I have to say that out of many artists out there that I enjoy listening to, Hamasaki Ayumi, also known as Ayu, is a singer I highly respect and enjoy listening to.

image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayumi_Hamasaki

I discovered Ayu after hearing her song “Depend on You” from the video game Thousand Arms that my brother had been playing. The song was catchy and when I read the translated lyrics, they had so much meaning that it seemed to just reach out and touch you. I’ve read lyrics that have meant a lot to me, but her lyrics seem to always stand out somehow.It was from that moment I became interested in her and began to look up her songs.I followed her through the years until 2004 when I left for the military. I remember every emotion I felt when I listened to her songs. Her songs were more than just words being sung…they were more than just words she sang that someone else wrote: these were many of her personal feelings.I watched an interview on YouTube that she had that aired on CNN (correct me if I’m wrong, it’s been awhile) in which she stated that her songs are very personal because she writes her feelings and experiences down. I found it so amazing that someone could just write everything they felt into a song and let the whole world know just how she felt; her pain, her happiness, her anger, her sorrow.

Because she writes on such a personal level, it really helps those who listen connect to her because her songs produce very realistic emotions. She sings her songs with the right emotion that the saddest song could bring you to tears; yes, it is that touching and that powerful. Due to her writing abilities, I was able to relate so much during my times of hardship or times of happiness. It made it feel like someone finally understood the human emotions that people tried to not write about.

She also branches out into different styles of singing; she is very unique and original. She knows how to grab your attention. she knows how to promote her songs. She truly loves and enjoys music and enjoys bringing that love to her fans. I never get tired or bored of her; she constantly changes her image and she is always doing something different. She stands out so much it’s hard to not notice her.

I still continue to listen to her songs and I still continue to feel the same emotions I felt from the first time I heard those songs. I can read the lyrics so many times and still feel so amazed at just how perfectly it describes the feelings of someone in a certain situation. Ayu has delivered so much and has become one of the most influential singers in Japan. I don’t see her career slowing down at all; I see her continuing to become better and better. She has never let us down, and I can’t wait to see more of her works that continue to touch people more than they even know.

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