[article] Ayu's year 2000 review & "M" review

[nmskalmn]

Ayu's year 2000 review & "M" review

In the single “M”, ayu used her voice to sing out her personal thoughts once again. Which it actually gave people an impression of “ only ayu can do this ” feeling. She has done a lot in the year 2000. So what ayu think of last year?

Song from hopeless

Before ayu released her 3-in-1 single (Vogue, Far Away and Seasons), she once wanted to express a feeling about hopelessness, which produced from the differences of self and other views. Although that was months ago but she still felt deep when she heard the song now.

“ Now I still have a lot of thoughts flying in my head when I hear “Far Away” and “ Vogue. This is not just about singing the song, but it’s about some sort of hardness, a feeling about gathering bit and pieces of it. However I felt happy when I recall it. I remember that time I used to cage myself in the hotel and kept on listening different types of sounds and voices, and waiting for my friends to chat with me on the night.”

About that “hopeless feeling”, ayu didn’t tried to conclude it or settle it, in fact, it should be needless to do this. When ayu saw those underground music lovers working hard on their music, she will always feel that she was now in a following crowd status. About her title, the “Trend Leader”, she will felt being teased and felt ashamed about it.

The Concert Tour 2000

Actually ayu already preparing for her concert tour 2000 long before her 3 singles. And she really wanted to make an album between the 2 parts of her concert.

“Oh, I was really anxious about it at that time… (Laugh). Usually many things were finished without a glitch. So I thought maybe this time was the same too, but we finally knew how time was really against us when we make the first part of the concert. But the problem is that, we already announce to the public that we have 2 parts confirmed, how can we divide these 2 parts meaningfully without an album? Wow, that was very devastating at that time.”

But because of that, the concert can have a unique designed stage. Anyway ayu was quite unbelievable about her own achievement. She felt that she was great when she saw herself on the Concert’s DVD. Ayu also discover that the staff crew did a lot of skills and make-ups on the stage’s machinery. She also felt a little bit worried because since one has been used before, what to use next time? (aw, isn’t she cute!)

In this concert, every single stage will be modified slightly according to the differences of the venue. According to ayu, every single performance was taped. Due to that they only got 2 day’s time for each place, so the crew will only shoot her on the first day and the dancers on the next day. After the second day, everybody will be gathered and discuss about it carefully before moving to the next venue.

Ayu still can relax although it was going strict with the process. When it comes to the happiest things during the concert, well she will definitely remarks that it is the dancer’s costume that were designed by her.

“When we practiced on a stadium, the dancers wore the costume designed by me, and they were observed by those crews and technicians. I really wanted to cry on the spectator seat. Because that was my masterpiece which were finally being made and wore by the dancers. It was very touching at that moment.”

No wonder she was touched by it. So, all the costumes including hers were actually being designed by ayu herself. But when being asked that is she good at drawing, she replied with a laugh, “very lousy.” And she stated that she had to think a lot when it comes to expressing her thoughts.

About Duty

By the way, ayu once describe the “Duty” as the “Community Album”. But little did she know that this album did bring her some unexpected surprise. The story started on one morning, her studio’s manager suddenly called upon her by phone, telling her that a company wishes to use her lyrics in the album “Duty” as a educate her employees, while saying that “Duty” was their rightful “textbook”. Ayu said that she was relieved and happy after hearing all these because she noted that even mid-aged people would also listen to her songs and view her lyrics.

The Last Song of the 20th Century

To welcome the next millennium, ayu already released her new single, “M” on 13th December. She forgot about the motive of this song, but it’s about a friend told her a story about Mary, before that, she thought that Mary was a saint. But after the story, she know she was wrong since Mary was also a normal female too. And ayu wants to write about original elements of a female that won’t change by time. Therefore, this song was composed with lyrics-music. (Lyrics first, then music). But it is also mentioned that it’s hard to find anymore-suitable melodies for her lyrics.

“ What I want is that, the song must have a cold feeling, but however most of the choices were too warm. Luckily I found a suitable one from over 30 music scores.”

The word “suitable one” is actually mean that ayu have found a music composed by a new composer named “CREA”. According to ayu, it was a hard-to-catch melody, which, it was first a group of low keys followed by a flock of high pitch keys. Therefore she worked very hard on this one. Which means that this is the impression that ayu had about this end-millennium song.

About the Countdown live concert that will be held on the last day of the year 2000, ayu said she remembered that she just want to back at home as quickly as possible in the year 1999. But this time she hoped that she can celebrate the New Year with all her fans. When it comes to her wishes of the year 2001, she said she planned to write some cheerful lyrics. So let us wait for her great lyrics then.

The End.

Translated by Isaac Hiew
9/5/2001

Translated from the magazine J-Point,
VOL. 75 dated 22nd December 2000.