Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Mayonaka No Orchestra (真夜中のオーケストラ) by Aqua Timez





LYRICS
Romaji
mayonaka no uta ga saken da boku hontou wa , ano hi kara zutto...

akaku suki touru yuugure no ato hoshitachi wa sora ni suwari , sorezore no oto wo kanadeteita
sunao ninare to iware nakutemo namida wa mou , boku no omoi wo tsurete ashi motode chiisa na umi ninatta

sora wa ugokanai niga nobori , oriru dake
jimen wa ugokanai kimi ga aruku ka, aruka naika dake da

mayonaka no uta ga saken da boku hontou wa hitori ga kirai da daikirai da
(taisetsu) wo shitte shimatta ano hi kara zutto

aa shiawase nante chiisana supun desu kueru kuraide juubun nanda
wake aeru hito ga iruka , inaika dake da

tsuyo ga rutabini hibiga iru kokoro wa sou
marude garasu saiku ga miseru hakanai yume

(junsui) wobutsuke au noga kowai kara bokura wa mina
sureta furi wo shite futoumei na sekai ni sumi tsuita

omotai jiyuu wo biki zutte aruiteta
wakare ga kuru tabi sora gatoozakatte iku youni mieta

sayonara no ame gatsubuyaita hirai tamamano kasa gaarunda
koko ni arunda hirai tamamano yasashi saga kono mune nizutto

aa boku ni wa mada akirameteinai saikai gaaru yakusoku gaaru
hoshi kuzu wo beddo nishite nemutte iruano hito ni

kisetsu no nai machi nishagami komu otokonoko
atama wo nadete kureru hito ga inakattadake, sore dake nano ni

hoshi to mitsu meau samugari na kodomotachi

mayonaka no uta ga saken da boku hontou wa hitori ga kirai da daikirai da
hitori bocchide iki teyukete shimau nante koto

aa, shiawase nante chiisana supun desu kueru kuraide juubun nanda
wake aeru hito ga iruka , inaikadake

mayonaka no uta wa sakebu yo boku hontou wa , boku hontou wa ... sabishikatta
taiyou no mabushi sanikaki kesa retemo

saa , hata wo furou ka kata wo kumou ka tadautaouka doredemo ii yo
wake ae ru kimi gairuka , inaika dake da yo

(from http://www.jpopasia.com/play/32890/aqua_timez/mayonaka-no-orchestra.html)


Kana
真夜中の歌が叫んだ 僕本当は、あの日からずっと・・・

赤く透き通る夕暮れのあと 星たちは 空に座り、それぞれの音を奏でていた
素直になれ と言われなくても 涙はもう、僕の思いを連れて
足もとで小さな海になった

空は動かない 日が昇り、降りるだけ
地面は動かない 君が歩くか、歩かないかだけだ

真夜中の歌が叫んだ 僕本当は一人が嫌いだ 大嫌いだ
「大切」を知ってしまった あの日からずっと

ああ 幸せなんて 小さなスプーンですくえるくらいで十分なんだ
分け合える人がいるか、いないかだけだ

強がるたびにひびが入る 心はそう
まるでガラス細工が見せる はかない夢

「純粋」をぶつけ合うのが怖いから 僕らは皆
すれたフリをして 不透明な世界に住みついた

重たい自由を引きずって歩いてた
別れが来るたび 空がとおざかって行くように見えた

サヨナラの雨がつぶやいた 開いたままの傘があるんだ
ここにあるんだ 開いたままの優しさが この胸にずっと

ああ 僕にはまだ 諦めていない再会がある 約束がある
星くずをベッドにして眠っているあの人に

季節のない街にしゃがみ込む 男の子
頭をなでてくれる人がいなかっただけ、それだけなのに・・・

星と見つめあう 寒がりな子供たち・・・・


真夜中の歌が叫んだ 僕本当は一人が嫌いだ 大嫌いだ
一人ぼっちで生きてゆけてしまうなんてこと・・・

ああ、幸せなんて小さなスプーンですくえるくらいで十分なんだ
分け合える人がいるか、いないかだけ

真夜中の歌は叫ぶよ 僕本当は、僕本当は・・・ さびしかった
太陽の眩しさにかき消されても

さあ、旗を振ろうか 肩を組もうか ただうたおうか どれでもいいよ
分け合える君がいるか、いないかだけだよ


(Source: http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp)



Eigo
The song of midnight shouted out, and ever since then…

The tracks of red, fading twilight
The stars sit on the sky
Every sound was played
Although I can’t say “be honest”, the tears take my thoughts along
A small sea formed at my feet

The sky doesn’t move; the sun just rises and falls
The ground doesn’t move; it’s up to you to walk or not

The song of midnight shouted out
The truth is, I hate being alone
I’ve known what is important ever since that day

A small spoon is enough to scoop out happiness
There’s just the question of if there are people to share it with

The days I pretended to be strong come back to me
It’s like showing my heart glasswork, a fleeting dream
Throwing purity around is scary
We’ve all pretended we’ve had it at one point in this opaque world we live in

I walked, dragging a heavy freedom along
When the farewell came, it looked like the sky was leaving

The rain of goodbye muttered, and my umbrella was open
And now opened kindness will always be in my chest

I haven’t given up on the hope that we will meet again
I made a promise to the people who sleep with stardust in their beds

There was nobody there for the boy who sat down in a city without seasons*
But despite that…

Cold children that look up at the stars…

The song of midnight shouted out
The truth is, I hate being alone, and not knowing whether you’ll keep on being alone

A small spoon is enough to scoop out happiness
There’s just the question of if people exist that can share it

The song of midnight is shouting out
Truth is, I was lonely
Even if it gets erased in the radiance of the sun

Should we wave the flag now? Should we come together?
Should we just sing? Anything is fine
There’s just the question of whether or not you’ll be here or not

(http://coolcwer.wordpress.com)



Info:
Literally translated as "Midnight Orchestra," the song was released on January 27, 2010 by the pop rock band Aqua Timez (アクア タイムズ Akua Taimuzu) under Epic Records was in the Oricon charts for four weeks. Its peak spot being number 12. This song was used as the ending theme for the Japanese animation series Naruto Shippuden for the episodes 193-205.


The song itself:
The song opens with the great combination of the piano and the Futoshi's unique voice. Then we are led to an amazing ensemble of strings that never fails to uplift even the most depressed of persons. The violins really do a great job of adding musical edge factor to a song.
Rock music never fails to amaze the listener as all the members of the band do their stuff and the result is a song that is so great both in the content and the delivery.


To me. . . 
I immediately fell in love with this song the first time I checked it out when it was featured in Oricon. Back then, I was already in love with Aqua Timez but this song locked me up to be forever a fan of them.
This one's also symbolic for me. You see, back then, there was this person that I like who is an avid fan of the Naruto Manga / Animation Series. I believe we are both Otakus (fanatics of Japanese stuff) but the type that that person has is very specific while as for me, it is JPOP in general. So I guess there was no other way that our worlds would cross. But eventually this song came up and disproves my theory. The combinmation of that person's favorite anime and my favorite rock band. In a very simple way, our worlds collided, resulting to an amazing song that resonates awesomeness in all sense of Japanese Rock. However, my attitude towards that person is different now and our relationship is only being acquaintances. (Not even really friends) Anyway!
I usually play this song when I'm walking alone at night after class as it gives me a feeling that I'm not really alone. That as I walk past dark roads at the campus I am followed by this amazing "orchestra" that plays awesome music for me.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

ROLLING STAR by YUI





LYRICS
Romaji
Mou gaman bakka shiteranai yo
Iitai koto wa iwanakucha
Kaerimichi yuugure no basutei
Ochikon da senaka ni bye bye bye
Kimi no fighting pose
Misenakya oh oh...

Yume ni made mita you na sekai wa
Arasoi mo naku heiwa na nichijou
Demo genjitsu wa hibi to rabutte
Tama ni kuyandari shiteru
Sonna rolling days

Koronjattatte iin janai no
Son toki wa waratte ageru
Norikonda basu no oku kara
Chiisaku hohoemi ga mieta
Kimi wo tayori ni
Shiteru yo oh oh

Yume ni made mita you na Sweet love
Koibito tachi wa kakure ga wo sagasu no
Demo genjitsu wa aenai hi ga
Tsuzukinagara mo shinjiteru no rolling days

Oh yeah, oh...
Tsumazu itatte way to go
yeah, yeah!
Doro darake rolling star

Naru beku egao de itai keredo
Mamori nuku tame ni wa shikata nai deshou
Kitto uso nante sou imi wo motanai no
All my loving
Sou ja nakya yatterannai

Yume ni made mita you na sekai wa
Arasoi mo naku heiwa na nichijou
Demo genjitsu wa hibi to rabutte
Tama ni kuyandari shiteru
Sonna rolling days

Oh yeah oh...
Sou Wakatterutte
Oh yeah oh
Tsumazui tatte way to go
Yeah Yeah
Doro darake rolling star



Kana
もう我慢ばっかしてらんないよ
言いたいことは言わなくちゃ

帰り道 夕暮れのバス停
落ちこんだ背中に Bye Bye Bye

君のFighting Pose 見せなきゃ Oh!Oh!

夢にまで見たような世界は
争いもなく平和な日常

でも現実は日々トラブッて
たまに悔やんだりしてる そんな Rolling days

転んじゃったって いいんじゃないの
そんときは笑ってあげる

乗り込んだバスの奥から
ちいさく ほほえみが見えた

君を頼りにしてるよ Oh!Oh!

夢にまで見たような Sweet Love
恋人たちは隠れ家を探すの

でも現実は会えない日が
続きながらも信じてるの Lonely Days

つまずいたって Way to go!!
Yeah!! Yeah!! 泥どろけ Rolling star!!

なるべく笑顔でいたいけれど
守り抜くためには仕方ないでしょ?

きっと嘘なんて そう意味を持たないの
~All my loving
そうじゃなきゃ やってらんない

夢にまで見たような世界は
争いもなく平和な日常

でも現実は日々トラブッて
たまに悔やんだりしてる そんな Rolling days

・・・そう わかってるって
つまずいたって Way to go!!
Yeah!! Yeah!! 泥だらけ Rolling star!!



Eigo
My patience is running out
I want to say what I wanna say
Coming home from the bus stop at twilight
Saying bye bye bye to sad backs of others

You gotta show you Fighting Pose oh oh

A world like I have seen in my dreams
Without conflict, just daily peace
But in reality, I tend to worry about
Troubles and the daily grind
Those Rolling Days

Even though you keep on falling,
You laugh and get up every time
As I board the vacant back of the bus
You flash me a small smile

I must place my trust in you

Sweet love like I have seen in my dream
Lovers searching for hidden refuge
But in reality, on the days we cannot meet,
Continue on but I believe in Lonely Days

Oh yeah, yeah...
Even if you stumble, Way to go
Yeah, yay!
A muddled Rolling Star

It pains me to see your smiling face, but
Is there no way to protect you till the end?

There is no meaning to this lie, none at all
All my loving,
Without it, I can't go on

A world like I have seen in my dreams
Without conflict, just daily peace
But in reality, I tend to worry about
Troubles and the daily grind
Those Rolling Days

Oh yeah, yeah...
Even if you understand it all
Oh yeah, yeah...
Even if you stumble, way to go,
Yeah yay
A muddled rolling star



Story behind the song
Released January 17, 3007, this is YUI's seventh single and first under Studioseven Recordings. It was used as the fifth opening song for the popular Japanese animation series Bleach. It had reached a peak position of number 3 at the Oricon Daily Charts.
The song is about the daily struggle of human life. In that we always want to find peace in this world but in reality life is full of troubles that keep on bothering us until we finally fall and stumble. The lyrics are like the story of a normal person who just came from work/school and is just about to go home and is riding a bus. It's kind of like a metaphor to the journey of life. We get on a bus, we try to find a seat to put our sore butts on, we see people, occasionally flash a smile or frown at them. There are even cases where we haven't even on our seats and the bus speeds on and we stumble down the aisle. Making ourselves a huge distraction and something to laugh about for the stressed passengers.
But the lesson in the song is that no matter how hard we stumble in the aisle, we could always get up and even laugh at ourselves. We are Rolling Stars!


To me. . .
I have heard this song as it was being played as the opening song in Bleach and I immediately loved it. It felt kind of weird though because I honestly thought I was being sung by a kid because the voice is so "childish." but eventually, I found out after watching the music video that YUI is a actually a teenage girl! I heard this one way before I watched her movie Taiyou no Uta.
I used this as the background music for my Friendster Account page when the website was still in full bloom. If there is one Japanese word that would best describe this song, I believe it would be "kakkoi" or "cool." It just screams it out! This one served as like my anthem when I was in high school because I had a lot of stumbles then. 
Anyway, just to say, this was YUI's first song I have ever heard and could probably be the reason why I went crazy over her.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

First Love by Hikaru Utada







LYRICS
Romaji
Saigou no KISU wa

TABAKO no flavor ga shita

NIGAkute setsunai kaori

Ashita no imagoro ni wa

Anata wa doko ni iru n darou

Dare wo omotterun darou

You are always gonna be my love

Itsuka dareka to mata koi ni ochitemo

I’ll remember to love

You taught me how

You are always gonna be the one

Ima wa mada kanashii love song

Atarashi uta utaeru made

Tachidomaru jikan ga

Ugokidasou to shiteru

Wasuretakunai koto bakari

Ashita no imagoro ni wa

Watashi wa kitto naiteru

Anata wo omotterun darou

You will always be inside my heart

Itsumo anata dake no basho ga aru kara

I hope that I have a place in your heart too

Now and forever you are still the one

Ima wa mada kanashii love song

Atarashii uta utaeru made

You are always gonna be my love

Itsuka dareka to mata koi ni ochitemo

I’ll remember to love

You taught me how

You are always gonna be the one

mada kanashii love song

Now & forever...
(from http://www.jpopasia.com/celebrity/hikaruutada/lyrics/utada-hikaru-single-collection-vol-1/first-love::9951.html)

Kana
最後のキスはタバコの flavor がした
ニガくてせつない香り

明日の今頃には あなたはどこにいるんだろう
誰を思ってるんだろう

You are always gonna be my love
いつか誰かとまた恋に落ちても
I'll remember to love
You taught me how
You are always gonna be the one
今はまだ悲しい love song
新しい歌 歌えるまで

立ち止まる時間が動き出そうとしてる
忘れたくないことばかり wou

明日の今頃には 私はきっと泣いている
あなたを思ってるんだろう yeah yeah yeah

You will always be inside my heart
いつもあなただけの場所があるから
I hope that I have a place in your heart too
Now and forever you are still the one
今はまだ悲しい love song
新しい歌 歌えるまで

You are always gonna be my love
いつか誰かとまた恋に落ちても
I'll remember to love
You taught me how
You are always gonna be the one
まだ悲しい love song

Now and forever・・・
(from: http://lyrics.wikia.com/%E5%AE%87%E5%A4%9A%E7%94%B0%E3%83%92%E3%82%AB%E3%83%AB_(Hikaru_Utada):First_Love)

Eigo
Our last kiss tasted like the cigarette
A sad and bitter fragrance

About this time tomorrow,
Where will you be?
Who will you be thinking of?

You are always gonna be my love
Even if one day I fall in love with someone else
I'll remember to love -- you taught me how
You are always gonna be the one
It's still a sad love song
Until I can sing a new one

The paused time
Is about to move
But I don't wish to forget

About this time tomorrow,
I'll may be crying,
Probably thinking about you

You will always be inside my heart
There's always a place just for you, so
I hope that I have a place in your heart, too
Now and forever you are still the one
It's still a sad love song
Until I can sing a new one

You are always gonna be my love
Even if one day I fall in love with someone else
I'll remember to love you taught me how
You are always gonna be the one
It's still a sad love song, yeah
Now and forever
(from: http://www.jpopasia.com/celebrity/hikaruutada/lyrics/utada-hikaru-single-collection-vol-1/first-love::9951.html)

Info:
First Love is Hikaru Utada's third japanese language single and is part of her debut album of the same title which happened to be Japan's best selling album of all time.It was released on April 28, 1999 In a 2009 survey by Oricon, asking applicants what song they want to hear with a broken heart, "First Love" was voted in the top 10.

The song itself:
Truly it was, the melody of the piano perfectly accentuates the sad lyrics of the song about not being able to move on from your first love. Listening to it relaxes the spirit with the combination of Hikaru's soft voice and the serenading instruments. Although the it is a song of someone who's heartbroken, it actually gives hope that someday she could fall in love with someone else and have a "new song" which is no longer a sad one. It's like the words "First love never dies" made into a chart-topping tear-jerker.

To me...
I first encountered this song one time I was listening to a radio program and I immediately fell in love with it and was able to memorize most parts of the song already. At first I though it was a Japanese version of the song "We Belong" by Filipino artist Toni Gonzaga. Try listening here for you to judge. However, the voices were different. Toni's vocals were a bit powerful. It was then I decided to dig deeper about this song and eventually I found out it was a Japanese hit.
This song is included in my Bedtime playlist and my sentimental songs list mainly because I find it both relaxing and heart-wrenching. Although I haven't cried in this was just like I do when I hear Good-bye Days, I definitely label this song as a perfect tune for me as I was still not able to move on from my own first love. I repeat... Love. Not the usual flings I have every summer, spring, fall and winter (although these seasons do not exist in my country, oh well, to cut it short, I flirt a lot).
I was in high school back then when this song has touched my life but it was only upon my college days that the meaning hit me hard in the face. But anyway, what can I do? I'm a HOPELESS romantic looking for someone who'll be my "new song" :(

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Good-bye Days by YUI






LYRICS
Romaji
Dakara ima ai ni yuku

Sou kimetanda

POKETTO no kono kyoku wo

Kimi ni kikasetai

Sotto VORYUUMU wo agete

Tashikamete mita yo

oh Good-bye days ima

Kawaru ki ga suru

Kinou made ni so long

Kakkoyoku nai yasashi sa ga soba ni aru kara

~with you

Katahou no IYAFON wo

Kimi ni watasu

Yukkuri to nagarekomu

Kono shunkan

Umaku aisete imasu ka?

Tama ni mayou kedo

oh Good-bye days ima

Kawari hajimeta mune no oku alright

Kakkoyoku nai yasashi sa ga soba ni aru kara

~with you

Dekireba kanashii

Omoi nante shitaku nai

Demo yatte kuru desho?

Sono toki egao de

Yeah hello!! my friend nante sa

Ieta nara ii no ni...

Onaji uta wo kuchizusamu toki

Soba ni ite I wish

Kakkoyoku nai yasashi sa ni

Aete yokatta yo

...Good-bye days

Kana
だからいま 会いにゆく

そう決めたんだ

ポケットの この曲を

君に聴かせたい

そっとヴォリュームを上げて

確かめてみたよ

oh Good-bye days いま

変わる気がする

昨日までに so long

かっこよくない優しさがそばにあるから

~with you

片方の イヤフォンを

君に渡す

ゆっくりと 流れ込む

この瞬間

うまく愛せていますか?

たまに迷うけど

oh Good-bye days いま

変わり始めた 胸の奥 alright

かっこよくない優しさがそばにあるから

~with you

できれば 悲しい

想いなんてしたくない

でもやってくるでしょ?

そのとき 笑顔で 

Yeah hello!! my friend なんてさ

言えたならいいのに…

同じ唄を 口ずさむ時

そばにいて I wish

かっこよくない優しさ

に会えてよかったよ

…Good-bye days

Eigo
  So I’ll go to you now, I’ve made up my mind
I want to play you the song in my pocket

I quietly turned up the volume to make sure

Oh good-bye days
I feel like things are changing now
So long yesterday and before
I have a clumsy tenderness by my side
La la la la la
~With you

I pass you one earphone
And in that moment, it plays slowly

I am, I'm loving you, right? Sometimes I get confused

Oh good-bye days
Now what’s in my heart has begun to change, alright
I have a clumsy tenderness by my side
La la la la la
~With you

I don’t want to have sad thoughts if I can help it
But they’re bound to come, right?
When they do, I’ll smile and say
"Yeah, hello!" I hope I can call you
My friend...

When we sing the same song
Be by my side, I wish
I’m glad I found that clumsy tenderness

La la la la la
...Good-bye days

---

This translation was done by Kiwi Musume
(All lyrics from http://www.jpopasia.com/lyrics/5065/yui/good-bye-days.html)

 Info:
This song was YUI's sixth single and fifth major label single. It was used as the main theme song of the movie "Taiyou no Uta" where she plays the character of Kaoru Amane, a girl stricken with the disorder called Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP) which prohibits her from being exposed to the sunlight and getting fatal skin cancer. With this, Kaoru still lives her life as a street musician and eventually finds a love interest. The movie revolves around her struggle to live and to love and her amazing music.


The song itself:
The song itself produces a melodramatic feel even if you are not aware of the movie behind it. The combination of simple guitar and YUI's distinct voice moves the heart as the story progresses and ultimately wrenches every chamber of your cardiovascular system and the dam that is holding back your tears as the ending of the movie hits you hard it's so difficult to recover. With the perfect addition of a string ensemble that accentuates the mood of the song.
The lyrics embody Kaoru's desperations to still live and love like a normal girl even though her own health hinders her to do so. 

To me...
Good-bye days has always been my favorite JPOP song of all time as it has all that I am looking for -- great sounds and an amazing story behind it. It never fails to break me down into tears as it occasionally plays on my music player as I look at the sunset when I am in my emotional state. I even used this song as a "sign" praying that if I meet a person whom I am really interested at and this song randomly plays, then that person is the one. So much with my desperations...
The part of the lyrics that says "Umaku aisete imasu ka? Tama ni mayou kedo." (Can you really love me properly even sometimes I get lost?) is where I could relate the most. Asking a person if he/she would still accept you even with all your flaws. But what moves me is the bridge to the final chorus ending with "Yasashisa ni aete yokatta yo." (I'm glad I met your kindness) just lifts me off my feet and throws me to a sea of tears as I remeber the movie Kaoru and Kouji's love story. Followed by an instrumental that mixes guitar and violin. I just can't get enough of killing myself slowly with this song.
Anyway, I will always love this song and I will always love YUI as long as I love JPOP and I can still understand a few Japanese words other that bonsai and sushi. My search continues with Japanese Music with a story about it or about my encounter with it.