Ayu's "worsening" voice?

[non3ko]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

^ I don't really have a problem with her early vocals though surprisingly. I prefer her deeper voice, but I can at least stand her early voice.

Her voice being deeper is not the problem at all. Her deep voice is great. The problem is her technique is bad and I do feel like her chords have probably become damaged. Compare a performance with her deep voice in 2003 - such as Tokyo on Music Fair or her duet with Akina Nakamori; the deep tone is great, but her technique was so much more stable and it sounded a lot better. Now almost always she is either screaming/yelling, sounding out of breath and choppy and it seems lately like she has maybe lost the ability in her vocals to do soft tones/notes; everything is overpowered and it often makes her voice sound strained. I still keep holding out hope though that it will get better.

Exactly. You took the words right out of my mouth. I don't have a problem with her deep voice, even if I do prefer her earlier higher pitched voice. I loved the Tokyo performance she did on Music Fair. A lot of people don't but back then her deeper voice didn't sound as bad as it does now. Her singing technique is what's bothering me. Yes she sounds out of breath and choppy at times, she can't hit certain notes anymore, and to make up for that she resorts to yelling/screaming-singing. <--Not a word. I just want the control she had a few years ago back in her vocals whether they be nasal or not. Her 'You were/evolution' performance was just subpar, she's done and can do better. I'm not sure if it's her hearing, breath control, technique, or if her vocal chords are so worn out she needs a rest-- I just hope she takes her own advice because even she noticed her voice was not at it's best. Otherwise, she wouldn't have apologized for it.