Rock'n'Roll Circus ~(Diss)ected~ & "never having existed" Disscusion

[Zeke.]

DISCLAIMER: I am not meaning to troll, to spew bile onto the Rock'n'Roll Circus album, or to anger anyone in any way. I am not trying to be harsh, I am just genuinely discussing my opinions of the songs and parts I have chosen as "the best" parts of R'n'R Circus.

So, Rock'n'Roll Circus is here. Finally. Most everyone seems to be enjoying it. Hell, some are saying it's her best album EVER (including Ayu herself). But... I have to admit after giving it numerous listening attempts, that I just can't get into it... and here is the reason why:Almost every song has REALLY GOOD and AMAZING parts... but it does not carry through the entire song/

I made a youtube video with clips of all the parts from the songs that I really like:



First of all...

Interludes: Honestly, my favorite is THE introduction. I love the melody and composition of the track. But the synths used could have had more "power" and "edge" to them. It's like a midi-trumpet. But I like it.

The rest don't interest me too much, where as NL's interludes are really some of the very very few interludes I love. I would listen to NL's interludes all the time, probably more than the album tracks or just as much.

Microphone and Last Links are not included because I really don't have many, if any problems with them. I love those two.
meaning of Love is not included because I didn't like any parts of that song. It kind of reminded me of Secret which I never got into either. People were saying "another Days" and I knew that was impossible because I loved Days (it has a simple but beautifully executed melody and amazing production - everything in that song to me worked perfectly). I think what people meant was that the emotion is kinda like the emotion in Days in parts, but that's the only similarity I see.

So here we go:

count down:

Atashi wa warau wake de mo naku wake de mo nai
Tada zetsubou nanka haruka ni toorisugita kara
Mu ni natte shimatta dake na no nannimo kanji nai no

I don't laugh nor cry
I experienced despair so much in the past
That I became empty, I feel nothing

So I love the part where I started the clip. The build up right before the chorus is so perfect. Right how "Atashi wa~" starts and you can really feel the emotion coming from her while singing this song.

Then it turns into this kind of march build-up during "Tada zetsubou nanka haruka..." that really sent me the message she was singing at that part in the song. I had read that count down was about her "left side" and breezed over the lyrics translation before listening to the song for the first time. The emotion during that part of the song really hit me, and that's why I thought I'd be in love with this song - because of how easily the message was portrayed without me even understanding/trying to translate her words.

Anata wa nan no mayoi mo naku iikitta wa
Ittai are ga nani o sashita kotoba datta ka nante
Sonna koto wa daiji ja nai no motto hoka ni aru no

You said so with no hesitation
It's not important what on earth it meant
There is something more important

Again, these emotions and this part of the song really goes well with the way she is choosing to sing during this piece of the build-up.

The deal-breaker: I can't really fully get into the chorus, and I find it drags onward a bit. The whole time I'm thinking, "I wonder when she'll sing like that part again from before?" - if a songs chorus doesn't grab me and seems too "forced" - then it turns me off immediately. I had this problem with You Were... as well - I felt the chorus was too forced and loud but the emotion/power of the chorus wasn't that pleasing?

Don't look back:

Now upon hearing the clip for the first time in the Panasonic Ad, I hated it. I was really dreading this song and not expecting it to be my style on the album, and I really didn't care that much. I thought "surely that's just one track so far that I don't like. There should be a good chunk of other great songs I'm bound to love on the album." That being said...

The introduction where I started the clip has great use of beats and sounds. The "Don't look back" parts are really nice, and the bridge is amazing! Followed by great use of the "bollywood" beats (that I thought would drag the song down). The outro again I really enjoyed.

The deal-breaker:

My low expectations in regards to this song worked in it's benefit. I was pleasantly surprised by everything but the chorus. That being said, I couldn't get into it 100% but I get in to about 70-80% and it turned out to be one of the 3 album tracks I actually consider "liking."

Lady Dynamite:

I was expecting: Something clubby, maybe a little cutsie but not too much (like a Ladies Night cutsie)... small chance of something wicked like Sparkle but most likely a fun, club song with some good techno/dance-pop beats

The intro is pretty good, but the rest just feels like "noise" - to me it doesn't feel like "music". However, the parts in the clip I posted are absolutely amazing! I get excited at those very parts and feel like "Yeah! This is an Ayumi Hamasaki song~" - it's got that attitude many of my favorite songs by her have. Seriously, if I heard just these clips before hearing any other part of the song, I would have gotten so excited that it'd be one of those tracks upon hearing the preview that I just can't stay away from and continue to repeat it, despite my better judgement of trying to hold out for the full song! This exact part is probably the highlight of the whole album for me.

The deal-breaker: I feel like that attitude throughout the rest of the song is a little forced yet again. I can't fully get into the production of the climax...? It's like, you can tell it's the chorus by the way it sounds but you it doesn't feel quite right... Like, I'm not fully drawn in.

Sexy little things:

I was expecting: Attitude of 1 LOVE's verses and style (kinda burlesque vocals I'd describe them as), power of my name's WOMEN, with a powdered dash of Ladies Night electro-funky

LOVE the intro clip I used. Really would have drawn me in and got me pumped for the song had I not already caved and listened to the ringtone preview on AHS twice. But I had an idea what the chorus sounded like so I didn't get excited at all. Love the vocals and melodies of the singing clips I included. The instrumentals I chose are quite nice for a bridge but there's too many of them. Love the chipmunk voice "1,2,3,4~" and the ending is nice and fits the "Circus".

The deal-breaker: What Sexy little things suffered from me was the facts:

1) It's completely not what I was expecting at all...
2) Right idea, wrong execution

It could have worked out really well - the playfulness is there, but it feels scattered to me. With a lot of instrumental bridges that, separately are pleasing, but all thrown into this song kinda drag them out. One would have been fine and the rest left out. I am not a fan of the chorus at all, as the repeating scale is too repetitive for me (and I don't mind repetitive music much). It's kind of like another "oh, this is the chorus?" - really just annoys me as a song and melody.

Singles:
Sunrise - I loved. Always have.
Sunset - Prefered Sunrise so this kinda seemed like a bore to me. Nice, but I prefer Sunrise and wouldn't mind if this song didn't exist.
You Were... - Disappointed (and my hopes weren't too high considering I loved Days so much that I didn't believe she'd make a better winter ballad that was really "wintery"). The verses are nice and I love the ending~ That part does not seem forced using that simple melody there and not forcing it so much.
BALLAD: Kinda grew to like this one more than I though. I find myself listening to it. Like "in a mood for BALLAD". I've grown to appreciate it for what it is and absolutely love the part after the instrumental bridge, during the part where the music cuts down leading up to and including "anata no youni..." At first listen I thought it was kinda boring, but it works for the song better than most. Like it a lot now.
RED LINE: Love love love! An amazing "concert ender" feel to it with the feel of "hope" and "emotion" and "being connected to Ayu" and her love to the fans.

Verdict: Having not being able to "fully" get into many of the songs, this album isn't my favorite... and actually I would put it at the bottom of my list. Almost every song has it's highlights, but how I judge is by... what songs having heard now, would you not mind non-existing. Say if you had heard these songs as something that Ayu could have released, but never did - what songs would you think "OMG I want that song to exist" and what songs would you not find feeling sad that you missed out on? I listened to it on the walk home from work tonight and found myself thinking "Ok hurry up with this song so I can try another one" and then "Hurry up with listening to R'n'R Circus so I don't have to listen to it anymore" - like I never felt that way about Ayu ever - that "why am I listening to this?" question at the center of my core. Like I was trying to feel it but couldn't "feel" it.

My answer regarding this album: Microphone, Last Links. Those would be the two that'd stick in my mind as great songs that never came into existence. The rest wouldn't bother me had she not made them. Singles I would say BALLAD (now), Sunrise, and RED LINE.

Anyone have any songs they'd like to share on which they:

1) Wouldn't mind not existing
2) Which songs you would just cry if you heard clips of them or heard the full thing one time but could never listen to them again (as they don't really exist or say they were all trashed productions that they left off albums and singles)...?
3) (Diss)ected discussion of any other works

[waterballoon]

1) I wouldn't mind if Sunset, THE introduction, meaning of Love don't exist.

2) Sunset for sure lol... I always skip that when I run through the album and meaning of Love too... I feel like I need to be in a mood to listen to that. And the interludes aren't something I would listen over and over again too... they aren't like tasking, taskinst, Catcher In The Light, Disco-munication... just not really my taste. Especially THE introduction, I don't like that at all lol.

3)

THE introduction - I like it when the strings (?) and snare drums come in.

Microphone - I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it when the bridge starts and the electric guitar like jams a last few notes... so orgasmic. Totally topped the Mirrorcle World quiet bridge which I already loved a lot.

count down - Like you, I love the verse just before the chorus, as well as the intro. The intro was just flawlessly done.

Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ - I hate every second of this song though her ad-libbing just before the last chorus catches me sometimes.

BALLAD - Every single time the chorus starts with the drum and timpani roll... I just gets goosebumps. The bridge is ear candy too!

Last Links - Definitely the intro with the acoustic guitar and when the cello kicks in it's even more perfect... I like the song as a whole though.

montage - Everything sounds good so nothing really stands out for me to like in particular actually...

Don't look back - Everything is perfect. The verses sound mysterious, the intro is gorgeous, the bridge is emotional, the last few lines are so raw too. <3

Jump! - I like the first few seconds a lot... the random beats reminds me of jumping lol.

Lady Dynamite - Like you again, I LOVE LOVE the verse just before the choruses and the verse before she starts her repeated-melody verse if you get what I mean... the chorus rocks too and my FAVORITE part has to be when the electric guitar's just playing the chorus' melody... omg <3

Sexy little things - the whole song was perfect imo... everything was that good, I love it so much!

Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ - the whole song works pretty well, but nothing in particular stands out to me.

meaning of Love - same as Sunrise.

You were... - definitely the bridge. The electric guitar is orgasmic, and when she starts softly with the electric guitars literally kicking in... oh my God.

RED LINE ~for TA~ - same as Sunrise and meaning of Love. Even the acapella didn't really stand out to me though it was a nice touch...

[freedreamer]

Lol while i appreciate the idea of the thread...Im not gonna put up mine or even think about it beacuse I think i'll end up feeling that I dont like the song...
though I have to say ur edit of SLT sounds really cool

[gallowsCalibrator]

I would burst into tears if any song wasn't on the album~ I'm listening to it as I type this and I feel it's a great album and if even a song like Jump! (which I don't really care for) wasn't on it, I would be sad~

[emi♡]

I'll just say this...There isn't really a song I can't imagine on the album, because I have no idea what kind of songs she'd use to replace a never existed song...

or...she'd probably just have a song that was scarily similar to the never existed song...because imo, each song was something she wanted...and like most of her albums, they are this big conglomerate of different types of songs and sounds...so I'm sure, that even if a particular one of these songs had never existed...we'd have a song just like it anyways lol

[Tom Punks]

Honestly, there aren't any full songs on this album that really make me think "I would be so sad if this song didn't exist." I think it's because every song sounds like something she's done (better?) before. Microphone is like every other rock song she's done, count down is like a very lackluster version of her other mid-tempo rock tracks, Don't look back is like a darker version of vogue, Sexy little things and Sunrise are anything on NEXT LEVEL, You were... is a typical winter ballad, RED LINE ~for TA~ was done with MY ALL (though I DO like RED LINE better), BALLAD is not her first oriental ballad and not her most exciting one either. I'm not trying to say that her works now are "unoriginal" and that I want her to do something new and exciting. I don't mind if her works sound like her previous works, as long as they're nearly as good as them. I think these songs just fall flat when you compare them to their earlier counterparts.

My favorite song on the album, Last Links, still has really poor production imo. Kind of sad considering it's my favorite and all. :| Though if I have to pick a song to answer the 2nd question, "Which songs you would just cry if you heard clips of them or heard the full thing one time but could never listen to them again", it would be Last Links. I would be pretty sad if I weren't able to hear the full song after the amazing preview it had. (I've experienced this before with my favorite band too. There was a 1:40ish preview of the most amazing song EVER, but then the single release was canceled due to a scandal and now I'll never hear the song in full. It does make me really sad. )

Anyways, this is just my opinion, so I'm sorry if it offends certain people who can't handle any negative criticism of Ayu's works.

[gothicayu]

Originally Posted by Tom Punks

Honestly, there aren't any full songs on this album that really make me think "I would be so sad if this song didn't exist." I think it's because every song sounds like something she's done (better?) before. Microphone is like every other rock song she's done, count down is like a very lackluster version of her other mid-tempo rock tracks, Don't look back is like a darker version of vogue, Sexy little things and Sunrise are anything on NEXT LEVEL, You were... is a typical winter ballad, RED LINE ~for TA~ was done with MY ALL (though I DO like RED LINE better), BALLAD is not her first oriental ballad and not her most exciting one either. I'm not trying to say that her works now are "unoriginal" and that I want her to do something new and exciting. I don't mind if her works sound like her previous works, as long as they're nearly as good as them. I think these songs just fall flat when you compare them to their earlier counterparts.

Anyways, this is just my opinion, so I'm sorry if it offends certain people who can't handle any negative criticism of Ayu's works.

i felt the same way and honestly i coudlnt get through this album ....i tried really hard to listen to it many times and i dont like a single song on it .i love the cover,love the clothes she is wearing, her hair looks great , the london photobook is gorgeous but yeah thats pretty much all i like about it .
i was really exited about her coming with a new album but after listening to it i was really dissapointed. I LOVE her earlier work ( i know a lot of "new" fans hate a song for xx " personally i love it because i discovered ayu from her first single and saw her evolution over the year )

i understand in 10 years she can't keep repeating herself , she evolve her voice evolve and everything .
ayu is beautiful ( + always look stunning with great clothes in her pvs) and talented with a wonderfull voice but i feel like the quality of her album and music went down since guilty ( too much of a shock and a change i guess ?)
hoesntly she needs to drop down those oriental songs because it doesnt suit her not to mention she done XXXXXXXXXX ballads ....

like you i felt like some part of the album was nothing "original " and sexy little thing circus sounds was way to weird ....
i thought next level was an experimentation album to her new style but it feels like she is still working and searching for it and this album is still an experimentation ....

an other thing i dont like is to have XXXX number of intro and interlude while listening to an album ( but i know those are made for the live , they are great interludes for concert and i would prefer them to keep those interlude as a surprise forthe concert than through them on an album to make it seems longer or with more tracks )

and yes i feel the same way everything has been done better before .

and by the way i wouldnt call your review or mine negative criticism but constructive opinions

everybody feels the music differently thats how we both felt after listening to it . thats all ( we are all ayu fans here just in different ways , some are more extreme than others )

a small note about avex: their commercial technique to push the sales improved over the years , the gifts are getting better and better , and also more original like the usb and the tea cup ( its a shame the prices are going up to the roof with those gifts and original ideas)

[primavera♥]

wow really, the only sogns i wouldnt mind existing are Sunset, meaning of Love, and i think thats all. . .but even still i like having sunset existing cuz its perfect for certain situations. thats ht thing with ayu songs. like for example, i adore independent but im not listening ot it when its cold out in winter. but sunny day, at a beach. hell yeah. all these songs i love for different reasons. and when im feeling a specific mood i look at this "sort of okay song from ayu" and love it when im in that mood. meh. thats how i work *shrugs*

i loved all of lady dynamite cuz its the kind of song that reminds me of my fav oshare-kei bands but done ayu style. so now i can have that from ayu.

sexy little things is very different and soooo lovely the overall arrangement. its not all epic/overpowering but cool and sarcastic. classy
the part u like of countdown is also my favorite. and i think with just a little more power in the chorus wouldve been perfect. it reminds me of GUILTY a lot. overall its one of my fav tracks
i have no complaints for microphone, dont look back, sunrise, you were, ballad, last links, etc

[hsienko]

Originally Posted by StrawbariSnowAyumi

wow really, the only sogns i wouldnt mind existing are Sunset, meaning of Love, and i think thats all. . .but even still i like having sunset existing cuz its perfect for certain situations.

sexy little things is very different and soooo lovely the overall arrangement. its not all epic/overpowering but cool and sarcastic. classy
the part u like of countdown is also my favorite. and i think with just a little more power in the chorus wouldve been perfect. it reminds me of GUILTY a lot. overall its one of my fav tracks
i have no complaints for microphone, dont look back, sunrise, you were, ballad, last links, etc

+1

The only song I didn't much care for was meaning of Love

meaning of Love is not included because I didn't like any parts of that song. It kind of reminded me of Secret which I never got into either. People were saying "another Days" and I knew that was impossible because I loved Days (it has a simple but beautifully executed melody and amazing production - everything in that song to me worked perfectly).

Yeah I agree everyone was saying it was like Days and when I heard it I was like 'are we listening to the same album because this is nothing like Days its more like Close to you'

Attitude of 1 LOVE's verses and style (kinda burlesque vocals I'd describe them as), power of my name's WOMEN, with a powdered dash of Ladies Night electro-funky

I think what happen was before we heard it, they were hyping it as another 'my name's WOMEN' or Real me. If anything its more like HONEY with Real me's lyrical theme.

My only complaint is that I felt the album was missing a song or two, specificly before or after meaning of Love (probably where MOON was supposed to go). Which was kinda my complain with both NEXT LEVEL and GUILTY. NEXT LEVEL needed like 2 more ballads (I don't really consider GREEN a ballad ) and GUILTY needed less interludes and more full body songs.

The album is no MY STORY or I am... but I think she had a kind of a rise and decline cycle with her music. MY STORY was awesome; (miss)understood was great!; Secret was lovely; but GUILTY was let a down and NEXT LEVEL was a disappointment. Its like we have to have bad releases before she can build herself up to make something brilliant like I am... again. And Rock 'n' Roll circus is like Duty, its not 'bad' but its not the 'best thing ever' it falls flat in the middle. So maybe the next album or 2 will be another epic masterpiece we've been waiting for since (miss)understood.

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by StrawbariSnowAyumi

thats ht thing with ayu songs. like for example, i adore independent but im not listening ot it when its cold out in winter. but sunny day, at a beach. hell yeah.

I always listen to music depending on my mood/weather. Like in the Spring I listen to SEASONS, when it rains it's rainy day or Ai's Natsu Sora. Summer, summer singles/songs. I know what you mean!

Originally Posted by emiko

I'll just say this...There isn't really a song I can't imagine on the album, because I have no idea what kind of songs she'd use to replace a never existed song...

or...she'd probably just have a song that was scarily similar to the never existed song...because imo, each song was something she wanted...and like most of her albums, they are this big conglomerate of different types of songs and sounds...so I'm sure, that even if a particular one of these songs had never existed...we'd have a song just like it anyways lol

Well what I'm saying is, what if by chance she was not given those demos? Or had she not picked those demos? Or had the demos never been created at all. It's like, in another universe, what if this song didn't exist, but you heard clips of songs that could have existed (from another universe).

[tokyoxjapanxfan]

i appreciate hearing your honesty

and i completely agree with you on the interludes. Though I prefer Jump! over THE introduction, I think generally speaking the interludes are really bad. i can't stand montage... it's pointless to me.


Of the rest of the album, Sunset is the one I've listened to the least. I think there's a time and place to listen to that song--it's not a "whenever, wherever" song, you know? Sometimes I like it, but other times it just draaaaags on.

Generally speaking though, I like the new album tracks. Actually, though it's getting a lot of hate from people, I really like "meaning of love" :-\ I think it reminds me of the old Ayu in some ways, it's really innocent sounding and I like that.

In fact, meaning of love is probably one of my favorite songs on the album. Given the fact that I'm not a huge fan of ayu's "rock" songs in general, I guess it makes sense.

If I could change something about the album, I'd like there to be more poppy happy songs.

but yeah, there's my 2 cents

[truehappiness]

Random: txjxf, you're listening to ELT's CHANGE!

About Sunset, I completely agree. Sometimes it drags on and on because it's so LONG. But sometimes I just relax and enjoy how peaceful sounding it is, haha. It's weird. It's one of those Ayu tracks that has a time and a place (see EnergizE / HONEY, I suppose) and can't be played at any time like say fairyland or Microphone. (for me anyway)

meaning of Love is at the top of my "favorite album tracks" list tied with Last Links. Something about them just feels so organic and raw, haha.

I'm trying to think of a song I'd take out of the album, but then there'd be a giant hole in the album! GAH. I guess if I HAD to, Lady Dynamite would be the track. That PV is just... too scarring.

[chloeM]

this album would rock if Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~, Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ and meaning of Love weren't in it~

[freedreamer]

^then people would complain it being super heavy? those songs are really just there to tone down the whole atmosphere. and u can always skip them...it'll still be Better in that case

[emi♡]

Originally Posted by all.night.raver

I always listen to music depending on my mood/weather. Like in the Spring I listen to SEASONS, when it rains it's rainy day or Ai's Natsu Sora. Summer, summer singles/songs. I know what you mean!

Well what I'm saying is, what if by chance she was not given those demos? Or had she not picked those demos? Or had the demos never been created at all. It's like, in another universe, what if this song didn't exist, but you heard clips of songs that could have existed (from another universe).

lol I understand the idea, and it's fun to think about...it's just my belief, that, seeing the...way she puts together albums, I think that even if she had heard completely different demos...she would have found a way to make them sound like the songs we have lol

and if not sound the same, then at least have the same feel.

But continue to explore the notion lol

[Didz-19]

Hahaha..you guys expecting too much from Ayu. Most people don't like the song, "Don't look back", from the Panasonic CM, but when the full song/pv came out, everybody changed their mind. Well, I guess it's just your opinion about the album..

[CHE.R.RY]

Well, I kind of have to agree that it would be very odd if a single song was removed from RnRC, but if I really had to choose what could be done away with, then I'd go for meaning of Love.