rate Ayumi Hamasaki: The Rate - Part I [Greatful days]

[Graves]

 

 

The Empress of J-Pop herself, Ayumi Hamasaki is the best-selling female artist in Japanese music history.

Her career, spanning over two decades, has been marked by groundbreaking innovations in musical style, fashion, and visual artistry.

From her humble debut album in 1999 to her evolution as a multifaceted artist, Hamasaki has redefined the landscape of pop music in Japan.

Her ability to connect deeply with her audience through her poignant lyrics and powerful performances has garnered her a devoted fan base and cemented her status as a cultural phenomenon and living legend.

 

Through what will hopefully become a series of rates, we are going to explore Ayu's artistic journey, her impact on the music industry, and the lasting legacy she continues to build today!

 

 

 

The Rules

 

1. Copy the PM-friendly list below, or alternatively download the sheets file instead.

2. Listen to each song listed and award it a score between 0 and 10. Decimals are accepted.

3. For one song, your favorite song, feel free to award it the coveted score of 11.

4. Add additional commentary alongside your scores if you feel like it. This is not mandatory!

5. Send your completed list (or excel file) in a PM to me by the deadline of October 6.

6. Stick around for the results and let's have fun!

 

Additional Notes:

- When rating songs with different versions, just go with your favorite - if you like the single version of Endless Sorrow more than the album version then rate that one! Songs with major differences between their versions are represented on the playlist below with both tracks, just to help familiarize you with each of them.

 

- Please note that the video version of kanariya is not on Spotify proper. You might take that version into account when scoring!

 

- Unlike the other hidden tracks, 'flower garden' does not have a separate track position on Spotify. You can instead hear it by listening to the end of the album version of Endless Sorrow.

 

And yes: we are rating the interludes.

 

 

The Songs

 

Part I will focus in on the 1998 - 2004 period of her career, Ayu's most widely successful era.

The songs we'll be rating? Take a look and see...

 

 

 

1. Prologue
2. A Song for ××
3. Hana
4. FRIEND
5. FRIEND II
6. poker face
7. Wishing
8. YOU
9. As if...
10. POWDER SNOW
11. Trust
12. Depend on you
13. SIGNAL
14. from your letter
15. For My Dear...
16. Present

 

17. Two of us (B-side to Depend on you)

 

 

1. Introduction
2. Fly high
3. Trauma
4. And Then
5. immature
6. Boys & Girls
7. TO BE
8. End roll
9. P.S II
10. WHATEVER
11. too late
12. appears
13. monochrome
14. Interlude
15. LOVE ~destiny~ / LOVE ~refrain~
16. Who...

17. kanariya (Hidden track)

 

 

 

1. starting over
2. Duty
3. vogue
4. End of the World
5. SCAR
6. Far away
7. SURREAL
8. AUDIENCE
9. SEASONS
10. teddy bear
11. Key ~eternal tie ver.~
12. girlish

 

13. ever free (B-side to vogue)

 

 

 

1. I am...
2. opening Run
3. Connected
4. UNITE!
5. evolution
6. Naturally
7. NEVER EVER
8. still alone
9. Daybreak
10. taskinlude
11. M
12. A Song is born
13. Dearest
14. no more words
15. Endless sorrow

16. flower garden (Hidden track)

 

 

 

1. everlasting dream
2. WE WISH
3. Real me
4. Free & Easy
5. Heartplace
6. Over
7. HANABI
8. taskinillusion
9. everywhere nowhere
10. July 1st
11. Dolls
12. neverending dream
13. Voyage
14. Close to you
15. independent

16. + (Hidden track)

 

 

 

1. ANGEL'S SONG
2. Greatful days
3. Because of You
4. ourselves
5. HANABI ~episode II~
6. No way to say
7. forgiveness
8. Memorial address (take 2 version)

 

9. theme of a-nation'03 (B-side to &)

 

 

1. Catcher In The Light
2. About You
3. GAME
4. my name's WOMEN
5. WONDERLAND
6. Liar
7. HOPE or PAIN
8. HAPPY ENDING
9. Moments
10. walking proud
11. CAROLS
12. Kaleidoscope
13. INSPIRE
14. HONEY
15. Replace
16. winding road
17. Humming 7/4

 

 

...and these orphans. Consider this the 'extra' section.

 

1. 卒業写真

2. RAINBOW

 

 

And that's it! 107 tracks for rating.

That definitely sounds like a lot (be thankful we're splitting this into parts) but I'm giving you guys a long deadline to work through them.

 

Feel free to tag me in any questions, queries, requests. I'm here to be a gracious host for a change.

 

PM Friendly List

Spoiler

Prologue
A Song for XX
Hana
FRIEND
FRIEND II
poker face
Wishing
YOU
As if...
POWDER SNOW
Trust
Depend on you
SIGNAL
from your letter
For My Dear...
Present
Two of us

 

Introduction
Fly high
Trauma
And Then
immature
Boys & Girls
TO BE
End roll
P.S II
WHATEVER
too late
appears
monochrome
Interlude
LOVE ~destiny~
Who...
kanariya

 

starting over
Duty
vogue
End of the World
SCAR
Far away
SURREAL
AUDIENCE
SEASONS
teddy bear
Key
girlish
ever free

 

I am...
opening Run
Connected
UNITE!
evolution
Naturally
NEVER EVER
still alone
Daybreak
taskinlude
M
A Song is born
Dearest
no more words
Endless sorrow
flower garden

 

everlasting dream
WE WISH
Real me
Free & Easy
Heartplace
Over
HANABI
taskinillusion
everywhere nowhere
July 1st
Dolls
neverending dream
Voyage
Close to you
independent
+

 

ANGEL'S SONG
Greatful days
Because of You
ourselves
HANABI ~episode II~
No way to say
forgiveness
Memorial address
theme of a-nation'03

 

Catcher In The Light
About You
GAME
my name's WOMEN
WONDERLAND
Liar
HOPE or PAIN
HAPPY ENDING
Moments
walking proud
CAROLS
Kaleidoscope
INSPIRE
HONEY
Replace
winding road
Humming 7/4

 

卒業写真
RAINBOW

 

Also consider using this template I've made, if you're a sheets girlie like me:

click me

 

 

Thanks and happy rating, y'all.

 

 

Edited October 19 by Graves

[Graves]

 

 

 

PARTICIPANTS

Spoiler

1. Graves

2. Suilen

3. Kyle-x

4. SA*KURA

5. Invisibility

6. UrMom

7. Curaga

8. Meloetta Carey

9. blueberries

10. Maresia

11. Bad Decisions

12. AMIT

13. Fevesy

14. sanzo

15. Katamari

16. AvadaKedavra

17. confide in me

 

RESULTS

Spoiler

107. + - 5.079

106. Interlude - 5.294

105. For My Dear... - 5.529

104. taskinlude - 5.588

103. A Song is born - 5.629

102. WONDERLAND - 5.853

101. FRIEND - 5.859

100. Wishing - 5.888

99. Prologue - 5.912

98. Humming 7/4 - 6.134

97. Present - 6.197

96. FRIEND II - 6.332

95. starting over - 6.405

94. opening Run - 6.406

93. girlish - 6.435

92. taskinillusion - 6.441

91. Kaleidoscope - 6.547

90. from your letter - 6.582

89. Replace - 6.624

88. flower garden - 6.7

87. neverending dream - 6.718

86. everlasting dream - 6.741

85. Introduction - 6.75
84. teddy bear - 6.829
83. Close to you - 6.972
82. forgiveness - 7.014
81. As if... - 7.062
80. winding road - 7.106
79. SIGNAL - 7.115
78. P.S II - 7.194
77. Catcher In The Light - 7.24
76. UNITE! - 7.253
75. no more words - 7.271
74. Key ~eternal tie ver.~ - 7.282
73. theme of a-nation'03 - 7.312
72. YOU -7.318
71. everywhere nowhere - 7.371

70. Two of us - 7.384
69. independent - 7.435
68. POWDER SNOW - 7.456
67. Hana - 7.5
66. poker face - 7.503
65. HOPE or PAIN - 7.511
64. AUDIENCE - 7.529
63. Liar - 7.535
62. HAPPY ENDING - 7.549
61. Dolls - 7.589

60. 卒業写真 - 7.591
59. SEASONS - 7.735
58. SCAR - 7.8
57. Over - 7.821
56. Free & Easy - 7.841
55. still alone - 7.871
54. LOVE ~destiny~ - 7.882
53. HONEY - 7.888
52. Heartplace - 7.893
51. kanariya - 7.91

50. ANGEL'S SONG - 7.921
49. WE WISH - 7.947
48. ever free - 7.971
47. Trust - 7.976
46. HANABI ~episode II~ - 7.994
45. walking proud - 7.995
44. I am... - 8.065
43. End of the World - 8.071
42. Voyage - 8.076
41. Daybreak - 8.082

40. Memorial address - 8.094
39. Greatful days - 8.156
38. CAROLS - 8.177
37. WHATEVER - 8.206
36. July 1st - 8.318
35. my name's WOMEN - 8.35
34. Dearest - 8.353
33. Far away - 8.379
32. Boys & Girls - 8.432
31. HANABI - 8.435

30. End roll - 8.441

29. too late - 8.495
28. About You - 8.499
27. NEVER EVER - 8.518
26. TO BE - 8.559
25. Naturally - 8.606
24. Who... - 8.615
23. No way to say - 8.665
22. GAME - 8.707
21. And Then - 8.712
20. Endless sorrow - 8.776
19. Real me - 8.782
18. Duty - 8.788
17. Trauma - 8.819
16. vogue - 8.845
15. monochrome - 8.865
14. immature - 8.873
13. INSPIRE - 8.891
12. evolution - 8.924
11. Moments - 9.006
10. ourselves - 9.026
9. Fly high - 9.053
8. Because of You - 9.094
7. Depend on you - 9.147
6. Connected - 9.171
5. appears - 9.176
4. A Song for XX - 9.353
3. RAINBOW - 9.4
2. M - 9.406
1. SURREAL - 9.412

 

 

ALBUM RANKINGS

 

1. LOVEppears - 8.193
2. Memorial address - 8.142
3. Duty - 7.819
4. I am... - 7.789
5. MY STORY - 7.624
6. RAINBOW - 7.466
7. A Song for xx - 7.065

 

Edited October 19 by Graves

[Katamari]

Dddd

 

i was about to say she has like 100 albums

 

this group looks good tho

[Graves]

2 minutes ago, Katamari said:

Dddd

 

i was about to say she has like 100 albums

 

this group looks good tho

the recent albums will be damn lucky if we even make it that far, but let me not start with the negativity.

 

 

[Space Cowboy]

I might do this 

 

Also daily reminder that M is the best song of all time.

[Curaga]

Ayumi, QUEEN!! So excited to do this.

 

Actually, I've been listening a little already, and I am really surprised A Song for ×× isn't as loved as her other early albums. It's kinda becoming my favorite nn

[Suilen]

Very exciting. 

 

 

Heard a certain Maresia wants to participate too but maybe without calling her Ayumid this time.

[Graves]

2 minutes ago, Curaga said:

Ayumi, QUEEN!! So excited to do this.

 

Actually, I've been listening a little already, and I am really surprised A Song for ×× isn't as loved as her other early albums. It's kinda becoming my favorite nn

Your favorite? Eye-

 

 

I mean power to you, I think every album deserves their cheerleaders. Your taste continues to astound and gag me.

[Suilen]

4 minutes ago, Curaga said:

Ayumi, QUEEN!! So excited to do this.

 

Actually, I've been listening a little already, and I am really surprised A Song for ×× isn't as loved as her other early albums. It's kinda becoming my favorite nn

 i need you to stan My Story because someone has to

 

[Curaga]

1 minute ago, Suilen said:

 i need you to stan My Story because someone has to

 

No My Story stans here?

Inchresting...

 

[Suilen]

14 minutes ago, Curaga said:

No My Story stans here?

Inchresting...

 

I like it but I can tell that some of it is going down in the first update.

 

 

Anyway, I already revisited the good part of her discography earlier this year so this won't take long. M is obviously a masterpiece etc but I feel like it got its flowers in the singles rate so I'll focus on uplifting something underrated.

[Graves]

M is a classic, but it's not even in the running for my 11 I fear.

 

[4Walls]

Omggg so doing this 

 

LETS GOOOOOO MY STORY !!!!

[Curaga]

Looks like I'm already off the hook

[Graves]

Just now, Curaga said:

Looks like I'm already off the hook

 

[Suilen]

6 minutes ago, Curaga said:

Looks like I'm already off the hook

You can still turn out to be a hater so no

 

[Curaga]

8 minutes ago, Suilen said:

M is obviously a masterpiece

nnnn the way I unintentionally lied about hearing M for the 1st time when you posted it earlier  Apparently I had heard it a couples times before but didn't recognize it when I watched the video. You'll have to forgive me for not having all her songs (or even all her hits) memorized. 

 

Spoiler

Maybe I am partially deaf aagsjdjuwhwha 

 

5 minutes ago, Suilen said:

You can still turn out to be a hater so no

 

No worries  That's not the album I will be hating on this time 

[Graves]

3 minutes ago, Curaga said:

Maybe I am partially deaf aagsjdjuwhwha 

Then perhaps you can give us insider information on how the later albums sounded to Ayu when she decided they were ready for release.

 

[AMIT]

the way I already know y'all will undeservedly tank debut

 

As If..., For My Dear, POWER SNOW, Trust, Depend on You, from your letter, the title track... like those are all CLASSICS and deserve their flowers

 

[Curaga]

5 minutes ago, Graves said:

Then perhaps you can give us insider information on how the later albums sounded to Ayu when she decided they were ready for release.

 

JESUS

[Suilen]

4 minutes ago, AMIT said:

the way I already know y'all will undeservedly tank debut

 

As If..., For My Dear, POWER SNOW, Trust, Depend on You, from your letter, the title track... like those are all CLASSICS and deserve their flowers

 

Gaga not mentioned, I'm safe

 

[AMIT]

5 minutes ago, Suilen said:

Gaga not mentioned, I'm safe

 

yeah the actual debut single is kinda mid, especially compared to the smashes I listed, I'll give you that

 

[Graves]

18 minutes ago, AMIT said:

the way I already know y'all will undeservedly tank debut

 

As If..., For My Dear, POWER SNOW, Trust, Depend on You, from your letter, the title track... like those are all CLASSICS and deserve their flowers

 

I'll give you POWDER SNOW, Trust and the title track.

 

[blackoutbaby]

OMG MY FAVE! THE EMPRESS HERSELF! I'm DEFINITELY participating.

 

Spoiler alert - Godty is 10s 10s 10s across the board for being her best album

[blackoutbaby]

25 minutes ago, AMIT said:

the way I already know y'all will undeservedly tank debut

 

As If..., For My Dear, POWER SNOW, Trust, Depend on You, from your letter, the title track... like those are all CLASSICS and deserve their flowers

 

Never. It's a great album, especially for a debut