[2004] Ayumi PVs and American People...

[shinji1698]

Some of her videos are filmed else where... Probably in LA

Maybe they use "White" People to get more attention. I don't think Ayu personally picks the people that are going to be on the videos. I would think that the Director's have a say in this. Maybe "white" people draw more attention to the videos which results on more records sold. But I dunno i could be wrong.

[PeaNuTs]

Actually Japanese have a thing for "white" people because of the way they look... like their different hair, coloured eyes and their like tall. They call them 'gaigin', they really like "white" people cos they soo very different from them... i mean like thats y people dye their hair right?? cos they wan it to b different from everyone elses (thats if u hav dark hair)... i can go into it awhole lot but i wont... its a social thing... i read it from sum book about Japanese today society

i mean if u think about it she's(ayumi) is pretty much trying to look like the "white" people wif the whole blondish hair... almost blending in....

[squirty]

Well, I think I read somewhere that the Caucasuins (sp?) are actually from American Naval or Army Bases in Japan. I think that would make sense... maybe? But about Ayumi having white people in her videos, there was a whole article here that talks about subservient stereotypes in Japanese women &Western influence. It's not a perfect explanation, but it's a pretty interesting read.

Well that brings out another question. Why does she only use japanese dancers at her concerts? I've seen most of her concerts and I've noticed that 99% of her dancers/back up singers are japanese. Maybe she puts "white" people on her videos and japanese at her concerts? I dunno just thought I should bring this out.

[Melodie]

We're all people... it shouldn't matter where they're from. If a British artist used a French actor in their video there's a chance you wouldn't notice. Or care, for that matter.
Sometimes perhaps there's a meaning, but other than that, I don't see why so many fans pay attention to this.

[gothicayu]

Originally Posted by Corybobory

I think you mean to say white, not americain...
I think, just as English is hip and cool, white faces are hip and cool. That's just my guess...

yes i think white is more appropriate . i think white people are more " exotic " in japan than if they cast asian people . look at japanese fashion magazines like vivi most of the model are half japanese half white they are not fully japanese

[emi♡]

old school thread lol

^@gothicayu: that's true. The look of their models is very interesting to me.

[happiholic★]

My favorite non-Japanese person in Ayu's PVs is that little boy who asks "Do you want a blue candy?" in walking proud. He's so cute!

I think that she uses Non-Japanese people to make the video get the right feeling. Like, in Startin', I think it's supposed to look something like Britney Spears' Toxic, so it features a lot of black and white people.

[Enfluerage]

Originally Posted by akatsuki

and you forgot endless sorrow PV....

hi !

endless sorrow is probably my favourite pv (of any artist). there is so much hidden meaning in the pv.

same with free & easy. many people might identify with jehanne d'arc for:
being a freedom fighter in a war or if someone likes medieval history.
but it appears ayumi doesn't identify with jehanne for such reasons.

have you noticed ayumi tries to remind everyone "asia is one", "the world is one", "1 LOVE". did you notice for the last song at the asia tour 07, she wore a shirt with the words "team message" as she sung "who..." ?

it's so fascinating to observe ayumi, her pvs and her concerts... if she really is similar to jehanne, wouldn't this be so shocking ? if she is indeed "fated" to "glitter" and is one those who are "the light of the world" wouldn't this explain why she uses so many foreign actors ?

"of all the nations"
"Go everywhere and announce the Message"

[ohsixthirty]

^you know that Team Message is just a Japanese clothing brand that collaborates with Ayumi for her concert shirts?

[AyUta]

I always wondered that too.

[Enfluerage]

Originally Posted by ohsixthirty

^you know that Team Message is just a Japanese clothing brand that collaborates with Ayumi for her concert shirts?

[apologies to everyone, i've edited what i wrote below]

i was aware that team message is a clothing brand.
but it's interesting that one alphabet of the team message clothing brand is changed, just for ayumi's concerts.

A

"A" is often what you always see in her concerts, cd-covers, necklaces etc...
and in her concerts, another theme such as lowering from the roof is

O

she also typically wears something else around her neck, eg: in 2001 dome tour for endless sorrow.


my theory is that:
ayumi sings about selfless love and freedom - to people of different nations.
ayumi really believes what she sings (truth, sincerity, honesty).
ayumi is someone i really respect.
ayumi seems to be like a good samaritan - and offers selfless and voluntary love, through her singing voice to reach whoever, in different nations.

and i feel this theory explains why foreign actors are used.



"A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man's condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I'll pay you on my way back.'

"What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?"

[Nukaru]

^ If you really listen to 1Love it's not about uniting all the nations, it's about her will to change things.
"I go before I get sleepy with it -- What I want is JUST 1 LOVE
It's my nature to always get out of the line somehow
If you want to hurt me, feel as free as you like with sharp words
I can't follow someone that goes ahead of me."
She wants more exitement and isn't satisfied with anything until she gets it.

The A is the first letter in Ayumi's name and she never stated that it has a deeper meaning than that. The logo for Team Message was designed for Ayumi, so it's no wonder she's using/wearing it.


IMO, Using western people in a PV is a social thing. In Japan everything that's different is highly wanted by the younger japanese public.

Originally Posted by PeaNuTs

They call them 'gaigin', they really like "white" people cos they soo very different from them...

Gaijin (外[outside]+人[people]) is actually a politically incorrect word and is avoided by most japanese and furthermore the japanese media, because it was a term for people not accepted into the community.

[C+R+E+AYUMI]

i think they're just fascinated by caucasian/western people..it's typical of the modern japanese culture