Ayumi Hamasaki has to be among one of my favorite lyricists. She writes with such honesty and personal experiences. No false thoughts or even imagination. She really does sing from the heart, you can tell by the emotion she puts into live performances. [And it's quite funny when she forgets the lyrics to 'Trauma' and replaces them with 'Lalalalala!'.]

Song for XX

' Why am I crying?
Why am I lost?
Why did I stop?
Please tell me
When will I grow up?
How long can I stay a child?
Where have I come running from?
Where am I running to?

I had no place to live. I couldn't find one.
I don't know if I could have any hope for the future.

They always said I was a strong child.
They praised me, saying "you must be strong to not cry."
I didn't want those words at all.
So I pretended not to understand.'

I believe the song was related to her father that she never seen. And also, it's about an weak, childish girl who is Ayumi. Ayu said in an interview that she doesn't want to be an adult, that she wants to have her childish side.


Shiina Ringo is another one of my favorites. Along with her nasally voice, her lyrics also give her music character. Her lyrics are hard to decipher, with a crap load of puns and flipped kanji. But her lyrics often depict aggressiveness or sweetness.

Gibusu

'You always want to take pictures
but I always hate that
because if I were a picture, I?d become old, wouldn't I?

You always say ?forever?
but I always hate that
because if our love cools, then even that would be a lie.

Don?t you think? I 'wana' be with you

Right here
For ever and ever and ever.
No one knows what tomorrow will bring
so hold me tight.
Hold me tight, darling.'

Okay, the title 'Gibusu' means the substance that is used to make plaster casts. You know, when you break an arm or leg that you have to wear an cast. She is saying that she wants to be as close to her lover like an cast on a leg or arm.

--

Shing02. He's a Japanese rapper, but also raps fluently in English. Out of all the rappers I have listened to, his lyrics depicts reality the most. Like Ayu's lyrics, it's not fake. It's not about money, sex, drugs, murder, etc. And it's not 'giving that big booty a slap!'. xD His word play is brilliant and he has a nice flow. His lyrics reflect both dreams and reality, something I can relate to. I love to listen to his words and let the vivid pictures form in my head.

Anyways, NUJABES + Shing02 = Pure awesomeness. NUJABES makes very smooth beats, his music is great. =D

Luv(sic) pt.3

' *It's funny how the music put times in perspective
Add a soundtrack to your life and perfect it
Whenever you are feeling blue keep walking and we can get far
Wherever you are

Like a movie that you can't predict
Like a book that you can't resist
I sing along a song that's oh so sensual
bring along a sip to make it all so sexual
verbally that is, making love to the music means vibing to the beat at night
with the whole city fast asleep, out cold
true words seem to rise to the lips, take hold
of a poet in me, most powerfully
I feel free when the world doesn't owe it to me
It's so hard to find a gig that lives up to the billing,
trying to find a reason to work, god willing
I admit, my thinking is wishful
like a star upon a child gazing up to the ceiling
how far do we have to stretch the truth
to fit the lifestyles borrowed and overdue
we can take it all back to the register
and start all over from the canister
let's break it all down into pieces of bright
moments that pass by like a meteorite
throw on your favorite reel that's good to go
on the analog player watch the people glow
sit back to the breeze let the memories flow
comedy tragedy all the highs and lows

*chorus

Like your moves that I can't predict
Like your look that I can't resist
The ting-a-ling feeling was oh so mutual
the lingering appeal was so unusual
herbally what is, medicine to a lone soul can become poison to some
with the whole body fast asleep, out cold
true vision seem to come to the eye, take hold
of a prophet in me most visibly
I see clear when the world doesn't show it to me
It's so hard to make sense in a cycle of billing,
trying to find a reason to quit and make a killing
I admit, our dealing is painful
like a star upon a child staring down from the ceiling
how far do we have to stretch the picture
before pixelating the human texture
we can take it all back to the register
and start all over from the canister
let's save it all up for an ultimate prize
homecoming gathering with a big surprise
throw on your favorite record that's good to go
on the analog table and it's hooked to blow
sit back with ease and hear the emcee flow
hi hat kick drum all the highs and lows'

--

Dir en Grey's Kyo is one twisted lyricist. xD Seriously, go look at the lyrics for the album version of Embryo if you're really curious. I might be crazy for saying this, but he also writes beautiful lyrics.

Akuro no Oka

'we met in that place, didn't we. Now I can no longer do anything but...
we met in this town, didn't we. Now I can no longer love anyone but...

now you are on that hill, looking at this sky which we saw togehter.
now I am in this sky, we were there, looking at that hill.

the withering flower, like that time, even once more would be enough, it wants to bloom beautifully.
on this night, the heart and ideals melt into the darkness, at least just for tonight,
by your side.

meeting you in that place, everything began, now I can't do anything.
meeting you in this town, now I can't love anyone, with you again
on that hill

the withering flower, like that time, even once more would be enough, it wants to bloom beautifully
on this night, the heart and ideals melt into the darkness, at least just for tonight
our interlocked fingers loosen, I who am sinking deeply loved the you I last saw
a dream unfulfilled. I wait on that hill. I want to sleep with you, a dream unawakened.

the past may not return but in my rebirth I'll search for you
so until that time wait for me, but for now that hill is still... '

Well, from the translation notes I saw on centigrade-j, Kyo is the person who died. He longs for the person who waits for him on the hill and he is watching her from heaven.

Ain't Afraid to Die

'The road we walked back then is gone
but I still walk along it anyway.

The snow quietly falls on the gentle slope,
now I put your favorite flower in your room
even though I know it will never reach you.

when I remembered our unyielding promise
from last year's last day of snow, it began to melt,
and spill from my hands.

The snow quietly falls on the gentle slope,
now I put your favorite flower in your room
even though I know it will never reach you.

As I remember you watching the snow from the window all alone,
I recall you through the window and give you one last kiss...

please, smile, stop your crying now...
I'm always watching you from here.

The snow quietly falls on the gentle slope,
now I put your favorite flower in your room
even though I know it will never reach you.

All over the city quietly colored white by the light,
the last seasonal color you saw.
you shed tears, reality is cruel isn't it?
the last seasonal color you saw.

The colors of you have finally disappeared with the four seasons
the snow melts and flowers bloom on the street.
the "shades" you saw are melting.

the last day of snow this year
(one flower in the street, when I looked up to the sky,
the final snow was pouring from the palm of my hands)'

I'll just take the translator notes from centigrade-j. xD
Translator's Notes: If you hear this song which I assume you will have if you are reading this translation I think it'll be apparent but the lines in the first part before the instrumental break "please smile..." are Kyo taking the role of this girl whom is watching him from heaven or wherever. Takko had a theory about the end of the song which is not actually sung when performed. She believes the singer can't sing it because he dies before he can. The line "The colors of you have finally disappeared with the four seasons" we think is in reference to a year passing. In one year the girl's spirit has finally faded from kyo's world... but the snow coming again reminds him of her. I think "ain't afraid to die" is in reference to this feeling that when the singer dies, he and his lover will be reunited. Kyo says this song isn't connected to Akuro no Oka which is kind of the oppposite of this story, but I think it is. The song was a holdover from the Macabre Album recording sessions, it just didn't seem to fit on that record though.