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HiP Nation => Classic Jpop => Classic Threads => AYU Ready? => Topic started by: DroolBoy on November 26, 2006, 03:37:48 PM

Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: DroolBoy on November 26, 2006, 03:37:48 PM
Secret has LEAKED.

http://www.twitter.com/?d=ULA0ACFV
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: RionZ on November 26, 2006, 04:11:15 PM
^^ wtf i was just about to post that too  lol
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: LovelyMermaid on November 26, 2006, 05:45:45 PM
^ *dies and goes to heaven* :heart: thank you, thank you :heart:
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: chocolate on November 26, 2006, 06:26:16 PM
So many rock songs like single Step you/is this Love?  -it seems to be very good album.

I would have liked Ayu to sing also in taskinst. It really starts at 0:38. (http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/3284/rocknm2.gif) (http://imageshack.us)(http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/3284/rocknm2.gif) (http://imageshack.us)(http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/3284/rocknm2.gif) (http://imageshack.us)

My rating for every new songs  (http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/3284/rocknm2.gif) (http://imageshack.us)(http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/3284/rocknm2.gif) (http://imageshack.us)(http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/3284/rocknm2.gif) (http://imageshack.us) I mean I like it! :heart:

...and Ahs is down for some reason! XD
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: LovelyMermaid on November 26, 2006, 06:54:40 PM
Can't help myself, i've gotta write how I feel about the songs XD Then I'll rate them by giving them a number out of five hearts XD

Track 1: Not Yet
This song is a total feast for the ears. It's very short and that's the coolest part, it leaves you wanting to listen to more!! :D It could never be a single, but that's kind of the point, short and increadibly sweet.
5 hearts!! :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:

Track 2: untill that Day
Starts out as though it's continuing the theme of the first song, then gains a rock-ish beat. Very soulful. It becomes a little 80's rock sounding as it goes on. It does become very repetitive for me, just the beat in the background, though.
3 hearts!! :heart: :heart: :heart:

Track 3: Startin'
Gotta love this one; catchy and fun. To me, the chorus is the best part :D
4 hearts!! :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:

Track 4: 1 Love
Next to the rest of the songs on the album, this one seems to slip through the cracks, for me, that is. It's nothing very special, more experementing with rock and stuff.
3 1/2 hearts!! :heart: :heart: :heart: 1/2

Track 5: It was
Softer then some of the others and still lots of rock elements to it. I actually like the verses better on this one as opposed to the chorus. It's really, really repetitive though.
3 hearts!! :heart: :heart: :heart:

Track 6: LABYRINTH
No singing and only over a minute long! It's perfect for leading up to Jewel and Momentum with its wintery feel. Very, very beautiful.
5 hearts!! :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:

Track 7: JEWEL
Such a beautiful song. Gentle but kind of powerful and I love how it sounds like a fantasy winter. Even without watching the PV it convays the same feelings and images (or maybe I've been string at the video too long :D)
5 hearts!! :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:

Track 8: momentum
So beautiful and wintery sounding. The midtempo is interesting for me to listen to, it's like Ayu could have made it much faster but it's great that she didn't because to me the tempo feels like snow. Love it, love it!!
5 hearts!! :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:

Track 9: taskinst
Pretty cool...the sounds are interesting and pretty, the rocking out is fun too XD..no singing yet again.
4 hearts!! :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:

Track 10: Born to Be
It's a nice, powerful song. Not really my favorite sort of style but it's a good song XD
3 1/2 hearts!! :heart: :heart: :heart: 1/2

Track 11: Beautiful Fighters
Love this song :D More fun to watch with the PV for me, though XD We are beaauuutiful fiiighers...
4 hearts!! :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:

Track 12: BLUE BIRD
I love this song, I love it, I love it!! :D :inlove: ...but don't we all? XD It's refreshing to hear on the album, honestly.
5 hearts!! :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:

Track 13: Kiss o' Kill
A little messy sounding for me. I dunno, I don't think I'll listen to this often XD
2 1/2 hearts!! :heart: :heart: 1/2

Track 14: Secret
A littly draggy, but there's some really beautiful singing and music on this track! Really good song overall!!
4 hearts!! :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:

Ok, so overall I think I wanted to hear less rock on this album and more fun electronic pop stuff (like I am sorta). I really loved the wintery songs like Jewel and Momentum. Blue Bird was a favorite to being with so that sort of rounded it out for me. The fact that there was three short music only tracks was nice, but it felt like they were only filler songs to make the album a full album or something XD

So, when I average out the hearts given to each song, Secret gets:
Four Hearts!! (3.6 to be exact, but rounded up XD)
:heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: Masabi on November 26, 2006, 08:13:07 PM
Yeah I'm going to listen to it though normally I don't because it's coming in the mail.  But it came out too early this year ><
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: Linus on November 26, 2006, 08:13:22 PM
Quote from: DroolBoy;243920
Secret has LEAKED.

http://www.twitter.com/?d=ULA0ACFV
Oh boy! I should have it late next week on an actual CD in my mail box. I can wait... no I can't XD Ok, let's have it already! (Self-talking to me) Although... posters can't be leaked, huh? Hahahaha~~ I will have it soon~~
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: RionZ on November 26, 2006, 08:42:27 PM
Its now officially one of my fave ayu albums, I'm not sure how it'll rank.  I'll go on an Ayu listening session binge some time this week and decide. :lol:
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: Masabi on November 26, 2006, 08:58:48 PM
first impression ranking:

01 Not yet - This is a little weird sounding.  It's just not something you'd expect, and really out of the box.  I can't really get a feel for whether I like it or not.  It really sounds like the beginning of a really long remix.  It sounds really repetitive lyricswise too.  At 1:27 it gets a little quiet but then goes back into the remix-y feel.  I classify it as an "interlude" because it's repetitive, sounds like a remix, and is super short at 2:01.

02 until that Day...  Uh.. okay?  At first impression, it sounds like an 80s/Classic rock song.  Haha.  At 1:00 it becomes a little more technoish.  The vocals seem to be at a minimum, and the background is more prominent, that's why it feels like an interlude.  It almost feels like a remix as well, I'm assuming the chorus starts at 1:45 and if it does, I like the chorus a lot.  The fast singing is cool, because it's done in a sort of new way.  The end of the chorus is very interesting as well, with the whole drums going with her voice.  I don't like the robot voice though, haa~.  The guitar gets a little boring, simply because it's not really used well.  At 3:36 it sounds like it gets acoustic and a violin holds a long note, which is refreshing from the rest of the song, but then it goes back to the same old, same old, and continues that way for the rest of the song..  A song that I think I'd have to be in the mood to listen to it..  I like the ending a lot at least.

03 Startin' - A song I've always liked, though it's sort of a new style for her.  The guitar arrangement is nice in this one.  I also like that it's a lower key than she usually tries and the way she sings.  The vibrato actually sounds real for once.  I don't like the English echo thing "Tell me startin'" or whatever.  The chorus is one of the best parts of the song, the tempo sounds exactly where it should be which I can't say for all the songs on this album.  The interlude and the guitar solo is nice too, I like how it keeps the pace of the song which is sometimes difficult during free solos.  I like the weird crowd sort of drums at the end as well, though I don't remember them being in the single (perhaps I have a bad memory).  Once again though I don't know if its novelty will wear off, as with JEWEL.

04 1 LOVE - I like this song from the first few seconds, which is rare.  The singing doesn't sound like it really goes with the guitar but around :50 it starts going together (the part before the chorus).  "JUST ONE LOVE!"  They slowed it down a lot from the panasonic ads from listening to the chorus.  The best part about this song, in my opinion, is the end of the chorus when the bass goes with her voice.  The guitar playing is really supurb in this song which I think is rare (I mean, it's always GOOD but I've been hard pressed to find a song besides alterna that it could be considered 'supurb').  At first I was disappointed with the guitar solo because I thought it was repeating the same thing over and over and then I see that it goes into a true solo.  Another one I'd be interested to see live because yoshio tends to mix those up in lives.  I overall think this song is very good, kind of MY STORY style.

05 It was - At first seems very simple and calm... and stays that way through the verse.  They put some sort of effect on her voice in part of the verses but doesn't sound bad.  In the chorus it gets a lot heavier.  Once again a MY STORYish song, something I would've expected on that album.  I'm a little disappointed that whoever composed it didn't try to think out of the box, but I suppose you have to have these types of song on every album.  There isn't even a guitar solo to blow me away.  All in all, I sadly probably won't listen to this song a lot even though it's good simply because that's what I tend to do to songs that sound the way this one does (and she has a million of them).  Though this song IS in one of my favorite key signatures.

06 LABYRINTH - Great, the word I can't pronounce.  I love the word itself but I always pronounce it "lab-rin-ith" rather than "lab-rinth".  I like it from the beginning, and at :49 it starts all coming together, sort of like adding instruments (I think it's an echoing piano).  And at 1:08 it starts throwing in sharps and flats to make it AWESOME.  I'm a little disappointed it was only an interlude and not a real song though.

07 JEWEL - i've listened to this song a lot and it SOUNDS like the second coming of HEAVEN but the lyrics are like the second coming of Free and Easy.  I'm not sure if I like HEAVEN or JEWEL more, I probably like JEWEL better because the lyrics are more uplifting and not about death.  Also the chorus is very moving, even though it doesn't crescendo you know that it's the most important part of the song because her voice gets more dramatic.  I do think she sings really oddly in this one though, if you listen to the beginnings of words.. well, it's just not how she usually sings.  Also the harmonies are faint but go well with the composition.  The best lyrics of the song is at the end "You are my precious treasure".  But I don't know how long I'll actually listen to it, the novelty might wear off like HEAVEN's did.

08 momentum - At first, it doesn't sound like anything special... Okay, the verse isn't very special either.  I expected it to crescendo into some big verse or chorus but so far it's still boring.  It reminds me of a Final Fantasy song, perhaps because of the little triangle.  It gets a little better as it's going into the chorus.. and I really like the chorus.  It's talking about shiroi yuki (snow).  "Boku no saiko no yuki" haha.  "It's my best snow".   It has a way of sounding almost summery because it's upbeat.  It reminds me a lot of fairyland.  Overall:  I thought this song would be really great but on the album it comes up a little average.  It's not bad, but just average.  Probably one I'll be skipping past, but it sounds like it'd be good performed live.  Probably one of my favorite named songs though!

09 taskinst - return of the taskin, I'd like to call this.  It sounds like almost a musicbox at first with drums, very calm.  Then all of a sudden it goes into a very rockish sound, perhaps to contrast the two types of songs on the album?  Either way, some nice guitar playing here.  After the song has had its little "rock" fit, it goes back down to the simple and calm for a few seconds before fading out.  A nice little break from the album.

10 Born to Be... - The downfall of the album.  No, haha, this is my least favorite song of the album though.  I'm forcing myself to listen to it all the way through like I did when she performed it on the concert.  What exactly don't I like about this song?  I can't really put my finger on it.  It sounds very "upbeat", but I really dislike the chorus.  Ayu sings wonderfully in it, but the guitar is boring and the bells in the background are sort of a joke.  This song just hasn't ever caught my attention because I don't like it.  The interlude.. just sounds very Olympics.  Maybe that's why I didn't ever like it, because I kind of despise the Olympics.  Overall, a song that merits a surefire skip from me every time I listen to the album.

11 Beautiful Fighters - Ayu puts on her cute voice to deliver the album's "kawaii" song.  Honestly, this is the type of song you either like or don't.  The type is very upbeat and "feel good", even the lyrics are very "girl power".  For me, it's enjoyable, though I hate the PV a lot.  This song had to grow on me, I had to learn to like this style of song because it's not something that I usually like.  If you liked HONEY on MY STORY, this is kind of like a toned down version of it, in my opinion.  It's more listenable than HONEY but I would stray far from it if you don't like "kawaii pop" as I think I'm going to start labelling these types of songs.

12 BLUE BIRD - The song eases you in at the first verse, and then around :53 gets into the actual chorus and rocks your socks off.  A lot of people said it should've been called fairyland #2 and I think that's true, especially from the video.  It sounds very summery because it came out in the summer.  The background voices go well with the main voice, very upbeat, not clashing at all.  It fades out in the middle and then comes back to the powerful chorus.  The lyrics are also very nice if you ever get around to reading the translation.  Overall, a very upbeat, happy, summer song for when you're feeling down.

13 kiss o' kill - The best part is in the chorus when it goes to 3/4 time for like three notes.  The organ solo @ 3:20 is badass as well.  Also when the music starts dropping during the chorus after that is really awesome.  I think the verses are a little bland but the chorus is awesome and the composition as well.

14 Secret - A very sweet song from the first note that talks about women and the sky?  And a child.  I especially favor the composition, though I think it would've sounded better as a ballad.  I said another song was MY STORYish, and this could be considered (miss)understoodish, though she sings a little weird as was the same case in JEWEL.  Her voice sounds a little low quality though and I'm listening to the 320kbps version of it!  Perhaps it's a filter?  Well, I don't like that.  The song is very slow the entire way through, though around 3:20 there's a violin solo where it picks up a little, then the music drops out.  After listening to it, I think it sounds a little safe and cookie cutter, which is a little disappointing, because you would think you would want to end the album on a strong note.  I guess they wanted to go the safe way.  Sounds like the song that would end a concert to me.







also I have 320kbps if anyone's interested in it.
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: chocolate on November 26, 2006, 09:35:16 PM
Quote from: LovelyMermaid;244011
Can't help myself, i've gotta write how I feel about the songs XD Then I'll rate them by giving them a number out of five hearts XD

Track 1: Not Yet
This song is a total feast for the ears. It's very short and that's the coolest part, it leaves you wanting to listen to more!! :D It could never be a single, but that's kind of the point, short and increadibly sweet.
5 hearts!! :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:


You are so right! It's like Ai Otsuka's 5:09am - a short song that ends too early but that makes it unique.
BTW It's nice to read everyone's opinions of the songs.
...and yes we all love BLUE BIRD :heart:  It was the song and PV I remember of the last summer.
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: wakaba_doll on November 26, 2006, 11:08:57 PM
Quote from: DroolBoy;243729
You can't make a bootleg of something that isn't out, wakaba :P

Maybe the day after the 29th, but not before O_O

Yes, you can, if you have the right connections... :P LOL

Edit: Thank you for the leak, too^~
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: LovelyMermaid on November 26, 2006, 11:16:18 PM
Quote from: chocolate;244097
You are so right! It's like Ai Otsuka's 5:09am - a short song that ends too early but that makes it unique.
BTW It's nice to read everyone's opinions of the songs.
...and yes we all love BLUE BIRD :heart:  It was the song and PV I remember of the last summer.


Do you know, it was so hard for me to write that thing about Not yet? I had like, two paragraphs, but I had to narrow it down and get to the point of what I was saying; I jut wanted to go on and on about that song XD I've never heard that Ai Otsuka song, but I love songs like that.

:heart: BLUE BIRD :heart:
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: wakaba_doll on November 26, 2006, 11:36:27 PM
Listening to the leaked version of the album right now... and I really like it! :heart: "1 LOVE" does sound MY STORY-ish, as Gray pointed out... I get almost an "About You" feeling from it LOL The only songs I'm not exicted about are "Born To Be..." and "Beautiful Fighters" which I didn't like the first time around XD I wish Ayu had composed new songs in place of those 2 repeats from her singles, but so far, seems to be a pretty solid album^^ I won't say it's up to I am...'s par (which I kind of had hopes for XD) but it's a good album in its own right~ with Ayu, you really can't go wrong^^ :heart:

Btw, what are everyone's fave Ayu songs? Right now I'm really wanting to listen to "M" which is probably my absolute *FAVE* Ayu song! :heart:
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: LovelyMermaid on November 26, 2006, 11:49:46 PM
Quote from: wakaba_doll;244176
I won't say it's up to I am...'s par (which I kind of had hopes for XD) but it's a good album in its own right~ with Ayu, you really can't go wrong^^ :heart:


Unfortunatly, I feel the same way XD I wish it had been a little more I Am...ish
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: wakaba_doll on November 26, 2006, 11:53:32 PM
^ Me, too... I'm up to "BLUE BIRD" right now (I skipped "Born To Be" and "Beautiful Fighters" ick XD LOL) At first listen, I really liked it because it started strong, but it's kind of going down some... I can't say this album is a total disappointment, because it *is* Ayu, and I *do* like a number of the songs, but I definitely had a lot of expectations for it and imo, it fell a little bit flat XD Ah, well... Thanks to DB for this leak, because now I'm not so sure if I'm actually going to purchase it this week or wait a while LOL
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: Masabi on November 27, 2006, 01:57:06 AM
It's impossible for Ayu to make another "I Am...".  :]  Everyone has the golden point in their career and I just don't think it's possible for her to hit that point again xD
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: RionZ on November 27, 2006, 02:09:52 AM
For some reason I think Ayu will peak higher next year if she releases another album. This year she actually held the #1 in the WORLD charts for (miss)understood for a week, something not a lot of japanese artists have done.  (some japanese artists have been popping up at #1 in the world charts recently, yay)
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: DroolBoy on November 27, 2006, 02:41:32 AM
Quote from: wakaba_doll;244187
^ Me, too... I'm up to "BLUE BIRD" right now (I skipped "Born To Be" and "Beautiful Fighters" ick XD LOL) At first listen, I really liked it because it started strong, but it's kind of going down some... I can't say this album is a total disappointment, because it *is* Ayu, and I *do* like a number of the songs, but I definitely had a lot of expectations for it and imo, it fell a little bit flat XD Ah, well... Thanks to DB for this leak, because now I'm not so sure if I'm actually going to purchase it this week or wait a while LOL


kiss o' kill!? Organs?! Chainsaws?! D:
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: Linus on November 27, 2006, 10:00:01 AM
I think all the songs are awesome. Who can still think of I am at a point like this one? Haha~~ Best is Best and ok, It's I am, but Secret is awesome. She's the only artist I like when going rock-ish on the songs without being annoying nor repetitive. Just for this she deserves a lot of worshiping. Half of the album has this rock feeling and I don't mind. The other half is ballads, old pop of hers and Not yet is simply a gift of awesomeness. The interludes are great as well. I wish they'd be real songs!

Even with the previews, I was not too confident on some songs. Pardon me, Ayu. It's all amazing. A kickass album. Totally kickass. I am full of work so I can't write an accurate review, but I will in the next days. OMG can't wait to have it in my hands...
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: DroolBoy on November 27, 2006, 01:01:51 PM
Same here, Shaoran. :P Same here.


I can't wait for momentum to just leak already. It's come out on MTV~
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: wakaba_doll on November 28, 2006, 01:10:39 AM
The more I listen to this album... the more it's starting to grow on me XD LOL Now I feel kind of bad for downing it so much last night~ there *are* some really great songs on it! And Ayu's voice really has never sounded better :heart: Loving "Not yet"!
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: zenz on November 29, 2006, 02:58:05 AM
Secret is up on the tracker :D
http://forum.jphip.com/showthread.php?t=6957
Title: "Secret" album discussion
Post by: Masabi on December 03, 2006, 02:04:46 AM
DISCUSS SECRET HERE, YO.
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: wakaba_doll on December 03, 2006, 02:11:40 AM
Awesome thread, Gray! :heart: Hm... Well, I ordered my copy of SECRET last week, so hopefully I'll get it next week!^^ I also have to say that I retract all negatory statements I once made about this album~ It's been on constant play on my iPod lately, and I can't get enough of it! Imo, Beautiful Fighters and Born To Be are really the only "bad" things about this album (and even they are starting to grow on me XD LOL)
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: Masabi on December 03, 2006, 02:13:12 AM
I think the only bad thing on the album is Born to Be... I just can't stand it.  But the rest of the songs are great.  But it seems like a very short album (only 14 tracks).  Then again that's good for an album that was going to be mini (so glad she decided not to make it a mini album!)
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: Shibo on December 03, 2006, 02:23:33 AM
I've been able to resist the urge to download so far.. I'll be getting my CD/DVD version as soon as yesasia decides I should have it, I suppose. I can't wait! Of course, it didn't come today and I'll be out of town from mon-thurs afternoon, so maybe I can listen to it on thurs night?
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: Masabi on December 03, 2006, 02:30:49 AM
I wanted to not listen to it like I usually do but usually she puts them out when I have the money (around christmas) but now she put it out way too early so I had to spoil myself.
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: wakaba_doll on December 03, 2006, 02:41:41 AM
It's hard for me to resist leaks XD LOL Especially for Ayu~ I've been waiting for a new album since (miss)understood and the Startin single had me even more eager! :heart: LOL I love that song^^
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: Masabi on December 03, 2006, 02:43:02 AM
I love startin' as well but I'm not so sure about the PV.. X___X it's a little weird for my tastes!
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: LovelyMermaid on December 03, 2006, 03:14:19 AM
^ I agree, the PV is so... strange XD
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: wakaba_doll on December 03, 2006, 03:39:54 AM
^ LOL I thought it was f*cking *HILARIOUS*! LOL ^^ I love the end, where Ayu pulls off that mask~ It's so disturbing and yet so funny! XD LOL
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: DroolBoy on December 03, 2006, 04:54:41 AM
Born to Be.. is hot. Betches :p
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: Masabi on December 03, 2006, 04:58:58 AM
^ If you like some olympic dudes jumping around in a golden filter..xD
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: DroolBoy on December 03, 2006, 06:50:26 PM
I don't watch the PV much. It'd be better without the lights, but eh.

I mean the song. I always listen to that song and feel like "WOOOOOWWWW". The arrangement really fills me with like, inspiration to do something.. it's like a really good cheer song :p
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: LovelyMermaid on December 03, 2006, 07:27:38 PM
Quote from: wakaba_doll;249308
^ LOL I thought it was f*cking *HILARIOUS*! LOL ^^ I love the end, where Ayu pulls off that mask~ It's so disturbing and yet so funny! XD LOL


:lol: I know right? Its like..the best part XD XD
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: wakaba_doll on December 03, 2006, 10:27:38 PM
^ It is, hehe^^ :heart: Wow, kiss o kill is a really awesome song! I do love the organs, DB^~ LOL
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: LovelyMermaid on December 04, 2006, 12:19:50 AM
I don't know what my problem is o.0 I can't bring myself to like Kiss o kill, I'm sure it'll grow on me :D
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: Linus on December 04, 2006, 10:52:29 AM
According tot he EMS code, Ayu's CD is on my city post office.
What are they waiting for!!! :D
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: DroolBoy on December 05, 2006, 01:01:02 AM
386k first week for Secret.. D:~
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: wakaba_doll on December 07, 2006, 04:36:45 PM
SECRET album booklet scans! :heart: These scans are from French Ayu site TOTALAYU~ Not the best quality, but gorgeous nonetheless! :heart:

(http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/6586/secretbooklet01be5.th.jpg) (http://img124.imageshack.us/my.php?image=secretbooklet01be5.jpg)(http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/6175/normalsecretbooklet02rg9.th.jpg) (http://img124.imageshack.us/my.php?image=normalsecretbooklet02rg9.jpg)
(http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/8228/normalsecretbooklet03gc8.th.jpg) (http://img124.imageshack.us/my.php?image=normalsecretbooklet03gc8.jpg)(http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/8232/normalsecretbooklet05rj1.th.jpg) (http://img124.imageshack.us/my.php?image=normalsecretbooklet05rj1.jpg)
(http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/6087/normalsecretbooklet06rt6.th.jpg) (http://img124.imageshack.us/my.php?image=normalsecretbooklet06rt6.jpg)(http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/483/normalsecretbooklet07eu0.th.jpg) (http://img124.imageshack.us/my.php?image=normalsecretbooklet07eu0.jpg)
(http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/8518/normalsecretbooklet08mg3.th.jpg) (http://img124.imageshack.us/my.php?image=normalsecretbooklet08mg3.jpg)(http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/5236/normalsecretbooklet09lj6.th.jpg) (http://img124.imageshack.us/my.php?image=normalsecretbooklet09lj6.jpg)
(http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/6863/normalsecretbooklet10fd0.th.jpg) (http://img124.imageshack.us/my.php?image=normalsecretbooklet10fd0.jpg)(http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/4412/normalsecretbooklet11zo6.th.jpg) (http://img124.imageshack.us/my.php?image=normalsecretbooklet11zo6.jpg)
(http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/2577/normalsecretbooklet12xl5.th.jpg) (http://img124.imageshack.us/my.php?image=normalsecretbooklet12xl5.jpg)
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: LovelyMermaid on December 07, 2006, 10:09:31 PM
Thank you so much Wakaba! They're beautiful!
I can't help but feel like they put more money into the inside booklet than the covers XD
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: bakamile on December 07, 2006, 10:59:28 PM
I'm not such a big fan of Ayu but it seems that Secret sounds ok. I like Ayu's ballads more then her upbeat songs.
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: wakaba_doll on December 07, 2006, 11:07:09 PM
Quote from: LovelyMermaid;252816
Thank you so much Wakaba! They're beautiful!
I can't help but feel like they put more money into the inside booklet than the covers XD


No problem :heart: I know what you mean XD LOL Sometimes there are even better pics in the inside booklet than what avex chose for the cover~ Like RAINBOW, for example. I didn't think the cover was that impressive, but Ayu in that gorgeous rainbow-coloured gown on the inside was *GORGEOUS* :inlove:
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: aedon on December 13, 2006, 12:16:46 PM
I loved *all* new tracks, and I'm glad I waited for my own copy to arrive to listen and watch in full quality XD Still hate the b-sides, they should've left them out and make taskinst a full song lol. momentum could've sound a little less like HAL material as well, I loved it anyway though. My favorite pv is probably 1LOVE, followed by JEWEL. Also, some of the lyrics were a bit generic, but the title track left me teary eyed, all the older songs references... sigh.

Onto the sales, they're unfair and disappointing :( I hated (m)u and it sold like twice more on 1st week, around 600k. #3 108,119 for 2nd week, and 494,399 total for now.

btw, thanks for posting the scans, wakaba :D *points at her new avatar*
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: wakaba_doll on December 13, 2006, 02:13:54 PM
^ Hehe, you're welcome :heart: I can't believe (miss)understood sold more in its first week than SECRET~ I mean, I didn't *hate* (miss)understood, but SECRET is by far the better album :o Hopefully it'll turn around in the coming weeks and come out on top in the end :heart:
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: aedon on December 13, 2006, 03:01:48 PM
(m)u had some great singles/b-sides (is this LOVE?, alterna, HEAVEN, Will), but those Sweetbox songs were just meh... I'd really want to know if she really picked them on her own or avex made her record them, then again I know a lot of people liked Bold & Delicious because it was something fresh, but I hate it with passion still XD

All in all, Secret > (m)u, and I wish Ayu would perform not only JEWEL, but other songs too to make people notice the awesomeness of this album :( I liked JEWEL from the first listen, but hearing it in every friggin tv show would make anyone hate it... I mean, she performed it three times on Music Station alone x_X Then again it's been a pattern for Ayu since like, Dearest (or even SEASONS), to release a ballad in the autumn/winter season and perform it on every possible show ._. Maybe Ayu's becoming too predictable...

Anyhow, everybody buy Secret ^_^;
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: wakaba_doll on December 13, 2006, 06:07:26 PM
^ I agree, I think the Sweetbox songs being on there was really weird, and not really like Ayu XD I mean, she is one of those artists who has assumed firm control over her image and her music (although we probably have to wonder about that now, since it's possible that avex made her put those songs on there, like you pointed out XD LOL) All in all, I think we could have done without the "cover songs" on (miss)understood too.

And as for Ayu always performing JEWEL~ I think she should do Until that day...! XD LOL Or 1 LOVE, both of which I think could stand alone as solid singles :heart: SECRET has so many awesome, rockin' songs~ It's a shame she would just choose a ballad to perform from it XD
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: aedon on December 20, 2006, 11:42:31 AM
Secret Weekly Oricon update:

#1 386,280
#3 108,119
#6 *50,293
Total: 544,692

:|
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: wakaba_doll on December 20, 2006, 02:37:46 PM
^ Wow... That seems pretty low! XD What are Ayu's usual sales numbers? I know they've got to be higher than that!
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: aedon on December 20, 2006, 04:06:07 PM
All of them were #1 at Oricon :D
1,415,910 A Song for XX
2,562,130 LOVEppears
2,904,420 Duty
4,292,418 A BEST
2,308,112 I am...
1,856,919 RAINBOW
*924,902 A BALLADS
1,062,288 Memorial address
1,132,444 MY STORY
*877,433 (miss)understood
*544,692 Secret *at the moment*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayumi_Hamasaki_discography

I'm still hoping Secret will sell more in few weeks :/
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: wakaba_doll on December 20, 2006, 04:57:35 PM
^ I hope so too! That's amazing that A BALLADS sold more than SECRET has sold so far, considering it was an album of mostly reissues XD
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: aedon on December 20, 2006, 05:18:16 PM
^ Best albums usually sell well :) I think that's because it's a good buy if you're not a big fan and don't collect all albums of the artist~
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: wakaba_doll on December 20, 2006, 05:44:21 PM
^ That's true XD LOL I should have thought of that!
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: LovelyMermaid on December 20, 2006, 09:07:00 PM
Right that's true. And A Ballads did have some good songs! :heart: rainbow :heart:

Yeah, what's up with these sales? XD
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: aedon on December 20, 2006, 09:34:43 PM
A BALLADS had the best A Song for XX version as well <3

Well, I suppose people are 1) just buying less CDs 2) losing interest in Ayu :cry:
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: wakaba_doll on December 20, 2006, 10:40:36 PM
^ Let's hope it's more a case of the former instead of the latter! XD
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: aedon on December 27, 2006, 11:32:04 PM
Secret Weekly Oricon update:

#1 386,280
#3 108,119
#6 *50,293
#11 *33,805
Total: 578,497

T_T
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: LovelyMermaid on December 28, 2006, 05:15:17 PM
It seems like music sales altogether are low these days though, lets not give up on it :D!!

*\0/* */0/* GO SECRET GO!! *\0\* *\0/*
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: aedon on January 11, 2007, 08:20:38 AM
Secret Weekly Oricon update:

#1 386,280
#3 108,119
#6 *50,293
#11 *33,805
#10 *48,202
Total: 626,699

Secret climbed a spot but total sales still kinda depress me :/ Koda Kumi already sold like 175k more too ._.
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: wakaba_doll on January 11, 2007, 04:32:43 PM
^ That is really disappointing XD Especially since Kumi has sold way more~ Let's hope A BEST 2 beats this! XD
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: Linus on January 22, 2007, 12:17:50 AM
Nah, Kumi sold 600K first week, 300K second and third, 50K fourth, am I right? Her fanbase is quite like H!P. It will drop drop drop. On the other hand, Ayu climbs up because people noticed Secret is her best album since... omg, a lot of time. And it has more staying power. Like Ayu's fanbase is all Japan no matter what age. So it's a matter of time Secret reaches the million mark. Maybe in June. But it will.
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: DroolBoy on January 22, 2007, 01:05:50 AM
She sold around 500k first week, and then 300 in the New year's thing.. :O
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: aedon on January 22, 2007, 09:02:49 AM
Secret Weekly Oricon update:

#1 386,280
#3 108,119
#6 *50,293
#11 *33,805
#10 *48,202
#16 *10,666
Total: 637,365

Mark, Koda's been #1 for 3 weeks now. And Ayu's been slipping like whoa. I wish you were right about slowly selling more, but... -_-
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: LovelyMermaid on January 22, 2007, 11:40:58 PM
Ugh, from 48,000 to 10,000...that's terrible :cry:
My poor Ayu...
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: Linus on January 24, 2007, 03:18:56 PM
She's all the year in tv shows and now she has to pimp she's not? She is invited in MS twice a month with old singles and now she only goes for JEWEL? The album is full of masterpieces. To pimp other songs would help but maybe they do want to focus on the best albums already :)
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: wakaba_doll on January 24, 2007, 06:23:42 PM
^ They've probably already given up on SECRET XD Those sales are shameful! What happened to all the Ayu fans? :o

SECRET >>>>>> (miss) understood, imho :P
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: aedon on January 24, 2007, 06:30:23 PM
(miss)understood is Ayu's worst album imho, but maybe I don't understand something :lol:

A BEST's better sell well :/
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: aedon on January 27, 2007, 12:00:33 PM
Secret Weekly Oricon update:

#1 386,280
#3 108,119
#6 *50,293
#11 *33,805
#10 *48,202
#16 *10,666
#30 **7,248
Total: 644,613

Depressing.
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: wakaba_doll on January 28, 2007, 04:54:22 AM
^ Wow... Ouch, Ayu XD Do I sense the end of an era...? :ksad:
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: Linus on January 28, 2007, 08:29:59 PM
Don't worry. BEST 2 is in the way to rescue the sales and make next single go over 500K :p
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: aedon on February 03, 2007, 11:36:52 AM
At 8th Oricon week Secret is out of Top 30 :ONcry:
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: capoeira on February 09, 2007, 10:58:46 AM
But 'Secret' isn't be very good, just good. I excepted something more, and I think others too...
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: aedon on February 13, 2007, 01:44:27 PM
Secret Oricon Sales:
2006
#01 386,280
#03 108,119
Yearly Chart: #22 494,399
2007
2006/12/25~2007/02/12 #15 159,136
#06 *50,293
#11 *33,805
#10 *48,202
#16 *10,666
#30 **7,248
#39 x
#49 x
Total: 653,535
Sources: ukki-monkey blog (http://blog.oricon.co.jp/ukki-monkey/archive/2790/0), wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_%28Ayumi_Hamasaki_album%29)

Well, Ayu has passed 650k. It's less compared to what she could've pull before, but let's face it, there're artists that sell around 10k on _first_ week and she has sold that much on 6th. So I think it's too early to give up :O
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: aedon on February 27, 2007, 08:51:19 AM
Secret Oricon Update:
2007
2006/12/25~2007/02/26 #17 163,995
Total: 658,394

Let's aim for 660k /o/
Title: 「 SECRET 」 Ayu's 8th album discussion
Post by: aedon on March 05, 2007, 07:32:36 PM
Secret Oricon Update:
2007
2006/12/25~2007/03/05 #17 165,871
Total: 660,270

660k :yay: ... -_-

Alternatively, ayudears.com reports 710k, no idea where they got their numbers though :lol: