LOVE ~Destiny~ and A's impact and longevity

[visionfactory]

I'm looking for any hint or missing piece of what the surrounding of these singles was at that time and nowadays as well...

I'm curious about the impact that had on japanese public these 2 singles. I mean, they were particulary popular at the time they were released or at least it looks like that by looking at their sales... but looking back as for now, ayu doesn't perform those songs that often and on the other side those songs aren't either featured on TV when ayu image is presented.

LOVE ~Destiny~ had a drama tie-in (Don't know if the drama was successful) and it also featured a collaboration with Tsunku who was rather more popular than ayu at that time. It sold 600k+ copies and was ayu's best-selling single to the moment, even Tsunku re-released the song in his own CD single (Was he trying to keep her own discography fresh with ayu's collaboration?). Also I don't know if Tsunku choosed ayu to collaborate with or it was viceversa, they were on different labels so it's much more strange to me that they collaborated together, what is the link between ayu and Tsunku?

On the other hand A is ayu's best-selling single to date with 1,6 million copies sold. But is any of the songs featured on the single as popular as evolution or SEASONS? Even if it's technically a quadruple A-side single I've seen monochrome as the title song in different places, but ayu has performed this song only a couple of times, isn't it? She even didn't performed monochrome at 2001 concerts (The year after the single was released). Also, do japanese people remember that a song titled "too late" exists?

Thanks in advance!

[Andrenekoi]

Well, according to the 15th anniversary poll for the songs her fans wanted her to perform the most, 3/4 of the single remains pretty popular^^

http://avexnet.or.jp/ayu/abestlive/

[RealLight]

Originally Posted by visionfactory

On the other hand A is ayu's best-selling single to date with 1,6 million copies sold. But is any of the songs featured on the single as popular as evolution or SEASONS? Even if it's technically a quadruple A-side single I've seen monochrome as the title song in different places, but ayu has performed this song only a couple of times, isn't it? She even didn't performed monochrome at 2001 concerts (The year after the single was released). Also, do japanese people remember that a song titled "too late" exists?

Thanks in advance!

I think you meant 2000 (A was released in 8/99), and yes, she did perfom the song that year.

[Andrenekoi]

It's normal for Ayu to perform her upbeat singles way more than her midtempos, so it makes sense that Monochrome wasn't as performed as Trauma, for example. But Trauma was a concert staple for thr first decade of her career and vanished from her setlists after that.

Not that I miss the song, cuz I don't, but at the time it seemed as strong as Boys & Girls, so it does feel strange not seeing it on live performances anymore

[DonkeyKongRemix]

Monochrome is one of my favorite songs, especially when I read the lyrics. That old performance she did where she held the sword and was wearing the long white dress was really fascinating.

I do think it's fascinating that these were sooo popular. I'm wondering if along with everything you mentioned, perhaps marketing was also better back when.

[voltron]

And it's also worth noting that that was right before she really "peaked" and A had a number of different colored versions of the jacket, so it also sold a lot to hardcore fans who wanted all of them.

[visionfactory]

Originally Posted by voltron

And it's also worth noting that that was right before she really "peaked" and A had a number of different colored versions of the jacket, so it also sold a lot to hardcore fans who wanted all of them.

It's true I forgot about that! 5 editions in total

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

Well, according to the 15th anniversary poll for the songs her fans wanted her to perform the most, 3/4 of the single remains pretty popular^^

http://avexnet.or.jp/ayu/abestlive/

Thanks for the info! but I still wonder why they don't showcase these songs when presenting ayu on TV

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

It's normal for Ayu to perform her upbeat singles way more than her midtempos, so it makes sense that Monochrome wasn't as performed as Trauma, for example. But Trauma was a concert staple for thr first decade of her career and vanished from her setlists after that.

Good point!

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by visionfactory

Thanks for the info! but I still wonder why they don't showcase these songs when presenting ayu on TV

Usually they use her signature songs, don't they?

Maybe the tracks are popular, but not the songs a random person on the street would mention when asked about Ayu.