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
Independent
浜崎あゆみ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
mata boku wa obiete'ru
sore o kakusou to shite wa
tsuyogaru kuse hakki suru
kimi wa tonari ni yorisoi
wake no wakaranu koto o hanashite'ru
bukiyou ni demo nantoka
kitto bokura kou shite
yatte'ku n darou
gutto kao agete sukoshi waratte
chotto sora toka aoidari shite
hashiritsukarete aruitari toka shite
sonna kanji de junbi wa ii kai?
hitotsu zutsu sukoshi zutsu hora
tashika ni ashiato o nokoshite'ru
sono subete ga hitotsu no
michi to nari ima to naru
kesshite ii koto bakari
nanka ja nai keredo
boku ni wa kimi ga hitsuyou mitai de
kimi ni mo boku ga hitsuyou nara
soko ni toku ni riyuu wa iranai mitai ne
waruku nai kamo ne konna mainichi
gutto kao agete sukoshi waratte
chotto sora toka aoidari shite
hashiritsukarete aruitari toka shite
sonna kanji de junbi wa ii kai?
boku ni wa kimi ga hitsuyou mitai de
kimi ni mo boku ga hitsuyou nara
soko ni toku ni riyuu wa iranai mitai ne
waruku nai kamo ne konna mainichi
~~~
Again, I'm afraid of
something small and insignificant.
In trying to hide that fear
I'm showing my habit of feigning strength.
You come up next to me
and talk about nonsense.
You're trying, despite your
clumsiness, to encourage me.
This must be how
it'll be for us.
*Looking up and smiling slightly,
gazing at the sky,
tiring of running we walk a little.
Just like that... are you ready?
One by one, little by little, see?
We leave behind footprints.
They form one path,
they form now.
It can't be only
good times ahead, but...
It seems like I need you
and if you need me
then we don't really need a reason.
These days aren't bad at all, are they?
*repeat
It seems like I need you
and if you need me
then we don't really need a reason.
These days aren't bad at all, are they?
The lyrics of 浜崎あゆみ's song "Independent" express the fear of the singer towards small and insignificant things, which she tries to hide by pretending to be strong. Even though she often shows the habit of feigning strength, her fear persists, and she finds comfort next to her companion, who talks to her about nonsense without passing judgment. Even if the road ahead might not be easy, the singer acknowledges the importance of their friendship and the necessity of each other's support, be it in good or bad times.
The lyrics of the song highlight the common struggles and fears that people go through in life, the need for companionship and encouragement, and the acceptance that things might not always go smoothly. It also shows the importance of two people supporting each other without judgment, and how that support can lead them to create a common path.
Line by Line Meaning
nante koto nai sasai na dekigoto ni
Again, I'm afraid of something small and insignificant.
mata boku wa obiete'ru
In trying to hide that fear, I'm showing my habit of feigning strength.
sore o kakusou to shite wa
I'm trying to hide that fear.
tsuyogaru kuse hakki suru
I'm showing my habit of feigning strength.
kimi wa tonari ni yorisoi
You come up next to me.
wake no wakaranu koto o hanashite'ru
and talk about nonsense.
bukiyou ni demo nantoka
You're trying, despite your clumsiness,
hagemasou to shite'ru
to encourage me.
kitto bokura kou shite yatte'ku n darou
This must be how it'll be for us.
gutto kao agete sukoshi waratte
Looking up and smiling slightly
chotto sora toka aoidari shite
gazing at the sky,
hashiritsukarete aruitari toka shite
tiring of running we walk a little.
sonna kanji de junbi wa ii kai?
Just like that... are you ready?
hitotsu zutsu sukoshi zutsu hora
One by one, little by little, see?
tashika ni ashiato o nokoshite'ru
We leave behind footprints.
sono subete ga hitotsu no
They form one path,
michi to nari ima to naru
they form now.
kesshite ii koto bakari
It can't be only good times ahead, but...
nanka ja nai keredo
boku ni wa kimi ga hitsuyou mitai de
It seems like I need you.
kimi ni mo boku ga hitsuyou nara
and if you need me
soko ni toku ni riyuu wa iranai mitai ne
then we don't really need a reason.
waruku nai kamo ne konna mainichi
These days aren't bad at all, are they?
gutto kao agete sukoshi waratte
Looking up and smiling slightly
chotto sora toka aoidari shite
gazing at the sky,
hashiritsukarete aruitari toka shite
tiring of running we walk a little.
sonna kanji de junbi wa ii kai?
Just like that... are you ready?
boku ni wa kimi ga hitsuyou mitai de
It seems like I need you.
kimi ni mo boku ga hitsuyou nara
and if you need me
soko ni toku ni riyuu wa iranai mitai ne
then we don't really need a reason.
waruku nai kamo ne konna mainichi
These days aren't bad at all, are they?
Contributed by Claire K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.