[News] 『A BALLADS 2』on sale 2021.04.08 [II]

[BlackSilence]

That photographer did the whole Twin thing for one of the Namie's magazine shots from years ago. I checked his instagram, when i saw the post from ayu, and it was on there. It's actually one of my favourite magazine shots of hers. But i only saw a couple of post featuring Namie on there....The guy seems to have a lot of beauty shots, and magazine stuff, or so it looks from what he's got on instagram, so i'm not surprised by the cover image. It's clean and polished - ready for the magazine cover. These sort of photos are a staple in Japan's music visuals as well as magazine covers.

[j.graziano]

Originally Posted by artcika

That photographer did the whole Twin thing for one of the Namie's magazine shots from years ago. I checked his instagram, when i saw the post from ayu, and it was on there. It's actually one of my favourite magazine shots of hers. But i only saw a couple of post featuring Namie on there....The guy seems to have a lot of beauty shots, and magazine stuff, or so it looks from what he's got on instagram, so i'm not surprised by the cover image. It's clean and polished - ready for the magazine cover. These sort of photos are a staple in Japan's music visuals as well as magazine covers.

^ That's the list of works he did with Namie. The beauty magazine concept is clear enough already. We just need to figure it out now if ayu is going be edgy on this even if it is a little bit but to me it is pretty clear that avex want to advertise it as "beauty" product even being a music product.

To me, personally this translates as general public and not much fans.

Ayu imagery nowadays is pretty much attached to brands and even cosmetics if we take a deeper look at her instagram.

CDs
Grotesque (2014)
TSUKI (2014)

Magazines
SCawaii! (December 2007)
SCawaii! (April 2008)
GLAMOROUS (September 2008)
GLAMOROUS (January 2010)
Sweet (January 2010)
ViVi (January 2010)
Sweet (August 2010)
Sweet (April 2011)
GLAMOROUS (May 2011)
Sweet (August 2011)
Sweet (September 2011)
SCawaii! (December 2011)
GISELe (January 2011)
Sweet (April 2012)
GISELe (July 2012)
Sweet July 2012)
mina (August 2012)
Steady (August 2012)
Jelly (September 2012)
Sweet (December 2012)
Sweet (June 2013)
InRed (July 2013)
mina (July 2013)
SCawaii! (July 2013)
Sweet (July 2013)
GISELe (August 2013)
Numéro Tokyo (August 2013)
Steady (August 2013)
with (September 2013)
Sweet (February 2014)
SCawaii! (March 2014)
InRed (July 2014)
SCawaii! (July 2014)
Steady (July 2014)
Sweet (July 2014)
GISELe (August 2014)
Otona MUSE (January 2015)
Gina (March 2015)
SCawaii! (March 2015)
Sweet (March 2015)
Gina (July 2015)
InRed (July 2015)
Steady (July 2015)
Sweet (July 2015)
Steady (July 2016)
Sweet (July 2016)
andGIRL (August 2016)
andGIRL (August 2018)
Steady (September 2018)
Sweet (October 2018)

Advertising campaigns
KOSÉ ESPRIQUE (mid-summer 2012)
KOSÉ ESPRIQUE (mid-autumn 2012)
KOSÉ OLEO D’OR (Summer 2015)

[Sky High]

OMG, covers for BALLADS 2 look amazing :O

[Diva_br]

Kazuyoshi has already worked with Ayu for single/album shoots. He was behind NEXT LEVEL (directed also Sparkle PV), A COMPLETE ~ALL SINGLES~, I think Mirrorcle World and GREEN/Days (and others) but although I like the cover, it just the same boring thing as Ohia no Ki. But she loooks so beautiful ; - ; <3

[j.graziano]

Originally Posted by Diva_br

Kazuyoshi has already worked with Ayu for single/album shoots. He was behind NEXT LEVEL (directed also Sparkle PV), A COMPLETE ~ALL SINGLES~, I think Mirrorcle World and GREEN/Days (and others) but although I like the cover, it just the same boring thing as Ohia no Ki. But she loooks so beautiful ; - ; <3

The photographer of the cover is Kazutaka Nakamura. He worked with ayu on sixxxxxx which were inserts from Número Tokyo if I'm not mistaken and a shampoo ad.

He really does beauty shots and advertising campaigns. Probably avex made some marketing research and are implementing it.

[jpopfan018]

Lovely album cover. The "twin" ayu in A BALLADS are the "past" and "present" ayu. We knew that ayu has come to terms with her past hence the "past" ayu disappeared (RAINBOW music video). A BALLADS 2 has the "present" ayu from A BALLADS so hopefully we get to learn more about the message conveyed in pray for you music video.

The live compilation dvd content is a disappointment though. But with ayu spending time in the recording studio, who knows we may have a few re-recording and mix for some songs in this compilation.

[Evan Odinson]

^I really like your take about "present Ayu" it makes sense somehow

[Sim']

Do we really need to find a concept/story/secret message to enjoy a release now?

Originally Posted by AyuCanada

I understand people wanting and expecting more from her as we used to get a new album every year and this release is boring release BUT... people are a bit responsible for their own disappointment on this release as it has been advertised since the beginning as the greatest hits with remastered tracks.

I have to agree with this ! Some are definitely expecting a bit too much from this release (just like people who expect it to sell +100k, sorry to burst the bubble but that is not happening)

I myself was very disappointed at first that it was a 2 CDs compilation instead of 1 CD, filling this compilation with quantity instead of focusing on quality, and I do understand the disappointment as I love the original A BALLADS as well, I know what she's capable of as I follow her since 2004, but the ayu that created that album in 2003 is from the past now and we have to accept it as it is.

Remember how TROUBLE was such a huge let-down back in 2018 (advertised as an album, 5 "single quality" songs over 2 years of wait) ?
And yet people are still in denial, expecting that visionary-ayu to come back 3 years later just to get disappointed again...

This girl will retire someday, let's try to move on from the disappointment and enjoy her activity while we can
(plus, there's still time for small surprises, who knows!)

[KPL]

Originally Posted by Sim'

Do we really need to find a concept/story/secret message to enjoy a release now?



I have to agree with this ! Some are definitely expecting a bit too much from this release (just like people who expect it to sell +100k, sorry to burst the bubble but that is not happening)

I myself was very disappointed at first that it was a 2 CDs compilation instead of 1 CD, filling this compilation with quantity instead of focusing on quality, and I do understand the disappointment as I love the original A BALLADS as well, I know what she's capable of as I follow her since 2004, but the ayu that created that album in 2003 is from the past now and we have to accept it as it is.

Remember how TROUBLE was such a huge let-down back in 2018 (advertised as an album, 5 "single quality" songs over 2 years of wait) ?
And yet people are still in denial, expecting that visionary-ayu to come back 3 years later just to get disappointed again...

This girl will retire someday, let's try to move on from the disappointment and enjoy her activity while we can
(plus, there's still time for small surprises, who knows!)

While this is pessimistic, I agree with this statement.

In my opinion, 2003 and A BALLADS can be considered the artistic peak for ayu. RAINBOW the song is so unique in every way, and the A Song for XX (A BALLADS Version) is out of the world -- who else has the audacity to remake the song that launched your success, into a rock version, and use that to build the crescendo of a Ballads compilation album? It was just so perfect.

I understand people's anticipation for conceptual edge given the perfection and uniqueness of the original A BALLADS - I just listened that album from start to finish and oh man it was so good. But personally I will definitely adjust my own expectations and look forward to what is left to be revealed.

[URANUS]

Originally Posted by Sim'

Do we really need to find a concept/story/secret message to enjoy a release now?


This girl will retire someday, let's try to move on from the disappointment and enjoy her activity while we can
(plus, there's still time for small surprises, who knows!)

I think she's going to be like Seiko Matsuda and MADONNA - She's never going to retire. If she doesn't completely lose her hearing, I think she would work till she's 60.

[Ayumi_lover]

Originally Posted by URANUS

I think she's going to be like Seiko Matsuda and MADONNA - She's never going to retire. If she doesn't completely lose her hearing, I think she would work till she's 60.

I hate to say it but she seems to be confidently on her way to becoming another Seiko Matsuda. Once a legend, now mostly known for ridiculously expensive compilations of songs that were collected on dozens of other compilations/albums re-releases?

[Deep snow]

Originally Posted by KPL

I’m so curious what the kimono video is about though! Can’t imagine that’s for Pray for you ... but still anything can happen

this kimono concept looks way too gorgeous for something that sounds as bland as Pray for you, but seeing as it's probably the only new song we get, it's probably true. man, this is like the M(A)DE IN JAPAN look people were expecting with FLOWER, but didn't get

Originally Posted by jpopfan018

Lovely album cover. The "twin" ayu in A BALLADS are the "past" and "present" ayu. We knew that ayu has come to terms with her past hence the "past" ayu disappeared (RAINBOW music video). A BALLADS 2 has the "present" ayu from A BALLADS so hopefully we get to learn more about the message conveyed in pray for you music video.

I thought about this, and it kind of 'makes sense'. she expressed some struggle with forgiving her past self with A BALLADS, but after 18 years she must have thought differently by now. if this cover were to express something (and I understand that not every release must have a backstory), then it could be the fact that she's not as concerned about what people think of her 'self'. I don't know. plus, there are still more covers yet to be released.

Originally Posted by Sim'

Remember how TROUBLE was such a huge let-down back in 2018 (advertised as an album, 5 "single quality" songs over 2 years of wait) ?
And yet people are still in denial, expecting that visionary-ayu to come back 3 years later just to get disappointed again...

I'm still so bitter at this! songs that conveyed her thoughts over two years—but somehow only five! and I had to scoff at "single quality" (really? æternal? The way I am???) because I doubt she even knew what it still meant because she hadn't released a proper single since 2014 at that time

[jean-baptiste]

Originally Posted by Sim'

Do we really need to find a concept/story/secret message to enjoy a release now?

This is just what I was thinking.

[!Lawi!]

Originally Posted by Sim'

Do we really need to find a concept/story/secret message to enjoy a release now?

We don’t, but on a release like this, it would have helped. I get the tracks are remastered but this is shaping up to be a glorified playlist. I think having a concept or some sort of message would have given it some oomph, especially when it presents itself as the sequel to a heavily conceptualised CD.

But then again, like the rest of your post says, it was never advertised as anything else than this! I guess I was hoping for a bit more, but at least we are getting a new song.

[BlackSilence]

That's gonna be one beautiful MV, if that's what's it for. I don't care if it's just her in that costume and a pretty background. I'll eat up anything that's traditional japanese style inspired
Aderianu is reading my mind. First thing i thought when i saw the images -those would have been perfect for the covers.

Originally Posted by Sim'

Do we really need to find a concept/story/secret message to enjoy a release now?

I have to agree with this ! Some are definitely expecting a bit too much from this release (just like people who expect it to sell +100k, sorry to burst the bubble but that is not happening)

I myself was very disappointed at first that it was a 2 CDs compilation instead of 1 CD, filling this compilation with quantity instead of focusing on quality, and I do understand the disappointment as I love the original A BALLADS as well, I know what she's capable of as I follow her since 2004, but the ayu that created that album in 2003 is from the past now and we have to accept it as it is.

Remember how TROUBLE was such a huge let-down back in 2018 (advertised as an album, 5 "single quality" songs over 2 years of wait) ?
And yet people are still in denial, expecting that visionary-ayu to come back 3 years later just to get disappointed again...

This girl will retire someday, let's try to move on from the disappointment and enjoy her activity while we can
(plus, there's still time for small surprises, who knows!)

I agree with everything you said, and no, you don't always need a concept, but for something like compilations it definitely brings in freshness to the release, cuz everything else is recycled. And i know artists get burned out over the years of doing stuff, but i still stand my ground that just because she's not the Ayu from 2004 she doesn't have the creativity in her anymore. I think there's a lot more to it than just her being different - record label, people she works with (same ones over and over, without fresh blood), money, general state of the darn world.. And probably some marketing strategies, too..
On the lighter note though, despite of all of that i think as fans we will always have that bit of helpless hope simmering inside, that's probably what makes quite a few of us come back to check on her. I know that's what drives me lol I AM NOT GIVING UP ON HER

[DonkeyKongRemix]

It's a nice cover, but it looks like she has a unibrow due to the shadow falling across her face.

It does lack a concept, though.

[minkAYuko]

Originally Posted by nalini-dahlia

It's a nice cover, but it looks like she has a unibrow due to the shadow falling across her face.

It does lack a concept, though.

Hahahaha can't unsee ! A FLINSTONES

[DonkeyKongRemix]

Originally Posted by minkAYuko

Hahahaha can't unsee ! A FLINSTONES

And THAT is the concept. Pure GOLD.

[Anna.L]

i'm curious about the video
its the only thing

[sora-kara]

Reading through all the chatter has been so interesting. I love that ayu fans are still so passionate and dedicated even in disagreements.

The cover is nice (take a look at that sleeve, we need more photos of what she's wearing!), and I love the purple overtone. Works really well with her darker hair.

After all the discussion I'd die laughing if this release turned out to be one compilation disc and one original ballad album or something crazy like that. AHAHA totally not going to happen, but it'd be a massive left hook to the fan base.