Ayu ~Anything Goes~ XVII

[EndOfTheWorld]

I do feel a bit relieved that others are having similar feelings.
When Made In Japan came out I was very excited to get new music but now that time has passed, I find that I don't have strong feelings for it. The newness wore off.
I see Made In Japan as somewhat of a fail. The only thing it really succeeded in was having good solid songs with a few standouts. I'll also add that the lyrics were very good as well. But for me, it is another Ayu album I just don't get. Ever since Five I feel that the album concept is always poorly executed.
The cover has the rope on it but yet that theme doesn't appear anywhere else in the artwork. Weren't some photos reused too? I get the idea of the album but to me only the first 3 songs reflect the Made In Japan idea.
I was really sad that only 2 videos were made as well. Flower is arguably the best song on the album but the video to me was strange, especially that ending. Mad World was better but I don't see what it had to do with the song.
Overall, I enjoyed the songs and lyrics. I mean those are the most important things but I still feel disappointed in other aspects of the album. To be honest, I think I enjoyed the Made In Japan Arena Tour the most out of anything this year from Ayu.
So far since Ayu's rebirth with A ONE, she is now heading on the right path out of the 2011-2014 phase. Just in baby steps. I think Made In Japan will be an album I listen to every once in a while but not always.
As of right now I am really thinking a lot about the upcoming Countdown Live. I'm getting curious.

[BlackSilence]

I've been binge watching Ayu's videos on youtube for the past two days, and i've gotta say ...Colours probably had the worst bunch of all. However, they are still quite enjoyable lol

[ExodusUK]

You Are The Only One is my favourite song, the rest just seems to be Ayu's standard MOR bland formulaic thing.

[NintendoHTF1242]

Originally Posted by ExodusUK

You Are The Only One is my favourite song, the rest just seems to be Ayu's standard MOR bland formulaic thing.

Exact reason I don't like the album. Nothing special. Nothing unique. Same shit, different day.

[280301]

When you listen to ever free for the first time (in a long time), and you're blown away.

It reminds me as to why I fell in love with Ayu's music, she discusses emotions in a way that other artists simply do not. I know it's cliche to say, but I hope that someday we receive another album that is as...honest, as what A song for xx, LOVEppears and Duty are. Perhaps they are only albums that somebody young and lost can write though? I hope we do get a stellar album from mature Ayu someday though. Made in Japan was a return to grace though.

[stepYOU1234]

Originally Posted by 280301

When you listen to ever free for the first time (in a long time), and you're blown away.

It reminds me as to why I fell in love with Ayu's music, she discusses emotions in a way that other artists simply do not. I know it's cliche to say, but I hope that someday we receive another album that is as...honest, as what A song for xx, LOVEppears and Duty are. Perhaps they are only albums that somebody young and lost can write though? I hope we do get a stellar album from mature Ayu someday though. Made in Japan was a return to grace though.

Oh ever free

Made in Japan was/is really good. I do still feel as though there were maybe two solid 15 track albums to be made from A One, SIXXXXXX and Made in Japan, maybe even with a few of the better songs from CoLOURS.

[channy]

I find "Many Classic Moments" to be the best track on "MADE IN JAPAN" and I'm not even being cynical. I just really appreciate this cover. The album as a whole, however, barely gives any reasons to dislike it just like it doesn't provides me with motives to fall in love with it.

Except of Ayu's cover I cannot really name one distinct favourite out of the remaining tracks.

[labello]

Originally Posted by 280301

It reminds me as to why I fell in love with Ayu's music, she discusses emotions in a way that other artists simply do not. I know it's cliche to say, but I hope that someday we receive another album that is as...honest, as what A song for xx, LOVEppears and Duty are. Perhaps they are only albums that somebody young and lost can write though? I hope we do get a stellar album from mature Ayu someday though. Made in Japan was a return to grace though.

I have to agree. I think Ayu was in a different place in her life at that time: she was young, looking for her calling, something that she could call her own. I think she found it in her music.
As someone who wasn't that experienced she probably shared her thoughts and feelings differently than the older person who got into rumors, scandals or the person who knows she's a product and not a human to the public. I don't think we will be able to get albums as raw as her first ones.

She has developed, she isn't the 20 something old girl anymore. She has different concerns now, maybe even a different way of producing albums and I think that is part of the reason why it won't be the same.
Ayu said that she still is that person from back then. In a way I think she is, but also isn't. One changes and learns from experience. The past is part of oneself, it helps one shape their present self but one still isn't just an image from the past.

[ExodusUK]

I LOVE HER FOR BRINGING THIS SONG BACK.


Such an AMAZING song that really perfectly encapsulates an era and sound. It is quite rightly the only song on I Am... like it because they would never be able to best it.

[tokyoxjapanxfan]

I wish people enjoyed Ayu's happier songs more.

I feel like the only songs people regularly discuss are the sad melancholy songs lol (outside of her summer songs).

[Miduhyo]

^I know it's a summer song but I'm always ALWAYS down for talking about BLUE BIRD.

I. Love. That. Song.

I don't care what season it is. I don't care what month it is. I don't care if it's snowing so bad that I'm trapped inside or raining so hard my furniture is floating away. I'll listen to BLUE BIRD and sing every lyric.

[EndOfTheWorld]

My best happy Ayu song will always be Fly High.
I love the encouraging and inspirational lyrics. I love the high energy of the song, especially the soaring chorus.
The video I love too. I thought Ayu looked so pretty. The hair, the outfit. I miss when she used to wear those high platform boots.

[Miduhyo]

^ I totally miss that hairstyle. It fit her so perfectly and just looked so good. Right length, right color. Ugh. I just miss it.

All right. Now. I know I'm going to get mocked by 3/4's of the forum for saying this but I actually really like Humming 7/4. I know a bunch of people here think it's trash but every time I play it it just energizes me and makes me smile. It's just a song for stupid happy fun, that's all. I don't think it's meant to be taken all that seriously and that's what I love about it. (since.. you know.. most of her songs are serious and emotionally-heavy.) It's nice to take a break and just listen to something from her that you can just have fun with.

[SayukiChoco]

Originally Posted by Miduhyo

^I know it's a summer song but I'm always ALWAYS down for talking about BLUE BIRD.

I. Love. That. Song.

I don't care what season it is. I don't care what month it is. I don't care if it's snowing so bad that I'm trapped inside or raining so hard my furniture is floating away. I'll listen to BLUE BIRD and sing every lyric.

Oh God, I agree so much. I can always listen to BLUE BIRD and it makes me happy.

I also like to listen to STEP you and EnergizE when I want to hear to happy songs

[pedronekoi]

I really love her dark and melancholic songs (right now I'm addicted to HEAVEN and criminal again! I listen to those songs every time before sleep) but I also love her happy songs, not just the summer songs. STEP you, Beautiful fighters, Not yet, Lelio, flower garden <3

About Made in Japan, I really love Breakdown, FLOWER, tasky and Mr. Darling. The rest is good but I'm not addicted to. But sometimes I get addicted to some old songs that I didn't loved in the beginning so... lol

[Miduhyo]

Originally Posted by SayukiChoco

Oh God, I agree so much. I can always listen to BLUE BIRD and it makes me happy.

I also like to listen to STEP you and EnergizE when I want to hear to happy songs

BLUE BIRD forever~~~!!!!
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who listens to EnergizE. I've never seen anyone else talk about it on here. It's another song I turn to when I just wanna have a good time and feel good. 'Put your hands up together! Keep your heads up together! Let me sing foreeever! Dala Dala Dala!' It's too cute. xD and get's stuck in my head.

On the other hand, I cannot stand STEP you. I don't know why. I think I've just overplayed it and she's performed it so. much. with that high-pitched voice that's just made it such a turn off for me. It's one of the only songs that I've deleted from my discography cause I just cannot stand it that much.

[tokyoxjapanxfan]

I brought up the topic without stating my own haha.

ANGEL'S SONG remains my top happy song x100.
Born to be and HONEY are also favorites!

And I like EnergizE too

[SayukiChoco]

Oh my God, I just had to laugh so much about my, according to my smartphone, top 10 of most played Ayu songs. Is there a thread somewhere for this? :'D

1) Summer diary
2) BLUE BIRD
3) Virgin Road
4) fairyland
5) Feel the love
6) do it again
7) HANABI
8) STEP you
9) Moments
10) Summer Love

Lol, what the hell is doing Feel the love in there Can't remember to have been listening to it that often... hehe.

Originally Posted by Miduhyo

BLUE BIRD forever~~~!!!!
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who listens to EnergizE. I've never seen anyone else talk about it on here. It's another song I turn to when I just wanna have a good time and feel good. 'Put your hands up together! Keep your heads up together! Let me sing foreeever! Dala Dala Dala!' It's too cute. xD and get's stuck in my head.

On the other hand, I cannot stand STEP you. I don't know why. I think I've just overplayed it and she's performed it so. much. with that high-pitched voice that's just made it such a turn off for me. It's one of the only songs that I've deleted from my discography cause I just cannot stand it that much.

EnergizE is such a fun song. I can understand your feelings towards STEP you, that's why I never listen to live versions of it. I prefer the studio version. I have mixed feelings towards HONEY though. Sometimes I love to listen to it and sometimes I would like to ignore its existence. Same goes for Days.

[Aderianu]

Originally Posted by SayukiChoco

Is there a thread somewhere for this?

http://ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115867

[Miduhyo]

^^ The music video turned me off of Days almost immediately. She tried waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too hard to be cute in the MV (though I do love her styling) and the whole same-ole same-ole story we've seen time and time again. And it's not her best lyrics either. I think that whole song was just a miss for me.

But you have Moments on your list! Could we consider that a happy song? I'm not sure if Moments fits in with happy or melancholy or bittersweet? Either case, I would say it's one of my top 5 Ayu songs.

1. HANABI (always)
2. Dearest ~Acoustic Version~ (Oh my gawd her vocals in this version.)
3. Because of You
4. Moments
5. BLUE BIRD

I should probably see what my iPod says my most listened to Ayu songs are for a more "official list" but that's what my personal list would be for sure.