30 Day Song Challenge ～Ayu ver.～

[Aderianu]

Day 29: A song that makes you nostalgic
BLUE BIRD

Day 30: A song that reminds you of yourself
Virgin road

[Teppei-chan]

Spoiler:

Day 01: A song you like with a colour in the title
RAINBOW
RAINBOW is such a soft and calm Song ans I love that about

Day 02: A song you like with a number in the title
1 Love
I choose this one because I really got into Ayu a few month before this song and Secret got release. Still Love it but I choose it more for the nostalgia behind it

Day 03: A song that reminds you of summertime
NEXT LEVEL
This is a song I often listen to when the sun is out. I don't know but it always gives me a good vibe and makes me wanna go outside and relax in the sun

Day 04: A song that reminds you of someone you’d rather forget
crossroad
Well... I cried my heart out over a boy listening to this song. This guy had the guts to ignore me after a while and years later mde me hope tht this time it would work out.... only to get told via text message that he still h something for his stupid girl.
It sucks because crossroad is one of my most favourite Ayu songs but sometimes it reminds me of this guy. If only crossroad game out a little bit later

Day 05: A song that needs to be played loud
Terminal
I think this one needs no further explanation and speaks for itself

Day 06: A song that makes you want to dance[
Trauma
This on is hard. I'm Not someone who dances alot but If I feel Like Dancing I choose whatever I Like at that moment. But I'm going to choose Trauma as I Always feel the urge to do the little dance moves when I listen to it

Day 07: A song for riding the train
Born to Be
Since I have my own car I don't Ride the train as much as I used to but I Always found myself enjoying listening to Born to Be alot. It's easy to forget your sorrows and just enjoy the ride with this song

Day 08: A song about drugs or alcohol
Party Queen
The First one that came to mind. And isn't this the only one she has that are about alcohol/drugs?

Day 09: A song that makes you happy
Greatful days
It's such a cheerful feel-good song for me that makes it easy to enjoy the moment and only think about Happy things. The eurobeat remix of glitter from ayu-ro mix 4 ís a close second

Day 10: A song that makes you sad
reminds me
The lyrics for this song are so great and everytime I read them I get a little sad because they well, reminds me, of sad times from the past

Day 11: A song you never get tired of
A Song for XX
One of my all time favourite and one of the only songs that I listen to everytime it comes up[

Day 12: A song from your pre Ayu fan days
Ladies Night
The first time I heard about Ayumi was reading an articel from a german Manga magazine, it was around 2002/03 and I decided that "now I'm a fan of her". I only knew 1 one Song ( connected) at that time and nowadays woudn't call it being a fan. I got to know more of Ayu and her music in 2006 around th Release of Blue Bird. So that gives me a lot of stuff to choose from, which is hard XD Ladies Night was one of the first Songs that came to my mind

Day 13: A song you like from the 90s
kanariya "Jonathan Peters' Vocal Club Mix"
Ever since I first watched the the PV I'm in Love with this Version of kanariya, it's Not the full remix that Í like because it's waaaay to long imo but the part that ís also being used in the PV is perfection. As for the original Hidden track version one LOVEppears: I also love this one and that it gives the song a complete other and unique feeling.

Day 14: A song you’d love to be played at your wedding
Voyage
If I'm every going to marry someone I guess Voyage would be a song that I'd make sure is being played. Maybe even during the ceremony, maybe when I walking down the aisle XD. Always thought that Voyage would be a fitting Song for a wedding.

Day 15: A song you like that’s a cover
One Night Carnival
Sadly this song were only performed live once at the Arena Tour 2012 but it was so much fun watching this performance. After that I added the original from Kishidan to my mp3 Player . Would be awesome to have a full version with only Ayu singing this song.
If I had to name a song that can be found in a single/ Album I'd say Many Classic Moments. Like the sound of that one

Day 16: A song that’s a classic favourite
SURREAL
Also have to go with this one. The lyrics have a great Message and I find the song itself very powerful, especially with that guitar solo. This gives me life everytime

Day 17: A song I would like to sing a duet with on karaoke?
NaNaNa
I also going with this song. As xLuna&1LOVE Said I can imagen this Song to be Lots of fun at Karaoke. Just dancing around like crazy while the other sings and having the time of your life.

Day 18: A song from the month you were born
Rule
I don't have much choice, it was either going to be Rule or Sparkle as this single were released in my 18th Birthday. Thank you Ayumi for auch a great single as a Birthday Gift so I picked Rule because it's a great Rock Song and I also live the PV. Got that Hair Cut she has in the pv a little Bit after it's release

Day 19: A song that makes you think about life
everywhere nowhere
The opening alone speaks so many truth and makes me think about life and choices that I made through my life

Day 20: A song that has many meanings to you
crossroad
For this day I have to go with crossroad again. One of the meaning can be found in my answer for day 4. Crossroad helped me last year during a hard time were I Had to make a decisions: Will I Go Back to Germany or do I want to spent more time in Iceland? It was such a hard Thing to decide because there was No right or wrong and Í kinda wanted both. crossroad was a song that helped me sort out thing while I took a long Walk. This and also everywhere nowhere

Day 21: A song you like with a flower in the title
Hana
One of the best album tracks from A Song for XX and those lyrics hít me right in the feels when I was younger. It was such a Nice surprise when she performed this gem at the PCDL.

Day 22: A song that moves you forward
Step by step
This songs lyrics are so good whenever I need a reminder that it's okay to look at all the smalls things I did and/or are going to achieved in order to reach something bigger.

Day 23: A song you think everybody should listen to
Dolls
This song is so beautiful in every single was. From the way her voice sounds over the lyrics to the music. This is a truely underrated gem in her discography and more people should listen to this beautiful work or Art. Especially unser northern lights, then this song becomes even more beautiful

Day 24: A song composed by CREA
Naturally
Another hard one because I love most of her CREA songs. Í make it Harder by Not trying to chose the same sing twice ( crossroad will be the only one). So I went with Naturally because it is my favourite album track from I am...

Day 25: A song you like about death
Hanabi
You know, I'm not sure if this song really ís about death or Just about a former lover but there is this one Part in the lyrics that makes it a song about death for me. Í guess we all had someone close to us pass away and we don't need to remember them because they will always be there and never will be forgotten.

Day 26: A song that makes you want to fall in love
Honey
Is it a cheesy Song? Yes, it is but that's the reason I Like it XD I can see myself listening to it up and down If I ever am fresh in Love with someone and just want to smile Like a fool about my partner

Day 27: A song that breaks your heart
POWDER SNOW
This is the third time I changed my answer. Already Had Sorrows and Like a doll standing in POWDER SNOWS place but she really dies have lots of heart-wrenching Songs in my past there where Times when I had similar thought as Ayu describes in this Song e.g wanting to Go somewhere where nobody knows me and there where also times when I Just wanted to cry until it's all over

Day 28: A song you especially like Ayu's voice in
everlasting dream
It's a song that is not even 2 minutes Long but vocally it's a awesome start to the Rainbow album. And I think this song could have been my favourite track of the album of it where longer. Love how light and soft she songs in this song


Day 29: A song that makes you nostalgic
Connected
Thinking about the first time I ever heared of Ayu makes me think about waaay Back, when at one night I searched the TV stations for something to watch and catched the last ... ~30 seconds of the music video. I was so hyped after that and had the urge to Tell my best friend at that time all about how awesome it was. And you know it got better. Idk how long after that I went to a german multimedia store and found the german single for Connected. This CD has been played over and over again in my discman. My Mom Had to scole me Sometimes to finally Out that thing away XD

Day 30: A song that reminds you of yourself
Fly high

If I don't start it, then it won't start

I can related to this Lyrics so much. I myself habe been afraid to try and Take the First step in order to change or a get something but how should I ever get it when I'm scared of starting to take the first step? For me it also felt like there was road getting longer and longer because I didn't try to change a certain Thing and If felt to late, but honestly thinking about it now I'd say to my Younger self that it's never to late

[//ABEST]

Spoiler:

01 - GREEN
It was the first new release I was aware of after I found ayu in 2008. It has a special place in my heart as well as Days because duh, GREEN/Days / Days/GREEN

02 - Song 4 U
It was one of the prime eras I had with ayu when this came out. Song 4 U is my motivation song with
"What was it? Who was it?
That made you decide that somehow
you could try to move forward once more"

03 - You & Me
ayu has so many summer bops but for some reason it's You & Me even tho it's not my favorite summer song

04 - NOW & 4EVA
well shortly my ex who basically ruined my life at that time

05 - Terminal
does it really need explaining? Armin did a good job with this one, still get the chills when the best drops

06 - Lelio
it's really hard to listen to this song and not dance that choreography

07 - monochrome
i dont know why but this was the first song that came to my mind. it's so melancholic like a dream so it would fit traveling perfectly! just sitting there and watch outside of the window while everything passes by

08 - Party queen
because this might be the only one? which is funny how in kpop there are many songs which have lyrics about alcohol and drugs yet ayu doesn't have any.. is it cultural or is ayu just pure and sweet?

09 - EnergizE
how can I be sad or moody while listening to this? oh hell no!!

10 - Secret
it's just an vulnerable song full of emotion

11 - Mirrorcle World
my ultimate number 1 song from ayu since 2008 and will always be! I found ayu in 2008 and actually i can still remember visiting her official avex website somewhere near april/may 2008 when there was Mirrorcle World theme. this song reminds me of my 14 yo self yet it still fits in my life now even after 12 years later. I actually played this song like 24/7 in january/february 2020 after watching Promised Land because it took me to the memory lane

12 - Real me
I became a fan of her around may/june 2008 and Real me was my first ayu song ever iirc in march 2008. it was through last.fm when you could still listen songs via that scrobbled they had (idk if it's still the same?). i wasn't that big fan of Real me until I saw that legendary PREMIUM COUNTDOWN LIVE performance and fell in love with it right away! I learned that choreography completely with every moves ayu made while performing because it was just soo cool back then! I'm pretty confident I could still remember it mostly if I tried

13 - Trust
I don't even know why I love this song so much. A Song for ×× as an album have so many underrated gems

14 - CAROLS
it would be really beautiful to have a first dance as a couple while piano or violin version of CAROLS would be played. it has kinda sad melody but if I ever chose to have ayu's song played at my wedding, it would be something thats really personal to me and my husband. although I'd prefer music only without singing

15 - Many Classic Moments
I love ayu's version of this song so much! ayu's all cover songs are good but this is the best one.

16 - Love song
I personally would say Love song is one of her recent and one of the last classics she actually has. I love the piano in this song and lyrics are really beautiful

17 - What is forever love
This is such an underrated gem imo. I have always liked it ever since it came out.

18 - Connected
Well January is easy since there is so many albums released but I will go with this one. Fell for it in 2009 and still love this song

19 - how beautiful you are
haha cheesy but sometimes we all should think about our lives with the thought that we are all enough and beautiful. social media tends to make me feel insecure about myself almost everyday and makes me often think about how everyone else has everything better than me. after all we are all the same and we all deserve to be loved the way we are. i'll have to admit that i might not be the biggest fan of the song but everytime i think about it, it makes me appreciete my life

20 - Merry-go-round
this was the hardest one for my to choose because almost every song has only one strong feeling in to it in my mind. Merry-go-round was released when I was in a relationship that was like one in the lyrics, everytime I said goodbye when we parted, I never was sure was that the last time I would see him. We broke up on new years eve which kinda was in the lyrics as well. After some time passed, it became my "it's time to let go" song and even later "i'm gonna find someone else someday in the future" song. So this song for me is the one with messy relationship, break up, healing and moving on. Everytime I listen to it, I think about him tho but in a bittersweet way

21 - Ivy
I love LOVE again-era so bad! It's the time I found my love for ayu again so I use to blast these songs like 24/7

22 - Tell All
one of her most underrated gems yet one of my personal favourites! it's a shame it didn't get proper release because i love this song so much! wasn't the biggest fan of that A ONE version and all we got was A BEST LIVE version on Spotify.. it's a perfect song to celebrate her 15th Anniversary as it feel like sequel to Mirrorcle World (which is my no1 ayu song). I love the lyrics which fits perfectly today's entry about moving forward. If something is really worth it, we should not stop until we have it

23 - my name's WOMEN
i think this song defines ayu's music for me as a complete picture, because it might sound generic pop song but there's an actual meaning in the lyrics instead of just singing "we are women we are beautiful"

24 - HANABI
break-up songs are my weak spot and i love everything in HANABI, lyrics and arrangement are really beautiful

25 - Memorial address
i wasn't the biggest fan of the song until I saw her perform it in A BEST LIVE and saw how personal it is for her. it's very sad song and i've been very fortunate to avoid the feelings she goes through in lyrics since I have never lost anyone very close to me. but if I lost someone in my family or very close friend, I bet this would be the song that would help me go through the pain of loss

26 - Days
this might be her sweetest song and I love love love it! the lyrics are so deeply in love with someone and I wanna feel that rush again. also the music video is so sweet (until she wakes up again). I love being in love and feeling the love towards eachother. I think I might be hopeless romantic

27 - untitled for her... story 2
iirc i've cried everytime i've heard this song! it's also one of my favourite songs from LOVE again which is also one of her greatest album of all time. I don't have really special feelings towards the first one but this really breaks my heart. I can only imagine how it feels to lose someone so close she lost, I bet you feel so helpless and alone.. haha actually I always felt like this would be the song I'd listen when the time comes and our family dog would become an angel in the sky and when it actually happened (last august) I couldn't listen to this at all. I listened to this in like a month ago and the second it started I cried my ugliest cry ever. so yeah, for me this might be her most emotional song personally

28 - Sweet scar
I love how gentle and pure her voice is in here! Arrangement really let her show her amazing vocals. Such an underrated gem

29 - M
this song takes me back to the end of 2008 when I was taking care of my sister's dog while she was in the hospital (I was his godfather and I loved him like he was my own) and it was really beautiful winter night when I took him out for a walk in the middle of nowhere where my dad lives and I remember listening to M back then and actually have my first winter memory with an ayu song. I don't know why but that is a very special memory in my mind. Just me, the dog and M blasting in my headphones out in the snow. I was 14 back then and I was still figuring out who I was. the time has passed and the dog is not with us anymore unfortunately but my mind will always go back to that night whenever I hear M.
it's funny because M is the one of her songs I almost everytime think that is was too overrated in ayu's discography yet it always get me so emotional and I actually love it at the same time. it's confusing. I'm confusing.

30 - A Song for ××
I can really relate to this one since I have major issues with my feelings towards myself and having a bad selfconfidence. I feel lonely most of the time even if I'm with people and the lyrics resonates with my thoughts kinda well. I have changed apartments at least once a year for the past five years because I really don't know how to settle down so "The sun is already rising, I really need to go. I can’t stay forever in the same place really fits my life. I also feel that I was born alone. I will go on being alone. I thought that living this way was truly normal might be my life motto. Whenever I feel really sad or something, I listen to this song. It's just so powerful and full of emotion. Someone trying to still figure everything out, like myself.

I can't believe this is over already! This was so much fun!! Also thought that the songs I chose would make a great playlist for myself

[voltron]

Day 30: A song that reminds you of yourself
Walking Proud.

[Sky High]

This is so much fun, can we add more questions?

[xLuna&1LOVE]

Day 30 - ourselves
I feel very connected to this song. There are major important things I don't share with my closest friends or family and sometimes I feel like I live a double life.
I just wish I will be opening up about certain life choices to more people... than just my boyfriend. He might be the only one who's seeing a "me" that's most upfront with how I think and feel. The more I read the ourselves lyrics and relate to this in my own terms, the more I feel ashamed of my nature.
Hopefully I can change that in the future.

All challenge songs:

Spoiler:

Day 1 - RAINBOW
Day 2 - 1 LOVE
Day 3 - July 1st
Day 4 - SCAR
Day 5 - WARNING
Day 6 - rollin'
Day 7 - Love song
Day 8 - Party Queen
Day 9 - STEP you
Day 10 - End Roll
Day 11 - BRILLANTE
Day 12 - M
Day 13 - And Then
Day 14 - Will
Day 15 - Haru Yo Koi
Day 16 - SURREAL / Far away Acoustic Orchestra Version
Day 17 - NaNaNa
Day 18 - SEASONS
Day 19 - Mirrorcle World
Day 20 - Together when...
Day 21 - FLOWER
Day 22 - Startin'
Day 23 - A Song For ×× "030213 Session #2"
Day 24 - I am...
Day 25 - HEAVEN (Piano version)
Day 26 - Key ~ Eternal tie ver.
Day 27 - Days
Day 28 - walking proud
Day 29 - INSPIRE / GAME
Day 30 - ourselves

^ Definetely gonna make a playlist of my entries. Thank you for organising Chibi. This was so much fun and I loved reading everyone's posts. Pretty bummed the challenge has come to an end. I really loved the flow and lots of posts to catch up on, I missed this dynamic on AHS for quite a while.

But hey the challenge isn't over yet, is it???

[Teppei-chan]

Was also thinking about making a playlist. Might do it because I also chiósed songs that I don't listen to that often like Hana and Step by Step
Also a big thank you from me, for coming up with this idea

[Kacku]

Day 30: A song that reminds you of yourself
A Song for ××. I've always strongly identified with the ending of the song especially (I was born alone, I will go on living alone / "Surely that kind of life is natural," I thought...), and over the years I've started to relate more to the other feelings expressed in it as well: feeling directionless, struggling with opening up and being vulnerable. It's comforting and cathartic to have these feelings packaged so gracefully in a song and being able to just sing along and fully feel it all.

All challenge songs:

Spoiler:

Day 01 (A song you like with a colour in the title): monochrome

Day 02 (A song you like with a number in the title): theme of a-nation '03

Day 03 (A song that reminds you of summertime): count down

Day 04 (A song that reminds you of someone you’d rather forget): Lady Dynamite

Day 05 (A song that needs to be played loud): alterna

Day 06 (A song that makes you want to dance): SCAR

Day 07 (A song for riding the train): connected

Day 08 (A song about drugs or alcohol): Letter

Day 09 (A song that makes you happy): NEXT LEVEL

Day 10 (A song that makes you sad): untitled ~for her~

Day 11 (A song you never get tired of): SURREAL

Day 12 (A song from your pre Ayu fan days): Dearest

Day 13 (A song you like from the 90s): End roll

Day 14 (A song you'd love to be played at your wedding): You are the only one

Day 15 (A song you like that’s a cover): One Night Carnival

Day 16 (A song that’s a classic favourite): M / Who... -Acoustic Orchestra version-

Day 17 (A song you’d sing a duet with someone on karaoke): evolution

Day 18 (A song from the month you were born): Moments

Day 19 (A song that makes you think about life): Walk

Day 20 (A song that has many meanings to you): BLUE BIRD

Day 21 (A song you like with a flower in the title): SAKURA

Day 22 (A song that moves you forward): winding road

Day 23 (A song you think everybody should listen to): Dolls

Day 24 (A song composed by CREA): no more words

Day 25 (A song you like about death): Memorial Address

Day 26 (A song that makes you want to fall in love): Mr. Darling

Day 27 (A song that breaks your heart): Breakdown

Day 28 (A song you especially like Ayu's voice in): NO FUTURE

Day 29 (A song that makes you nostalgic): fairyland

Day 30 (A song that reminds you of yourself): A Song for ××

I'm also really glad Chibi-Chan made this challenge, it's been fun in many ways. It's been so nice to see the thread active, get to read everyone's posts and see new takes on songs or relate to the thoughts others have had. And on the other hand, I've really enjoyed diving into Ayu's music and lyrics with this challenge prompting me to look for things I haven't necessarily thought of before; I've also enjoyed writing the entries, some of them have given me a chance to air thoughts that I feel like have been rattling around in my head for years.

Looking forward to ~episode II~!

[Yumsushi]

Day 27: Hanabi or Fated orchestral version. The longing in her voice gets to me every time

Day 28: Heaven. Her voice in this song is truly heavenly. There isn't a person I've played this song to that hasn't felt something hearing it despite not understanding anything. This ability to convert emotion isn't that common.

Day 29: probably Naturally (wippenberg remix) I played and still play the he'll out of this song

Day 30: Decision. This song is so empowering but also resigned somehow. It speaks to me in every way.

[Kacku]

Bump!

Should we bring this challenge back now that we have this year's last 30-day month ahead of us? I went through the suggestions people had shared earlier in this thread and tried to compile and edit them into a nice 30-prompt list, and here's what I've got:

1. A song Ayu should sing more often
2. A song remix that surpasses the original version
3. A song that reminds you of wintertime
4. A song with a PV you love
5. A song you first disliked but now love
6. A song that makes you want to run
7. A song that surprised you
8. A song you think is easily overlooked
9. A song that should get a new recording for 25th anniversary
10. A song that should have been a massive hit
11. A song that you know by heart
12. A song that's your life motto
13. A song you like from the 10s
14. A song you like with a lot of English lyrics
15. A song that's your guilty pleasure
16. A song you are/were really excited about
17. A song that should be remixed into a different genre
18. A song you like with a Japanese title
19. A song that introduced you to Ayu
20. A song for a family member
21. A song with a message
22. A song about music
23. A song about gender
24. A song for fans
25. A song for haters
26. A song you find hard to categorize
27. A song you find hard to understand
28. A song you like that's a collaboration
29. A song that tells a story
30. A song for celebration

If other people besides me are interested, we could officially start the challenge tomorrow! If we do get the new challenge going, should we start a new thread for it (I think we should)?

Further suggestions/comments for the prompt list are very welcome!

[Chibi-Chan]

^I think that is a great idea! Personally I don't care if it's a new thread or not. If you would like to creste a new one, you can do this. Or I'll update the first post with the new challenges. =)

[Mikytaryan]

Oh, this sounds like a great idea! Would love to participate this time!

[Surreal17]

Yes, this is a good idea!

[Teppei-chan]

Sign me in for this, love the promts and can't wait to see what everyone chose this time

[Kacku]

Yay, so many eager participants! I'll post a new thread tomorrow morning.