Suilen Posted October 19 Posted October 19 Well, M already got its flowers in other rates, so it's only fair.
Graves Posted October 19 Author Posted October 19 And then there was one... 17th Single Track #7 on Duty HIGH SCORE: 10 x 13 (Graves, Kyle-x, SA*KURA, Invisibility, UrMom, Curaga, Meloetta Carey, blueberries, Maresia, Fevesy, sanzo, AvadaKedavra, confide in me) LOW SCORE: 4 x 1 (Katamari) HOST SCORE: 10 What a stunning piece of music. I can't say I'm surprised at this result. SURREAL has always been a fan favorite, as well as a signature hit. It sort of has it all, doesn't it? An amazing and memorable track, a great and memorable music video, iconic performances, incredible imagery. There's just nothing to fault it on. This is pop music firing on all cylinders. The dreaded term "pop perfection" comes to mind, but it's earned here. There was something in the water on that island in the music video, Ayu drank from it and found that was so no longer capable of not serving. This song is like a dream. I've always looked at the piano intro and outro as representing dozing off and waking back up, respectively. Leaving the song as little more than a passing daydream. Ugh, I don't even know if I can count the things I love about this song. How about the way that it picks up in intensity with each cumulative verse? How about the utter cacophony of instruments clashing together that somehow still works? Like, we have piano riffs interspersed with guitar solos and even a drum machine that sounds right out of a drum-n-bass tune. Or perhaps the best part is the sheer elation of the final choruses, Ayu belting for her life before the dream ends and we come back to reality. I LOVE this song. What an exciting day it must've been, this launching at the same time as Duty itself, and Ayu still managing to score a chart double with both album and single entering at number one. SURREAL sold over 400,000 copies and became a mainstay in Ayu's setlists from now until the end of time. And yes, while we do yearn for the day that we can hear this song and evolution separately, I suppose there are worse bedfellows to share a setlist spot with. The music video is another serve. Ayu models the iconic Duty catsuit as she gets lost on a desert island and comes across a second version of herself. The whole thing is brimming with iconography. Was this the first appearance of the iconic leopard print? The layers... Suilen: a bit of a classic. Kyle-x: A contender for my 11. Instantly iconic upon first listen. That intro whew, chills. evolution's older sister in some ways. The PV is incredible as well, that outfit was putting in overtime. The "CLUB 69 RADIO", "Marc et Claude remix", "nicely nice electron '00 remix", "Sample MadnesS remix", and "Thunderpuss RADIO" all EAT. I need to go back in time and pop my ***** in a club to these with Curaga. Invisibility: The most iconic piano melody alongside JEWEL I fear. She really makes me feel like I'm immersed into the magic realism daydream fantasy of it all. It birthed one of her most iconic looks and even when she performs the evolution medley until the heat death of the universe I'll keep on stanning. Curaga: Such an easy 10, like wtfffff. I always flip between this and AUDIENCE as my fav from Duty. It's like whichever one is currently playing is my fav lol. Bad Decisions: the structure of this song is fantastic. Literally 3-4 different songs in one. AMIT: takes a minute to really get going, but yeah an incredible song overall, also one of her best MVs of course. Fevesy: I went through my first breakup and listened to this like 900 times in 1 week... anyways I haven't kept up with Ayumi in a few years but if she's still performing SURREAL + evolution together like always then I hope her hearing gets worse tbh. 1/13 1 1
AvadaKedavra Posted October 19 Posted October 19 Omg M the buildup to the chorus of the song is so powerful. Thats ** genius the asian like a prayer definitely When gospel pop song are well done theyre just amazing. The video is so pretty too. Wanna go to a church and play this one day El poder de Los Angeles y M (Maria) se siente en esta cancion que se salgan todos los demonios
Britneyfan09 Posted October 19 Posted October 19 4 minutes ago, Kyle-x said: When M is the only mega-classic that Curaga didn't sabotage sajdlka 1
Graves Posted October 19 Author Posted October 19 HIGHEST SCORERS 1. Kyle-x - 10 2. blueberries - 9.538 3. AMIT - 9 4. confide in me - 8.808 5. UrMom - 8.692 LOWEST SCORERS 1. Curaga - 5.715 2. Katamari - 5.833 3. Invisibility - 6 4. Bad Decisions - 6.115 5. Fevesy - 6.75 Average 7.819 Adjusted average (no b-sides, no interludes) 7.919 2 1
Suilen Posted October 19 Posted October 19 A great winner, I'm glad me underscoring it a bit didn't rob it of the victory.
Graves Posted October 19 Author Posted October 19 FINAL LEADERBOARD 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 4
Suilen Posted October 19 Posted October 19 Love pears being the highest album, fork found in the kitchen.
Kyle-x Posted October 19 Posted October 19 Have to highlight this pretty subdued acoustic performance of M https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Js411s7Vo/
Kyle-x Posted October 19 Posted October 19 And of course the iconic A MUSEUM performance with the long ass veil
Curaga Posted October 19 Posted October 19 SURREAL!!!!! What a song omg. I love your love for the song coming through so much in the write-up That was a stone cold CLASSIC 1
Graves Posted October 19 Author Posted October 19 and now I exhale. Rates are so fun but so much work lmao, I'm looking forward to having free weekends again. Just a quick thank you to anybody who voted, posted or even viewed the thread. The amount of life this thing had for a relatively niche J-pop rate surprised me. It made it so much more fun to host. Will drop the bonus Curaga-less results in a hot second, just let me grab a sandwich first. 4 4
Britneyfan09 Posted October 19 Posted October 19 1 minute ago, Kyle-x said: Have to highlight this pretty subdued acoustic performance of M https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Js411s7Vo/ Amazing performance. Oh ayutney hamaston the vocalist that you are 1
Kyle-x Posted October 19 Posted October 19 7 minutes ago, Graves said: What an exciting day it must've been, this launching at the same time as Duty itself, and Ayu still managing to score a chart double with both album and single entering at number one. The way she actually scored a chart triple because concert tour 2000 vol. 2 was released that day too and went #1 on the video chart 1
AvadaKedavra Posted October 19 Posted October 19 Oh congratz to surreal That piano intro is definitely one of the most captivating things i ever heard in pop music it grabs your attention instantly i remember the first time i listened to this in 2008 I knew ayu was someone special and i needed to discover more about her Ayu music is definitely surreal. Her videos too. The guitar is so deranged. Beautiful. I love this song live. I think it shines there Thank u graves. U rock. It was so much fun to rank the first half of ayu discography. Thanks for all your time Excited about the next part all the albums post my story are my favorite ones from her. Its gonna be tough. Sending love to everyone here too 2
Kyle-x Posted October 19 Posted October 19 SURREAL is too damn good and a deserved winner Duty you had one spot in the top 15, but ***** you made it COUNT 2
Britneyfan09 Posted October 19 Posted October 19 Thank you so much @Graves for hosting this!! Everything was absolutely amazing! Really enjoyed watching the results and so glad to see all the girls come together for a rate. 2
Curaga Posted October 19 Posted October 19 @Graves, this rate was beyooooond amazing; the amount of effort in these write-ups blows my mind and the graphics!!! I cannot imagine the number of hours put into this masterwork... You ate this UP!!!!! Your talent for writing and humor made it so so so enjoyable. I can't thank you enough for organizing this! Absolute LEGEND 2
Kyle-x Posted October 19 Posted October 19 The original deadline for the rate was Sept 27th (before being pushed back) and the winning song was also released on that date, kind of fitting 1
Kyle-x Posted October 19 Posted October 19 Thank you so much for hosting this rate, you icon the write-ups were lovely to read and the graphics were lovely to see. I loved celebrating this legendary woman and her many accomplishments and masterpieces with you all! 4
Britneyfan09 Posted October 19 Posted October 19 Just now, Curaga said: @Graves, this rate was beyooooond amazing; the amount of effort in these write-ups blows my mind and the graphics!!! I cannot imagine the number of hours put into this masterwork... You ate this UP!!!!! Your talent for writing and humor made it so so so enjoyable. I can't thank you enough for organizing this! Absolute LEGEND Oh yes, the write-ups!! Every single one was done so well. 1
Katamari Posted October 19 Posted October 19 wait i gave this song a 4 i don't remember panning it that much 2
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