My Top 10 Favorite Ayumi Hamasaki Songs

With over 50 million records sold, it's no wonder Ayumi Hamasaki is dubbed the "Empress of J-Pop." She is one of the most popular and influential Japanese pop stars. Her albums have topped the charts for over a decade with her popularity spanning all across Asia. Not only is she known for her talent in singing and songwriting, she is also a trend-setting fashion icon, TV host on her own talk show "Ayuready?", actress and model.

Here's a list of my favorite Ayumi Hamasaki songs:

1. "Heaven". One of my favorite J-Pop ballads of all time. The song starts off a little slow with Ayumi singing softly about love and destiny, and then it crescendos into a dramatic orchestration and catchy beat, and finally, it ends on a quiet note. With a perfect beginning, middle and end I never get tired of hearing this song.

2. "Duty". One thing I love about Ayumi's songs is that they're so well put together. I love the emotion and energy she pours into this song. Even though she is singing lyrics, it feels like she is almost talking one-on-one with you and trying to make you understand how she feels.

3. "Fated". Another one of my favorite ballads. Like "Heaven" it starts off slow and builds up. The song is about fate and how fate changes everything before and after you encounter someone special in your life.

4. "To Be". This is a great upbeat song. It talks about how someone imperfect can seem perfect when they make life seem so much better and brighter and worth living every moment to its fullest.

5. "M". The M in this title stands for Maria. It's about finding your love, falling in love, and then having to part. Despite being lonely, the hurt won't heal until your true love is found again.

6. "My All". The song is about looking back and realizing your relationship may not have been perfect, but you have no regrets and you gave it your all to protect and appreciate the person you love.

7. "Born to Be...". This song is very uplifting. No matter what mood I'm in, this song always puts a smile on my face.

8. "Dolls". There's a dreamy quality to this song. It even begins with Ayumi singing about life being a dream. The lyrics to this song is like reading a poem.

9. "Voyage". This song begins with a musical box introduction and then breaks into a soft piano tune. Beautiful orchestration in this song.

10. "Love ~Destiny~". Another ballad with Ayumi singing softly along with the piano.

These songs are just a few of my favorites. There's a reason why Ayumi reaches millions with her music. If you haven't heard of Ayumi Hamasaki yet, even if you don't understand Japanese, open your mind and heart and give her a try!