I don't quite feel the same way about Ayu as I used to. I discovered her way back in 2003 and I was always a huge fan of her music, until recently. She's gorgeous but not the best looking, and her songs are good but not amazing to me - but she's still my favourite artist.

And the reason is because of her vibe, her atmosphere, the command and influence she has over her own work, and the way she handles her image and especially her relationships. She isn't too guarded to make friends with her fans, and she is selfless and just. Her personality is one of a kind and I find that the most attractive and lovable thing about her.

Honestly, I love Ayu for the first time is because she's so cute and pretty at the same time and not because of her lyrics like many do. Actually, I'll like people for the first time for the appearance. And because of she's so cute, I google everything about her. So, by the time, I'm in love with everything about her. Such a lame reason. But that's just my reason :P

Her diverse musical style first.

I was so glad that my first song was M, which the melody and arrangement is so into my preference music-wise.

Then her versatile image and artistry, lyrics, and everything about her follows. These characteristics made me her devoted fan because she does what she wants and not scared of just being herself.

I was only 11 when I first discovered ayu and then japanese music. She changed my life. She made me want to study Japanese language to understand her lyrics. and woah, I'm studying Japanese now. I can't imagine how I would be like if there were no ayu in my life.

Of course ayumi's changed a lot since 2002 and I didn't even notice it until very recent time. You know, she's already in 30s and she's getting older.. For me she will always stay as a young lady in her mid-20s.

There were times when I forgot about her because I got interested in western culture, in Europe especially. This was all because of changing my location to the most european city in my country :D But now I am living in asian part of Russia, so it's again all about Japan.

mm.. you know what? I've never ever thought about WHY I love ayu, she was like something very usual and common in my life. But this spring I started to think about WHO IS AYU. We all think like we know her, like she's always honest with us and we've all have seen her real emotions on the concerts and etc. But who is ayu after all? I don't know. And yeah, I think it's better not to confuse about it. But still I have this strange feeling.

Other than her music is totally awesome, her personality is like of an angel, her lyrics are sincere, her beauty is radiantly stunning, her etiquette is quite elegant and bubbly, her views on the world is optimistic, her music can last a lifetime, her intellects is brilliant, her body is hot, she's like the perfect package.

I think the best thing about ayu is consistency. She constantly makes good music in an array of genres. What ever she does, she gives it her all and does it well. Sure sometimes, I won't like a certain song she release, but it doesn't mean it's a bad song.

To put it simply, she saved my life.

All my life, I have battled depression & such things, and these manifested for the worst in 2009-2010. I was cutting and slashing at my wrists, popping pills & alcohol, anything to relieve me from the pain of living. Anything to escape from the hell that my life had become. It was around this time that I started to really adore Ayu, and I listened to her music nonstop, day & night. While listening to her voice while she sang, it was undeniable that she was passionate and meant every word that came out of her mouth. When I discovered tht she was the genuine article, and wrote all of her lyrics as well, I became intrigued and decided to look up English translations.
They shocked me because they were so pure & honest, so drastically different from her other contemporaries, and most of all, they spoke to me. They spoke to my emotions, my psyche, and how I had been feeling for so long. Her songs instilled in me the feeling that things would look up, and I was inspired to seek help.

I now live a normal, happy life, which I credit, at least partially, to her. I love her.

I like ayu because:
- Her music - so many styles and change every album
- I love her voice (she sings live so good (^o^) )
- Then, I 'google" for her lyrics - they're so beautiful -> like her more - some lyrics help me a lot =))
- Then, I like the way she do with her audiences every tours
- Then, I like her personality
Ayumi Hamasaki is the person make me come close to Japanese Culture and make a decision to study "Japanese Studies" in university.
Up to now, ayumi is my #1 fav artist, after ayu, there're mostly US-artists like Kylie Minogue, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, B'z, ...

My first song was Depend on you (from renting Thousand Arms for Playstation). I immediately ordered the soundtrack and listened to the song nonstop. I discovered more of her works (evolution, and then many remixes). So first it was the music was right up my ally (always loved Japanese and it seemed the more I discovered from her the more I loved. I thought "this chick can't go wrong!"

Then I decided to look her up and thought "she has to be hot, she just has to be." I found a picture of her I did not find very "hot" and was kind of disappointed. Haha. Then I listened more to her and thought "no way, she has to be hot she just has to be." So I looked up pics of her again and found out I was right all along. She was my dream girl in the looks and music department!

As I discovered more of her music, and started to follow her releases, I fell in love with her even more. Then came reading about her history, reading lyrical translations, the outstanding tours, and over time listening to her words in interviews and personal words from TeamAyu and the diary/blog posts.

It's a mix of it all now. But I have to admit, at first it was good music and then I completely fell head over heels into the fanpool when I realized how absolutely flawless she was in the looks department. My dream chick! Haha.

Why? Well... this is MY reasons:

- Her lyrics (of course) contains a POWERFUL meaning that a lot of people could relate to The feelings of abandoned, disappointed, hopeless and useless and etc.

- She's caring and considerate toward her fans; I watched a lot of her behind the scenes and from my observation she cares for her fans. She would actually sits at the audience's view and directs her staffs where they should moves on the stage so every single one of the fans who attends her concert could sees her. ALSO! She answered her fans tweets (not everyone cause she's a busy busy lady~)

- When she's performing, she gives all her mights and heart; Ok... I know she cries a lot during her performances and people thinks she's faking it but PEOPLE!!! she's NOT faking it!!! How do I know?? You can tell by her voice and her eyes. Her lyrics is very touching cause according to Ayu... writing lyric is a way to free herself.

- Her music fits with the generation/era that she lives in; Look back at her music from the beginning you could tell the differences from then and now. She changes her styles according to the era... she wants to connect with everyone. She's NOT afraid to change!

- She's tried her best/ very strict toward her music; As a singer, Ayu holds A LOT of power. Which means she mostly directs her MV and her songs.

That's why I love this LADY >< She's just so AWESOME!!! <3

I have never had enough patience to watch anyone 's concert til the end but I did for Ayu. She 's the only one that makes me cry lots of times when watching her concerts. Really really so emotional. Everything she does, lyrics, music, PV, concert.. evoke the deepest feelings in my heart. I feel so happy that I listened to her that day and followed her. I was always searching for this kind of music.I listened to various kind of music, from Jpop, Kpop, Cpop, USUK, jazz, rock pop, new age bla bla... but I always felt that I lacked of something, I felt empty... And then I found Ayu, it 's totally a new world. It's just like you find a kind of music that is for you, you belong to it. That 's Ayu and her music. I love her so much so much.

I have lots of artists I like but I never admit that I am their fan or they are my idols. For me, idol has more serious meaning than just a star in entertainment industry like lots of ones' definition these days. When you become fan of someone, that one must be worth your admiration, respect, worship. Those ones can not be simply someone who sings some songs that sound good or act in some amazing movies. I never accept those ones as idols. But for Ayu, I admit that I am her fan. She 's my true idol. I really feel so thankful that I could know her. I listen to Ayu when I feel sad, lonely, empty, when I feel happy or angry. It can be seen as a kind of mental support, perhaps ^^.

Sometimes I even wonder how come a person like Ayu exist in this world. I know she 's not perfect but she 's so amazing. Everytime I see her in concert, PV or listen to her song, I keep on asking myself how she can do all those things. It 's just so magical powerful. I feel like she was born to sing, to be on stage. It's just like god made her with purpose to be a star and even more than that..

Sorry that I dont know how to express my feelings completely. Love Ayu :x:x:x

P/s: Lol. My boyfriends even says (for fun) that he hates Ayu because she steals his lover =)).Ayu 's so influential to me and I often talk about Ayu in every aspect of my life without realization =)).

I just like the fact that she writes her own lyrics plush you can tell that she loves music.
Is a part of her.

She's my favorite but my #1 is namie

I got a main reason... She reminds me always of a child inside me.
Cause I meet her music in that lifetime when everything tasted better for the first time. So she just "shocked" me down with the music. I was in need to hear THAT music (I was listening to Green Day and Sum 41 ;p) I heard a japanese music a little before, but these anime opening and endings was... immature. Even her music can be immature, for some reason every songs it's just higher level then other japanese artists (or with Kumi a little, cause I've started with her almost the same time)

She will reminds me of these rebel kid I used to be and she changed me a little.

None of the artists never made that emotions in me. I never was so dedicated before and after. I know 99% of her lyrics so I even sing her songs when Im drunk and people just don't get this. But who cares. ;d

Im not sure I get what you think but you know, I feel Ayu is very close to us. It seems last week or some weeks ago, I read a translation of Ayu tweet on AHS, she sent such a sweet message to foreign fan. She told us to believe that she loves us even though she can never know us all. It's just so sweet and I think that even though she may look far away as a star on stage, everytime she sings, she dedicates herself to us. I feel like she knows us as a friend of her even if she never sees us. And I also thinks of Ayu as a friend of mine. Her lyrics 's just like she 's talking with me or trying to relieve my pain by her words.

I must say one more thing. When you are listening to happy music, what kind of lyrics you would expect? Yes. General, happy, not even really meaningful, happy songs exist in this World just for the purpose that you can feel the happines inside you when someone sings "holiday, celebrate!*"
From Madonna's "Holiday"
But it's not like that for Ayu. I even find it a bit funny, how someone can sing things like
"Even now I don't understand the meaning of growing up" while partying at the beach, or "But not because so, and not with resignation, please don't sacrifice joy, for sadness" while shouting "put your hands up together!! keep your heads up together!! Let me sing forever!! Dala Dala Dala Dala……"
She even has meaningful thoughts in her most happy, cutsey and summery songs. That's extraordinary.

She just represents everything that's worth fighting for in this world : honesty, love, ...

Her lyrics are strinking because you can definitely think "yes, it's what I think too" when reading them, but they also sound extremely personal, sometimes so personal that it's almost embarrassing to read them (I think of A Song for XX for instance).

And of course, the fact she can switch from a "pompous" ballad to a simple pop-rock song, as well as the energy she delivers, are the reasons why I love Ayu :D

yes, I understand you very well. I always feel like you do :yes