I just say "I love her lyrics and her songs make me happy."
If they ask if I can understand what she says, I say "At times. But it doesn't bother me."

I just explained to my boyfriend the other night that Ayu is more than an artist to me, she's like a friend. I feel comforted listening to her music.

this is important for me to do like that too because i dont want to get annoyed and angry with people who dont even know who is Ayumi Hamasaki! :yes

so as they dont know her it's pointless to talk about her with them :yes:yes:yes:yes


yeah that's why for me only a fan understands a fan it's always weird for them as me im listening to a music other english or in my language,they asked me why listen to japanese songs? you dont even understand it?!! and there is someone laughed at me because i liked Ayumi when that person didnt even know her,didnt even EVER listen to her. i always think it's not fair that i know about their favorite artists and they dont give a damn about mine,when they listen to for example Adele,katty perry,Lane Del ray,Saylor Swift etc, everything is ok and normal but when they know about me being a fan of Ayu,it seems like out of place for them :eviltongu

whatever i dont care about as i know many people out there loved Ayu and my family also like her ,and the most importan is im happy with my choice and enjoying my music,Ayu is more that an artist to me,she's very special :love
so you who dont know about her,dont just try to bring her down or look down on her,back off guys! haha :cool

This topic reminded something weird that happened to me this week. My parents usually don't get my appreciation for Ayu, even if I tell them everything she's done, awards, fame, popularity...
So, the day before yesterday I was watching ~POWER of MUSIC~ at the room. And then, my father came into the room just at the moment Ayu's performing BRILLANTE.

He turned to me and said:
Father: What is that "thing" singing with her?
Me: It's her backing vocal member, Timmy.
Father: Is he a man?
Me: Yes.
Father: But why is he dressed like a woman?
Me: Y...Yes, because of... (speechless)
Father: He is gay, isn't he?
Me: I think he is...
Father: Dude, is he really using a skirt and a strapless shirt?
Me: I think he is... (speechless again lol)
Father: Is it really necessary or was he forced to wear that?
Me: I really don't know... I think it's part of the performance...
Father: Do you like that???
Me: Yes, this performance is great!
Father: No, I mean... what do you think about that guy wearing those clothes?
Me: I... I don't know... (speechless one more time lol)
Father: And that hair? Is it real?
Me: No.. it's a wig!
Father: Is that guy a drag-queen?
Me: No... he's just a singer...
Father: A male singer that wants to be a female singer, am I right?
Me: Hum... I... don't.... know...
Father: I think it would be nice if he was wearing normal clothes... sorry, but this is ridiculous...

And then he went out...
Now it will be waaaaay more difficult for them to understand my appreciation for Ayu... lol! I won't even try! lol

Now everytime I meet him, he asks:
"And that weird-female-drag-queen-hairy-singer? How is SHE...woops, how is HE?

LOL

And I learned a thing: I'll never watch Ayu's concerts at the room! lol :D

by buying her CDs and burying anyone bashes her :laugh

I try to explain as much as I can how different Ayumi is compared to other pop artists but I know they don't really care. My friends are bothered by anything that is not in English and they prefer bass-heavy club songs anyway.

What else can I do but enjoy her music? I'm sure Ayumi appreciates that.

I don't tell people unless they ask me who that is I'm listening to. Mainly because I will not be criticized for my likes and dislikes because it's no one's business. :) Then I ask if they'd be interested in music that wasn't in English first.

If they are I dish out all the info about why Ayu is awesome and let them hear some of her best songs, explaining the lyrical meanings along the way.

When I got my sister hooked on Ayu, I was well aware that she liked faster music, so I knew not to start her out on a ballad, so I let her hear Startin' which she loved. Now she has all of Ayu's albums and all of Namie's. :love

I love finding someone to tell how awesome Ayu is, though. It neeever gets old.

I don't even bother attempting to show people that I like ayumi hamasaki, a japanese singer. People already think I'm a bit of a weirdo for not being too sociable and for being shy. I, however, don't share any of my music interests with the majority of people, even regular pop that everybody loves, so that's really part of my not sharing my private life with others.

My bf only knows I like ayumi because he's caught me reading and posting here on AHS several times. He just bothered asking what the site was about and I told him. He really didn't care to know what she might sound like or whatver so I didn't even bother to play her musics in front of him, which I never do. I do get a bit annoyed for the total lack of curiosity from his side though...Funny though, one day I played some 80's brazilian female singer song in a low volume and I noticed he seemed a bit weirded out while playing those portable jewel-breaking games. I asked him if he remembered the song and he said: "I don't think i've ever heard it, is that the japanese singer you love? I hear a lot of cats screaming". I raised the volume a little more and he recognized the song was not japanese and actually from his childhood time:P I wonder why he assumed it was japanese and associated it with "cats screaming" if he hasn't even ever heard any jpop song. I guess he just had it on mind that it would be something really weird so he associated it lol. Even so, I don't bother playing her in front of him because I noticed he gets annoyed with regular american pop when there's a little more guitars and high notes and tell me to tone down the volume of what I'm listening, which is something that drives me mad. So I just can imagine how annoyed he'd be with the vibratos, guitars and high notes of ayumi...


Recently, while on night shift (and I was resting at home) he called me and asked me what I was doing and I said "enjoying ayumi's new album". The next day when we met he said "listening too much to "Raimunda" (brazillian's female name equivalent to "Raymond")? How horrible LOL

Some people worship Madonna, some people worship MJ, but Ayu is My queen of pop and I love her uniqueness and poetic, honest lyrics.
That's what I say to people

pretty much all about my identification with her lyrics.

I don't love Ayu, but her music. Even though it's part of her, it's still not the same.

LOL xD similar thing happened to me with that performance.My mom came to the room and saw timmy...she said 'It is a man?? :tired' Y said 'yes,he is :mischief' se didn't say anything more but :rolleyes

No comment.

to the average person I would say, "I'm a huge fan she's an amazing artist" to someone who wouldn't judge my personality and who I am and what I am interested in I would say, "She's a ray of hope that touches my heart, an angel on Earth" and explain her deep lyrics, her dedications, her pains, how emotionally, creatively, and mentally she is one of the strongest people I "know". Looking far into the future when Ayu leaves this world I would cry for days, I'd say "we lost a miracle that came directly from heaven itself" Ayu is like family to me in a sense.

Who were you listening to? xD *curious*

---
About the thread:
"She is a japanese singer, and she is really good" - the end :P

I don't. I say I like ayu, they say "ewwwww!!!!" I move on with my life.

I haven't had the chance to say anything about Ayu in a while. Last time I did was when Love songs was about to be released. In the past, I'd usually say that there's something about Ayu that captures my attention. I like the aura that surrounded the young Ayu; her later years I appreciate on a different level. I'm not the most sociable person, so I don't really have the problem with telling people about my interests.

My friends do ask why I like ayu (or her music) and they will tend to talk about her having plastic surgery or "bad behaviour" that was being report in previous tabloid articles. I can't help being defensive about it but as time goes by, I learn to let go and just change topic if they try to go into *****y mode for ayu.

well said!! :yes :love

I never tell the average person, no point trying to explain.