Vivi May 2009
[ Continuing to accelerate, is not me ]
[ In this era, isn't it my part to feel the dream and hope? ]
At Hawaii, Ayu stopped at a junction. Until this 10th year, there is a binding place with the future after this. While leaving my body in there, in order to advance to the next stage, within two roads, I thought that I couldn't seem to choose which road to take. Continuing to run for 10 years, did I return back to the starting point once? or, do I continue attacking so far at the street dash? A conclusion immediately appeared. "Continuing to accelerate, is not me". When I decided that, the album's songs lyrics arose one by one.
The songs that were recorded in the new album [ NEXT LEVEL ], the lyrics, the singing and the composing genre, all of them will rise in the newly future, I get nervous as a result.
"Lately, when I write the song lyrics, no matter what, I didn't need to think of the era like a scenery .... Now, I say that in 100 years it is a one time huge depression but, for the sake of the depression, a person, even his sensitive facial features would hate becoming needy. Even in this era, within a person's heart the dream and hope are absolutely left. That's why this era, I believe that being able to feel the dream and hope, isn't my duty. Therefore, even in this jacket, I dared using bright colors."
The sound itself shines bravely however, the words mentioned and transported in it were elastically gentle. Within the title of the song "NEXT LEVEL", in the words that Hamasaki Ayumi sings "It's all right", she's advising many people with them. For everyone else to be able to move forward now, didn't she want to say the single word "It's all right"?
"The words I said 'it's all right' weren't an excuse/complaint. Even lately, I didn't intent to say it with irresponsibility, 10th anniversary year's tour seems to end, saying "We surely are all right" seems to have born the limits of confidence. I was able to feel the connection between my fans who were always with me and my fellows. Because this connection can't be seen through the eyes, believing and not believing is that person's circumstances but, I thought that in my case, I absolutely believe in my connection with everyone. In the tenth year anniversary's event that continues, I had the energy I seek from many people, which was absolutely left in the album."
Because of that in "NEXT LEVEL", 'this far' continues to 'from this', the confidence was like an oath, and that kind of "steady heart" became fine.
"The time I created the album, an amazing energy joined in stream. I always can't seem to remember the lyrics and melody that much, when it's being recorded. While singing at that place, by impromptu feelings it was changed many times but, lately, when I sing the song twice I'd say "I recorded it!" and things would seem like that. Something may fall (laughs)."
The recent song's lyrics that was recorded mostly were written in Hawaii. She stayed there at a villa that had a garden with palm trees and due to the wind they let out a scrubbing sound, Hamasaki realized that it differs and was glad. Within this long time spontaneously she was able to liberate herself.
"In Hawaii, at another time the deji deji diary appeared in a book and we even took the photographs for it however, at that day the sky was cloudy, so in this situation a lie didn't add up in my facial expressions I believe (laughs). When we were photographing this vivi, because I was in a clear weather mode, did my facial expression feel that way?"
At Hawaii, the same way she updated her blog every day. That was "For everyone in Japan, even with the distance that is separating us, I wanted to say that I am under the same sky as yours."
In this kind of unseen future era, Ayu earnestly continues to shine the future.