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


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Posted
7 minutes ago, Kyle-x said:

We have to acknowledge this tie-up brought us that iconic gif :jonny: 

 

 

 

The next hit gif has to be:

 

 

ENDED Mariah.

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Posted

47.png

 

3rd Single
Track #11 on A Song for ××

 

HIGH SCORE: 10 x 3 (Kyle-x, Maresia, AMIT)

LOW SCORE: 4 x 1 (Fevesy)

HOST SCORE: 7.5

 

Trust is a small but important step on the journey of Ayumi. It was, in some ways, her first real hit. The first Ayumi Hamasaki record to crack the top ten of an Oricon chart. It may only have been at #9, but everybody starts somewhere, right? And while Trust is more of a footnote in Ayu's career these days, even she hasn't performed the track in decades, respect must be given for the song that kicked off her supremely impressive run of top ten hits - that's over fifteen years of non-stop success.

 

Speaking purely musically, I like Trust. I do! I think the bouncy and carefree nature of the track is one of the times that A Song for ×× gets the production right. Not only is a nice listen, but it makes for a great palate cleanser after the rather intense POWDER SNOW. It's a basic bop, but every discography needs a few of those around. The punchier mix on A BEST is even better!

 

The video, however, is one of her more forgettable ones. Great soundstage, beautiful soundstage.

 

 

Suilen: always forget about this one, but it's pretty good.

Kyle-x: I think this is the song where the common production tropes on this album shine the most, they're really effective with the vocal melodies. The "GROOVE THAT SOUL MIX" is great and the "DJ SOMA GROW SOUND MIX" is soooo 90s in such a charming way.

Meloetta Carey: All of Song for XX gives Sailor Moon vibes, but I think this song does it the best.

AMIT: so catchy and joyful, still a bop after all these years.

 

 

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3/17

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Posted
1 minute ago, Graves said:

The next hit gif has to be:

 

 

ENDED Mariah.

Oh this legendary CM :jonny: 

Posted

I hope that Depend on you is at least top 20 because it's not looking good

 

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Posted (edited)

I love this song, glad it was able to sneak into the top 50 after the debut massacres 

 

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Edited by Kyle-x
Posted

#ayumi hamasaki from Ayu-Vogue Network - Ayumi Hamasaki fansite

 

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Posted (edited)

Y'all did debut Ayu so wrong. :jonny2:

Edited by Britneyfan09
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Posted (edited)

46.png

 

29th Single「&
Track #5 on Memorial address

 

11 x 2: @UrMom & @blueberries

 

HIGH SCORE: 10 x 1 (Bad Decisions)

LOW SCORE: 5.8 x 1 (Meloetta Carey)

HOST SCORE: 8

 

No stranger to a sequel song, HANABI ~episode II~ is the aptly titled follow-up to RAINBOW's HANABI. It's kind of cute, right? That they both got single releases as part of their respective album's EP? Thematic contrast! I really like that they both make for the last song on their respective EPs too. episode II is like HANABI but after some time has passed. After the wounds have closed up a little bit and closure can finally come. If the original concerns Ayu's sadness and refusal to let go of her memories, then episode II is acceptance. It's the maturity needed to look back at the past and finally put it to rest. They make for great sister songs and listening to them together only makes me appreciate each one a little bit more!

 

Not only that, but episode II is such a perfect soundscape for those final nights of Summer. You know, when the bright times are coming to an end and you know there's nothing you can do to stop it. Those dreamy guitars and chanting choruses give an air of finality to things. Her Summertime EPs were really full of interesting tracklist quirks like this. I just know she was rubbing her hands together with glee when she signed off on the running order on them.

 

The video is really pretty. This entire era was just great for the Ayu looks. Fans of the Ayu bob may not have been getting fed, but she was giving style icon. You know what else she's giving in this video? Acting. When those sparks start flying at the end and she's a blubbering mess? That's commitment. She's all teary and snotty and unashamed of it. Give this woman an Emmy.

 

 

Suilen: a downgrade.

Kyle-x: The PV for this is so beautiful. This is actually a song that took a LONG time to grow on me and I've only started loving it in recent years. I might prefer the "HAL'S MIX 2003" to the original?

Invisibility: I've never been a big fan of those men chanting alongside her in the chorus, plus she kinda loses steam quick... which is a shame because I do love the idea of Ayu with a backdrop of dream pop guitars, but this sequel just doesn't live up. Good thing she did give us another dream pop-y stellar moment with "fated" later on!

Curaga: Love that mini explosion into the wall of sound from the intro. Now this one sounds like fireworks! Very sparkly and epic.

AMIT: the first episode is better imo.

 

 

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6/9

Edited by Graves
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Posted

I still have hope that the title track can sneak into the top 15

 

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Posted

Not 2 11s for this

 

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Posted
1 minute ago, Suilen said:

Not 2 11s for this

 

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I say this as somebody who likes episode II a lot. I was shocked that it got an eleven. And then GAGGED that it got two. :celestial3:

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Posted

Finally

 

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Posted

episode II is literally summer perfection. If I could I also would have given it an 11 :mandown:

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Posted (edited)

Love the instrumental of trust :gaycat4: Japanese instrumentals have those bells,music boxes...and theyre so pretty. The production is definitely very different to the one in the west.  I would love if one diva in the west has a whole album produced by japanese producers. Not my fave but is cute.


Hanabi Episode II. This one is so dramatic but i love it.
Those insects effects in the intro. Love the harmonies-male voice here. The crushing guitar underneath
So many layers but they work perfectly. Love the transitions here. Banger
The background of fireworks in the background of the vid :gaycat4: Rihanna i see you. Stealing from ayu
 

Edited by AvadaKedavra
Posted

yeah 2 11s for this of all early Ayumi songs is a choice I must say.

 

 :suburban:

Posted

still a bop tho

 

 

YEY HEY OOOHHHHH WHOOOOAAAAOOOOOHHHH

 

edd2ee254db460c5f1f576f12adf0997170f66e0.gifv

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Posted
2 minutes ago, Bad Decisions said:

episode II is literally summer perfection. If I could I also would have given it an 11 :mandown:

Ugh, I wanted to shade what you did give your 11 to, but I actually stan it so... you're safe for now :mandown:

Posted

Two 11s is quite shocking, but love to see them going to an unexpected choice whew. This song really grew on me over the years! I love the drasma

Posted

What other songs that received 11s have gotten out so far, actually?

Posted
1 minute ago, Kyle-x said:

What other songs that received 11s have gotten out so far, actually?

Just miss Katamari's interesting choice of 11: independent at #69 :suburban:

 

One more is leaving during this update tho.

Posted

In all honesty, the song is fine but we really don't need to have it be part of her a-nation set so much:jonny2:

Posted
Just now, Graves said:

Just miss Katamari's interesting choice of 11: independent at #69 :suburban:

 

One more is leaving during this update tho.

Here for the mess. As long as it isn't mine

 

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Posted (edited)

45.png

 

Track #10 on MY STORY

 

HIGH SCORE: 10 x 3 (Kyle-x, sanzo, AvadaKedavra)

LOW SCORE: 4.5 x 1 (Curaga)

HOST SCORE: 8

 

Though large swathes of MY STORY are colored by darker tones and harder sounds, walking proud is a moment of lightness in the middle of it all. One of the breezier, more optimistic tracks of the entire package. I don't think it breaks any new ground for Ayu or anything, but it is a great little track that she'd be come a total pro at making by this point. Sonically, this isn't a world apart from some of the things she would do on (miss)understood later on, so it's got that going for it. Seniority. Just a nice track and a bit of a breather in the heavy moments of the album.

 

Though not a single, walking proud did get a video release too. A nice little walk through a CGI landscape as Ayu models her latest bob. She also bonds with a young child and later lays down on ...a massage table by the looks of it? I sure don't understand what's going on, but it looks neat! The early '00s "worldliness" going on all over this. Just like the song itself: a nice visual but nothing major.

 

 

Suilen: let's see who's here still ashamed of themselves.

Kyle-x: This song is soooo underrated omg. The PV is weird as **** but she was eating down in that black bob (Claire, it's French! for my Fleabag girls). The remix on ayu-mi-x 6 is really cool.

Invisibility: One of the better choruses in MY STORY I think. But truth be told at this point it's kinda when songs start blending together a bit.

Curaga: ... I guess I should change my avi aghaggsjqjs

Meloetta Carey: for the #delusionaldivas (kinda sorta).

AMIT: love the melodies on this one, a sweet sounding track.

 

 

mystory-CD.png

 

7/17

Edited by Graves
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Posted
Just now, Graves said:

Suilen: let's see who's here still ashamed of themselves.

 

Just now, Graves said:

LOW SCORE: 4.5 x 1 (Curaga)

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