Tag: Sakurai Atsushi

BUCK-TICK Lyrics | 堕天使 (Datenshi)

Posted on by Yoshiyuki
Album cover of ABRACADABARA, BUCK-TICK

2020.01.29 | Victor Entertainment
堕天使

2020.09.21 | Victor Entertainment
ABRACADABRA

Fallen Angel

Words by Sakurai Atsushi

Music By Imai Hisashi

Japanese

 

I KNOW YOU KNOW
愛の呪文を
I KNOW YOU KNOW
愛の喜びを

嘆きの天使¹
アッハ！　ワタシヲ
許シテ　許シテ
肉と肉が痛いよ

I WANT YOU WANT
愛を身体中
I WANT YOU WANT
愛をI WANT YOU BABY

堕ちて³ゆくんだろう
アッハ！　地獄へ
殺シテ　夢中デ
罪と罰⁴飛び散った

愛なんてそう幻想
ちょっと甘い香り
唇　濡らす
あなたは誰？
愛なんだそう YOU&ME
Oh BABY 揺れる YOU&ME
唇　這わす
わたしは誰？

嘆きの天使¹
アッハ！　ワタシヲ
許シテ　許シテ
肉と肉が痛いよ
堕ちて³ゆくんだろう
アッハ！　地獄へ
殺シテ　夢中デ
罪と罰⁴飛び散った

愛なんてそう幻想
ちょっと甘い香り
唇　濡らす
あなたは誰？
愛なんだそう YOU&ME
Oh BABY 揺れる YOU&ME
唇　這わす
わたしは誰？

Romaji

By: Yoshiyuki

I KNOW YOU KNOW
Ai no jumon wo
I KNOW YOU KNOW
Ai no yorokobi wo

Nageki no tenshi
Ahha!　Watashi wo
Yurushite　Yurushite
Niku to niku ga itai yo

I WANT YOU WANT
Ai wo karada juu
I WANT YOU WANT
Ai wo I WANT YOU BABY

Ochite yukun darou
Ahha!　Jigoku e
Koroshite　Muchuu de
Tsumi to batsu tobichitta

Ai nante sou gensou
Chotto amai kaori
Kuchibiru　Nurasu
Anata wa dare?
Ai nanda sou YOU&ME
Oh BABY yureru YOU&ME
Kuchibiru　Hawasu
Watashi wa dare?

Nageki no tenshi
Ahha!　Watashi wo
Yurushite　Yurushite
Niku to niku ga itai yo
Ochite yukun darou
Ahha!　Jigoku e
Koroshite　Muchuu de
Tsumi to batsu tobichitta

Ai nante sou gensou
Chotto amai kaori
Kuchibiru　Nurasu
Anata wa dare?
Ai nanda sou YOU&ME
Oh BABY yureru YOU&ME
Kuchibiru　Hawasu
Watashi wa dare?

English

By: Yoshiyuki

I KNOW YOU KNOW
The spell of love
I KNOW YOU KNOW
The joys of love

Oh, Blue Angel¹
Ahha!　Go easy on me²
Forgive me　Forgive me
Flesh to flesh, my body aches

I WANT YOU WANT
love all throughout our bodies
I WANT YOU WANT
It’s love, I WANT YOU BABY

I’ll fall³, won’t I
Ahha!　Into hell
Kill me in delirium
Crime and Punishment⁴ splattered everywhere

A thing like love is mere fantasy
Just a mildly sweet fragrance
Wetting these lips of mine
Who are you?
This is love between YOU&ME
Oh BABY we’re rocking YOU&ME
Brushing against my lips
Who am I?

Oh, Blue Angel¹
Ahha!　Go easy on me²
Forgive me　Forgive me
Flesh to flesh, my body aches
I’ll fall³, won’t I
Ahha!　Into hell
Kill me in delirium
Crime and Punishment⁴ splattered everywhere

A thing like love is mere fantasy
Just a mildly sweet fragrance
Wetting these lips of mine
Who are you?
This is love between YOU&ME
Oh BABY we’re rocking YOU&ME
Brushing against my lips
Who am I?

 

Notes:

¹ 嘆きの天使 is the Japanese name of a 1930 German tragicomedic film Der blaue Engel (The Blue Angel). It’s plot revolves around the tragic transformation of a respectable professor to a cabaret clown and his eventual descent into madness. The film itself is based on a novel by Heinrich Mann, Professor Unrat (translated as “Professor Unclean”).

² ワタシヲ is simply 私を in Katakana. The phrase ties into the following 許シテ、許シテ line so I just went with something which links into that, rather than just saying “I” or “me.”

³ This version of ochite (堕ちて) is more often used with reference to mental or spiritual “falling”. 

⁴ 罪と罰 is the Japanese name of a novel, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky about the mental anguish and moral dilemmas of Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished ex-student in Saint Petersburg who formulates a plan to kill an unscrupulous pawnbroker for her money.
罪と罰 is generally a rather common title in Japanese. Shiina Ringo, for example, has a song of the same name.

 

 

BUCK-TICK Lyrics | 獣たちの夜 (Kemonotachi no Yoru)

Posted on by Yoshiyuki
Album cover of ABRACADABARA, BUCK-TICK

2019.05.22 | Victor Entertainment
獣たちの夜 ／ RONDO

2020.09.21 | Victor Entertainment
ABRACADABRA

Night of the Beasts

Words by Sakurai Atsushi

Music By Imai Hisashi

Japanese

 

さあ幕を切り裂けよ
夜を始めよう
そう俺は震えている
悪く無い気分だ
さあ　さあ

愛と死を生を歌え
命よ踊れ
あの子が笑っている
悪く無い世界だ

感じているか　Adam & Eve
愛という名の獣(ケモノ)たちよ
禁断の実¹をアアンアン
We love you

踊れ悪魔　腰を振っておくれ
狂え悪魔　可愛い可愛い悪魔

身体中沸騰している²
今夜は眠れない
あの子が笑っている
俺は生きている

感じているわ　My Darling
愛を貪(むさぼ)る獣(ケダモノ)なの
禁断の実をアアンアン
We love you

踊れ道化(ピエロ)　今夜演じ切るんだ
狂え道化(ピエロ)　それがそれがお前だ

感じているか　Adam & Eve
愛という名の獣(ケモノ)たちよ
禁断の実¹をアアンアン
We love you

踊れ悪魔　腰を振っておくれ
狂え悪魔　可愛い可愛い悪魔

踊れ道化(ピエロ)　今夜演じ切るんだ
狂え道化(ピエロ)　それがそれがお前だ

Romaji

By: Yoshiyuki

Saa maku wo kiri sake yo
Yoru wo hajime you
Sou ore wa furuete iru
Warukunai kibun da
Saa　Saa

Ai to shi wo sei wo utae
Inochi yo odore
Ano ko ga waratte iru
Warukunai sekai da

Kanjite iru ka　Adam & Eve
Ai to iu na no kemonotachi yo
Kindan no mi wo a an an
We love you

Odore akuma　Koshi wo futte okure
Kurue akuma　Kawaii kawaii akuma

Karada juu futto shite iru
Konya wa nemurenai
Ano ko ga waratte iru
Ore wa ikite iru

Kanjitei ru wa　My Darling
Ai wo musaboru kedamono nano
Kindan no mi wo a an an
We love you

Odore piero　Konya enji kirun da
Kurue piero　Sore ga sore ga omae da

Kanjite iru ka　Adam & Eve
Ai to iu na no kemonotachi yo
Kindan no mi wo a an an
We love you

Odore akuma　Koshi wo futte okure
Kurue akuma　Kawaii kawaii akuma

Odore piero　Konya enji kirun da
Kurue piero　Sore ga sore ga omae da

English

By: Yoshiyuki

Now, it’s time to tear the curtains away
And let the night commence
That’s right, I’m trembling
This doesn’t feel too bad
Come, come

Sing of love and death, and of living
Dance with all your life
That child is laughing away
This world isn’t too bad

Do you feel it?　Adam & Eve
We’re the beasts which go by the name of love
Say “ah” and take a bite of the forbidden fruit¹
We love you

Dance, you devil　Shake your hips for me
Go crazy, you devil　Cute, adorable devil

It’s all rushing² through my body
I won’t be able to sleep tonight
That child is laughing away
And I am living

Do you feel it?　My Darling
I am a beast hungering for love
Say “ah” and take a bite of the forbidden fruit¹
We love you

Dance, pierrot　You will perform to the very end tonight
Go crazy, pierrot　That is all, that is all on you

Do you feel it?　Adam & Eve
We’re the beasts which go by the name of love
Say “ah” and take a bite of the forbidden fruit¹
We love you

Dance, you devil　Shake your hips for me
Go crazy, you devil　Cute, adorable devil

Dance, pierrot　You will perform to the very end tonight
Go crazy, pierrot　That is all, that is all on you

 

Notes:

¹ The Forbidden Fruit of the Garden of Eden is known as 禁断の果実 (kindan no kajitsu) in Japanese. Here, the lack of 果 in the phrase doesn’t change the translation into “Forbidden Fruit” because Sakurai pronounces 実 as “mi” rather than “jitsu”. When pronounced as “mi”, 実 refers to fruit, or seed, or pieces of meat/vegetables/ingredients in broth, or content/substances. When pronounced as “jitsu”, 実 refers to truth or reality.

² The direct translation of 沸騰している (futoushite iru) is “to be on the boil”. In other words, it typically refers to liquids boiling, simmering, or frothing because of the heat. Rather than go with a direct translation of the word, I used “rushing through” to create a similar image.

 

 

BUCK-TICK Lyrics | ダンス天国 (Dance Tengoku)

Posted on by Yoshiyuki
Album cover of ABRACADABARA, BUCK-TICK

2020.09.21 | Victor Entertainment
ABRACADABRA

Dance Heaven

Words by Sakurai Atsushi

Music By Hoshino Hidehiko

Japanese

 

太陽踊ろう
ギラギラ踊ろう
燃え尽きてやろう
命の限り

汗が飛び散るキラめく
Ah ha Majority
生きている証だろう
Ah ha Minority

どうしようも無い
ギラギラね
腰を振ればそう
世界中ダンス天国
さあ踊ろう　禁断の実¹を
ほうら　頬張って

刹那的　衝動的
Ah ha　悪魔的
諸行無常²　色即是空³
Ah ha　有象無象

女でも　男でも
どっちでもいいのさ
世界中ダンス天国
アッハ？
あの子はどう？　ギラギラね
腰を振ればそう
世界中ダンス天国
さあ踊ろう　禁断の実を
ほうら　口いっぱい

その調子　Shake It Shake Hip
踊りましょう
唇に　マッシュポテト⁴
それ頂戴

いい感じ　Shake It Shake Hip
続けましょう
指先に　マッシュポテト
しゃぶりつけ

アッハ！
女でも　男でも
どっちでもいいのさ
世界中ダンス天国
プッフィ！
あの子はどう？　ギラギラね
腰を振ればそう
世界中ダンス天国
さあ踊ろう　禁断の実を
ほうら　頬張って

Romaji

By: Yoshiyuki

Taiyou odorou
Giragira odorou
Moetsukite yarou
Inochi no kagiri

Ase ga tobichiru kirameku
Ah ha Majority
Ikiteiru shou darou
Ah ha Minority

Doushou mo nai
Gira gira ne
Koshi wo fureba sou
sekaijyuu dansu tengoku
Saa odorou　Kindan no mi wo
Houra　houbatte

Setsuna teki　shoudou teki
Ah ha　akuma teki
Shougyoumujou　Sekisokuzekuu
Ah ha　Uzoumuzou

Onna demo　Otoko demo
Docchi demo ii no sa
Sekaijuu dansu tengoku
Ahha?
Ano ko wa dou?　Giragira ne
Koshi wo fureba sou
sekaijyuu dansu tengoku
Saa odorou　Kindan no mi wo
Houra　kuchi ippai

Sono choushi　Shake It Shake Hip
Odorimashou
Kuchibiru ni　masshu poteto
Sore wo choudai

Ii kanji　Shake It Shake Hip
Tsudzukemashou
Yubisaki ni　masshu poteto
Shaburi tsuke

Ahha!
Onna demo　Otoko demo
Docchi demo ii no sa
Sekaijuu dansu tengoku
Puffi!
Ano ko wa dou?　Giragira ne
Koshi wo fureba sou
sekaijyuu dansu tengoku
Saa odorou　Kindan no mi wo
Houra　Houbatte

English

By: Yoshiyuki

Let’s dance, Sun
Let’s dance, dazzling
Let’s keep going till we burn out
Until our lives run out

Sweat dripping and flying, sparkling
Ah ha Majority
This is proof that we’re living
Ah ha Minority

It can’t be helped
We’re dazzling
When you swing your hips, that’s right
It’s Dance Heaven the world over
C’mon, let’s dance　Here, stuff your cheeks
 with The Forbidden Fruit¹

Living in the moment　Impulsively
Ah ha　Devilishly
All is vanity²　Form is emptiness³
Ah ha　It’s a rabble

Whether woman　Or man
It doesn’t really matter
It’s Dance Heaven the world over
Ahha?
How about that kid?　They’re dazzling
When you swing your hips, that’s right
It’s Dance Heaven the world over
C’mon, let’s dance　Here, take a mouthful
of The Forbidden Fruit

Just like that　Shake It Shake Hip
Let’s dance
Mashed potatoes⁴ on these lips
Oh, give it to me, please

Feels so good　Shake It Shake Hip
Let’s keep it up
Mashed potatoes on these fingers
Suck on them

Ahha!
Whether woman　Or man
It doesn’t really matter
It’s Dance Heaven the world over
Poofy!
How about that kid?　They’re dazzling
When you swing your hips, that’s right
It’s Dance Heaven the world over
C’mon, let’s dance　Here, stuff your cheeks
with The Forbidden Fruit¹

 

Notes:

¹ The Forbidden Fruit of the Garden of Eden is known as 禁断の果実 (kindan no kajitsu) in Japanese. Here, the lack of 果 in the phrase doesn’t change the translation into “Forbidden Fruit” because Sakurai pronounces 実 as “mi” rather than “jitsu”. When pronounced as “mi”, 実 refers to fruit, or seed, or pieces of meat/vegetables/ingredients in broth, or content/substances. When pronounced as “jitsu”, 実 refers to truth or reality.

² 諸行無常 is actually a Buddhist concept that say all things must pass. Buddhism teaches that the world and everything in it is illusory. In other words, all worldly things are impermanent, ephemeral, transient.

³ Another Buddhist concept, 色即是空 comes from the Heart Sutra which is the distillation of all teachings on Emptiness. 色即是空 means that all things in this world do not have a permanent substance, but they exist by virtue of their origin. Emptiness in Buddhism refers not to nothingness, but to the opposite: the interdependence of all phenomena, both mental and physical.

⁴ Aside from the obvious food item, mashed potato is also a dance move that was popular during the early-1960s. It sounds a lot like obvious innuendo here though.

 

BUCK-TICK Lyrics | 舞夢マイム (Maimu Maimu)

Posted on by Yoshiyuki
Album cover of ABRACADABARA, BUCK-TICK

2020.09.21 | Victor Entertainment
ABRACADABRA

Dream Dancing Mime

Words by Sakurai Atsushi

Music By Imai Hisashi

Japanese

 

知っていたんだね
まさか　おまえまで
愛なんて幻想
お伽話と
瞳潤ませて
仔猫のふりして
あんな事をして
知っていたんだね

存じ上げ¹ていたわ²
周知の事実よ
まさか本気だと
思っていらして
背中のジッパを
指で弾いたら
お代³を頂戴⁴
時間が無いのよ

時計の針⁵が
針が　針が
あなたを刺す
悩殺⁶　秒殺⁷
さようなら

愛しているんだ
やめて馬鹿馬鹿しい
この世は地獄さ
ちょっと付いていけない
瞳潤ませて
仔猫のふりして
お代を頂戴
時間が無いのよ

真っ赤なヒールが
ヒールが　ヒールが
あなたを刺す
悩殺⁶　秒殺⁷
時計の針⁵が
針が　針が
あなたを刺す
悩殺⁶　秒殺⁷
さようなら

朝が来るぜ
こんな世界に
ちょっと眩しい
カーテン閉めて
死んでみるか

真っ赤なヒールが
ヒールが　ヒールが
コツコツと

Romaji

By: Yoshiyuki

Shitteitan dane
Masaka　omae made
Ai nante gensou
Otogibanashi to
Hitomi urumasete
Koneko no furishite
Anna koto wo shite
Shitteitan dane

Zonji agete ita wa
Shuuchi no jijitsu yo
Masaka honki da to
omotte irashite
Senaka no jippa wo
yubi wo hiitara
Odai wo choudai
Jikan ga nai no yo

Tokei no hari ga
Hari ga　Hari ga
Anata wo sasu
Nousatsu　Byousatsu
Sayonara

Aishite irun da
Yamete bakabakashii
Kono yo wa jigoku sa
Chotto tsuite ikenai
Hitomi urumasete
Koneko no furi shite
Odai wo choudai
Jikan ga nai no yo

Makka na hiiru ga
Hiiru ga　Hiiru ga
Anata wo sasu
Nousatsu　Byousatsu
Tokei no hari ga
Hari ga　Hari ga
Anata wo sasu
Nousatsu　Byousatsu
Sayonara

Asa ga kuru ze
Konna sekai ni
Chotto mabushii
Kaaten shimete
Shinde miru ka

Makka na hiiru ga
Hiiru ga　Hiiru ga
Kotsukotsu to

English

By: Yoshiyuki

You know it, don’t you
You, of all people
What an illusion love is
A mere fairy tale
Get misty eyed for me
Be my kitten
You do all those things
Despite knowing this, right?

Of course, I’m aware, my dear
It’s just common sense
You sound as if
you truly thought I was serious
If your finger plays with
the zipper on my back
Please make sure you pay up
I don’t have time for this

These hands⁵ on the clock
These hands　These hands
Pierces into you
Seducing⁶ you　Killing⁷ you
Goodbye

I’m in love with you
Stop it, you’re being ridiculous
This world is hell
I’m sorry, I can’t follow
Get misty eyed for me
Be my kitten
Please pay up
I don’t have time for this

These bright red heels of mine
Heels of mine　Heels of mine
Pierces into you
Seducing⁶ you　Killing⁷ you
These hands⁵ on the clock
These hands　These hands
Pierces into you
Seducing⁶ you　Killing⁷ you
Goodbye

Morning is coming
Coming to this world of ours
It’s a little glaring
Close the curtains?
Want to try dying?

These bright red heels of mine
Heels of mine　Heels of mine
Tap-tapping on⁸

 

Notes:

¹ 存じ上げる (zonji ageru) is a humble way of saying 分かる (wakaru) or 知る (shiru), i.e. I know. The more common humble phrase merely uses 存じ (zonji), e.g. ご存知ですか (go zonji desuka – roughly “do you know”).
All of this belongs to formal speak, but the humble form is used when the speaker is talking to someone of a higher rank/trying to convey respect for the other party. Adding 上げる (ageru) to 存じ (zonji) actually increases the amount of respect conveyed. So if we’re ranking these phrases, 存じ上げる is a more respectful/humble version of 存じ, but less commonly used.

² The ending of a sentence/statement with わ (wa) is typical for women, most times, older women like your mom or something. In general, when a person ends their sentences with わ, it adds a feminine flavour to their speech and implies an air of softness.

³ Adding an お a noun as seen in お代 (odai) is used to add a formal/respectful tone to one’s speech. Note that this is not a one-fits-all rule.

⁴ 頂戴 (choudai) is a humble verb for receiving something from someone of a higher status than your own. But it’s not used exclusively for formal occasions, as seen in this song. It can be used as a word that encourages others to give you things or do something in a friendly way by throwing in a little formality with the tease/joke. 

⁵ The hands of a clock are referred to as 針 (hari) in Japanese which literally translates to “needle”. Which makes more sense in the next line which has 刺す(sasu) i.e. to pierce, stab, jab, basically stick something into someone.

⁶ 悩殺 (nousatsu) is used specifically with regards to seduction. It can be translated as anything in that regard from glamour and hex, to bewitch and entrance, to mere fascination. Generally, an irresistible charm. 

⁷ 秒殺 (byousatsu) literally means, “instantaneous kill”. Normally used to describe winning/losing in the blink of an eye, like a one-hit-KO.

⁸ コツコツ is an onomatopoeia of sorts which is also an adjective which means “steadily” or “working/doing something with effort”, like working hard or tirelessly. This translation choice combines both definitions. (Clicking steadily? Life goes on style?)

 

Comments:

You might’ve guessed from watching live performances of this song that it has 2 characters in it, one male and one female. The formatting of the lyrics in the album’s booklet used a black ♠ to denote the male character’s part and a red ♥ to denote the female character’s part. Instead of using these symbols here, which would make the page look messy, I used colours instead.
Blue text refer to the male character, while maroon text refer to the female character. Bold text refer to lyrics that are for both characters.
—Yoshiyuki

 

BUCK-TICK Lyrics | 凍える (Kogoeru)

Posted on by Yoshiyuki
Album cover of ABRACADABARA, BUCK-TICK

2020.08.26 | Victor Entertainment
MOONLIGHT ESCAPE

2020.09.21 | Victor Entertainment
ABRACADABRA

Frozen²

Words by Sakurai Atsushi

Music By Hoshino Hidehiko

Japanese

 

死んでいる　生きてもいるか
うんざりする
もううんざり
外は闇　闇は宵闇
窓に映る
おまえは誰

凍える月が触れる
この手首にそっと
青白く震えている
泣き出す月が　ああ

堕ちてゆく　夢現(ゆめうつつ)
沈みたい　ただそれだけ
子守唄を聴かせて
良い子だと
罪だとは言わないで
眠りたい　ただそれだけ
遠い　遠い夢の中
ねんねしな

凍える月が触れる
この手首にそっと
青白く震えている
泣き出す月が　ああ

堕ちてゆく　夢現(ゆめうつつ)
沈みたい　ただそれだけ
子守唄を聴かせて
良い子だと
罪だとは言わないで
眠りたい　ただそれだけ
遠い　遠い夢の中
ねんねしな

さあ　ララ　ラララ
ねんねん　ころりよ
さあ　ララ　ラララ
ねんねん　おころりよ
さあ　ララ　ラララ
ねんねん　ころりよ
さあ　ララ　ラララ
ねんねん　おころりよ

Romaji

By: Yoshiyuki

Shindeiru　Ikite mo iru ka
Unzarisuru
Mou unzari
Soto wa yami　Yami wa yoiyami
Mado ni utsuru
Omae wa dare

Kogoeru tsuki ga fureru
kono tekubi ni sotto
Aojiroku furueteiru
Nakidasu tsuki ga　aa

Ochite yuku yume　utsutsu
Shizumitai tada　sore dake
Komori uta wo kikasete
yoiko da to
Tsumi da to wa iwanai de
Nemuritai　tada sore dake
Tooi　tooi yume no naka
nenneshi na

Kogoeru tsuki ga fureru
kono tekubi ni sotto
Aojiroku furueteiru
Nakidasu tsuki ga　aa

Ochite yuku yume　utsutsu
Shizumitai tada　sore dake
Komori uta wo kikasete
yoiko da to
Tsumi da to wa iwanai de
Nemuritai　tada sore dake
Tooi　tooi yume no naka
nenneshi na

Saa　rara　rarara
nennen　korori yo
Saa　rara　rarara
nennen　okorori yo
Saa　rara　rarara
nennen　korori yo
Saa　rara　rarara
nennen　okorori yo

English

By: Yoshiyuki

Am I dead　Or am I still alive
I’m sick of this
Just so sick of this
It’s dark out there　A darkness like dusk You in the window
Who are you

The chilling moon touches
my wrist so slightly
Pale blue and shaking
the crying moon is… Ah

Falling between dreams and reality
I wish to sink　That’s all I want
Sing me a lullaby
Tell me I’ve been good
Don’t tell me it’s wrong
I wish to sleep　That’s all I want
Far away　In a distant dream
Hush, now, go to sleep

The numbing moon touches
my wrist so slightly
Pale blue and shaking
the crying moon is… Ah

Falling between dreams and reality
I wish to sink　That’s all I want
Sing me a lullaby
Tell me I’ve been good
Don’t tell me it’s wrong
I wish to sleep　That’s all I want
Far away　In a distant dream
Hush, now, go to sleep

Sha lala lalala
Sleep, my dear, sleep¹
Sha lala lalala
Oh, my dear, sleep¹
Sha lala lalala
Sleep, my dear, sleep¹
Sha lala lalala
Oh, my dear, sleep¹

 

Notes:

¹ A reference to the first line of Edo Lullaby (江戸子守唄 / Edo komoriuta).

² I’ve used various words as a translation for 凍える (kogoeru). Its nuance can’t actually be entirely described with just any one word, like “frozen” or “chilled” since it’s actual definition includes “to be numbed by cold”, “to be chilled to the bone”, or “to freeze/chill”.

 

 

BUCK-TICK Lyrics | Villain

Posted on by Yoshiyuki
Album cover of ABRACADABARA, BUCK-TICK

2020.09.21 | Victor Entertainment
ABRACADABRA

Villain

Words by Sakurai Atsushi

Music By Imai Hisashi

Japanese

 

生まれながらのアンチ
稀に見るレベル
軽々と　まさに惡の華¹
恐れを知らぬ
諸悪の根源
ただひたすらに　狂気の沙汰²
ハロー　タブー
チャオ　スマイル
ハロー　タブー
チャオ

おまえを知っている！
そう！　おまえだ！
俺を犯したおまえだ！
醜い³！
そう！ 糜爛(びらん)⁴が！
俺の胸にある糜爛(びらん)⁴が！
おまえを！　知っている！
気味悪い！　名無しの！
おまえを！

理不尽な世界
不条理を殺す
囚われぬ魂　逸脱せよ
あまりにも華麗
稀代のハイレベル
軽々と　それは惡の華¹
ハロー　タブー
チャオ　スマイル
ハロー　タブー
チャオ

おまえを知っている！
そう！　おまえだ！
俺を殺したおまえだ！
血が滲む！
そう！　糜爛(びらん)⁴が！
努努(ゆめゆめ)　疼く糜爛(びらん)⁴が！
おまえを！　知っている！
気味悪い！　顔の無い！
おまえを！

おまえを知っている
そう　おまえだ
俺を犯した　おまえだ
醜い
そう　糜爛(びらん)⁴が
俺の胸にある糜爛(びらん)⁴が

気味悪い！
そう！　おまえだ！
俺を殺した　おまえだ！
血が滲む！
そう！　糜爛(びらん)⁴が！
努努(ゆめゆめ) 疼く糜爛(びらん)⁴が！
おまえを！ 知っている！
気味悪い！ 気味悪い！

おまえだ！

Romaji

By: Yoshiyuki

Umare nagara no anchi
Mare ni miru reberu
Karugaru to　masa ni aku no hana
Osore wo shiranu
Shoaku no kongen
Tada hitasura ni　kyouki no sata
Haroo　Tabuu
Chao　Sumairu
Haroo　Tabuu
Chao

Omae wo shitteiru!
Sou!　Omae da!
Ore wo okashita omae da!
Minikui!
Sou!　Biran ga!
Ore no mune ni aru biran ga!
Omae wo!　Shitteiru!
Kimiwarui!　Nanashi no!
Omae wo!

Rifujin na sekai
Fujouri wo korosu
Towarenu tamashii　itsudatsu se yo
Amari ni mo karen
Kidai no hai reberu
Karugaru to Sore wa aku no hana
Haroo　Tabuu
Chao　Sumairu
Haroo　Tabuu
Chao

Omae wo shitteiru!
Sou!　Omae da!
Ore wo koroshita omae da!
Chi ga nijimu!
Sou!　Biran ga!
Yume yume　Itaku biran ga!
Omae wo!　Shitteiru!
Kimiwarui!　Kao no nai!
Omae wo!

Omae wo shitteiru
Sou　Omae da
Ore wo okashita　Omae da
Minikui
Sou Biran ga
Ore no mune ni aru biran ga

Kimiwarui!
Sou!　Omae da!
Ore wo koroshita　Omae da!
Chi ga nijimu!
Sou!　Biran ga!
Yume yume uzuku biran ga!
Omae wo!　Shitteiru!
Kimiwarui!　Kimiwarui!

Omae da!

English

By: Yoshiyuki

Born to be an anti
A level rarely seen
Effortlessly embodying a flower of evil¹
Knowing no fear
The root of all evil
Hell bent on acts of sheer madness²
Hello　Taboo
Ciao　Smile
Hello　Taboo
Ciao

I know you!
Yes!　It’s you!
The one who persecuted me was you!
You’re mean³!
Yes!　These ulcers⁴!
These ulcers⁴ in my heart!
You!　I know you!
Creepy!　Nameless⁵!
You!

Unreasonable world
Killing the absurd
Unfettered souls　Depart
Beyond resplendent
A level unparalleled
Effortlessly attracting flowers of evil¹
Hello　Taboo
Ciao　Smile
Hello　Taboo
Ciao

I know you!
Yes!　It’s you!
The one who killed me was you!
Stained in blood!
Yes!　These sores⁴!
These incessantly painful sores⁴!
You!　I know you!
Creepy!　Faceless!
You!

I know you
Yes　You
The one who persecuted　It’s you
You’re mean³
Yes　These ulcers⁴
These ulcers⁴ in my chest

Creepy!
Yes!　It’s you!
The one who killed me　It’s you!
Stained in blood!
Yes!　These sores⁴!
These incessantly painful sores⁴!
You!　I know you!
Creepy!　Creepy!

It’s you!

 

Notes:

¹ 惡の華 (Aku no Hana), a throwback to BUCK-TICK’s album and song of the same name and also their reference to Charles Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs du mal. In this instance, though, rather than saying that there is beauty in evil, there appears to be an implication that there is evil in beauty.

² 狂気の沙汰 (Kyouki no sata) can also be translated as the “loss of one’s sanity”. Generally used to describe a person or an act that is illogical or simply, insane.

³ 醜い (minikui) is typically used to say that the appearance of a person or a thing is unsightly, or just plain ugly. When referring to actions, though, it then means anything from “dishonourable” to “mean”. Basically to say that particular act is shameful, unsightly to the eyes of general society.

⁴ 糜爛 (biran) refer to a “sore”, “erosion”, “ulcer”, generally something at eats at you. This is also a wordplay on Villain, pronounced in Japanese as “biran”, implying that the villain is a sore that corrupts their victims.

⁵ Or anonymous.

 

Comments:

A note from Imai’s interview in FT097:
Imai’s lyrics are from POV of antagonist. When he wrote it, he felt that it wasn’t necessary to tie them in with Sakurai’s lyrics
— Yoshiyuki

 

BUCK-TICK Lyrics | 月の砂漠 (Tsuki no Sabaku)

Posted on by Yoshiyuki
Album cover of ABRACADABARA, BUCK-TICK

2020.09.21 | Victor Entertainment
ABRACADABRA

Moon Desert

Words by Sakurai Atsushi

Music By Hoshino Hidehiko

Japanese

 

遥か遥か遠く
名も亡き孤独の王は
駱駝(らくだ)の背に揺られ
蜃気楼追いかけてゆく

俺は一粒の砂
ギラギラと熱に焼かれている
濡らしてくれ
燃える陽炎

月の砂漠を
遥々とゆくよ
骨になるまで
灰になるまで

金や銀の財宝
麗しい褐色の姫
焼けた肌に蠍(さそり)
季節は地獄だろう

おまえは一粒の砂
キラキラと風に舞い踊る
溶かしてくれ
揺れる陽炎

月の砂漠を
遥々とゆくよ
骨になるまで
灰になるまで

月の砂漠を
遥々とゆくよ
月の砂漠を
駱駝(らくだ)に揺られ

Romaji

By: Yoshiyuki

Haruka haruka tooku
Na mo naki kodoku no ou wa
Rakuda no se ni yurare
Shinkirou oikakete yuku

Ore wa hitotsubu no suna
Giragira to netsu ni yakarete iru
Nurashite kure
Moeru kagerou

Tsuki no sabaku wo
harubaru to yuku yo
Hone ni naru made
Hai ni naru made

Kin ya gin no zaihou
Uruwashii kasshoku no hime
Yaketa hada ni sasori
Kisetsu wa jigoku darou

Omae wa hitotsubu no suna
Kirakira to kaze ni mai odoru
Tokashite kure
Yureru kagerou

Tsuki no sabaku wo
harubaru to yuku yo
Hone ni naru made
Hai ni naru made

Tsuki no sabaku wo
harubaru to yuku yo
Tsuki no sabaku wo
rakuda ni yurare

English

By: Yoshiyuki

Somewhere far, far away
A nameless, solitary king
Sways on the back of a camel
as he chases after mirages

Oh, I’m but a mere grain of sand
Burning under the glare and the heat
Douse me
Blazing heat haze

Further and deeper we stray
into the Moon Desert
Until we turn to bones
Until we turn to ashes

Treasure of gold and silver
A beautiful brown-skinned princess
Scorpions on my burnt skin
This must be a season in hell

Oh, you’re but a mere grain of sand
Glittering as you dance in the wind
Melt me
Shimmering heat haze

Further and deeper we stray
into the Moon Desert
Until we turn to bones
Until we turn to ashes

Further and deeper we stray
into the Moon Desert
On camels we sway
into the Moon Desert

 

Comments:

Masao Kato was a leading lyrical artist from the Taisho era to the early Showa era who often interacted with his many female fans and was well versed in schoolgirl customs, such as hairstyles and clothing. In 1923, he published the nursery rhyme “月の沙漠 (Moon Desert)” which was inspired by the sandy shores of Onjuku beach in Chiba. Interestingly enough, to commemorate this, the Moon Desert Museum was established in the same location.
The lyrics of 月の沙漠 are very similar to that of Sakurai’s version, featuring camels, gold and silver, a princess, but rather than a king, like in Sakurai’s version, a prince.
https://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q1110967601
— Yoshiyuki

 

 

BUCK-TICK Lyrics | URAHARA-JUKU

Posted on by Yoshiyuki
Album cover of ABRACADABARA, BUCK-TICK

2020.09.21 | Victor Entertainment
ABRACADABRA

URAHARA-JUKU

Words by Sakurai Atsushi

Music By Imai Hisashi

Japanese

 

夢見がちだね　Hey Girl?
アスファルトには IDOL
何を売っているの?　Hey Girl?
そっちの水甘いか?　そっちの水やばいぜ!¹

邪魔すんなよ!　どけよ!
冷やかしは消えな!
純度はイイニ　キマッテイル!
何が欲しい!?　お嬢ちゃん!?

銀色雨降る車道
鳴り響くサイレン赤色灯が滲む
おまえはもう　お家(うち)にお帰り
今日の事なんて忘れるがいいさ

URAHARA-JUKU Oh! Baby!
雨に濡れた IDOL
何を打っているの？ Baby!?
そっちの水甘いか？　そっちの水やばいぜ！

邪魔はしないぜ！　Buy or Die?!
天国で死ぬかい？！
純度は Maybe　腐っている！
何が欲しい？！　What Do You Want!?

銀色雨降る車道
鳴り響くサイレン赤色灯が滲む
今夜はベッドで眠りな
夢の中で夢見ればいいさ

邪魔すんなよ!　どけよ!
冷やかしは消えな!
純度はイイニ　キマッテイル!
何が欲しい!?　お嬢ちゃん!?

邪魔はしないぜ！　Buy or Die?!
天国で死ぬかい？！
純度は Maybe　腐っている！
何が欲しい？！　What Do You Want!?

銀色雨降る車道
鳴り響くサイレン赤色灯が滲む
おまえはもう　お家(うち)にお帰り
今日の事なんて忘れるがいいさ
今夜はベッドで眠りな
夢の中で夢見ればいいさ

Romaji

By: Yoshiyuki

Yume mi gachi da ne　Hey Girl?
Asufaruto ni wa IDOL
Nani wo utte iru no?　Hey Girl?
Socchi no mizu amai ka?　Socchi no mizu yabai ze!¹

Jama sunna yo!　Doke yo!
Hiyakashi wa kie na!
Jundo wa ii　ni kimatte iru!
Nani ga hoshii!?　Ojouchan!?

Gin iro ame furu shadou
Narihibiku sairen sekishokutou ga nijimu
Omae wa mou　ouchi ni okaeri
Kyou no koto nante wasureru ga ii sa

URAHARA-JUKU Oh! Baby!
Ame ni nureta IDOL
Nan wo utte iru no? Baby!?
Socchi no mizu amai ka?　Socchi no mizu yabai ze!

Jama wa shinai ze!　Buy or Die?!
Tengoku de shinu kai?!
Jundo wa Maybe　kusatteiru!
Nani ga hoshii?! What Do You Want!?

Gin iro ame furu shadou
Narihibiku sairen sekishokutou ga nijimu
Konya wa beddo de nemuri na
Yume no naka de yume mireba ii sa

Jama sunna yo!　Doke yo!
Hiyakashi wa kie na!
Jundo wa ii　ni kimatte iru!
Nani ga hoshii!?　Ojouchan!?

Jama wa shinai ze!　Buy or Die?!
Tengoku de shinu kai?!
Jundo wa Maybe　kusatteiru!
Nani ga hoshii?! What Do You Want!?

Gin iro ame furu shadou
Narihibiku sairen sekishokutou ga nijimu
Omae wa mou　ouchi ni okaeri
Kyou no koto nante wasureru ga ii sa
Konya wa beddo de nemuri na
Yume no naka de yume mireba ii sa

English

By: Yoshiyuki

You got your head in the clouds, don’t you　Hey Girl?
IDOL of the asphalt
What are you selling?　Hey Girl?
Is the water over there sweet?　That water’s trouble!¹

Don’t bother me!　Get out of my way!
Window shoppers, get lost!
You’ve decided that purity is good for sure!
So what do you desire!?　Sweetheart!?

Silver rain falling on the road
bleeding from the blaring red-light sirens
It’s time for you to go home
Just forget about what happened today

URAHARA-JUKU Oh! Baby!
Rain-drenched IDOL
What are you hitting on? Baby!?
Is the water over there sweet?　That water’s trouble!¹

Don’t you bother me!　Buy or Die?!
Wanna die in heaven?!
Maybe purity is getting corrupted!
What do you desire?!　What Do You Want!?

Silver rain falling on the road
bleeding from the blaring red-light sirens
Don’t sleep in beds tonight
Just dream your dreams in your sleep

Don’t bother me!　Get out of my way!
Window shoppers, get lost!
You’ve decided that purity is good for sure!
So what do you desire!?　Sweetheart!?

Don’t you bother me!　Buy or Die?!
Wanna die in heaven?!
Maybe purity is getting corrupted!
What do you desire?!　What Do You Want!?

Silver rain falling on the road
bleeding from the blaring red-light sirens
It’s time for you to go home
Just forget about what happened today
Don’t sleep in beds tonight
Just dream your dreams in your sleep

 

Notes:

¹ A reference to the Hotaru, Koi (Ho, Firefly), a popular Japanese children’s folk song from Akita prefecture. The original lines of the song are “あっちの みずは にがいぞ、こっちの みずは あまいぞ” (acchi no mizu wa nigai zo, kocchi no mizu wa amai zo). Translated, it reads, “Over there the water bitter, over here the water is sweet”. “Bitter” implies “impure” while “sweet” implies “pure”.
This particular folk song was also referenced in Kuchizuke.

 

Comments:

Harajuku, a street famous for its fashion driven mostly by youths and teenagers from the nearby art and design schools. It is a staple of Japan’s fashion culture and sites like Tokyo Fashion have made it even more popular with street-snaps of pedestrians with eye-popping dressing and fashion sense.
Youths often flock there in a bid to become a part of the culture itself and Sakurai has mentioned that this song is a warning against being too blinded by the desire to be a part of the glitz and glam. The title suggests exactly that with “URA” added before “HARA-JUKU”.
“URA” means the “back” or the “underside” of something. Often used in phrases like 裏話 (ura banashi) to talk about behind-the-scenes, the addition of “URA” here is a clear sign that the song talks about the underbelly of Harajuku, of what happens under the sparkly surface.
At the same time, “URAHARA” (裏腹) also refers to the “contrary”, “reverse” or “opposite” of something. This also serves to reinforce Sakurai’s narrative in this song.
Do note that there’s also a district in Omotesando called 裏原宿 (uraharajuku), close to the main Harajuku are that’s a pretty nice shopping belt. Although in recent years, it’s been overrun by shops reselling streetwear.
— Yoshiyuki

 

BUCK-TICK | [26 Mar 2023] ROCK AND READ Blog: RR106 Coverage Report — BUCK-TICK

Posted on by Yoshiyuki

RR106 Coverage Report:
BUCK-TICK

ROCK AND READ Blog
26 March 2023

BUCK-TICK is releasing their 23rd original album, 異空 -IZORA- on April 12.

Releasing on the same day, is our next issue, ROCK AND READ 106,
and BUCK-TICK’s Sakurai Atsushi-san and Imai Hisashi-san will be gracing the cover.
Within the pages of this issue are detailed commentaries on all the songs on this new album from Sakurai-san, Imai-san, Hoshino Hidehiko-san, Higuchi Yutaka-san, and Yagami Toll-san; all five members of the band.

It’s been about two and a half years since ABRACADABRA, their previous album which was produced in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic and was also deemed as a plague-warding spell.
After that came the release of their best-of concept album and performances at Yokohama arena commemorating the 35th anniversary of their major debut, along with the band’s first national tour since the COVID-19 pandemic struck; all of this marked a new chapter for BUCK-TICK, but what has it really been like for them?

Including the instrumental tracks which mark the start and the end of the album, this work holds a total of 14 tracks with 11 of them containing lyrics written by Sakurai-san, one containing lyrics by Imai-san while 11 had music composed by him, and three with music composed by Hoshino-san.
The five members of the band will each talk about the songs from their perspective and share stories behind the production of this album, so do find the chance to read this issue while listening to the album!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Translation: Yoshiyuki
Images: ROCK AND READ BLOG

 

 

BUCK-TICK | [Jan 2023] PHY Vol.23: TOUR THE BEST 35th anniv. Concert Report

Posted on by Yoshiyuki

BUCK-TICK
TOUR THE BEST 35th anniv.
2022.11.06　Takasaki City Theatre

PHY Vol.23
January 2023

The parade will go on forever. As long as everyone is here, from city to city. Always

text by Kanemitsu Hirofumi
photographs by Masa

 

To them, the 35th anniversary year of their major debut was looking like it would be one that appears to be less about congratulations or thanksgiving, and more of a serious self-reflection. However, once they concluded their Yokohama Arena event and embarked on their first national tour in a while, we began to see them start to regain something. Here is a concert report documenting their performance on 6 November at Takasaki City Theatre, in the band’s hometown.

Now that the band is returning to their usual routine of touring
They’re enjoying focusing on performing concerts without worrying about anything else except the band

The concert held at the band’s hometown of Takasaki, Gunma is the 9th stop of the tour.

Being in their hometown seemed to have brought them some sense of security with how the concert performance, the staging, and the atmosphere from the stage felt relaxed for some reason. The band’s performance felt like it was all coming together too, and in the encore, with a charming smile, Sakurai (Sakurai Atsushi / Vocalist) introduced the members of the band by reading Jomo Karuta cards, something that’s etched into the DNA of Gunmanians.

The day when this becomes the new style of introducing band members when performing in Gunma might be close, although Junretsu would perform their concert in this same hall the next day (lol). And being able to do this is probably proof that they’re enjoying that now that the band is now returning to their usual routine of touring, they can focus on performing concerts without worrying about anything else except the band itself. Every day they’re on tour is a fulfilling one; something that makes them more than happy.

But in the first place, far too many things happened in the time leading to the year of their 35th major debut anniversary. Tours being put on hold in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, no-audience live-streamed concerts, film concerts, the stopping of a national tour when Imai (Imai Hisashi / Guitarist) broke a bone. In a situation where they as a band could barely go back to their usual routine, until this year’s fan club tour kicked off, the only shows they have managed to put on with a live audience present since 2020 were their two annual concerts at Nippon Budokan. 

Having lost their usual routine of concerts like this, I get the feeling that there is a subtle shift in each of the band members’ closeness to the band and the direction they look towards without their knowledge. I’m left with the impression that the five of them, who had been wildly enthusiastic for the longest time, have suddenly turned calm, relooking at their relationship with the band.

On top of it all, there was the sudden Russian invasion of Ukraine that happened this February. Tragic sights were thrown at us by the press on a daily basis. Scenes of children crying. This cast a heavy shadow over the band, especially on Sakurai’s psyche, rendering them unable to celebrate their 35th anniversary year with nothing but “congratulations and thanksgiving”. Here is where the forthright spirit of Sakurai Atsushi, something that we all love, shone through. This, combined with the memories of his past, turned it all into an ever deeper self-reflection. 

The unabating darkness in his heart shows through the perspective of the vulnerable that is presented in Sayonara Shelter, the band’s new song which was released in their best-of concept album CATALOGUE THE BEST 35th anniv.. A month before this tour, the〈THE PARADE ～35th anniversary～〉show held at Yokohama Arena to commemorate their 35th debut anniversary had been structured in such a way that reflected Sakurai’s state of mind as it was. The show carried some kind of tension in the air, rather than a celebratory or grateful mood. I suppose it could also be a result of the situation the band was in.

The parade will go on. As long as everyone is here, forever——
That includes each and every one of us, as well as the members of the band

The tour began a month after those two days. Titled〈THE BEST 35th anniv.〉, it isn’t to say that the band would play a selection of songs well known to fans over the 35-year history of BUCK-TICK on this tour. Instead, it meant that the band would show what represents BUCK-TICK best, along with their dream of〈THE BEST〉. I thought that this would be an extension of what we saw at Yokohama Arena which drew on the social climate of these times and the band’s present state.

But that was not the case at all. Instead, once the tour began, the band dramatically recovered their identity.

I was able to watch their first performance at Tachikawa Stage Garden and this day’s show at Takasaki City Theatre. What shocked me was how the set list only had a few songs that were also performed at Yokohama Arena a month ago. Including the encore, the set list for this tour was made up of 20 songs. The two day event at Yokohama Arena a month back had a total of 42 songs, but only 6 songs from this tour’s set list, including their new song Sayonara Shelter were present there too.

This is the gift that came out of 35 years of constant album releases and at the same time, a forethought for the fans. Yet despite how different a set list this was, the overall tone of the concert remained unchanged. It just goes to show that no matter how much time has passed, something deeply ingrained in their hearts cannot be so easily cast aside.

But the impression it left was rather different. The show opened with a rock ‘n’ roll track revolving around phrases like “let’s go now”, “hop on board”. Up next was a song that invited us into a dark fantasy. Then, a song where a cute cat takes over Sakurai (you probably know what it is from this line alone even if you don’t want to) was followed by Imai’s song which envelops darkness with light and projects hope into our future. Where did the tension and uneasiness I felt at Yokohama go?

The band presented a strong stance calling upon everyone to enjoy the concert and have fun despite the real pressure and urgency tacked to it. In the first concert, a sad ballad was interspersed between these songs, but the set list had changed by this show. This time, I could catch glimpses of a conscious effort by the band to give the audience a more uplifting experience from the very start of the concert.

But this is where we see〈THE BEST〉; their true worth. As to where we are at this point, a bottomless world of darkness. One that relates to the emptiness in our hearts and the present climate of these occluded times. But that has been channeled into entertainment. That’s where the concert deviates greatly from Yokohama’s.

Among these songs, the most symbolic of all was their new song Sayonara Shelter. A little girl sang Let It Go in a bomb shelter in Kyiv as if embracing the hearts of the wounded; this was the video that inspired BUCK-TICK’s song but above its strong message, it is a song that had evolved into one of kindness and hope. This may well be something that resulted from the band’s current situation too. 

The other songs they performed were like this too. Even though they performed songs that we’re familiar with, these songs had weight but also carried with them a sense of hope and tenderness. Because the band is moving forward with firm resolution.

Again, the shows are on different scales so it’s hard to make a general comparison, but having switched from Yokohama Arena’s staging-oriented set up to this simpler stage where there is nothing in the space between the band and the audience, the cohesiveness of the 5 of them as a band along with how well they worked the audience were more than obvious. Even if they weren’t performing in their hometown, the expressions on the band members’ faces showed that they were clearly enjoying themselves. I was once again reminded how good it was that touring has returned to being a regular routine. 

And another big highlight was that we finally got to watch them perform a track from their latest original album, ABRACADABRA, which they could not perform in concert in the past couple of years, live on stage. The “prayer” that was in that album will finally come true. And we may have very well been witnessing that moment right before our eyes.

“How long will the parade last?　I’d think it’ll go on forever. As long as everyone is here, from city to city. Always and forever.”

This was the message that came from Sakurai’s lips right before the last song of the night. On the first day of their tour at Tachikawa, he said, “I don’t know how long it’ll last, but the parade will go on.” Words which carried a measure of uncertainty, but at some point in time, he began to say, “It will go on forever.”

This is yet another sign that the band is getting back to their usual routine. Now, they can say this to their fans confidently and with certainty. The parade will go on. As long as everyone is here, forever. An “everyone” which includes each and every one of us, as well as the members of the band.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Translation: Yoshiyuki
Pictures: Yoshiyuki