[Official Message] ayumi hamasaki 『Just the beginning -20- TOUR 2017』

[Chibi-Chan]

Originally Posted by artcika

I gave some Ayu's live performances to a friend who's a trained vocalist (been doing that for 10 years now) to listen, the MA one from 2002(?) in that red dress and ASFXX from a couple of years ago, because i cannot hear her shouting a lot while singing like at all, and while my friend said her technique at times is unrecognizable and that she also has this folk feeling in her singing that's so common amongst asian artists, there's no shouting whatsoever. Why it might feel like she is, is probably, according to her, because it kind of feels like while continuing the note she changes register, which makes it sound like shouting to an untrained ear hears in between the runs . She also said that Ayu's voice is more on the head register or caught somewhere in between her nose and throat in the earlier video, rather than coming from the chest, but she definitely has the support that most somewhat trained artists do in her way of singing. Apparently, to her, she sounds much better in the newer live clip than the older one. She clearly wasn't impressed, but couldn't say anything bad about her way of singing either. Sooooo, that being said, Ayu might have "a note or two off" moments but she's got the skills to support the voice while singing and she obviously does that. How my friend said "She is definitely not going with a bare voice, there is support in it clearly noticeable to someone who knows how it all works".

First of all, thanks, that's interesting! But we weren't complaining about her shouting in 2002 or 2010, but during the last 2 or 3 years and especially LAST year.
I mean, we already knew that she wasn't shouting in 2002. Not to mention that her voice sounds totally different nowadays than 15 years ago.

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by Chris85

Wouldn't it be called tour 2017-2018 in this case?

The second leg of the tour can always be renamed.

[Katsuyuki012]

Originally Posted by Chibi-Chan

First of all, thanks, that's interesting! But we weren't complaining about her shouting in 2002 or 2010, but during the last 2 or 3 years and especially LAST year.
I mean, we already knew that she wasn't shouting in 2002. Not to mention that her voice sounds totally different nowadays than 15 years ago.

"...ASFXX from a couple of years ago", I think they probably mean the AT15/ABL one, which would be with her new voice but I'm not 100% sure.

[voltron]

Originally Posted by njanjayrp

Close to you was performed on a TV show. Could have been ayuready, it was a long time ago.

It was HEYx3. The same episode where she sang Shiroi Koibitotachi with CHEMISTRY.

All hail the crazy, curly, big blonde wig.

[Chibi-Chan]

Originally Posted by Tio/Tayumi

"...ASFXX from a couple of years ago", I think they probably mean the AT15/ABL one, which would be with her new voice but I'm not 100% sure.

For me a couple of years ago means something like 4 to 7 years or something and not 2 years. 2 simply can't count as "a couple of years".

[rainbow_smile]

Originally Posted by Chibi-Chan

For me a couple of years ago means something like 4 to 7 years or something and not 2 years. 2 simply can't count as "a couple of years".

And why is that? I personally interpret "a couple" as "approximately 2, maybe a bit more", and the dictionary definition is "two or a few"

Also, thank you very much artcika! It was very interesting to see the opinion of a professional!

[EndOfTheWorld]

For me, I just really want to she songs from A Song For xx performed. Usually I don't have any strong wish for any of those songs even though I love the album. I guess because it is 20 years I want to see those songs revisited. It also has been quite a while since a song was performed from that time that isn't the title track and not included in a medley.
It would be nice if each album had it's place in the show. Maybe arrange the setlist from 1998 till present day songs, in order of release.

[njanjayrp]

Originally Posted by EndOfTheWorld

For me, I just really want to she songs from A Song For xx performed. Usually I don't have any strong wish for any of those songs even though I love the album. I guess because it is 20 years I want to see those songs revisited. It also has been quite a while since a song was performed from that time that isn't the title track and not included in a medley.
It would be nice if each album had it's place in the show. Maybe arrange the setlist from 1998 till present day songs, in order of release.

I would love to hear Trust, Hana or As if...

[BlackSilence]

Originally Posted by AyuCanada

I think her off keys are mostly due to her ears than her technique.

and thats what i meant, that she may have an off key moment but she has the skills to use her voice right.

Originally Posted by Chibi-Chan

First of all, thanks, that's interesting! But we weren't complaining about her shouting in 2002 or 2010, but during the last 2 or 3 years and especially LAST year.
I mean, we already knew that she wasn't shouting in 2002. Not to mention that her voice sounds totally different nowadays than 15 years ago.

I gave her the old stuff because i love that performance first of all and second because i wanted her to get an idea how her voice sounded back then, years ago to what it is now. But i think the fact that she heard no shouting in the Cirque de Minuit tour final (ASFXX performance), means she's probably never really shouted. I personally never really took any of her singing as "shouting". The only problem i ever had with her voice is when she started her career, cuz that pitched tone hurts my ears and that horrible fake vibrato she used to do in 2008-2010. Apart from being off key every now and then, i always thought she sounded OK at worst.

And um, to someone else who takes "a couple" as 4-7 years....um....LOL a COUPLE means A COUPLE, 2 people are called "a couple", it's not that difficult lol

[Evan Odinson]

I also want Fated to be performed, the one from CDL 11-12 (The hotel love songs one, I'm not sure about the years anymore lol) was pretty cool, the vocals were great but the whole dance show with those beds and Maro totally ruins it for me, I want her alone on stage singing her heart out, I usually don't care/complain about the huge amount of dancers on stage, but on ballads are SO unnecesary.

[kotora]

Originally Posted by Earth_maiden

We should start a list of obscure ayu songs that she's never performed:

criminal
like a doll
It Was
Sweet Scar
still alone
NO FUTURE
GUILTY
Liar
call
close to you
Sky High

Last Links/meaning of Love (she did these at random AT10 concerts, right?)
Return Road (come on Ayu, it's been nearly 7 years, just give us ONE performance on DVD!!)

Am I missing any?

and send the list, and ask her to do "Songs I hate Tour 2020" to her on Facebook.

[a❤martian]

These days, live, I cannot listen to her. Back in the day, I could get by telling myself she had a unique voice. These days I can't. Even my hardcore Japan-freak fans cringe at her current lives. I've been listening to a lot of old soul music these days, too. So when I go back to Ayu it's just like, ugh.

[Chris85]

Originally Posted by artcika

and thats what i meant, that she may have an off key moment but she has the skills to use her voice right.



I gave her the old stuff because i love that performance first of all and second because i wanted her to get an idea how her voice sounded back then, years ago to what it is now. But i think the fact that she heard no shouting in the Cirque de Minuit tour final (ASFXX performance), means she's probably never really shouted. I personally never really took any of her singing as "shouting". The only problem i ever had with her voice is when she started her career, cuz that pitched tone hurts my ears and that horrible fake vibrato she used to do in 2008-2010. Apart from being off key every now and then, i always thought she sounded OK at worst.
l

So you basically showed 2 performances with edited, pitch-corrected vocals? I don't think one can properly judge her vocals in this case.
Why didn't you show unedited ASFXX performance from last year's Music Station for example?

[Next_Level29]

Originally Posted by kotora

and send the list, and ask her to do "Songs I hate Tour 2020" to her on Facebook.

has ayu performed shape of love?

[Surreal17]

Originally Posted by Next_Level29

has ayu performed shape of love?

no

[Outback]

Originally Posted by pedronekoi

I really think she'll replace CDL with this long tour.

Please not. Wanna go for CDL this Year.

[AyuCanada]

Originally Posted by Chris85

So you basically showed 2 performances with edited, pitch-corrected vocals? I don't think one can properly judge her vocals in this case.
Why didn't you show unedited ASFXX performance from last year's Music Station for example?

AT CDM and The music station performance are pretty much the same to me... except that the TV one doesn't have the smooth DVD sound remastered but the way she sings is the the same.

[koumori]

Originally Posted by Chibi-Chan

For me a couple of years ago means something like 4 to 7 years or something and not 2 years. 2 simply can't count as "a couple of years".

This might be a translation issue, but a couple literally means 'two'. A good example is how it's used to describe people who are in a relationship.

[Next_Level29]

^but isnt it just a term for more than 1 year..? ehy the whole discussion.. :-D :-D

[Zeke.]

I always felt "a couple" referred to more than merely two as well. Like I would interpret it as four or so. I know that's not really correct but in cases where someone would say something like "grab me a couple of those" and I'd say "ok like how many" and they'd say "two" it felt weird. Lol. If you use the term a couple to me it signifies that you don't have a set amount in mind, otherwise why don't you just say two?