I, Nameless

Words by Sakurai Atsushi

Music By Imai Hisashi

Japanese

一雫　雨を
一雫　ください
一雫　愛を
一雫　ください

名も　無 い　　わたし　は
あなた　と　　出会いました
名も　無 い　　わたし　にも
蝶や　風 や　　夢　が．．

狂い咲く　　花たちよ
今は　咲 き 乱 れ よ
狂い咲く　　命　共
乱れ　乱れ　乱れ

あ り が と う　愛を
陽だまりも　日々を
一輪　　　の　花を
髪飾り　　　君に

名も　無 い　　わたし　は
あなた　と　　お別れ　来た
名も　無 い　　わたし　にも
赤や　黄 の 夢　が．．

狂い咲く　　花たちよ
今は　咲 き 乱 れ よ
狂い咲く　　命　共
乱れ　乱れ　乱れ
狂い咲く　　花たちよ
今は　咲 き 乱 れ よ
狂い咲く　　命　共
乱れ　乱れ　乱れ

Romaji

By: Yoshiyuki

Hitoshizuku　ame wo
Hitoshizuku　kudasai
Hitoshizuku　ai wo
Hitoshizuku　kudasai

Na mo　na-i　　watashi　wa
Anata　to　　deaimashita
Na mo　na-i　　watashi　ni mo
Chou ya　Kaze ya　Yume　ga..

Kurui saku　　hana tachi yo
Ima wa 　sa-ki mi-da-re yo
Kurui saku　　inochi　domo
Midare　Midare　Midare

A-ri-ga-to-u　ai wo
hidamari mo　hibi wo
Ichi rin　　no　hana wo
kami kazari　　kimi ni

Na mo　na-i　　watashi　wa
Anata　to　　o wakare　kita
Na mo　na-i　　watashi　ni mo
Aka ya　ki no 　　yume　ga..

Kurui saku　　hana tachi yo
Ima wa 　sa-ki mi-da-re yo
Kurui saku　　inochi　domo
Midare　Midare　Midare
Kurui saku　　hana tachi yo
Ima wa 　sa-ki mi-da-re yo
Kurui saku　　inochi　domo
Midare　Midare　Midare

English

By: Yoshiyuki

A drop　of rain
A drop　please
A drop　of love
A drop　please

Although nameless, I
got to meet you
Even nameless, I
met butterflies, felt the wind, had dreams..

All the flowers blooming in frenzy
Now bloom in exuberance
Together with lives blooming in frenzy
Flourish　In riot　Ablaze

Thank you　for the love
and the sunshine　and each day
A single stalk　of flower
to decorate　your hair

Although nameless, I
have come to bid you farewell
Even nameless, I
dream of red, of yellow..¹

All the flowers blooming in frenzy
Now bloom in exuberance
Together with lives blooming in frenzy
Flourish　In riot　Ablaze
All the flowers blooming in frenzy
Now bloom in exuberance
Together with lives blooming in frenzy
Flourish　In riot　Ablaze

Notes:

¹ There’s some sort of dream interpretation based on the colours you dream of and the interpretation in Japanese culture (pop culture?) is different from Western interpretations so I’ll be using the Japanese one for this song. To start, dreaming in bright shades is generally positive while darker shades imply negativity.

For red, brighter shades imply things like “passion”, “heightened vitality”, “triumph” and tell of good things to come in a person’s love life. Darker shades imply “anger”, “misfortune”, “conflict”, or generally poor mental or physical health.

For yellow, brighter shades imply “intuition”, “abundance”, “liveliness”. It refers to general luck coming your way. Darker shades imply “dissatisfaction”, “indecision”, “stagnation”, “instability”; a sign that you’re mentally troubled by something.

From Sakurai’s interview in FT107, from his point of view, the arpeggio in the intro immediately brought to mind a single flower stalk swaying in the wind. He then goes on to talk about personifying it from that image, thinking of himself as that flower blooming on its own, critters coming to it, being blown by the wind and equally rained upon despite having no name. He describes the song as a story of life with encounters and the eventual farewells. 

From Imai’s interview in FT107, the remixed version for the single was done according to the band’s specifications. Imai in particular asked YOW-ROW to bring the single version to “an even more major scale”, and DM-ed him the chord progression to use. YOW-ROW then added his own vibe and flavour to it, giving it a more complex feel which Imai really liked.

From Imai and Yokoyamal’s interview in FT107, the interviewer was talking about the “emotional switch” in the song and mentioned that they were trying to explain what they felt to Hide (the very first person who was interviewed for this issue) but they couldn’t quite get it across. Imai commented that Hide probably wouldn’t get it anyway and would be confused. The interviewer then shared that in the end, Hide said, “I don’t really get it either, so I’m sure it’s not particularly important to Imai.”; a statement which Imai profusely refuted. 

Words by Sakurai Atsushi

Music By Imai Hisashi

Japanese

何の為　生きる?
上手くいかない お化粧
酷　い　週末　ね

お母さんの夢を?
夢を犯しました
胸　掻きむし　る

 　ララバイ　血が止まら．．ない
 　傷口を　舐 め て
 　　街が　僕が
 　　君が　歪む
 　　夕暮れブランコ　　ゆ　ら
 　　誰も　歪
 　　不思議に生きている
 　　窓に灯り　ほ　ら

お父さんの夢を?
夢も殺しました
日曜　雨　模様

 　ララバイ　グッドバイ　サヨナ．．ラ
 　切り刻んで　しま．．え
 　　街が　僕が
 　　君が　歪む
 　　信号　赤に　変わ　る

 　　お爺さん　　お婆さん
 　　手を繋ぎましょう

 　　　構うな!
 　　　　放っといて　頂戴．．

 　お父さん　お母さん
 　忘れないでね
 　とっても　愛してい　　　る
 　こんな　　はずじゃ．．
 　優しくなりたい
 　次の電車が　　狂．．　　う

Romaji

By: Yoshiyuki

Nan no tame　ikiru?
Umaku ikanai  O keshou
Hido　i　shuumatsu　ne

Okaasan no yume wo?
Yume wo okashimashita
Mune　kakimushi　ru

 　Rarabai　Chi ga tomara.. nai
 　Kizuguchi wo　na-me-te
 　　Machi ga　Boku ga
 　　Kimi ga　Hizumu
 　　Yuugure buranko　　yu　ra
 　　Dare mo　ibitsu
 　　Fushigi ni ikiteiru
 　　Mado ni akari　ho　ra

Otousan no yume wo?
Yume mo koroshimashita
Nichiyou　ame　moyou

 　Rarabai　Guddobai　Sayona.. ra
 　Kiri kizande　shima.. e
 　　Machi ga　Boku ga
 　　Kimi ga　Hizumu
 　　Shingou　aka ni　kawa　ru

 　　Ojiisan　Obaasan
 　　Te wo tsunagimashou

 　　　Kamau na!
 　　　　Hottoite　choudai..

 　Otousan　Okaasan
 　Wasure nai de ne
 　Tottemo　aishitei 　　ru
 　Konna　hazuja..
 　Yasashiku naritai
 　Tsugi no densha ga　　kuru..　　u

English

By: Yoshiyuki

Why am I alive?
It’s not going well, this makeup
What a horrible weekend

Mother’s dreams?
I violated them
Clawing at my heart

 　Lullaby　The blood won’t.. stop
 　I lick my open wounds
 　　The city and I and you
 　　Distort
 　　Swing set in the sunset　Swing
 　　Everyone is distorted
 　　Living strangely
 　　There’s a light in the window　Look

Father’s dreams?
I killed them too
Sunday　Skies threatening rain

 　Lullaby　Goodbye　Fare..well
 　Chop me up in.. to pieces
 　　The city and I and you
 　　Distort
 　　The traffic lights turn red

 　　Hey, mister　Hey, madam
 　　Let’s hold hands

 　　　Don’t bother!
 　　　　Leave me be　Please..

 　Father　Mother
 　Don’t forget me
 　I love you so so　　much
 　If it’s going to be this way..
 　I want to become kinder
 　The next train is　　rampag..ing

Notes:

From Imai and Yokoyamal’s interview in FT107, Imai shared that the working title for this song was originally “SPOOKY” because he was thinking of ghosts and spectres (like Gegege no Kitaro) with the music’s vibe so Sakurai’s bleak lyrics were quite a surprise to him. The vibe he originally had in his head was the kind of inevitable feeling you’d get as a kid when you see the sun setting on a Sunday evening.

Stray Cat Blue

Words by Sakurai Atsushi

Music By Imai Hisashi

Japanese

ブルー　どこにいる? ブルー
今夜もさまよう?
ブルー　眠れるかい? So ブルー
誰に抱かれている？

まいった　ぜ
鼠色の雨に打たれた ニャア!
You kidding⁉
薔薇色の人生だって？

 　笑う　ぜ　　全部　デタラメ
 　ねえ　ブルー　　こっちへ　おいで
 　待っているぜ

 　ねえ　ブルー

ブルー　イラつくぜ
So ブルー　生きている事さえ

まいった　ぜ
愛していると言っておくれ ニャア!
You kidding⁉
朝が来ればもうお別れかい？

 　笑う　ぜ　　全部　デタラメ
 　ねえ　ブルー　　こっちへ　おいで
 　笑う　ぜ　　全部　キタナイ
 　ねえ　ブルー　　永遠 さあ おいで
 　待っているぜ

 　息を　殺して
 　待っているぜ
 　たとえ野垂れ死んでも

 　　気高きブルー
 　　哀しき Soブルー
 　　鳴き声　聴かせ　て　よ
 　　甘く切な　　く

 　　ねえ　ブルー

Romaji

By: Yoshiyuki

Buruu　Doko ni iru? Buruu
Konya mo samayou?
Buruu　Nemureru kai? So Buruu
Dare ni dakarete iru?

Maitta　ze
Nezumi iro no ame ni utareta Nyaa!
You kidding⁉
Bara iro no jinsei datte?

 　Warau　ze　　Zenbu　detarame
 　Nee　Buruu　　Kocchi e　oide
 　Matteru ze

　Nee　Buruu

Buruu　Iratsuku ze
So Buruu　Ikiteiru koto sae

Maitta　ze
Aishiteru to itte okure Nyaa!
You kidding⁉
Asa ga kureba mou o wakare kai?

 　Warau　ze　　Zenbu　detarame
 　Nee　Buruu　　Kocchi e　oide
 　Warau　ze　　Zenbu　kitanai
 　Nee　Buruu　　Eien Saa Oide
 　Matteru ze

 　Iki wo　koroshite
 　Matteru ze
 　Tatoe notare shinde mo

 　　Kedakaki Buruu
 　　Kanashiki So Buruu
 　　Nakigoe　kikase　te　yo
 　　Amaku setsuna　ku

 　　Nee　Buruu

English

By: Yoshiyuki

Blue　Where are you? Blue
Wandering around again tonight?
Blue　Can you sleep? So Blue
Who’s cuddling you?

Oh, shit
I got drenched in the slate-grey rain, meow!
You kidding⁉
Did you think it’s a rose-tinted life?

 　What a laugh　It’s all bullshit
 　Hey, Blue　Come here
 　I’m waiting

 　Hey, Blue

Blue　How annoying
So Blue　Just having to live

Oh, shit
Tell me that you love me, meow!
You kidding⁉
Even though we say goodbye once morning comes?

 　What a laugh　It’s all bullshit
 　Hey, Blue　Come here
 　What a laugh　It’s all dirty
 　Hey, Blue　It’s forever, come here
 　I’m waiting

 　With bated breath
 　I’m waiting
 　Even if you die in a ditch

 　　Noble and dignified Blue
 　　Pitiful, So Blue
 　　Let me hear your cries
 　　So sweet, so heartrending

 　　Hey, Blue

Infinity LOOP

Words by Sakurai Atsushi

Music By Imai Hisashi

Japanese

南風　が　　君を　誘　う
甘い　香り　　君が　笑　う
踊 り ま し ょ う　　波打ち　際
時を　止めて　　みたいけど..

わた し　の　　夢は　途中で
途切れ　途切れ　　君の　夢見た

鼻の先　が　　ツンでなるんだ　ああ
忘れてゆ　く　　何もか　も

.. けれ　ど　も　　夢の　途中で
千切れ　千切れ　　君の　夢見た

無限の　LOOP　　波がきらめく
今宵　月　も　　 濡れてい　る
幽玄 SO BEAUTY　　愛とは　歓　び
今宵　君　も　 　濡れてい　る

無限の LOOP..

あな　た　の 　　夢で　眠　る
途切れ　途切れ　　君の　夢見た

無限の　LOOP　　波がきらめく
今宵　月　も　　濡れてい　る
幽玄 SO BEAUTY　　愛とは哀しみ
今宵　君　も　　 濡れてい　る

無限の LOOP..

無限の LOOP..

無限　I LOVE YOU

Romaji

By: Yoshiyuki

Minami kaze　　ga kimi wo　saso-u
Amai　　kaori　Kimi ga　wara-u
O-do-ri-ma-sho-u　Namiuchi-giwa
Toki wo　tomete mitai kedo..

Wata-shi　　no yume wa  tochuu de
Togire　togire　　Kimi no　yume mita

Hana no saki　ga　　tsun de narunda　aa
Wasurete yu-ku　 Nani mo ka-mo

.. kere-do-mo　 　yume no　tochuu de
Chigire　chigire　　Kimi no　yume mita

An endless　LOOP　　Nami ga kirameku
Koyoi　tsuki　　mo nuretei-ru
Yuugen SO BEAUTY　　Ai to wa　yoroko-bi
Koyoi　kimi　　mo nuretei-ru

Mugen no LOOP..

Ana-ta　no　　 yume de　nemu-ru
Togire　togire　　Kimi no　yume mita

Mugen no　LOOP　　Nami ga kirameku
Koyoi　tsuki　mo 　　nuretei-ru
Yuugen SO BEAUTY　Ai to wa kanashimi
Koyoi　kimi　mo　　nuretei-ru

Mugen no LOOP..

Mugen no LOOP..

Mugen　I LOVE YOU

English

By: Yoshiyuki

The southerly wind　calls to you
A sweet fragrance　You laugh
Let-us-dance　by the water’s edge
Though I’d like to try stopping time..

Halfway through,　my dream
Pauses　and breaks　　And I see your dream

The tip of my nose　　It stings¹　Ah
I’m forgetting　　Everything

.. But　　halfway through, my dream
Shreds into tatters　　And I see your dream

An endless LOOP　The waves are shimmering
Tonight, the moon　is also drenched
Mythic, SO BEAUTY　Love is joy
Tonight, you　are also drenched

An endless LOOP..

Sleeping　in your dream
Pause　and break　　I see your dream

An endless LOOP　The waves are shimmering
Tonight, the moon　is also drenched
Mythic, SO BEAUTY　Love is sorrow
Tonight, you　are also drenched

An endless LOOP..

An endless LOOP..

To infinity　I LOVE YOU

Notes:

¹ The phrase “ツンでなる (tsun de naru)” used in relation to one’s nose tends to imply a particular irritation to the nose. Most commonly, the way your nose burns if you eat too much wasabi in one go.

From Toll’s interview in FT107, the filming of this MV was done during the hotel’s operating hours. The elevator scene was particularly funny to him because that was done during the checkout time period and they didn’t book out the place for their exclusive use; everyone was working anyway. So they kept going up and down while standing in there and whenever the elevator went down, the doors would open to a surprised cleaning staff member and they kept having to apologise for the inconvenience over and over again.

From Sakurai’s interview in FT107, the storyline he has in mind for this song was described as something akin to being in a comatose state, in the type of dream where you’re unable to tell whether or not you have woken up.
On the day they filmed the MV, he was asked to arrive first and make-up prep started at 7am. Filming started with the scene with him in the bed first but lying on it but he felt like he was really going to fall asleep on it. The interviewer said the MV was pretty interesting, to which Sakurai said, “But for an uninteresting song (lol).”

From Imai’s interview in FT107, the “remix” version of it (Mugen LOOP -Leap-) was less a remix and more of an enhancement of the song to make it even more up-tempo.
[Yokoyama actually described this request as something between a remix and an arrangement.]
On the topic of comments that this song sounds like city pop, he was only half-joking when he composed the melody and said it sounded like that, but even he didn’t expect that city pop was indeed what we got in the end.
For the filming of the MV, he was in charge of opening and closing the elevator doors. The director told him, “Please close the doors just as Sakurai-san is about to enter.” He failed at the first try. They kept re-taking the scene but he kept failing to get the timing right because he would press the button right as they cue that the cameras are rolling, but the door takes a while to respond after he presses the button so it would close too late. He kept a straight face for the camera but his right hand, which was pressing the button, was pretty tense.

Words by Sakurai Atsushi

Music By Imai Hisashi

Japanese

雨ニ撃タレテ行コウ Boogie
夢なんて追いかけて行こう Woogie
風ニ吹カレテ行コウ Boogie
見知らぬ街から街へBaby!

オンボロ車はガス欠
女神が笑う　ケ・セラ・セラ
夜明けが来るまで Boo Who Woo
兵どもが夢の跡
ブギウギ!　シュビドゥバ!

あの娘が　待っている
ブギウギ!　シュビドゥバ!
ステージへ繰り出そう
ブギウギ!　シュビドゥバ!　Hey Boogie!

ダクトのJerry & Deadly Tom
蛍光灯に群がるButterfly
逆毛　おっ立てたStray Cat’s
ギラついた眼つきのDiamond Dog’s

横浜たそがれメリーさん
伊勢佐木あたりじゃBLUES
赤い服脱いだあの娘
異人さんに連れられて行った
ブギウギ!　シュビドゥバ!

あの娘が　待っている
ブギウギ!　シュビドゥバ!
ステージへ繰り出そう
ブギウギ!　シュビドゥバ!
おまえと踊っていたい
ブギウギ!　シュビドゥバ!
今夜だけ　飛びっきり
ブギウギ!　シュビドゥバ!　Hey Boogie!

雨ニ撃タレテ行コウ Boogie
夢なんて追いかけて行こう Woogie
風ニ吹カレテ行コウ Boogie
見知らぬ街から街へBaby!
ブギウギ!　シュビドゥバ!

あの娘が　待っている
ブギウギ!　シュビドゥバ!
ステージへ繰り出そう
ブギウギ!　シュビドゥバ!

おまえと踊っていたい
ブギウギ!　シュビドゥバ!
今夜だけ　飛びっきり
ブギウギ!　シュビドゥバ!
おまえと踊っていたい
ブギウギ!　シュビドゥバ!
今夜だけ　飛びっきり
ブギウギ!　シュビドゥバ!　Hey Boogie!

Romaji

By: Yoshiyuki

Ame ni utarete ikou Boogie
Yume nante oikakete ikou Woogie
Kaze ni fukarete ikou Boogie
Mishiranu machi kara machi e Baby!

Onborosha wa gasu ketsu
Megami ga warau　Ke Sera Sera
Yoake ga kuru made　Boo Who Woo
Tsuwamono domo ga yume no ato
Bugiwugi!　Shubiduba!

Ano ko¹ ga　matteiru
Bugiwugi!　Shubiduba!
Suteeji e kuri dasou
Bugiwugi!　Shubiduba!　Hey Boogie!

Dakuto no Jerry & Deadly Tom
Keikoutou ni muragaru Butterfly
Sakage　ottateta Stray Cat’s
Gira tsuita metsuki no Diamond Dog’s

Yokohama tasogare merii san
Isezaki atari ja BLUES
Akai fuku nuida ano ko¹
Ijin san ni tsurerarete itta
Bugiwugi!　Shubiduba!

Ano ko¹ ga　matteiru
Bugiwugi!　Shubiduba!
Suteeji e kuri dasou
Bugiwugi!　Shubiduba!
Omae to odotte itai
Bugiwugi!　Shubiduba!
Konya dake　tobikkiri
Bugiwugi!　Shubiduba!　Hey Boogie!

Ame ni utarete ikou Boogie
Yume nante oikakete ikou Woogie
Kaze ni fukarete ikou Boogie
Mishiranu machi kara machi e Baby!
Bugiwugi!　Shubiduba!

Ano ko¹ ga　matteiru
Bugiwugi!　Shubiduba!
Suteeji e kuri dasou
Bugiwugi!　Shubiduba!

Omae to odotte itai
Bugiwugi!　Shubiduba!
Konya dake　tobikkiri
Bugiwugi!　Shubiduba!
Omae to odotte itai
Bugiwugi!　Shubiduba!
Konya dake　tobikkiri
Bugiwugi!　Shubiduba!　Hey Boogie!

English

By: Yoshiyuki

Let’s go get caught in the rain Boogie
Let’s go chase our dreams Woogie
Let’s get blown away by the wind Boogie
From one unfamiliar city to another Baby!

The junk-heap of a van is out of gas
The Goddess laughs　Que Sera Sera
Until daybreak comes　Boo Who Woo
All that remains of warriors’ dreams²
Boogie woogie!　Shoo-be-doo-ba!

That girl is　waiting
Boogie woogie!　Shoo-be-doo-ba!
Let’s paint the stage red³
Boogie woogie!　Shoo-be-doo-ba!　Hey Boogie!

Jerry in the ducts & Deadly Tom
Butterflies flocking to the fluorescent lights
Stray Cat’s fur puffed up
Diamond Dog’s glaring with piercing eyes

Yokohama’s Mary-san⁴ at twilight
Speak of Isezaki and it’s all about BLUES⁵
That girl who removed her red dress
has been brought away by a foreigner
Boogie woogie!　Shoo-be-doo-ba!

That girl is　waiting
Boogie woogie!　Shoo-be-doo-ba!
Let’s paint the stage red³
Boogie woogie!　Shoo-be-doo-ba!
I want to dance with you
Boogie woogie!　Shoo-be-doo-ba!
Just tonight is out of this world
Boogie woogie!　Shoo-be-doo-ba!　Hey Boogie!

Let’s go get caught in the rain Boogie
Let’s go chase our dreams Woogie
Let’s get blown away by the wind Boogie
From one unfamiliar city to another Baby!
Boogie woogie!　Shoo-be-doo-ba!

That girl is　waiting
Boogie woogie!　Shoo-be-doo-ba!
Let’s paint the stage red³
Boogie woogie!　Shoo-be-doo-ba!

I want to dance with you
Boogie woogie!　Shoo-be-doo-ba!
Just tonight is out of this world
Boogie woogie!　Shoo-be-doo-ba!
I want to dance with you
Boogie woogie!　Shoo-be-doo-ba!
Just tonight is out of this world
Boogie woogie!　Shoo-be-doo-ba!　Hey Boogie!

¹ While the kanji itself would usually read musume, Sakurai has sung it as ko instead.

² Part of a famous haiku by Bashou Matsuo, the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan. This haiku comes from a collection of his literary writings known as Oku no Hosho Michi (奥の細道).
The full haiku goes:
夏草や　兵どもが　夢の跡
Natsukusa ya　tsuwamono ga　yume no ato
Summer grasses、All that remains、Of warriors’ dreams

³ In reference to the saying, “to paint the town red”

⁴ Often known as “Yokohama’s Mary-san (横浜のメリーさん)”, she was a prostitute who was active in Yokohama City until the 1990s. She is well known as an old woman in white paint makeup wearing a white dress in her later years.

⁵ Most likely a reference to a song from1968 called 伊勢佐木町ブルース (Isezakichō Blues). There is a real shopping district called Isezakichō in Yokohama. For some reason, the 1968 song title has also been translated as “Bourbon Street Blues”, and there is an area in Tokyo also named “Bourbon Road” but I’m inclined to believe they’re unrelated.

From Sakurai’s interview in FT107, the song includes a lot of throwbacks to the band’s early days. From the time they pushed their vehicle together when it was low on fuel (オンボロ車はガス欠), and メリーさん and 赤い服 in the second verse which reference his favourite stories.

From Imai and Yokoyamal’s interview in FT107, Imai said that this song started from a single guitar riff. He also specified to YOW-ROW (who worked on it) that he wanted this song to have “a single-note guitar riff like Uta”. Yokoyama added that Imai spent quite a significant amount of time recording the theremin part of this song, bringing up a whole toy box of equipment.