Sunday, August 17, 2008

Hamasaki Ayumi

So, been listening to Ayumi a lot again recently. She's the kind of singer I can always go back to no matter how often. I may not worship the ground she walks on in the same way I used to when I first became a fan, but there's just something about her that makes it impossible to leave her and her music alone.



Recently I pre-ordered her 10th Anniversary singles collection due for release next month. It wasn't the cheapest purchase ever, costing just under £30 including postage from CdJapan but i'll be damned if it's not worth it. I feel proud and honoured to have discovered such an amazing talent as Ayumi's, and in my 8 years as a fan I've seen her grow and mature as a singer and a songwriter. I've witnessed her throw herself into music composition, producing some of her greatest song's to date, she took control of near enough every aspect of her career, and continued to be immensely successful.

I was saddened around the start of the year, as were many many other fans, to hear about her loss of hearing in one ear, but I only loved her more when she showed so much dedication to her fans and music. She's in a position where she could comfortably retire from the music industry but she's chosen to keep going. I respect and admire her for this, as do many more of her fans i'm sure.

I have yet to find another singer that touches me in quite this way. Sure I'm a huge Morning Musume/Hello! Project fan, and proud of that fact too, but when push comes to shove, they're not in the same league as Ayumi. I'd be surprised if any other singer in the world, not just Japan, could have such a hold over me.