[truehappiness]

I don't think Yuta is the problem though, he is rather good at doing all kinds of things but it hinges on what Ayu wants from him. That's why he's the one that has stuck around for this long somewhat but tasuku also does good work. We've seen him do all sorts of different arrangements with Ayu so it's not like he has been doing the same thing from the start, in fact he was probably the part of H/\L that did the most for her sound which is why he was able to split from them and do it on his own. To me, this kind of 'problem' is similar to the people who don't like what Timmy wears or looks like in Ayu's concerts. Ayu is the one who decides that for Timmy and in the same vein, she is the one who dictates the sound that she wants from Yuta.

Originally Posted by Sim'

I feel this sentence is now more balanced and both feelings are legitimate...

As for what is classic Ayu / ballad, to each one his definition, so keep in mind there's no right / wrong in this field
(I personally don't see the point in looking for "the factual classic Ayu songs" when this is such a subjective issue and there'll be no definitive answer, but whatever, just my opinion...)

This new song will never make it to my playlist, but I'm just happy to listen again & again to "my classic Ayu songs" (Mirrorcle World, Song 4 u, alterna, M) and "my classic ballads" (HANABI, RAINBOW, CAROLS, Together When...) #queen

I think it's a bit contradictory in that sense because the people who don't necessarily like the arrangement too much have also said it is sort of the 'classic' Ayu sound. It seems to depend on what you think of as classic to begin with. Is it a song or sound that is timeless and encapsulates her best work? Or is it one that is representative of a standard sound she goes back to?

Also, I don't believe that anyone who does like the song feels it's a masterpiece or anything but it's just something that they've enjoyed. It almost feels like liking the song somehow ended up getting equated with thinking it's a 'new classic' (in the sense of being among her best work) in her repertoire but it's two separate feelings about the song. The sound that people are talking about has become a bit of an Ayu staple in these last few albums so in that sense it is hard to argue that it has not been typical Ayu which is also valid as a definition of classic.

judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind.
vs.
remarkably and instructively typical.

The classic comments are referring to the song in the second definition which is basically universally agreed upon.