New single 'Dreamed a Dream' by Tetsuya Komuro out July 31st, 2020

[YUKARI]

omg I'm just glad it's not a ballad. it remids me of Mirrorcle Word or Wake me up but I think I like Dreamed a Dream more than those songs

oh and I'm surprised it's composed by TK. I thought he'd retired already

[mizuki-7]

Considering there is no promo it’s quite good ! I really hope in a near future someone will offer her a big tie-in... I’ve the feeling we are so near of a little bounce back in her carrer but for that she needs something that can attract audience attention at a big scale. It would be amazing if she can do that in her fourty for a japanese woman.

btw the song is in my head since yesterday ahah

[truehappiness]

I think other than a tie-in, if she released a song that ended up going viral because of TikTok, that could be a very interesting way of 'promo', but there's no way to really plan for that sadly. At the moment for example, a song from a year ago, Kousui by Eito is HUGE right now because of TikTok and doesn't seem to be slowing down.

[Evan Odinson]

We could do a Stream Party on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube (Maybe AWA as well) to help her digital performance or something, what do you guys think?

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I think other than a tie-in, if she released a song that ended up going viral because of TikTok, that could be a very interesting way of 'promo', but there's no way to really plan for that sadly. At the moment for example, a song from a year ago, Kousui by Eito is HUGE right now because of TikTok and doesn't seem to be slowing down.

I think they could try. The stuff that seems to go viral are things that are fitting for a type of reaction. Like “when something crazy happens, x song plays” “when something unexpected happens, x song plays” - tying a song to a relatable moment that is experienced across a wide range of scenarios. If I had the energy to post examples i would (but I’m thinking more so memes than tik tok). Right now she’s doing the tired old concert dances on tiktok. Interesting for fans but stiff and not exhilarating for the general tiktok-er.

[AyuGAME]

AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT
Let's ride this wave Ayu!

[Ryusei]

idk if I'm the only one but while I would like the song I feel like it's very flat, everything sounds so stacked and same volume that it just kinda blends into noise? I had the same issue with the TROUBLE EP but not with Ohia No Ki since that one's production is way less busy. Like for the first verse I was totally on board and then the chorus kicked in and I was just like a bit turned off :/

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by Ryusei

idk if I'm the only one but while I would like the song I feel like it's very flat, everything sounds so stacked and same volume that it just kinda blends into noise? I had the same issue with the TROUBLE EP but not with Ohia No Ki since that one's production is way less busy. Like for the first verse I was totally on board and then the chorus kicked in and I was just like a bit turned off :/

I felt the same. I was listening with high end headphones yesterday, the FLAC version too, and it felt hollow. Wish there was more separation between layers, or a greater range of separation. It would make the track more dynamic.

[Chibi-Chan]

Originally Posted by Ryusei

idk if I'm the only one but while I would like the song I feel like it's very flat, everything sounds so stacked and same volume that it just kinda blends into noise? I had the same issue with the TROUBLE EP but not with Ohia No Ki since that one's production is way less busy. Like for the first verse I was totally on board and then the chorus kicked in and I was just like a bit turned off :/

That's exactly how I feel and why I find it lackluster and missing something. The arrangement just blends into noise and is kinda annoying. It's as if different layers do not even exist. Especially the chorus is lacking that special something.
And honestly, the strings annoy me, too. It doesn't fit the song. The song could have been so good. Lyrics, melody, vocals, all great. But the arrangement is such a disappointment for me.

[AyuCanada]

Originally Posted by Ryusei

idk if I'm the only one but while I would like the song I feel like it's very flat, everything sounds so stacked and same volume that it just kinda blends into noise? I had the same issue with the TROUBLE EP but not with Ohia No Ki since that one's production is way less busy. Like for the first verse I was totally on board and then the chorus kicked in and I was just like a bit turned off :/

I agree with you... Although to be honest, this had been the case with her for a long long long time. Even classics like ''Evolution'' also have that issue. Maybe those kind of mix were fine for 20 years ago but today, compared to modern standards it does sound a bit flat. Sure she had some exceptions (like Colours) but most of her mixes seems to have this treatment. When I shopped my new speakers last year i brought A One and I am as albums test and the sound guy thoughth they were both albums from the 90's.

[Kacku]

Originally Posted by Ryusei

idk if I'm the only one but while I would like the song I feel like it's very flat, everything sounds so stacked and same volume that it just kinda blends into noise? I had the same issue with the TROUBLE EP but not with Ohia No Ki since that one's production is way less busy. Like for the first verse I was totally on board and then the chorus kicked in and I was just like a bit turned off :/

I agree completely, "flat" and "stacked" feel like perfect descriptions for how the song sounds (especially the chorus, it's not as much of an issue in the less busy verses). It's annoying that this is a persistent issue, I really hoped it would get better after TROUBLE. I just re-listened to MADE IN JAPAN yesterday and I really feel like it didn't have this issue (at least to the same extent, and maybe that's just because the songs weren't so busy)...

I'm not fully in love with Dreamed a Dream, but it has many great things going for it: the synth riff is mad catchy (I've had it stuck in my head and found myself tapping it over the past few days), the melody is pretty great, and Ayu sounds great, she's got attitude for DAYS. I'm really happy to hear her sounding so good even though her hearing is getting worse, I'm glad she's finding ways to make it work. I wish the production didn't sound so cheap (I don't like how the percussion and the high-pitched synth strings sound) but I also feel like the slight dated feeling might be intentional (it is a TK joint after all, and the lyrics talk about the past quite a bit). I'm torn on how I feel about the ending... the slowed-down final stanza is such a cliché for Ayu at this point... but on the other hand, this might be one of those instances where it really fits the song.

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by Kacku

I agree completely, "flat" and "stacked" feel like perfect descriptions for how the song sounds (especially the chorus, it's not as much of an issue in the less busy verses). It's annoying that this is a persistent issue, I really hoped it would get better after TROUBLE. I just re-listened to MADE IN JAPAN yesterday and I really feel like it didn't have this issue (at least to the same extent, and maybe that's just because the songs weren't so busy)...

I'm not fully in love with Dreamed a Dream, but it has many great things going for it: the synth riff is mad catchy (I've had it stuck in my head and found myself tapping it over the past few days), the melody is pretty great, and Ayu sounds great, she's got attitude for DAYS. I'm really happy to hear her sounding so good even though her hearing is getting worse, I'm glad she's finding ways to make it work. I wish the production didn't sound so cheap (I don't like how the percussion and the high-pitched synth strings sound) but I also feel like the slight dated feeling might be intentional (it is a TK joint after all, and the lyrics talk about the past quite a bit). I'm torn on how I feel about the ending... the slowed-down final stanza is such a cliché for Ayu at this point... but on the other hand, this might be one of those instances where it really fits the song.

I agree. While I'm happy she finally released something that isn't super safe sounding, it has the same issue as many of her releases for years now - the mixing is super flat. There is just a problem with her mixing, period. How this hasn't been addressed yet is insane to me.

[Kacku]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

I agree. While I'm happy she finally released something that isn't super safe sounding, it has the same issue as many of her releases for years now - the mixing is super flat. There is just a problem with her mixing, period. How this hasn't been addressed yet is insane to me.

This. It's bizarre how long it's continued.

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by Kacku

This. It's bizarre how long it's continued.

It makes me wonder if Ayu is having final say and just literally cannot hear the issues with the mixes very well. If that’s the case she really needs someone she trusts to make that decision.

[KittyKathy]

The chorus of the song is not very pleasant to listen to. The voice is too harsh. Everything else is perfect.

[truehappiness]

I think there is a tendency to go a bit bombastic for these kinds of Komuro compositions when they have these types of arrangements as well. Songs like sending mail come to mind. To me, it seemed like they were trying to have the two sides of the song fight which can result in that kind of blending, with the electronic and the piano+strings competing. It's probably very hard to balance for whoever is arranging it as well since there's so many elements in this song especially.

On TROUBLE, I imagine it would have been a thing for W or We are the QUEENS mainly but here it seems like there's even more pieces to the arrangement to manage than those songs.

[surrealA]

I think this song will be much better when performed live with full band and strings/orchestra. I can already imagine it

[DavidChaiLatte]

Thoughts on this post written by a J-pop critic? https://randomjpop.blogspot.com/2020...d-a-dream.html

[TheRainbow]

Originally Posted by DavidChaiLatte

Thoughts on this post written by a J-pop critic? https://randomjpop.blogspot.com/2020...d-a-dream.html

Reads like someone trying way too hard to be sassy. It’s their opinion though, so not much else to say about it.

[njanjayrp]

Originally Posted by DavidChaiLatte

Thoughts on this post written by a J-pop critic? https://randomjpop.blogspot.com/2020...d-a-dream.html

Total BS. This song is nothing like the old ones. It stands out in so many ways.