New single「Summer Again」(1.7.22)

[Toniayu123]

^LOL My bad engrish. I didn’t know how to put it in English, but I guess it made sense.

[ayu_fantasy]

Ayu can’t sing And dance well to be very honest…. But really amaze how her X factors makes her a huge sensation in Asia back in the early 2000s

[summerain]

How I missed the delusional comments of this forum. People saying her dancers don't know how to dance... Do you even know what are you talking about? lol

[brener]

Originally Posted by summerain

People saying her dancers don't know how to dance... Do you even know what are you talking about? lol

I was thinking about it when driving home last night....

[BlackSilence]

If she had no sense of rhythm she wouldn't be able to sing. You don't just need the tone to hit the notes, you need to feel the rhythm. She may not be a great dancer, but she certainly can move TO THE BEAT.
Her dancers are fine... also dancing on the sand isn't the easiest thing to do...O_O

BTW, i just rewatched the video... how the fluff did i miss all those blue outfit shots when i was watching the first time i have no idea. I literally though that her standing with the dancers in the dark was the ONLY bit we got LOL

[AyuCanada]

I had a realisation taking my shower today... i knew that song sounded familiar and i finally found what it reminded me : Cher ''Woman's World''

: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjPWL-23w-w

[minkAYuko]

Yes her dancers can dance but the 1yen routine is so simplified that even ayu can't follow it! and you could say "but this is a dance song she has to have dancers" well, that's no excuse, she has dancers for every single damn pv she has since forever. She should change her name to Ayumi Hamasaki & friends it would better sense, since she's like EXILE but with one singer.

The PV had so many missed opportunities that beautiful scene coming out of the water (even with the dancers) but the spotlight is NEVER on her unless is a close up. I seriously thought they were going to have her against the sun, coming out like a mermaid but no, you pay more attention to the dancers with those horns and they all look the same with no faces just shapes.

The Black hair lady was another missed, the cave another one, not to mention the dance routine... And all that jewelry, was she hiding something? she's so petite she was drowning with all those chains on her neck.

anyway...

Originally Posted by AyuCanada

I had a realisation taking my shower today... i knew that song sounded familiar and i finally found what it reminded me : Cher ''Woman's World''

: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjPWL-23w-w

it is a copy woman's world!...

[Katsuyuki012]

Originally Posted by minkAYuko

...

it is a copy woman's world!...

It absolutely isn't. The beats in the verses definitely have a similar progression pattern but they're not the same. Plus, Ayu's turns into a longer repeat pattern where it goes lower and then higher again at the end (which Cher's doesn't have).

Such similarities are bound to happen within the genre but beats aside, the songs are very different. Just compare the bridge in both songs or the way the pre-chorus is sung (Cher's is full of power and much longer, for example).

[alternarist]

I really love this song as it sounds cheerful! It is a very successful song for me. Catchy tune for chorus, simple lyrics, easy to sing along. It brightened up my day.

As for the PV, I wonder what the dancers' costumes symbolise. Horns? Choreography wise slightly basic for me. Apart from nice costumes and scenery, nothing super fantastic. I have played this song hundreds of times already haha

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by alternarist

As for the PV, I wonder what the dancers' costumes symbolise. Horns?

Someone mentioned the fact that the song is about being freed from isolation, or rather, surviving despite it (ala COVID). In the video, Ayu and her troupe look to be a lost island tribe—a lost island tribe who not only survived, but thrived (and were strengthened) as a result of isolation.

It’s a really great analogy.

[alternarist]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

Someone mentioned the fact that the song is about being freed from isolation, or rather, surviving despite it (ala COVID). In the video, Ayu and her troupe look to be a lost island tribe—a lost island tribe who not only survived, but thrived (and were strengthened) as a result of isolation.

It’s a really great analogy.

oh interesting perspective! Thank you for sharing..

[SURREAL__RAINBOW]

I think the pv is great! It's quintessential ayu

It's doing pretty well, 152,683 views atm


I just miss 2004-2006 soooo much! I would've loved to get this single in physical form, and having nonfiction as part of it too (STEP you/is this LOVE? style)

But yeah, so happy with all of her new music/videos since 2020. I'm really looking forward to the album!!! I hope it's as strong as NEXT LEVEL or RnR Circus

[yamadashun]

I feel the PV makes the song a little better (sorry I just can't love the lyrics) though like many have said, there're many potentials that could have been executed in a better way, eg. choreograph, video editing, colour toning, the black-haired ayu style.

[Chris85]

I rewatched the video and still liked it as much as I did the first time. I am surprised it isn't met positively here. I don't need a crazy dance routine, what was shown was sufficient and beautifully shot. Although she was portraying a diva as always, it worked and didn't get old somehow.

[M.A.X.]

I watched the MV and I think it's a safe video. Nothing special to me unless beautiful shot from the beach and ayu (Who looks gorgeous as always) I wanted to see more black ayu but I'm still hoping for an other ''version" lol Did you notice her team didn't add the video in her music video playlist? And about the song, I love it. Verses are gorgeous, love the beat and this chorus is so addictive. This is the ayu who I fall in love 20 years ago.

[Aderianu]

I listened to this song few more times and I like it even less. Can't force myself to watch the video. The whole thing is huge disappointment and I prefer to think it never existed

[Chris85]

Originally Posted by Aderianu

I listened to this song few more times and I like it even less. Can't force myself to watch the video. The whole thing is huge disappointment and I prefer to think it never existed

The song was playing in my head on the way home just now. I guess it's a good sign. Definitely not the worst song Ayu has put out. Maybe the video will make the song better for you?

Originally Posted by 280301

I understand her desire to want to present oneself as an iconic diva, but her overuse of hand movements and staring intently at the camera is coming across too inorganically for me.

You know, watching the video, Mirrorcle World PV came to mind. She's been doing this act for so many years, I am used to it.

[BlackSilence]

^it has catchy parts i guess, but justs because it's catchy doesn't mean it has a staying power. I can't remember any of it except for the intro flute thing lol and i've listened to it for a few times now. Also i always find it weird when people say the video will make it better, but like, i'm not gonna listen to the song on a daily basis with the video playing along while i'm watching it. It may work with the song but it won't make the song sound different. And yes, her overreactions and theatrical gestures have been there since i don't know how long. It works with some songs though.

Originally Posted by Aderianu

I listened to this song few more times and I like it even less. Can't force myself to watch the video. The whole thing is huge disappointment and I prefer to think it never existed

I can feel ya~ I just hope that the album won't be THIS. The video isn't horrible. It's pretty visually. But yeah i can't wait for something else to come out, i just hope it won't all be what this was. I wasn't a fan of Nonfiction either, but i'd take it instead of this one anytime.

[Chris85]

Originally Posted by BlackSilence

Also i always find it weird when people say the video will make it better, but like, i'm not gonna listen to the song on a daily basis with the video playing along while i'm watching it. It may work with the song but it won't make the song sound different.

I was talking more about overall package impression. Like if you listen to a podcast it's one thing, but if you can also see people talking it makes it even better theoretically. But anyway, I personally liked the song better thanks to this good music video. It's like the video gave colours to the song and now I can enjoy the song more separately from the video.

[SpiceSquad!]

surprisingly it's a grower. not a fan of the song and the video for the first time. but after hearing it 4x, it is a bop. the layers of the sound make it catchy.