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
Rule
浜崎あゆみ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
そんなもん必要ない
だってこの僕らがルール
そこんとこ譲れない
こんな時代の一体どこに
希望なんてあるのかって?
目に見えないものを 触れられないものを
僕は黙ってただ頷いて
静かに目を閉じる
だって僕らはそう確かにね
繋がってるんだって事を
今はっきりと感じられるから
誰かに決められたルール
そんなもん必要ない
だってこの僕らがルール
そこんとこ譲れない
こんな世界もまだまだ捨てた
もんじゃないとこ残ってる
どんなに怖くっても 誰かを信じてみる
だけの価値はじゅうぶんにある
僕らは大きく深呼吸して
高らかに叫ぶよ
だって全ては偶然じゃなく
必然なんだって事を
あの日の君に教えられたから
お決まりのつまんないルール
押しつけられたくない
まずは君と僕でルール
ぶっ壊して始めよう
強さが優しさへと 優しさが強さへと
変わってった瞬間から
もう怖いものはない
そんな気がしてるんだ oh yeah
誰かに決められたルール
そんなもん必要ない
だってこの僕らがルール
そこんとこ譲れない
お決まりのつまんないルール
押しつけられたくない
まずは君と僕でルール
ぶっ壊して始めよう
The lyrics of 浜崎あゆみ's song "Rule" speak about rejecting societal norms and creating one's own rules. The opening lines state that the rules that have been imposed on someone are not necessary and they believe that they can create their own rules. The singer questions where hope can be found in a world where things that cannot be seen or touched are believed in. They close their eyes and silently nod in agreement, suggesting that they have found hope in their own beliefs.
The chorus repeats the idea that rules prescribed by others are not necessary when they can create their own. The singer highlights that even in this seemingly overwhelming world, there are still things worth holding onto and believing in, like trusting someone despite fear. They encourage everyone to take a deep breath and shout out their beliefs, indicating the power and strength of one's voice. The end of the song emphasizes the importance of breaking away from boring and limiting rules, and instead creating and living by new ones with someone else.
Overall, this song adds to the message of self-determination and individuality, encouraging people to find their own beliefs and rules to live by, rather than conforming to society's expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
誰かに決められたルール
Rules imposed by others
そんなもん必要ない
We don't need such things
だってこの僕らがルール
Because we are the rule
そこんとこ譲れない
We can't give up on that
こんな時代の一体どこに
Where is hope in this era?
希望なんてあるのかって?
Is there any hope at all?
目に見えないものを 触れられないものを
Things that cannot be seen or touched
信じていられるのかって?
Can we believe in them?
僕は黙ってただ頷いて
I just nodded silently
静かに目を閉じる
And closed my eyes quietly
だって僕らはそう確かにね
But we are definitely connected
繋がってるんだって事を
We are connected
今はっきりと感じられるから
We can clearly feel it now
こんな世界もまだまだ捨てた
There are still things left in this world
もんじゃないとこ残ってる
That are worth keeping
どんなに怖くっても 誰かを信じてみる
Even if it's scary, try believing in someone
だけの価値はじゅうぶんにある
It's worth it
僕らは大きく深呼吸して
We take a deep breath
高らかに叫ぶよ
And shout loudly
だって全ては偶然じゃなく
Because everything is not random
必然なんだって事を
It's inevitable
あの日の君に教えられたから
You taught me that day
お決まりのつまんないルール
Boring rules imposed on us
押しつけられたくない
We don't want them to be imposed on us
まずは君と僕でルール
Let's create our own rules first
ぶっ壊して始めよう
And let's start by breaking them
強さが優しさへと 優しさが強さへと
Strength turns into kindness and kindness turns into strength
変わってった瞬間から
From the moment it changes
もう怖いものはない
There is nothing to fear anymore
そんな気がしてるんだ oh yeah
That's how I feel, oh yeah
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ayumi Hamasaki, Miku Watanabe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind