Secret, six years later

[Bigtop]

Remember November 29, 2006? That was the release of ayu's eighth studio album (and the last before the streak was broken), "Secret".

This was the first album I've ever listened to in terms of not only Ayumi Hamasaki, but also Japanese pop in general. Yep, this was the album that started my Japanese pop craze, and that has been going on for six years.

And the reason why: I was checking Wikipedia...and it's all on her tattoo! That got me interested into Japanese pop, and that's how I got there the first place.

I also remember when she sang the song "JEWEL" for much of her promotion; in fact, that was the song that I actually "fell in love" when I first got started knowing about Japanese pop.

Anyways, any memories that you want to share from the time we were talking about "Secret" and related stuff back six years ago (and the fact that Twitter wasn't even a talk here at that time!?)? Share us your comments here.

BONUS! Thanks Aderianu for these high-quality pictures! Just in time for the "Secret" 6th anniversary!

Originally Posted by Aderianu

updated Secret

[Party_King]

ohhhh... i remeber this sooo fu**in good
since a long time i was a fan of her,
but i never got news about new albums or singles bevor they were released...
but Secret was my first album i had the whole hype with...
Startin' is one of my favorite ayu songs ever... and i lost my mp3 rip a few weeks after it's release... so i had to wait for this album...
and i remember really good the time while the discussion of 1 LOVE/JEWEL was...
such a nice time for me... so different *-*
sooo still after 6 years, Secret has it's own place in my heart
and in my favorite album-list it's still no.2... [after (miss) understood]
aaand one last thing i have to say... for me this album never get old!


JUST 1 LOOOVE <3

[Delicious n Bold]

I only got into Ayu seriously this year
But secret was my 1st ayu album that I listened to fully.
That or love songs, but that doesn't matter
Point is: it took love songs 4-5 months to click but secret was instant and I still like it.
It was gives me epic nostalgia trips.

[TeamAyu2004]

this is the album where ayumi started to go down hill for me... =(
BUT i will say after all these years I have come to enjoy the album very much!

[happiholic★]

I was already into Ayu at this point, but I do remember loving the D-Snap commercial for 1 LOVE and thinking she was too skinny on the cover of the album. I know its all photoshop, but still.

[asagarichan]

I very much love this album. In so many great songs that burrows into the heart. They are so attached to my life, the events that took place several years ago. I can say that this is the best album. But this is my personal opinion

[Andrenekoi]

The first Ayu album I ever loved was (miss)understood, so, I was completely hyped over Secret... Now I find it to be among her worst.

[Gustavopc]

I never really liked Secret. While I love a handful of the songs, the other half is forgettable for me - though I can see why many people love it. I also love all it PVs, otoh I hate the covers Everything balances in this album for me, so for ayu standards, it's an okay album~

But hey happy 6th anniversary, Secret

[Chibi-Chan]

I was already into Ayu when Secret was released. I remember that it was my first Ayu CD I got as a present for christmas and I was listening to momentum and kiss o' kill the whole winter/christmas time. So I always think of christmas when I hear kiss 'o kill.

[Andrenekoi]

To be fair, Blue Bird was a big hit in Asia, wasn't it? It seens like a lot of her most recent Asian fans knew her through this song and album.

[Jennie Mae]

SIX YEARS?? How the time does fly.
For me, the best thing to come out of Secret was her interview with CNN Talk Asia, in which she promoted her album IN ENGLISH. It was the first time we really got to hear her speak English in like full sentences. And at the end when she says she will go anywhere in the world if they listen to her... still gets me every time.

[cdy2010]

Secret was always a memorable album, say what you want but her quality of songs began to go down after Secret, shes been hit and miss ever since. Secret was probably the last solid album she made. Guilty, Next Level, love songs, Five were okay in their respective ways but Secret was solid. The entire album was enjoyable. I'd love to see Ayumi release another album like Secret.

[NintendoHTF1242]

I used to LOVE JEWEL so much. Back when I was casually getting into Ayu, I spammed JEWEL.

[primavera♥]

JEWEL is perfection and so is the mv.

With Secret as an album, it's one of my least favorite ayu albums, which still means it's good. But it's not that special to me. But I love LABYRINTH, Kiss o' Kill, JEWEL and other songs too. So yeah, I like all the songs. It's just not the best really.

[microphone]

Secret is one of my favorites. BLUE BIRD and momentum are dear to me. Beautiful Fighters, kiss'o'kill (Did I spell that right?), Secret and JEWEL deserve praise too.

[Kouyou]

I wasn't an Ayu fan until right before glitter/fated was released, but the songs and PVs from this album still really influenced my fandom because they were some of her most recent at the time. 1 LOVE is still one of my favorite Ayu PVs. I remember listening to BLUE BIRD and Beautiful Fighters for the first time and not being able to understand why people liked BLUE BIRD better, haha.

[mi|kshake]

Secret reminds me of the CNN interview. I remember asking me step-dad to record it on DVD for me as it was on at some random time (and I could never work recordable DVD players!).

I also remember getting the album as a present for Xmas and watching Momentum on Xmas morning. I miss getting an Ayu album for Christmas. (Again will never make it on time)

mi|kshake~

[xLuna&1LOVE]

Ah, really? Then it is 6 years for me now when I start listening to her! So cool!
I still love Secret, so many good songs on that one! Damn, im gonna listen to it now!

[isthisLOL?]

I think Secret is a very good Pop album. I don't think it's up to her usual level of excellence though - especially as an album that's sandwiched between (miss)understood and GUILTY. It really has many of the same characteristics FIVE and LOVE, her later EPs, have. It obviously was supposed to be one at first.

[SunshineSlayer]

I've always liked Secret a lot. I think the first 3 tracks are probably the strongest opening of any of her albums. After that the album falls a bit, but still overall excellent.