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.
break the rules
安室奈美恵 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
やっと逃げ場所が 隠れるところが見つかって
喜んで 踊り続け 歌って 泣いていた みんなと
ダンスフロアーを朝方 蛍光灯の光で はじめて見たとき
さらけだすものと 隠すもの 自分の傷口のよう
何かむなしくて 何か消えそうで
すべてから消えたい どこかに逃げたい
昔は 昔って いったいいつがよかったの?
あなたにとっても 私にとっても 過去は引きずらなくていい
ルールを壊して せっかくあなたとつくった世界を
認めてもらって 小さなあかりを部屋にともしたい
落ちるとこまで 落ちてもいいけど
大切なものは 積み上げたものなの
もしもその中にあなたが まだいたら
手をとりあって 戦いつづけたい
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
I'll show you how I do it
I wanna fight that's the way
I wanna fight that's the way
I wanna fight
Our life goes up and down
Our life goes up and down
Our life goes up and down
Our life goes up and down
もう戻らないから あなたの想いとともに この時間に
でもどうしたらいいのか 結局誰かに頼っていくのかな
夢を追い続け survive するのか I have no card
今はただ 遠い海を見つづけている
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
I wanna show you how I do it
I wanna fight that's the way
I wanna fight that's the way
I wanna fight with you
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
I wanna show you how I do it
I wanna fight that's the way
I wanna fight with you
Let's break the rules with you
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
I'll show you how I do it
I wanna fight with you
Our life goes up and down
Our life goes up and down
Our life goes up and down
Our life goes up and down
The lyrics of 安室奈美恵's song "break the rules" appear to be about seeking freedom and a sense of belonging in a society that imposes rules and expectations on individuals. The first verse describes finding a place to hide and expressing oneself freely with others who have also found solace in this space. The second verse implies that the singer has faced personal difficulties and is struggling to deal with their emotions, but they ultimately reject the idea of turning back or giving up. The chorus encourages breaking the rules and fighting for what one wants, and the repeated line "Our life goes up and down" suggests that life is unpredictable and constantly changing.
The lyrics also touch on the themes of perseverance, moving on from the past, and finding strength in oneself and in others. The lines "I'll show you how I do it" and "I wanna fight with you" suggest a desire to inspire others and fight alongside them. The song's repeated call to "break the rules" may be interpreted as a challenge to step outside of the limitations that society places on individuals and to create a new path for themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
地下室の階段 時代が一歩ずつ進むように降りてみた
I went down the stairs of the basement, just like time moves forward step by step
やっと逃げ場所が 隠れるところが見つかって
Finally, I found a hiding place to escape
喜んで 踊り続け 歌って 泣いていた みんなと
I danced, sang, and cried with everyone in joy
ダンスフロアーを朝方 蛍光灯の光で はじめて見たとき
When I first saw the dance floor in the morning under fluorescent light
さらけだすものと 隠すもの 自分の傷口のよう
Things to reveal and things to hide, like the wounds on myself
何かむなしくて 何か消えそうで
Feeling empty and like something is disappearing
引き返せる道なら とっくに止めてる
If there was a way to turn back, I would have already stopped
すべてから消えたい どこかに逃げたい
I want to disappear from everything and run away somewhere
昔は 昔って いったいいつがよかったの?
When was it better to say 'the old days were better'?
あなたにとっても 私にとっても 過去は引きずらなくていい
For both you and me, there's no need to dwell in the past
ルールを壊して せっかくあなたとつくった世界を
Breaking the rules and the world we built together so far
認めてもらって 小さなあかりを部屋にともしたい
I want to be recognized and light a small light in the room
落ちるとこまで 落ちてもいいけど
I don't mind falling to the bottom
大切なものは 積み上げたものなの
What's important is what we build up
もしもその中にあなたが まだいたら
If you were still there among those things,
手をとりあって 戦いつづけたい
I want to hold hands and keep fighting
Let's break the rules
Let's break the rules
I'll show you how I do it
I'll show you how I do it
I wanna fight that's the way
I want to fight, that's how it is
Our life goes up and down
Our life goes up and down
もう戻らないから あなたの想いとともに この時間に
We can't go back, so let's stay in this moment with your feelings
でもどうしたらいいのか 結局誰かに頼っていくのかな
But what should we do? In the end, do we have to rely on someone else?
夢を追い続け survive するのか I have no card
Do we keep chasing our dreams and survive, even if we have no card?
今はただ 遠い海を見つづけている
Now I'm just staring at the distant sea
I wanna fight with you
I want to fight with you
Let's break the rules with you
Let's break the rules with you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Tetsuya Komuro
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@guuyyred
このライブステージで出てくるソファなどの備品は当時安室ちゃんがプライベートで実際に使っていた物に近づけて自分の部屋で踊ってるっていう演出なんだよー。懐かしいなー
@user-hu1sf3jv8q
えー！初めて知りました
@apachike1
小室時代では一番出来が良いと思うし、純粋に好き。
シングルが2枚しか入ってないのもセールス伸び悩みの一因では？
no more tearsは当初の予定通り先行シングルとしてリリースして欲しかった（pv作って欲しかった）
@monochrome8892
安室ちゃんのアルバムではこれが一番好きです！！
@ackyackt2011
GIRLFRIENDカッコいいですよね。あと、HimAWArIもお気に入りです。
@user-go9cb9sh3r
安室奈美恵さん、すっごいすーっごいめちゃくちゃ大好き。
@user-lm1kw2nx6t
セールス的には失敗とされるのでしょうが、必ずしも質が悪いというわけではないのはこのアルバムが証明していると思います！
@redjkworld
低迷期というか、小室全盛期の中でも特に売れていた時期から、小室哲哉を離れて自分のスタイルを確立している時で、さらにこの時期は宇多田ヒカル・浜崎あゆみが強すぎたから、セールスが伸びなかっただけで、安室奈美恵が廃れていたわけではないですよね(#^^#)
@Blue-Sea84
I love better days, never shoulda and GIRLFRIEND.
@phhth4951
前作は試行錯誤しながら歌いこなしていたダラスオースティンの楽曲も今回は自分のモノにしてる感じだし、小室さんの楽曲も洗練されて良曲揃い。
00年代のTKプロデュース曲で最大ヒットの「NEVER END」収録だけど、セールスが伸びなかったのは残念な名作。