Ayumi Hamasaki (浜崎あゆみ, Hamasaki Ayumi, real name 浜崎歩) (born October 2, 197… Read Full Bio ↴Ayumi Hamasaki (浜崎あゆみ, Hamasaki Ayumi, real name 浜崎歩) (born October 2, 1978, Fukuoka, Japan) is an award-winning Japanese singer, and one of the most popular and influential artists to come from Asia. Apart from being a singer, Hamasaki is also a songwriter, a model, an actress, a composer, a record producer, a spokesperson and an entrepreneur. Through her entire career, she has written all her lyrical content, and has sometimes composed her music.

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

identity
浜崎あゆみ Lyrics

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寂しさ埋める為に他の誰かと
時間と空間をわざわざシェアして
当たり障りのない会話とかしちゃって
余計に孤独になってるそこの人

どんな巧みにデコレーションしたって
真実にはかなわない解ってるんでしょう?

性懲りなく真っ直ぐぶつかっちゃうのが私の
ID, ID (oh), ID, ID (oh, oh, oh)

どう見られているかなんて重要じゃないの
必要なのはどうあるべきか

君の事を思ってだとか言っちゃって
ただ自分の意見を人に押しつけて
何だか良い事した様な顔をして
自己満足したいだけのそこの人

どんな巧みにデコレーションしたって
本音が見え透いてるわ気付いてるんでしょう?

器用に何にでも頷けないのが私の
ID, ID (oh), ID, ID (oh, oh, oh)

どう思われたいとかなんて重要じゃないの
守りたいのはどうありたいか

(必要なのはどうあるべきか)
(守りたいのはどうありたいか)

(性懲りなく真っ直ぐ)
性懲りなく真っ直ぐぶつかっちゃうのが私の
ID, ID (oh), ID, ID (oh, oh, oh)

どう見られているかなんて重要じゃないの
必要なのはどうあるべきか

器用に何にでも頷けないのが私の
ID, ID (oh), ID, ID (oh, oh, oh)

どう思われたいとかなんて重要じゃないの
守りたいのはどうありたいか

Overall Meaning

"Identity" by Ayumi Hamasaki is a song that explores the theme of authenticity. The lyrics tell a story of two individuals who, in their attempt to fill the void of loneliness, engage in meaningless conversations and pretentious behaviors, but eventually realize that they are only becoming more isolated. The lyrics suggest that despite their efforts to mask their true selves with decorations and opinions that are not their own, they cannot escape themselves, and their true identities are transparent.

The song's chorus, which repeats the phrase "ID, ID, oh" (pronounced "eye-dee, eye-dee"), serves as a metaphor for the singer's struggle to stay true to herself. She is aware that she cannot live up to the expectations of others and is not concerned with how she is perceived by the world. Instead, she wants to remain authentic and protect her sense of self.

The song's overall tone is somber and contemplative, with a sense of resignation regarding the inevitability of the human condition. Identity is not something that can be easily changed or hidden, and the song seems to suggest that it's better to accept who we are and strive towards our true selves instead of trying to live up to ideals that are imposed on us.

Line by Line Meaning

寂しさ埋める為に他の誰かと
To fill the loneliness inside, with someone else

時間と空間をわざわざシェアして
Sharing time and space with someone

当たり障りのない会話とかしちゃって
Engaging in non-offensive conversations

余計に孤独になってるそこの人
The more lonely one becomes

どんな巧みにデコレーションしたって
No matter how much decoration is added

真実にはかなわない解ってるんでしょう?
It can never live up to the truth, don't you see?

性懲りなく真っ直ぐぶつかっちゃうのが私の
My identity is to charge straight ahead without second thoughts

ID, ID (oh), ID, ID (oh, oh, oh)
My core identity

どう見られているかなんて重要じゃないの
It doesn't matter what people think of me

必要なのはどうあるべきか
What matters is how I should be

君の事を思ってだとか言っちゃって
Saying it's for your sake