An Extended Essay of Ayu ~ English assignment

[Eewyi]

We had to write an extended essay for English :3 The task was to write from any movie, book, series, entertainer, composer, artist etc.
And of course I chose ayu! : D

We had to use sources, and I have also used this forum as a source ;3 Anyway, tell me what you think! [I don't think it's that good, unfortunately :<]
But anyway, here goes! [I've also attached the picture I used] As you can see in the end, we had to give our sources really carefully. : D

I know, the beginning is really vague, but this wasn't supposed to be a document of ayu's history, so I told about it really briefly.
The limit was 700 words. [This has 722]
Please note, that my native language isn't English, so it might not sound professional. Apologies about that~

And please move this, if it's in the wrong thread!~

AYUMI HAMASAKI



A reserved girl is sitting in the back of the class. She never liked school. Eventually, she drops out of High School. She starts to work as a model, but don’t do that for long. One night, this young girl is at the club. A man approaches her; he heard how she sung and asks if she would like to come to his studio. At first the girl refuses, but this man doesn’t give up easily. She signs the paper. On this fateful night in 1997, it all starts. This is a story of Ayumi Hamasaki. A pop-singer, who eventually became one of the most successful Japanese singers and a living icon of the industry, gaining names like Japanese Madonna and the Queen of J-pop.

Hamasaki released her first single titled poker face in April 1998, and another called YOU* two months later, but neither of them was a hit. However, after she released her first studio album A song for xx**, things started to roll. Japanese people were touched by singer’s deep and emotional lyrics. The album stayed in the Oricon charts for 107 weeks, selling over 1 million copies. Her second album was a hit as well, and she was able to break the mark six times a row, her 7th album (miss)understood (2006) being the last album to reach the 1 million copies. She has since hold many records and awards, including richest singer of all time (#7th in the World) with income of U.S. $400 million, 3rd Best Selling Japanese Artist in history and first artist to have at least one album topped the charts for 13 consecutive years along with many others.[1]

Although entitled as pop singer, Hamasaki has tried many different styles in her career, varying from semi-hard rock to pure dance tunes. This doesn’t only apply to her music but to her style as well. She is like a chameleon, representing the current affairs of fashion. According to many fans [2] and media, Ayumi is mostly known and loved for her emotional approach towards her songs and outstanding ability to write deep lyrics. Although many fans have acknowledged that her singing ability isn’t the most superior time to time, she can counterbalance these weaknesses by other means; she is said to have really innovative and flashy live shows, for example. Fans are also impressed by her kind and nurturing nature, and she has shown kind attraction towards her fans from Japan and overseas alike, even personally meeting them to chat, take pictures and give autographs.[3]

Hamasaki is said to be influenced by many other artist from Japan and overseas. [4] She has stated herself to be a fan of Madonna, and this can be seen in her works as well. Her strict self-control for her image and work, spectacle live shows and her constant reinvention of her music can be seen as examples. Seiko Matsuda, credited by some as “The mother of J-pop” a grand queen of pop before Hamasaki, might be seen as influence especially in her most pop-like and cutesy songs. She even makes reference to Matsuda in her Sparkle music video. [5]

It’s kind of hard to describe Ayumi’s music. It’s almost more experience than a simple listening of music. There are these whole levels of her works, which include the music itself, lyrics, and the feeling. In my opinion, if you don’t know her lyrics, you can’t truly realize the deepness and different aspects of her music, or at least, you are missing a great entirety of it. Like his producer Max Matsuura once said: “There is only one artist like her, and that will also be so. There will be only one Ayumi Hamasaki.”[6]

To me, Ayumi has given strength and courage to go on. I have sung along happily with her songs, and I have cried as well. There’s something extraordinary in her works. She holds a great power of music in her hands.

Once she was an insecure girl, who wrote lyrics to protect and save herself. Now that girl is huge, considerable and open-minded pop star, who is indeed, a living legend of Japanese pop music.


“I have no confidence
to live a life without love
I don't want to imagine
a life without dreams

I can’t figure at all
a life without songs”
- extract from “Love song”[7]

SOURCES:
“Ayumi Hamasaki” From Wikipedia (Last modified on 17 November 2011) Accessed on 28 November 2011, from [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayumi_hamasaki ]
“Hamasaki Ayumi” From Generasia (Last modified on 24 November 2011) Accessed on 28 November 2011, from [ http://www.generasia.com/wiki/ayumi_hamasaki ]
[1] “List of awards received by Ayumi Hamasaki” From Wikipedia (Last modified on 14 May 2011) Accessed on 28 November 2011, from [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...Ayumi_Hamasaki ]
[2] Thread started by xlitax, on 14 May 2011, in forum “Ayumi Hamasaki Sekai”. (Last modified on 14 June 2011) “Why is ayu your favorite artist?” Accessed on 28 November 2011, from [ http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109077 ]
[3] Thread started by Bigtop, on 22 November 2011, in forum “Ayumi Hamasaki Sekai”. (Last modified on 28 November 2011) “Ayu in London November 2011 –PART II–“Accessed on 28 November 2011, from [ http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111957 ]
[4] Thread started by Andrenekoi on 13 June 2011, in forum “Ayumi Hamasaki Sekai”. (Last modified on 17 June 2011) “Ayu’s Influences” Accessed on 28 November 2011, from [ http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109530 ]
[5] From official Youtube channel of Ayumi Hamasaki, sender ayu, on 21 July 2010 “浜崎あゆみ / Sparkle” Accessed on 28 November 2011, from [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jrxIRANIuo&ob=av2e ]
[6] Extract from Max Matsuura’s blog post. (Link unavaible)
[7] Translated lyrics are courtesy of masa. Accessed on 29 November from [ http://homepage2.nifty.com/morimasa/l-lovesongs.html ]
The picture of Ayumi Hamasaki is courtesy of the taker (name unknown) and Jelly magazine (Jelly 11/2011). Accessed on 29 November, from [ http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106719 ]
*/**:Supposed to be spelled this way.

[BabyJane]

I really like it. Especially the part, where you wrote that Ayu gave you strength and courage to go on. I absolutely feel the same. I think she is one person to inspire you in so many ways. I hope your essay gets a good grade!!!!

[PoetGirl]

thanks a lot for sharing it with us. I really like it.

I have to agree with you that listening to Ayu is more an experience than just simply listening to music. Im always in a certain mood when I need Ayu. I have to be ready to face my feelings, and while Im not ready I dont listen to her. Her voice is just too emotional. She touches me in every song she had, even when there are 'lighter' themes.

[rusuke]

Nice essay! Pretty interesting! I also hope you'll get good grade with this!

Thanks for letting us read your essay! ^_^

[Chibi_Venus]

It’s kind of hard to describe Ayumi’s music. It’s almost more experience than a simple listening of music.

This is so incredibly true. I mean, I always knew that Ayu's music was unique, but I could never pinpoint exactly how or why. I know that if I was your teacher, reading this essay (especially the quote I posted above) would definitely make me want to start listening to Ayu's music.

Nice job and good luck!

[xLuna&1LOVE]

Wow, I really loved your essay. I hope you will get a good mark for it~!

[LONJJONG]

The opening of essay is really great!
But I kinda disagree with the statement "She never liked school..."
In fact, she did like school, but later she lost faith in curriculum.

I also have had a task about presenting a figure before, and I chose Ayu~ the teacher wanted us to explain it completely, but after I had finished my presentation, she said that my presentation was way too complete (LOL)

[Eewyi]

Originally Posted by LONJJONG

The opening of essay is really great!
But I kinda disagree with the statement "She never liked school..."
In fact, she did like school, but later she lost faith in curriculum.

I also have had a task about presenting a figure before, and I chose Ayu~ the teacher wanted us to explain it completely, but after I had finished my presentation, she said that my presentation was way too complete (LOL)

Yeah, I know, that was a little dramatization, like I said, we couldn't tell about his or hers bakcground much, just briefly. ; D

I'm so so glad that you guys are liking it so much <3 I thought it was so bad~
I hope my friend and teacher like it : D [we must review each other essays first, then teacher reviews~]

[rusuke]

^Please share your presentation.