I should apologize for my lack of activity around here recently, but I won’t because I’m not particularly sorry. The fact is I’ve been focusing on other sites this summer and there are only so many hours in the day. I still like having this blog, but it’s not my first priority right now. So, updates will continue to be more occasional than often, because that’s how I roll. (I have made some additions around this domain, though — a 20 years old, a one-page tribute to ONE OK ROCK. ♥)
Anyway. I do have a point I’d like to get to, and that’s a rant about a musician who’s near and dear to my heart. Or more specifically, her cover art.
I speak, of course, about Ayumi Hamasaki. One look at the cover for her most recent single, Sunrise/Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~, should tell you everything you need to know. It’s very pathetically Photoshopped and she looks ridiculous. For Ayu, or at least her cover art, this is a new low.
But it’s one I definitely expected. I haven’t liked any of Ayu’s covers for a long time now, and each one is just another disappointment. The last one I actually liked was talkin’ 2 myself, which came out in September 2007. Since then, it’s been a string of one terrible cover after another.
Case 1: GUILTY
The CD/DVD cover isn’t terribly unique, but I like the colors and the font. But what the hell is up with her nails? Is she trying to poke her eyes out? I don’t even want to talk about how absurd she looks on the CD version. Just… no.
Case 2: Mirrorcle World and Days/GREEN
When the Mirrorcle World single came out, I thought it was something simple, nice, and new. And I liked the colors. But when Days/GREEN came out, it just killed it for me. The concept worked fine for one single, but twice it just looked awful. There’s also the fact that I hate “Days” with a vengeance, but even without that I just can’t stand it.
Case 3: A COMPLETE
As a collection of all of her singles to date, she could have gone for something that represented her as an artist, like her A symbol. Instead she has a boring picture with little variation between versions. Yawn.
Case 4: Rule/Sparkle
Just look at it. Seriously, what the hell? The colors clash, the outfit is bizarre, and what is up with her hair? And that pose? WTF?!
NEXT LEVEL
The colors and disco concept, I love. But it came out incredibly wrong, from her clothes to her hair to the background. Just… ugh!
And that brings us to Sunrise/Sunset, which I don’t even need to explain.
Well, maybe I’ll like her next cover. Then again, I’ve been saying that for two years now…
Oh, the actual single? Sunrise/Sunset is yet another one of Ayu’s summer singles. Following in the steps of NEXT LEVEL, "Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~" isn’t the usual pop but more dance/techno, and I like it. "Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~" is the same song in ballad form, which in comparison is rather boring but could be worse.
I’m with you on her recent string of bad covers. She’s really disappointed me lately and Sunrise/Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ just tops the cake.