[naxxo.licious™]

Originally Posted by cttncandy

This is my humble opinion, and I know it will probably ruffle some of your people's feathers... but here it goes anyways....

Ayu is at this point pretty much just producing whatever she wants to. That's her power, and her right as a powerful and established artist. She has earned the right to do whatever the heck she wants to do. You guys don't think Ayu could have a huge hit again if she wanted to? Of course she could! Ayu could hire the most bad-ass team and put together and amazingly catchy out-of-this-world tune and blow the charts out of the water if she wanted to. I guarantee she has access to pretty much anybody and everybody in the music industry that can get together and produce something catchy and attention-grabbing. But that is not what she is all about, she is not about producing things that will steal the charts, she is about producing what she feels in her heart is right. And at this point her music is considerable less mainstream than before. She is not exactly producing catchy songs- she is just doing her thing. If she was really trying to produce another hit, I am sure they would be scouting the whole world to find the best producers and arrangers to make sure something amazing was put out there. She has the power to do that and she is also choosing not to act upon that power. Don't be surprised if Ayu becomes less and less mainstream, it is happening already! I am not saying she is trying to fade away- because she is not, but she is just doing things her own way and is not apologizing for it. I would be surprised if she even really cares about the number one streak. That's bragging rights for the record company, but Ayu has never ever strucked me as the kind of person that would be defined by such vague things.

Yeah, i see your point. But imo, ayu has always been true to herself and to us. I think the main problem is that she is not the newest artist in Jpan. She's still the queen, but she might not be the most popular artist right now. It's kinda hard to explain, so i'm gonna compare her with Madonna (damn u comparisons >.<!)
Madonna's still selling great, at her age she's still a fashion icon, but she's not as popular as she was in the 80's.
They're not at their best moment, but nobody can't take them form the place they are right now.
After 10 years, ayu's still one of the most influent (if not the most) artist in Jpan