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


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Posted

Revisiting this legendary remix whew

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Posted
8 minutes ago, Kyle-x said:

At least Curaga isn't at the scene of the crime this time…

Oh really...

 

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Posted

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31st Single
Track #6 on Memorial address

 

HIGH SCORE: 10 x 6 (Kyle-x, UrMom, blueberries, sanzo, AvadaKedavra, confide in me)

LOW SCORE: 2.8 x 1 (Curaga)

HOST SCORE: 9

 

Surely this was well-treaded ground by now? A pop-rock ballad from Ayumi? Ground-breaking.

 

What I will say, in the song's defense, is that this one does it really damn well. I saw a few of you girls comparing this to some of the earlier ballads but I think this song has a leg up in some ways. Her deeper voice at this point really goes a long way in selling emotion and deep subject matter like this. The twinkles through the song might be reminiscent of the '90s Ayu ballads too, but I think that enough of Memorial address's grungy rock undertones seep through to this song to make it more fulfilling to the ears. The instrumental breaks here are really nice moments, you can tell a lot of love went into this track from both Ayu and the team behind her. Another HAL production, the legend that they are.

 

Ayu's really great at making this Winter-sounding ballad stuff, eh? No way to say was a Christmas single, released in late November 2003. Of course it was another number one for her. The video is festive too, I mean... sort of. Look, she could've easily given us a cute Santa Claus appearance and a jolly affair, but she said no. She said I'm giving spooky in December. That uncanny Santa is nightmarish and I commend her for the nerve of putting it in a video. A horror queen. The video is fun though - featuring the return of the bob!

 

 

Suilen: I remember AMIT having an avi from that video... Cute.

Kyle-x: This is one of her very best ballads. She captures the winter time cozy vibes perfectly. How adorable is the single cover too? The "Acoustic Version" is almost as good as the original too.

Meloetta Carey: another song this year where I prefer the acoustic version, I really am getting old.

AMIT: we love a solid rock ballad and miss ayuma delivered.

 

...

Curaga: This song reminds me of TO BE, but it never reaches that level melodically sadly.

 

Don't test me.

 

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3/9

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Posted
Just now, Graves said:

Oh really...

 

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Oh naurrrrrrrrr

 

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Posted

@Curaga

 

 

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Posted

Oh wow, I had no idea Who... had such an important role in her discography :eek: Kinda like Koda Kumi's Walk, I guess

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Posted

The stoning of Curaga in the town square will be in approximately 3 hours, please RSVP

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Posted

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Posted

Curaga is getting nothing for this Christmas

 

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Posted

I wish I was home to be linking to performances, there's some very lovely ones of this :jonny: 

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Posted
Just now, Suilen said:

Curaga is getting nothing for this Christmas

 

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Me delivering her personalized gift (it's a mail bomb)

 

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Posted
4 minutes ago, Curaga said:

Oh wow, I had no idea Who... had such an important role in her discography :eek: Kinda like Koda Kumi's Walk, I guess

Someone post the video of the kids singing it back to her again.

Posted

Maybe we could still have all albums in top 20...

Posted

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Track #3 on MY STORY

 

HIGH SCORE: 10 x 4 (Kyle-x, UrMom, blueberries, Fevesy)

LOW SCORE: 6.02 x 1 (Meloetta Carey)

HOST SCORE: 8

 

Pre-dating the album by a couple of months, GAME was first released as part of a double A-side single with INSPIRE during Summer of 2004. Now look here, GAME is a total bop. I think it is elevated from being "just another Ayu rock bop" thanks to some great lyrics and a great video. It is still a good and catchy track on its own, don't get me wrong, but it is fortunate to have those other aspects to fall back on. Lyrically, GAME has that darker edge to it that a lot of MY STORY carries. It's got some pessimism to it, it's one of those moments where the otherwise super-polished pop princess lets her guard down and shows the concerns and doubt that she carries. It's got real depth to it, some insight into Ayu and what she really thinks.

 

GAME has a pretty great music video. I commend Ayu for her willingness to incorporate light horror elements into her work around this time, especially given her clean image. What could be a basic premise is elevated by a sort of grimy atmosphere and some creepy figures co-starring with her. She also just looked great in the black ensemble. I love the visual of the hallway with all of the TV screens. Ayu sitting in front of a plethora of screens was a big part of the A BEST marketing, so her using it again her makes me feel like its her way of reclaiming the image. She's twisting what it means a little bit. It's another piece of the puzzle of MY STORY and her frustrations with her status at the time.

 

 

Suilen: a bit too loud in some parts, which is a stupid complaint considering the entire album, I know.

Kyle-x: Another contender for my 11 omg. Her songs that start soft and then explode never fail to SMASH, I love the way her vocals are manipulated and played with on this one. She was serving rock princess in the PV, eat your heart out Avril Lavigne. I love the classical remix of it.

Invisibility: The mix of 8-bit synth effects, the hard guitars and her voice is earcandy. She was PISSED OFF in that studio.

Meloetta Carey: the transition into the next track is cute. The song itself is fine, I like the lyrics but I never really enjoy the rock-y, upbeat pep talk songs that she does.

AMIT: the outro in particular is hitting those places, it makes for such a rewarding listen.

Fevesy: The live performances of this when she ends P!nk's career >>>>

 

 

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3/17

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Posted

Okay, I concede that it wasn't that loud, having a good hearing unlike some users has its drawbacks.

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Posted

It's called GAME, but she wasn't fuckiing playing

:jonny4:

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Posted

A classic :heart:

 

The My Story  tour video interlude with the white costume and the gay bdsm dancers >>>>

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Posted

 

My dream is to have two men fight over me too :jonny:

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Posted

A cute bop. It's no Perfume tho. :gaycat4:

Posted

The final song missing our top twenty is...?

 

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Posted

I knew GAME wasn't going to get let into the pearly gay-tes :'(

Posted
3 minutes ago, Graves said:

The final song missing our top twenty is...?

 

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I'm nawttt ready :jonnykin:

Posted
7 minutes ago, Curaga said:

It's called GAME, but she wasn't fuckiing playing

:jonny4:

:ahh: 

Posted

:skull:

Posted

y'all were meant to guess ddd

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