[jang-kun]

20 Reasons Why I Love Ayumi Hamasaki

1. Ayu was born to a family no different from us. Even though she's an only child, she lived a hard life before her rose to super stardom.
2. Ayu is a high school drop out... who never gave up despite the fact that she lacks proper education. Now, she even earned enough, perhaps a million times an engineer can earn in his lifetime.
3. Ayu is never proud of her status. She's one of the humblest person on earth despite being the richest celebrity in Asia.
4. Ayu pawns singers without being harsh. How? Just look at her discography and how many artists she beat into a pulp... on the charts.
5. Ayu cries genuinely. Or perhaps, they are just sweat? Watch her tours if you wanna know.
6. Speaking of her tours, Ayu's concerts are always the best there are. Using a floating ship, a simulated elevator, 360 degree rotating stages, huge moving screens, extravagant costumes, enormous props, and a dozen of firecrackers every now and then, an Ayu concert is just the thing Madonna would need to be back on track again. Mostly, Ayu's heartfelt emotions will forever resonate not only inside her stadium, but in the hearts of her fans as well.
7. Ayu keeps on reinventing herself. She never sticks on the same cutesy or pop rock image forever. When Ayu's being all poppish today, she'll be a gothic saint tomorrow. That's for sure.
8. Ayu writes her own lyrics, that's the key behind her success. Her emotions are all written into words, which she is able to transcend to her fans through her voice.
9. Ayu is one of the few artists in the world who can control her own career. From the tiniest details such as the fonts that will be used on the covers of her album to shooting locations for music videos, all of that must have Ayumi Hamasaki's "Okay." before her staff, even her label, do something.
10. Ayu's very first best album, A BEST, is one of the most legendary albums in modern history. It is the second fastest selling album to be ever released, and it sold a staggering 2.8 million copies in its first week.
11. Ayu is the ultimate persona in the Japanese music scene. Despite being a solo artist, she managed to outsell famous groups and even ranked 3rd on the best selling artists in Japan, preceded by both groups on the 1st and 2nd places.
12. Ayumi Hamasaki's voice is ever-changing. You can have four different singers from Ayu's voice since 1998 up to 2012.
13. Ayu's off-cam shot are always flawless.
14. Ayu's music videos are among the world's most expensive. Five from her PVs: fairyland, my name's WOMEN, Jewel, GREEN, & Virgin Road have made it on the list - the only non-American to do so.
15. Ayu's music videos in general are ALWAYS bizarre and will leave you thinking. They are always of top produce and have high budget on them.
16. Ayu composed her own music during certain points in her career. For example, her mammoth album I am... is self-composed. All the tracks are uniquely arranged and they once changed the entire landscape of the Japanese music scene.
17. Ayu is very professional. Many bad things have happened to her, but she dealt all of them with such professionalism that you wouldn't believe this singer is a high school drop out.
18. Ayu keeps on singing even though she's deaf on one ear. As a singer, hearing is a very important asset, but Ayu having none on her left ear is not enough to take this megastar down. Instead, she promised that she will continue to sing no matter what happen.
19. Ayu cares for her fans. Words are not enough to thank her, for her music, for her very aspect of being a person, and for her being there to sing for us. She's not our idol or anything, and we are not her fan. I can say that whenever I listen to Ayu, she's reaching out my hand just like a friend in need. Ayu's music have helped me through so much in my life. Without her and her music, a part of me will certainly die.
20. Lastly, Ayumi Hamasaki is the eternal Empress of Pop. No one will ever, or could ever, replace her. I say that not as a fan, but as a person who value good music. Open your ears to Ayu. You will never regret it.


I'm tearing right now, tbh.