Should Ayumi take a hiatus?

[asmAyumi1992]

I can't believe I said this. But, I don't mind anyway.

[INSPIREme]

I think it would be great for her to take a break. For years and years it was single, single, single, video, video, video, video, video, album, tour, calendars, books, promotion, promotion, promotion - rinse and repeat. I know that's very much how the Japanese music industry works but it's crazy!

Things have slowed down recently, single output has dropped to more-or-less nothing. As was previously said there hasn't been an especially extravagant video since the NEXT LEVEL album. Maybe the stuff that has come out hasn't been as focused. I think if she took a year off, even six months, she'd come back refreshed, refocused and full of ideas.

And yeah, please get rid of Leslie Kee. That face he gets her to pull in every single photograph he takes of her... Why doesn't he just photograph sex dolls for a catalogue or something?

[yizhihenanjing]

I know it s unfair for her to continue working without a break. But please, im so scared someday she will no longer sing. I feel so happy that every year she still releases an album. Im scared she will stop singing since album Next level without reason. I am so happy that she has still released album after that til now. Ayu, please keep on singing, I still want more of her music, each album is a masterpiece!!!

[elaniel]

I think she needs to go back to some sort of release pattern, I don't think a break is needed, maybe just spread out a bit more. Instead of just drop an album here or there, have a few singles that lead up to it. So she can build towards a theme and have time to work an album together cohesively.

Maybe a Namie pattern? When a single is ready and feels right it's released. Then they lead to an album and she takes a break and then comes back a while later with a new single.

[No_Doubt]

Originally Posted by elaniel

I think she needs to go back to some sort of release pattern, I don't think a break is needed, maybe just spread out a bit more. Instead of just drop an album here or there, have a few singles that lead up to it. So she can build towards a theme and have time to work an album together cohesively.

Maybe a Namie pattern? When a single is ready and feels right it's released. Then they lead to an album and she takes a break and then comes back a while later with a new single.

Yeah, this is exactly how I feel. A slower release schedule would be nice. I'd love for her to regain her popularity the way Namie has.

[SKYia]

No, because I don't think a hiatus will improve her music and however selfishly that sounds, I can't function without her music, I need new stuff all the time, I just wish she wasn't so random with her releases, some concept would be nice.

On the other hand maybe I need new stuff all the time because what she produces now isn't good enough to last? xD

Still don't believe a hiatus would fix that, her taste has simple chanched (or mine has changed) and I'm not impressed with what she likes / wants anymore...

[kimmeh]

I don't think a full hiatus is needed, but more time between albums. Like 2 maybe..

[Max Power]

Maybe a vacation/holiday, but not a hiatus. She seems to work very hard, and could use a break, but maybe just for a few weeks or a month, IMHO.

[ExodusUK]

No. I find it weird when people go on about wanting people to take breaks or hiatus (see Rihanna as another example)..um people don't tell directors, nurses, cops, bakers, painters, composers, etc to take breaks or hiatus...it's such a weird notion to me. Ayumi is an artist and singer, that's her primary purpose on this Earth (as she's said so herself countless time) why she should take a break from it? Perhaps people need to take a break/hiatus from being a fan if they're unhappy about Ayu's output.

[koumori]

Originally Posted by ExodusUK

No. I find it weird when people go on about wanting people to take breaks or hiatus (see Rihanna as another example)..um people don't tell directors, nurses, cops, bakers, painters, composers, etc to take breaks or hiatus...it's such a weird notion to me. Ayumi is an artist and singer, that's her primary purpose on this Earth (as she's said so herself countless time) why she should take a break from it? Perhaps people need to take a break/hiatus from being a fan if they're unhappy about Ayu's output.

People tell composers to take hiatus' all the time so they get more inspiration. Apart from that, the other jobs you listed don't really depend on creativity output..also, Ayu's made it clear she lets her current emotions and state of mind affect her work completely. So taking time to get new experiences would logically (but obviously not necessarily) enable her to have more inspiration for her future work.

I'm satisfied by her recent albums, but I do prefer her past work and sometimes I feel that she should take a few months out just to work on one album and really concentrate on capturing some quality. Obviously, some people feel her last few albums have been her best - so it's all down to interpretation and opinion. Just thought I'd represent the other side here.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by Koumori

People tell composers to take hiatus' all the time so they get more inspiration. Apart from that, the other jobs you listed don't really depend on creativity output..also, Ayu's made it clear she lets her current emotions and state of mind affect her work completely. So taking time to get new experiences would logically (but obviously not necessarily) enable her to have more inspiration for her future work.

I'm satisfied by her recent albums, but I do prefer her past work and sometimes I feel that she should take a few months out just to work on one album and really concentrate on capturing some quality. Obviously, some people feel her last few albums have been her best - so it's all down to interpretation and opinion. Just thought I'd represent the other side here.

Originally Posted by ExodusUK

No. I find it weird when people go on about wanting people to take breaks or hiatus (see Rihanna as another example)..um people don't tell directors, nurses, cops, bakers, painters, composers, etc to take breaks or hiatus...it's such a weird notion to me. Ayumi is an artist and singer, that's her primary purpose on this Earth (as she's said so herself countless time) why she should take a break from it? Perhaps people need to take a break/hiatus from being a fan if they're unhappy about Ayu's output.

Well, actually, any good professional from any area will need a lot of criativity, but those use it kind a lot.

About Ayu, she only write lyrics... apart from that she picks compositions from other people, doesn't design her stagers, her outfits, etc. Even if she chooses the direction her career and projets will take, she is not doing it all by herself, and never really did.

Also, people over here tend to consider anything they dislike "rushed", and as far as we know at least (most of) Party Queen and LOVE again tracks were recorded some months before the albums were released.

[mi|kshake]

^Yeah, I wish I could take a break from my work and come back when I feel like it!

I'm happy with her release schedule - I enjoy getting an Ayumi album every year!

mi|kshake~

[AyuGAME]

I think she don't need it...

what she need is new arranger, new composer, new director, new stylish, new team...
but i think Ayu love working with the same people again and again...

[DA1SUK1DAY01691]

After becoming used to the Western release schedule (a new single a year with an album almost every other), I actually wouldn't mind if Ayu took over a year to produce an album. If she cools down her release schedule a little—maybe two to three singles per year and an album every other or so—I feel like she'll gain traction when it comes to theming albums and getting a better executed finish.

[mon chan]

I think she should take a longer break between 2 albums, 1 album for 2 years is enough. I don't think she will make a hiatus when fans are all around and used to getting her new stuff every yr=))). Her recent stuff are quite boring, sometimes I feel Ayu is lost in musical direction and run out of ideas, just keep releasing albums at fast pace just for completing her yearly schedule.
I don't think someday she can make millions mark again with her albums, but at least, it takes time for new ideas, new life experience to refresh music, not only to serve fanbase but to create smt worth listening for new fans.

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

No way, I think it's perfectly fine.

It may increase sales when she returns, but I don't think the quality of her music has dropped at all. So there's no reason to take a hiatus, especially considering I don't think she cares too much about the sales and chart positions at this point.

[Surreal17]

Originally Posted by Pieces_of_SEVEN

No way, I think it's perfectly fine.

It may increase sales when she returns, but I don't think the quality of her music has dropped at all. So there's no reason to take a hiatus, especially considering I don't think she cares too much about the sales and chart positions at this point.

You're perfectly right. I think that her music is still very good. It doesn't matter the time she takes for every album,the one thing that matters is the inspiration (ayu always gets inspiration from things that other people wouldn't even notice). I've seen artists coming back after a long wait with disappointing music. And after all, we are all subjective when it comes to music.

[asagarichan]

No, she's doing what she loves and she's still doing fine.

[fairygirl]

yes

[njanjayrp]

Don't really think she should, but as long as it's not a long one, it's oke I guess..