Ayumi Hamasaki - For My Dear..

Among Ayumi Hamasaki's many releases in 2003, the single For My Dear.. was part of a six single simultaneous release. Each single contained seven tracks with matching covers of a different color. For My Dear.. was the color purple.

The title track, For My Dear.., is a gentle acoustic ballad, guided by piano and guitar. Ayumi's mournful lyrics are clear and emotional as she sings. Much like a roller coaster, the song climbs in sound and at the midpoint hurls the listener downward, releasing all of the hidden emotion and emphasis it had been building up to. The song includes several instrumental stanzas, breaking up the vocals and adding to the slow melody.

While the second For My Dear.. is called the acoustic version, it does not include the typical instrumentals an acoustic song does, and instead it holds only Ayumi's vocals accompanied by the piano. The song is much quieter with awkward blues styled piano stanzas and more focus on her vocals, and as a result, much of the emotion in this version is lost as there is no instrumental or vocal build up.The single includes two more versions of For My Dear.., which are instrumental versions of both the title track and the acoustic version. While the title version is soothing and pretty, the piano acoustic version is rough without vocals and does nothing to add to the single itself.

Breaking up the melancholy feel of the single, A Song for XX - She shell Reproduction and FRIEND II - JAZZY JET mix introduce new elements of futuristic electronica. During A Song for XX - She shell Reproduction, Ayumi's voice is distorted by a filter. While the lyrics are still comprehensible, the static which was purposely entwined with the vocals makes them harder to understand. Despite this, the song is catchy and memorable. FRIEND II - JAZZY JET mix has a long jazz filled introduction which takes on an electronic vibe as the song builds towards the distorted vocals. Halfway through the song, all of the interesting elements suddenly drop off to pave the way for clear vocals, but as Ayumi sings, she sounds as if she were in a wind tunnel. Before we know it, the jazz has returned, accompanied by piano and saxaphone, carrying us through the end of the track.

The longest track on the table is As If... - Dub's L.B.M remix, a remixed version by Ayumi "DMX" Miyazaki. The remixed version keeps the single in line with the preceding tracks, exploring deep bass combined with electronic keyboard. While there are no filters disguising Ayumi's voice, her vocals are not as prominent as the bass, making it hard to focus. As If... has a promising start, but as the song stays on a flat plain with steady instrumentals and very little vocal inflection, the listener is left longing for more at the end.

Ayumi's experimentation with For My Dear.. proves she isn't afraid to branch out and try new things while still bringing home the sounds that we know and love. With ample tracks for a single that only cost 1,050 yen, Ayumi more than delivers with For My Dear.., and it is a successful addition to her discography.