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
alterna
浜崎あゆみ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
離れたとこで見ててよ
何かしたって しなくったって
結局指さされるなら あるがままに
本当に大切で必要なモノなんて
ほんのちょっとだけで 後は大抵飾りだった
守る為の鎧みたいな感じだったかもね
変化を恐れるのなら
離れたとこで見ててよ
何かしたってしなくったって
結局指さされるなら あるがままに
さらに言うとしたら
その必要以上なモノがもたらしたのは
ゆとりじゃなく喪失感
間違えないでね
辿り着いたとかじゃなくって やっと始まるとこ
大それた事でもないの
難しく考えないで
そう つまり欲しいものしか
もう欲しくないって事 それだけなの
運命でも宿命でも
変えてってみせようじゃない
こわいモノならもうじゅうぶん
見尽くして来たんだから
変化を恐れるのなら
離れたとこで見ててよ
何かしたって しなくったって
同じなら あるがままに
大それた事でもないの
難しく考えないで
そう つまり欲しいものしか
もう欲しくないって事 それだけなの
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
The lyrics of 浜崎あゆみ's song alterna reflect the fear of change and the desire to stay in a comfortable and familiar environment. The first verse opens with the line "If you're afraid of change, just watch from afar," suggesting that some people may be afraid to take risks and face the unknown. The following lines reinforce this idea, explaining that even if someone tries something new or stays the same, they will eventually be judged by others. Therefore, the lyrics suggest that it is better to accept oneself as they are, regardless of external opinions, and embrace the present moment.
In the second verse, the lyrics reflect on how people often focus on material possessions, believing that they are necessary to maintain their identity and social status. However, the song suggests that these material possessions are often just decorations and distractions, preventing one from focusing on what is truly important in life. The lines "That which is truly valuable and necessary is usually only a little bit," highlight the idea that possessions are not the key to happiness or fulfillment.
The chorus serves as a reminder that change is inevitable, and it is better to face it head-on than to run or hide from it. The lines "If you're afraid of change, just watch from afar, but whether you do something or not, it's the same, just accept it as it is," suggest that there is no escape from change, and it is better to embrace it with open arms.
Line by Line Meaning
変化を恐れるのなら
If you're afraid of change,
離れたとこで見ててよ
just watch from afar.
何かしたって しなくったって
Whether you do something or not,
結局指さされるなら あるがままに
in the end, you'll still be criticized, so just be yourself.
本当に大切で必要なモノなんて
The things that are truly important and necessary
ほんのちょっとだけで 後は大抵飾りだった
are only a small amount, the rest is usually decoration.
あらゆる事から
Perhaps we wore armor
守る為の鎧みたいな感じだったかもね
to protect ourselves from everything.
さらに言うとしたら
Moreover,
その必要以上なモノがもたらしたのは
what we got from unnecessary things
ゆとりじゃなく喪失感
was not freedom but a sense of loss.
間違えないでね
Don't make a mistake,
辿り着いたとかじゃなくって やっと始まるとこ
it's not about arriving, it's about finally starting.
大それた事でもないの
It's not a big deal,
難しく考えないで
don't overthink it.
そう つまり欲しいものしか
Basically, all you want
もう欲しくないって事 それだけなの
is what you no longer desire, that's all.
運命でも宿命でも
Whether it's destiny or fate,
変えてってみせようじゃない
let's change it, shall we?
こわいモノならもうじゅうぶん
If it's something scary, we've seen enough of it.
見尽くして来たんだから
We've already experienced it all.
同じなら あるがままに
If it's the same, just be yourself.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ayumi Hamasaki, Sousaku Sasaki, Shintarou Hagiwara
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind