Entry tags:
SCawaii interview with Ayu
Note: this is kind of messed up because the scans are cut off a little bit.
Hamasaki Ayumi talks about 'Love Songs'.
"Rather than wanting people to sympathize or relate to the songs, I want the songs to become a mirror that reflects the listeners and thereby give the listener a chance to take a look at their own reflection..."
That was the thought in Ayu's mind as she worked on her new album 'Love songs'. What was it that she wanted to ask everyone through her songs about all different kinds of love?
The title 'Love songs' made me look forward to a really pink album, but now I realize that was stupid. (LOL)
I'd never made an album like that! I mean, this is me we're talking about. (LOL) Even the first song 'love song' isn't a ballad.
So first off, could you tell us why you wanted to make this album?
It all started with my 7 days show at Yoyogi. I thought that'd I'd be　totally exhausted after I made it through those seven days, so I wanted to give myself a little rest. But after it was all actually over, I thought "I can't stop here." "I need to take all the things I learned in those seven days and keep on moving forward." To put it succinctly, I felt enlightened.
Enlightened?
My idea of the kind of singer I needed to be, that I wanted to be, suddenly became very clear and simple. I realized once again that I want to be a vocalist. That I didn't want to use complicated gimmicks, I wanted to get things across to people in a simple way, by expressing what I want through my songs. I realized that that is how I should be.
I see. And this new album is your first after realizing that.
Up until now, I always had an ulterior motive in choosing my words, some sort of darker side or reason behind them. I didn't want that, I just wanted to make an album that was a collection of songs that were simply about different kinds of love. That's when I thought of the title of 'Love songs'.
I do think that there are all kinds of love on the album. What does 'love' mean to you?
I think it's the greatest theme of our lives. The most important thing. Life has no meaning without love, and we're living because of love, and it's the biggest, most beautiful, most difficult thing in the world. Choosing to write about love like that was very difficult emotionally, as well. I felt like I was climbing this huge mountain. (LOL)
No wonder. Could you give us your definition of a love song?
It's all summed up by the album title 'Love songs', but within that, when I tried to write what I think of as a love song, what I wrote was 'Love song'. That's where I am right now. 'Love Song' isn't saying 'I fell in love' or 'I'm singing about all these romances'. -------- or fun, or sweet, or gentle or passionate. I think that's 'romance'. We don't know what love looks like, or if it's warm, or cold - it might be hot enough to burn, or ice cold. It's not something tangible that you can reach out and touch. I even think that whether love is good or bad depends on the person. Some people deny love. So I wanted to sing about all of those different kinds of love. That's where----
The last song is a recording of 'Seven Days War' from the final day of your 7 days show. What was the meaning behind that?
If 'LOVE = LIVE' then that moment there contains my very core. I was just sobbing so I couldn't sing very well, but I felt like all of my emotions, everything I feel about why I want to be a singer, and everything I take pride in as a singer, it was all there on that day, in that song, and that's why I immediately decided to include it on the album.
The songs on this album talk about all kinds of love, but I wondered if 'NOVEMBER' isn't actually---
I'm not telling. (LOL) I know that's the most difficult thing, but that's a mystery I'm going let you all enjoy solving.
I got this wild idea 'Is this actually about Ayu? Has she met the One?'
Who knows?
And maybe his birthday is in November?
Hahaha! That's the last reason I'd use that title!
Too bad! I thought we'd get to chat about your lovelife, but maybe next time!
I liked those 50 questions I did last time. I'd like to do that again. It would also be easier to answer questions about my love life that way.
Like, 'Are you in love right now?
--------
Hamasaki Ayumi talks about 'Love Songs'.
"Rather than wanting people to sympathize or relate to the songs, I want the songs to become a mirror that reflects the listeners and thereby give the listener a chance to take a look at their own reflection..."
That was the thought in Ayu's mind as she worked on her new album 'Love songs'. What was it that she wanted to ask everyone through her songs about all different kinds of love?
The title 'Love songs' made me look forward to a really pink album, but now I realize that was stupid. (LOL)
I'd never made an album like that! I mean, this is me we're talking about. (LOL) Even the first song 'love song' isn't a ballad.
So first off, could you tell us why you wanted to make this album?
It all started with my 7 days show at Yoyogi. I thought that'd I'd be　totally exhausted after I made it through those seven days, so I wanted to give myself a little rest. But after it was all actually over, I thought "I can't stop here." "I need to take all the things I learned in those seven days and keep on moving forward." To put it succinctly, I felt enlightened.
Enlightened?
My idea of the kind of singer I needed to be, that I wanted to be, suddenly became very clear and simple. I realized once again that I want to be a vocalist. That I didn't want to use complicated gimmicks, I wanted to get things across to people in a simple way, by expressing what I want through my songs. I realized that that is how I should be.
I see. And this new album is your first after realizing that.
Up until now, I always had an ulterior motive in choosing my words, some sort of darker side or reason behind them. I didn't want that, I just wanted to make an album that was a collection of songs that were simply about different kinds of love. That's when I thought of the title of 'Love songs'.
I do think that there are all kinds of love on the album. What does 'love' mean to you?
I think it's the greatest theme of our lives. The most important thing. Life has no meaning without love, and we're living because of love, and it's the biggest, most beautiful, most difficult thing in the world. Choosing to write about love like that was very difficult emotionally, as well. I felt like I was climbing this huge mountain. (LOL)
No wonder. Could you give us your definition of a love song?
It's all summed up by the album title 'Love songs', but within that, when I tried to write what I think of as a love song, what I wrote was 'Love song'. That's where I am right now. 'Love Song' isn't saying 'I fell in love' or 'I'm singing about all these romances'. -------- or fun, or sweet, or gentle or passionate. I think that's 'romance'. We don't know what love looks like, or if it's warm, or cold - it might be hot enough to burn, or ice cold. It's not something tangible that you can reach out and touch. I even think that whether love is good or bad depends on the person. Some people deny love. So I wanted to sing about all of those different kinds of love. That's where----
The last song is a recording of 'Seven Days War' from the final day of your 7 days show. What was the meaning behind that?
If 'LOVE = LIVE' then that moment there contains my very core. I was just sobbing so I couldn't sing very well, but I felt like all of my emotions, everything I feel about why I want to be a singer, and everything I take pride in as a singer, it was all there on that day, in that song, and that's why I immediately decided to include it on the album.
The songs on this album talk about all kinds of love, but I wondered if 'NOVEMBER' isn't actually---
I'm not telling. (LOL) I know that's the most difficult thing, but that's a mystery I'm going let you all enjoy solving.
I got this wild idea 'Is this actually about Ayu? Has she met the One?'
Who knows?
And maybe his birthday is in November?
Hahaha! That's the last reason I'd use that title!
Too bad! I thought we'd get to chat about your lovelife, but maybe next time!
I liked those 50 questions I did last time. I'd like to do that again. It would also be easier to answer questions about my love life that way.
Like, 'Are you in love right now?
--------