Why do you think Guilty only got only number 2 on Oricon?

[SURREAL__RAINBOW]

many reasons!

-bcose ayu aint as popular as bfore (secret didn't sell that much anyway too, lucky that it got 1st place)
-bcose the album didnt look that promising (the covers were boring for an album, just like any random fashion magazine)
-it didn't have enough songs I think
-maybe the name of the album scared people (who knows lol)
-other singers released in the same date
-the news of her hearing problems
-etc etc etc


but well, lets b positive! her next album must b better ^^

[KarenPang]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

Actually with Arashi's sales these days, it would be all over for both Ayu and Kinki.... Arashi is definitely the King of JE right now and deservedly so actually because usually Johnny's groups experience their biggest popularity in their first year or two of release but for Arashi it took 10 years to get to that point.

ARASHI's sales weren't so fantastic when they 1st debuted in '99 . It was only until last year that they really hit the big time as before Happiness , it was quite difficult for them to sell that well , let alone for singles .

& of course 2008 was such a great year for the guys , with all 4 singles crossing the 300K mark with ease in which truth / Kaze no Mukou e & One Love rounded up to be Japan's 1st & 2nd best selling single overall

Step and Go was the 1st single onwards to sell more than 300K onwards in the 1st week & this year will be their 10th anniversary

Originally Posted by SURREAL__RAINBOW

many reasons!

-bcose ayu aint as popular as bfore (secret didn't sell that much anyway too, lucky that it got 1st place)
-bcose the album didnt look that promising (the covers were boring for an album, just like any random fashion magazine)
-it didn't have enough songs I think
-maybe the name of the album scared people (who knows lol)
-other singers released in the same date
-the news of her hearing problems
-etc etc etc


but well, lets b positive! her next album must b better ^^

nah I don't think news of her hearing problems contribute to that , it doesn't make sense to me

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by KarenPang

ARASHI's sales weren't so fantastic when they 1st debuted in '99 . It was only until last year that they really hit the big time as before Happiness , it was quite difficult for them to sell that well , let alone for singles .

& of course 2008 was such a great year for the guys , with all 4 singles crossing the 300K mark with ease in which truth / Kaze no Mukou e & One Love rounded up to be Japan's 1st & 2nd best selling single overall

Step and Go was the 1st single onwards to sell more than 300K onwards in the 1st week & this year will be their 10th anniversary

Right, that's pretty much exactly what I meant. Their debut was in 1999, yet they are much more popular now than they were then and that is rare for a Johnny's group.

Originally Posted by NintendoHTF1242

The only things that affected the sales were that CD sales were already declining. The cover ain't gonna make someone not buy an album...if it does...then LOL at you.

I think the cover can make a difference. Fans are going to buy regardless of the cover, but casual fans can be swayed to buy with a good cover and turned off from buying with a bad one.

[KarenPang]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

Right, that's pretty much exactly what I meant. Their debut was in 1999, yet they are much more popular now than they were then and that is rare for a Johnny's group.

I think their luck changed after they made the switch from Pony Canon to JStorm in 2002 but even back then , they weren't so big til the members started to act in dramas/movies & hosting their own variety shows which slowly but surely built up their popularity .

They just hit the jackpot last year which's great

I think the cover can make a difference. Fans are going to buy regardless of the cover, but casual fans can be swayed to buy with a good cover and turned off from buying with a bad one.

yeah it's a bit unfortunate in the way that casual fans think .

For me I always place emphasis on the music quality of the singles/albums/dvds , pics & etc are secondary but of course if they're great , it's a bonus

[SURREAL__RAINBOW]

Originally Posted by KarenPang

nah I don't think news of her hearing problems contribute to that , it doesn't make sense to me

lol who knoes
japanese are very weird xDD but i think u r right anyway


why are u answering everyones comments? LOL xDD

[lfe.]

Originally Posted by SURREAL__RAINBOW

many reasons!

-bcose ayu aint as popular as bfore (secret didn't sell that much anyway too, lucky that it got 1st place)
-bcose the album didnt look that promising (the covers were boring for an album, just like any random fashion magazine)
-it didn't have enough songs I think
-maybe the name of the album scared people (who knows lol)
-other singers released in the same date
-the news of her hearing problems
-etc etc etc

Kinda like what KarenPang said, the hearing problems wouldn't make sales decline. It might have boosted her sales if anything. As unfortunate as they may be, these kind of incidents are actually big media exposure, which is why some artists have sold more albums post mortem. I can't remember but I think some people on this forum questioned if her hearing problem was real and if its just a big media stunt?

I can agree on the other reasons though. I was pretty unimpressed with the album covers, too many interludes, too many songs that were already singles, and her declining popularity.

[Evolution7/4]

Originally Posted by lfebaggins

As unfortunate as they may be, these kind of incidents are actually big media exposure, which is why some artists have sold more albums post mortem. I can't remember but I think some people on this forum questioned if her hearing problem was real and if its just a big media stunt?
.

Watch the light and shadow documentary that shows clips from 2001 and then think its just a media stunt. It proves that the reason her voice has worsened is because its difficult for her to find her pitch, because she is singing A Song for XX (in 2001) during rehersal, and her ear is bothering her, making her go off pitch and her voice sounds EXACTLY like it does now.

[jimex289]

Originally Posted by Evolution7/4

Watch the light and shadow documentary that shows clips from 2001 and then think its just a media stunt. It proves that the reason her voice has worsened is because its difficult for her to find her pitch, because she is singing A Song for XX (in 2001) during rehersal, and her ear is bothering her, making her go off pitch and her voice sounds EXACTLY like it does now.

Light & shadow documentary? I'm interested. Where can I find this?

EDIT: Nvm it's also known as the 2004 interview. Thanks anyway.

[lfe.]

Originally Posted by Evolution7/4

Watch the light and shadow documentary that shows clips from 2001 and then think its just a media stunt. It proves that the reason her voice has worsened is because its difficult for her to find her pitch, because she is singing A Song for XX (in 2001) during rehersal, and her ear is bothering her, making her go off pitch and her voice sounds EXACTLY like it does now.

Did I ever say I was one of the ones that thought it was? Roll your eyes elsewhere

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by Evolution7/4

Watch the light and shadow documentary that shows clips from 2001 and then think its just a media stunt. It proves that the reason her voice has worsened is because its difficult for her to find her pitch, because she is singing A Song for XX (in 2001) during rehersal, and her ear is bothering her, making her go off pitch and her voice sounds EXACTLY like it does now.

Right, but casual fans don't know that stuff. I heard comments from many Japanese friends and online that were questioning whether her hearing loss was real or not. Many said they thought it was just an excuse.