15 posts tagged “ayaka”
Just a quick note, I've updated the previous translation post on Laugh away to reflect the fact that the song now has two PVs, hooray! \(^ o ^)/
Before I get into this post though, I should really note that this post features an extremely contextualised translation - so if you are hoping for a more literal interpretation, click here to jump to the user comments segment. I initially tried to strike a more balanced translation but found it exceedingly difficult to convey the beauty of the lyrics under that approach... So I took the lazy way out, LOL (^__^")
Nonetheless, I still don't feel that I have done any justice to the piece, though I can promise you I tried very hard to do so. Indeed, the song's lyrics were so powerful in Japanese that it led Sky Crawlers (スカイ・クロラ) director, Mamoru Oshii (押井守), to redo the ending credits so that he could better fit it to the song. This is a significant gesture because Oshii is known for his adamant refusal to use any musical work that was not tailor-made for his movies... but after listening to this, he seems to have decided otherwise. (^___^")
Anyhow, the summer is certainly making its presence felt these days as the heat has been torturous in Hong Kong. As I wake up each morning to face that pale and diluted blue sky, I scorn - the thought of how hot it is outside sends chills through my spine... and with the Olympics a mere few weeks away, I can't imagine what it'd be like for the horses and their jockeys as the city hosts the equestrian events.
At a time when I am trying to find any possible shade I could, it's difficult to understand why the Chinese government would ever want to ensure cloudless skies by sniping the poor balls of fluff out of the air with their darned anti-aircraft guns...
As if stepping up their control of 1.3 billion people was not enough to ensure a "peaceful and harmonious" Olympics, Beijing has gone the extra mile to reign in control of the weather as well. (-___-") If you are interested in how the whole thing works, hop on to this USA Today article.
Still, the two months leading up to the Games have been somewhat hectic as the government finds itself clearing up pollution, algae and political commentators in anticipation of welcoming the world through its doors. Anyway, I've gone on enough about this; I just wanted to share my awe at the Chinese army's ability to shoot clouds out of the air... LOL (^___^")
So, getting back on track as we long for the future that will bring us the Olympics, let us move on to this jewel of a song (^___^)
Song information:
Track 15 from ayaka's album, Sing to the Sky (Released 2008/06/25).
PV availability:
This PV marks the first ayaka video that features no sign of her whatsoever... (@__@) In her stead, viewers will be treated to scenes from The Sky Crawlers; which could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on which you are a bigger fan of - clearly, I fall in the "not all too impressed" camp, LOL (^___^")
Theme song:
This song is the theme to the movie, スカイ・クロラ (also known as The Sky Crawlers).
Alternative versions:
There are no alternative versions at this moment.
Comments:
Listening to the first few lines of the song, ayaka's serenade certainly makes the ballad seem like nothing more than an ode to love, but it is not until the bridge of the song that the context of her words are truly revealed - the piece is not so much a song of love as it is a eulogy for someone she loves. In the booklet that came with the CD, her notes on this song go:
"In spending time with the people we love, a warm feeling is evoked from the touch of their skin. Though these occasions don’t seem particularly special, they are in fact irreplaceable moments. Sadly, we often get too used to a person and it is only when we lose them that we begin to realise this. In this way, the happiness that frames the moment of “now” is a happiness that we ourselves should strive to be grateful for with its every occurrence."
Of course, her notes were written in Japanese in the booklet, but I took the liberty of translating it in order to provide more context for understanding the song. The nice thing about the album is simply that ayaka takes time out to write notes on all the songs in the album and also explains why the album is titled, Sing to the Sky, LOL. I'll be translating these notes as I go through the songs in this album, so stay tuned as I work my way through it. (^___^")
Returning to the focus of this segment, despite noting that this song is more of a eulogy, it is really not about the loss but about the appreciation of the love left behind; not about sorrow and regret but about joy and gratitude; not a lamentation but a celebration. The song's message is not in the literal reading of its words but in understanding the concepts that it is implying through the lyrics, vocal expression as well as melody.
今夜も星に抱かれて・・・ is such an evocative piece that one requires no PV nor understanding of the lyrics to "see" what ayaka is singing of. Close your eyes as you listen and allow the simple yet beautiful melody to take you into a world where the night sky is filled with stars. Close your eyes and let ayaka's vocals guide you through a love that is at its warmest, most honest and most intense expression. Close your eyes and you will see what this piece is truly about.
After that, you probably won't even need to read the lyrics, but just in case you do want to reaffirm what you felt, feel free to scroll down to the next segment (you'll probably have to keep your eyes open though... (^___^")). Remember, this translation is highly contextualised - if you are looking for a more literal interpretation, click here to jump down to the user comments segment... (^___^)
Lyrics:
As always, Japanese lyrics are retrieved from www.uta-net.com.
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日本語:
今夜も星に抱かれて・・・
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歌手: 絢香
作詞: 絢香
作曲: 西尾芳彦・絢香
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この世で一番心地よい場所 それはあなたの胸の中
胸に耳あて鼓動感じるの
What l need now is you
あなたのリズムで眠りそうになる
You made me what l am
このささやかな幸せが続くように…
あなたの愛をこの身に感じ あたしも伝えるの
あなたの胸に抱かれ あなたの匂いに包まれて
What l need now is you
これ以上の幸せなどないの
You made me what l am
あたしに不安などないの あなたがそばにいるから…
５年たった今でも ゆらゆらと陽炎のように
星になった君に触れることは できないけれど
今夜も夢を見よう…
What l need now is you
Everyday Everynight l miss you
You made me what l am
Everyday Everynight Everything is you
そばにいるから
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romaji:
konya mo hoshi ni dakarete...
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kashyu: ayaka
sakushi: ayaka
sakkyoku: nishio yoshihiko・ayaka
romaji: crystalise
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kono yo de ichiban kokochiyoi basho sore wa anata no mune no naka
mune ni mimiate kodou kanjiru no
What I need now is you
anata no rizumu de nemurisou ni naru
You made me what I am
kono sasayaka na shiawase ga tsudzuku you ni...
anata no ai wo kono mi ni kanji atashi mo tsutaeru no
anata no mune ni dakare anata no nioi ni tsutsumarete
What I need now is you
kore ijou no shiawase nado nai no
You made me what I am
atashi ni fuan nado nai no anata ga soba ni iru kara...
gonen tatta ima de mo yurayura to kagerou no you ni
hoshi ni natta kimi ni fureru koto wa dekinai keredo
konya mo yume wo miyou...
What I need now is you
Everyday Everynight I miss you
You made me what I am
Everyday Everynight Everything is you
soba ni iru kara
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English:
Even Tonight, I am Nestled in the Stars...*
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Performed by: ayaka
Lyricist: ayaka
Composer: Yoshihiko Nishio & ayaka
Translated by: crystalise
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At your bosom, as I listen to the gentle throbbing of your heart
Through my earmuffs, I find my only solace in this world.
You are all that I need now
And in your comforting rhythm, I can find the safety of sleep.
It was you who made me what I am
And that is why a simple happiness flourishes in me still.
Held closely in your arms and enveloped tenderly in your perfume,
I feel your love within me as I reciprocate my feelings for you.
I need nothing more but you now,
As I know that there is no greater joy than this.
You were the one who made me what I am
And that is why nothing can trouble me, so long as you are with me.
...Five years from this day, my love for you will continue to burn...
And although I can’t snuggle up to that star you have become,
Even tonight, I could still dream...
All I need is you,
Everyday and every night... I miss you so.
I am who I am because of you,
My everyday, my every night, my everything... is you.
Because I know, unfailingly, that you are always by my side.
Notes:
*Note 1: This is the contextual version of the translation, if you are looking for the literal version - click here.
Links:
ayaka Official Website (maintained by Warner Music Japan)
Purchase Sing to the Sky online (via YesAsia Global)
If you read any of my recent translation posts, you may have noticed that I've been putting up banners at the end of them. Hopefully, the message was clear from just glimpsing at them, LOL. (^___^") In general, there are two different sets of banners although both carry the same notion: music should be properly bought.
I was prompted to embark on this endeavour because of the increasingly errant arguments I've recently found myself getting into. Some of my friends don't quite understand why I would waste my money on original copies of games, movies, music and whatever it is that I wish to so have since all these things can readily be attained "for free". Indeed, it got even more confusing for them when they realised that I do download things... and that the things I download are the same things I buy... (^___^") So I guess I can't really blame them for finding my position a little odd, can I?
Nonetheless, arguments can seem somewhat unavoidable as my group and I do sit around talking about theoretical issues every now and then, so it's no surprise that we would launch into discourses on the false premises behind the concept of "copyright", the omni-capital might of corporations, and the propagation of the neoliberal agenda, amongst other things (yes, I really am as boring as I sound). But try as I might, I find it very hard to support their position on this issue.
Don't get me wrong though, I have no love for the entertainment industry's incessant chiming that "downloading is theft", nor do I have any respect for their heavy-handed tactics of taking individuals to court in what amounts to outright corporate bullying. No, it is not because I buy their arguments that I buy originals.
Rather, my commitment to purchasing these items is borne from the reasoning that I ultimately live in a meritocratic society, whether I like it or not. It must be stressed then that in a meritocratic society, people are asked to "vote with their wallets" - and when this becomes the primary means of communicating the public will, the purchase of music inevitably buys an artist credibility and legitimacy; however, it also means the converse is ever truer: not purchasing anything from an artist will effectively amount to a vote of no confidence.
Thus, it is for this reason that I have no qualms about forking out the money to buy my music, among other things. It is not in support of the capitalist machinery, but in support of the artist. Not for EMI, but for Hikki; not for avex, but for Ai-chin; not for Warner, but for ayaka; and certainly, not for Sony, but for YUI.
As mentioned, I'm not trying to say that downloading is a bad thing - in fact, I doubt J-pop could have grown so large without such facilitation but in the end of the day, there aren't many avenues with which I could show my appreciation for the impact their work has on my life; so, fortunately for me, one of these methods is hopping into a store and picking up that disc.
With that then, allow me to move on to address each of the two sets of banners and give a very brief description of what I was trying to convey with the words I used, LOL. (^___^")
The LOVE SUPPORT stream
You may have already figured this out, but "love support" is a play on the compound noun, "life support". The idea is simply to encourage people to support the things they love and, at a time when people seem to be buying less music, it serves as a reminder for us not to inadvertently pull the plug on our music.
The banners that have so far been created under this stream are,
The PASSION stream
I have to admit that although it seems quite simple, I actually put quite a lot of thought into the words, "FUEL YOUR PASSION" - specifically thinking of each word, the direction of their meaning, rhythm, pronunciation and so on. The point of this stream is to raise awareness that we, as individuals, have a responsibility to sustain the things that we truly feel about.
The banners created to date in this stream are,
Out of Steam
Well, I've run out of steam, so I guess it's time to bring this post to its conclusion. Check back in a day or so as a translation post follows shortly on the heels of this post! LOL (^___^")
Hopefully, I'll be able to update this blog a little more frequently in the coming weeks to bring it closer up to speed with where I want it... Right now though, I'll have to play quite a bit of catch up in terms of translations, LOL.
Before I begin though, allow me to handle some matters of housekeeping as I note corrections and updates to previous posts. The first correction is for a relatively silly blunder at the end of the first segment in the last translation post, Fight The Blues. The second correction is a little more important as it was a correction of the translation to 恋愛写真 (renai shashin). That error was an honest mistake since I did believe that the word I translated really meant what it meant until I later learnt that I was only "almost right" but not quite "completely correct", LOL. (^__^")
Finally, I have updated the posts on 三日月 (mikadzuki) and 手をつなごう (te wo tsunagou) to reflect the fact that they now have alternative versions courtesy of ayaka's newer singles. I should have updated mikadzuki earlier since the live version was released in her previous single but I couldn't muster enough time to do so... Anyhow, with that out of the way, let's get back to discussing ayaka's latest offering - the very heart-warming piece, おかえり (okaeri).
I do have to admit that I really love this song because of the wonderful message it resonates. Indeed, my heart melted completely when the sound of bagpipes filled the air perhaps because I have always attributed the hymn of the bagpipe to the feeling of home. In a song that brings us closer to ayaka, the girl at 20, instead of ayaka, the artist at 20, we are invited to share in her most intimate thoughts as the lyrics unveil an open love letter to her most prized possession: her family.
Still, ayaka always amazes me with her writing and, although I didn't understand it in the right context at first, when I finally realised what she meant in "当たり前の幸せなんかこの世界に一つもない" ("There is no such thing as a normal happiness in this world") the floodgates of my heart opened as I am reminded of how blessed I truly am.
Well, since I am already beginning to talk about the contents of the song itself, perhaps it's time for me to don my rocket sneakers and blast off to the next segment to continue my chatter, LOL. (^__^")
Song information:
Track 1 from ayaka's single, おかえり (Released 2008/05/14).
PV availability:
A PV exists for this song and it features ayaka singing along the harbour. This is interlaced with segments that show soap bubbles floating home amidst snippets of everyday scenes (these segments are a lot more meaningful than they appear after one analyses the lyrics). There is also a scene after the song's bridge of ayaka standing in a sun-tinged waterfront that allows the unconventional beauty that defines her to shine through. Finally, and this may be reading too far into the PV, there is a lamppost that appears at the beginning and the end that is reminiscent of the second mikadzuki PV, which actually serves to deepen the concept of a return home if this connection is true.* Nonetheless, the PV is certainly worth checking out as it does very well to convey that warm fuzzy feeling of home sweet home.
*To understand how mikadzuki could relate to the concept of "home" for ayaka, it may help to check out the translation post here. The history of the song as well as its contents link up very well to that of okaeri and in fact, it added a twist to my understanding of mikadzuki's lyrics. Finally, if you were to watch the second mikadzuki PV again, you would realise that there were scenes related to the concept of "home" there as well... (^__^")
Theme song:
This song is used as the theme to the drama, 絶対彼氏 ("zettai kareshi"; trans. "the absolute boyfriend").
Alternative versions:
There are no alternative versions of the song as of now but a live version may emerge in later singles, LOL. (^__^)
Comments:
The beauty of okaeri lies in the intimacy of the thoughts that are set into the lyrics as the song reads much like a confession of love to her family while each verse introduces a separate reflection on the elements that inspire her to live each day. Nonetheless, there is one sentiment from the song that I would like to highlight because of how often it is forgotten despite how much we may be reminded of it - that the ordinary is always extraordinary.
That sentiment is elevated beyond its common understanding in the line, "There is no such thing as a normal happiness in this world," as it pinpoints how that particular emotion is usually taken for granted by those who are lucky enough to experience it. Indeed, in this line, ayaka points out that happiness is always a very special feeling no matter how normal it may seem because the feeling of happiness is always a blessing. This draws out the extraordinary from what is sometimes considered ordinary to reveal how fortunate we are to be touched by the warmth of an "ordinary" happiness.
Apart from this, each verse carries its own weight in expressing the thoughts of ayaka, which certainly makes it very rich in regards to the themes that could be derived from it. Overall, the music supports her vocals very well and the tune of the bagpipes certainly accentuates that feeling of "home" ever further. In the end, it needs to be said that ayaka's masterful adjustment of her vocals to concord with the softness and strength of the music and lyrics does nothing short of painting the most wonderfully vivid display of affection for her family.
Once again, ayaka does not fail to impress; and once again, it's time to move on to the most important part of the post - the translation segment, LOL. (^___^)
Lyrics:
Japanese lyrics are retrieved from www.uta-net.com as always.
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日本語:
おかえり
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歌手: 絢香
作詞: 絢香
作曲: 西尾芳彦・絢香
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おかえり sweet home
帰る場所 愛をありがとう
また平気なフリをして
悲しみの色を塗りつぶして 笑ってしまうんです
信じることの大切さ わかってるのに
いざという時 疑ってしまうんです
空っぽの体 流れる時に
浮いてしまいそうになるけど
あなたのこと 抱きしめたい
このキモチが突き動かすの
おかえり I'm home
一言で満たされる心
おかえり sweet home
帰る場所 愛をありがとう
sweet home
自分のことばかりを考える大人はズルイんだと
思っていたんです
でも必死で変えることを
叫んでる人もいるんだと やっと知ったんです
当り前の幸せなんか この世界に一つもない
あなたのため そう思えた
このキモチが突き動かすの
おかえり I'm home
スピードが加速してく毎日
おかえり sweet home
変わらない ずっとある景色
sweet home
探して なくした
心の傷が
立ち向かう 強さに変われたのは
「おかえり」があったから
おかえり I'm home
一言で満たされる心
おかえり sweet home
帰る場所 愛をありがとう
sweet home
おかえり I'm home
大丈夫 あなたがいるから
おかえり sweet home
待っててね もうすぐ着くから
sweet home
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romaji:
okaeri
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kashyu: ayaka
sakushi: ayaka
sakkyoku: nishio yoshihiko・ayaka
romaji: crystalise
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okaeri sweet home
kaeru basho ai wo arigatou
mata heiki na furi wo shite
kanashimi no iro wo nuri tsubushite waratte shimaun desu
shinjiru koto no taisetsu sa wakatteru no ni
iza to iu toki utagatte shimaun desu
karappo no karada nagareru toki ni
uite shimaisou ni naru kedo
anata no koto dakishimetai
kono kimochi ga tsuki ugokasu no
okaeri I’m home
hitokoto de mitasareru kokoro
okaeri sweet home
kaeru basho ai wo arigatou
sweet home
jibun no koto bakari wo kangaeru otona wa zuruin da to
omotte itan desu
demo hisshi de kaeru koto wo
sakenderu hito mo irun da to yatto shittan desu
atari mae no shiawase nanka kono sekai ni hitotsu mo nai
anata no tame sou omoeta
kono kimochi ga tsuki ugokasu no
okaeri I’m home
supiido ga kasoku shiteku mainichi
okaeri sweet home
kawaranai zutto aru keshiki
sweet home
sagashite nakushita
kokoro no kizu ga
tachi mukau tsuyosa ni kawareta no wa
“okaeri” ga atta kara
okaeri I’m home
hitokoto de mitasareru kokoro
okaeri sweet home
kaeru basho ai wo arigatou
sweet home
okaeri I’m home
daijoubu anata ga iru kara
okaeri sweet home
mattete ne mou sugu tsuku kara
sweet home
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English:
Welcome Home
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Performed by: ayaka
Lyricist: ayaka
Composer: Yoshihiko Nishio & ayaka
Translated by: crystalise
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On the way to my sweet home, I can already hear the words, “You’re home!”*
I am returning to the place that gave me the love that I am so thankful for.**
Blotting out my sadness and painting a smile on my face,
I pretend as if everything is alright.
I admit that although I can understand the importance of belief,
It is in the most critical of moments that I doubt myself.
And though this empty body of mine seems to
Almost float through the passage of time,
There is this feeling that always carries me forward:
The feeling of longing to hold you in my arms.
Before I could even say, “I’m home!” I could already hear, “You’re back!”***
Those very words are enough to cause my heart to brim over.****
Returning to my sweet home, I could already hear the words, “You’re home!”
I am returning to the place that blessed me with a love that I am forever grateful for:
My sweet home.
I truly believe that those
Who only keep their own interests at heart are characters of deceit;
But I also know that there are those
Who are desperately crying out for change.
Because of you, I have come to appreciate that
There is no such thing as an ordinary happiness in this world...
And it is this knowledge that continues to drive me forward.
Before I could even call out, “I’m home!” I can already hear, “You’re back!”
In this continued acceleration of everyday life...
I could hear the words, “You’re home!” echoing from my sweet home,
And therein lays a scene that remains eternally unchanging,
There in my sweet home.
Having searched and having lost,
There are emotional wounds that I have to face.
It was in the power of those simple words
That I drew my strength: the words, “You’re home.”
Already I can hear them say, “You’re back!” Before I could enter, “I’m home!”
Indeed, their words are more than enough to fill my heart over.
Returning to the sweetness of home, I can already hear, “You’re home!”
I’m heading back to the place where I owe my debt of gratitude for the love it bestowed upon me:
My sweet home.
I can already hear the words, “You’re home!” As I dream of replying, “I’m home!”
Everything is truly alright now because you are there.
On my way home, I could already hear the words, “You’re back!”
Wait for me, I’ll be soon arriving,
My sweet, sweet home.
Notes:
*Note 1: Literally, “Welcome home, sweet home.” When literally translated it actually makes no sense... which is why quite a number of words were added to make it more comprehensible in English.
**Note 2: Literally, “To this place I am returning, thank you for all your love.”
***Note 3: Literally, “Welcome home, I’m home.” This verse really caused me to mix up my “okaeri” and “tadaima” since I somehow ended up taking “okaeri” to mean “I’m home” after hearing this verse enough. I have a habit for interchanging between languages in mid-sentence or repeating the same thing in different languages when it’s short (for example, “itadakimasu, let’s eat!”), so by hearing “okaeri, I’m home” enough, my brain somehow managed to confuse the meaning of “okaeri”... so yea...
****Note 4: Literally, “That one word overflows my heart.” But as you noticed, although the Japanese have one word for “welcome home”, two words are required for the English language.
Links:
ayaka Official Website (maintained by Warner Music Japan)
Purchase おかえり online (via YesAsia Global)
I cried watching the PV, I cried listening to the single, I cried reading the lyrics, and I certainly cried translating this beautiful ballad... But it wasn't because of any heartache that this translation post was delayed, it was more the headache from the flood of work that came in two and a half weeks ago.
Nonetheless, this song still occasionally induces tears because its lyrics are just so touching and meaningful to me. I must say that I do become sentimental quite easily and am very prone to sniffling. Nonetheless, I had mentioned before that I really enjoy ayaka's work because she seems to always capture and express my thoughts, feelings and experiences like no other artist (as in the case of 三日月, for example).
手をつなごう is no different in this respect and triggers my memories of the time when I left home for the great Canadian unknown. The beauty of this song lies not in taking my perspective however, its beauty lies in taking the perspective of those I left. Certainly, it was in understanding these words through my mother's eyes that I truly related to the wealth of emotion crafted into this piece.
It was in taking that view that many lines in the song struck me very hard since they reminded me of the times when I chose to "be strong" as I ventured off. It's no exaggeration to say that I still have certain regrets about the way I conducted myself then in order to convey "strength". I was young and, for lack of a better expression, just plain stupid (that's not to say that I am any smarter now though...). I was silly enough to confuse apathy for strength and, as a result, acted in equally silly ways to display my affection.
Through this translation however, I feel that I could now allow these regrets to transcend the realm of raw emotion. In translating this song, I have found a vehicle to transport the joyless regret from the intangible mechanisms of my heart to the tangible surfaces that my words shape. But in doing so, I do not hope to banish these feelings into a stone prison of writing, rather I hope to preserve them as words set in this tablet of virtual stone.
With this release then, let us move forward to discover the beauty in 手をつなごう - a masterpiece that will continue to help me fight the blues of life.
Song information:
Track 1 from ayaka's single, 手をつなごう/愛を歌おう (Released 2008/03/05).
PV availability:
There is a wonderfully touching PV for this song that features a segment where the instruments stand mute while ayaka sings to the wind's chorus. The PV primarily reflects the message in the song by capturing scenes from the lives of individuals living in the more rural areas of Japan. While adding another dimension to understanding the song, the video also featured a myriad of heart-warming moments that definitely makes it worth checking out.
Theme song:
This song is used as the theme to the movie, 映画 ドラえも のび太と緑の巨人伝 ("eiga doraemon nobita to midori no kyojinden"; trans: "Movie: Doraemon - Nobita and the Green Giant Legend").
Alternative versions:
1. 手をつなごう <2007/12/20 日本武道館 Live ver.> (Released with the single おかえり on 2008/05/14)
Apart from the extended introduction and a different instrumental arrangement, this version of the song is simply a live version that stands testament to the beauty of ayaka's voice. Indeed, there is no place where this is more evident than at the very end of the song when the songstress joins in on the background vocals; it is there that one realises how much of a difference ayaka makes in conveying the emotional depth that defines the song. Overall, I really enjoyed this version of the song since, if nothing else, it was outstanding in highlighting the quality of ayaka's vocals.
Comments:
手をつなごう is about us facing the future but is written from the perspective of those that surround us. The lyrics actually work on two levels throughout the song: the first level being that of the personal self and the second level being about the people dearest to the self. ayaka sets out to reveal the dual-levelled nature of the song in the first verse by writing "人" in the lyrics but singing "君" in the music. This effectively frames it as a piece about everyone while simultaneously limiting it to be about only one person: you.
The ability to write one thing and read another is a commonly used linguistic trait in the Japanese language that expands on a certain concept by attributing more meanings to it. It should be noted that this usage is usually clarified by the use of furigana, but ayaka tends not to include it... LOL... (^___^") In utilising the language this way, the song becomes very personal as the words shift from a song about people in general to a song about the thoughts of those that are dearest to us. Understandably, we cannot truly know the feelings that others feel for us but, through her writing, ayaka attempts to provide us with this insight by proxy.
Knowing this is only the beginning of grasping the many messages in this song however; because from here, one realises that the lyrics cover a large and varied spectrum of motifs. Unfortunately, going through all the ideas from this piece will stretch this segment to make it unreasonably long. In this way, I intend to only discuss the two concepts that jumped out most at me from the lyrics...
Starting with the first noteworthy notion that is the acknowledgement that being able to hear this song places us among the ones that are "living in a continuing dream". That is to say, no matter how difficult life may seem, we are still living a relative good life that others may consider but a "dream". Indeed, there is another level to this line which is that simply being able to live is itself a dream and that is why although the future may seem frightening, we can still confidently take the step forward.
Indeed, the final blog post of Major Andrew Olmsted, posted posthumously, explicates the meaning of this line in such a vivid and substantive manner that I would recommend its reading to anyone interested. I should make it clear that I mean no offence by linking it from here under this context; it just appeared congruent to relate his post with the topic at hand. His post had moved me to tears and certainly, the world has lost another beautiful mind in his passing... but knowing him from his post, it seems that he will rest well in the simple assurance that life goes on for the world...
Somewhat related to the first theme, the second concept in the song is that of growth, especially the growth of those we love. Certainly, while we often think about how we are growing as individuals, we tend to also somehow assume that things will stay the same for those we are closest to. Many of my friends have commented on how others around them and the world in general has changed after their university years. There are also some that have continued to cling on to their old allegiances in an attempt to fondly remember the days when life was that much simpler.
But as ayaka demonstrates, the reason for change is not that people change; instead, change comes about because everybody grows. In terms of people, "change" is probably an inaccurate term to use because it does not recognise life's progression and implies instead that someone had simply swapped one face for another.
Surely then, people do not go through life "changing", they go through it "growing" and part of that growth is experiencing the evolution of one's life circumstances. Differential experiences inform the way we all grow and this is why by being a part of the lives of those we love, our actions and thoughts have bearings on their actions and thoughts as well. Indeed, throughout this song, ayaka sets out to show that growth is not a personal experience but a shared one instead; and ultimately revealing how we are all intertwined with our communities and why relationships require our constant attention.
In closing, ayaka's powerful and emotional vocalisation of the music and lyrics breathe life into her words as the soothing acoustics convey a comfortable melody that envelops the listener in a warmth that is passed down through the ages. Alas, spring has arrived in the gentle melody emanating from 手をつなごう.
Lyrics:
As always, Japanese lyrics are retrieved from www.uta-net.com.
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日本語:
手をつなごう
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歌手: 絢香
作詞: 絢香
作曲: 西尾芳彦・絢香
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耳を澄ませば 聞こえる
笑い声や涙音
みんな生きてる 愛する人と
広い海を渡るには 1人じゃ迷ってしまう
一緒に行こう 光差す方へ
ぶつかっては また抱き合って“弱さ”わけあってく
永遠ってコトバ あるのかな？
未来を想うと 怖くなるけど
ずっと ずっと 続く夢があるから…
手をつなごう
心が叫んでいるのに
君は見て見ぬフリをして
前だけ向いて 歩いていくよ
写真の中 笑う君“今を描けていた？”
伝えるってことは 難しいね
声を枯らしても 届かなくて
ずっと ずっと 叫び続ける日もあるけど…
“想い”重なり花開く時
巨大な力が 生まれるから
永遠ってコトバ あるのかな？
未来を想うと 怖くなるけど
ずっと ずっと 続く夢があるから…きっと
この空飛べたら 会えるかな？
泣いてた自分と君に送るよ
ずっと ずっと 信じていれば 叶うから
手をつなごう
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romaji:
te wo tsunagou
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kashyu: ayaka
sakushi: