ayaka – Minna Sora no Shita July 7, 2009

Track Listing

1. Minna Sora no Shita
2. Arigatou.
3. Koi Kogarete Mita Yume (2009/04/22 Nippon Budokan Live ver.)
4. Minna Sora no Shita (Instrumental)
5. Arigatou. (Instrumental)

1. Minna Sora no Shita

I know she’s sick and all, but c’mon another slow song?  I know she’s more famous because of her ballads and such, but I really want something that’d last in my mind since after this ayaka is going off into hiatus land.  I will say it’s a lot better than “Yume wo Mikata ni” and we here her vocals stand out more with the orchestral arrangement.  Beautiful track from ayaka and I guess it does make for a nice longing period, so this song is a good way to go out.

2. Arigatou.

Now this was the song I was hopefully waiting for.  It’s not as upbeat and fresh like “CLAP & LOVE”, but this is quite nice.  It’s more upbeat nature stands out for me and even the brass made the song peppy almost and I quite like that about this track.  ayaka’s vocals are nice and full here which added to the mood.   Good track as well.

3. Koi Kogarete Mita Yume (2009/04/22 Nippon Budokan Live ver.)

When are her live performances not sucky?  Now coming from her last single, I was surprised it wasn’t “Yume wo Mikata ni” that got the live version.  She never messes lives up and she continues this streak with this live.  Her ballads never come off as bad, especially if they are sung live.  Hearing ayaka singing her ballads to me sound better than the recorded versions and once again does it for me. 

 

 

Ok so ayaka releases this before her prolonged hiatus for who knows how long and well it’s a great way to leave the fans off like this.  Minna Sora no Shita is great ballad from her and put along the lines of “Mikazuki” and others.  Arigatou. is also nice being an upbeat track as well.  The live also was just as good as her many other live versions.  So in other words, not a flaw in the single.

ayaka – Real voice May 1, 2009

Track Listing

1. Real voice
2. Peace loving people
3. Real voice (instrumental)

1. Real voice

I’m kind of happy she went back to more of an upbeat kind of sound because this song would be something I’d stick with and listen to alot.  There’s just a great feeling of carelessness in the song and even though the arrangement screams Ai Otsuka, ayaka did a great job with the song IMO. 

2. Peace loving people

Peace loving people continues to carry this fun sense of emotion and Plp is a bit more soulful as well.  ayaka’s voice sounds a lot more cemented into the song and she has great control with the track.  The only problem I really had was that the piano melody gets a bit annoying after a while, which sucks, but this is definitly a special to her I bet.

 

 

The 3rd single of the era, Real voice was a big step-up from last one by a long shot.  The only thing that stood out on that single was the live versions, which sadly there wasn’t any on this *sheds tears* anyway both songs were comfortable songs to listen to and I liked relaxing to the tracks.  So far, this is my favorite single of the era

ayaka – Yume wo Mikata ni/Koi Kogarete Mita Yume April 15, 2009

Track Listing

1. Yume wo Mikata ni
2. Koi Kogarete Mita Yume
3. Kimi ga Iru Kara – Live ver.(2009/2/13 @ SHIBUYA-AX)
4. Yume wo Mikata ni (Instrumental)
5. Koi Kogarete Mita Yume (Instrumental)

1. Yume wo Mikata ni

Yume wo Mikata ni finally kicks this era out with a pretty nice pop track.  ayaka is back to a great vocal style and she sounds pretty but the BKGD vocals sound weird.  I’m happy to feel with the track with it’s powerful sound and overall relaxing sound.  Welcome back, ayaka…

2. Koi Kogarete Mita Yume

As the main ballad, Koi Kogarete Mita Yume was sweet and calm.  ayaka’s vocals to me sound stronger on this song, but the song itself is kind of forgettable to her other songs, but an overall nice track to listen to as easy listening. 

3. Kimi ga Iru Kara – Live ver.(2009/2/13 @ SHIBUYA-AX)

Yeah, Kimi ga Iru Kara was off the last album, “Sing to the Sky” and seeing it as a live version surprised since it was upbeat.  I love ayaka’s excitement in the song and she sounds great (but when is she isn’t live).  I got to say she’s got a great voice and hearing it live just shows how much she’s into her music.

 

 

ayaka’s single is kind of a bittersweet moment.  The single is nice with everything going on.  Yume wo’s pop ballad mix, Koi Kogarete’s beautiful arrangement, and the live version just meshed well together.  ayaka though is having medical problems though and she said she’ll take her break next year which worries me that she isn’t taking one now…I mean health is very importand.  Hope she gets to feeling better.

ayaka – melody ~SOUNDS REAL~ January 28, 2009

Track Listing

1. melody ~SOUNDS REAL~
2. Blue Days
3. melody ~SOUNDS REAL~ -Live Version-
4. Sha la la -Live Version-
5. Blue Days -Live Version-

1. melody ~SOUNDS REAL~

Well, after the nice ballad “I believe” we get a more lively and upbeat track.  It’s got ayaka singing in a louder style than the previous A-side and add in the cool sound provided by a band, melody is just a nice track with even nicer vocals.  It may not stand as the best track she’s done, but this’ll do.

2. Blue Days

Blue Days however is a little more soft-spoken in both areas: sound and vocals.  ayaka does seem to want to just bust out her loud side, but with only the acoustic leading for most of the first verse, it’s kind of awkward.  I also think that her higher notes aren’t too supported and she starts to squeak, especially in the chorus.  It’s alright, but nothing special.

3. melody ~SOUNDS REAL~ -Live Version-

This single is the first of many singles of hers to include such live versions.  melody comes first of 3 live songs and I seem to connect to the live version more than the original.  There’s such a nice feeling of being alive and with ayaka is definitly using her strong voice to potray the song in a more powerful way was great.

4. Sha la la -Live Version-

Oddly enough, Sha la la hasn’t been heard originally yet, so to people this came as a surprise and for good reason.  The song is pretty nice to listen to and ayaka sounds great live.  When she goes into saying her ~Sha la la~ line, it was amazing.  I hope the main song sounds this great.

5. Blue Days -Live Version-

ayaka opens up with a little speech opening that starts up the last live song on the single.  As much as I didn’t really feel for the original, she gave a much better performance of it live.  She isn’t squeaking as terribly and her voice showed a lot more emotion. 

 

 

This single if not for the amazing live tracks would’ve been pretty low tooken by me.  melody is alright but is easily forgettable against other upbeat tracks.  Blue Days was just a disappointment in a ballad.  Like I said, the saving grace is the live versions as they all just sound amazing.  ayaka, your lives are prolly that amazing.

ayaka – I believe January 13, 2009

Track Listing

1. I believe
2. Yume no Kakera
3. I believe (Inst.)

1. I believe

Wow, for such a debut track, ayaka got it right.  The song is a ballad of course and even though ayaka is no alan, she’s got a real nice tone quality and can belt it out really well.  Maybe it isn’t too memorable, but it’s definitly a good song for her.  I also love the violin solo, so beautiful and graceful.  I can’t help but enjoy this track.

2. Yume no Kakera

I know ayaka do upbeat songs like “CLAP & LOVE” and this was an interesting song nonetheless.  ayaka has a deeper tone and even though the music is so “Michelle Branch” it’s quite cool.  Actually thinking about it, ayaka does sound a little like Michelle, but singing in Japanese.  Pretty cool acoustic pop song.

 

 

ayaka has been one of those artists that I really never cared for, that is until I heard “CLAP&LOVE”  I have to say, I’m pleased with her debut single.  Both songs really showcase her variety of songs and both came out well, even though Westernized up a little bit.