It it totally gorgeous, and way, way, and I mean waaaaay better than her recent pictures. I've been having low expectations on her covers lately, which is probably why I am actually really impressed with this one. My last favourite cover from her was Blue Bird, and that was a single from 3-4 years ago. After that, her singles covers were gradually getting worse. I'm not sure if it's the airbrushing, or the poses, her facial expression, maybe all of them.
It all started when Kazuyoshi Shimomura (some fans have lovingl
y dubbed him Kazuyoshit Shitmomura) shot her Mirrorcle World cover. No, actually he also shot her A BEST 2 covers before, but those were too horrible and I couldn't be bothered to actually save them and show them here.
Some actually like the cover, but I don't. I just don't. Not really much of a reason. ARMPIT POSE WOOHOO. First time I saw it, I was like, "Oh. Bleh." The cover was forgettable to me (the songs on it still rock though). I was hoping for a more rockin' cover, because the Mirrorcle WOrld the song is awesome rock. Sure, the B-side was a rock ballad, but seriously? Anyone who doesn't know how the song sounds like would just assume that it's a ballad single.
And then, eight months later, her new single, Days/GREEN is released. I was hoping for a good cover. Good here means that's it's nice for me to play around in Photoshop with, beautiful enough to
display on my cupboard if I ever plan on buying 
it, and also also good so that I don't cringe in horror every time it pops up in my music player. It's a good thing that there were four versions, so at least one cover would be gorgeous. Here I am, showing you two of the covers, the worst two, as a matter of fact. The other two didn't fare that much better, but seriously. Days/GREEN cd-only (left) is the worst. Dead eyes, weird mouth, protruding forehead. The position of all her facial features look distorted. Instead of butterflies, she now has flowers in her hair. This is a winter single, so why use flowers? Doesn't that normally represent spring? I'm not expecting any stereotypical winter covers, but...eh. I just don't like the covers.
y dubbed him Kazuyoshit Shitmomura) shot her Mirrorcle World cover. No, actually he also shot her A BEST 2 covers before, but those were too horrible and I couldn't be bothered to actually save them and show them here.
Some actually like the cover, but I don't. I just don't. Not really much of a reason. ARMPIT POSE WOOHOO. First time I saw it, I was like, "Oh. Bleh." The cover was forgettable to me (the songs on it still rock though). I was hoping for a more rockin' cover, because the Mirrorcle WOrld the song is awesome rock. Sure, the B-side was a rock ballad, but seriously? Anyone who doesn't know how the song sounds like would just assume that it's a ballad single.
And then, eight months later, her new single, Days/GREEN is released. I was hoping for a good cover. Good here means that's it's nice for me to play around in Photoshop with, beautiful enough to
display on my cupboard if I ever plan on buying 
it, and also also good so that I don't cringe in horror every time it pops up in my music player. It's a good thing that there were four versions, so at least one cover would be gorgeous. Here I am, showing you two of the covers, the worst two, as a matter of fact. The other two didn't fare that much better, but seriously. Days/GREEN cd-only (left) is the worst. Dead eyes, weird mouth, protruding forehead. The position of all her facial features look distorted. Instead of butterflies, she now has flowers in her hair. This is a winter single, so why use flowers? Doesn't that normally represent spring? I'm not expecting any stereotypical winter covers, but...eh. I just don't like the covers.
Next up, Rule/Sparkle in February 2009. Rule was used as the world-wide theme song for the live ada
ptation of Dragon Ball, called Dragon Ball Evolution (wtf). 
I never watched the movie, but I expected it to suck when Hollywood decided on the all-white cast, except for Master Yoshi, I think. I dunno, I dun care. Thank goodness the song is really powerful on its own. I lovelove Rule, but not so much the cover. When we saw the making of p
ictures, we thought it would be reminiscent of her 2003 Because of You PV, but we were far off. The hair is so messy, the facial expression tried too hard at "FIERCE". I like the colours though, when almost every one else doesn't. Ayu herself is a fan of Dragon Ball, and I guess she was trying to imitate Bulma's "sense of fashion". But the poses of the CD-only versions, ah mai gad.
You got the colours right, Ayu.
She announced her next album will be released just a month after Rule/Sparkle, NEXT LEVEL. I don't know why
, but I was expecting a different cover, something unique, something new to correspond with its title. Ayumi Hamasaki, going up the next level sort of feel, you know. I guess, we sort of got the 'new and different'. Kids, I am here to warn you, be careful what you with for. You might end up with an unrecognisable woman with bushy hair, dishwasher gloves (which by the way, you can't see here, also have frickin' nails on them. I know you're the nail queen, Ayu, but seriously, sparkly nails on rubber gloves?!) and some sort of multi-coloured dress. Yeah. Weird. Not to mention the continuation of weird poses she did.
Oh, my back.
ptation of Dragon Ball, called Dragon Ball Evolution (wtf). 
I never watched the movie, but I expected it to suck when Hollywood decided on the all-white cast, except for Master Yoshi, I think. I dunno, I dun care. Thank goodness the song is really powerful on its own. I lovelove Rule, but not so much the cover. When we saw the making of p
ictures, we thought it would be reminiscent of her 2003 Because of You PV, but we were far off. The hair is so messy, the facial expression tried too hard at "FIERCE". I like the colours though, when almost every one else doesn't. Ayu herself is a fan of Dragon Ball, and I guess she was trying to imitate Bulma's "sense of fashion". But the poses of the CD-only versions, ah mai gad.
You got the colours right, Ayu.
She announced her next album will be released just a month after Rule/Sparkle, NEXT LEVEL. I don't know why
, but I was expecting a different cover, something unique, something new to correspond with its title. Ayumi Hamasaki, going up the next level sort of feel, you know. I guess, we sort of got the 'new and different'. Kids, I am here to warn you, be careful what you with for. You might end up with an unrecognisable woman with bushy hair, dishwasher gloves (which by the way, you can't see here, also have frickin' nails on them. I know you're the nail queen, Ayu, but seriously, sparkly nails on rubber gloves?!) and some sort of multi-coloured dress. Yeah. Weird. Not to mention the continuation of weird poses she did.
Oh, my back.
Sometimes, you gotta wonder, how many dead, innocent squirrels are probably stuck in her hair, strangled? None, actually, there's no reason for squirrels to be there. But imagine that hair-- Okay, stop.
By the time her next single was announced, there was no hope left for me. Sunrise/Sunset, two songs with similar arrangements, one a summer pop, the other one a summer ballad. Your typical Ayu summer cheer crowd song, and this time she also included her dancers' vocals for the chorus (including Shuya, teehee) So yeah, again, good songs, bad covers. Unfortunately, bad doesn't really describe it. Ayu totally hit rock bottom with this one. Introducing, Sunrise/Sunset cover, drum rolls please.
OH HAI, I AM AYUMI.
By the time her next single was announced, there was no hope left for me. Sunrise/Sunset, two songs with similar arrangements, one a summer pop, the other one a summer ballad. Your typical Ayu summer cheer crowd song, and this time she also included her dancers' vocals for the chorus (including Shuya, teehee) So yeah, again, good songs, bad covers. Unfortunately, bad doesn't really describe it. Ayu totally hit rock bottom with this one. Introducing, Sunrise/Sunset cover, drum rolls please.
OH HAI, I AM AYUMI.
Noooo, really? LIES, YOU IMPOSTOR D:
AAAGGHHH, ZE HORROR. STOP GLARING AT ME AYUUUU
Lets repost the You Were.../BALLAD cover.
Ah, splendid.
AAAGGHHH, ZE HORROR. STOP GLARING AT ME AYUUUU
Lets repost the You Were.../BALLAD cover.
Ah, splendid.
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