9.27.2007
Masterpiece
7 years ago today, Ayu released her 3rd album, Duty. It remains, till this day, her best selling original album & my personal favourite. At the time it was a huge release for her, as it was her first since her popularity skyrocketed following the ambitious music trilogy, "vogue", "Far away", & what is now one of her signature songs, "SEASONS". All sharing a common theme lyrically yet drastically different in style, these three songs were connected in a near 10-minute music video that featured daring images of a post-apocalyptic world. This, along with her first, sold-out concert tour, generated massive anticipation over an album that was guaranteed to be a smash hit. When it was finally released on September 27, 2000, the world saw Ayu breaking out of her cage, literally as she so boldly portrays on the album cover. Vocally, she also provoked a lot of discussion over a much coarser & less restrained singing style; she was starting over, just like the first track of the album indicates. The album title, as Ayu would later reveal herself, is derived from the sudden sense of responsibility she came to realize as she boarded the fame ride. In the title track, she even pokes fun at the fickleness of fame, openly questioning when it'll be her turn to step down. With a short repertoire of just 12 songs & a running time under 60 minutes, Ayu managed to cover a lot of grounds with her lyrics, addressing universal feelings of hopelessness, abandonment, & loneliness. It wasn't all dark, however; in the track "AUDIENCE", Ayu thanked her fans for their continuous support, & in "Key", she sang about the undying bond between us & those we love. While Duty wasn't as musically diverse as her later albums, it was solid pop music from beginning to end. It also gave us a glimpse of the path she was about to embark, a musical adventure where she'll experiment with all genres of music, while making each her own.
7 years later, I still love the album. It's the only Ayu album that I listen to on a regular basis, & one that I'll play without skipping a track. I remember when the album first came out, there was a vicious rumour claiming that it'll make you stupid when listened to for prolonged periods of time (lol seriously, how ridiculous), & in my case, it turned out to be somewhat true. I flunked my first calculus test shortly after the album was released, but it was mostly 'cause I hardly studied since I was too busy listening to the album. xD (It was all worth it though, I tell ya...plus, now looking back, that test hardly made a dent in my academic career, so whatever =P). Duty not only marked a pinnacle in Ayu's career, but also in my fandom. It gave me hope when I was feeling lost & betrayed in a world that was full of deceit. It made me realize that I wasn't alone, that if I can make it through one more day, I can start anew in the next. Thanks to Ayu I didn't end up taking my own life, & God knows I would've missed a much happier, fulfilling life that's the one I'm living now. As far as I'm concerned, her duty has been fulfilled, as both a musician & a human being trying to reach out to others.
P.S. 7 years is a lifetime in the Japanese music industry, so the fact that Ayu's new single topped the charts just this past week only goes to show her longevity. By reaching #1 with talkin' 2 myself, she has now extended her all-time record of most #1 singles by a solo artist to 29. Yay Ayu!! =D
7 years ago today, Ayu released her 3rd album, Duty. It remains, till this day, her best selling original album & my personal favourite. At the time it was a huge release for her, as it was her first since her popularity skyrocketed following the ambitious music trilogy, "vogue", "Far away", & what is now one of her signature songs, "SEASONS". All sharing a common theme lyrically yet drastically different in style, these three songs were connected in a near 10-minute music video that featured daring images of a post-apocalyptic world. This, along with her first, sold-out concert tour, generated massive anticipation over an album that was guaranteed to be a smash hit. When it was finally released on September 27, 2000, the world saw Ayu breaking out of her cage, literally as she so boldly portrays on the album cover. Vocally, she also provoked a lot of discussion over a much coarser & less restrained singing style; she was starting over, just like the first track of the album indicates. The album title, as Ayu would later reveal herself, is derived from the sudden sense of responsibility she came to realize as she boarded the fame ride. In the title track, she even pokes fun at the fickleness of fame, openly questioning when it'll be her turn to step down. With a short repertoire of just 12 songs & a running time under 60 minutes, Ayu managed to cover a lot of grounds with her lyrics, addressing universal feelings of hopelessness, abandonment, & loneliness. It wasn't all dark, however; in the track "AUDIENCE", Ayu thanked her fans for their continuous support, & in "Key", she sang about the undying bond between us & those we love. While Duty wasn't as musically diverse as her later albums, it was solid pop music from beginning to end. It also gave us a glimpse of the path she was about to embark, a musical adventure where she'll experiment with all genres of music, while making each her own.
7 years later, I still love the album. It's the only Ayu album that I listen to on a regular basis, & one that I'll play without skipping a track. I remember when the album first came out, there was a vicious rumour claiming that it'll make you stupid when listened to for prolonged periods of time (lol seriously, how ridiculous), & in my case, it turned out to be somewhat true. I flunked my first calculus test shortly after the album was released, but it was mostly 'cause I hardly studied since I was too busy listening to the album. xD (It was all worth it though, I tell ya...plus, now looking back, that test hardly made a dent in my academic career, so whatever =P). Duty not only marked a pinnacle in Ayu's career, but also in my fandom. It gave me hope when I was feeling lost & betrayed in a world that was full of deceit. It made me realize that I wasn't alone, that if I can make it through one more day, I can start anew in the next. Thanks to Ayu I didn't end up taking my own life, & God knows I would've missed a much happier, fulfilling life that's the one I'm living now. As far as I'm concerned, her duty has been fulfilled, as both a musician & a human being trying to reach out to others.
P.S. 7 years is a lifetime in the Japanese music industry, so the fact that Ayu's new single topped the charts just this past week only goes to show her longevity. By reaching #1 with talkin' 2 myself, she has now extended her all-time record of most #1 singles by a solo artist to 29. Yay Ayu!! =D
9.21.2007
I have a confession - I don't like calling people. Actually, I'm SCARED of calling people. I don't know why, but I've been like that all my life, even now. I guess it's just traces of the shy personality that remains in my psyche. Whatever it is, whenever I have to call someone, I'd get nervous. It's especially worse when I'm calling for customer service. Even when I know that I'm just getting what I deserve, I feel like I'm going to be judged for being cheap (??!! Ya I know it makes no sense, lol). On the other hand, when I'm calling friends, I'm always afraid I'd be interrupting something (like say, a heated makeout session?? xD) or they wouldn't wanna hear from me. =\ That's why whenever I call someone, the first thing I ask is always if they're busy (any of you guys noticed this?? =P). And if they say yes, I'll actually hang up...& never call back again. Lol.
This also explains my
P.S. And yes, if we haven't seen each other in a while & I happen to bump into you on the streets, & I say "I'll call you" before we part, it's a courtesy lie (don't all guys do that though?? Saying they'll call but never do...lol). xD
