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
Will
浜崎あゆみ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
訪る岐路に気付けるだろう
そこでどれほど心の声が
導くものを選べるだろう
誰も知ることのなき明日という闇
この手力の限り伸ばし君の隣で誓う
ひらひらひらひら
花びら散るように
ゆらゆら揺れる
心誇り高くあれと
悲しき事は自分の為に
自分の姿見失うこと
誰も見たことのない景色信じて
どこにもないあの場所のまま君の隣で願う
きらきらきらきら
陽射し注ぐように
くらくら眩し過ぎるほどに
光放て
誰も知ることのなき明日という闇
この手力の限り伸ばし君の隣で誓う
ひらひらひらひら
花びら散るように
ゆらゆら揺れる心誇り
高くあれと
きらきらきらきら
陽射し注ぐように
くらくら眩し過ぎるほどに
光放て
These lyrics are from the song "Will" by Ayumi Hamasaki. The song talks about the journey of life and the choices we make along the way. It reflects on how people come across crossroads multiple times in their lives and discusses the ability to listen to their hearts and choose the paths that they are led to.
The darkness of an unknown tomorrow, which no one knows
I will give my all and reach out, pledging to be by your side
Fluttering, fluttering, like falling petals
Swaying, swaying, be proud of your heart
Sad things are for oneself
Losing sight of oneself
Believe in the unseen landscapes that no one has seen
Wishing to be by your side, in that place that doesn't exist anywhere
Sparkling, sparkling, like the shining sun
Dazzling, dazzling, radiate light to the point of being too bright
The darkness of an unknown tomorrow, which no one knows
I will give my all and reach out, pledging to be by your side
Fluttering, fluttering, like falling petals
Swaying, swaying, be proud of your heart
Sparkling, sparkling, like the shining sun
Dazzling, dazzling, radiate light to the point of being too bright
Line by Line Meaning
ひとは旅路の途中で幾度
How many times will a person realize they are at a crossroads on their journey?
訪る岐路に気付けるだろう
Will they notice the diverging paths they encounter?
そこでどれほど心の声が
At that moment, how much will their inner voice
導くものを選べるだろう
guide them in choosing what they truly want?
誰も知ることのなき明日という闇
The darkness of an unknown tomorrow that no one has seen
この手力の限り伸ばし君の隣で誓う
I promise to extend my efforts to the fullest by your side
ひらひらひらひら
Fluttering, fluttering
花びら散るように
Like petals falling
ゆらゆら揺れる
Swaying gently
心誇り高くあれと
Be proud of your heart
悲しき事は自分の為に
Sad things happen for one's own sake
自分の姿見失うこと
To lose sight of one's own self
誰も見たことのない景色信じて
Believe in a scenery that no one has seen
どこにもないあの場所のまま君の隣で願う
Wishing to be by your side in that place that doesn't exist anywhere
きらきらきらきら
Sparkling, sparkling
陽射し注ぐように
Like the pouring sunlight
くらくら眩し過ぎるほどに
Dazzlingly to the point of being dizzy
光放て
Emit light
誰も知ることのなき明日という闇
The darkness of an unknown tomorrow that no one has seen
この手力の限り伸ばし君の隣で誓う
I promise to extend my efforts to the fullest by your side
ひらひらひらひら
Fluttering, fluttering
花びら散るように
Like petals falling
ゆらゆら揺れる心誇り
Heart flutters proudly
高くあれと
Be high
きらきらきらきら
Sparkling, sparkling
陽射し注ぐように
Like the pouring sunlight
くらくら眩し過ぎるほどに
Dazzlingly to the point of being dizzy
光放て
Emit light
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ayumi Hamasaki, Dai, Crea
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind