Showing posts with label yuragi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yuragi. Show all posts

Saturday, 29 April 2017

心分け by Kamikita Ken~ Translation

Feel like this is the come back season for all my favourite mangaka so I decided to make a comeback with translating KK's song too :)))
From the moment I listened to Layered's cross-fade, 心分け somehow drew me to it lyrics, though it wasn't like I understood it completely back then, or even now (~~')
It's just my own interpretation of this song, but it seems to me that 心分け tells a story of two souls existing inside one body. Similar to how Ken-chan mentioned 'you' and 'me' in ゆらぎ (you can find the translation here), I don't think the 'you' was an external existence, but more like one's past and present self.

That feelings when you look back at your past, and realise yourself from those days are telling you not to hold on to the past anymore. However, no matter how ugly do you and your past think of it, you can neither ignore or forget it; and at the same time, you don't want it to disappear. Both of you, trying to exist, trying to recognise each other's existence, because both of you, are you. You in the past wishes for your happiness and do its best to completely disappear. While you, who doesn't want to deny the path you have been through, are trying your best not to let the 'past you' go.

At least that's what I feel from the song, though it might be completely rubbish :))
If you also like 心分け , let me know what you think of the lyrics.

Kokoro Wake


Written and composed by Kamikita Ken (KK)
English translation by Makoto 

One day, I was gone
Then you was born, in place of me.
I'll leave this heart to you, so live freely from now on.

I'm an imitation, that's why I could no longer stay here.
I can't put these into words, so I'll leave in silent.

Two will be unnecessary. Either will do.
In that case, I will,
No longer needing this name nor this face, from tomorrow onward.
Please paint over me with your unclean self,
And truly become who you want to be.

Looking back at the memory of the old days
Was that clouded sky shaded in white or green?
Gazing down from the glass windows
All that came into my vision was a black ocean,
That looks like a big big eye,
Waiting to swallow me.
But then, you suddenly hugged me over the shoulders,
I could feel your warmth through the touch on my cheeks.
That feelings when your round, slightly wrinkle fingers gently brushed my hair
Is what they call 'safe and sound'
I was so closed to burst into tears.
And realised
'This is where I belong'
'This person is who I can trust'

The deep dark sea, seemingly to know just anything,
Has come to take the present me away
Even though it has already come,
It was you who tell me
'Don't go and vanish just yet'
'Together, we can go back'
You are mine, you are me.

One day, I was gone.
Then you was born, in place of me.
If you could take part of this heart, it'd be fine to loose a place to return to.

It's my fault that
No matter how far we move forward, we can't become neither 'you' or 'me'
This name, face and heart are all important.
Even the me, who want to become you, is equally important.
Please also love the unclean me.

It's alright being an unwanted imitation
Because I no longer have any doubt that who I'm now is (the real) me.

That's my decision, and the answer I have from making such decision.

(There were only 3-5 words I didn't know but it still took me more than an hour (maybe more) to translate this. Gj Ken-chan!!)


3rd song from Kamikita Ken's 2nd Mini Album, Layered
Cross-fade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHWjvxlVYXM
Please support the artist by purchasing original copy on CdJapanAmazonJapan, or Itunes.
Visit KK's official site and Youtube channel for more information








Wednesday, 19 April 2017

僕と君が、前を向くための歌~生きゆく街に海を見る。上北健 HALL LIVE IN TOKYO 2017~ Report

Just realised I havent been updating this blog for so long already. Cant remember how many times I told myself to write one about KK's new mini album Layered, which was released on the 12th April. I'll put the link to his new album and stuffs like that at of this article. But first, let's have a quick report of his live at Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall last night!*

                                     

                               "僕と君が、前を向くための歌"
                                                                   生きゆく街に海を見る。


I have to say, it was totally worth it, spending money, time and effort to fly all the way to Japan, just to see KK's live this year. As I thought, my parents did complain a bit when I told them I'd go to Japan to see KK''s live. But in the end, it was my money and my hobby so they respected it! I guess as I grow older, they start to understand more about my decision in life, although this decision was simply spontaneous~ So yea, I booked a flight in late Feb and came to Japan the day before the live. 

Done with background information, now let's move to the real deal~~~~
My seat was right in the middle in the first row of the fixed seats, so I could see the stage without any obstruction! I think I prefer it than siting in the areana area. 
If I counted the 2016's live that I watched on Nico Nico, this would be the 3rd time I watched KK's live. Amazing? Fantastic? Wonderful? My English vocab doesnt allow me to describe it correctly. The live was, as always, not perfect but perfect! 


Ken-chan's voice was beautiful as ever. I'm glad they didnt make the BGM too loud so we could listen to his voice in such a big hall. He started with the concept song of this live, followed by Yuragi and Cross street, and it was too much for my heart! I have talked about my personal obsession with Yuragi so finding out he included it in this time, I was just filled with happiness. Together with the concept song, he also wrote a concept story especially for yesterday's live (I'll try to translate it later on), and actually read it out loud! Anyone who follows him would know he doesnt talk alot. Even on namahousou, Ken-chan usually sings and only tells important information. However yesterday, he stepped out his comfort zone and told us the story in his beautiful voice. Each phrase was read with emotion and wonderful acting skill, as if he wasnt a singer, but a story-teller. In some sense, Ken-chan is a story-teller, isnt he! Through music, he conveys the story of what he has been encountered in life, the story that portrays his feeling, thought and emotion. It's not always a pretty story, it's not always a happy story, but they are all real, and that's what draw me to his music. 
Talking about comfort zone, it was a rare sight seeing Ken-chan sings without his guitar. In this 1.5 years, I have never saw him without it, regardless using it or not. But yesterday, in front of everyone, he did it! To be honest, it was awk af!!!! But at the same time, seeing him trying his best, I almost bursted into tears. The awk movement and position he placed his hands were just too cute <3. 
What amazed me the most is that the audiences were speechless during the first 3 songs. No one was able to clap or whatsoever, like the hall was frozen by his voice. That feeling when you want to clap hands and show how great the performance was, but couldn't because you dont want to disturb the flow of it. It was simply amazing!

Thank you all the staffs, band members and the two dancers who played an irreplaceable role in creating such beautiful performance last night.
And Ken-chan, thanks so much for being there, for singing with your heart.
スタッフの皆さん、バンドメンバーの皆さん、ダンサーのお二人、本当にありがとうございます。
健さん、いつもいつもありがとうございます。
これからもずっと応援します。
いつまでも健さんの素敵な音楽を続けますように、
いつか世界中に広げますように。



I still havent listened to Layered since I dont have a cd driver atm, but I got to listen to the songs in yesterday's live so all good! 
I'm really really glad I came all the way to watch it. 
Can we just have DVDs of the lives? CDs would be good as well though! Just give us something plsss.

Kamikita Ken's 2nd Mini Album~ Layered
Cross-fade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHWjvxlVYXM

For those who want a hard copy no matter what (like me ^^) CdJapan or AmazonJapan
Those who don't have a cd driver and hate waiting for the physical copy to be shipped, you can now buy it on Itunes
I was able to access it from overseas so shouldn't have any problem on buying outside of Japan.

Visit KK's official site and Youtube channel for more information
*I wrote this on 17th though didnt have time to publish it and cbs fixing the date now lol





Thursday, 31 December 2015

Kamikata Ken's Release tour ヒトスクイ ~Report~


I'm absolutely in love with Kamikita Ken's voice and music! (I'll call him either KK or Ken-chan in my post to make it short)
I know it's not a big deal to some people but for me, I don't usually buy singles or albums, I only buy them when I want to support the artist. Now everything is available on the internet (thanks to all the generosity of internet users <3), you don't need to pay but still get what you want. So the decision to buy live ticket, goods and two albums is equal to my tiny little support I can give him. As a token of my appreciation! I came across KK in the same way with other utaites. Maybe because I personally like this kind of voice so I immediately get attracted after a few songs. Then because I always focus more on the lyrics and most of his songs are extremely meaningful to me, I became his fan. Similar to Sekai no Owari's songs, I can relate to the music KK wrote (not all, ofc!). I'm planning to translate as many as I can of his songs.
Should get back on track, the Release tour!
It was unexpectedly amazing. The live was held at a small live house which approx 350~400ppl can get in. I never thought there were more than 300ppl coming for the live and yet, it was way more than that! I stood right in the middle at the back area (that is usually a little higher than the front). Thanks god the girls in front weren't too high to block my view, and yes, I got a full view of him. I love his voice so much when listening to the records and he even sounded better performing live. The problem with many utaites (from my friends' p.o.v) is that they don't always sound as good in real life. But KK's voice the other day was too powerful. I have been to quite a few live performances since coming to Japan so I know how noisy things can be. From the audio systems to the crowd's voice/cheer/scream, which make it hard to hear the singer's voice sometime. However, I think anyone who went the other day would agree that KK's voice was super clear. Ken-chan, how could you manage to sing much much better live??? The moment he sung Kokorone心根 my heart melted. Never imaged he would sing that 2.33 song (my fav) live, then continued with Yuragi ゆらぎ, the song that makes me fall in love with his music. Both my heart and ears melted by then! I think my tears busted out a little. The two songs that hurt me the most, the two most beautiful songs, the two that give me a lot of support were sung together! You have such amazing sense of music Ken-chan!
When I told mom that Ken-chan sounded not the same but even better than his Cd, mom was like 'He might lip-sync'. 'Lol no way, he messed up quite a lot'. A simple live house with very few setups, an unprofessional singer who sometime forgot the lyrics or unable to start a song properly. But more than anything was a man who went after his dream. A man who wrote powerful songs that have been supporting me since I knew about him. I'm sure I wrote this somewhere but I love people performing with the brightest smile! Well, when you sing emotional songs you can't really smile, but you can still feel if they enjoyed what they were doing or not through a live performance, somehow.
Thank you for writing songs with healing power. They are not super cheerful, but they are too realistic they hurt sometimes. At the moment all I can do is attempt to translate your songs into English with my poor language skill. It's suck that I prob unable to come to the next live because I'll go back to Melbourne and uni exam will be very close by then. But I'll always support you, in all the possible ways.

P/s: Ken-chan, you should know the phrase "I don't always write fun songs" is wrong...totally wrong, because it's more like "I write fun songs on rare occasions"


Saturday, 24 October 2015

ゆらぎ by KK ~translation~

   Just found out abt KK (けけ in Japanese) 1~2wks ago and...his music is so touching. Different from most ppl, I prefer lyrics of a song more than the rhythm itself so as long as the lyrics are meaningful, no matter if it's hip-hop or rock, electro (or even enka somtime) bring it on!
   Although both the rhythm and lyrics of this song are perfect. 

                                 Yuragi 
Written and composed by Kamikita Ken (KK)
English translation by Makoto (with BIG help from jisho and google trans ^^)


How can you smile like that when your voice is trembling?
"I wonder if anyone received happiness today?" 
You said, smiling while your tears are falling.

People greedily steal what they crave for
And eventually lost sight of the truth.
But have they thought about who decided the values of those things
Or they are simply meaningless?

In this world, there are neither friends of foes.
That is why you are crying, all alone, right?
You always say "help me" is such an useless phrase.
Please notice my feelings. 

The 'everyday' that you hate, your wish to be acknowledged
I know them all, I understand them all.
I want to affirm them
Don't forget there is someone nearby who receive happiness from you.

Although your voice is still trembling
There hasn't been a single drop of tears on your face.
Was happiness thrown away somewhere again today?
Eyes close, as if trying to keep the light away.

People are too caught up in chasing after the 'happiness' someone else has decided, they no longer look around them.
If so, even the so call 'live for somebody' no longer means anything.
No wonder you are fed up with this empty life. 

I wonder if my voice is still trembling.
I already know it won't reach you
Therefore, I'll leave this song here for you when you reach my time (age).

The 'everyday' that you hate, your wish to be acknowledged
I know them all, I understand them all.
And I have affirmed them.
I just want to tell you there is someone nearby who receive happiness form you.

I want you to know and understand that
The 'everyday' that is fighting against you, is what keeping me alive, even now.
That is an unchangeable truth.
Don't forget that somewhere in this world, I'm wishing for your happiness.
Please never forget that. 


5th song from KK's latest album, SCOOP
Please support the artist by purchasing original copy Amazon Japan
Visit KK's official site for more information http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/kenkamikita/ 

p/s: idk should I also post the romajij and orignal lyrics?