SMAP - Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no hana 世界に一つだけの花

Another hits from year 2003. Coming from the legendary boy band SMAP, with the title Sekai ni Hitotsu dake no Hana (世界に一つだけの花) or "The One and Only Flower in the World" in English. With total number of sales reaching 2.5 million coppies, it is number 9 best selling song in Japan of all time according to Oricon. Of course it reached the top of the ladder without nothing. Just listen to it and you will know why. I've attached live version of the song with violin as background instrumental, giving unique touch to the song.

SHARAN-Q - Zurui Onna (ズルい女)

Going back to year 1995, this song was one of the hit back then. The direct translation of the title (Zurui Onna) meant cunning woman. Originally sang by SHARAN-Q, the version below is sang by Coconut Musume (ココナッツ娘), which is a group band formed by SHARAN-Q leader, Tsunku (つんく).

Coconut Musume, just like Morning Musume, is an idol girl band under Hello Project which the member mainly come from Hawaii. Yes, Hawaii! That's why it is called Coconut haha!

And Musume (娘) basically meant daughter. What a creative name..

Anyway, enjoy...

T-BOLAN - Hanashitaku Wa Nai (愛してたなんて)

This time round, it would be one of the masterpiece from T-BOLAN, which is extremely famous in 90s. This particular song was released quite early in the group and bring T-BOLAN to fame. I attached the live version as I found this version is better than recorded one. Enjoy! 

Lyrics:

今　オマエをこの腕に　抱きたくて　せつないよ

Ima omae wo kono ude ni dakitakute oh, setsunai yo

Now I want to embrace you so much it hurts

会いたい気持(とき)が　どれ程つらいかと　問いかけてた
Aitai toki mo dore hodo tsurai ka to toikaketeta
I ask how painful  it is to miss someone

ひとりきりの夜ならば　今すぐに　会いに行くよ
Hitorikiri no yoru naraba imasugu ni Oh, ai ni iku yo oh... 
On a night when I’m alone, I want go to see you right away

遠ざかる二人の距離　追いかけて　慰めてた
toozakaru futari no kyori oikakete nagusameteta
I was comforted to chase after the great distance between us

諦めるよりも　信じることに
akirameru yori mo shinjiru koto ni

Rather than giving up, I want to keep holding on

賭けてみる思いを　抱きしめていたい
kakete miru omoi wo dakishimete itai
to the thought of taking a risk on believing

こんなに　Everyday Everynight
konna ni Everyday Everynight

In this way, veryday Everynight

勇気づけてくれたEveryday Everynight
kizukete kureta Everyday Everynight

You gave me encouragement Everyday Everynight

離したくはない
hanashitaku wa nai
I don't want to be apart

恋する程にとけてく　ため息が　またひとつ
koisuru hodo ni toketeku tameiki ga mata hitotsu

There is one more thing to sigh about with my love for you

いつも強がるばかりの涙さえ　こぼれそうサ
itsumo tsuyogaru bakari no namida sae koboresou sa
Even the tears that always just pretending to be strong have escaped

あふれる想いを　今さら　投げかけてみるよ
afureru omoi wo ima sara nage kakete miru yo

I'll try to throw my overflowing feelings to you

すべてが変わらないように
subete ga kawaranai you ni
Everything doesn’t seems to change

こんなに　Everyday Everynight
konna ni Everyday Everynight

In this way, Everyday Everynight

愛してたなんて
aishiteta nante

To have loved

もう　Everyday Everynight
mou Everyday Everynight
Again Everyday Everynight

離したくはない

hanashitaku wa nai

I don't want to be apart

あふれる想いを　今さら　投げかけてみるよ
afureru omoi wo ima sara nage kakete miru yo

I'll try to throw my overflowing feelings to you

すべてが変わらないように
subete ga kawaranai you ni
Everything doesn’t seems to change

こんなに　Everyday Everynight

konna ni Everyday Everynight

In this way, Everyday Everynight

愛してたなんて
aishiteta nante

To have loved

もう　Everyday Everynight
mou Everyday Everynight

Again, Everyday Everynight

離したくはない
hanashitaku wa nai
I don't want to be apar

こんなに　Everyday Everynight
konna ni Everyday Everynight

In this way,  Everyday Everynight

愛してたなんて
aishiteta nante

To have loved

もう　Everyday Everynight
mou Everyday Everynight

Again, Everyday Everynight

離したくはない

hanashitaku wa nai

I don't want to be apart

Southern All Stars - Tsunami

So I've decided to start opening a blog to post list of my favorite good Japanese song. The songs could be new, old, classical, or even by Japanese 'idol' group. Hope I can share part of the beauty of Japanese culture :)

The first song I'm going to post is one of the best Japanese mega hit, Tsunami by Southern All Stars (サザンオールスターズ). Released in 2000, it has soldover 2.9 million copies in Japan alone, making it one of the best selling song in Japan.

Dominated by Kuwata Keisuke' deep and unique voice, this is a simple yet enjoyable song. Enjoy!

Lyric:

風に戸惑う弱気な僕

kaze ni tomadou yowaki na boku
I am timid, and lost in the wind

通りすがるあの日の幻影

toori sugaru ano hi no kage

The shadow of that day passes me by

本当は見た目以上

hontou wa mitame ijou
The truth is, I have a past of easily crying

涙もろい過去がある

namida moroi kako ga aru
More than it would appear

止めど流る清か水よ
tomedo nagaru sayaka mizu yo
Fresh water, flowing without stopping

消せど燃ゆる魔性の火よ

kesedo moyuru mashou no hi yo
A devilish fire that burns without disappearing

あんなに好きな女性に

anna ni suki na hito ni
There won't be a summer again

出逢う夏は二度とない

deau natsu wa nido to nai
Where I'll meet a girl that I love that much

人は誰も愛求めて　闇に彷徨う運命

hito wa dare mo ai motomete yami ni samayou sadame
Everyone searches for love, destined to wander in the darkness

そして風まかせ　Oh, My destiny

soshite kaze makase oh, my destiny
So I trust myself to the wind, oh, my destiny

涙枯れるまで

namida kareru made
Until my tears dry up

見つめ合うと素直にお喋り出来ない
mitsume au to sunao ni oshaberi dekinai
When we gaze at one another, I can't talk to you naturally

津波のような侘しさに

tsunami no you na wabishi sa ni
Loneliness like a tidal wave

I know 怯えてる　Hoo

i know...obieteru hoo
I know...I'm afraid of it, hoo

めぐり逢えた瞬間から魔法が解けない

meguri aeta toki kara mahou ga tokenai
From the time we met, the magic hasn't gone away

鏡のような夢の中で

kagami no you na yume no naka de
In a dream like a mirror

思い出はいつの日も雨

omoide wa itsu no hi mo ame
My memories are rain everyday

夢が終わり目醒める時
yume ga owari mezameru toki
When the dream is over, and I wake up

深い闇に夜明けが来る

fukai yami ni yoake ga kuru
The dawn comes in the thick darkness

本当は見た目以上

hontou wa mitame ijou
The truth is, I'm more tough

打たれ強い僕がいる

utare tsuyoi boku ga iru
Than I would appear

泣き出しそうな空眺めて　波に漂うカモメ
naki dashi sou na sora nagamete nami ni tadayou kamome
Gazing at the sky that seems about start crying, seagulls float above the waves

きっと世は情け　Oh, Sweet memory

kitto yo wa nasayake oh, sweet memory
This world is certainly pathetic, oh, sweet memory

旅立ちを胸に

tabidachi wo mune ni
Journeys in my heart

人は涙見せずに大人になれない
hito wa namida miezu ni otona ni narenai
A person can't grow up without showing his tears

ガラスのような恋だとは

garasu no you na koi da to wa
A love like glass

I knowï気付いてる　Hoo

I know...kizuiteru hoo
I know...I notice it, hoo

身も心も愛しい女性しか見えない

karada mo kokoro mo itoshii hito shika mienai
My body and heart can only see the girl that I love

張り裂けそうな胸の奥で

harisake sou na mune no oku de
Inside my heart that seems about to break

悲しみに耐えるのは何故？

kanashimi ni taeru no wa naze?
How do I endure this sadness?

見つめ合うと素直にお喋り出来ない

mitsume au to sunao ni oshaberi dekinai
When we gaze at one another, I can't talk to you naturally

津波のような侘しさに

tsunami no you na wabishi sa ni
Loneliness like a tidal wave

I know 怯えてる　Hoo

i know...obieteru hoo
I know...I'm afraid of it, hoo

めぐり逢えた瞬間から死ぬまで好きと言って

meguri aeta toki kara shinu made suki to itte
From the time we meet, until I die, say that you love me

鏡のような夢の中で

kagami you na yume no naka de
In a dream like a mirror

微笑をくれたのは誰？

hohoemi wo kureta no wa dare?
Who is it that smiled at me?

好きなのに泣いたのは何故？
suki na no ni naita no wa naze?
Why do I cry, even though I love you?

思い出はいつの日も...雨

omoide wa itsu no hi mo...ame

My memories are rain everyday