Ayu's interludes, intros, and outros discussion: what do they mean?

**DonkeyKongRemix** · #1 25th May 2018, 05:58 AM

I thought of this thread and mentioned it in the Anything Goes, with a couple of people interested in it. So...Here goes!

I had a thought about how we had threads years ago that really delved deep into the themes of Ayu's albums, album-by-album. It was so enlightening, interesting, and just fun to talk about and read what people thought the concepts were about her albums were. So, I was thinking we could do something similar except really focus on the short, instrumental pieces that appear on her albums.

Now, I am totally expecting some of these theories to be very far fetched. I'm interested to know which songs ya'll find yourselves wondering about, too.

A list of her intros, interludes, and outros:

Spoiler:

If I forgot any, lemme know!!

~~~
OKAY! So...

I'm just gonna start with the 1st three albums and see how this all flows...If you have the time and interest and just really want to analyze all of them at once, go for it!

A Song for XX:
Prologue: To me, the theme of asfxx as an album is loneliness, new beginnings, and cherishing someone's love and place in one's heart. Also, the idea that the title track is really about being alone and never breaking out of this cursed loneliness is very strong, to me. Powder Snow and ASFXX both carry this feeling.

The prologue, however, I feel like may mostly be just a product of its time. At least, that's how I've always seen it. Now listening to it, I really do wonder if it has a real meaning behind it or any great significance. I think this instrumental is actually quite stunning, and has almost a sad voice to it, which is carried through with the main melody. The live version of it from years and years ago (the one that was coupled with Vogue) gave it a whole new sound.

I'm really curious to know what people think about that one.

Loveppears:
-Introduction: I love this intro, it really is one of her best. The Introduction sounds like it's supposed to get the listener really pumped up for the album/and/or a dance party!

In it, you can hear from Fly High, which is the song that comes before it, "subete ga" repeated multiple times. I looked it up to see what it means and got a rough translation that it means "all" or "everything," though I don't know how accurate this is. (I'm curious to know.) If it does mean "all," then it could add to the meaning of Introduction, and to the overall theme of the entire album. I think it's probably a randomly chosen line to loop for the sound of it, but it also gives me this feeling of, "here's everything I need to say right now" or "giving it one's all." I feel like this song has the same kind of build up as "too late" as well as Fly High. Too late, when reading the lyrics, has a somewhat panicked tone to it. And when she refers to "you" I believe she's singing to herself. I had heard some people say that it sounds like she's rushing off a cliff.

Introduction is to me the intro to a very raw, contemplative journal with several entries, some of them discussing good moments and feelings, some of them discussing bad.

Interlude is much more chill sounding, but still has this build up, only is sounds a little more dreaded to me. I love that it leads into Love (Refrain), which is a very honest song about appreciation.

Duty:
Starting Over: this is honestly such a cool song. Does anyone know what the guy is saying in it, though? I loved it in old concerts of hers when she'd use it as an opening. It always gives me chills.

This song, with it's title, has a strong theme about the future, imo. It has kind of this sci-fi sound to it. It almost sounds like excitement, then it leads into the intensely haunting intro of Duty. It almost is like starting off with hope and then leading quickly into a haunting sense of dread. I think Duty is clearly about seeing so many things change and come to an end, and then wondering, "oh crap, am I next?"

Anyway, tell me what ya'll think about any of these. I realized that this is kind of a broad topic, more so than I even expected, so sorry if it's hard to keep it very organized...

EndOfTheWorld · #2 27th May 2018, 02:45 AM

I guess I start at the very beginning for now.

I admit I don't have much to say about Prologue honestly. I feel that it mostly was added to give the album a luxe feel. To set the tone of the album too. I have always enjoyed it and would be sad if it was never included originally. The Hybrid Remix is awesome too, I listen to that version the most. If the acoustic orchestra version was used on the album instead I think it would have added more to the album and been more memorable. But the original has a slight wintery sound which is a light theme throughout the entire album so it connects. On top of the things you mentioned, I also associate the A Song For xx album with a sad and lonely Christmas. But on a lighter note, doesn't Prologue sound like it could be the music the plays on the start screen of a Playstation 1 jrpg?

**DonkeyKongRemix** · #3 27th May 2018, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EndOfTheWorld

I guess I start at the very beginning for now.

I admit I don't have much to say about Prologue honestly. I feel that it mostly was added to give the album a luxe feel. To set the tone of the album too. I have always enjoyed it and would be sad if it was never included originally. The Hybrid Remix is awesome too, I listen to that version the most. If the acoustic orchestra version was used on the album instead I think it would have added more to the album and been more memorable. But the original has a slight wintery sound which is a light theme throughout the entire album so it connects. On top of the things you mentioned, I also associate the A Song For xx album with a sad and lonely Christmas. But on a lighter note, doesn't Prologue sound like it could be the music the plays on the start screen of a Playstation 1 jrpg?

It does sound wintry! And the idea of the album being a sad Christmas makes so much sense to me. I actually forgot about the orchestrated version. I'm listening to it now.

And YES, it totally sounds like a PS1 start screen.

A Song for XX has weirdly enough become my most favorite album of hers. I used to like her mid-career albums best, but her first album has recently resonated with me. I play it all the time when I'm drawing.

I've now made a playlist with all of these intros/interludes/outros. Fun. XDDD

Aga-chan · #4 6th June 2018, 04:25 PM

In a Secret interview back in the day she said that LABYRINTH has a meaning being between It was and JEWEL, and I think it represents the way from an unhappy love to a happy love. And because the way isn't necessarily easy and you might get lost, it's called LABYRINTH.