[Chiharo]

Originally Posted by marty

@Chiharo: I'm feeling you so much. About everything. Before Uncontrolled, I used to think Namie Amuro was not even a real person from how she couldn't miss a song for me. Everything she threw on the market was so perfect, I was like "this is not normal, this woman is God"XD And now, it's like her usual spark is buried under an ocean of mainstream stuff, lol. But, as you say, it was predictable it'd finish this way, and at least a lot of people are happier with this direction!

I'm so glad to know I'm not alone in this. I especially agree with the bolded part.

Originally Posted by pommy48

@Chiharo: I love to blame Avex for everything, but in all fairness, they're just the company that distributes Namie's music. Her label is the one that produce her music.

My post intention wasn't really to blame avex (even though I do admit it was all disjointed (the post) and might not make sense). By mentioning avex, what I did mean was her label, I suppose. I just thought that her label was avex (but I'm lacking in knowledge here so I guess it was just a bit of a misunderstanding).

Originally Posted by Benikari47

@Chiharo: I totally respect your opinion, it's nearly impossible to like everything a artist puts out and people need to understand that.
This is a place to discuss, not just praise her to god (i'm a bad example at the moment, obviously lol). People should be free to express their opinions however the hell they want without being trash talked or feeling disconnected from other fans. I'm of course sad you feel disappointed with the direction she's going, but personally i'm happy to see a lot more people "stanning" for this era than Uncontrolled! Electropop is a tricky genre at the moment as well, it's been mainstream for what.. 5-6 years now? So there's not that many ideas left, a lot of songs are beginning to sound extremely generic.

I'm sure she'll change direction again with a couple of albums, Namie's always been very diverse in my eyes, which is why i respect her so much and why she never gets boring to me. So hopefully she'll appeal to you again soon!

Thank you for this post. This kind of kindness from fans is what makes me feel less displeasure over the artist's new choices. These kind of posts calm me and make me hopeful.

Originally Posted by Lady~Deviance

Namie always was and probably always will be a musician whose music reflects current trends. She has stated several times that's what she enjoys releasing. If that's her and her team's prerogative then so be it. I don't see a problem with it.

This is especially true. It's just that I kind of realized that too late (the part about her music reflecting current trends). And really, I understand what you mean and you are right - so be it. Whether it's her or her team's decision, we can only accept it as it is.

Originally Posted by Lady~Deviance

I think you're a bit naive to assume that "I'm the only person brave enough to express my disdain for this album and her current direction and everyone else is afraid to". That is such a narrow minded state of thought.

As long as I've been on this forum, there has always been individuals who expressed their displeasure in something Namie has released or done. Nothing new under the sun.
There were a multitude of people (myself included) who were very displeased with her "Uncontrolled" era music and met opposition from others but no ill feelings remained and we've moved on. The same goes for every other album that she has released. So what makes this album any different?

This is what I've been fearing. The misunderstanding. But it happens. I know that there are people who presumably don't like this direction, too, and that some of them will express their opinions. But the whole point of my post (or at least the main point) was that there are people, like me, who are afraid to express their opinions, and often just stand back and never say anything. That's all I wanted to say. I can assure you that this line of thought: "I'm the only person brave enough to express my disdain for this album and her current direction and everyone else is afraid to" - is something that didn't cross my mind even once. I'd be profoundly disgusted with myself if I ever thought like that, and I just can't wrap my head around a thought process like that (seriously, what's the point in that?).

Originally Posted by Lady~Deviance

I don't mean to come across as a mean-spirited attacker, I'm coming from a friendly place when I tell you this. You've always been kind to me and others on this forum so I don't mind you expressing your opinions. Don't ever feel as though you can't share your thoughts with us.

The only part that got wrongly to me was one about presuming that I thought I was "the only brave person to say I dislike this and that, and other people are afraid" - I'll say it again, that kind of arrogance, in anyone, disgusts me (the thought process, not the fact that you said that about me). But I appreciate your input, and I thank you for letting me know that I can express my opinions here freely. I'm actually quite shocked that someone on this forum actually remembers me, but oh well.

And I admit, that whole post was somehow strange. I suppose all I wanted to say was "I'm here, too, and I don't like this direction. But I've been fearing saying anything because I was afraid of conflicts that would ensue".

I was expecting real bad comments, but I see that you guys are pretty understanding people.