New album 'Party Queen' out 03/21 information thread [IV]

[Zeke.]

It's no secret that Ayu's voice has deteriorated. I still love her and I still look forward to her releases more than any other artist in the entire world, although I will admit I do not expect a whole lot anymore (although deep down I am always thinking there is that possibility that this album will blow everything out of the water...). It's just the reality of things now-a-days. In the past, her music was just so EPIC. Now, it seems like she is struggling to find her place. If people don't like it, let them. Don't get mad - they are only feeling frustration because they love her. I admit I have felt the frustration many o' times because I listen to my favorite material from her and it's just SO DAMN GOOD. It's heartbreaking... and very nostalgic. Just because someone isn't praising Ayu's works left and right and puking rainbows over everything she releases does not make them mean or a bad fan. Negative is just as much of an opinion as positive.

As far as Love songs, I hated MOON. I hated crossroad. And I felt disappointed with L (still absolutely loathe Virgin Road). But right before the album's release I took a roadtrip and I fell in love with Sweet Season, Last Angel and crossroad. Come release time, I still loved those tracks and I finally made it through MOON in full and have come to love that song as well! So the fact I really felt letdown by the singles for the entire year worked wonders in my final opinion of Love songs (which in my opinion is much more fun to listen to than R'n'R and NEXT LEVEL).

[pepper]

There are maybe 10 tracks in total of Ayu's discography that I love from the 1st sight and still love as the first time. I see (in my case) that songs that easily come loved by fans, they can easily turns out to be boring/irritating or just got plain... I really like these songs that are growing slowly.
There are plenty of examples of my "songs" that I really liked back then, and now I kinda skip them for many reasons. 1 LOVE and kiss 'o kill (vocals are kinda weak now for me), some of songs from I am.../RAINBOW... etc.

[TeamAyu2004]

I don't know... I jus got back from a road trip and listen to ayumi's albums I am... to Love FIVE and I have t say I think her voice has gotten better with age.
I had some people in the car the other day and they even noticed that her voice has gotten better and they aren't even avid Ayumi fans like I am...
Some people are just to picky about some stuff I guess.

[AyusakiFan]

Originally Posted by tokyoxjapanxfan

CDJapan/Neowing no longer states that the special goods are glasses and coasters.
Not that this means anything, but it could mean that the goods have changed. Or, Avex didn't want it to be announced?

I cancelled my order for the limited edition and ordered a different edition based on the information provided by CDJapan so I hope that the information was correct. Although they removed specific details about the goods from their site, it still says "Please note that bonus details were announced on Feb 22, and the shipping charge may be adjusted at the time when this item is shipped." That leads me to believe that the information was correct except that they probably were not supposed to reveal it at this time. Either way, it's best to wait until Ayu's official website states what the goods are. For the time being, I'm going to leave my current order the way it is.

[Zeke.]

It depends - I remember when I watched MY STORY tour and her live vocals were a little deeper and I LOVED THAT! I remember thinking "God it is so hot when she sings with these rougher vocals, I wish she did it more often!" and now I am longing for her higher pitched vocals. I think up until GUILTY her vocals were pretty great. MY STORY - GUILTY her vocals matured perfectly and I loved them. But around NEXT LEVEL is when they started to sound "harsh" (Curtain Call, well basically all the album tracks (singles still sounded good)). I have loved every stage of her voice except the most recent (sounds good on Love songs but FIVE I did not like the vocals, except BRILLANTE which her vocals sounded dream-like, especially during the verses!).

[pepper]

uhm, when I think of "best vocals" I dunno why, "ever free" comes to my mind.

[pimenta]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

It's no secret that Ayu's voice has deteriorated. I still love her and I still look forward to her releases more than any other artist in the entire world, although I will admit I do not expect a whole lot anymore (although deep down I am always thinking there is that possibility that this album will blow everything out of the water...). It's just the reality of things now-a-days. In the past, her music was just so EPIC. Now, it seems like she is struggling to find her place. If people don't like it, let them. Don't get mad - they are only feeling frustration because they love her. I admit I have felt the frustration many o' times because I listen to my favorite material from her and it's just SO DAMN GOOD. It's heartbreaking... and very nostalgic. Just because someone isn't praising Ayu's works left and right and puking rainbows over everything she releases does not make them mean or a bad fan. Negative is just as much of an opinion as positive.

I totally agree with you.


For me, I love her vocals in all albuns (not all performances though), but I love her vocals the most in Memorial address/MY STORY era. It was not too much high pitched, but not really deep too, it was just perfect for her <3

[TeamAyu2004]

I think her vocals were perfect for Memorial Address, but I like how they have evolved through the years...
I wouldn't ever want to go back, lol. (but bring me back the epicness of I am and Memorial Address.. some of her best work!)

[njanjayrp]

Her vocals were perfect up to (miss)understood tour. That's when her singing started falling a part for me with 2007/8 being prolly her worst. She is slowly getting better though.

[jbrat2219]

I prefer her (m)u and onward vocals than her vocals before then.

[everlastingRAINBOW]

My first and favorite concert is My Story. It was released right as I became a fan; nothing will be that tour and those vocals!

[TeamAyu2004]

^ that tour was very good!
I thought her vocals for power of music were amazing... some of the best she has had in a very long time!

[love in music]

Originally Posted by jbrat2219

I prefer her (m)u and onward vocals than her vocals before then.

me too.
her vocals really change from song to song though. they can sound really beautiful and almost perfect (MOON, crossroad, Virgin Road, beloved), then they can be really rough and deeper (count down, Last Links, Love Song, November). i actually prefer the rough, imperfect ones because they sound more emotional.

[Tom Punks]

Originally Posted by njanjayrp

Her vocals were perfect up to (miss)understood tour. That's when her singing started falling a part for me with 2007/8 being prolly her worst. She is slowly getting better though.

This.

[Aderianu]

Originally Posted by AyusakiFan

That leads me to believe that the information was correct except that they probably were not supposed to reveal it at this time.

I think so too.
Wonder how many people cancelled order after anouncment about glasses )
btw, delivery will be ultra expensive...

[toniayu]

Originally Posted by Aderianu

I think so too.
Wonder how many people cancelled order after anouncment about glasses )
btw, delivery will be ultra expensive...

not if you bought it at yesasia and paid with paypal coz they can't charge you anything more muaahaahahahaha xD

[TeamAyu2004]

^ I don't know... maybe cdjapan just forgot to take don the rest of the info?

[ilovekodaa]

Originally Posted by njanjayrp

Her vocals were perfect up to (miss)understood tour. That's when her singing started falling a part for me with 2007/8 being prolly her worst. She is slowly getting better though.

+1

[happiholic★]

I remember watching a live of Ayu singing Love song and it was horrible. Her vocals sounded so forced and harsh. As if she was straining herself.

My favorite vocals from Ayu, and I'm not even trying to be funny or troll, are on Nothing from Nothing, the album. When she's singing "woah oh woah" in Limit it sounds so pretty. Not forced, not like she's trying to sound like something she's not. Natural. It was pleasant. Its not perfect or polished, but I just love how she just sounds like she was just jamming with friends in the studio.

[Bad Wolf]

dude, the album's a concept album? faaaanfreakin'tastic. Though that adjustment from 3DVD to 2 confuses the hell out of me.