If you had to introduce Ayu's music...
 

Damn, I really need to check out the discord one time. Thank you for putting the discussion on the forum, so we don't have to miss out.

I think you put a great list together. Would personally remove NO FUTURE, but that has more to do with personal taste than anything (I dislike most of the songs from A ONE, so the only song I would recommend from that album would be Last Minute, because it is so Memorial Address throwback)

Anyway, I have done this a few times, trying to introduce Ayu to friends, boyfriends or potentional new dates. The list could change any time, depending on my own current favourites. Mostly I go with this:

BRILLANTE and Don't Look Back do pretty well among my friends and I'd also recommend part of me for a long time.

That's a great question and there is no one right answer to it! So first I browses all the studio albums and EPs, made a list of 32 songs and then filtered it again. I was aiming at a mix of past and contemporary ayu. The choice is really tough, though.

- M
- Memorial address (2010 tour version)
- Blue bird
- Mirrorcle World
- Sparkle
- Love song
- Sweet scar
- NO FUTURE
- Mad World
- Progress

My personal Top 10 / all time favorites:

- Who... (10th Anniversary Version)
- HEAVEN
- M
- SEASONS
- Marionette
- Last Minute
- Memorial Address
- Letter
- HOPE or PAIN
- Game

It was really difficult narrowing it down to only 10 songs lol

Rainbow
Sparkle
Love Song
M
Sayonara
Dreamed A Dream
Startin
A Song for xx "030213 Session #2"
Hanabi Episode II
Is This Love?

Great choices everyone!

This was just off the top of my head to be honest haha. I based it off the first songs I heard from Ayumi (A Ballads was my first album), the person I'm recommending it to being a big fan of pop music (Sparkle, Startin), songs friends of mine who have never heard Ayumi enjoyed (Is This Love?), songs that made an impression on me when I first heard them (M, I Am) and some mid tempo less in your face tracks I thought folk might enjoy (Hanabi Episode II, Love Song)

I always like to include a recent song as a recommendation too so included Dreamed A Dream.

EDIT: Switched out I Am for Sayonara.

I've shown some close friends her youtube videos and I always start with SPARKLE, I guess since its one of her more "out there" videos. My choices are probably partially based on the accompanying videos:

SPARKLE
Rule
Sayonara
Ourselves
fairyland
FLOWER
BRILLANTE
WARNING
M
Mirrorcle World

“Does she make reggaeton?”
It really depends on who I am introducing her to. It wouldn’t be the same for a person who enjoy rock music than to another who enjoys pop music, or another genre. But I think a good list would look like this for me:

-Terminal
-A song for XX (either one of the 2008 or 2009 lives)
-Sparkle
-Decision
-Lelio
-M (live from PoM)
-I am (live from PCDL)
-Snowy kiss
-Love song
-Moments

Reason I included live versions is I don’t think anyone I know would enjoy her pre-2003 vocals.

Not quite 10 songs but I would hand them a copy of the Memorial Address album. Every Ayu is perfectly represented in that minialbum and it is the perfect introduction to her work.

A Song for XX (A BEST version)
Boys & Girls
TO BE (2003 ReBirth Mix)
Duty
SURREAL
M
RAINBOW
GAME
is this LOVE?
talkin'2 myself

I'm not sure my favorite ballads (CAROLS, RAINBOW, HANABI) will be enjoyed that much when the person isn't into Jpop in the first place, so I guess I'd go with this instead :

Mirrorcle World
A Song for XX (A BALLADS)
Song 4 u
GAME
Sparkle
M
alterna
Because of You
Moments
Will

I remember when I was introduced to ayu and I hated her. Her high-pitched squeak gave me a headache lol. So I don't think I would introduce her earlier works outside of maybe some ballads. I was playing Last Minute in the car once and a passenger asked, "Who's that? This song is really great. I like the emotion in her voice." So I think maybe songs like that would be what I would introduce. A Song for XX (A BALLADS version) would probably be at the top of the list.

6 songs are matching with your list, Koumori :)

1. RAINBOW
2. A Song for XX - "030213 Session #2"
3. M
4. SEASONS
5. evolution
6. SURREAL
7. Who...
8. monochrome
9. And then
10. HANABI

but it's kind of sad I didn't include anything made after 2003.

This is a really good topic! I have introduced her to some friends and tho none of them really became a fan, they liked what I showed and some even listen now and then those songs (I know because they share it on their IG's stories and stuff lol)

My personal 10 songs would be:

A Song for XX (live at a nation 08)
Dearest
Evolution
Free & Easy
HEAVEN
is this LOVE?
Moments
Sparkle
Song 4 U
Mad World

Really great topic !

ever free
Connected
M / M (above & beyond Remix)
HANABI (a-nation 2005) : This live is everything !
Voyage
Because of You
Dearest (acoustic Piano Version)
TO BE (2003 Rebirth Mix) : A BALLADS is just a masterpiece for me & the remastering is reallly really great.
Sparkle
Naturally
everlasting dream : best interlude ever

Now this is a challenge! I'm trying to go for a good representation of her legacy and range, but 10 songs is a surprisingly small number.

1. A Song for ×× "030213 Session #2" / Live at a-nation '08
2. End roll
3. M
4. SURREAL
5. Memorial address - take 2 version
6. GAME
7. fairyland
8. Sparkle
9. progress
10. Mad World

She has such a variety to her sound over the years, I would introduce her through something close to what the person already likes.^^

It could be a pretty good stepping point and then you can branch to another playlist depending on what they liked from this one, perhaps?

For me... I think I want to skew more towards recent stuff in half of the playlist so they aren't too surprised if they listen to recent stuff.

A Song for ×× "030213 Session #2"
Memorial address - take 2 version
Who...
Heartplace
RAINBOW
BLUE BIRD
progress
Merry-go-round
Terminal
Dreamed a Dream

I think the best way to introduce Ayu is the whole package. Her unusual voice and the Japanese language could be inicial barriers, so I choose to pick a song that fits the taste of the person I want to introduce her paired with some music video or live performance (better if it's subtitled).

Some songs (and media) I use:

Memorial address (AT2010)
alterna (music video)
A Song for xx (both A BALLADS version and a-nation 2008 live performance)
Sparkle (music video)
Endless sorrow (AT2016)
BALLAD (AT2010)
Last minute (music video)
talkin' 2 myself
M (AT2007)
Don't look back (music video)
Love Songs trilogy (Love song, Last angel, Virgin Road)

All depends from the music taste of the friend. If he prefer rock, I'll show some more rock songs - Because of you, Microphone. To someone who love dance music ayu trance 2 is the best choice. I'll include SURREAL and A Song for XX since they are best songs ever. And definitely will not add any ballad. Ballads are so special songs for me, I need to be in special type of mood to feel them. I think most people will not enjoy them from the first try

I don't know why, but the first thought that formed after I read the thread title is SEASONS

that seems to be the quintessential "ayu" song to me (even though it's not necessary my most favourite). the song has a very agreeable melody and her vocal seemed to be at her prime here.