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
two of us
浜崎あゆみ Lyrics
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目覚めて1人きりの淋しさに気付き泣きだした
色あせたソファーも 2つそろいのカップも
広すぎるベットも いつか消して
愛されていたくて 愛してたワケじゃない
知ってたのに ひとりでも眠れてたのに
ふたりが好きなあの曲 ふたりでみた映画も
明日に期待していた
あれから1度だけあなたへ電話してみた
受話器の向こうの女(ひと)はきれいな声をしてた
名前呼ぶ声さえ 髪をなでるその指も
澄んだ瞳ももう 今は遠く
※ふたりで笑い合い ふたりでぶつかり合い
二人は信じてた 今は一人
もう一度会いたい もう二度と会えない
解ってる もうどこにも
期待なんかは出来ない※
(※くり返し)
愛されていたくて 愛してたワケじゃない
知ってたのに ひとりでも眠れてたのに
ふたりが好きなあの曲 ふたりでみた映画も
忘れるから もうどこにも
期待なんかはしてない
The song "Two of us" by 浜崎あゆみ (Ayumi Hamasaki) is a ballad about the aftermath of a breakup. The lyrics describe the loneliness and sadness that the singer feels after waking up from a dream of being happy with the person she loved. She is surrounded by reminders of their time together, like the faded sofa and the matching cups that they used to share. The bed that used to feel too big for just one person is now too big for her and the absence of her lover now feels more pronounced.
The lyrics suggest that she didn't want to be loved or love someone just for the sake of it. The last verse hints at her making a phone call to her ex-partner, only to be met with a pretty voice on the other end of the line. Everything that was once familiar, their favorite songs or movies, now seem distant and foreign, but it's clear that the memories are still painful. She concludes that she no longer has any expectations, but the repeated phrase "Two of us" reveals the longing for the past relationship, which will never come back.
Overall, "Two of us" is a melancholic song that captures the feelings of heartbreak and the struggles of moving on.
Line by Line Meaning
あなたの胸で眠る幸せな夢を見てた
I dreamt of sleeping on your chest, feeling happy and content.
目覚めて1人きりの淋しさに気付き泣きだした
I woke up, realizing that I was alone and felt the overwhelming sadness.
色あせたソファーも 2つそろいのカップも
Even though our faded sofa and our matching cups are still here,
広すぎるベットも いつか消して
I want to get rid of our wide bed eventually,
愛されていたくて 愛してたワケじゃない
I wanted to be loved but it wasn't the reason why I loved you.
知ってたのに ひとりでも眠れてたのに
Even though I knew it, I could still sleep alone.
ふたりが好きなあの曲 ふたりでみた映画も
The song and the movie we loved together
忘れられず まだどこかで
I still can't forget them, somewhere inside me.
明日に期待していた
I used to have hope for tomorrow.
あれから1度だけあなたへ電話してみた
After that, I called you once.
受話器の向こうの女(ひと)はきれいな声をしてた
On the other end of the phone, a woman with a beautiful voice answered.
名前呼ぶ声さえ 髪をなでるその指も
Even your voice calling my name and your fingers running through my hair
澄んだ瞳ももう 今は遠く
Even those clear eyes are now far away.
ふたりで笑い合い ふたりでぶつかり合い
We used to laugh together and fight together.
二人は信じてた 今は一人
We used to believe in us, but now I'm alone.
もう一度会いたい もう二度と会えない
I want to see you again, but I know it won't happen.
解ってる もうどこにも
I understand it now, it's all gone.
期待なんかは出来ない
I cannot hope anymore.
Writer(s): 浜崎 あゆみ, 宮地 大輔, 浜崎 あゆみ, 宮地 大輔
Contributed by Mackenzie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.