1. Manner of Writing Lyrics
There are several things I omitted in writing. I will complement here.
Firstly, about her manner of writing lyrics. It is well known as follows.
Language ･･･ Write in Japanese (Titles alone in English)
Contents ･･･ Express her thoughts, feelings and experiences honestly
It seems to be a very natural, basic manner of songwriting. But there are very few who write lyrics in such a manner in Japan now. It may be said in fact that she has been writing consistently in the manner she relies on just because she did not know such conditions of the music business world. Looking from language ――
I have long been fed up with the J-Pop scene where Japanese lyrics with English phrases are flooding. Why are they eager to insert English phrases so often which they never say in their daily conversations? Don't they feel ashamed of themselves reading over their own lyrics? But most of them do this just because they think it is cool (I think it to be the opposite), not because they feel the necessity of inserting, and indeed, they do not make much of lyrics from the first. The group who brought such custom of slighting lyrics to Japanese popular music scene is undoubtedly Southern All Stars. Kuwata Keisuke is much to blame. (The title of his lyrics book was "Merely lyrics, don't tell much about such trifles") I think it is a fact of rejoicing now that after the apperance of Hamasaki Ayumi, many people are beginning to notice the importance of lyrics and the charm of the lyrics written in clear, beautiful Japanese.
By the way, I think it does not matter whether the song titles are in Japanese or in English, as they are not sung. I had not hit upon the idea of unifying them in English, but once unified, they look stylish and beautiful. (And it is certainly in better taste to name as "FRIEND", "YOU" than as "Tomodachi", "Kimi".) And she goes further to write them in three ways ―― ①All in capital letters ②Only the first letter in capital ③All in small letters ―― I think she does so according to how much she could feel responsiveness in each lyrics.
As to the contents, on the other hand, we cannot blame many other lyrics writers to be negligent. Because her manner seems to be easy at first glance, but is actually very difficult. If I say it is as same as exposing one's heart and mind to others' eyes, most people will realize how difficult and fearful it is. I think the manner of writing lyrics are classified as follows by the standard of honesty and sincerity.
① Express one's thoughts, feelings and experiences honestly
② Write a fiction, but put one's thoughts and feelings into it
③ Write a fiction, and does not put one's thoughts and feelings
Most of the lyrics flooding in Japan now would be ③. I think it almost a fraud to sing out "I love you", "I will protect you" without thinking of anyone and sell CDs. The typical singer who writes lyrics in the manner of ② would be Shiina Ringo. (I think "Boys & Girls" is the only song written in this manner of all the songs of Hamasaki Ayumi.) But I think the person writing in this manner should always be conscious that there is another person writing in the manner of ① in a higher position, and keep on holding a kind of guilty feelings. (It would prevent him from falling down to the manner of ③.) Because to write a fiction is to tell a lie and to deceive others, and however well and tactfully it is made, a lie is no match for honesty.
Hamasaki Ayumi is a person who writes in the manner of ①, keeps on doing the most difficult thing, but how many people realize that? Her fans, the reviewers, the staff around her, and even she herself do not seem to be aware of it clearly. She has created three albums and forty-four lyrics for two years and a half after the debut. But you should never describe the fact using such a phrase as the energetic will to creation. Because, setting aside the first album now, she was making every effort, struggling very much to create her second and third album. (And she has been about to break down once at least in the period.) Most people are just praising of the beautiful figure of a swan, never thinking of the legs paddling the water hard. But I would like her fans at least to think of the legs, too.
Will she keep on going in the manner of ①? She will maybe. And I hope so. But thinking naturally, it is almost unreasonable to keep on making lyrics constantly after this, too, in such a high pace. Fortunately, she is in the state of, so to speak, getting an advantage now, I think, after creating three excellent albums thanks to her efforts. It can be said that she has already earned enough money for avex trax and finished repaying the favour of Mr. Matsuura. I hope she will take it easier hereafter and keep on musical activity, taking a rest whenever she feels there is nothing left to produce, having new experiences and assimilating new things.
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