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
HEAVEN
浜崎あゆみ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
真っすぐに差し出したものは
ただあまりに綺麗すぎて
こらえきれず涙溢れた
あの日きっとふたりは愛に触れた
私達は探し合って
やがて見つけ合ったのなら
どんな結末が待っていても
運命と呼ぶ以外他にはない
La, la, la, La, la, la, la, la, la, la
君が旅立ったあの空に
優しく私を照らす星が光った
側にいて愛する人
時を超えて形を変えて
ふたりまだ見ぬ未来がここに
ねえこんなにも 残ってるから
側にいて愛する人
時を超えて形を変えて
ふたりまだ見ぬ未来がここに
残ってるから
信じて 愛する人
私の中で君は生きる
だからこれから先もずっと
サヨナラなんて言わない
あの日きっとふたりは愛に触れた
In "HEAVEN", Ayumi Hamasaki depicts a love that transcends time and space. The song tells the story of two people who were lost but found each other and fell in love. The lyrics describe a bittersweet goodbye, with the singer unable to hold back her tears while her love smiles at her for the last time, holding out something so beautiful that it moves her to tears. The two of them discovered love together, getting lost and finding their way again in the process. But even though they must say goodbye, they both know that their love will continue on, transcending all obstacles.
The chorus of the song is an expression of the eternal nature of love, with the singer reassuring her love that he will always be with her even after he has gone. She tells him that he will continue to live on within her, and that she will never say goodbye. The song ends with a repetition of the line that "they touched love", emphasizing the importance of the love they found, even in spite of the pain of their parting.
Overall, "HEAVEN" is a deeply emotional love song that reflects on the power of lasting love, even in moments of separation, reminding listeners that the bonds of love can transcend all barriers.
Line by Line Meaning
最期に君が微笑んで
As you smiled at the very end
真っすぐに差し出したものは
What you held out straight ahead
ただあまりに綺麗すぎて
Was simply too beautiful to endure
こらえきれず涙溢れた
And tears overflowed, unable to hold back
あの日きっとふたりは愛に触れた
On that day, we surely felt love
私達は探し合って
We searched for each other
時に自分を見失って
Lost ourselves at times
やがて見つけ合ったのなら
But eventually found each other
どんな結末が待っていても
No matter what future lay ahead
運命と呼ぶ以外他にはない
We had nothing else to call it but fate
君が旅立ったあの空に
In that sky where you departed
優しく私を照らす星が光った
A gentle star shone upon me
側にいて愛する人
Always by my side, my beloved person
時を超えて形を変えて
Through time and all its changes
ふたりまだ見ぬ未来がここに
Our unseen future lies right here
ねえこんなにも 残ってるから
Hey, because so much remains
信じて 愛する人
I believe in you, my love
私の中で君は生きる
You live on inside of me
だからこれから先もずっと
So from now on and forevermore
サヨナラなんて言わない
I won't say goodbye
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ayumi Hamasaki, Kazuhito Kikuchi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind