FLOWER & Mad World (Short ver. MVs on YouTube)

[YakuSoku]

And I thought, FLOWER was recorded when she didn´t has her hair cut
Crucial, how the wig seems to be present

Oh and don´t use words like "hate"- it´s such a strong word to be wasted only for a video.
It almost seems like a inflational word, like the meaning is losing its original fierceness...

[DevilHunter_04]

I like both pv's so far but I can't wait to see the rest of Mad World's. It's my favorite song from the album so far and watching the video gave me such chills.

[kotora]

FLOWER: I can feel the mental, psychopath scary part of ayu from the PV. Well done. I have never felt that when I watch her PV

Mad World: I like she used her old videos in the PV. Simple yet meaningful.

I think the only one thing I don't like in this album is Winter Dairy PV.. I don't like that song and PV.

[BlackSilence]

I've watched the videos at work, and did that now again. I have to say i really like these.

Flower was...how to put it. The first 20 seconds or so she's being so graceful and elegant and stuff, but it looks so...sarcastic. And then she just goes berserk. And that sort of amateurish fillming style. I dunno i love the raw emotion in it. Exagerated and overdid. It works perefectly for the song. And it does remind me of Lico from Helter Skelter.

Mad world, that one wa just beautiful. The subtle atmosphere and simplicity. It goes great with the song. And that Ayu portrayal versus Ayumi Hamasaki is very well done.

I think this whole album is mature but yet still very Ayu in all ways. There are a few details that could have been better, but this is by far the best for me from recent years. A trully solid pack of puzzle that go well together. And i'm actually kind of glad she didn't go the traditional rote. I think everything works really well.

[Gustavopc]

Originally Posted by artcika

I've watched the videos at work, and did that now again. I have to say i really like these.

Flower was...how to put it. The first 20 seconds or so she's being so graceful and elegant and stuff, but it looks so...sarcastic. And then she just goes berserk. And that sort of amateurish fillming style. I dunno i love the raw emotion in it. Exagerated and overdid. It works perefectly for the song. And it does remind me of Lico from Helter Skelter.

Mad world, that one wa just beautiful. The subtle atmosphere and simplicity. It goes great with the song. And that Ayu portrayal versus Ayumi Hamasaki is very well done.

I think this whole album is mature but yet still very Ayu in all ways. There are a few details that could have been better, but this is by far the best for me from recent years. A trully solid pack of puzzle that go well together. And i'm actually kind of glad she didn't go the traditional rote. I think everything works really well.

omg yES!!! I was trying to remember who she was reminding me of in the video, and that's totally Lilico! Even the butterflies in her dress give it a Helter Skelter vibe.

[TheRainbow]

Why does it need to be original or shocking to be a valid form of expression? I can see why you'd find it tiring, I just don't see why ideas can't be repeated as long as it isn't an absolute replica, especially as a mainstream artist.

Edit: Should also add, why not repeat them when the artist feels it is honest? After all, there's always a new group of people that won't have seen the trope before.

[DonkeyKongRemix]

Originally Posted by TheRainbow

Why does it need to be original or shocking to be a valid form of expression? I can see why you'd find it tiring, I just don't see why ideas can't be repeated as long as it isn't an absolute replica, especially as a mainstream artist.

I agree.

I'm nothing but content with these PVs.

[cosmicfirefly]

I like the previews, I don't have a problem with her acting in FLOWER. I think it suits the song and reminds me of her acting in Mirrorcle World like over the top on purpose. I kind of imagined Mad World to be something similar to what she did so I'm happy with it, and I love that she included the older clips in the background.

[primavera♥]

But I really don't understand how Hikari is beautifully executed but Mad World isn't? Like, in what universe? Mad World is on par with many of ayus PVs old and new.
It is interesting to me and I really enjoy the vibe of it. It doesn't feel tired at all. I think what she is trying to say is as interesting as any of her other more simplistic PVs.

I can understand with flower because it wasn't executed well and her acting is too much. But Mad World? Hikari? Really?

And for whoever said ayu doesn't care about what anyone thinks so why would she portray legitimate emotions in music videos (and I'm guessing her music)? You sound someone in a relationship making some irrational arguments and connecting things that don't even make sense. Lol, ayu is a still a person, with connections to her music, opinions, emotions, views of the worldworld, etc. Not catering to certain expectations or desires does not equal not putting emotion into artwork. You just sound bitter that she even ever expresses negative emotion anymore because she's so privileged.

[EndOfTheWorld]

FLOWER PV: I thought she looked sooo beautiful in that video. I would say it is one of my favorite Ayu looks, the hair and makeup and dress just looked so good to me. When she started ripping up the dress I was kinda sad. I did not like the acting, I thought it was a little too much, making it awkward. But it's passable. So far not my favorite PV but it has some good qualities. I have to see more first.

MAD WORLD PV: I don't know what to think of this PV to be honest. The preview doesn't give away too much. Just black and white with Ayu standing there with retro footage being shown. Then this black ink like stuff appears. I like it so far but I think we need to see the whole thing first to really understand it.

As for all the negativity in this thread. I can see why some people may not like these videos and some people list valid reasons why. But they are only PVs after all, don't freak out over it. One of the good things about being an Ayu fan is that if you aren't really in love with the current era, the next album is only 1 year away.

[BlackSilence]

I find it ironic that everyone is saying she's overreacting in Flower. I can totally see here going"oh so that's what you want? is this hand graceful enough?no? how about now? Does that profile look good? Is my lipsynching perfect?" in a cutesy voice. And then she goes on and rips everything appart being ridiculously over the top like "Fuck you! I'm no longer taking all of this BS." This video can pretty much be taken as "I am tired of this whole nonsence, i'm just gonna be ME. Take it or leave.". It's like she's kinda laughing in people's faces in it. Kind of trolling everyone, on purpose. LOL Or maybe i'm just looking too much into it. But i like that.

[Andrenekoi]

I believe Flower is more about Ayu as a woman than it is about Ayu the superstar... Felt like she breaking down under the pressure of what is expected for a woman in Japan.

[BlackSilence]

it's kind of the same thing though. She's supposed to be perfection either way and she hasn't been neither of those for the past few years in the eyes of japanese people. Even if you take it as a woman thing, the whole scenario fits just right for that too.

[ayu-michan]

Rewatching Flower I can agree that the "amateur-looking" way of filming adds onto the overall rawness she's trying to show us, and that's
really good because thank god it's growing on me, I don't think I dislike any of the videos

[BlackSilence]

As for mad world. With some saying how she was made in japan and destroyed by it. I think the whole song being a methaphor for her own career and life is a very acuraate guess. The whole entertainment industry is. They make these trees grow and bloom aka they let all these people reach for the sun and for their dreams, but if they don't grow in the direction they want, it's done. I mean look at how many idols and entertainment people have had sucess but then one single slip and it was all over because japan doesn't know how to forgive them? That video makes perfect sense. If the black ink is thrown at the "Hamasaki Ayumi" the Ayu that is "hiding" there is smeared up in the whole thing too. And it's not the image of the popstar that has to deal with it, but the human bechind it.

[oaristos]

I thought it was obvious that the overacting in FLOWER was intentional, just like in Don't look back (that's the first example that comes to my mind). I also believe that the "amateurism" in the video makes it even more raw.

I know that people are entitled to their opinions but I find it impossible to understand how Hikari is "beautiful and well-executed" while FLOWER and Mad World are cheap and crappy. I bet y'all didn't find amazing a footage of Utada washing dishes back when the video was released

[Beauty4123]

I, for one, can't stop watching these videos. I hate how they cut off at such exciting moments, when it's all about to get so much better (especially for "Mad World") But anyway...like I've said, I can't stop watching. I just love the concept/theme/style of it all: they may be simple, but I've pretty much gotten used to these kinds of videos within the past two years. It's nice to have a bit of an difference, for a change! I love the scenes of ayu (looking gorgeous! ) in that black dress, while in the ink in "Mad World" - and "FLOWER" has got so much going on with ayu, that I just reeeally want to watch more! I adore her very Japanese-styled dress/make-up, though...at least until it all gets ruined.

I'm seriously hoping the full videos will be available, pretty soon! But for now, it's repeating these short versions, I go~

[hamasaki_edwin]

I expected FLOWER video to go Japanese-y oriental-styled theme, but this one surprised me... in a better positive way. Somehow it reminds me of Ladies Night PV.. Maybe because of the hotel atmosphere/the butterfly detail. For Mad World, I really really adore her natural style in that white T-shirt. Made me curious the very beginning scene, where she come from before she walk into the stage..

[tokyoxjapanxfan]

Being blind to seeing how people -could- like something is just as bad, tbh.

This is a forum based on a specific fandom. Having people here defending said fandom should not be surprising. Especially after having been here for awhile.

The way people word their negative feelings is usually what causes the frustration. No one here has claimed these to be the best videos she's ever released. (Although even if they did this shouldn't be a problem)

They're not the most expensive the more beautiful the most exotic. But to use these things in order to claim that they're horrible thoughtless pieces of trash and to then insult the people who do like them as if their tastes are so awful and that we're planets away in terms of taste, is certainly going to push buttons. And I'm guessing most people know this when they post such comments.

[chocopockymaster]

I would be more inclined to believe the overacting in FLOWER was intentional if she hadn't started the really-bad-overacting trend back around the time of Love songs/RNRC 7 days final.