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


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Posted

the three-track run at the end of Dutty was everything to me, I'm a little shocked they all did this bad

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Posted

73.png

 

29th Single「&
Track #4 on &

 

HIGH SCORE: 10 x 2 (Kyle-x, AvadaKedavra)

LOW SCORE: 2.4 x 1 (Curaga)

HOST SCORE: 7.5

 

Do we consider this one a full single or just a B-side? I mean, it didn't make the album proper, but it is on the tracklist of the EP... But then again it didn't get an instrumental version like the other & songs did...

 

Whatever! It's just a really nice song, isn't it? A change of pace, even. The traditional Japanese instrumentation is something we hadn't heard from Ayu up to this point, and something she wouldn't experiment with again for another few years afterwards. I think it's worth it just for the variety it brings, but it still is a really sweet song underneath all of the instruments too. Another one of her "happy-yet-wistful Summer memories" songs. I like the variety it adds to her palette but I do agree that it maybe was the least good of the Memorial address era songs, so I don't totally begrudge it missing the album.

 

It was written for the 2003 a-nation concert, Avex's annual Summer shows that Ayu has always been a pretty important part of. I like that she made a little bonus song just for this show, it kind of speaks to her power at the time that she was the one who could write and release the event's theme song, but... well, maybe she could've given it a name that dates it slightly less? nn.

 

 

Suilen: first time hearing this... not bad, though should go a bit harder. The comparisons with Ai Otsuka's Kingyo Hanabi don't seem accurate to me.

Kyle-x: So beautiful. The production is so lush.

Invisibility: It's kind of crazy that BALLAD, GREEN and this are some of Ayu's only immersions into traditional Japanese music elements.

Curaga: Love the Asian instruments on this one, but it should be over around 4:23. That overlong, repetitive outro kills it for me.

Meloetta Carey: Avex said 'write a song to give your fans FOMO---we need sales'.

Bad Decisions: a forgotten summer classic tbh I can just visualize sunsets in Japan Gorgeous song.

AMIT: I don't think I had heard this one before this rate :skull: her most enka-infused track? it's cute but it drags on unfortunately.

 

 

memoria-CD.png

 

8/9

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Posted
11 minutes ago, Graves said:

Now, as for what makes this the ~eternal tie version~? It beats me. I thought maybe there was an alternative take included on one of the pre-album singles or something like that, like immature has that alternative mix on the appears CD?

I think just for flair and the eternal tie is like the eternal bond tying them together ddd she's a quirkster 

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Posted

This version is so beautiful as well

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Posted
16 minutes ago, Kyle-x said:

 

This remix so funky and fun :jonny: 

this remix is so fun and precious omg

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Posted

I genuinely like enka but wasn't really feeling this one.

 

Ayf8wuj.gif

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Posted (edited)

One of my faves. Love all the songs with japanese traditional instrumentals. Like green. this one. Flower
Wish singers in the west were more open to try this type of oriental instruments :gaycat2: there's something mystical about them

Edited by AvadaKedavra
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Posted

I really enjoy this one, it brings something fresh to her discography :bird:

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Posted

This one honestly doesn't feel that long to me, unlike some of the other notably long ones that you can feel it dd

Posted
9 minutes ago, Graves said:

Invisibility: It's kind of crazy that BALLAD, GREEN and this are some of Ayu's only immersions into traditional Japanese music elements.

The way these are all smashes whew :jonny: 

  • Like 1
Posted

72.png

 

2nd Single
Track #8 on A Song for ××

 

HIGH SCORE: 10 x 4 (Kyle-x, UrMom, AMIT, AvadaKedavra)

LOW SCORE: 3 x 1 (Invisibility)

HOST SCORE: 7.5

 

What do you think of YOU?

 

It is definitely a song that I don't think could appear on any Ayu album other than this one, it's got that twinkly and youthful vibe that she would kind of shed soon afterwards. I don't mind this one, though. It's certainly got a bit more life and swing to it than some of the other debut ballads. It might come across as a little too treacly or sweet for some, but there are some great remixes to help alleviate that. The northern breeze version on A BALLADS and her more mature vocals on it? Oh, she took it with that one. Had up throw on an extra point for it!

 

As a single, YOU was another slow burner like poker face. Peaking at #20 just like its predecessor, this was not a huge hit by any means but it was an important step on Ayu's ascent to superstar status. It would, in fact, be the last Ayu single to not peak in the top ten for over fifteen years. It received a lot of promotion and was the first CM tie-in song in Ayu's career! The start of another legacy! YOU was the song that advertised CIBAVision's 'Focus Dailies' contact lenses. Our capitalist queen!

 

The music video for YOU is like a proto-Tumblr, faux-artistic affair. The tiny piano, the apples and flowers, the picture frames? Oh, you just know Ayu's Pinterest board goes hard.

 

 

Suilen: Kumiko's you ended I fear.

Kyle-x: I love love love this song. The lyrics are so lovely, I feel as though the "northern breeze" version on A BALLADS fits them more. The re-recorded version for her 10th anniversary (included on the Mirrorcle World single) is also GORGEOUS. She looks really pretty in the music video too.

Invisibility: The twinkles and overal saccharine sound are so hateful...

Curaga: Doesn't compare to the best songs on this album, but I still really like it... It's very sweet.

AMIT: I enjoy singing this one so much, a shower classic.

 

 

songfor-CD.png

 

8/17

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Posted

Yeah, I prefer Kumiko's, and her daughter ate her up a bit too

 

 

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Posted

I was just noticing there was a pretty healthy mix of songs left from each album, but the debut songs are dwindling :toofunny2: 8/17

Posted

This is a song that really has grown to become such a cute fave of mine over the years. The chorus is so bright and lovely. This rhythmic remix is worth a listen too

 

 

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Posted
3 minutes ago, Graves said:

72.png

 

2nd Single
Track #8 on A Song for ××

 

HIGH SCORE: 10 x 4 (Kyle-x, UrMom, AMIT, AvadaKedavra)

LOW SCORE: 3 x 1 (Invisibility)

HOST SCORE: 7.5

 

What do you think of YOU?

 

It is definitely a song that I don't think could appear on any Ayu album other than this one, it's got that twinkly and youthful vibe that she would kind of shed soon afterwards. I don't mind this one, though. It's certainly got a bit more life and swing to it than some of the other debut ballads. It might come across as a little too treacly or sweet for some, but there are some great remixes to help alleviate that. The northern breeze version on A BALLADS and her more mature vocals on it? Oh, she took it with that one. Had up throw on an extra point for it!

 

As a single, YOU was another slow burner like poker face. Peaking at #20 just like its predecessor, this was not a huge hit by any means but it was an important step on Ayu's ascent to superstar status. It would, in fact, be the last Ayu single to not peak in the top ten for over fifteen years. It received a lot of promotion and was the first CM tie-in song in Ayu's career! The start of another legacy! YOU was the song that advertised CIBAVision's 'Focus Dailies' contact lenses. Our capitalist queen!

 

The music video for YOU is like a proto-Tumblr, faux-artistic affair. The tiny piano, the apples and flowers, the picture frames? Oh, you just know Ayu's Pinterest board goes hard.

 

 

Suilen: Kumiko's you ended I fear.

Kyle-x: I love love love this song. The lyrics are so lovely, I feel as though the "northern breeze" version on A BALLADS fits them more. The re-recorded version for her 10th anniversary (included on the Mirrorcle World single) is also GORGEOUS. She looks really pretty in the music video too.

Invisibility: The twinkles and overal saccharine sound are so hateful...

Curaga: Doesn't compare to the best songs on this album, but I still really like it... It's very sweet.

AMIT: I enjoy singing this one so much, a shower classic.

 

 

songfor-CD.png

 

8/17

YOU is like a burst of joy when I play it, it's so good :'(

 

 

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Posted

the eurobeat remix is sooo good! i kind of did this one dirty:coffee:

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Posted

This was my 2 ayu song :gaycat4: i actually discovered ayu with poker face back in the 2008. 
The instrumental is magic. Something very unique u dont hear in the west.

I wanna live in that sunny mansion. i wonder if the video was filmed in guam.

 

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Posted
1 minute ago, Curaga said:

I was just noticing there was a pretty healthy mix of songs left from each album, but the debut songs are dwindling :toofunny2: 8/17

It has been pretty balanced so far, but things will get a little bit messier starting with the next update...

Posted
Just now, Graves said:

It has been pretty balanced so far, but things will get a little bit messier starting with the next update...

Oh ***** :jonny: 

Posted
1 minute ago, AMIT said:

YOU is like a burst of joy when I play it, it's so good :'(

 

 

!!! Such a cute song. :'(

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Posted

and just one more for today...

 

 

71.png

 

Track #9 on RAINBOW

 

HIGH SCORE: 10 x 2 (Kyle-x, blueberries)

LOW SCORE: 5 x 2 (Invisibility, sanzo)

HOST SCORE: 8.5

 

I won't lie, this one does a lot for me. Something about the mysterious ~vibes~ of taskinillusion going right into this song and then the weird-ass combination of the spoken intro, ominous verses and an outright banger chorus... a mess, but a mess of the best variety! Like yes, feel your experimental oats. Let out all of those Bjork-isms, mom. July 1st is up next and we have to be on-stage, getting our lives in five!

 

Despite being a bit of an oddball, Ayu has given this one quite a few outings. More than what a lot of RAINBOW got, actually! Maybe she just likes the opportunity to be a bit weirder? She's like, "kanariya? Nah. I'm popping my puss to everywhere nowhere on this tour."

 

Also the lyrics are great. The title kind of sums it up well - the paradoxical nature of being so free and yet so constrained at the same time. It's symbolic af. Definitely picking up some of Ayu her underlying frustrations here. How can you be the best-selling artist in your nation's history and still be treated so poorly?

 

 

Suilen: I like the creepy vibe.

Kyle-x: Moody and weird as ****, just how I like it. We start out in some post apocalyptic world and then we end up shaking our asses. I love the "Time Mix" and the "NEWDEAL REMIX".

Invisibility: Well this song is a hot mess, genuinely sounds offkey and unpleasant to me, but I do like the chorus and the first 47 seconds of it.

AMIT: decent song, but I kind of go back and forth with it, the chorus is not that engaging for me overall.

 

rainbow-CD.png

 

11/16

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Posted

Deserved better

 

plBuu5W.gif

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Posted

Not my favorite RAINBOW proper song being one of the first out 

 

57bce5f64f3b46760abe96a4c2231b89a295c280

Posted

This is how i feel about the world :gaycat2: very convoluted sometimes. Dystopic. But if we dont give up we can survive :zsgaymuscat: cute.
That intro is a bit haunting like yll say. Too much machines :gaymuscat:

Posted

RECAP

 

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

 

 

TOP 70

 

Spoiler

A Song for ××
Hana
poker face
POWDER SNOW
Trust
Depend on you
Two of us

 

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

 

Duty
vogue
End of the World
SCAR
Far away
SURREAL
AUDIENCE
SEASONS
ever free

 

I am...
Connected
evolution
Naturally
NEVER EVER
still alone
Daybreak
M
Dearest
Endless sorrow

 

WE WISH
Real me
Free & Easy
Heartplace
Over
HANABI
July 1st
Dolls
Voyage
independent

 

ANGEL'S SONG
Greatful days
Because of You
ourselves
HANABI ~episode II~
No way to say
Memorial address

 

About You
GAME
my name's WOMEN
Liar
HOPE or PAIN
HAPPY ENDING
Moments
walking proud
CAROLS
INSPIRE
HONEY

 

卒業写真
RAINBOW

 

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