She initially debuted in 1992 as the lead singer of SUPER MONKEY'S, with fellow Okinawa Actors School classmates MAX as back dancers. After the group disbanded, she eventually had her solo debut in 1995 on the Avex Trax label with the Tetsuya Komuro produced single "Body Feels EXIT", which was an instant hit. The following singles "Chase the Chance", "Don't wanna cry" and "You're my sunshine" all sold 1 million copies during a short period of time. In 1996, Namie released her debut solo album "SWEET 19 BLUES" which sold 3.8 millions of copies throughout Japan and broke sales records at the time. It is the 12th most selling album of all time in Japan. At the end of 1996 she won the Grand Prix Award, the highest honor at the Japan Record Awards, for "Don't wanna cry". Another monumental release for Amuro was 1997's "CAN YOU CELEBRATE?", which was the best selling release of the year, and remains the best-selling physically released single by a solo female artist in Japan.
In 1997, Namie shocked everyone when she announced that SAM (from the band TRF) and she were getting married and that she was pregnant. Namie took a break from the entertainment business and her son, Haruto, was born on May 19, 1998.
Her comeback single, "I HAVE NEVER SEEN", released on December 23rd the same year, gave Amuro a warm welcome back to the industry. "I HAVE NEVER SEEN" became Amuro's 9th number-one single.
On March 17th, 1999, Amuro released her 12th single, "RESPECT the POWER OF LOVE". On the same day, Emiko Taira, Amuro's mother, was murdered. All promotional activites for the single grinded to a halt as Amuro flew to Okinawa to identify Emiko's body. A short break followed for Amuro to recover.
A few months later, Amuro began to work with producer Dallas Austin, known for his work with American hip-hop/R&B trio, TLC. This shift was in part to Amuro's personal desire to create more R&B and Hip-Hop oriented music. In 2001, Amuro parted ways with long-time producer Tetsuya Komuro, as part of her musical direction shift. From this point on, Amuro always would be in complete creative control of her career. Around this time, Amuro made a few attempts at writing lyrics for her songs, including her single "Say the word", which hit #3 on the Oricon charts, and remained a fan-favorite with Amuro performing the song over numerous tours, including her final tour, which included 20 songs that garnered the most fan votes.
Amuro and SAM would divorce in 2002, and Amuro would completely mmerse herself in her work, hardening her R&B and Hip-Hop sound, collaboriating with a number of artists under a sonic project entitled "SUITE CHIC". "SUITE CHIC" helped empower Amuro to not "be stuck in the past" with her music, as she felt mentally constricted by her name at the time. Feeling liberated after releasing a SUITE CHIC album, Amuro would continue to refine her sound and image with the following albums "STYLE" in 2003, and "Queen of Hip-Pop" in 2005.
"PLAY", released on June 27, 2007, became Amuro's highest-selling studio album since her 2000 album, "GENIUS 2000", sold 540,000 copies, and contained another fan-favorite release, "Baby Don't Cry", which reached #3 on the Oricon charts.
2008 marked a new peak in Amuro's career. In March, she released a new single, "60s70s80s", which became her 10th #1 single, the first one for Amuro since 1998's "I HAVE NEVER SEEN".
Amuro released her third "best of" album "BEST FICTION", on July 30, 2008. "BEST FICTION" proceeded to spend 6 weeks at the #1 position on the Oricon charts, had the highest first-week album sales of any release in 2008, became the #2 best overall-selling album of that year, and has sold more than 1.4 million copies since its release.
Namie started a new arena tour called Namie Amuro BEST FICTION 2008-2009 tour. It ran from October 25, 2008 to May 31, 2009. This was her first tour Amuro held sans songs produced by Tetsuya Komuro.
From 2009 on, Amuro would steadily release chart-topping studio albums. Straying from the traditional methods of the Japanese music industry yet again, Amuro decided to utilize a strategy of focusing on touring as means of promotion, rather than TV and commercial appearances. What resulted was a beneficial business move, while fulfilling Amuro's long-time preference to perform over giving interviews. This cultivated a very loyal and diverse fanbase that would consistently result in sold-out shows whenever Amuro toured.
From 2010 to 2018, as Amuro performed relentlessly long tours every year, Amuro remained consistent and dedicated to giving performances she felt she could be proud of, and in the process, quietly withheld that after a vocal cord injury in 2010, Amuro's vocal cords slowly were deteriorating. Amuro later revealed this was the deciding factor in her retirement, as she did not want to perform at a level she personally could not accept.
After her 25th anniversary concert in Okinawa, Amuro announced that she would retire from the industry on September 16th, 2018. The masses, aggrieved with this announcement, even created the name "Amuloss" for the emotion that was felt, knowing Amuro would leave a great void in the music industry.
A greatest hits album, "Finally" would be released in November of 2017 and would go on to sell over 2.5 million copies and be the best-selling album in Japan for both 2017 and 2018. Starting in March 2018, "namie amuro Final Tour 2018 ~Finally~" would result in Amuro breaking both ticket and Blu-ray/DVD sales records. With shows in all 5 major Japanese domes, including and a handful of shows outside of Japan, nearly 800,000 were in attendance. Pre-orders alone for the Blu-rays/DVDs would exceed the best-selling concert video release at that time. Combined DVD and Blu-ray sales for "namie amuro Final Tour 2018 ~Finally~" have sold over 1.74 million since its release in late August 2018.
How to be a Girl
安室奈美恵 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't Know how to kiss
I don't Know how to feel it
I don't Know how to be a girl
I don't Know how to grow up
I don't Know I'm in the dark
I don't Know and I don't care
I don't Know I don't Know
おきたのかさえ
思い出せない
どうでもいいようになってきた頃
眠る前に まくらに顔を
うずめる前に電話して
愛してほしい
気が向いた時じゃなくて
いつも毎日 kissして
I don't Know how to love
I don't Know how to kiss
I don't Know how to feel it
I don't Know how to be a girl
I don't Know how to sleep
With out you I don't know
I don't Know how to smile
I don't Know I don't Know
真夏の太陽の下で あつく抱いてね
小指をからませて
砂浜でじゃれてね
思い出って言葉 キライなの今は
すきなのは あなたのくちびる
夏に出逢いたい 翔んでいきたい
誰かに知ってもらいたい
I don't Know how to love
I don't Know how to kiss
I don't Know how to feel it
I don't Know how to be a girl
夏に出逢いたい 翔んでいきたい
誰かに知ってもらいたい
誰のためなの なんのためなの
ときどきわからなくなる
眠る前に まくらに顔を
うずめる前に電話して
愛してほしい
気が向いた時じゃなくて
いつも毎日 kissして
素直になりたい 素顔になりたい
ていうことは
素直になりたい 素顔になりたい
ていうことは
The lyrics of How to be a Girl by 安室奈美恵 (Namie Amuro) express a sense of vulnerability and uncertainty about the singer's femininity and ability to love. The repeated lines of "I don't know how to love, I don't know how to kiss, I don't know how to feel it, I don't know how to be a girl" convey a lack of confidence and experience in matters of the heart and femininity. The singer feels lost and unsure of herself, as indicated by the lines "I don't know I'm in the dark, I don't know and I don't care."
However, the lyrics also express a desire for love and connection, as evidenced by the lines "Before I bury my face in the pillow, before I drift off to sleep, call me and tell me you love me. Not just when you feel like it, but every day, kiss me." The singer longs for someone to love and accept her for who she is, and hopes to find that connection in a romantic partner.
The lyrics also touch upon the theme of nostalgia and the passing of time, as indicated by lines such as "I can't remember what happened last night, it's become like it doesn't matter anymore." The singer is grappling with the fleeting nature of memories and experiences, and is seeking something more substantial to hold onto.
Overall, the lyrics of How to be a Girl convey a sense of emotional vulnerability and longing for connection, while also acknowledging the singer's lack of experience and uncertainty about her own identity and place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't Know how to love
I am uncertain about how to feel love and express it.
I don't Know how to kiss
I am unsure about how to kiss, and my uncertainty extends to other forms of physical intimacy.
I don't Know how to feel it
I am not sure how to experience or understand the emotions of love and affection.
I don't Know how to be a girl
I am uncertain about what it means to be a girl, or how I should behave as a girl.
I don't Know how to grow up
I am uncertain about how to become an adult or navigate the complexities of adulthood.
I don't Know I'm in the dark
I am confused and lacking in direction or guidance.
I don't Know and I don't care
I feel directionless and apathetic about finding answers or making progress in my life.
I don't Know I don't Know
My uncertainty is pervasive and all-encompassing.
What happened last night
I have trouble remembering events and details from my past, particularly those related to love and intimacy.
By the time I stopped caring
I have become apathetic and disinterested in things that once mattered deeply to me, particularly relationships with others.
I bury my face in the pillow before sleep
I seek comfort and escape from my uncertainty and confusion by hiding myself from the world when I am alone.
Call me before I bury my face
I yearn for affection and love, and seek it out by reaching out to others.
I want you to love me
I crave the love and affection of others, but struggle to express my needs and desires.
Not just when it suits you
I want consistent and ongoing love and attention, rather than only receiving affection when it is convenient for someone else.
Kissing each other every day
I desire frequent physical intimacy with a partner, and want to feel loved and desired every day.
Under the hot summer sun, hold me tight
I want to feel safe and secure in the embrace of someone I love, particularly in times of warmth and happiness.
Entwine my little finger
I desire simple but intimate physical gestures of affection with a partner, such as holding hands.
Playfully frolic on the beach
I seek moments of fun and joy with a partner, particularly in carefree and happy settings.
I hate the words 'memories' right now
I feel uncertain and disillusioned about past experiences, particularly those related to love and affection.
I love your lips
I have a deep attraction to and desire for a specific person, often manifesting as physical desire.
I want to meet you in the summer and fly away
I imagine a happy and carefree future with someone I love, and long to escape to it with them.
I want someone to know me
I yearn for deep and meaningful connections with others, and want to be fully understood and appreciated for who I am.
I sometimes don't know who I am or what I want
I struggle with self-doubt and indecision, and often feel lost or unsure of myself.
I bury my face in the pillow before sleep
I again seek refuge and comfort from my confusion and uncertainty by withdrawing from the world and hiding myself.
Call me before I bury my face
I again seek affection and love from others, and hope to connect with someone who can understand and appreciate me.
I want to be honest and show my true self
I seek authenticity and connection with others, and want to be valued and loved for who I truly am.
So that's what it means
I come to realize the true depth and complexity of my emotions and desires, and hope to find a way to fulfill them.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Marc, Tetsuya Komuro
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind