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
Whatever
浜崎あゆみ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wow, wow, wow
どれ位の想いが募って
どんな形の言葉でつづったなら
この気持ちが届くのかなんて
きっと誰にもわからない
けれど あのヒトに伝えて下さい
"揺るぎなく信じる力がここにはある" と
長かったよ もう少しで 凍えそうで目を閉じてた
誰にも気付かれないまま 楽しみにしていた季節は巡って行く
Wow, wow, wow
今はココで すべき事をして
平気になったら 笑えばいい
どうかあのヒトに伝えて下さい
"遠くても近くても いつも隣にいる" と
長かったよ もう少しで 温かい日陽し浴びれる
ホントはグッとこらえてた 自分にだけは負けない様に
長かったよ もう少しで 温かい日陽し浴びれる
離れて過ごした時間が 淋しくなかったと言ったらウソになる
長かったね もうすぐだね 温かい日陽し浴びたい
ホントはグッとこらえてた 自分にだけは負けない様に
長かったね もうすぐだね 温かい日陽し浴びたい
一緒にいたいと願っていたのは 私だけじゃないと思うから
Wow, wow, wow
The lyrics of 浜崎あゆみ's song WHATEVER express feelings of perseverance and hope amidst adversity. The opening line "長かったよ もう少しで 凍えそうで目を閉じてた" describes a struggle through a difficult period, with the singer almost freezing to death. Despite this, she perseveres and hopes for a better future, as expressed in the lines "どうかあのヒトに伝えて下さい '遠くても近くても いつも隣にいる'" and "一緒にいたいと願っていたのは 私だけじゃないと思うから". The lyrics encourage the listener to push through the hard times, as the singer is able to do, so that they may experience the warmth of the sun ("温かい日陽し浴びたい") in the end.
The song reminds the listener that perseverance, determination, and faith in oneself are important when undergoing difficult times. The lyrics express emotional depth, with lines that speak of longing, hope, and struggle, while the catchy melody of the song ensures the listener is drawn in emotionally. The repeated "Wow, wow, wow" at the end of each section of lyrics reinforces the energetic, upbeat nature of the song, and its message of hope and perseverance.
Line by Line Meaning
長かったよ もう少しで 凍えそうで目を閉じてた
It was a long time, and I was about to freeze, so I closed my eyes
どれ位の想いが募って
How many thoughts have been accumulated
どんな形の言葉でつづったなら
In what form of words can I express them
この気持ちが届くのかなんて
I wonder if these feelings will be conveyed
きっと誰にもわからない
Surely no one knows
けれど あのヒトに伝えて下さい
However, please tell that person
"揺るぎなく信じる力がここにはある" と
"There is an unwavering belief here"
誰にも気付かれないまま 楽しみにしていた季節は巡って行く
The season that I was looking forward to without anyone noticing will pass by
今はココで すべき事をして
Now I should be doing what I have to do here
平気になったら 笑えばいい
When everything is okay, I can laugh
どうかあのヒトに伝えて下さい
Please tell that person
"遠くても近くても いつも隣にいる" と
"I am always by your side, no matter how far apart we are"
ホントはグッとこらえてた 自分にだけは負けない様に
I really held back, so that I wouldn't lose to myself
離れて過ごした時間が 淋しくなかったと言ったらウソになる
It would be a lie to say that spending time apart wasn't lonely
長かったね もうすぐだね 温かい日陽し浴びたい
It was a long time, we're almost there, I want to bask in the warm sunshine
一緒にいたいと願っていたのは 私だけじゃないと思うから
I think that I'm not the only one who wished to be together
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ayumi Hamasaki, Kazuhito Kikuchi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind