Deep Dive: Ayumi Hamasaki Part Three (Duty)

    You guys, I am really enjoying this Deep Dive on Hamasaki Ayumi. I knew I loved her, but I forgot just how much I do. Even now seeing the iconic cover of her best-selling third studio album, Duty, I feel so much nostalgia and happiness. This album is the pinnacle of Japanese pop. Let's do this Duty deep dive!

    Let's get the business out of the way because there are no surprises, literally everyone returned from LOVEppears to work with Hamasaki on this memorable effort. After listening to them back to back, I feel like these two records are the day and night. Duty is notably darker than its predecessor. And that is an absolute strength. It has more of a rock edge which we would continue to see from Hamasaki for the foreseeable future. Hamasaki has described the themes as hopelessness, loneliness, confusion, chaos (which is super interesting), and a burden of her responsibilities and image. She described herself as unnatural and nervous during the album's production.

    

    Our first track here is the opening, "Starting Over." For me, Hamasaki is an artist that creates these amazing short tracks and interludes that you wish she would flesh out into full-length songs. Which she has done before on her album Secret and for the single "Mirrorcle World." But she frequently adds these interludes *cough* like "Disco-munication" from Next Level *cough* that you crave for more from. I love this opening. I listen to it frequently. It's nothing to gloss over. It creates the atmosphere and tone for this world we're about to enter. Though I wish it was a full length song with verses and choruses. It'd be so cool.

    Then we have the first proper song, the title track "Duty." The strings in this song immediately give us a taste of some dark chocolate. It's an amazing song. Those dark choir backing vocals that sound like they're from a noir film set in a church. The hook in the chorus is nice. Hamasaki's vocals are toward the lower end of her register for the most part and she sounds so comfortable. I feel for the most part this album has aged well because it unapologetically and confidently does its own thing. And the production of this song is proof of that.

    Then we have the perfection that is "vogue." Part of Hamasaki's "vogue ~ Far away ~ SEASONS" trilogy that lead up to the album, the song was the first single from the album (shout out to the B-side of this single, "ever free." It was rare for Hamasaki to include a B-side that wasn't a remix). And there's lots going on here. It sounds like an oasis in a dry desert. There's a crowd going wild in the background in certain sections, and that amps up the tension. The layered vocals in the chorus are heaven. 

    "End of the World" is one of the more blatant dark spots of the album. Even with the title. And the opening just sounds dystopian. And it's cool as hell. Hamasaki plays with her vocal delivery here and adds to the drama. The chorus takes off like a jet from a runway and the guitar gives us that rock edge we talked about earlier. Good stuff.

    Hamasaki has always exceled at songs like "Scar." The intro makes you turn it up so you hear what they're saying. It just adds this atmosphere that's all throughout the album, but it's done the best here. It's things like this that make Hamasaki Ayumi songs Hamasaki Ayumi songs. And the lyrics are so well done. The chorus is very catchy. 

    "Far Away" has always been interesting to me. The beat is distortion of a man saying something. Like he's saying "down, down, pull it down." And repeats. Then Hamasaki's vocals give you the chills. I just love this song so much. Everything about it is a masterpiece from the production to Hamasaki's lyrics. And that hook! It really shows off Hamasaki's songwriting strengths. 

   

    There's never going to be a time that "SURREAL" will never be a favorite song of mine. Hamasaki released this song as a single the same day as the album, and she topped 3 different charts in the same week which was a first for an artist at the time. The song itself is pop perfection and one of the moments you live for for those of us that love pop. It builds itself up and then blows you away with the chorus. The catchiest thing about the song though? It's got to be that "ah~" that Hamasaki sings. I don't even need to explain that any further. If you listen to the song you will immediately know what I'm talking about. That piano intro still takes your mind to places you've never explored too.

    "AUDIENCE" is the album's most danceable track. If you liked any of LOVEppears you will find your new favorite right here. Though this is more rock-tinged like the rest of the album. This is random but I love the way Hamasaki sings the word "yes." Hahaha Hamasaki's vocal performance is the most optimistic here. The nitty gritty groove of this track just scratches an itch you didn't know your ears had. 

    "SEASONS" oh my God, yes. "SEASONS" oh my God. "SEASONS" is that song. This is a perfect ballad. The opening that sets you up and then that piano and guitar just comes in and catches you off guard and it sounds like gold. Hamasaki was no stranger to ballads by this point, but she really hit her stride here. And it set the bar for every ballad that followed. This is a song that never gets old. It's so beautiful. The lyrics are absolutely perfect and go hand in hand with the music. This song had no choice but to be a big hit.

    "Teddy Bear" is another ballad. Hamasaki changes up her vocal delivery again into something tender alongside the piano. The piano is really nice here. It's what pulls you in. Where all the other tracks had a lot going on, this song kind of gives us a breather in its beautiful simplicity. 

    Then we're back to the album's darker pop rock sound with "Key ~Eternal Tie Version~." This one is a nice one too. The guitar is just lovely. Some more sounds are eventually included which includes a bongo. The chorus is very nice. There's some strings after the chorus that are just gorgeous. 

    

    We close out Duty with "Girlish" which is very different from the rest of the album and yet a very appropriate ender for this album. It contrasts the rest of the album by being very warm. Perhaps this is a way of Hamasaki saying "it's all going to be all right" as her vocal delivery is very whimsical too. She's almost taking us to church with this one.

    Duty was Hamasaki's 3rd album in just two years, but the quality here is outstanding. At just 12 tracks, everything is strong and there's not one misfire here. That's a strength that gets played up. Every track here is strong and a classic. These songs are hits, fan favorites, deep cuts, and beloved. 

Rank: S Rank. The "AUDIENCE" will always love Ayu!

Recommendation: It's great for night time listening when you can't sing so you mouth along to the words!

Standouts:

    The singles (they're classics!)

    End of the World

    Scar

    Starting Over

    Duty