I really dislike ayus recent music style...

[Ayufan11]

Hi! My names Michael. I've been a member here for a while and I'm a huge Ayufan but as of lately I really dislike Ayu's new style of Music...

I started listening to her pre-RAINBOW and I love the Loveppears CD, I am... and I really loved Secret and miss understood. Hated her Next Level cd because it felt very uninspiring Minus Rule, sparkle and another song or two...

But her new cd rock n roll circus I got and I only played my CD for a week or two and it went on the shelves... Guilty was better but didnt last that long either... I remember Secret leaking and being in love with it and once I got my CD was in love...

Anyways it seems as of lately all her music is so plain now and I worry because people are like I love it! It's making me worry because if people really love her new songs I feel like she'll just keep going in that same direction...

I think the last amazing song she did was Mirrorcle World... Sexy little things was good but kind of bland, not amazing and her rock songs are starting to all sound the same and her videos aren't as good as they used to be imo

and now she's releasing all these ballads that are snoozefests...

Am I the only one that feels this way? I'm not going to be like those fans that miss ancient ayu even though I do... but now I even miss my story/miss understood/secret ayu...

I want to know i'm not the only one that feels this way because I feel like I'm alone to this opinion. I used to love Ayu and I still do and am hoping for a turnaround... I wont lie her most recent video with the guns/kill bill esque was cool but the song another sappy kind of song...

Anyone else care to share their thoughts?

[love in music]

although I disagree with you and think her music is getting better and better, you're not alone. a lot of people on this forum feel the same as you. we get a thread like this at least once a month.

[Jennie Mae]

I do agree with you on the new singles. I feel they are a bit lackluster. I mean, they're good, but compared to what Ayu has done previously with her ballads, they feel like they fall short. If I had never heard Ayu and I listened to MOON or crossroad or Sweet Season I would be really impressed. But when you compare them to HEAVEN or Dearest or any of her incredible ballads, they just feel a little flat.
But I disagree with you on the albums. I think NEXT LEVEL might just be my favorite Ayu album, and Rock'n'Roll Circus is my most played album on my iTunes. Ayu has always been evolving, whether in her personal style or her lyrics, and of course her music changes more than anything. If she stuck with the same thing, she would not be very famous right now. People would get bored. She has to mix it up and surprise us to keep us listening.
I would say to just keep faith in Ayu. I'm sure in two years she will sound different yet again, and maybe it will be more to your liking. But don't give up on her.

[Shirlaay]

You're not alone bcas none of her recent music has been great..

She's been releasing sooo many ballads lately, and I'm kinda sick of it now,

I hope she comes up with something really epic,

even if it takes her a while, it'll be worth it.

I just hope she takes her time,

Everything now seems kinda rushed and none of her recent songs have hit A* quality for me yet.

[Ayufan11]

I didn't know that identity xD.

I hope so Jennie Mae.

and Shirlaay it seems me and you see eye to eye.

[U-GO-BOY]

I think Ayu releases too much ballads now, too.. I like MOON and crossroads and Virgin Road but I'd love another electropop or R&B song..

[ImpactBreaker]

Her latest singles have been pretty good imo. I was like you a few years ago, when I thought she was releasing all the same stuff. I then resorted to listening to other artists, but seems like I've started to dig her again so, maybe give her a little rest and you might start liking her songs again?

[Larisa-chan]

I agree with nearly everything you said, hah. Though I love GUILTY ;x

I'm sick of all of these ballads lately, and I don't think they're very good ballads, either. Rock'n'Roll Circus is also my third least favorite album of hers... dunno, I hope she changes her style, soon.

Just because you become an adult doesn't mean you all of a sudden release just boring, sappy ballads. But, that's typical of how it goes in Japan...

[ComatoseBunnySnatcher]

I've been a fan since 2005, and yeah... not a huge fan of ballad after ballad after ballad....


I don't think her music is bad though, i just wish the releases were more exciting,
like the (m)u singles.

[Bigtop]

She might be coming back here. Her record-breaking 50th single (L, for the most consecutive number one singles by a female artist and by a solo artist) will surely keep Ayu busy for years to come. I hope she can keep improving her skills and let her continue go on and on!

I hope things get more improved with her promotion planning, unfortunately... Things have been quite dismal in this area for the past couple of years...

[emi♡]

so [beginlongpost]

Spoiler:

So like, yeah we get these a lot lately, and despite what some people may think, I think it says a lot that people are kind of divided about her music right now, and that it's not something that should just be ignored and just cast aside.

I agree with you. I think her music now is nowhere near where her music used to be, but, I think that doesn't mean that it isn't good, or that, it isn't likable. (we seem to have similar tastes though, as far as ayu music)

I think for people like us, we've come to an impasse here. One road, is to just leave, and take a break from Ayu, and maybe come back later, and the other is to change your perspective a little bit, and choose to support her anyway.

I had to tell another friend just yesterday actually lol, that Ayu's old music isn't ever going to come back (and as much as people want to be like "BUT LAST ANGEL?!" No. Last Angel is great, but it's still not the same.

But anyway, when you get to this point, where you've loved an artist for such a long time, and they start producing....this "stuff"...I think you have to start seeing the music in it's context, and not for yourself.


Did anyone see the interview with Oprah and JK Rowling? lol They brought up the Michael Jackson interview, where he said that he never knew how big his success was, and that he was always trying and trying to top what he had done before...but he was just constantly failing to himself. And both Oprah and JK addressed the question, do they feel like they have to top what they did before.

And both of them said no. That they feel comfortable now, where they are, and they're happy doing whatever they want to do. And I think, this is true for Ayu too.

And I think it says a lot that, while Ayu is always enthusiastic about her music, that she's happy with she's releasing. I always tell people how stubborn and difficult Ayu is, but they never listen to me. She wouldn't release something that she wasnt okay with, and that to me is a big deal.

Because it says that this is the music that she wants to put out, and it's the parts of her she wants to express.

So, in the end, you know these songs, really are just Ayu, and not her music.


My recommendation is to go out, and find other artists that can give you music you can love, and just, try to enjoy what ayu puts out, even if you don't really like it.

[/endlongpost]

[Mirrorcle Monster]

I also want something upbeat, but if the ballads are like Virgin Road...
i totally disagree with you. This year we have got an amazing rock song like Microphone, a experimental upbeat pop like SLT, a funny pop song like Lady Dynamite, an unique ballad like DLB, and all those great singles (even if there are too many ballads). I wouldn't say it has been a bad year NEVER

[kalikagai]

Originally Posted by Heavenly Zerase

This year we have got an amazing rock song like Microphone, a experimental upbeat pop like SLT, a funny pop song like Lady Dynamite, an unique ballad like DLB, and all those great singles. I wouldn't say it has been a bad year NEVER

That's it, I totally agree with you

[elliot]

Maybe u miss her upbeat songs? LOL. I love Ayu latest releases. I think her latest singles are very nice. I agree that her music style is kinda changing everytime. She went pop, rock, electro, ballad, that's what i love about her, how versatilebut still Ayu we know

We'll just wait and see what she's gonna do next. I'm sure it's gonna be osm.

[Keiichi_JPU]

I think she still makes incredibly amazing songs, it's just that they're a little bit less frequent

For example, on Rock'n'Roll Circus, the only songs I find truly amazing are Microphone, Don't Look Back and Red Line. Whereas on her older albums, there are way more amazing songs.

So she still has it for me, she just brings it less often.

[kalikagai]

As to me, I absolutely adore Ayu's rock and pop-rock stuff. At the same time I really like her electro stuff (including NEXT LEVEL) and most of her ballads... Not even so - I do LOVE Ayumi's ballads, they're her brand, and I'm never tired of them

And if I'd say, that I want Ayu to make more pop-rock (smth like superiorly beautiful Decision, talkin' 2 myself, is this LOVE?, Microphone, etc.) I'm sure many AHS'ers would like to kill me brutally and without remorse

This all is a matter of favor. Ayumi's music doesn't become worse, imho, it's just changing and evolving. That's much better than a monotonous singing machine, isn't it?

[g~sus~]

Originally Posted by agita1988

As to me, I absolutely adore Ayu's rock and pop-rock stuff. At the same time I really like her electro stuff (including NEXT LEVEL) and most of her ballads... Not even so - I do LOVE Ayumi's ballads, they're her brand, and I'm never tired of them

And if I'd say, that I want Ayu to make more pop-rock (smth like superiorly beautiful Decision, talkin' 2 myself, is this LOVE?, Microphone, etc.) I'm sure many AHS'ers would like to kill me brutally and without remorse

This all is a matter of favor. Ayumi's music doesn't become worse, imho, it's just changing and evolving. That's much better than a monotonous singing machine, isn't it?

haha..agree..why would AHS'ers bash u lol..
is this LOVE is 1 of her best song ever =D
i somehow love her always presenting something new like virgin road

[Yumsushi]

Welcome to the club~

Rn'R Circus, to me, was a huge dissapointment and it seemed like alot of what she was releasing sounded generic and uninspired. Of her last 3 singles, I am only buying Crossroad and that ONLY because of the blossom remix (But I love Virgin road!) And the only PV I liked out of her last 3 releases was Sweet Season and only because of the last 10 seconds of it, lol.

But before that, I enjoyed Next Level and espicially Rule/Sparkle so I guess I can say that there were always phases of my fandom where I didn't like anything she released but had my faith restored one way or another. No artist has perfect releases that everyone loves so give it sometime.

I also want to add to what emiko brought up, that is that Micheal Jackson interview and how Ayu may feel about her releases; When L came out and everyone was congratulating her on twitter she said something along the lines of 'No matter how much you compliment me, it always feels like criticisim; ie she is always trying to surpass herself musically and isn't happy with comfortable mediocracy. If she's happy with these releases then I guess we'll have to agree to disagree, Ayu~

[AnteaterAdvance]

I feel like it's an exciting time to be an Ayu fan. L was an atypical single, and her album tracks continue to go to strange or thrilling places (like Microphone/Sexy Little Things/Rollin' etc, as others mentioned).

I am a very happy Ayu fan, and hotly anticipate what she's going to do next, because it always feels new. If she went back and composed a song that sounded so much like M or Dearest or STEP you that they may as well BE those songs, then what's the point? I love her for having the unpredictability of TNT.

[primavera♥]

Well, ayufan11....its like u and a gazillion people. I don't know where u get any idea that ur somehow alone in not liking ayu for like the past several years.

On another note. I like ayus recent ballads so I see no problem with her releasing them. If ayu wouldve released (as random examples of ballads I like) RAINBOW, still alone, Hanabi ~episode II~, and forgiveness or something right after each other, I wouldntve have minded them because I love them
I mean, I feel like its asking much of an artist if I LOVE the songs but they're not the genre I wanted. I never understand fans that dismiss a song cuz its not the genre they wanted. Although I'm not sure if this is you.
As I've said sometime before. I'm not going to ask ayu to do things she's not in the mood for making. Me, I Love rock. I would love ayu to do another rock song. But if ayu herself doesn't want to, I'd rather not she force herself to doing something she's not in the mood for making or writing lyrics too
I view all of these ballads and the different things she's been trying to express through her lyrics as what she wants to do. But is that fact? No. Just my views. And as far as what I mentioned find it fitting enough for the occasion. Assuming ayu is doing what she wants to do and not being controlled like a robot

Everyone has their own views of music. Everyone has the music they like and dislike. When someone dislikes something they may feel its just because the artist is uninspired or being lazy, and stupid. When someone likes something someone may think the artist may be totally inspired, hard working and genius etc.
Neither is necessarily true. Because none of us actually know ayus insides, her thoughts, or how she works, is she's inspried or uninspired. What people think are usually just assumptions and explanations for why they don't like or do like something.
At least we know some things about ayu herself, but not everything

So me, I'm happy while I'm liking ayus songs. Very happy. Because one of my favorite bands, their latest songs I don't like, and for me personally since I don't mind the genre, I just don't like the songs. There is nothing conrete I could say about their work ethic or inspiration, etc. I just don't like it
Now if one didn't like ayus rock songs because they don't like rock anyway, I say that makes a bit more sense

As far as previous ayu works, compared to now, its honestly hard for me to compare, because of how much ayu changes comparing one thing with another is like comparing another artist with another. I get different thinmgs emotionally from different songs so that doesn't help either lol. So I don't know what to say on that whole dilema of yours.

Not sure if all of what I said releates directly to your post or the posts of everyone elses here. It may just relate to this thread and things I've seen as of late in general.