Album covers concept

[mcluva420]

My story
The key is like a key to the diary of her story

(m)u
Very girly.. I think the gasp probably represents the OMG moments in life, or lik " omg they don't understand me..blablabla"

Secret
Rebirth, a new fresh beginning.. Coming out of her cocoon.. Blosomming.. Glam. Beautiful

Guilty
Guilty of having a bad outfit! the font works

Next level
Futuristic stuff = the next level
Takin it to the higher level
She's all dressed up in stereotype futury clothes xD

[freedreamer]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

By the way... since My Story, the visuals of the tours are very tied with the visual concepts of the albums

My Story - Ayu like a doll in a place like a glamourous doll house
Tour - Ayu is a princess or something like that in every moment...

(miss)understood - Very vintage... the music, the pics, her looks on the pics
Tour - Very vintage too... remind me a lot of the 60s

Secret - Very simple, and very clean... yet, very glamurous... ayu is like a diva
Tour - It was her "cleanest" tour... It was very focused on the acting and dancing... ayu is a performace diva

Next Level - Tvs, colors, futuristic, eletronic
Tour - Screens, lights, video-game references, a lot of light effects

now that u say it, i'm very amazed by this O.O honestly...i never saw (m)u as a vintage-styled album but I know the booklet and the rather pixelated cover portrayed rawness and genuinity. These are cool observations.

GUILTY's tour...was probably more "mood" related rather than with the visual concept. but yea, i agree...it wasn't at all GUILTY's tour. GUILTY's tour felt like CDL0708.

Originally Posted by noidea

yeah, album cover thread xD

Im sure theres meaning behind all of them more(Secret, MY STORY, Next Level) and less( maybe (miss)understood) but they all do have meaning.

I think ill start with NEXT LEVEL because we just had that one in another thread.
So...what do we see on the covers?
-5 televisions of different age, from old to new
-ayu with colorful clothes and curly hair
-colors
I think the first point is by far the most important, like you said in another thread tv=mainstream, i think ayu(and the album) might be the continuation of the line old tv->newer television...->lcd television->AYU, saying that she takes entertainment/mainstream entertainment to a higher, better level, or she wants to be better than mainstream overall

Theres another thing about the TVs, if you look at her tv shedule, youll notice that her first tv appereance in 2009 was music station 27.03.2009(with rule), however, her single Rule/Sparkle was released on the 25th of February, thats very late to promote it, in the end of 2008, when ayu fell down the stairs on the 25th of december, she had to cancel her performance of Days at music station, thats almost exactly 3 months, weird amount of time, dont you think? its said that she was banned from music station(and maybe other tv shows) because she didnt apologize properly. So she might say: I dont care about television! I dont need it, i am better than television.
Well, I think i just got my answer xD I didnt notice before how good both ideas, the tv ages and her possible ban, fit together, but they both express the same to me.
the reason for the colors is simply the musical theme of the album and the lyrics i think


Well, basically what i wrote in the other thread xD

Love ya interpretation. I never saw those 5 TVs from different era before. I think thats a cool portrayal of evolution of media. and how apt that she chose to use it as the USB cover.

...

as for my own interpretations, I feel like MY STORY has a more girlish and personal concept (accompanied by the pink - which I felt was the colour of MY STORY)

i mentioned about (m)u above .. that it felt raw and genuine from the visual aspect. And the music showcases a whole lot of genres. I think the colour was Red for this album.

Secret was more toned down in the music aspect. There wasn't much variety. And yea, i agree that the visual aspect was very glamorous. Gold.

GUILTY was more dark brown for me (hehe sorry, but i like to have a certain colour for certain songs and albums). GUILTY seemed like an upgraded version of Duty. Leopard prints. Just that now, Ayu has stepped out into the open wheres in Duty, she had just only started to peek out from the cage.

NEXT LEVEL to me, is really a rainbow in music form. It's very bright (barely any dark song...except maybe Sparkle at the most...and even Sparkle has that slight magic). And for this, I'll go with all of your explanations hahha.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by freedreamer

now that u say it, i'm very amazed by this O.O honestly...i never saw (m)u as a vintage-styled album but I know the booklet and the rather pixelated cover portrayed rawness and genuinity. These are cool observations.

GUILTY's tour...was probably more "mood" related rather than with the visual concept. but yea, i agree...it wasn't at all GUILTY's tour. GUILTY's tour felt like CDL0708.



Love ya interpretation. I never saw those 5 TVs from different era before. I think thats a cool portrayal of evolution of media. and how apt that she chose to use it as the USB cover.

...

as for my own interpretations, I feel like MY STORY has a more girlish and personal concept (accompanied by the pink - which I felt was the colour of MY STORY)

i mentioned about (m)u above .. that it felt raw and genuine from the visual aspect. And the music showcases a whole lot of genres. I think the colour was Red for this album.

Secret was more toned down in the music aspect. There wasn't much variety. And yea, i agree that the visual aspect was very glamorous. Gold.

GUILTY was more dark brown for me (hehe sorry, but i like to have a certain colour for certain songs and albums). GUILTY seemed like an upgraded version of Duty. Leopard prints. Just that now, Ayu has stepped out into the open wheres in Duty, she had just only started to peek out from the cage.

NEXT LEVEL to me, is really a rainbow in music form. It's very bright (barely any dark song...except maybe Sparkle at the most...and even Sparkle has that slight magic). And for this, I'll go with all of your explanations hahha.

Just for curiosity... what r ur colors for the other albums? ^^

BTW... Tvs are very used by Ayu on her works... maybe they have a special mean to her (there are a lot of artists that likes to use something that have a special mean to them... Like Salvador Dali with lobsters... A friend of mine that knows more about art than me told me he used them to represent sex or something like that)


poker face


kanariya


ourselves


because of you


game


walking proud


marionette

I'm pretty sure it appears at Sparkle video too... So... she aways uses it on her darker videos
Just taking screencaps from videos where tvs are not used as... tvs... but more as a symbol or something

[noidea]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

Just for curiosity... what r ur colors for the other albums? ^^

BTW... Tvs are very used by Ayu on her works... maybe they have a special mean to her (there are a lot of artists that likes to use something that have a special mean to them... Like Salvador Dali with lobsters... A friend of mine that knows more about art than me told me he used them to represent sex or something like that)


poker face


kanariya


ourselves


because of you


game


walking proud


marionette

I'm pretty sure it appears at Sparkle video too... So... she aways uses it on her darker videos
Just taking screencaps from videos where tvs are not used as... tvs... but more as a symbol or something

i once made a list of pvs using tvs, i think it were almost all of her early and many later pvs, like 15+ pvs or something(she likes using sunflowers, apples and birds as well in pvs and many other things...)

[luna7996]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

BTW... Tvs are very used by Ayu on her works... maybe they have a special mean to her (there are a lot of artists that likes to use something that have a special mean to them...

So... she aways uses it on her darker videos
Just taking screencaps from videos where tvs are not used as... tvs... but more as a symbol or something

Well this made me think....hasnt Ayu herself said that her time as an actress on tv dramas was terrible? If I am not mistaken I think I have read somewhere that she said she wanted to quit but she felt like she couldnt quit tv because she neded the money to help her family and because she was sleeping in a room in her agency. I dont know...maybe I am mistaken....

But I do believe that her time in tv was a bad time for her so....maybe thats why she uses tv a lot and mostly on darker videos.

[nemesisyume]

I hadn't realized before that the SEASONS and Far away covers are like a pic of a couple but it's ripped to two pieces.

[ayumasing]

Originally Posted by luna7996

Well this made me think....hasnt Ayu herself said that her time as an actress on tv dramas was terrible? If I am not mistaken I think I have read somewhere that she said she wanted to quit but she felt like she couldnt quit tv because she neded the money to help her family and because she was sleeping in a room in her agency. I dont know...maybe I am mistaken....

But I do believe that her time in tv was a bad time for her so....maybe thats why she uses tv a lot and mostly on darker videos.

Yes, I heard that at that time it would not be the wisest choice for her, especially in her situation....
Luckily, she probably does not have to worry about that now!

[waterballoon]

Perhaps it represents the media or "eyes of another person".

[Bad Wolf]

Originally Posted by waterballoon

Perhaps it represents the media or "eyes of another person".

I agree with this and to add to it I think the television in some Ayu PVs stood for an Ayu "trapped" inside this image or a box. Either it was an image she projected to the world or it was an honest, vulnerable Ayu that was hidden away somewhere, known and seen only through an image and lights. Almost as if it was made "less human." I really like the interpretation posted earlier about how Ayu is "better" than television--the fact that she's reclining near them and basically posing on or around them sorta shows that she's like, detached herself from remaining inside them and they're accessories for HER, she's not an accessory for it.

GUILTY was more dark brown for me (hehe sorry, but i like to have a certain colour for certain songs and albums). GUILTY seemed like an upgraded version of Duty. Leopard prints. Just that now, Ayu has stepped out into the open wheres in Duty, she had just only started to peek out from the cage.

I agree with this, too. Duty!Ayu was young and innocent looking, just slipping out of the cage or peering out from it. With GUILTY it's an older Ayu posing in the sunlight or leaning against a rock, sort of like she's... broken out and she's come into this new territory.

It's a shame that GUILTY's cover and booklets didn't really follow a theme; I think a few photos really stood for something (the Together When... and untitled~for her~ photos come to mind) but it disappoints me that it doesn't mean much else, you know? Especially since GUILTY is one of my favorite Ayu albums of all time. I think the director of the photoshoot(s) really played it safe with GUILTY's theme, when they could have gone for a great sort of dark but glamorous tone with the whole shoots and covers... maybe that wouldn't be considered marketable, though?

[tokyoxjapanxfan]

i forgot how boring/bland the guilty booklet is blech >_<

but interesting descriptions
i never realized the "channel isn't in service" or whatever colors used on next level haha! but that's a great piece of info thanks for that~

[Ayumiko]

This reminds me...I think the (miss)understood cover was suppose to be something else by Leslie kee...look at the group pic...this diary entry was during the HEAVEN era...and I think ayu's whole look would fit the album. The result of this photoshoot was never surfaced...I wonder why...

Spoiler:

[Ricka]

In my opinion, by using television screens in her videos, Ayu either wants to focus on feelings such as insecurity, or being trapped by her feelings or emotions. So, when we see her within the television screens, that represents the 'prison' which often her feelings become.~

Oh, I love everyone's interpretation, guys !

Hm, about Secret. Like Ayu stated, "Instead, it could be about "me" in my daily life, or it could be about you…". In the cover she is acting like the milion-record-selling artist/diva everyone sees, but the songs reflect her trueself, reflect aspects of Ayu that only a few people know about or the "Ayu" that only she knows about and according to her, "That's what I call a secret. And in this sense, there are secrets incorporated into this album". I love all the mistery of this album.

[noidea]

Ayu uses screens(mostly tv) in 16 videos
poker face
YOU
Love -Destiny-
kanariya
Fly high
evolution
Endless sorrow(they are computer screens, but they are used to show heads)
Real me(at the end, only in dvd rip i think, a little communicator looking thing)
ourselves
Because of You
walking proud
GAME
alterna
Startin'
Marionette
Sparkle

[freedreamer]

Yea i realize she uses TVs a lot...but i think they represent..a character of herself seen thru another perspective?

and usually i dun attribute the colour to the album..but to songs...

until that Day... feels green to me
kiss o kill has that purple
SCAR feels brown
rollin' has that green feel too..LOL

and sometimes its influenced by the PV

like Born To Be... -> yellow

[zyoeru]

What about meaning to her SINGLES?

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by Furashubakku

What about meaning to her SINGLES?

I don't think that they have a meaning... most of the time they just reflect the mood/theme of the song/video

[asmAyumi1992]

You guys are totally awesome at interpreting albums, cover, songs and whatsoever.

But Don't you guys think that the all concepts are just made for fulfilling the fans wish? or like just to make a concept for not making the fans feel bored or something? or just to gain money for the "secret". I think, it's just the company's strategy for making money.

That's totally just my opinion. Don't be so sure for what I said.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by asmAyumi1992

You guys are totally awesome at interpreting albums, cover, songs and whatsoever.

But Don't you guys think that the all concepts are just made for fulfilling the fans wish? or like just to make a concept for not making the fans feel bored or something? or just to gain money for the "secret". I think, it's just the company's strategy for making money.

That's totally just my opinion. Don't be so sure for what I said.

Ayu is an artist... Her product, is "communication". When she releases a album, her lyrics, the melodies, the arrangment, the booklet, the videos, the order of tracks, the colors she used... all this is part of this "product". Ayu is not the only one who does it... Every single singer that releases album has all this on his/her products... a group of elements that together forms this package called "album".

As a pop artist, Ayu needs her products to be mainstream... So, they need to be interesting to the most people possible, but she is in the "Madonna lineage" of popstar... Knowing this, her products can be enjoyed by people who only care if she is beauty, the music is catchy, the videos are ground-breaking, her outfits trenddy... and by people who likes the way she sees the world... agree with her ideas, like the way she is "in-your-face" with things she disagree and enjoy the fact that she tries to have a meaning on what she produces...

IMO, while Ayu is the kind of person that can't release anything without putting a meaning on it (I know how is to be like that, cuz I work in the same way), what is how she is as an artist, it makes her sell for people who likes it, and yeah, it can be really well used as marketing...

And that is nothing wrong with it... People needs money in order to living on our world, and more than only "money", Ayu's sales are the way she can see how many people are still listening to what she wants to say. A doctor takes care of ill people, lawyer helps people with law issues, a teacher teaches to people, a chef cooks food, an artist produces art. And in the same way the best doctors/teachers/whatever will need to promote themselves in order to people knowing they are the best at their areas, an artist is not less as an artist when he/she uses marketing to sell his/her art, cuz this is what they do for living, and not some super-power gift they received from God to make the world nicer.

So... well... She puts meaning on what she does in order to sell, and she does it very well... better than most popstars who tries to do it. It's the marketing share she has and there are people who buys her stuff only because of this, what doesn't really mean that the result is less interesting and has less quality =)

[Raiu-Ayu]

Here are my views on each cover:

MY STORY
ayu has said that the MY STORY album is like a story about her life which she has kept very secret over the years. The cover is the scene of ayu in a bedroom. People have said that you can tell a person's personality and mind-set from their bedroom so the bedroom is a visual representation of ayu's mind and herself. It can also be a double meaning for ayu as she keeps her life private. The bedroom is also one of the most private and personal things to a person. This shows that ayu is opening herself up to her fans.

(miss)understood
I know everyone hates these covers cuz they think they are rushed and thoughtless but I disagree. The fact that they are so simple is what's so meaningful about them. I feel that the covers link in with the theme of the alterna PV. avex views ayu as a product and for many years ayu publiclu agreed with this but I think that the covers are meant to show that ayu is just a person, like anyone else. There's nothing really majorly glamorous about them, its just ayu's face. I think its supposed to show that even tho avex has her in the studio, on stage and made into this doll on a pedestal, ayu is just ayu.

Secret
I think that the colours in the cover are whats most important in the representation. It's very dark and shadowed and it can be suggested that ayu is hiding among the dark, like a physical secret. The shiny parts I think represent that the 'secret', i.e. ayu, has been found out. Also, the fact that ayu's tatoo is clearly visable can also be seen as the revealling of a secret, as no one really knew whether or not ayu had a tatoo.

GUILTY
The only real thing I can pull from the GUILTY cover is that it looks like it represents that guilt equals loneliness as ayu is in the desert by herself. ayu has done something wrong, feels guilty and so it feels to her like she is alone in the middle of nowhere. Thats all I got from it.

NEXT LEVEL
What I see on the NEXT LEVEL cover is the TVs. It shows each new level of TV and technology. This is just a visual representation of ayu moving through each level of her life/music and becoming better

[dawnss]

Originally Posted by Raiu-Ayu

Here are my views on each cover:

MY STORY
ayu has said that the MY STORY album is like a story about her life which she has kept very secret over the years. The cover is the scene of ayu in a bedroom. People have said that you can tell a person's personality and mind-set from their bedroom so the bedroom is a visual representation of ayu's mind and herself. It can also be a double meaning for ayu as she keeps her life private. The bedroom is also one of the most private and personal things to a person. This shows that ayu is opening herself up to her fans.

(miss)understood
I know everyone hates these covers cuz they think they are rushed and thoughtless but I disagree. The fact that they are so simple is what's so meaningful about them. I feel that the covers link in with the theme of the alterna PV. avex views ayu as a product and for many years ayu publiclu agreed with this but I think that the covers are meant to show that ayu is just a person, like anyone else. There's nothing really majorly glamorous about them, its just ayu's face. I think its supposed to show that even tho avex has her in the studio, on stage and made into this doll on a pedestal, ayu is just ayu.

Secret
I think that the colours in the cover are whats most important in the representation. It's very dark and shadowed and it can be suggested that ayu is hiding among the dark, like a physical secret. The shiny parts I think represent that the 'secret', i.e. ayu, has been found out. Also, the fact that ayu's tatoo is clearly visable can also be seen as the revealling of a secret, as no one really knew whether or not ayu had a tatoo.

GUILTY
The only real thing I can pull from the GUILTY cover is that it looks like it represents that guilt equals loneliness as ayu is in the desert by herself. ayu has done something wrong, feels guilty and so it feels to her like she is alone in the middle of nowhere. Thats all I got from it.

NEXT LEVEL
What I see on the NEXT LEVEL cover is the TVs. It shows each new level of TV and technology. This is just a visual representation of ayu moving through each level of her life/music and becoming better

Just wanted to add to your interperation of the guilty album cover, the covers of Duty and Guilty are both somewhat animal like. Duty has that feeling because we see a young girl (think of the cute demoore pose) whose album title is Duty which is weird because children should not be placed in situations where they have to believe that it is there duty to behavior in a specific manner. Or even look at the track Duty we get this feeling that Ayu is trying to reach out to people yet she herself is in her own world which is similiar to the pv of surreal (there is an idea of someone realising that there is a world outside of themselves like how we notice in YOU when after spending so long in an area confined by herself Ayu walks out and realizes that there is something bigger then herself). To expand on the child like qualites of the pose on Duty it makes sense because we as fans finally get this feeling that Ayu has truly began to think of us in her lyrics hell, how many artists dedicate an entire song and title to their audience? So the title of the album and the pose are at odds with one another because they show two different sides of Ayu one who is considered childish, selfish, and bratty by the media, some fans, and the over all public at the time.
Now the cover of Guilty is interesting because if you strip down that haute coutre Dior gown you realize that there is an animal within this artist (think of walking proud) because once again Ayu is very willing to admit that she has done something wrong. For instance Ayu is in the desert which should make some one wonder why she would be in the hot blinding sunlight (metaphor for truth) if she truly is guilty. However she is appearing to come out of a cave, which is dark, and she is coming into the light remember that tiger like ( oh I don't know what it was so please forgive me) creature from the surreal pv that was hidden in the forest? And by her coming into the light with her hand covering her eyes which implies that she really is gulity and is ashamed of her guilt and actions, so depending on how you take it you could say that she has matured because she has admitted her guilt and she is coming into the light, which is vastly different from the dark cover of Duty. Which would explain why the album is so dark, which is somewhat compared to Duty because both albums have this heavy mood and lyrics that are somewhat stinging (like vogue and talkin 2 myself or fated). Thats all that I can pull so far so please forgive me.