StarTalk interview

[Chris85]

Wow, there are some heated up discussions here:-) While I wouldn't go that far and call her a stuck up bitch, this was definitively the first time I saw her acting like a glamorous diva during an interview. Her attitude, movements, etc are completely different this time. I wonder how real Ayu looks like.

[//ABEST]

there was clearly something between her and Alvin and then she has to go to interview so maybe she can't be all relaxed since she has to act like everything is fine in her personal life

[YukiUsagi]

Can't stand watching this

[koumori]

As a note on the whole languages deal, people learn languages at different rates. Also, I think Ayu only began taking learning English seriously in her late twenties/early thirties - and I doubt this was through daily, focused tutoring either.
When she goes to spend time in countries where English is the main language, she is still surrounded by her staff that I assume all know Japanese. You would be surprised how easy it is to default to your native language when you can, especially when in situations where it can be hard to communicate otherwise.
Ayu is also famous for her ability to express herself through language so I think she holds Japanese very close to her heart and I doubt she will ever feel the same with English. It makes sense to me that she hasn't gained 'fluency' given her situation and her noted strength in Japanese.

As for judging her relationship, we only see the minimum amount of how she speaks to her husband, and her English we only see in controlled interview settings. I think when she's not under pressure to use English and can relax, it would come across much better. But that's even me assuming - their relationship is mostly a mystery to us, and making generalising statements about it to prove a point is sliding into strawman territory.

This is not really talking about the interview, just my two cents on some of the discussion points in the thread. I think it's obvious that Ayu has changed as a person hugely since her debut and she will give off a different persona because of that. She is no longer working 24/7 and fighting challenges of youth; she's a rich, successful businesswoman. I don't think people should be surprised. Liking it is a different matter altogether... I miss the 'old Ayu' and I don't feel as personally invested in her new public image, but it's been a long time. Some still act as if it's a personal betrayal that she grew up.

[Yoake]

Originally Posted by Aderianu

at the Alvin's birthday party Ayu wears the same dress
wonder when it was filmed - before or after. Maybe she was drunk? =)

best comment of this thread ^^

Originally Posted by tenshi no hane

Ugh I was going to stay out of this, but I can't resist making one comment:

Speaking a different language with a stranger and speaking it with someone you know is very different. With a friend or husband, you'll know what speech style to expect. You're used to their pronunciation. Her husband will probably also know what level she's at, and alter his English to it, subconsciously even.

I'm proud she has the guts to take on English interviews. Japanese and English are nothing alike. Aside from a few loanwords, there's no vocabulary to build on. And the grammar is completely different. Comparing it to English and German (or any other European language) is unfair.

I totally agree with you.

[pmcc1964]

What I felt sad on this interview was when she said about her private "I don't care. It's not important. I have to (be Ayu)..." etc. That's not what I want to hear from her. I just want her to be happy and some great songs from her, not wanting sharing some photos of her luxury but-its-not-important-life on instagram. I'd love to share if she loves her private. Or she calls even breakfast a promotion? ...sad.

[Yannetakizawa]

Originally Posted by Chibi-Chan

It's not like I wouldn't know all of that. First I'm pretty sure Mannie's English was pretty good since his native language is German. And it's very easy to learn English if you speak German. If Ayu's English was worse than now 5 years ago she and Mannie surely had a superficial relationship. I'm just pretty shocked about her English since my Japanese friends all were able to speak better German in just one year. And German is way harder than English. I'm not saying she is bad person because her English isn't that improved. But like I said, that means she isn't able to communicate with Tyson all that well either what makes me think they also have a superficial relationship. Furthermore it's common for interviews that you get the questions before hand because the management checks if they are ok. So she had to know the questions beforehand and wasn't able to provide a meaningful answer. Someone also said it's different to speak to someone you know or in public. Sure it is, but not after five years and speaking on a daily basis in English.
It just is the whole picture for me. If it was just that, I wouldn't care. But a lot of things lately fit together like a puzzle so that I get the feeling Ayu the queen of depth became a very superficial person during the last years. That's the feeling I get. If you don't, well be happy you don't. lol I tried a long time to defend her for everything against myself but it reached a point were I simply don't like the persona she presents us anymore.

of course not!

what happens before an interview is a conversation provided the subject minutes before being recorded. It's not like following a road map.

The presenter have general questions Fomular , but also has the ability to introduce new questions according to context .

[KPL]

I actually liked the fact that she changed, even if for some she's changing "for the worse".

If she's still the girl that writes about rebel and doesn't balance her own complex identities as a woman, a pop star, an artist etc, she will be the ultimate superficial product of "ayumi hamasaki", a perfect, immaculate, strong, yet crafted-by-avex girl that everyone loved so much and found it hard to let go of.

In the past, she stated clearly that she separated ayu from ayumi hamasaki. Therefore, it is by no means we can safely assume that the perfect ayumi hamasaki is a representation of her true self. Now she's caring less. She does not hide away herself anymore. She lets us see who she really is, and a real human being is necessarily complex, and sometimes scandalous too.

For me, it is a good thing that she's being more complex, sometimes a diva, other times a woman who shows more emotions and contemplates about life. I began to feel this way when the whole relationship era began (marriage, devorce, Maro etc). She will have flaws because she stops separating the private ayu and the public image, but as she said, "it's life."

[Next_Level29]

it is obvious that ayu had been nervous on that interview. she was really thinking about what she was saying and cared a lot about it. it seems to me that ayu wanted to create a 'perfect intervie' referring to language and pronounciation. it was kind'a sweet to ask her man for the right term. Humans keep being humans. It is admirable that she was willing to do this interview in english.

[Yumsushi]

Originally Posted by Chibi-Chan

Sadly I agree with both of this comments. I found her attitude to be very put-on and it seemed to me that she was more bothered with looking hot than anything else.
But she seems very superficial to me lately anyway.

Yeah I think she was trying to answer questions but she kept flipping her hair and pouting instead so it was awkward to watch. Personally I didnt feel that I was watching a professional interview at all. And I'm glad to see her take responsibility for the half assed music that she's been releasing lately since she "only releases music that she likes".

[Next_Level29]

^she was nervous she had to do play with something

[xLuna&1LOVE]

^ Yeah, right.

[MessiahofSilence]

I don't like the way Ayu's nails were done.
She seems like a totally different person.

[rikku1994]

It's funny that everyone here starts to think that they actually know Ayu...

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

^^RIGHT?!

[oaristos]

Originally Posted by Chibi-Chan

If she's still struggling through the English language after all those years then her relationships with her ex-husband and husband have to be very superficial. What in the end makes her somehow superficial.

How rude is that. You're basically judging her current and previous relationships based on the fact that she is still struggling to communicate fluently in a foreign language. I'm Brazilian and I use English on a daily basis in an academic setting but I still have problems communicating with my American husband at home even though I've been here for a year. I believe that people almost have different "personalities" in each language they speak, and it's really hard to express yourself properly and "translate" your true self in different idioms. I think your comment was reductive and it bothered me a lot.

Also, I didn't read the rest of your gigantic post because I got like:

[Machiko]

Originally Posted by oaristos

How rude is that. You're basically judging her current and previous relationships based on the fact that she is still struggling to communicate fluently in a foreign language. I'm Brazilian and I use English on a daily basis in an academic setting but I still have problems communicating with my American husband at home even though I've been here for a year. I believe that people almost have different "personalities" in each language they speak, and it's really hard to express yourself properly and "translate" your true self in different idioms. I think your comment was reductive and it bothered me a lot.

Also, I didn't read the rest of your gigantic post because I got like:

Amen to this, I can also confirm that my english is FAR from fluent although I've been using (writing, hearing, not really speaking out loud, then I would just struggle even MORE) it in every day basis for years. I still keep forgetting basic words and grammar and I still need to look up how things are being said in english, and ESPECIALLY from Japanese to English there's even a bigger difference than from Swedish to English for instance. It is generally just plain rude judging someone's English skills when they're non-native speakers. Like just.

[Delirium-Zer0]

Plus English is HARD. I'm 31, I have a degree in linguistics (with a focus on English Composition) and I STILL don't feel like I have a grasp on this language!! x_x

[channy]

Guys, I partially take back my critical view on this interview. I am having so much fun replaying it over and over again since a couple of days. Ayu's mimic, the engrish, that seaman's infinite-loop-instrumental, that super polite and serious chinese interviewer, Ayu's hairflip, her pose, the eyes and mouth work. The entire, somewhat absurd scenario makes me love this interview all of a sudden.


Some favourite quotes:

"It's been four eaaars."

"I hadda to do da"

"Alada my dreams came true."

"Yea, yea. Of course I will. I want to. I was want to - and I will."

"Jay jay gat an amazing voice, you know. I gad goosebams."

"I want to make... (short pause) what I want to make ._."


Perhaps this interview will become one of the most memorable appearances of Ayu, in an ironic but also enjoyable way. I mean, after almost 20 years, there barely exists any similar interview so far.

I still feel she's acting somewhat unprofessional throughout the interview but very human at the same time. Not happy about it but sometimes looking at things with a wink can truly help.

[a❤martian]

I think the whole interview was just super freaking awkward. From the fact that English was neither of their first language, to the interviewer clearly having a set list of polished questions, it just made for a cringe-worthy experience. And because Ayu's answers weren't as prepared as the questions I just got the impression she was just trying to not come off a complete fool. Which is understandable. Some of you may have enjoyed her for her flaws, but its stupid to be mad at her for trying to appear well put together in this interview.