[2002] Analysis oF 'Free&Easy'

[AyuLover]

Yea...the Free&Easy PV refers to the story of Joan of Arc and Ayu was inspired by her heroic efforts to write this song.

I think the PV just goes that Ayu is in a prison cell. In the beginning the family (father, mother, and little boy) are all happy...living a "free and easy" life. When Ayu is taken out of her cell and led down the white hallways, she is being taken to be killed. The sky suddenly darkens, and you notice that the family now looks terrified. Ayu (Joan of Arc) is going to be killed. The happiness and "free and easy"-ness of their lives is now gone. When you see Ayu tied to that stake, it's exactly what happened to Joan of Arc-she was burned at the stake for being a heretic. I believe that in the PV, when Ayu walks forward, leaving the guards and elder woman behind, she is going away to be killed-I think that is why she looks up at the sun. To God. She wants to see the sun one last time, knowing that she (just like Joan of Arc) had done what was right. She did what her messages from God told her to-stand up against the English.

Finally in the end, the priests carry Ayu's body away.

I do not know what the female priestesses, coffin painters, or little girl in the garden stand for.

[FuNsTyLe]

I always thought Ayu were the one who died...lol

sry, i didnt read all the posts...And now im confused...=|

[ashlee]

sorry--just recently saw this thread--- on the analysis of free and easy, i was thinking about the lyrics and the description of the video, i would have to say this song could possibly be more religious because the lyrics sound more religious to me like for example:
"I hear your voice
Encouraging me not to give in
I remember your words
That my happiness is your happiness" sounds sort like something from the bible,like to something to effect that if do something that is fullilling and righteous then god is happy along with you and will bless you.

"Please trust me,
The one who is always here
The proof of your life
Exists within me" then again with this, john 3:16 i believe it is jesus gave his life for all gods children to be saved. i was just thinking about it, just like how in M this song seems alittle religious in the lyrics, the lyrics are really deep and good, thats why i love ayu so much!

[alternarist]

i think that the grapes represent all the unhappiness.. she is sacrificing herself, to exchange for happiness.. when she is walking along the corridor.. the pigtailed girl, the family of 3, everybody else.. looked serious and sad.. cos they noe that ayumi is dying for them.. she crushes the grapes(as well as stepping the grapes) becos she is angry about this world.. which in the chorus she described the city as ''dirty''.

"Your happiness is my happiness" means that the pple's happiness is ayumi's happiness.. so ayumi is sacrificing herself.. and since she is sacrificing herself for the sake of the happiness of the pple in the world, a special and nice coffin is made for her..

notice that ayumi wasnt showing any reluctance.. she quickly stood up as soon as the lady came as well as the other 2 men.. as she was going to be executed, she looked up the sky which was brighter.. cos she knew that once she die, the world wld be a better one..

i bet the 3 young women who remove their cowls means something like wats happening in the middle east.. ayumi die, so that the ladies are able to gain freedom.. (when they could remove those cowls, revealing their faces..)

finally, she is being tied to the pole..with red cloth around her.. i bet red cloth symbolises fire.. she is struggling in it.. thats y she shakes her head in madness sometimes..

thats my interpretation... in a nutshell, she is sacrificing herself so that pple in the world can gain a Free & Easy life... which the flower garden represents..

[AyuGAME]

it's a really weird PV
i think it has a spritual simbolysm

It's my favorite Ayu PV. The first time I saw it was doing karaoke at Pasela in Shibuya and I was paying more attention to the video than to singing the song! I think it's amazing, and the parts where she's on the stake just give me chills. It does follow the Joan of Arc story. I'm not sure the other people in the video really bear much meaning other than to offer the setting. They show that this woman being executed is famous for doing something great and revered (because they all acknowlege what's happening), and that everyone is saddened by her killing.

I think the idea earlier in this thread about it being about racism is ridiculous. Ayu always has white people as the extras in her videos. Doesn't she film most of them in LA? Thus, it would make sense to have American extras - it's too much money to bring everyone over from Japan after Ayu, her dancers (if applicable), and her crew. It's foolish to pull something from nothing.