(from wikipedia)
Ayumi Hamasaki (浜崎あゆみ Hamasaki Ayumi?, born October 2, 1978) is an award-winning Japanese pop singer. Commonly known just as “Ayu”, Ayumi Hamasaki is one of the most popular and influential Japanese pop singers in Japanese music history, and is dubbed “The Empress of Pop”.[1] She was born and raised in Fukuoka and moved to Tokyo to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. Since her debut in 1998 with her first single poker face, she has sold more than 50 million records, with the releases of her eight full-length studio albums, one mini-album, four compilation albums, 40 singles, and several non-studio albums, being the top selling solo and female artist and the fourth top selling Japanese artist in history.[2] With the release of her 40th single Blue Bird, Hamasaki’s single sales have passed the 20 million mark, making her the first solo and female singer to do so.[3]
With the release of her 39th single Startin’ / Born to be… in 2006, Hamasaki became the first, and so far the only, female singer to have 27 #1 singles and 38 singles in the Top 10 of the Japanese Oricon charts. She has 15 consecutive #1 singles to date (starting from Free & Easy). Hamasaki is also the first Japanese artist to have her first original eight studio albums top the charts.[4]
Like I mentioned in a comment regarding Ayumi-chan’s Greatest Hits CD (being posted now), I’ve stumbled upon this site “by accident” nearly a year ago (I was looking for info on Buck-Tick’s 20th anniversary release, “Angel’s Revolver/Tenshi No Revolver”, when I found this page). I was AMAZED (all caps!) at the fact that we have a woman who is literally in charge of her own sound and style (lyrically and musically).
Plus, the fact that Ayumi-chan’s music has a “metal-bottom” makes it more enticing than the bland stuff we call “pop” here in America. One Word:
WOW!!
As a recent fan (thanks to this page), I appreciate you sharing Ayumi-chan’s music this way (like a true respectful fan, I CD the zip-files, and NEVER re-post—
I’m also a musician, so this is “peer-to-peer respect”—it all goes on my iPod/Mp3-player). Now, if we can–someday–get her in the States (even if it’s at an Anime Convention), it would be great.
Ms. Hamasaki, you’ve just made a Fan For Life.
Peace Out from DC,
Larry Wise (a.k.a. OSMOSIS)
http://www.MySpace.com/CosmicFunkOSMOSIS
PS: A funk-n-roller like me loving J-Pop and Anime? Well, yea. If the groove is good, it’s universal. WOOF!
I’m so glad that you became Ayumi Hamasaki’s fan!
This blog was made for that!
I was stu nned when I found out about her discography too,and it is truth that I love ALL of her songs that she has ever made.
Ayumi is definitely my best artist ever,that’s why I gave effort in making this blog.
Well,she was in the USA about couple of times,but it would be great if she could come there again or somewhere else too (to do a performance,at least).
I’m so glad that this blog has made you like/love/respect Ayumi Hamasaki!
I have just one question (and it’s so simple):
Which is your favourite song by her?
(it’s ok if you don’t reply)
-admin
Thanks to you Mace, I also became an Ayumi Hamasaki fan for life. :D
I was astonished when, I found out that she wrote every single one of her songs!
I also hope one day she comes to the US to perform and more people realize how good she is.
i really love ayu’s songs. i always waiting for ayu’s next album or single. sometimaes her songs meking my heatr felt so hurt and glad too. i don’t know since i listen ayu’s voices in her sing , there’s something that making me interested. i don’t know what’s??? but i certainty really love ayumi hamasaki. i will your honnest fan. say LOOOOOOOOOOVEEEEEEEEEE to ayumi hamaski
Yeah, Ayu has a really awwwwwwwwwwesome style. Her voice so amazing as no other’s. Ballads of her are the best, but the “rock-chick” songs are fantastic too. With three words: she’s a true talent. The only problem is that she never will come Budapest. So i probably never will see her. But maybe I will go to another city to see her. Yeah…It can be the most enjoyable experience of my life…SO: We love her. And I Love this site too, thanks for isntrus and good web editing forward!!!!
LUW: Timejja
i really love ayumi hamasaki’s songs. her voices really open my heart if she singing in ballad songs. But if she singing in both of rock & trance songs ,it’s make me feel so spirit and wanna dance. As if ayumi come to INDONESIA i really want see her so close and take photos with her. It will the greatest moment for my life so much. NOw i will take a way like her, to be a singer that so famoust and talented like her,even no sing teacher. I will course my self. And to a best singer like her. Even i’m a boy. Thank’s ayu , you’re inspiring me. and thanks to god have born a women like her,with low profile but high increasing.
Ayumi hamasaki is a legend! Seriously I can’t find any other artistes who can have so many nice greatest hits songs! Maybe one or two songs from other singers but a whole lot more from this diva!
I’ve been her biggest fan since i heard dearest (i’m in elementary school that time), i REALLLLLY LOVE HER!!!
I’ve liked Ayumi ever since I heard “July 1st” six years ago. Loved her ever since I heard the awesomness that is “Evolution”. And this is coming from someone who, before discovering this wonderful woman, listened to nothing except Metallica, Iron Maiden, X Japan, Dir en grey, etc. She’s amazing, she never just sticks to one style, no two albums sound the same. I love her to bits, and ever since first discovering her, have been earnestly trying to convert my friends. (I managed to make my boyfriend listen to her – and he likes her! Huzzah! (He’s a heavy-metal type, too) Also managed to convert my mum by insisting on putting “GUILTY” on when I recieved it for Christmas). So it just shows that Ayu appeals to everyone.
For people who are just discovering her: You think her studio albums are good? You should look up her live shows. WOW.
Come to England, Ayuuuu! Preferably near East Anglia! xD
I’ve been a huge fan of Ayumi since I heard “No More Words” from the Inuyasha movie, sometime in the fifth or sixth grade. Her voice is absolutely gorgeous, and her pop style is flexible to the point of metal. To find a good American comparison for Ayu-sensei is tough since her sound is so unique. I’m still hoping that she will visit America someday. (Somewhere near Seattle would be best. ;D)
I made two decisions because of Ayu-sensei:
1. I chose to study the Japanese language. I found out how beautiful the sound and writing of Japanese is, and I’m loving every minute of my classes.
2. I chose to follow a path toward music and poetry. After looking up the translations to her songs, I admired Ayu-sensei even more. The depth of her words has inspired my own creativity, particularly in the last year or so.
I really feel for those who haven’t discovered her yet; they have no idea what they’re missing.
To Ayumi: thank you for being such an inspiration.
i\’ve started to like her when i first saw her music video \”dearest\” from the anime \”inuyasha\”. From then on, I\’ve became ayumi\’s fan. She\’s really fantastic. Yeah, she\’s very talented,unique and inspiring. Hope to see her in person. Good persons are blessed. Godbless.
Simply amazing. I’ve been a fan of Ayu for over a year now and I still can’t get enough of her. Having the title of Empress Of J-Pop really suits her well because I believe that she deserves it, her beautifully written lyrics actually have emotional in-depth meaning to them as she writes about what she thinks and feels. Not only that, but the music she makes is something that makes you really wanna listen no matter what genre of music your into. Be it classical, rock, metal, dance, contemporary pop, instrumental, techno, etc… But the most surprising thing about her is that every friggin’ year she makes a release that is sure to be a hit no what the critics say. Plus it doesn’t hurt to say that having 50% of your labels profits riding on your name alone and having sold more than 65 million records worldwide is an accomplsihment worthy of praise and accolade from all sides.
Ayu ROCKS! I became a fan around the year 2000. It’s sad that she has got hearing problems these days, but Ayu still does great in my opinon.
Wow, this site is simply amazing! I am astonished by how much effort you put into this! Simply amazing^^
Reagrding Ayu, well, I’m a strange case, since I only have like 2 songs of her, (one of them a remix of independent), however, I just loved “M” so much from the first I’ve heard it and them I read her wiki-article and I was all like in fanboy mode (fanboy in a fangirlish way, that is xD) and now I have the opportunity to get to know her style and stuff more :) I really seem to have a thing about Pop-divas xD
Who knows, maybe I’ll even attempt to learn some japanese, I always hear her being praised for the lyrics and it’s quite a pity not to be able to understand them :/
I’m sure to purchase some of her music stuff sometime, i really plan on doing that someday, at least when my parents allow me to get my own account o_O
anyway, thanks again, this is really like *WHOA*
Thank you for your compliments. Ayumi indeed writes amazing lyrics, and don’t worry, you don’t have to learn Japanese to understand her songs, you can find all of her accurately traslated lyrics here. Believe me or not, I love all of her songs not only because of how great lyricist she is, but because her songs are always full of emotion and at the same time are very fun to listen to. I highly recommend you to try downloading some of her whole albums from this site, preferably her latest ones, believe me you won’t regret trying out more of her songs.
You are welcome and thank you too!
Love this site!
I’ve known about Ayu for a while now–ever since I first got into J-Pop a few years ago–but never checked her out until this year.
And let me tell you, this site is HEAVEN for a new Ayu fan who wants to sample her music before buying it.
Thank you so much for putting forth so much effort for this blog. It’s amazing.
And she does have amazing lyrics. I don’t know any current American artist who can write lyrics as well as she can. None.
She is truly a legend and one of a kind!
You are welcome and thank you, your comment is very appreciated.
Finally, A site that has her updated stuff, too!
She’s a fabulous artist, isn’t she? Hard to keep up with o.o