Quote:
Originally Posted by 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.
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I agree with this sentiment. I've been a fan for a long time now, and I've grown with Ayu but my music tastes have grown APART from the music she is doing now. I don't really care for high pitched cutesy songs, it's not my thing. But if Ayu is happy doing that kind of music, more power to her. But I can't force myself to like a song when I don't like it.
My own preferences are for Ayu's huskier, rougher around the edges vocals and I think it's kind of a pity that she's not encouraged to sing that way. It could be easier on her, because the vocals she's doing now, they sound like straining to get the note. And musically it's not appealing to me.
I still listen to Ayu's music, but it stops at Party Queen and Love Songs. I just could not get into those albums and I really did give them a couple of listens. Recently, I liked "Wake Me Up" but that was about it---because it sounded like a strong song, musically and thematically.
Do I feel distant from Ayu? In a way yes, because I'm not into the newer material. I want to be pleasantly surprised with this new showcase, because she'll always be one of my favorite artists.
I said in a thread a while ago that I wanted her to have a break and she seems to be releasing music at a leisurely pace (good for her!).
I will say, I do think she's doing this weird thing of trying to take a break and still be a celebrity at the same time (don't know if she's obligated to or not) but the results make a lot of her creative output seem....uninspired at best. I mean, the video for "Feel the love," regardless of anything is a bad music video. She's gotten stuck in this creative rut where everything is centered on one idea, and that can get boring. I know that Avex doesn't care as long as she makes money and delivers a product, but hopefully this showcase will be in the right direction. I don't know though, because I think the *~era~* of Ayu doing elaborate and out there visuals is pretty much in the past because, during those times she was a workaholic and committed to that. I think now she wants to relax and it shows in her work. It's not a terrible thing but, yeah, as a fan of her work, I can't just jump for joy when I see the same thing over and over again.