Scheduled performances:
08/08 CDTV
08/09 MUSIC JAPAN [07/20 taping]
08/14 MUSIC STATION
08/14 MUSIC FIGHTER
08/15 MUSIC FAIR
08/17 HEY!HEY!HEY
Performances on YouTube:
08/08's CDTV:
Magazine promotion for this single:
07/23 ViVi
08/07 SCawaii
08/12 Sweet
Quote:
“This year, without just blindly following the rules, I want to break out together with everyone!”, with this, Ayu chose to play at a-nation for the summer again. Standing on stage with complete devotion, she, while singing the NEXT LEVEL, released a new summer single for the first time in two years. Moreover, with Sunrise/Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~, she completed a new experiment by making two similar tunes that differ completely in taste. Ayu made these works by using her subtle power of expression.
“At first there were no plans to make Sunset. I had prepared a completely separate ballad, but when I started working on Sunrise, I unexpectedly started fighting with the ballad. Midway I thought, “I hate this, I can’t sing it”, but, in the end, a song that I loved was completed. I started thinking about how I wanted to create that child’s other self. Originally, Sunrise was very energetic but because the melody was very pretty, I felt I could try to turn it into a ballad. That became the plan (laugh). But, when I was finishing them, right for the start, they became each other’s ‘answer song’. Because Sunrise exists, Sunset is very painful. Because Sunset exists, the brightness of Sunrise is painful. In that way, they became songs which couldn’t be sung unless they both exist. Even to me it’s mysterious how it became like that.”
The passage of time, the change of feelings, the colours of sceneries; Sunrise/Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ synchronizes with those kind of various factors. Furthermore, what’s most surprising are the subtle differences in expression of the lyrics as they release their dramatic colours. The evidence isn’t a word that can express the summer. But, that what’s overflowing out of these songs is definitely the aura of summer.
--translation snippet from SCawaii, translated by tenshi no hane
Report by tokyoxjapanxfan who was at the HEY!HEY!HEY! taping:
Quote:
Originally Posted by tokyoxjapanxfan
(Post 2037529)
I'm back from my day in Odaiba...aka the location of Fuji Television Studio...aka where HEY!x3 was filmed ;)
So basically here's the run down (and since i'm ridiculously tired it's not going to be in depth paragraphs filled with "fluff" *i'd make my high school English teacher's proud right there haha*)
-I arrived outside the studio at around 3:30 and had to wait until 4:30 to line up.
-There were a bunch of those ayu fan's cars with pictures of her on it and lots of people who were there that weren't able to go inside. I waited around the entrance to try and see Ayu when she was getting out of her car, but she was taking too long and so I went and sat under a tree in the shade.
-We lined up *all 200 people selected, though I was number 87 ;)* in the ordinary Japanese fashion--very slowly--at 4:30 as the mail said. However, today was 32 degrees celsius/89 degrees fahrenheit and we were standing next to a glass building, which reflected all the heat onto us, in the hot, hot, hot sun, for around 45 minutes.
-Then we moved inside and stuff, not much to see, we went through all the back entrances and it was all stage setup stuff, boring. We got into a dance practice room and had to sit down. Prior to sitting down, we here handed a little HEY!x3 cellphone cleaner strap and the a-nation 09 towel. WHICH ISN'T FREE.
-They taught us how to use the towel, we had to spin it in the air when the first and third chorus is played. They take the towels back at the end of everything, but how nice--we got to keep cheap little cellphone straps haha...though, not gunna lie, they are helpful :P
-We got into the stage/performance area and I was shocked...it was a really different looking stage than I had imaged...Everyone was like... "huh? Sunrise? this stage? I don't see it." haha But I think it was going for an Atlantis feel or something. It was strange, hard to describe. But the lights were really pretty when they lit up and stuff.
-We waited for a little bit and then ayu and her male dancers walked in. I couldn't believe how close I was to her. I was in the 4th-ish row and I was like 12-15 feet away from her (i don't really know exactly...but I was closer than you can get at her concerts haha) and she was wearing an orange version of her already posted outfits and she was soooooo cute! She said a little bit like do your best and be happy and then she started singing.
-Her vocals were really good, I must say. They were strong and clear! No lipsync here ;) And we did as we were told...but not very well. We were all basically going off the person next to us haha. And so the song finished after like 3 minuts which went so fast, ayu left and then we were told that we were going to do it a 2nd time, but to be better at it haha. So we did, and then that was it...We left and ayu left and then that's it... haha
The little strips of shiny plastic were shot out during the final chorus and it was really exciting. I had a great time and it is a once in a lifetime opertunity... How many people can say they've been to a HEY!x3 filming with ayu?! hehe~~~
BTW, during the 2nd filming, I dropped my towel on the floor and couldn't spin it during the last chorus with the confetti and stuff and that's the version they're using :( I hope I won't be visible on tv during that part >_<
And also, all of her dancers had mics on and sang...BLAH. Hamasaki Ayumi and the Super Dancers.
Nice translation of the article from ViVi by tenshi no hane@AHS:
Quote:
ViVi, September 2009.
“Because we’re in this kind of era, I want to send out sparkling, cheerful and powerful things. I believe that’s my duty.”
Dressed in an flashy eighties dress, Ayu smiles, “I feel happy when I’m dressed like this”. She confidently says that her music, fashion etc. express her real essence. “If I wear basic clothes, it’ll certainly calm my mood, but if I’m not allowed to do different things, it’s just uninteresting, right? If you’re only defensive, you won’t be able to create new things.”
From the 20th century to the 21st century, in those ten years, Ayu has been leading the girls of those centuries. Whilst always showing precise answers to the doubts and problems of girls from this era, now, in her 11th year, Ayu is focusing on the tastes of certain people.
“I love the fashion of the eighties. Back then, that kind of strongly and boldly coloured patterns were widespread. Because there were no personal computers in that age, it took much time and trouble for people to make things. Now, you can easily make anything, right? For example, if it’s difficult to express one emotion with words, we convey it using pictographs, just like that right?--- But with things created in the eighties, you can feel the energy and enthusiasm of the people who made them. I think that’s a great thing.”
“When I first thought about the concept for this year’s NEXT LEVEL tour, I wanted to convey the power which people hold. That idea suddenly popped into my head.”
“When I think about organisation, up 'till now, rather than a live performance, I wanted to create an entertaining stage. But, this year, while leaving the show-like part behind, the power of the band’s performance, the liveliness of the dancers, the team, my lyrics; all those things---, I wanted to let hear and show the things which can’t be turned into machines, things which only humans can do. That feeling was very strong.”
As for this year’s 10th anniversary tour, concerning both Ayu and fans; a “thank you for these ten years” feeling of gratitude was exchanged. A feeling like some kind of ceremony beyond time. That was this year’s tour. “The people who came, laughing and crying, made me very happy; it’s a very strong feeling,” Ayu said.
A live performance with nothing but fun, happens often, but a live performance that shakes the heart, happens rarely. During the NEXT LEVEL tour, the words which Ayu created one by one, putting her entire heart into them, carried the rhythms and melodies. Especially ballads like Days became songs from the soul, as if penetrating the cells of the audience one by one. A very pure feeling.
“Lately, things like lyrics make me happy. I’m often told that it looks as if I’m pursuing a goal. I’m not conscious of it to that extent, but I can recall one thing: when I sang my lyrics in January this year, ----how should I say..?---- I can’t find a proper way to say this, but there’s a “I can do this” kind of feeling. Until now, since I’m weak in vocal range and chords, everything would disappear unnoticed----. Somehow, I feel it turned into ???. So, if it’s like that, desires will also steadily come out.”
On the 12th of August, the double A single [Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~/Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~] will be released. It’s Ayu’s new experiment, consisting of one melody but two different lyrics and arrangements.
“Sunrise is a summery, happy pop-tune, but whilst writing the lyrics I thought, “it would be nice if I turned it into a ballad, right?”. In that way, the ballad Sunset, glowing with the melancholy of the end of summer, was born.”
The subject of Sunrise is “you”, and that of Sunset is “me”. As for Sunset; I wondered if girls can sympathize with it more easily. But because I feel both songs have become each other’s ‘answer song’, I feel people can sympathize with both songs.
“Because I also wrote the songs with the theme ‘father & daughter love’ in my mind, it’s not only about romantic love, but about family love and friendship as well. I wrote the songs to fit different kinds of love.
Though I didn’t create them this way from the start, I can’t imagine them as separate anymore; both songs respond to each other.”
Ayu said, “I want to take good care of my present self”. Music, fashion, love; everything concerning Ayu is the present.
Everything continues to move forward and continues to change ---.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ayumiko
(Post 2030624)
fan photos from Music Japan July 20th taping:
Apparently each fan (400) were given a free a-nation 09 towel...lucky! I love the new A logo!
Monday July 6th - the date that Sunrise leaked in full.
Information about choreography and TA Members in the PVs:
Quote:
Ayu said in one message that almost 1000 people applied for participate in the PV's, but only 300 can be selected.
Also said that she has been doing a lot of dance rehearsals. The coreography of Sunrise PV is created by Zin, and the one for Sunset is created by Maro.
Ayu's comment regarding the creation of the song from Dandy Daddy's site:
Quote:
It's been a long since I've written a theme song for a TV drama, this time, to be able to receive this invitation (to write Sunrise), I feel really honored.
After reading the script and carefully understanding the feelings of the role played by -the male lead's name-, and through my own understanding, I have written these lyrics.
It's a song that gets everyone to be energized and happy, I hope everyone embraces this summer's memory, and look forward to this song.
Rough general translation/romaji of the lyrics from an amazing friend:
The love is being carried to the other person through their voice.
And it resounds in their heart.
And that growing love will call out through that voice.
motto ooki na koe de motto ooki na ai wo
kimi ni todoku yo ni itsumo mune ni hibikasetai
motto ooki na koe de motto ooki na ai wo yobu kara
-lyricized translation-
Through this growing voice, this growing love
Will reach you and always resound in your heart
I'll call out this growing love through my growing voice
Translation from TakaSama:
"With a louder voice, a greater love
Will reach you
I always want it to ring in my heart
because a louder voice will bring forth greater love"
"Well August stars on Saturday, 3 more days!
We will most likely get at least Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ PV next week. XD"
chloeM
29th July 2009 01:16 PM
thanks for the bigger version of the pics
Yoake
29th July 2009 01:28 PM
I've just read the translation of lyrics'sunrise. It's really nice
noidea
29th July 2009 01:32 PM
lol at the photoshopping in the big versions, you can see a line where they copy and pasted the flowers xDDDDD
MissElin_
29th July 2009 02:36 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ayumisrael
(Post 2041350)
"Well August stars on Saturday, 3 more days!
We will most likely get at least Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ PV next week. XD"
Yeah I hope that you are right now! ;)
maaya
29th July 2009 02:37 PM
i'm confuse this single will out on 12 Aug right? why the official website show that the single will out on 22 Aug at the preview box?
Yoake
29th July 2009 02:56 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by maaya
(Post 2041448)
i'm confuse this single will out on 12 Aug right? why the official website show that the single will out on 22 Aug at the preview box?
Yes it's the 12the Aug. Maybe they did a mistake in the website and didn't notice it!
maze
29th July 2009 03:13 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by tenshi no hane
(Post 2041145)
I made a translation/romaji of the Sunset lyric-parts truehappiness posted:
Nee sotto sasayaite miyou
Sotto tsuyoi ai wo
Anata ni todoku ka na
Sono mune ni hibiite ru ka na
Sotto sasayaite miyou
Sotto tsuyoi ai wo
Itsuka wa chanto tsutawaru ka na
Toomawari suru gurai ga ii
Wakariaeru koto wakatte ru kara
Anata wo kaeru ki wa nai shi
Watashi da tte aikawarazu dakedo
Sonna futari de ii sou omou n da yo ne
Sonna futari ga ii to omowanai?
Hey, I want to quietly whisper a soft, strong love
I wonder if it’ll reach you and resound in your heart
I want to quietly whisper a soft, strong love
I wonder if it’ll someday be send out clearly
It’s okay to take the roundabout way
because I know we can understand each other
I don’t want to change you
I’m also the same as ever,
but I think it’ll be okay if it’s us
It’s alright if it’s just us, right?
----------------------------------------------
I like how in Sunrise she's yelling 'her love', yet in Sunset she whispers it ^-^
niceeee :heart thanks so much for translations :D
Pieces_of_SEVEN
29th July 2009 03:31 PM
OFFICIAL SITE IS UPDATED!!
I was hoping for a video or CM but it says coming soon...
edit-- WHATEVER initiate. yay! I love that song.
zyoeru
29th July 2009 03:43 PM
The official website is so hot. Much nicer than the NEXT LEVEL theme.
AyuGAME
29th July 2009 03:44 PM
OMG!!! really?! i will check it now...
truehappiness
29th July 2009 03:58 PM
Quote:
lol at the photoshopping in the big versions, you can see a line where they copy and pasted the flowers xDDDDD
You see the lines where they failed to blur around, not where they copy/pasted the flowers. I wish they'd have just use focus to created the blurry effect rather than do it in Photoshop. I wish people wouldn't assume the worst [which imo, would've been more difficult to do than just blurring the stupid bushes in Photoshop]..
Looks like the full Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ lyrics have come out!
Though I'm a little reluctant to think these are 100% real haha.
noidea
29th July 2009 04:19 PM
^ I guess were speaking about different lines, you can't fail to blur around such a spot xD even I would be able to properly blur it xD and the leafs are suddenly stopping at that point, so no blurring mistake
AyuGAME
29th July 2009 04:44 PM
i think the whole ring tone has leaked...
looks like we can hear the preview of sunset ASAP
ayumisrael
29th July 2009 04:46 PM
Where did it leak?
I really hope it will be here soon ^^
The new layout is pretty nice. =D
jbrat2219
29th July 2009 05:01 PM
Wow I can see this going into a tenth thread... We haven't even gotten sunset or the PVs yet :tired
waterballoon
29th July 2009 05:07 PM
^ lol.
Anyway, I hope a kind soul uploads the combined ring tones or whatever of Sunset!!!
ayujarl
29th July 2009 05:12 PM
I'm in Japan right now. the Sunset is a ballad version of the Sunrise :O
is this news? probably discussed in the previous thread, right? I don't have time to go through all of them ><
polka-dot-jewel
29th July 2009 05:20 PM
Yeah, the full song is up for download in ringtones in Japan (in parts, like they did with her past singles and NL)... or, at least, her official site just got around to putting it up. lol
I just checked up on the comments at mixi, and they're not very helpful. lol Only one of them has heard the full song, and it seems like none of them have seen the PV. The rest of them have liked what they've heard from the song so far, though. One person mentioned they're going to write the lyrics, so we might get those soon.
