[emi♡]

I haven't really read the thread, and whatever.

I'll just repeat something a friend said to me a few years ago when we discussed a few reasons why Ayu is not as great today (in our opinion).

Her music just doesn't resonate with us anymore. Probably because of her age and her values.

But the biggest thing, in my own opinion, I don't feel like her production quality is there anymore. I get the reasons for this, and it's fine. I do my best not to complain about it, because there's no use.

Her music doesn't really fit my styles anymore (not something I have a problem with), but I don't have as much musical respect for it either.

I have A LOT respect for the fact that she's experimenting and trying new concepts, and I really admire how much she's grown as an *artist*, but at the end of the day, I don't care for how much she still hasn't grown as a musician, and how much she doesn't get some things, things you can't always teach people. I've actually been really disappointed with her in this way.

And tbh, I have a real problem when it comes to her live performances, and the lack of creativity she has with her entire body of work. She either sings these new, weird, unique and unrelateable songs, or she rehashes the same tired, old thing.

I know it's fairly obvious who I'm a fan of. I don't want to bring up comparisons and arguments that way. But when I have my favorite people, people who are deemed even less talented than Ayu, less respectable, less watchable, less EVERYTHING, coming out with stellar performances, new arrangements, and having a body of work that is consistent, or always growing, always giving out bonuses and gifts, finding new ways to connect with the fans...

Ayu just kind of gets pushed aside. And it makes her seems so far away, so distant, and sometimes even, like she no longer cares.

Maybe it's because she's in a different stage of her life. Maybe it's because to her she's DONE and DONE IT and now it's time for other things. Whatever.

She seems contented, and that's what's important in life. There are plenty of other new (and old) artists in the world that fill my need for amazing music.

I'm still interested in her in many ways. I admire the person she's grown into, even when she does stupid things or is oblivious, and as a big part of my life, I have a lot of love for her. If I passed by her on the street, I'd probably cry as I spoke to her. I'm still interested in what she produces, even if I never listen to it.

~~~

I see that true brought up a good point there about the market in Japan, and I do have to say, it is also one of the reasons I've lost interest in Jpop as a whole. I know it's not what this thread is about, but there are amazing artists in Japan that just, are not nurtured, not encouraged. They're so stuck in their traditional dark ages on so many things, it's really starting to show.

They need to change their business models, change the way things work to keep up with the rest of the world. Not really something I see happening though.