Ayu's Lyricism

[DA1SUK1DAY01691]

I'm not sure whether it fits here (and long time no post!), but I was just thinking about this not too long ago. I've been a fan since 2000 (~SEASONS), and joined AHS when I finally got reliable internet access (for myself) in 2005. That being said, I was also 14 at the time.

Being 27 now, looking back at Ayumi's lyrics, I'm taken aback at how incredibly deep/good her lyrics are for the age that she wrote them. To think she wrote A Song for XX at 19/20, almost the entire Memorial Address mini-album/EP at 23, and songs like Mirrorcle World at 28 and Love Song around her 30s, it's not as surprising to remember just how big of a cultural phenomenon she was.

I wanted to share this in a separate thread because I'm sure everyone had their epiphany with Ayumi's lyrics, and was curious to see if we all had the same realizations or consideration of her age. I often cite her as one of (if not my favorite) lyricists, and can't imagine having had the same eloquence to convey the thoughts she did when I was that age.

[Norrel]

I agree! I was about 13 or so back when I first got into Ayu, and now I'm 25. Then, I hardly payed attention to her lyrics but now that I'm older, reading the lyrics for songs like Surreal, Happy Ending, Evolution, etc. it's CRAZY just how well written these songs are. I've showed her videos to friends with English subtitles on, and they're always shook!

[melissalove]

I too am surprised on how on point her earlier works were lyrcs wise. She was just 19 or so and I can relate to so much even now. How can a young girl have so much knowledge about life at such a young age. Never seems to amaze me. I won’t go any further and mention. Seasons “Today was fun, and tomorrow will surely be fun as well."These days will continue forever," or so I thought at the time.” dealing with loss and how life changed for me and also for those around me. I went back to this not to long ago and said my god she was right.

[DA1SUK1DAY01691]

Originally Posted by Norrel

I agree! I was about 13 or so back when I first got into Ayu, and now I'm 25. Then, I hardly payed attention to her lyrics but now that I'm older, reading the lyrics for songs like Surreal, Happy Ending, Evolution, etc. it's CRAZY just how well written these songs are. I've showed her videos to friends with English subtitles on, and they're always shook!

Exactly! I took it for granted that the big majority of Japanese music is as lyrically good as Ayu (because it really was at the time), but looking back at it now, that was the Golden Age of Japanese music IMO. A large amount of singers/artists at their peak, all releasing stuff we consider classics or staples now.

Even Utada Hikaru's Distance album (the one that "competed" with A BEST) was written when she was just 16/17! To think that week/month/year in music was dominated by two self-penned "girls" (I'm sure Ayu felt she was a "girl" and not a "woman" yet) with a combined age under 40...

[sitara]

i remember checking out ayu's discography in 2005 for the first time iirc; and jpop was definitely still quite strange for me. the whole musical composition was something i had to get used to before i could properly enjoy it.

it definitely was *not* ayu's voice that won me over (too high pitched) i was just checking out the most famous person in music over there.
but her bizarrely profound lyrics came to me as a shock. a very positive shock mind you, i remember thinking "wait, you are the most famous popstar of japan; how is it possible to be so profound and deep with your writing at the same time??" how does she find the perfect words with such ease?

that sounded really corny, but these were my thoughts back then. it definitely messed with my idea of a pop princess; I'm not used to somebody famous in the mainstream realm to be dishing out such quality work in such a small amount of time.

[indigochild]

She's definitely something special that I think we tend to forget especially nowadays how special she was and still is. Sure she may not be delivering strong material (musically and lyrically) recently, but let's not erase the face that this is the same woman who wrote A Song For XX, Moments, appears, RAINBOW, Memorial address, (miss)understood, fairyland, JEWEL, SEASONS and so on at such an early age. Songs we all related to in one way or another and not on a superficial level, but something that made us look deep into ourselves. Her lyrics will forever be the reason I became a fan.

[Andrenekoi]

^I can't really take people who complains about her current lyrics seriously.

[Amalgam]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

^I can't really take people who complains about her current lyrics seriously.

That’s a bad attitude to have. I understand that she gets shat on a lot by “fans” but repetitive lyrics are to be expected by someone with a song catalog as big as it is, pointing it out and discussing that isn’t the worst thing ever.
Now, if people are bashing Ayu for something dumb like being fat (just an example) then I’d take issue. You just have to remember that the people who are criticizing are probably just fans who are upset and don’t take the time to explain their reasoning

[indigochild]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

^I can't really take people who complains about her current lyrics seriously.

She's definitely gotten better recently but bits of Party Queen, LOVE again and Colours (which is my favourite album regardless) were weak af lyrically.

[Andrenekoi]

^What lyrics form Party Queen and LOVE again do you find to be weak?

[Aderianu]

I think Party Queen (album) has most strong lyrics after A Song for XX

[melissalove]

Originally Posted by Aderianu

I think Party Queen (album) has most strong lyrics after A Song for XX

Agreed.

[Evan Odinson]

Originally Posted by Aderianu

I think Party Queen (album) has most strong lyrics after A Song for XX

PREACH IT

But yes, when it comes to lyrics Ayu is really special, one of the reasons I felt in love with her as an artist and will forever love her, I can connect every single important moment of my life with one of her songs/lyrics, happy or sad, there's an ayu song (and lyric) that comes with my memories.

[primavera♥]

Originally Posted by Aderianu

I think Party Queen (album) has most strong lyrics after A Song for XX

Say that


Party Queen is one of my favorites lyrically