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


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Posted

You know from the intro alone that INSPIRE is going to be one for the books :clap3: 

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Posted

I'll let y'all sit with INSPIRE for a few minutes. The next one out is actually my favorite graphic I made for the rate.

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Posted (edited)

I remember the first time i listened to this.  i was like hmmmmm the instrumental of this song is so hot but so weird-strange at the same time
I like how the arabic-tropical-asian flavors dont come from exotic instruments but they come from that crazy guitar riff :gaycat2: 
Love the drums here :gaycat3: the video is so cool too. Love how ayu is honoring south-east asia

The song takes such a dark turn at the end :gaycat5: 

I think this song could be a hit in the west with a translated version and the right artist  :gaycat2:

Edited by AvadaKedavra
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Posted
2 minutes ago, Graves said:

I'll let y'all sit with INSPIRE for a few minutes. The next one out is actually my favorite graphic I made for the rate.

Why do I feel like it's my 11 :dancehall2:

Posted

Oh and INSPIRE is sooo fresh and although she was in her pop rock bag that era, it's still so different from the rest of the album, in the best way

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Posted

Well, at least the debut made it to top 10... probably.

Posted
40 minutes ago, Graves said:

No music video for [Trauma], unfortunately. The A release songs were shafted in that regard. Luckily, the song was used in a Momo no Tennensui water commercial! That's as good as a video, right?

26 minutes ago, Graves said:

monochrome has no music video but was the recipient of an elusive Momo no Tennensui commercial! Sell that water, mama.

18 minutes ago, Graves said:

immature also has a version used in commercials for the same water brand that Trauma and monochrome previously advertised. Mm, yummy water.

the water branding saga :dies:

 

  

10 minutes ago, Graves said:

INSPIRE is just a frenetic mess of a song ... even during Ayu's union-mandated instrumental break

:bibliahh: union mandated took me OUT

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Posted

I feel like INSPIRE and the 04/05 era was when she really got into her diva bag and leaned into the glamour and campiness that she's dialed up to 1,000 these days nnn

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Posted
2 minutes ago, Invisibility said:

Why do I feel like it's my 11 :dancehall2:

:doc:

 

 

 

12.png

 

20th Single

Track #5 on I am...

 

11 x 1: @Invisibility

 

HIGH SCORE: 10 x 6 (Graves, Kyle-x, UrMom, blueberries, Maresia, sanzo)

LOW SCORE: 5.7 x 1 (Curaga)

HOST SCORE: 10

 

Another one I was shocked to see missing the top ten. If you told me you had never listened to Ayumi Hamasaki at all and were curious, this is probably the first song I would direct you to. It embodies so many things I love about Ayu. The disparity between her verses and choruses, her eclectic delivery, her sonic experiments... evolution is a great title for it, because this track is truly imbued with Ayu's DNA.

 

evolution kicked off 2001 with a boom for Ayumi. It was only her second time writing music, but CREA put her entire Hamasukky into this. Following up on M's colossal success, evolution was another #1 and one of her final million-seller singles. It remains one of her most streamed songs and videos, which is nice to see. A lot of Ayu's "big classics" are her ballads, so it feels good to see a real banger among them. Fighting the good fight for the poppers stans.

 

That video is pretty interesting too. I criticized some of the debut videos for lacking budget/ambition and just being "performance" videos, and yet I love this one. What gives? Well, evolution is presented as more of a deconstruction of a music video. Like a stylized "making of" moment. Not dissimilar to Madonna's Rain MV. It's a concept that could go either way but thanks to how wonderfully it was shot, it's a real keeper. And then she's like a hologram popstar too? Ayu predicted AI. Queen.

 

There's nothing I don't like about evolution. It's the full package release of a true superstar. Brilliant track, brilliant imagery, brilliant video, iconic performances, adored by fans and the public... It's a 10/10 if I've ever heard one. I love this aspect of 2001-era Ayu. The sweet spot in her career. Still fresh enough to be such a commercial behemoth, but now experienced enough to be able to move with confidence and respect. An artist who was firing on all cylinders (this isn't the last time you'll hear me say this!).

 

 

Kyle-x: This **** is in a million different areas. The song is iconic, the single cover is iconic, the PV is iconic… they just don't do **** like this anymore. The unfortunately titled "Ayu Can Hear U Mix" is fun but the "UFO Remix" is probably my favorite.

Invisibility: My fave Ayu song overall, she's just everything I could wish for and a complete full uppercase POPSTAR moment. From the moment the airy piano and those electric guitars build up, she's cooking something fantastic. Plus the chorus whewww rapyumi was born. It's so appropriate it came out in Jan 2001 because it's such a turn of the century song, and Ayu approaches it with full excitement for possibility and I stan.

AMIT: iconic smash hit.

 

 

iamCD.png

 

3/16

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Posted
Just now, Invisibility said:

Oh and INSPIRE is sooo fresh and although she was in her pop rock bag that era, it's still so different from the rest of the album, in the best way

i always wonder if My Story was highly influenced by that time in the west where Pop Rock-Pop Punk was trendy and gothic things
2003-2004 was so rock  :gaycat2: like next level influenced by the electro wave of 2009-2010

Posted
2 minutes ago, Curaga said:

the water branding saga :dies:

 

  

:bibliahh: union mandated took me OUT

The actual commercials SEND me :skull:

 

 

Like... the loud-ass, overdubbed slurping sounds :bibliahh: Mama was thirsty as hell.

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Posted
Just now, Curaga said:

the water branding saga :dies:

 

The girls were thirsty 

 

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Posted

The Curaga curse strikes again :jonny: I personally would've rather had evolution in the top 10 over M ngl

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Posted
3 minutes ago, Graves said:

LOW SCORE: 5.7 x 1 (Curaga)

@Curaga When I catch you Miss Curaga! I will drag you, you sick twisted DEMON! I can't even moooove I can't even breatheeee

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Posted (edited)

Love the graphic-banner :gaycat4: so beautiful :heart:
Love this song. Is the song i would play in some sort of contest-race. The instrumental is like......Go far go far. Keep movin keep movin. 
So energetic. The rock background is so delicious. So many layers to this. 

My message to curaga :suburban:

kris-jenner-youre-doing-amazing.png

Edited by AvadaKedavra
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Posted

 

 

This PV is just too damn good :jonny: her glittery eyeshadow lives rent free in my mind 

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Posted

Well, I like it, but there's some roughness to it that prevents me from loving it. I suspect it was the second track she produced after M, so she was experimenting a bit.

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Posted
5 minutes ago, Graves said:

Kyle-x: The unfortunately titled "Ayu Can Hear U Mix"

Also, this comment has been sending me for WEEKS. :rip: The way I giggle every time I scroll past on my commentary page.

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Posted

They say #11 is the most cruel position of all... and considering some of the comments on this next song, it just might be...

Posted

Why this video has an american theme :gaycat4: i dont get the relation there

Posted

oh no :doc: ...

Posted (edited)
3 minutes ago, Graves said:

Also, this comment has been sending me for WEEKS. :rip: The way I giggle every time I scroll past on my commentary page.

dajsldjalk if she ever reissues the NEVER EVER single on vinyl or something we need a re-title. The remix is actually super cool :jonny: 

 

 

 

Edited by Kyle-x
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Posted

I guess my comment about M serving a TABOO cursed it.

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