ayumi hamasaki COUNTDOWN LIVE 2021-2022 A ～23rd Monster～

[thinkingoutloud89]

Originally Posted by holy_arrow

I believe that she tried her best and we can't even expect her more because of her age, health condition.
BTW, I really enjoy her CDL, her vocal is touching in the ballads.

Nobody said it is something she should feel bad about or something like „how can she expect people to pay for this“. But on the other hand, lowering expectations and saying stuff like „it was not as bad as I thought it would be“ isn‘t exactly good either.

I still stand by my point that I liked the show, but disliked most of her singing (depend on you, secret) comes to mind. I still kept watching, but I would never say „it was such an incredible and enjoyable experience.“
Yes, she is still going despite of her condition, which is nice, but her singing just isn’t good anymore.

Edit: I also don’t want a show to be edited to death to be enjoyable.

[Chris85]

Originally Posted by thinkingoutloud89

her singing just isn’t good anymore.

It hasn't been good since like late 2007 and even before that it was hit or miss. She's a bad and inconsistent live vocalist, singing in unnatural way and often out of her range, who's able to make decent prerecorded TV performances, I'll give her that. Sorry, not sorry. I mean if the first question you ask about her shows how the vocals were it means the person isn't known for good ones in the first place. Fortunately for her fans seem to be very forgiving and not demanding when it comes to her singing.

[280301]

Originally Posted by Chris85

It hasn't been good since like late 2007 and even before that it was hit or miss. She's a bad and inconsistent live vocalist, singing in unnatural way and often out of her range, who's able to make decent prerecorded TV performances, I'll give her that.

I haven't watched the CDL yet, but I wanted to throw in my two cents about her vocals. As Chris85 comments above, I too think that her vocals have been hit or miss throughout her career. I remember becoming a fan around late 2006/2007, and being shocked at the difference between the vocals of studio versions of GUILTY vs. how she sang those songs live (to be fair, there are a few tracks on GUILTY that aren't "easy" to sing either). However, I think why this shocked me so significantly also was due to having watched live performances from late 2002 to early 2006, where her vocals were far, far better - it was clear that her loss of hearing had had a substantial impact on her ability to sing.

Now it's 2022, and I think it's fair to say that Ayu has now been touring for nearly two decades consistently. Considering the impact that this has had on her voice (alongside aging, as well as the harmful initial 90s jpop vocal approach that she would only adjust some years into her career, and having previously performed while being genuinely sick - 2002-03 CDL is one instance, if I remember correctly), and the further injury to her hearing that she has endured, I think that it's fair to say that her current vocal ability is likely the best that she can provide if she continues to tour. What she really needs is a break away from touring, perhaps music altogether for a while so she can rest her voice. Even then, I think that without some kind of hearing-based medical miracle and proper vocal rehabilitation, this is Ayu's voice now. I would say I think that this is "okay," but I really wish Ayu would take care of herself better! I understand her desire to keep touring as long as she can given the circumstances with her hearing, though.

[thinkingoutloud89]

Originally Posted by Chris85

It hasn't been good since like late 2007 and even before that it was hit or miss. She's a bad and inconsistent live vocalist, singing in unnatural way and often out of her range, who's able to make decent prerecorded TV performances, I'll give her that. Sorry, not sorry. I mean if the first question you ask about her shows how the vocals were it means the person isn't known for good ones in the first place. Fortunately for her fans seem to be very forgiving and not demanding when it comes to her singing.

Really, I still enjoy Concert Tour 2000 and those are some awful ones. And as many people commented, I rarely watch it for her vocals ( i think most of J-Pop is the wrong place for that), but this CDL made me awfully aware of how much she missed - and with that I mean noticeably missed.

Of course, most of the show is fine or say her usually standards, but Ii feel she showcased new struggles here. I can't remember her having that much problems to hit a high note in a ballad as in secret. I will, as probably all fans, still continue to watch her concerts - but newer shows probably not as much as older ones.


That said, i love the Taiko drums (one of my fav. shows by her has them too) and I also really enjoyed the show, as it somehow did not feel as crowded as hose past few years.

[summerain]

Originally Posted by thinkingoutloud89

Really, I still enjoy Concert Tour 2000 and those are some awful ones. And as many people commented, I rarely watch it for her vocals ( i think most of J-Pop is the wrong place for that), but this CDL made me awfully aware of how much she missed - and with that I mean noticeably missed.

Of course, most of the show is fine or say her usually standards, but Ii feel she showcased new struggles here. I can't remember her having that much problems to hit a high note in a ballad as in secret. I will, as probably all fans, still continue to watch her concerts - but newer shows probably not as much as older ones.


That said, i love the Taiko drums (one of my fav. shows by her has them too) and I also really enjoyed the show, as it somehow did not feel as crowded as hose past few years.

Well, she's far better at hitting higher notes here than during Promised Land ou TROUBLE CDL, when she struggled a lot to do that during live broadcast (all ballads from TROUBLE CDL, snowy kiss and SAKURA from Promised Land). She's not stellar (far from that), but for me she improved a lot, it's at least stable. And I didn't mention POWER of A^3 because she was clearly sick there.