Lyrics Translation: himawari (ひまわり) ~ Miho Fukuhara (福原美穂)
My schedule has been quite tight this week as the new school term is beginning to rev up, but it still feels great to be able to bring in another fresh face to the blog! Allow me to introduce Miho Fukuhara, the young Hokkaido-born singer-songwriter who was first featured singing on a local television channel at the age of 15 and eventually found herself leading up to bigger things as she graduated from secondary school.
I am going to save my applause for Miho here and lazily direct anyone interested to the Reverend Dr Frederick O Murph, who delivered a highly spirited encomium for her one-day role as church chorister in Los Angeles earlier this year (click here to see the video, pardon the mispronunciation of her name, LOL). Despite the praise she's been getting and that outstanding voice of hers, the sale of her singles could be only described at best as "fair".
This state of affairs certainly seems a little regrettable for a song so beautifully written and dedicated but since Miho is relatively new artist in relation to her major debut, this wasn't altogether unexpected. Still, this doesn't make her any less of a musician than as the piece is so beautiful regardless that, even as I publish the translation, I cannot bring myself to be completely satisfied with the results of my work. Nonetheless, I know things will be alright... because you are here with me and I can take comfort in writing thus, LOL (^___^")
Song information:
Listen to a sample of ひまわり (~1:50 mins)
Audio disc presence:
Track 1 from Miho's single, ひまわり (Released 2008/07/16).
PV availability:
If you haven't yet watched the PV for this track, you really need to watch it now before reading any further. Go do it, now! (YouTube is your friend) LOL (^__^") Of course, if you already have seen the PV, please do continue!
Theme song:
This song does not feature as a theme to anything.
Alternative versions:
There are no alternative versions to this song.
Comments:
So, did the PV cause you to sniffle a little? I ended up crying about as much as the little girl in the PV itself but that's a story for another day, LOL (^___^") There was a point in directing the focus onto the PV first though, and that was that it provides a clear context under which the song could be understood.
Before we begin, I should probably note that although the PV involves a sibling relationship; in life, Miho wrote this ballad for her childhood sweetheart. The penned lyrics echo the feelings that she had wished to impart before learning that she had run out of time and so, although the lyrics themselves are readily understandable, there are also some overarching themes that really stand out throughout the song.
The first such notable theme is the imagery of flowers and their invigorating growth to fullness of bloom, which seemed to be her way of subtly hinting her regret that he was unable to reach that stage of his life. Like a flower plucked before its prime, he was never given the opportunity to display his beauty in all its glory to the world and it is because of this that she seems so very sensitivity to the blossoming of things as they bring back thougts of what could have been.
Another prominent theme comes in the concept of reciprocating sustenance. In the first part of the song, Miho sings of how important he was to her emotionally as a child growing up while in the later part of the song, the roles are reversed as Miho reciprocates by sustaining his spirit and memory. In this way, although he may not be around any longer, he will always continue to live in her, with her, and through her.
To that end, although the events that brought this song to fruition are fundamentally sad, the song itself does not focus on that emotion and attempts to bring out the feelings of remembrance, gratefulness and, perhaps most importantly, promise. It is in being able to tread this fine balance that Miho proves herself a cantratice worthy of the recognition she's been heaped. (^___^)
Anyhow, I really should stop, this post has been waiting in the sidelines for a much longer time than I had originally planned (this was scheduled for release on the past Monday and it's already Friday today!)... With that then, let us move on to the marvel that is himawari.
Lyrics:
Japanese lyrics retrieved from uta-net.com, a site filled to the brim with singing sunflowers! (^___^)
--------------------------------------
日本語:
ひまわり
--------------------------------------
歌手: 福原美穂
作詞: 福原美穂
作曲: 福原美穂・山口寛雄
--------------------------------------
ひまわりの種 植えた時は 私は幼くて
走る背中を 追いかけて 夢中で名前を呼んだ
小さい花びら むぎわら帽子
たくさん詰めて 私にくれた
風が笑った 君が笑った
ずっと ずっと 君に逢いたい
大好きな星のかけら 探したね
ずっと ずっと 愛しく想う
遠くなる 手を伸ばす はかない夢
あれから夏が 何度か来て 花は咲いて枯れて
小さな恋を 何度かして 涙がたくさん出たよ
祭りの後で 見上げた花火
今年の夏も 空に咲いてるよ
ずっと ずっと 君に逢いたい
泣き虫な私の影 そのままだよ
ずっと ずっと 君を探してる
遠くなる 手を伸ばす はかない夢
誰かが忘れた 君の名前も
私はここで 呼び続けてる
君がいなくても 地球は回る
私にはある 「明日」がある
ずっと ずっと 君に逢いたい
私が見た 光 全部 見せたいな
君より大人の 私を笑うかな?
遠くなる 手を伸ばす はかない夢
遠くなる 手を伸ばす はかない夢
-------------------------------------------------------
romaji:
himawari
-------------------------------------------------------
kashyu: fukuhara miho
sakushi: fukuhara miho
sakkyoku: fukuhara miho・yamaguchi hiroo
romaji: crystalise
-------------------------------------------------------
himawari no tane ueta toki wa watashi wa osanakute
hashiru senaka wo oikakete muchuu de namae wo yonda
chiisai hanabira mugiwara boushi
takusan tsumete watashi ni kureta
kaze ga waratta kimi ga waratta
zutto zutto kimi ni aitai
daisuki na hoshi no kakera sagashita ne
zutto zutto itoshiku omou
tooku naru te wo nobasu hakanai yume
are kara natsu ga nandoka kite hana wa saite karete
chiisana koi wo nandoka shite namida ga takusan deta yo
matsuri no ato de miageta hanabi
kotoshi no natsu mo sora ni saiteru yo
zutto zutto kimi ni aitai
nakimushi na watashi no kage sono mama da yo
zutto zutto kimi wo sagashiteru
tooku naru te wo nobasu hakanai yume
dareka ga wasureta kimi no namae mo
watashi wa koko de yobi tsudzuketeru
kimi ga inakute mo chikyuu wa mawaru
watashi ni wa aru “ashita” ga aru
zutto zutto kimi ni aitai
watashi ga mita hikari zenbu misetai na
kimi yori otona no watashi wo warau kana?
tooku naru te wo nobasu hakanai yume
tooku naru te wo nobasu hakanai yume
----------------------------------------
English:
Sunflowers
----------------------------------------
Performed by: Miho Fukuhara
Lyricist: Miho Fukuhara
Composer: Miho Fukuhara & Hiroo Yamaguchi
Translated by: crystalise
----------------------------------------
At the time we planted those sunflower seeds, I was still so very young...
I still remember how I would chase you around as I hysterically called after you.*
From the tiniest of flower petals to big fat straw hats,**
You assembled them together and presented them as gifts to me.
How I recall that as the wind laughed, so too did you laugh.
In every second of every minute, I want to see you,***
And so I’ve searched for every fragment of my cherished star...
In every minute of every hour, loving thoughts still come to me,
So the further you go, the further I’ll reach out for that passing dream.
Since that time, countless summers have come to pass with the blossoming and withering sunflowers,****
And as much as I’ve been touched by a hint of love countless times, I’ve also cried countless tears.*****
At the end of the summer festival, I looked up at the flowering fireworks,******
This year as well, they reach their full bloom high in the sky.
In every second of every minute, I still long to see you,
And though I may have grown up, the shades of the cry-baby you knew still remains.*******
In every minute of every hour, I continue to look for you,
And so the farther you go, the farther I will stretch towards that transient dream.
And if anyone were to ever forget your name,
I will stay here, ever shouting it out.
So although you are no longer here and the world continues to turn,
So long as I am here, you will always live to see tomorrow.********
In every second of every minute, I keep on wishing to see you,
I have seen the light in fullest flare and I want you to see it all with me.*********
Watching as I’ve grown beyond your years, you’re probably giggling at me now, aren’t you?
Know that the further you go, the further my hand extends towards that momentary dream.
...The further you go, the further my hand extends towards that fleeting dream that was ours...
Notes:
*Note 1: Literally, “After your running back I would chase as I deliriously called your name.”
**Note 2: Literally, “Tiny flower petals, straw hats”
***Note 3: Literally, “Always, always, I want to meet you.”
****Note 4: Literally, “Since then, summers have come many times and the flowers are blossoming and withering.” Although she sings “flowers”, it’s really isn’t that much of a stretch to see that she meant the sunflowers in the beginning of the song.
*****Note 5: Literally, “I have experienced a little love many times and I’ve cried many tears.”
******Note 6: Literally, “At the end of the festival, I looked up at the fireworks.” I added the verb “flowering” in order to draw attention to the fact that the Japanese word for “fireworks” is composed of the words “flower” (花; hana) and “fire” (火; bi). There is a strong theme of flowers blooming throughout the song and this addition was meant to keep in line with that theme.
*******Note 7: Literally, “The shadow of my cry-baby self still remains!” This line took me forever to fully grasp and it was only with the help of Deedee that I finally came to a definite conclusion in the context of the song. I am, as always, indebted to her contribution.
********Note 8: Literally, “As I am here, there will be a ‘tomorrow’.” This verse will rightly spark some discussion on what Miho is trying to say, but in looking at the words surrounding this line, I feel that this interpretation is the likeliest. The only thing that is clear is that the literal understanding of this line is too self-evident and inconsistent with the rest of the lyrics and her move to place “ashita” (tomorrow) in quotes also hints at a deeper meaning than what was simply said.
*********Note 9: Literally, “I have seen the light and I want to show it all to you.”
Track 1 from Miho's single, ひまわり (Released 2008/07/16).
PV availability:
If you haven't yet watched the PV for this track, you really need to watch it now before reading any further. Go do it, now! (YouTube is your friend) LOL (^__^") Of course, if you already have seen the PV, please do continue!
Theme song:
This song does not feature as a theme to anything.
Alternative versions:
There are no alternative versions to this song.
Comments:
So, did the PV cause you to sniffle a little? I ended up crying about as much as the little girl in the PV itself but that's a story for another day, LOL (^___^") There was a point in directing the focus onto the PV first though, and that was that it provides a clear context under which the song could be understood.
Before we begin, I should probably note that although the PV involves a sibling relationship; in life, Miho wrote this ballad for her childhood sweetheart. The penned lyrics echo the feelings that she had wished to impart before learning that she had run out of time and so, although the lyrics themselves are readily understandable, there are also some overarching themes that really stand out throughout the song.
The first such notable theme is the imagery of flowers and their invigorating growth to fullness of bloom, which seemed to be her way of subtly hinting her regret that he was unable to reach that stage of his life. Like a flower plucked before its prime, he was never given the opportunity to display his beauty in all its glory to the world and it is because of this that she seems so very sensitivity to the blossoming of things as they bring back thougts of what could have been.
Another prominent theme comes in the concept of reciprocating sustenance. In the first part of the song, Miho sings of how important he was to her emotionally as a child growing up while in the later part of the song, the roles are reversed as Miho reciprocates by sustaining his spirit and memory. In this way, although he may not be around any longer, he will always continue to live in her, with her, and through her.
To that end, although the events that brought this song to fruition are fundamentally sad, the song itself does not focus on that emotion and attempts to bring out the feelings of remembrance, gratefulness and, perhaps most importantly, promise. It is in being able to tread this fine balance that Miho proves herself a cantratice worthy of the recognition she's been heaped. (^___^)
Anyhow, I really should stop, this post has been waiting in the sidelines for a much longer time than I had originally planned (this was scheduled for release on the past Monday and it's already Friday today!)... With that then, let us move on to the marvel that is himawari.
Lyrics:
Japanese lyrics retrieved from uta-net.com, a site filled to the brim with singing sunflowers! (^___^)
--------------------------------------
日本語:
ひまわり
--------------------------------------
歌手: 福原美穂
作詞: 福原美穂
作曲: 福原美穂・山口寛雄
--------------------------------------
ひまわりの種 植えた時は 私は幼くて
走る背中を 追いかけて 夢中で名前を呼んだ
小さい花びら むぎわら帽子
たくさん詰めて 私にくれた
風が笑った 君が笑った
ずっと ずっと 君に逢いたい
大好きな星のかけら 探したね
ずっと ずっと 愛しく想う
遠くなる 手を伸ばす はかない夢
あれから夏が 何度か来て 花は咲いて枯れて
小さな恋を 何度かして 涙がたくさん出たよ
祭りの後で 見上げた花火
今年の夏も 空に咲いてるよ
ずっと ずっと 君に逢いたい
泣き虫な私の影 そのままだよ
ずっと ずっと 君を探してる
遠くなる 手を伸ばす はかない夢
誰かが忘れた 君の名前も
私はここで 呼び続けてる
君がいなくても 地球は回る
私にはある 「明日」がある
ずっと ずっと 君に逢いたい
私が見た 光 全部 見せたいな
君より大人の 私を笑うかな?
遠くなる 手を伸ばす はかない夢
遠くなる 手を伸ばす はかない夢
-------------------------------------------------------
romaji:
himawari
-------------------------------------------------------
kashyu: fukuhara miho
sakushi: fukuhara miho
sakkyoku: fukuhara miho・yamaguchi hiroo
romaji: crystalise
-------------------------------------------------------
himawari no tane ueta toki wa watashi wa osanakute
hashiru senaka wo oikakete muchuu de namae wo yonda
chiisai hanabira mugiwara boushi
takusan tsumete watashi ni kureta
kaze ga waratta kimi ga waratta
zutto zutto kimi ni aitai
daisuki na hoshi no kakera sagashita ne
zutto zutto itoshiku omou
tooku naru te wo nobasu hakanai yume
are kara natsu ga nandoka kite hana wa saite karete
chiisana koi wo nandoka shite namida ga takusan deta yo
matsuri no ato de miageta hanabi
kotoshi no natsu mo sora ni saiteru yo
zutto zutto kimi ni aitai
nakimushi na watashi no kage sono mama da yo
zutto zutto kimi wo sagashiteru
tooku naru te wo nobasu hakanai yume
dareka ga wasureta kimi no namae mo
watashi wa koko de yobi tsudzuketeru
kimi ga inakute mo chikyuu wa mawaru
watashi ni wa aru “ashita” ga aru
zutto zutto kimi ni aitai
watashi ga mita hikari zenbu misetai na
kimi yori otona no watashi wo warau kana?
tooku naru te wo nobasu hakanai yume
tooku naru te wo nobasu hakanai yume
----------------------------------------
English:
Sunflowers
----------------------------------------
Performed by: Miho Fukuhara
Lyricist: Miho Fukuhara
Composer: Miho Fukuhara & Hiroo Yamaguchi
Translated by: crystalise
----------------------------------------
At the time we planted those sunflower seeds, I was still so very young...
I still remember how I would chase you around as I hysterically called after you.*
From the tiniest of flower petals to big fat straw hats,**
You assembled them together and presented them as gifts to me.
How I recall that as the wind laughed, so too did you laugh.
In every second of every minute, I want to see you,***
And so I’ve searched for every fragment of my cherished star...
In every minute of every hour, loving thoughts still come to me,
So the further you go, the further I’ll reach out for that passing dream.
Since that time, countless summers have come to pass with the blossoming and withering sunflowers,****
And as much as I’ve been touched by a hint of love countless times, I’ve also cried countless tears.*****
At the end of the summer festival, I looked up at the flowering fireworks,******
This year as well, they reach their full bloom high in the sky.
In every second of every minute, I still long to see you,
And though I may have grown up, the shades of the cry-baby you knew still remains.*******
In every minute of every hour, I continue to look for you,
And so the farther you go, the farther I will stretch towards that transient dream.
And if anyone were to ever forget your name,
I will stay here, ever shouting it out.
So although you are no longer here and the world continues to turn,
So long as I am here, you will always live to see tomorrow.********
In every second of every minute, I keep on wishing to see you,
I have seen the light in fullest flare and I want you to see it all with me.*********
Watching as I’ve grown beyond your years, you’re probably giggling at me now, aren’t you?
Know that the further you go, the further my hand extends towards that momentary dream.
...The further you go, the further my hand extends towards that fleeting dream that was ours...
Notes:
*Note 1: Literally, “After your running back I would chase as I deliriously called your name.”
**Note 2: Literally, “Tiny flower petals, straw hats”
***Note 3: Literally, “Always, always, I want to meet you.”
****Note 4: Literally, “Since then, summers have come many times and the flowers are blossoming and withering.” Although she sings “flowers”, it’s really isn’t that much of a stretch to see that she meant the sunflowers in the beginning of the song.
*****Note 5: Literally, “I have experienced a little love many times and I’ve cried many tears.”
******Note 6: Literally, “At the end of the festival, I looked up at the fireworks.” I added the verb “flowering” in order to draw attention to the fact that the Japanese word for “fireworks” is composed of the words “flower” (花; hana) and “fire” (火; bi). There is a strong theme of flowers blooming throughout the song and this addition was meant to keep in line with that theme.
*******Note 7: Literally, “The shadow of my cry-baby self still remains!” This line took me forever to fully grasp and it was only with the help of Deedee that I finally came to a definite conclusion in the context of the song. I am, as always, indebted to her contribution.
********Note 8: Literally, “As I am here, there will be a ‘tomorrow’.” This verse will rightly spark some discussion on what Miho is trying to say, but in looking at the words surrounding this line, I feel that this interpretation is the likeliest. The only thing that is clear is that the literal understanding of this line is too self-evident and inconsistent with the rest of the lyrics and her move to place “ashita” (tomorrow) in quotes also hints at a deeper meaning than what was simply said.
*********Note 9: Literally, “I have seen the light and I want to show it all to you.”
Links:
Miho Fukuhara official website (maintained by Sony Music)
Purchase ひまわり online (via YesAsia Global)
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