| Forum Index » Ai's Chat Room » Kurage, Nagareboshi's Sales: Is Ai Done for? |
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| HilaryDuffFanboy |
 Posted: Sep 15, 2008 8:54 pm |
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PEACH
Joined: 10 Oct 2005
Posts: 1966
Location: Melbourne, Australia
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Ai's music is better than ever, if anything. I really liked Kurage, Nagareboshi and liked Rocket Sneaker single even more. I just think Japan needs something to rekindle their feelings towards Ai, like another major drama tie in.
Look at what it did for Utada Hikaru, Flavor of Life sold copious amounts, almost 700k i think, and her next few singles barely made it to 80k. And then once again with Prisoner of Love, that song has helped her album Heart Station knocking on the door on that magical million barrier.
avex is just really stupid and lazy with it.
I mentioned in the news thread that Kurage, Nagareboshi has been in the top 5 of most downloaded songs in the past week on iTunes, so that's a good sign! I always thought Ai's fans, mainly younger, would prefer downloading.
AiiR wrote: I think we should also keep in mind of the overseas version been a factor of the dropping sales.
The overseas versions are much cheaper than the original Japanese editions so obviously most people would rather wait for a couple days for the release of the overseas edition. Besides, I think Avex had raised up the price of the singles lately. For people who couldn't afford or get access to the Japanese editions would definitly buy the overseas edition to show that they still support ai-chin.
I thought Kurage, Nagareboshi wouldn't have the special 5th Anniversary edition released in the overseas versions but they decided to have it...and it's so much cheaper...so I think it's not that special any more, since they both have the same contents even the bonuses.
Firstly, overseas versions is NOT factor in dropping sales. People in Japan can only buy Japanese versions. Only people like us who are overseas, have the option of buying Japanese or overseas version. And it comes as no surprise that non-Japanese fans that actually purchase CDs make for a VERY small proportion compared to the number of people that buy it in Japan. So the availability of overseas version has no impact on Oricon numbers, virtually.
Secondly, avex has always had the same price scheme for almost all of their mainstream releases. 1 A-side + 1 B-side/2 A-side = 1000 yen, an extra B-side (3rd track) for another 200 yen for a total of 1200 yen. +DVD option for 1800 yen for most artists. Only exceptions I can think of off the top of my head is Hitomi Shimatani and Koda Kumi in very rare cases.
Ai's latest singles have all had a 2nd B-side and like LiFE - LOVE CIRCLE, Sora to Kujira and now Ame no Tsubu, Waltz ~LOVE MUSiC~, making CD only versions 1200yen. Once again, that's the norm for avex and I sincerely doubt people are not going to buy the single because of an extra 200yen because Ai gives another B-side.
Thirdly, in my opinion it's still special. Overseas version will never ever be Japanese version. Japanese version will be as original as it will get. Some overseas versions have been spoiled in the past, like LOVE COOK picturebook. ~_~ |
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| Naru |
| Posted: Sep 16, 2008 10:25 pm |
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Happy Days
Joined: 02 Aug 2006
Posts: 119
Location: USA
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| Don't just go by chart positions, A lot of songs that make it even to number one I've met people that have never heard the song before. Some barely make it and they are really popular ( look at HY. They are still indies after all these years, but I know more Japanese people that know who they are than Sakamoto Maaya, or MURAMASA. They have both made it into the top 20 or top 10) Ai's perception isn't good among people her age right now. Japan's in a hip-hop, techno-pop, and Johnny's music phase right now. I asked a 20-something friend why she didn't like Otsuka Ai and she simply said that she doesn't like people that don't make their own music(which AVEX I guess has a rep as), and that she think that she has had plastic surgery and doesn't like that. |
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| HilaryDuffFanboy |
| Posted: Sep 17, 2008 7:43 pm |
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PEACH
Joined: 10 Oct 2005
Posts: 1966
Location: Melbourne, Australia
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| ^Ai writes all her songs and lyrics and co-produces half the time. Your friend must only listen to indie rock or something. Ayu writes all her lyrics and has composed a few songs. I guess apart from those two the others do it even less or not at all. Koda does lyrics not that often, Namie's done it ONCE and that's all I can think if out of the avex powerhouses. |
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| noir chu lip |
| Posted: Sep 17, 2008 7:56 pm |
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甘えんぼ
Joined: 19 May 2007
Posts: 72
Location: Le Royaume
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i agree. both ai and ayu are very popular. popular enough for avex to give them some freedom while producing their music. they both have a unique style, and i respect that a lot. i think that all of the writing and composing that ai does is amazing. she has some major talent.
plus, what's the big deal with plastic surgery? its not like people are bad because they have a little. ai is naturally beautiful. a LOT of asians get a little bit of work done, its just the popular thing to do now. |
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| vaah |
| Posted: Sep 18, 2008 3:34 am |
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Happy Days
Joined: 03 Jul 2008
Posts: 104
Location: Sydney AU
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Naru wrote: she simply said that she doesn't like people that don't make their own music(which AVEX I guess has a rep as), and that she think that she has had plastic surgery and doesn't like that.
Ai writes her own music together with ikkoman and she didn't have plastic surgery...I never know she had plastic surgery, to say the least.
Regarding chart position, I hope to see Ai sales rise on the top.  |
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| sljinu |
| Posted: Sep 18, 2008 5:02 am |
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ユメクイ
Joined: 02 Aug 2007
Posts: 1203
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vaah wrote: and she didn't have plastic surgery...
I'm not sure about this but a lot of people say she had some surgery done on her eyes as they are wider than when compared to her highschool pictures. Personally, I don't have a problem with it although I do believe the money could have been better spent on other more worthwhile things...oh well, she's really beautiful now 
As for the musician not writing their own songs...what's with having a beef against those who sing other people's songs? It feels more umm...sincere (???) if they sing their own songs but you still miss out on a lot of great music if you let something small like that get in the way. I admit, I feel bummed out if I discover that a particular singer doesn't write their own stuff but it doesn't stop me from listening to them...
Ontopic: I don't think Ai is done for. Maybe it's just a bump in her career. Her latest singles have kinda resembled a lot of her past works though, haven't they? Maybe those who normally buy her singles weren't too impressed with this remix of Kingyou Hanabi/Planetarium (yes I know, it's a bit of an exaggeration...but the resemblance is there) and then Pocket is like another version of Renai Shashin. I guess one can only go so far before their creative juice runs out...wait, that sounds too negative. Point is! She just needs to come up with something new (and maybe choose a time where there are few other big guns releasing new projects) |
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| vaah |
| Posted: Sep 18, 2008 5:24 am |
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Happy Days
Joined: 03 Jul 2008
Posts: 104
Location: Sydney AU
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I personally never heard of this plastic surgery thing. As you said there's no reliable source regarding this. Even if she had I wouldn't care. 
I also don't have a problem if the singer doesn't write his own music as long it's nice to listen to. However, I respect singer who creates their own music more. |
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| lurve_ya |
| Posted: Sep 18, 2008 8:07 am |
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上塩タン焼680円
Joined: 02 Feb 2006
Posts: 364
Location: Singapore
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i have the same thinking as HilaryDuffFanBoy, that a drama tie-in would help her from this 'slump', I too, was hoping that Kurage, Nagareboshi would be a song for a drama as i think this type of songs can definitely do better in terms of sales. Truthfully, when i was watching Hana Yori Dango Final and Aiko's KissHug began playing, i was thinking how it would turn out if Ai's Kurage, Nagareboshi was used- the scene is actually quite the same as the PV (the glistering of water under the night's sky)
Although IMO her upbeat songs (or midtempo) a-sides recently, are lacking in some areas, her ballads never fail to impress me.
I always treat Ai-chan as a 'woman-icon', rather than 'LOVE-icon' as her ballads are all written out on a girl's perspective and through all her lyrics i think she's a mature and cute girl, with unique thinkings (that left translator a hard time translating her lyrics =x) |
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