Please realize that this is MY interpretation of what I'm hearing and reading, and it may or may not be "accurate" of what the album really is.
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Today Ayumi's Love songs album finally leaked! It was love at first listen (lol), and I must have played the whole album three times over. Then I decided I would gather up the English lyric translations, print them out, and then listen to the album while reading the lyrics.
I already thought that the songs were quite emotional and touching from the *sound* alone, but--wow--reading the lyrics *with* the music...This is such an emotional and meaningful album. I admit that this may be due in large part to the fact that I find the songs "speak" to me at my current place in life. A couple of years ago, I lost a person/relationship and have spent the time since making many changes and growing personally. I even tried to convince myself for a long time that perhaps I had never really loved this person, but that was just a way of distraction. (This is probably why "like a doll" is my absolute favorite track on this album. wow!)
In the end, I'd have to say that this album was a great big hug and a gentle push from Ayu.
So while this is a review of the album, I will quote lyrics that really stood out to me. I highly recommend listening to the songs and reading the lyrics, if you can. Someone (kogepan?) mentioned that TK is quite purposeful with his music, and that really shows as you read along.
1) Love song - She's telling us that she can't compromise on love, dreams, and music, so what is it we can't live without? (0:44) "Life is boring if you don't have anything that you can't compromise on". If we don't know what we must have, how can we guard it? (0:52) "Do you have anything you want to protect?" I love all of the questions she poses to us. (3:25) "Can you become honest? Why won't the tears stop?"
2) crossroad - The music at the beginning is a bit formal and elegant (imo), and switches ("I wonder if I made the right choice) for the questions (0:40). Then "I'm still going forward"~ the music switches to a hopeful, rising (imo) sound (0:59). Finally, a more steady sound (1:09) "pretending to be strong to not get hurt..." So beautiful...
3) MOON - I can't help but think of the pv when listening to this song as it fits so well with the song. Sad memories that won't leave her alone... (1:20) "I thought I'd be able to forget you" (2:06) "Please don't ask me anymore..."do you love me?". No wonder she cries so much in the pv! A song of regrets and sad memories...
4) Sending Mail - This song, after listening closely, reminds a bit of Malize Mizer with the dark vocals and music at the beginning (0:20) "The sun has left me again today", the organs (0:33) "I hate myself when I'm like this". She still has regrets and wishes she could change things...She wants to write an email but keeps erasing it....eventually not sending it at all.
5) Last Angel - This song sounds like it could be the message she wanted to write in Sending Mail. It's like the last wishes and words before moving on. (1:08) "I believe you can hear me, I want to tell you" (1:22) "This bell sound announcing the end bear no sad tone at all." Even though she wishes things had been different, she is ready to move forward. (1:49) "I don't regret or look back anymore, it's the only way for me to go forward."
6) Insomnia - A dark and slightly creepy interlude...I really love this..It makes me feel a bit alone, like in a haunted house. lol
Here the tone changes from her regrets to almost as if she is admonishing and giving someone advice to move on.
7) Like A Doll - The music here is like Eurythmics and Kanon Wakeshima had a child song together. I LOVE IT! The somewhat stately, clockwork feel goes completely with the concept of a person locking their heart up and trying to live while ignoring their emotions (much like the guy in crossroad--to not be hurt, he pretended to be strong). (1:31) "Forgetting what is love, forgetting what is respect" (1:54) "If you ignore all your feelings, you won't feel hurt" It's almost like she's begging for the person to realize what is happening. (2:03) "but you won't feel any happiness either" (3:33) "Don't live like you are dead"
Basically this song is part of that "gentle push" I mentioned.
8) Aria - A very sweet, achingly beautiful interlude. All of the interludes on this album are terrific, imo. Honestly, it sounds a bit like an intermission in a conversation because Ayu continues her little talk from Like A Doll into blossom.
9) blossom - [I have not seen the blossom pv, so I'm not even considering it here.] (0:17) "Within your heart, you've actually been crying for awhile, haven't you?" blossom, imo, is Like A Doll ~part 2~. (0:43) "I'm sure it was your sweet lie and the pretension to be strong with all your might" (1:10) "we started to talk and we don't need a reason for that" (1:19) "we certainly know at least that we are simply OK, we are OK now" Basically, this song is saying, "You've been hiding your pain, and it's difficult, but we can move forward together."
Here's a little break in all the seriousness...
10) Thank U - I don't know when this song was written, but...I want to say that while RED LINE may have been for TA, I think that Thank U might be for the US/overseas fans. (0:57) "Today was another day we shared precious moments together, you just being yourself made me happy" (1:19) "I want to say Thank U for everything" I could be completely wrong...That's just the feeling I get from the song, especially since you have to know this song is perfect audience singing material at concerts. It sounds like something she might say to her fans.
11) Sweet Season - I don't dislike this track at all...Some have said it reminds them of 70's era light pop, and I like that type of music (lol). The lyrics are very sweet, and I kind of wonder how it relates to the ending of the music video. I love the tracing of time and love with the seasons. (2:21) "In the winter days, when our fingertips were trembling in the freezing cold/We warmed each other's hearts, didn't we?"
12) Overture - I've said it before, but this song reminds me of a sci-fi theme, particularly Stargate SG-1 (in spots XD). It's a dramatic interlude to prepare us for a dramatic song...
And we transition back to Ayu talking to that someone...
13) Do It Again - I think the "dance" and "sing" parts here refer back to Like A Doll (Like A Doll's music gave me a picture of a ballet type doll dancing.) This is my third favorite song...I'm not certain, but it seems like Ayu might be referencing the song, Naturally, with (1:28) "'What's sad is giving up' That hasn't changed one bit". [She could just as easily be referencing earlier songs in this album though.] She then says, (1:40) [paraphrasing] "not only that, but it's even more true now!" The part that leaped out at me was (2:49) "'Letting go is also courage' That is something we know as we become adults" Again, the talk of growing up and also remembering our important dreams (as she talks about in Love song). I think in this song Ayu is again talking about moving forward and growing with the "dance" and "sing". Don't stay still and give up--dance and sing!
To point out a little music bit, check (3:13) "what would the you now [do], think about this..." and then the music hesitates, almost as if to give you a moment right now to think.
14) November - Ok, second favorite song on the album, and the one that turned on the waterworks for me. I know people are saying this is about Mannie, but I'm not so sure of that. It retains the feel of Ayu trying to help someone. This time she is saying to not be afraid of taking a risk to find love again. The "we" she talks about--(0:55) "but we often can't find the right one"--sounds more like a general "we as people" and not "we as in some guy & I". (1:13) "though we believe, we are so afraid of being hurt that we walk past each other and continue on".
There are three choruses in this song, each one having the same first three lines [except for the last chorus] but different last two lines. It's really a very sweet picture of Ayu wishing to comfort someone and help them move forward. The first two lines (1:31 & 3:38), "If I could grow one wing, so that I could fly freely in the sky like a bird, I would gently land aflutter your shoulder". The last line in the first chorus, (1:58) "And fall asleep, while whispering to you about love". The last line in the second chorus, (4:05) "And let the tears which I have been holding back fall". The last two lines of the third chorus, (4:41) "I want to give you both of these wings so that you can fly to the place you want to go." IMO, the chorus music really does give a feel of flying.
15) Virgin Road - I think someone said this song is about Ayu's mom? It really does sound like it, imo. Ayu's saying that even though she & her mom had some rough times, now Ayu can finally say thank you to her. (Can someone remind me if A Song for xx was written about her mother? Might be interesting to compare the two songs.)
Coming from listening to November, now Virgin Road has switched to first person. (1:47) "I met a person who said, 'I love you and want to protect you.' We start to walk together now." Again the reference to walking together, going forward. It's like a fulfillment of November.
Then (4:23) "I feel that the person you once met and love is somehow like the person I love". I think the sweet part of this song is the fact she reviews her relationship with her mother [I suppose?], thanks her, and then tells her mom that she has now found someone else who loves her. Not only that, this person is like someone her mother once loved (Ayu's father?).
Even if it isn't Ayu's mother, it's definitely someone she looks up to. It's like "Thank you for all the love and support, but now I have someone else who loves me too."
16) SEVEN DAYS WAR - Another great song, I'm so glad that Ayu covered it. It really does fit with the theme of this album of healing and growing up. (0:54) "I don't want to destroy everything, I just want to search for something" (5:07) "Seven days war, I'll fight so I can just be myself" It's almost like a last notes of "I'm moving on, here I go, I'm fighting."
(thank you
tenshi no hane and
masa for your lyric posts!!)
I REALLY like this album apparently because usually all I can say is a few sentences about this kind of thing.
And if you read all of this, then have a cookie.
And some sleep.
Adding: The first part of the album is Ayu talking in first person, the second part is Ayu talking in third person. I think it's possible that she is talking to herself in this second section. Then the third section of [seemingly] unrelated songs, and the last second of first person Ayu again. Maybe this album is a bit autobiographical? *shrug*