayu is. And how she got an impressive collection of PVs I really hope she continues releasing new singles and PVs :love :luv2 love the queen! |
When I look at some celebrities in western media that had things done, I sometimes think it's a shame what they did to their natural features where I saw nothing that looked like it needed fixing. Some people look unrecognizable from their past selves and maybe that's the whole point, but in my opinion a lot of the times it seems like they paid a ton of money to make themselves look worse, when it is clear they want to look better.
Anyway, in ayu's case, if she did have anything done to herself, I feel like it wasn't major. If I ever see a more natural photo of her where there's obviously minimal editing I still think she looks like the same ayumi she has throughout her career with the same features. I don't see a woman who is obsessed with plastic surgery and changing how they look permanently. She may be wanting to look younger, but given the industry she is in I'd say that's typical. To her she may feel like either she bares her naturally aging face and gets called unattractive or old, or she dolls herself up and gets criticized for being plastic and old. Because looks are so important to sales when it comes to women in her industry, I am sure her company prefers her to be dolled up as well, so she has that to take into consideration too. Anyway, it's all superficial. People can do what they want with their bodies. As long as at their core they remain decent humans, are not harming themselves or others it should not matter so much. Ayumi is so much more than her appearance. She has proven she is an amazing person over the years and it would be nice if people would focus more on that but we're in a superficial world so I wouldn't start to expect it anytime soon, unfortunately. |
I think Ayu def got a chin shaving of some kind recently on top of her usual fillers.
With that being said- I think the color contacts and makeup are sometimes the problem. Whenever she posts a more natural photo on insta it shows how stunning she is! Her looks for her concerts since Power of A^3 have been on the more natural side too which has been lovely. I wish we got more looks like that for Nonfiction. I always say this here but it always irks me that her stylists hide her gorgeous eyes behind contacts, she doesnt need them! |
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On another side note, I needed to share this performance:
https://m.facebook.com/watch/?v=885271898244707&_rdr Her best song ever created. Her best performance ever. This is what I would like her concerts to be nowadays, she proved she doesn’t need a bunch of lights and fancy dancers to put on a show, her stage presence is literally out of this world and fills the whole stage. She, the band, good signing technique and focus, that what she needs. |
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She has enough fans to be profitable and a family. If I were her, I would try to focus on those and stop trying to be relatable to people who treat me like that, too. Not that I know why she does things this way. It's just what I've always assumed. |
I don't know. I'm still baffled. Her persona has nothing to do with her looks, at least to me. She literally had a minimal make-up phase not that long ago and is always in casual clothing in her social media posts even if it is luxury. You still see her in t-shirts and sweatpants with minimal or no make-up in her rehearsal photos and toned down casual outfits in her live shows (especially encore parts) and her lyrics are still personal. She's also still the same way on stage. Not a lot have changed, and yet people pick at her. The fundamentals didn't really change that much, only the times have. To me it sometimes feels like just because she's older and did things, like showing that she's ACTUALLY A HUMAN capable of making mistakes, that other starlets in her age-range didn't is getting the backlash and all kinds of comments that are for some reason directed at her appearance, because that's the only thing that's there all the time for people to pick at. I can't see how the three mentioned kept the "realness" around them, Namie in general was only seen in mags and videos or live concerts. What they did, at least in my eyes, they kept the "persona" that's acceptable in Japanese culture trying to stay away from things that are frowned upon, also none would go and attack someone like Namie who had some tragic events in her life, but at the same time she's also divorced, but none dragged her for it. I don't know, it just feels unfair to me. Like i dropped off the boat of GACKT fandom and i don't agree with a lot of things he's doing now or the way he's acting, but i'm not going around and saying how ugly and old he is and that he needs to stop with the plastic surgery stuff. For some reason even Arama has a bone to pick with Ayu, almost on every article they write. And i just don't get it. The only difference i'm seeing now from Ayu is that she's much more "piss off" with the public because of how she was treated, and is a lot bolder with her lyrics at times, but that didn't come out of nowhere either, it's not like she just made that part of herself up because she can, she's always had her life experiences in her lyrics, so this is no different. It's insane how big of a part she played back then and how much of a different breeze she brought it and kept doing so throughout her career, but back then it was "cool" and now it's just shameful because she's older. And honestly, she can't win either way so might as well just be unapologetic and unfazed about anything and everything, cuz you are going to be dragged for whatever anyways.
Also i've always said that plastic surgery takes months to heel and with the schedule like hers i dunno where she would fit stuff like that in, especially something major like bone shaving. These days fillers can have very similar effect, so i'd be more inclined to believe that. But seriously, i don't know why it matters, cuz she was never the one bragging about how she's a natural beauty with no work done. |
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Haha, I need one of those pictures that points at your quote and says, THIS! Jameela Jamil has a great Instagram reel called "gaslighting" about how the media puts female stars on a pedistal and then tears them down, destroying them in the public eye for entertainment. Japanese media is no different in my experience. Still, Ayu is special. Utada Hikaru has kept public and private separate, so I can see why she hasn't gone through this, but Koda Kumi and Amuro Namie have both been public and aren't treated like she is. My personal guess is that it's because a) Ayu refuses to be destroyed--keeps living however she wants to live and does it in the public eye and continues to make loads of money (Nonfiction just hit #1 on the Oricon streaming singles chart) when she's SUPPOSED to be cowed and ashamed and ruined. There are other theories. Her looks. That she was the face of her generation, and now that generation is over. That she's big on being flash rich, when everyone is poor now. That she hasn't changed her image at all. But who knows? I'm with you, she's much more "piss off" and it seems to suit her just fine. :D |
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Utada is a musician that sometimes goes out and do a few concerts. She is huge at that, but still, people think mostly about her music when Hikki is the subject.
Ayu is a full blown pop icon that for a long time had a heavy hand on pop culture. More than that, she keeps on defying whatever japanese culture expects of her. In the end of the day she is living her life shameslessly, cursing on her tracks, showing skin, being a single mother by choice and a career woman at the same time... People bash Ayu because in a way she still relevant and still is defying those norms. |
^exactly this.
Also, I think Ayu has been following western beauty trends a lot more than her peers. I don’t think she never looked or acted what a typical Japanese woman is expected to. And when you’re different, you know criticism is on your way. Also, this is just my opinion but i feel Japanese society/culture hasn’t evolved much, in fact the contrary. Even in music all I see is uninspiring artists and lack of originality. How good the 00s were... |
Do you think that was the appeal to Japanese audiences in a way? Have a "western beauty" pop idol who is actually Japanese.
Took me a few listens but I really am head over heels with her "you're full of shit" line. It really means so much more coming from a Japanese pop artist. |
Cute "Nonfiction" fanart by maomaocat
https://i.imgur.com/mehPnC0.jpg https://twitter.com/MaomaoCatLand/st...44486981259265 |
Seeing Madonna’s team putting effort into promo for her upcoming best of remix album makes me want Ayu’s team to do similar lol
I feel like remix’s are slowly gaining in popularity again, so it would be great if Ayu hopped on the trend again. |
^from your mouth to god’s ears. It’s time already for a new remix album, it’s been more than 10 years!! Maybe they’re saving all of it for the 25th anniversary
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I would love a new remix album or album set.
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For those who were around… was Greatful days not well liked when it was released?
It’s actually a song I find myself listening to a lot, and the colorful video and happy vibes is kind of a rarity in her videography, so I’m just curious how it was received at first. I tend to find that a lot of people don’t like it now lol |
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I personally dislike it with a passion, it's a song that I only listen to during lives. It's strange, because the reason I don't like Greatful days is kinda generic, "the happiness of the song sounds fake", but I know there are a lot of songs I love that people have this feeling about them.
However, I know it's not a bad song per se. |
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I hypothesize BLUE BIRD? That’s the first that came to my mind as it is very different from her tone in greatful days. Which leads me to compare my perspective on the two. I actually really enjoy greatful days, but can only handle BLUE BIRD in small doses. BLUE BIRD is a bit taxing for the reason that it’s SO HAPPY. Greatful days on the other hand is just fun, and it’s like I can bop along to it. It’s also got an interesting arrangement with little sound effects that add variation. I find it playful. BLUE BIRD to me is very standard and also kind of tugs at you to be REALLY HAPPY in a way that I feel I’m being dragged by it against my own will. Lol. Funny though, cause I love HONEY, which one might criticize in a similar manner. |
Ayumi Hamasaki, a Japanese music diva, has released a new single titled “Documentary literature“ just in time for her 24th anniversary of her debut.
https://shindekudasai.com/ayumi-hama...-a-new-single/ Well now I want to hear that song :irked |
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I'm also interested to listen to her second and last album, "LoveppearsMade in Japan". Quote:
Again, not a bad song, but it sounded flat to me. I only started to like it because of live performances. I don't know how to explain why Greatful days doesnt click to me even now, but it's funny how I say I don't like it, but EVERYTIME she sings it live I'm 100% singing the chorus by heart :rolleyes |
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Ayumi Hamasaki’s debut single “poker face” was released on April 8, 1998, the same year as her first album.Song for ×ד, But also her second album, entitled”LoveppearsMade in Japan was her last album and was released in 2016. |
With the Barbie movie coming out, wouldn’t it be fun if Ayu was featuring in the Japanese dubbing of it?! Lol
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Hi all, does anyone know how far in advance one has to join TA to be eligible to enter lotteries for concert tickets (specifically the TA summer party in July) lol ?
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I got a much needed haircut a couple of weeks ago, i came back and with time, i kept thinking it reminds me of something, then i realised i legit got 2000/2007 Ayu hair now lol To be fair, i've had a few japanese hairstyle photos as examples. It's literally that super layered short bob with long bangs. LOL I haven't had bangs in a decade so it's quite a change. I love that style on Ayu, though so i'm not mad lol I'm tempted to do an all black outfit inspired by talkin'2'myself, now :D
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I only re-relealized (? Lol) today that Moon is technically a summer single…
Do people here consider it one??? I mean it was sung on tour and then released so, it’s technically one due to the timing but it wasn’t created to be one… so, just curious haha. I never liked Moon so I kind of blocked it out haha. But seeing it on A summer best I was like… wait what???? Lol |
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She also sang blossom during the summer medley at Cirque de Minuit! I like both songs~
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I consider MOON a "night summer song", just like HANABI and HANABI ~episode II~ are. Admiring the moon is one of the summer night's clichés.
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Oh interesting!
I’ll try to work it into a nighttime playlist this summer haha. I like Moon more now than when it was released, but it’s definitely in my underplayed category so I’ll try to appreciate it more haha. |
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I remember hating the close up CD only cover because she did look like kana Nishino to me but then starting to love it lol Her covers went downhill after that now that I think about it. Btw, the MOON remix on Ayu-trance 4 is amazing too. |
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Same! Ayu-trance 4 is a great album! Would be nice to get another one even if it's only digital (I do enjoy the extended versions on streaming/download services)
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This is the energy the Summer Again PV needed :grumpy
https://twitter.com/__sbstian/status...22666678734849 |
hot damn, the ~reaching-out-of-frame-for-booze-bottle~ killed me! XD
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This year marks 20th anniversary of I Am.. and Rainbow. Both are my fav Ayu albums. I wonder if there is anything planned for the occasion. A vinyl edition would be amazing.
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Oof, Rainbow on vinyl? I would jump on that immediately. Even if it is not necessarily my single favourite album I love it to bits and its artwork I've always found utterly amazing. Let's hope this happens. All of Hikki's albums up until Hatsukoi were just announced to release on vinyl later this year so if at any time, then perhaps now.
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I don't know if it was posted here or not, but I wanted to share some Rina Aiuchi covers for Ayu songs uploaded in Rina's YouToube channel. Really impresive to listening, so it's worth it!
M (Rina Aiuchi cover) Who... (Acoustic Orchestra version) (Rina Aiuchi cover) a song is born (Rina Aiuchi cover) |
She does a great job (and good song picks)!
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And she's somehow an Ayu-fan, I think :D
As an Ayu-fan and as well as an Rina-fan, I couldn't resist the "temptation" and converted these videos into MP3 format so I can have it in my PC and/or my cellphone. |
Oh, good idea, would be awesome if you could share them!
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I can try to upload them, when I have some time.
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Awesome!
It would be nice to create a resource thread for all these kinds of things, if I can find the time today I'll get on it (from tomorrow I'll be on holiday so little opportunity of posting). |
Why doesn’t Ayu’s team take advantage of YouTube shorts and stuff???
Dragon Ash has been uploading little clips of their past singles these past few months. https://youtube.com/shorts/sxrDFg7BgPw?feature=share It’s such a simple thing to do, and considering she has so many releases after her peak, I feel like it would at least help bring attention to those songs… |
it seems like I've never actually listened MADE IN JAPAN album or listened to it only once.
'tasky' sounds so much like Bjork's 'Pagan Poetry' :O |
Damn, years of listening to Björk and Ayu and I didn't notice until you just pointed it out!
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@sxesven - Here you have the MP3 files I commented you (lucky enough to get them in 320 kbps) :)
https://www.sendspace.com/file/g0ydxq - Rina Aiuchi - Who... (Acoustic Orchestra Version) https://www.sendspace.com/file/wgpher - Rina Aiuchi - M https://www.sendspace.com/file/qsmcv1 - Rina Aiuchi - a song is born Enjoy! ^_^ |
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