Aspiring Queen of the Universe

生まれてきてくれて日々感謝

2012-03-22T04:57:52Z

I told fuyukoi I'd write up a translation of A for her since my interpretation is different from the other one I've seen posted. It's the kind of song that leaves a lot of room for intepretation, but I like mine, so I figured I'd share in case anyone else is interested. It's not particularly polished or anything, but I think it gets the meaning across.

The usual disclaimers apply: I'm not fluent in Japanese by any stretch, and I have no idea what goes on in Subaru's head, so I had to just guess at what he meant in a lot of places where it's ambiguous. If any of you who know Japanese better spot mistakes, please do point them out. (Or even if you just have an alternative intepretation, I'd be happy to hear it.) Likewise, if you spot any typos, please tell me so I can fix them. XD

おめでとうおめでとうおめでとうおめでとう
おめでとうありがとう生まれてきてくれて日々感謝

Congratulations x 5
Thank you
I'm grateful every day that you were born

ありがとう生まれた時に俺産声で言った言葉
産んでくれたおかんおとんに泣きながら言った言葉

Thank you
The words I said with my first cry when I was born
The words I said while crying to mom and dad who gave birth to me

簡単な言葉素直に思った事は
伝えないとずっと変わらないから人と人をつなぐ事は
簡単な事は簡単な言葉
誰もが持って生まれてきたあいことば

A simple word
What I honestly thought
If you don't communicate it, nothing will ever change
The thing that connects people
The simple thing
A simple word
A password that everyone is born with

おめでとうおめでとうおめでとうおめでとう
おめでとうありがとう生まれてきてくれて日々感謝

[chorus]

ありがとうたった一言で世界は変わると思うんだ
いつだって信じてる言葉が持っている力で

Thank you
With just one word, I believe the world will change
I always believe in the power that words hold

世界が変わるから限界なんかないから
絶対あきらめないからどう生きようが俺は俺にしかなれないんだから
誰かのためじゃない自分のためでもない
感謝のみで歌ってるワンラブ関ジャニ∞

The world will change¹
There are no limits¹
I definitely won't give up¹
The way to live is that I can only become myself¹
It's not for someone's sake
It's not for my sake either
Singing only gratitude one love Kanjani8²

おめでとうおめでとうおめでとうおめでとう
おめでとうありがとう生まれてきてくれて日々感謝

[chorus]

おめでとうおめでとうおめでとうおめでとう
おめでとうありがとう生まれてきてくれた全ての命に

Congratulations x 5
Thank you
To all the lives³ that have been born

おめでとうおめでとうおめでとうおめでとう
おめでとうありがとう生まれてきてくれて日々感謝

[chorus]

1. All these lines end with から which technically means because, but it can also be kind of emphatic. It's kind of ambiguous there, but I chose to interpret it like that since I can't figure out what the "because" would refer to.

2. I don't know what he's going for with the "one love (in English) Kanjani8" part. Use your imagination. XD

3. That's where he said "Eighters" in the Countdown con, so "To all the Eighters that have been born."

The other thing that's hard to get across in translation is that what he says for being born is "umaretekite kurete." The "kurete" part is what you use when someone did something for you. So it kind of implies that whoever the song is addressed to being born is doing him a favor or giving him a gift. It's a common thing to say in Japanese when talking about being born, so don't read too much into it, but it adds a little extra layer of meaning that's hard to express in English.

Also, here is a live rip of the song, because the album version just doesn't capture it's full awesomeness.

会えないね

2009-12-05T19:14:23Z

As promised, more translation spam. But this should be it for a while. XD Same disclaimers as usual apply: I'm not fluent in Japanese, and there's a lot of room for interpretation in translating song lyrics.

ETA: Now with 100% official lyrics.

冬恋 (Winter Love)
関ジャニ∞

こんなに寒かったんだな
konna ni samukattanda na
一人で過ごす冬の日
hitori de sugosu fuyu no hi
去年の今頃　君と
kyonen no ima goro kimi to
小さく寄り添い歩いた帰り道
chiisaku yorisoi aruita kaerimichi

So it was this cold
A winter day spent alone
This time last year we walked home on this path
Getting a little closer together

コートのポケットでかじかんだ指が
kooto no poketto de kajikanda yubi ga
不意にね　君の手のひらの温もり探している
fui ni ne kimi no te no hira no nukumori sagashiteiru

My fingers going numb in the pockets of my coat
Are suddenly searching for the warmth of your palm

セツナサヒラヒラ空から舞い降りる
setsunasa hirahira sora kara maioriru
君が居なくなってひとりぼっちの冬の夜
kimi ga inakunatte hitoribocchi no fuyu no yoru
恋しい気持ちがこの声が　届かなくても
koishii kimochi ga kono koe ga todokanakutemo
もう一度　会いたくて会いたくて
mou ichido aitakute aitakute
まだサヨナラが言えない
mada sayonara ga ienai

Sadness¹ flutters down from the sky
Those winter nights alone since you went away
Even if this longing, this voice doesn't reach you
Once more
I want to see you
I want to see you
I can't say goodbye yet

どうして時にコトバは
doushite toki ni kotoba wa
素直じゃいられないんだろう
sunao ja irarenain darou
時間を巻き戻せたとしても
jikan wo makimodoseta toshitemo
やっぱり君を傷付けてしまうのかな？
yappari kimi wo kizutsuketeshimau no kana?

I wonder why my words aren't honest sometimes
If we could turn back time
Would I still wind up hurting you?

言えずの"ごめね"が胸につっかえてる
iezu no "gomen ne" ga mune ni tsukkaeteru
今さら　らしくもないけど
ima sara rashiku mo nai kedo
涙　止まらなくて
namida tomaranakute

The unsaid "Sorry" weighs heavily on my heart²
It's not as if this is just happening now
But my tears won't stop

忘れたふりしたって忘れらんない君のこと
wasureta furi shitatte wasurerannai kimi no koto
強がるたびぎゅっと寂しさが胸を締める
tsuyogaru tabi gyutto sabishisa ga mune wo shimeru
何度も何度も振り返る帰り道
nandomo nandomo furikaeru kaerimichi wakatteru
分かってる　会えないね会えないね
aenai ne aenai ne
もう　ここに君は居ない
mou koko ni kimi wa inai

I pretended to forget
But I couldn't forget about you
When I try to act strong
Loneliness tightly grips my heart
No matter how many times I turn around on the road home
I know I can't see you
I can't see you
You're not here anymore

北風の街　いろんな思い出たち
kitakaze no machi ironna omoidetachi
はがれ落ち　たちまち胸を焦がす
hagareochi tachimachi mune wo kogasu
きっと二人　ちょっと大人になれなかったねって　一人ふけっても
kitto futari chotto otona ni narenakatta ne tte hitori fukettemo
鼻をすすって泣いてるの誤魔化して歩く
hana wo susutte naiteru no gomakashite aruku
気付く... ”君だけが足りない”
kizuku... kimi dake ga tarinai

In the city of the north wind
The many memories break out³
Suddenly I yearn for them
Even if I think to myself
That surely both of us couldn't quite grow up
Hiding my sniffling and crying, I walk
I realize...
Only you're missing

セツナサヒラヒラ空から舞い降りる
setsunasa hirahira sora kara maioriru
君が居なくなって　ひとりぼっちの冬の夜
kimi ga inakunatte hitoribocchi no fuyu no yoru
忘れたふりしたって忘れらんない寂しさが
wasureta furi shitatte wasurerannai sabishisa ga
雪のように積もって凍え死んでしまいそうだ
yuki no you ni tsumotte kogoeshindeshimaisou da
愛しい気持ちがこの声が届かなくてももう一度
itoshii kimochi ga kono koe ga todokanakutemo mou ichido
会いたくて会いたくてまだサヨナラが言えない
aitakute aitakute mada sayonara ga ienai
きっと... 言えない...
kitto... ienai...

Sadness flutters down from the sky
Those winter nights alone since you went away
I pretended to forget, but I couldn't forget
Loneliness, like the snow, piles up
It feels like I'll freeze to death
Even if this feeling of love, this voice doesn't reach you
Once more
I want to see you
I want to see you
I can't say goodbye yet
Surely...
I can't say it...

1. It should probably be something like "heartbreak" or "pain", but that sounds more over-the-top in English than it does in Japanese.
2. Literally, it's more like "is stuck in my chest". I can't decide which works better, so you get a note.
3. The verb actually means "Come unstuck from [something] and fall". I decided to go with a not-very-literal translation.

夜空舞う

2009-12-05T08:24:56Z

Okay, I just stayed up waaaay later than I should have working on this, so I'm going to post it so my night doesn't feel like a total waste. XD As usual, if you see any typos or anything, please point them out. And if you know Japanese, feel free to point out translation mistakes too.

ETA: Now with 100% official lyrics.

Obligatory disclaimer: I'm nowhere near fluent in Japanese and there's a lot of interpretation involved in translating lyrics like these, so I can only guess at the intended meaning sometimes.

Snow White
関ジャニ∞

いつもの道を飾る　街のイルミネーション
itsumo no michi wo kazaru machi no irumineeshon
空からは白雪　優しく僕を包み込む
sora kara wa shirayuki yasashiku boku wo tsutsumikomu
急ぎ足で流れる　めくりめくる季節に
isogiashi de nagareru mekurimekuru kisetsu ni
ちっぽけな抵抗を　ふと立ち止まってみるんだ
chippoke na teikou wo futo tachidomatte mirunda

The city's illumination¹ decorates the usual path
White snow² from the sky gently envelops me
In the quickly-flowing turning seasons, a tiny resistance
I suddenly stop and stand still

あれからどれだけ過ぎた　あいも変わらず笑ってますか？
are kara doredake sugita　ai mo kawarazu warattemasuka?
あの時交わした約束　永久の愛と誓って今も。。。
ano toki kawashita yakusoku towa no ai to chikatte ima mo...

How much time has passed since then?
Are you still laughing like always?
The promise we exchanged then
Swearing eternal love, even now...

夜空舞う君が僕の髪を撫でて肌に触れ優しく笑ってる
yozora mau kimi ga boku no kami wo nadete hada ni fure yasashiku waratteru
ただそれが嬉しくていつまでも君を見つめてた
tada sore ga ureshikute itsumademo kimi wo mitsumeteta

Fluttering about in the night sky
You stroked my hair and touched my skin, laughing gently
Just that made me happy
I was always gazing at you

銀杏並木の側で寄り添う恋人達
ichou namiki no soba de yorisou koibitotachi
かじかんだ手と手に互いの熱を与え合い
kajikanda te to te ni tagai no netsu wo ataeai

The lovers close together by the row of gingko trees
Hand in cold hand, sharing each other's warmth

白くなって消えたのはアイシテルの言葉かな？
shiroku natte kieta no wa aishiteru no kotoba kana
僕はそっとポケットに手を入れてまた歩き出す
boku wa sotto poketto ni te wo irete mata arukidasu

Maybe what turned white and disappeared was the phrase "I love you"
I quietly put my hands in my pockets and start walking again

あれからどれだけ進んだ　限りなく傍で寄り添った時間³
are kara doredake susunda kagirinaku soba de yorisotta toki³
また明日歩いてく僕　永久の愛を祈って今も。。。
mata asu aruiteku boku towa no ai wo inotte ima mo

How far have I come since then?
That endless time when we were close together
The me who will keep walking tomorrow
Prays for eternal love, even now

夜空舞う　君が僕の黒を白に　染めて背中押してゆく
yozora mau kimi ga boku no kuro wo shiro ni somete senaka oshiteyuku
ただそれが優しくて　いつまでも君を見つめてた
tada sore ga yasashikute itsumademo kimi wo mitsumeteta

Fluttering about in the night sky
You dyed my black to white, pushing me forward⁴
Just that was so kind
I was always gazing at you

あと何度君に会えるなんて　数かぞえても分からなくて
ato nando kimi ni aeru nante kazu kazoetemo wakaranakute
わかりそうでもわかりたくなくて
wakarisou demo wakaritakunakute
不安になる夜もあるけれど　どんな高価な指輪なんかより
fuan ni naru yoru mo aru keredo donna kouka na yubiwa nanka yori
君がくれるサプライズが　何よりの贈り物だから
kimi ga kureru sapraizu ga nani yori no okurimono dakara

I don't know how many more times I'll be able to see you
Even though I count the days
It seemed like I understood, but I didn't want to understand
Though there are also nights when I get worried
More than any expensive ring
The surprise you gave me is the best present of all

夜空舞う　君が僕の髪を撫でて肌に触れ優しく笑ってる
yozora mau kimi ga boku no kami wo nadete hada ni fure yasashiku waratteru
君の目に映りこんだ僕もまたいつのまにか笑ってた
kimi no me ni utsurikonda boku mo mata itsunomanika waratteta

Fluttering about in the night sky
You stroked my hair, touched my skin and gently laughed
Before I realized it
The me reflected in your eyes was also laughing again

夜空舞う　君が僕の黒を白に　染めて背中押してゆく
yozora mau kimi ga boku no kuro wo shiro ni somete senaka oshiteyuku
君が舞う季節までまた一人で　二人の愛育むよ
kimi ga mau kisetsu made mata hitori de futari no ai hagukumu yo

Fluttering about in the night sky
You dyed my black to white, pushing me forward
Until the season when you flutter back⁵
I'll still nurture two people's love alone

ただ君に会いたくて　空に向け願い放つんだ
Tada kimi ni aitakute sora ni muke negai wo hanatsunda

Just wanting to see you
I face the sky and send off my wish

1. Christmas lights.
2. It doesn't quite work in translation, but in Japanese, it says "shirayuki", and shirayuki hime (= Princess White Snow) is the Japanese name for Snow White.
3. The kanji here is "jikan" (time (span)/hour(s)) but it's read as "toki" (time(s)). This isn't something you can do in English, but I would guess that using those kanji is supposed to emphasize the length of the time, as opposed to number of times.
4. As in, encouraging me to move forward (figuratively speaking). Literally, it says "pushing on my back".
5. It doesn't say "back", but I don't know what else to make of "until the season when you flutter about/dance". I guess "until you flutter down like the snow".

なんてね

2009-05-13T07:36:18Z

I've discovered that translating song lyrics is a good way to pass my language lab hours (and also just fun in general), so I've been doing a ton lately. I'm far too neurotic to post most of them (because I can't very well be critical of other translations if I post ones that suck), but I worked really hard on this one, so it's getting posted.

(Corrections are always welcome. There's room for interpretation, but it's also entirely possible that I've made some mistakes, so feel free to point out anything that seems off to you.)

Half Down
錦戸亮 (& HIKARI)

どんなに繕ってみても　どんなに着飾ってみても
donna ni tsukurotte mitemo　donna ni kikazatte mitemo
変われないぼくが居て　そこに君も居て
kawarenai boku ga ite　soko ni kimi mo ite
抱え切れない理想と　隠しきれない不安を
kakaekirenai risou to　kakushikirenai fuan wo
誰かのせいにしたあの頃
dareka no sei ni shita ano koro

No matter how much I try to fix it
No matter how much I try to dress it up
The me who can't change was there
You were there too
The ideals we couldn't stop holding on to
And the worries we couldn't stop concealing
We blamed them on someone else
Back then

すれ違う度に　すり切れて行く街並
surechigau tabi ni　surikireteiku machinami
君の目に僕はどう映ってた？
kimi no me ni boku wa dou utsutteta

The times we missed each other
The streets that were wearing out
How was I reflected in your eyes?

二人過ごした日々だけが今も輝いたまま
futari sugoshita hibi dake ga ima mo kagayaita mama
閉じ込めた思いが時折この胸に渦巻くんだ
tojikometa omoi ga tokiori kono mune ni uzumakunda
小さな嘘も　エゴも　傷も　許し合えたなら
chiisa na uso mo　ego mo　kizu mo　yurushiaeta nara
今でも側で笑ってたかな
ima demo soba de waratteta kana

Only the days we spent together are still glittering
The thoughts shut inside
Sometimes swirl around in my heart
The little lies and the ego and the hurt
If we could have forgiven each other for them
Maybe you'd still be laughing by my side

どれだけ後悔してみても巻き戻せない昨日
doredake koukai shite mitemo makimodosenai kinou
同じように世界は明日を待っていて
onaji you ni sekai wa asu wo matteite
繰り返しによく似たカレンダーの中にさえ
kurikaeshi ni yoku nita karendaa no naka ni sae
淡い期待見出したり　なんてね
awai kitai midashitari nante ne

No matter how much I try to regret it
We can't rewind yesterday
In the same way the world is waiting for tomorrow
Even if it's only in the calendar that days seem to repeat
We find a fleeting hope
Or something**

もしも会えたなら　呆れた顔して
moshimo aeta nara　akireta kao shite
笑い飛ばすかな
waraitobasu kana
いまさら、って
ima sara tte

If we could meet
Maybe we'd make shocked faces
And laugh at everything
Saying, "After all this time"

いつだって僕は理想ばかり棚に並べてた
itsudatte boku wa risou bakari tana ni narabeteta
いつだって君は都合のいい夢ばかり見てた
itsudatte kimi wa tsugou no ii yume bakari miteta
でも多分　過去も　現在も*　未来も　認め合えるから
demo tabun　kako mo　ima mo　mirai mo　mitomeaeru kara
そう信じて祈るだけ
sou shinjite inoru dake

I was always lining up only ideals on the shelves
You were always only dreaming convenient dreams
But probably we can accept the past, the present and the future
I just believe and pray for that

言葉にしたらあとは霞んでいく気がしてた
kotoba ni shitara ato wa kasundeiku ki ga shiteta
こうして歌っている今　皮肉なものだね
kou shite utatteiru ima　hiniku na mono da ne
何も無かった時代と　何もかもがあった時代が
nanimo nakatta jidai to nanimo kamo ga atta jidai ga
優しい風のように
yasashii kaze no you ni

If I put it into words
I felt like it would become hazy afterwards
And now I'm singing like this
Ironic, isn't it?
The time we had nothing
And the time we had everything
Are like a gentle wind

二人過ごした日々だけが今も輝いたまま
futari sugoshita hibi dake ga ima mo kagayaita mama
閉じ込めた思いが時折この胸に渦巻くんだ
tojikometa omoi ga　tokiori kono mune ni uzumakunda
小さな希望を　勇気を　傷を　讃え合えたなら
chisa na kibou wo yuuki wo kizu wo　tataeaeta nara
今でも側で笑ってたかな
ima demo soba de waratteta kana

Only the days we spent together are still glittering
The thoughts shut inside
Sometimes swirl around in my heart
The little hope, the courage and the hurt
If we could have praised each other for them
Maybe you'd still be laughing by my side

相変わらず僕は理想ばかり棚に並べては
aikawarazu boku wa risou bakari tana ni narabete wa
相変わらず君に都合のいい夢ばかり見てんだ
aikawarazu kimi ni tsugou no ii yume bakari mitenda
いつかは過去も　現在も　未来も　愛しく思えるなら
itsuka wa kako mo ima mo mirai mo itoshiku omoeru nara
何処までも行こう　僕のままで
dokomademo yukou boku no mama de

As always I'm lining up only ideals on the shelves
As always you're only dreaming convenient dreams
If someday we can think of the past, the present and the future as dear
I'll go anywhere
Just as I am

*These kanji say "genzai" (present), but here they're read as "ima" (now). Either way, the meaning of the line is the same.
**I don't know if it's clear, but "nante ne" is the kind of thing you would say after you said something too serious (or otherwise embarrassing) and wanted to laugh it off a bit. That's what I mean by "or something".