MSO (Melbourne Shuffle Oldskool): Ayumi Hamasaki

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Ayumi Hamasaki

Happy Birthday Ayumi Hamasaki, just 30 today. For those of you unfamiliar with Ayu, you're seriously missing a Jpop genius. Ayu's often referred to as the Japanese Madonna, but she's way better than old Madge ;)

This is the album that did it for me The opening track with killer guitar solo, blew me away. Been a fan ever since.

Never Ever (2001) Release Date: 7 March 2001
AVCD-30231

01. NEVER EVER "Original Mix"
02. NEVER EVER "Yuta's prayer mix"
03. SEASONS "H-H remix"
04. NEVER EVER "PROJECT O.T MIX"
05. NEVER EVER "Laugh & Peace MIX"
06. NEVER EVER "Empty Pot Shuttlecock wood"
07. evolution "Ayu Can Hear U Mix"
08. NEVER EVER "nicely nice hot stab remix"
09. NEVER EVER "tears of aquarius mix"
10. NEVER EVER "Original Mix -Instrumental-"

Here's a live shorter version of the opening track. I have no idea what the words are in English, all I know is I believe every word she sings.

AYUMI HAMASAKI - NEVER EVER LIVE

This live guitar intro by Yoshio to Endless Sorrow in a 2005/06 tour will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It's magnificent.

Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2005//06 Endless Sorrow guitar intro by Yoshio Endless Sorrow ~Intro~ CDL05//06

This is a great little rockn track MissUnderstood. wonderful production and maturity in Ayu's voice.

Ayumi Hamasaki - Missunderstood > shinobi movie

Ayu's remixes are astounding and inventive. She works with a very wide range of producers covering all sorts of dance styles. Here's a hot Morning Musume remix, although it'd be nice if someone taught them how to shuffle ;) This track is part of MSO Xtreem Shuffle challenge, do your own remix with shuffling in it.

Morning Musume Ayumi Hamasaki remix

And another killer track BOLD and DELICIOUS with english subtitles. This one has not been far from my sound system the past couple of years, it's brilliant, in production and writing.

AYUMI HAMASAKI - BOLD AND DELICIOUS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

miss BOLD AND DELICIOUS

AYUMI HAMASAKI

So check out her work, she writes and records her own music, she plays keyboards, performs with symphony orchestras and the dance remixes are brilliant, but very few of them are on youtube, so check out her site and jpop forum for tour dates, free downloads and buy the originals, they're superb.

Ayumi @ J-Pop Forums
Ayumi official website

And perhaps just a couple of trance remixes to go out on ;)

Ayumi Hamasaki - "M" (Above & Beyond Cyber Trance Remix)

AYUMI HAMASAKI - FLY HIGH RMX

...And lets finish with the hauntingly beautiful Dolls, from the movie of the same name. Ayu plays piano in this one, and we have some Rozen Maiden visuals to go with it.

Ayumi Hamasaki Dolls - with Rozen Maiden remix

Here's the actual DOLLS film trailer. It's a fantastic Takeshi Kitano film from 2002. It's available on DVD, well worth seeing.

DOLLS Trailer. Takeshi Kitano 2002

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ABOUT: The origins, history, culture of the underground dance style called the Melbourne Shuffle, commonly called 'shuffling'.

> The Shuffle mission : To really give a damn (Scooter. J'adore hardcore)

> This is a Melbourne Australia based blog by Melbourne born and based artist Garry Shepherd

> The Melbourne Shuffle was created in the underground arts community of Melbourne (Australia) in the early 1990's.

> The Melbourne Shuffle has 3 main genre's: Party, Rock and Goth. Each genre has it's own distinctive moves, fashion, art and lifestyles.

> There are no fixed steps in shuffling. It is largely a free form dance tradition. Each shuffler has a set of moves they shuffle around to suit their mood and setting.

> Shuffling skill is judged on the choice, sequence and presentation of the moves. Individual shufflers are encouraged to create their own moves to mix in with established moves.

> Shuffling can be done anywhere at anytime, alone or with others. Original oldskool shufflers broadcast their moves on underground TV in the 1990's. Today, Youtube is the favored medium.

> The Melbourne Shuffle has it's own unique dance pants called, PHATS.

In the time of the ancients, the Melbourne Shuffle was originally called STOMPING

Locals pronounce Melbourne - Mel-BeN

ERA's
Oldskool: 1990-96.
Commercial: 1997-2003
Global: 2006-today

DANCE CONCEPT
The Melbourne Shuffle is a dance concept. It uses all sorts of moves like building blocks, and you shuffle these moves around to suit your mood. The basic moves are easy to learn, but will take years of regular practice to reach pro level.

SHUFFLE MOVES
Stomps, turns, spins, shuffles, back steps, hand moves, lifts, jumps, hops, arm moves, elbow moves, hi-kicks, lo-kicks, glides, running man, kick behind, ...and always adding ;)

SHUFFLE GENRE'S
Oldskool, Hardstyle, Rock, Competition, Freestyle, Group Formation

SHUFFLE TERMS
Style: A collection of shuffle moves.
Sequence: A fixed order of shuffle moves.
Routine: A choreographed combination of shuffle moves.
Meet-Up: A casual gathering of Shufflers usually free in a public place, mall, carpark etc, to meet other shufflers and Shuffle.

Shuffle Vid: A youtube video of someone shuffling.

Shuffle Comp: A shuffle competition for individuals and crews.

Shuffle Crew: A group of friends who are interested in Shuffling.

Shuffle Team: A shuffle crew who perform or compete in Shuffle competitions.

Pro: An experienced and talented Shuffler.

> SHUFFLE CULTURE
Shuffle is 'All about the DANCE'. It's a dance culture, the Shufflers are the focal point. Where as RAVE culture is 'All about the music' it's a DJ culture, where the DJ's are the focal point.

> SHUFFLE RULES
The Shuffle saying 'There are no rules' came from the reality nobody in the oldskool would bother obeying them ;) But here's some general principles we're happy with.

> The Shuffle is based on freedom and mutual respect. Violence, hate, aggression, racism and sexism are not tolerated. The real world has plenty of that, and Shufflers are not interested in them.

> There is no restriction to creative freedom in shuffling. You can Shuffle to Express and Impress.

> The Shuffle can be danced solo or in a group. Both male and female can Shuffle.

> Group Shuffling can be unstructured like at a meet-up or structured in a Crew.

> The Shuffle can be spontaneous freeform or a choreographed style.

> You can Shuffle for fun, fitness, art or comps, or all the above. There are no restrictions.

> There is no limit to where you can Shuffle. In the street, carpark, mall, dance party, at home, outdoors in a forest, a city, a suburb, where ever you want to.

> Individual Shufflers are encouraged to add moves to the artform. Saying the Melbourne Shuffle is just one set of steps, is like saying spinning on your head is the only dance move in hip-hop.

> And who decides which new moves are part of the Melbourne Shuffle? Anybody! It's an inclusive artform. The Shufflers make it what it is.