【Lyrics Translation】I’s CUBE, I’s CUBE
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Blue Sky
Composition: Yuji Matsumura, Ai
Lyrics: Ai
Arrangement: Yuji Matsumura
That moment when I stumbled, they came back to me again,
Those fragments of memories from which I’d been purposely looking the other way
No matter how tightly bonds are formed,
When it’s time for them to break, how easily they do
The look you gave me that day, even now, feels like you had something to say – it won’t go away
【Lyrics Translation】 R・O・N featuring Junko from electlink, Solty Rei special ending theme; collected in promise
—
pieces
Sound Produced by R・O・N
cover up my tear
let me cover up my tear
in the pieces
the only pieces your memory pieces
【Lyrics Translation】 sakanaction, Shinshiro (シンシロ)
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1000 and 0
Lyrics: Ichiro Yamaguchi
Composition: Ichiro Yamaguchi
Arrangement: sakanaction
In the night, I cleaned my dirty desk – I wonder, will something change?
I scratched my back with one hand and let out a light sigh – I guess it’s about time to go
In the in-between of 0:00AM,
Tired out from the night flying, I am outer space
【Lyrics Translation】 R・O・N, Solty Rei insert song; collected in promise
There are a lot of unmarked repeat verses in the second half of the song; I’ve gone ahead and unfolded those in the English and romaji sections to make it easier to follow along. For the most part, I’ve left the already-English parts intact in translation, though I’ve made a few changes for readability.
As far as I can find, this CD seems to be the oldest commercial release where R・O・N sings in his own songs – it’s even grouped with his STEREO DIVE work on Lantis’s website.
—
(Why I’m right here) with you
Sound Produced by R・O・N
walking away and you would stay
the passing days’ continuing
slipping away but don’t be afraid
ready or not we will meet again
I go and you go
the same direction we would choose you got it?
heading our future
【Lyrics Translation】 Galileo Galilei, Arakawa Under the Bridge (drama) ending theme; collected in PORTAL
Like many of the songs on PORTAL, I really enjoy how the lyrics capture certain facets of moving on from childhood. While the the way this theme runs through AnoHana / Aoi Shiori is a lot more obvious, it’s pretty interesting in this song both alone and in context of Arakawa.
While we’re on the topic, I’ll also note that I’ve been feeling pretty ambivalent about how I’ve handled the translation of Aoi Shiori throughout the years; I’ll definitely be revisiting that in edits and a blogpost before long.
—
Goodbye Frontier
Lyrics: Yuuki Ozaki
Composition: Yuuki Ozaki, Hitoshi Sakou
Arrangement: Galileo Galilei
Happy friends, we put tin cans beneath our sneakers
And crushed them down, crushed them down
Once dawn passed by, the rusted blue sky got cold,
And we put on our jackets
Keeping the rhythm, the sounds of grunge wailed out
Someone asked, “Whose song is that?”
The highway tunnel
We laughed at the song that got drowned out by the noise
【Lyrics Translation】 Sakamoto Maaya, Dokuhaku ↔ Yakudou
Just a little song of hope and comfort in troubling times. According to an interview, some imagery in the lyrics was inspired by a visit Maaya Sakamoto made to Croatia.
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The Day When I’ll Set Out On My Journey
Lyrics / Composition: Maaya Sakamoto
Arrangement: Shin Kono
Looking down from the castle wall, I saw the city bathed in light of the morning sun
Somebody’s window opened, and birds took flight
Far away, so far away in the past, lie the traces of heartrending history
Please, oh please, let these peaceful days continue on
【Lyrics Translation】 la la larks, 28:00
See also: the la la larks lyrics project
This single originally got a very limited release as part of a crowdfunding campaign that I missed; I was pretty lucky to get to hear this, thanks to the goodwill of someone who did back it.
I’m not sure how common this notation is outside Japan, but late night hours past midnight are often written (in TV schedules, for example) with hour numbers greater than 23, under the expectation that you’d be staying awake from the previous day. In this case, 28:00 would be equivalent to 04:00 AM.
—
28:00
Lyrics / Composition / Arrangement: la la larks
In the sky to the east, a light hue of pale pink
I took in a deep breath, like I was cleansing my heart
From the balcony, I looked to the white moon above,
Alone, motionless
【Lyrics Translation】 Harusaruhi
—
Music (RAP VERSION)
Lyrics / Composition / Arrangement: Guiano
Rap Arrangement: Takayan
Vocals: Harusaruhi
Shoving past society’s notion of “unsellable”
With the conversion of each individual’s pain
It’s one-of-a-kind art
Once again, someone is throwing away their 「love」
And then there you were, waiting
You and my heart were both crying
Today once again, with my guitar on my back, I continue to walk, with the buildings overhead
The memories that float up all transform into tomorrow’s food
And to the regrets I’ve dragged along — “Just grow up,” is all that the grownups say
I do understand that money is important too
【Lyrics Translation】 Guiano, Love & Music
—
Music
Lyrics / Composition / Arrangement: Guiano
Vocals: Hatsune Miku
Wishes alone aren’t enough to make life work out well
The word “Why?” can’t get me food for tomorrow on its own
Another day of continuing to walk, guitar on my back, buildings overhead
The memories that float up all transform into tomorrow’s food
And to the regrets I’ve dragged along — “Just grow up,” is all that the grownups say
I do understand that money is important too
【Lyrics Translation】 DELUTAYA
—
Heart/RΔIN_STOP;)
lyrics / vocals / mix / rap: DELUTAYA
A boring rainy day off, weather’s not clearing up in my heart, cry…
Umbrella up, where do we go? Foot down in the puddle – jump! stepping.
I don’t care if I get wet, wash everything away…
I’m just passing through all these pointless days, sleeping sleeping
I’m tired of hearing all of it. What the hell is going on?
Someone tell me, baby.
...VOICE