Ayu ~Anything Goes~ XVII

[EndOfTheWorld]

Originally Posted by xLuna&1LOVE

All what you are saying is so very true. Each song (minus meaning of Love is a gem. Standing alone, all the individual songs are soooo good. However, when I listen to the album as whole, I really can't get past BALLAD/Sunset. Even though I love all the songs after these tracks (Don't Look Back and Lady Dynamite are in my top 5 of favourite R'n'Rc tracks). If course I cannot speak for others, but to me all the songs sound good, but as one album, it feels very slow and almost exhausting to listen to. Or I could better say: the flow is not 'flowy' enough. Does anyone else feel the same?

I get that feeling. It's like it's parts are greater than it's whole. It's more like a collection of songs than a cohesive album. I think people like the music but are disappointed in the delivery of the concept. Almost like how some people feel about Made In Japan.

[DonkeyKongRemix]

I am so with you guys. RnR Circus has no flow. It doesn't mesh well. However, Sexy little things, Microphone, Countdown, and Don't Look Back are still favorites of mine.

I feel of all the songs on there that Red Line may be the most underrated. I loved it to pieces when it was released.

now here's the thing about my reaction to Party Queen that surprised me the most...I gave How Beautiful You Are a good listen...and liked it. I think I am one of the loudest haters of that song on here. To me, the only song that was least listenable than it was Teens (sorry, I cannot handle that song...) But, HBYA is actually surprisingly pretty. Like...I did not remember anything about that song, apparently.

I can't help but laugh about the fact that Eyes, Smoke, Magic is so hated around here where I found it to be AWESOME. Such a cool and unique (I mean for her standards, that is) song within her discography. For me, ESM and the next LOVE are the two shining stars of the album, though I've learned that I apparently don't dislike a single song on Party Queen.... so weird.

[mi|kshake]

I watched the TA tour and loved it! It makes me imagine her doing a show on that scale on the Western side of the world.

I loved having Unite back and it was nice to hear Replace again too!

I'm the other way round with HBYA and Teens - I'd take Teens over it any day!

[Refix]

I like the simplicity in the TA tour. Why can't she bring that in her regular tour?

[ayu-michan]

Originally Posted by nalini-dahlia

I can't help but laugh about the fact that Eyes, Smoke, Magic is so hated around here where I found it to be AWESOME. Such a cool and unique (I mean for her standards, that is) song within her discography. For me, ESM and the next LOVE are the two shining stars of the album, though I've learned that I apparently don't dislike a single song on Party Queen.... so weird.

I agree with this so much! ESM was playing today and I couldn't help but think how SARCASTIC it sounds.

[SayukiChoco]

I'm obsessed with rainy day lately. I never liked the song until some months ago. Odd, how sometimes tastes are changing so much.

[truehappiness]

rainy day and Beautiful Day are masterpieces imo.

[Ryusei]

Rainy day is beautiful but I hate beautiful day, one of her very worst songs imo

[ExodusUK]

Beautiful Day is a massive stinking turd.

[//ABEST]

Originally Posted by Ryusei

Rainy day is beautiful but I hate beautiful day, one of her very worst songs imo

couldn't agree with you more i love rainy day but i dislike Beautiful Day so much!! i skip it everytime

[truehappiness]

I think they complete each other. It's also rather unique since she has nothing like it in her discography, but then again most of the GEO/Sweetbox stuff is pretty standalone.

[SayukiChoco]

I think Beautiful Day is quite nice. Not my favorite and I tend to skip it from time to time but I don't dislike it. I'm not a fan of Greatful Days though. That song annoys me somehow.

[truehappiness]

Greatful days requires a certain mood to like it IMO. Otherwise it can grate a little bit compared to most of her summer tracks.

[Ryusei]

I'm still trying to figure out where i have heard the lalalala part at the beginning of greatful days before. It seems so familiar...

[voltron]

Originally Posted by Ryusei

I'm still trying to figure out where i have heard the lalalala part at the beginning of greatful days before. It seems so familiar...

It always gave me vibes of a Madonna song...maybe express yourself. It's not even the whole part, it's just one key shift.

[280301]

I love fairyland. The lyrics, the arrangement, the PV. Everything. It's just so perfect.

EDIT: I also rewatched the JEWEL PV recently. Ugh. 2005-2007 Ayu was everything.

[pedronekoi]

^ I love everything about JEWEL! A few weeks ago I watched all TV lives of JEWEL. It's just pure magic <3

[oaristos]

I love fairyland too, I didn't use to listen to it very often but nowadays I do.

[ExodusUK]

Fairyland and JEWEL are EVERYTHING.

[Zeke.]

I didn't obsessively fall in love with fairyland until a few years back. I never disliked it, but some fans really hailed it and I never found it as great as it's praise. Now that has changed. (Although, the part after the bridge when that little animation in the sound happens before the chorus comes back in, where it sounds like someone scoops up the sound and throws it down to burst into chorus one last time, I always adored that).

I really love that warm, soft and glowing luminescent ball of sound that kind of hovers and bounces throughout the track as an anchor so much. It's hard to describe but it's like the embodiment of a nostalgic memory of bliss.