Ayaka was first introduced to public singing in her early years and throughout high school where she would sing song covers at school concerts. Her first solo concert was held in her second year of high school; it was a small high school concert in where she sang only covers of famous musicians. After speaking with an audience member, Ayaka was referred to the voice music center in Fukuoka. Ayaka began practicing original song composition as well as learning about the various recording methods used in mass media recording.
Ayaka performed at various music venues and as the opening act to various other groups during much of 2005. Though she had not officially debuted yet, in December 2005, Ayaka was contracted to perform the ending theme "Mikazuki" for a television Japanese Drama known as @Human. Even though a music video had been produced, the actual single would not be released for almost a year.
Ayaka performed three songs, Mikazuki, I Believe, and a Japanese rendition of the popular German Christmas carol, Silent Night.
On November 10, 2005, Lyor Cohen, the North American Chairman and CEO of Warner Music Group described her in public: "After Mariah Carey, Hikaru Utada, now it's the third encounter with an amazing talent over my life". After Ayaka's performance, he stood up clapping and praised "World class to be!".
In January 2006, Ayaka recorded "I Believe" as the ending theme for the Japanese Drama, Rondo. At the time of its premiere, Rondo was one of Japan's highest rated dramas and is credited with exposing "I Believe" to wide audiences. The full single was first released as a downloadable only single and would go on to become one of the fastest downloadable song to reach 1,000,000 sales as well as becoming the 3rd highest selling downloadable debut single for a female artist.
"I Believe" was officially released on February 2, 2006 and debuted as the 3rd highest single of the week. The single would go on to stay in the top ten for six more weeks as well as selling a total of 220,000 copies in its entire chart run. An English cover of the song was used by Miki Ando in 2006 Skate America which Ando would go on to win. Ayaka would later perform the song live during the exhibition at the 2007 World Figure Skating Championships.
Ayaka's second single "melody ~Sounds Real~" would go on to have only moderate success on the Oricon charts. The single was limited to 50,000 copies, of which only approximately 10,000 were sold in its first week. "Melody ~Sounds Real~" peaked at number 14 on the Oricon charts and then steadily declined in both sales and chart position. When compared to her earlier songs, melody was a much more rock oriented song, a factor that earned her praise from various Japanese critics for her versatility. To date this is Ayaka's lowest selling single, but it was gone on to stay a while in the charts, slowly gaining sales, and has gotten past the 20,000 mark.
"Real Voice" was Ayaka's third single and was used as the ending theme to the Japanese Drama, Suppli. A B-Side single from "Melody ~Sounds Real~" known as "Blue Days" was also used as an insert song for the same show. "Real Voice" was released on July 17, 2006, selling 15,387 copies within its first week and charting as the 11th highest selling single of the week. To date the single has sold over 50,000 copies.
Weeks before the scheduled release of Ayaka's first album, "First Message", the album was canceled. In its place, the single "Mikazuki" was released as a rerecorded version of the same song from 2005. "Mikazuki" has become Ayaka's highest charting single, selling 40,091 copies within its first week and taking the highest spot on the Oricon weekly charts. The single would then go on to sale over 200,000 copies, making it one of the highest selling singles of the third quarter of 2006.
On November 1, 2006, Ayaka's first album "First Message" was finally released after months of push backs. It sold 350,580 copies within its first week, making it the highest selling album of the week as well as the highest selling debut album for a female artist in 7 years. The album went on to sell 1,003,412 copies and stayed within the top two positions on the Oricon charts for four weeks straight before being listed as the 13th highest selling album of 2006.
On February 28, 2007, a new single was released. The song Winding Road was a collaboration with label mates Kobukuro and used to promote a new line of car. The single reached a peak position of #2 on the Oricon charts.
The 5th single from Ayaka was used as the ending theme to Last Love, a Japanese movie that was released one month prior to the single. Ayaka also performed Jewelry Day, among many other songs, at the Japanese leg of Live Earth in Tokyo on July 7, 2007.
Te o Tsunagō Promo
Ayaka's 6th single, 'Why", released on September 5th, was used for Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, a PSP game by Square-Enix, as the theme song to the game.
At the end of 2007 Ayaka performed "Peace Loving People (special piano version)" in the annual music show Kōuhaku Uta Gassen.
On February 29, 2008, her first starring live event, Power Of Music was held. On March 5, 2008, Ayaka's first single of 2008, Te wo Tsunagō / Ai o Utaō was released. It was a double A-side single, first track used as a theme song for the movie, Nobita and the Green Giant Legend 2008, and the second track was used for Beauté de Kosé's "Esprique Precious" commercial. Her second single of the year, Okaeri, was released in May 2008. Okaeri is used for Zettai Kareshi drama theme song.
Her second album Sing to the Sky was released on June 25, 2008. It reached #2 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and has thus far sold over 500,000 copies.
Anata to, the second collaboration single with Kobukuro, was released on September 24, 2008. The single was released due to fan requests after hearing the song performed live in concert.
Ayaka sang 'Okaeri' at the 59th annual Kōuhaku Uta Gassen
Ayaka announced in April her marriage to famous actor Mizushima Hiro [Asamoto Soshi from Zettai Kareshi -drama which she sang the theme song to-] They registered their marriage on February 22. It was also learned that immediately after Ayaka's debut in 2006, she became ill with Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder. Ayaka tearfully reported that her symptoms have been increasing. As a result, Ayaka will continue with her music until the end of this year, after which she will put her career on hold. Mizushima promised to protect and support her.
グンナイベイビー
絢香 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
向かい風に吹かれながら
ペダルこいでるよ
眠れない夜は今も 思い出す子守唄
グンナイベイビーって
愛に溢れた 優しい声で
少し背伸びしたくて 彼の話をした
気がつけば ほら 肩を並べて
耳に光るイヤリング 憧れた少女は
確かなものつかむために
必死の毎日
2人がいなければ 広い空見ること
笑うこと 歌うことさえも
できなかったのね
ワガママ 意地っぱり
泣き虫の少女は
今もしっかり健在
安心してください
何より守って 愛を...
今度は私に 遠慮なく頼って
笑い 愛し 叫び 歌い
ママの高い靴に憧れた少女は...
These lyrics are from the song "Gunnai Baby" by Ayaka. The song tells the story of a girl who admired her mother's high heels and pedaled her way through the headwind. The lyrics evoke the nostalgia of sleepless nights where the girl remembers a lullaby called "Gunnai Baby" being sung to her with a loving and gentle voice. She wanted to grow up quickly and be able to have conversations with her significant other. As time passes, she realizes that she can now walk shoulder to shoulder with him. The girl, who admired earrings that shone in her ears, worked hard every day, determined to grasp something certain in her life.
The girl admits that without him, she wouldn't have been able to enjoy simple things like looking at the vast sky, laughing, or singing. She acknowledges her own stubbornness and tendency to be selfish, as well as her inclination to be a crybaby. Despite that, she assures him that she is still there, alive and well, and promises to protect and cherish their love. Finally, she asks him to rely on her without hesitation and to share laughter, love, screams, and songs.
Overall, the song captures the girl's journey from admiring her mother's high heels to finding stability and love in her relationship. It portrays her growth, determination, and gratitude for the person who has been by her side.
Line by Line Meaning
ママの高い靴に 憧れた少女は
The girl who idolized her mother's high heels
向かい風に吹かれながら
While being blown by the headwind
ペダルこいでるよ
Pedaling her bicycle
眠れない夜は今も 思い出す子守唄
Even now, she remembers the lullaby on sleepless nights
グンナイベイビーって
Saying 'Goodnight, baby'
愛に溢れた 優しい声で
With a gentle voice filled with love
少し背伸びしたくて 彼の話をした
She wanted to impress and talked about him
気がつけば ほら 肩を並べて
Before she knew it, they were walking side by side
歩けるくらいに
To the point where they can walk together
耳に光るイヤリング 憧れた少女は
The girl who admired earrings that sparkled in her ears
確かなものつかむために
In order to grasp something certain
必死の毎日
Every day with desperation
2人がいなければ 広い空見ること
If they weren't together, she couldn't see the vast sky
笑うこと 歌うことさえも
Or even laugh and sing
できなかったのね
She couldn't do it
ワガママ 意地っぱり
Selfish and stubborn
泣き虫の少女は
The crying girl
今もしっかり健在
She's still going strong
安心してください
Please be at ease
何より守って 愛を...
Above all, protect and love...
今度は私に 遠慮なく頼って
This time, rely on me without hesitation
笑い 愛し 叫び 歌い
Laugh, love, scream, and sing
ママの高い靴に憧れた少女は...
The girl who idolized her mother's high heels...
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: 絢香
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-vr2vd2et1s
なんだか涙が出てきちゃったよ。
なんでだろう？
涙が出てきちゃったよ。
ボーカル、かっこいいよな。
ワンコーラス目、最初の
だ～か～ら グッド ナイト ベイビーの
ベイビーのところの左手の振りが
親父ダンディの野暮ったさと大人さが
凄くカッコいいよ。
これからもずっとこの曲を聴き続けるよ。
ありがとう。
@ryuuitimizunaga56
@@user-io5bl5kl7s さん
キングトーンズのこの曲は、
ハイカラな外国の曲に聞こえませんか？(笑)
子供心にそんなイメージを持って聞いていたと思います。
1968年発表のこの曲今聞いても新鮮に聞こえます。
また、その当時を思い出して懐かしくもなります。
返信遅くなりました。<(_ _)>
Pｓ まだまだ寒いであろう日本、お体大切に！
@user-vc6hu2rn3q
若い時にバックで演奏したことがあります。テレビで観てた人と一緒に仕事できるなんて初めての経験でしたし、元々、大好きな曲だったから大感激したのを覚えてます。ほんと懐かしくてしかたない。でも、僕はまだ生きてますよー！
@user-nl2te6tt9i
スゲー❗
@maihimelove9572
凄いですね！(^▽^)/
@user-vg1gi6dc3l
羨ましい
生きてても死んでも
その経験は永遠ですね❕
@user-kv8wr6ws9e
へぬくくくくや😢
@user-sh3be4ut8s
@@user-kv8wr6ws9e ？
@user-nz7mk8nj8f
90歳で亡くなった父の好きな歌です‼️今聞いても全然古くなく、むしろ新しい‼️😄🌹🙋
@user-xn7jn6vg9t
この声は宇宙のこえだよ。リキがある。爺も数えで９０歳。百歳まで生きる、予定。😄
@user-cp8od8md7o
これって日本の誇りですよね。
日本のプラターズです！
忘れ去られてはいけない曲です！
ありがとうございます！
@kunaekim
子供の頃はよくわからないで聴いていたこの曲、」こんなに良かったとは。。良すぎる！