[Official Message] "WINTER BALLAD SELECTION" 2014.11.26 Digital Release

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by Ayu-me

I get that "Close to you" is a very winter-y song, but I for one am really happy that the song is not on here because it's the only Ayu song that I downright dislike, it's just so boring and bland, doesn't deserve to be on a compilation IMO. I think "Over" feels quite winter-y with it's desolate piano tune so I don't mind it being there, but I would definitely replace "teddy bear" with "BALLAD"; while the first one is not too out of place, the latter is a much clearer choice for a winter ballad compilation.
But that's just my nitpicky-ty opinions, overall I quite like this idea even though it's not really too exciting for someone who has all of Ayu's albums already.

As much as I ADORE Christmas time, I used to really dislike Close to you as well. However, when you really get into the Christmas environment, Close to you grows on you. For me, I fell in love with it while walking on a still winter's night past a local church which was adorned with Christmas lights.

[primavera♥]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

As much as I ADORE Christmas time, I used to really dislike Close to you as well. However, when you really get into the Christmas environment, Close to you grows on you. For me, I fell in love with it while walking on a still winter's night past a local church which was adorned with Christmas lights.

I love all of the the associations you make with songs. I feel that on a profound level. Like scenes in different seasons, different places, settings etc. I'm ot, but I really do like whenever you mention these things.

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by primavera♥

I love all of the the associations you make with songs. I feel that on a profound level. Like scenes in different seasons, different places, settings etc. I'm ot, but I really do like whenever you mention these things.

Thank you I'm glad that you appreciate that. I often think when I step outside "what song does this weather feel like? What song does the environment replicate? What song does the air taste and smell like?" When the environment of the music you are listening to mirrors your surroundings, that's when you can truly appreciate the beauty and hidden aura behind the product. That's when you can truly appreciate the subtleties, all the decisions, and all the work that went into painting that aura through sound. When the environment of the music you are listening to mirrors your surroundings, that's when you truly are able to experience what it's like to break the barrier; that's when the intangible world of music crosses over into the real world. Becoming one - living, and existing within, the music. That's when the imaginary becomes reality.

[NintendoHTF1242]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

Thank you I'm glad that you appreciate that. I often think when I step outside "what song does this weather feel like? What song does the environment replicate? What song does the air taste and smell like?" When the environment of the music you are listening to mirrors your surroundings, that's when you can truly appreciate the beauty and hidden aura behind the product. That's when you can truly appreciate the subtleties, all the decisions, and all the work that went into painting that aura through sound. When the environment of the music you are listening to mirrors your surroundings, that's when you truly are able to experience what it's like to break the barrier; that's when the intangible world of music crosses over into the real world. Becoming one - living, and existing within, the music. That's when the imaginary becomes reality.

I do the same thing; glad I'm not the only one lol.

[Surreal17]

Originally Posted by NintendoHTF1242

I do the same thing; glad I'm not the only one lol.

me too

[Ayu-me]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

As much as I ADORE Christmas time, I used to really dislike Close to you as well. However, when you really get into the Christmas environment, Close to you grows on you. For me, I fell in love with it while walking on a still winter's night past a local church which was adorned with Christmas lights.

I just listened to the song, and I do see what you're getting at but the whole feeling of Christmas and winter in the song doesn't save it in any way for me. My main problem with the song is the flatness of it all, and how Ayu sings it just sounds so... dispassionate and completely separated from the "Christmas spirit" that it seemingly wants to convey. It has potential to be a good Christmas song for me, but it falls way short and the positives are just too outweighed by the negatives.
But it's only one song, and I have a more or less positive opinion on all other Ayu songs released so far, so I can live with it. People who enjoy the song, can keep enjoying it and I'll just take my pick of all the other great Ayu songs I can listen to this Christmas (many of which appearing on this selection).

[orangeakira]

Originally Posted by Ayu-me

I just listened to the song, and I do see what you're getting at but the whole feeling of Christmas and winter in the song doesn't save it in any way for me. My main problem with the song is the flatness of it all, and how Ayu sings it just sounds so... dispassionate and completely separated from the "Christmas spirit" that it seemingly wants to convey. It has potential to be a good Christmas song for me, but it falls way short and the positives are just too outweighed by the negatives.
But it's only one song, and I have a more or less positive opinion on all other Ayu songs released so far, so I can live with it. People who enjoy the song, can keep enjoying it and I'll just take my pick of all the other great Ayu songs I can listen to this Christmas (many of which appearing on this selection).

I don't really like it either. I mean, I think it's alright, I can listen to it if I'm listening to Rainbow, but I don't even have the song on my computer. It is kinda.. flat. I think it's a mixture of the composition and her singing. lol But it definitely should have been on this "winter ballad selection" album.