Hamasaki started her musical career in 1994 and released her first album "NOTHING FROM NOTHING" in 1995; the album was not successful, and she was subsequently dropped by her record label. In 1998, Hamasaki released her first single, poker face, via the Avex Trax label, after being discovered by label head Masato "Max" Matsuura partying at the Avex-owned club, Velfarre. Hamasaki's debut album, "A Song for ××", was released in 1999, and won her a Gold Disk Award. She has since sold more than 50 million records in Japan alone with the releases of her 9 full-length studio albums, 1 mini-album, 4 compilation albums, 45 singles, and 17 remix albums, becoming the top selling solo and female artist and the 4th top selling Japanese artist in history. With the release of her 40th single "BLUE BIRD", Hamasaki's single sales passed the 20 million mark, making her the first solo and female singer to reach that milestone.
With the release of her 45th single "Rule/Sparkle", Hamasaki currently has 20 consecutive #1 singles (starting from "Free & Easy") and 32 #1 singles in the Japanese ORICON charts. In addition, she is the first Japanese artist to have her first original 8 studio albums top the charts.
Hamasaki released her ninth studio album, GUILTY on January 1, 2008. Shortly after the release, Ayumi revealed that she had become completely deaf in her left ear, and that it is inoperable. It is believed that she suffers from tinnitus, and Ayumi has known about the condition of her left ear since 2007 after an examination. She also stated that she would continue on with her career for her fans, explaining that "nevertheless, I would like to continue as a singer. That's why I would like to continue singing until I reach the limit with my remaining right ear".
In addition to serving as background music for television advertisements, some of Hamasaki's songs have been used as themes for video games and film productions such as television shows and motion pictures. "Depend on you" and its b-side "Two of us" were used as the opening and ending theme, respectively, of the video game Thousand Arms, while the video game Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams used "Startin'" and "rainy day" as its opening and ending theme, respectively. The dorama My Little Chef featured "Voyage" as its theme, while the anime InuYasha featured "Dearest." Finally, Hamasaki's songs "HEAVEN", "Secret", "fated", and "Rule" have been used as the themes for the movies Shinobi: Heart Under Blade, Confession of Pain, Kaidan, and DragonBall Evolution, respectively.
In January 2008, Hamasaki announced on her blog that an inoperable condition, possibly tinnitus or Ménière's disease, had caused complete deafness in her left ear. She had been diagnosed with the condition in 2006 and that the problem dated to 2000, when she developed an ear infection but continued to perform against the advice of doctors. Despite the setback, Hamasaki stated that she wished to continue singing, and that "as a professional", she wanted to "deliver the best performance for everyone". On May 20, 2017, she wrote that she is also losing hearing in her right ear, and had experienced dizziness and nausea. She vowed to continue performing, writing: "The stage is where I belong. It's the only place I really, truly exist. I don't know anything else."
Official site: http://avexnet.or.jp/ayu
BECAUSE OF YOU
浜崎あゆみ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
胸が高鳴って笑顔で隠した
君を知らなかった頃に
戻れなくなりそうで
風がもう冷たくなったね
笑い声が白く滲む
訳もなく泣けてくるのは
出会った夜を今でも覚えてる
目と目合ってそして言葉を交わした
胸が高鳴って笑顔で隠した
君を知らなかった頃に
戻れなくなりそうで
少しずつ知っていくのに
急に全部わからなくなる
叫んでもいい伝わるまで伝えて
会えない時間に想いが募った
届かない声に心が痛んだ
君を知らなかった頃に
戻れなくなっていた
どうかそんな風に悲しげな瞳で
壊れそうに消えそうに笑わないで
ねえ僕には何ができる
会えない時間に想いが募った
届かない声に心が痛んだ
君を知らなかった頃に
戻れなくなっている
どうして時々素直に言えない
どうして時々優しくなれない
どうして時々傷つけ合ってる
どうして時々確かめ合ってる
どうして時々こんなに苦しい
どうしていつでもこんなに愛しい
君じゃなきゃだめで
君じゃなきゃだめで
In "Because of You" by 浜崎あゆみ, the singer reminisces about a past love that she cannot forget. She remembers the first time they met and how she felt her heart racing and tried to hide her smile. She reflects on how she feels that she is unable to return to the time before she knew the person and how something as simple as the cold winter wind can make her feel emotional. She then talks about how she feels like she is slowly getting to know the person but is suddenly hit with a realization that she doesn't know them at all. She desperately wants to communicate her feelings but feels unable to.
The singer then talks about how the time they spend apart makes her feelings grow more intense and how she hurts that her voice cannot reach the other person. She pleads with them to not disappear with a sad expression or smile as if their heart is breaking. She finishes the song by listing all the things she wishes she could do better in their relationship, acknowledging that she needs the other person for happiness.
Overall, "Because of You" is an emotional ballad about the struggles of a love that cannot be forgotten and the desire to connect with someone on a deeper level.
Line by Line Meaning
目と目合ってそして言葉を交わした
We met eyes and spoke to each other.
胸が高鳴って笑顔で隠した
My heart raced and I hid it with a smile.
君を知らなかった頃に
When I didn't know you,
戻れなくなりそうで
It felt like I couldn't go back.
風がもう冷たくなったね
The wind has become cold.
笑い声が白く滲む
Laughter blurs into white.
訳もなく泣けてくるのは
Maybe it's because of winter that I cry for no reason.
出会った夜を今でも覚えてる
I still remember the night we met.
少しずつ知っていくのに
Even though I'm getting to know you a little bit at a time,
急に全部わからなくなる
Suddenly, everything becomes unclear.
叫んでもいい伝わるまで伝えて
It's okay to shout, just keep telling me until I understand.
会えない時間に想いが募った
My feelings grew stronger during the times we couldn't meet.
届かない声に心が痛んだ
My heart hurt from the sound of your voice not reaching me.
どうかそんな風に悲しげな瞳で
Please don't look at me with such sad eyes like that,
壊れそうに消えそうに笑わないで
Don't smile like you're about to break or disappear.
ねえ僕には何ができる
Hey, what can I do?
どうして時々素直に言えない
Why is it sometimes hard to say things honestly?
どうして時々優しくなれない
Why can't we be kind to each other sometimes?
どうして時々傷つけ合ってる
Why do we hurt each other sometimes?
どうして時々確かめ合ってる
Why do we need to check on each other sometimes?
どうして時々こんなに苦しい
Why does it sometimes hurt so much?
どうしていつでもこんなに愛しい
Why is it that you're always so lovable?
君じゃなきゃだめで
It has to be you, no one else will do.
君じゃなきゃだめで
It has to be you, no one else will do.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ayumi Hamasaki, BounceBack
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind