Mr.Children is one of the most popular bands in Japan. They made their major debut in 1992 with the release of their first album, "EVERYTHING", but it wasn't until one of their singles was used as a drama theme song, like their fourth single "Cross Road", that they started getting noticed. They got their big break in 1994 with the release of their fifth single, "innocent world", which made record sales and earned the Japan Record Award in 1994. Their fourth album, "Atomic Heart", which was released in the same year, is still their top selling album to date. Since then, all their singles have been number one hits in the Oricon charts like "Tomorrow never knows" and "Namonaki-uta", and many of them became million sellers, and they've produced other noteworthy albums.
In 1997, they took a long vacation, and came back to the Japanese music scene the next year with the single "Owari-naki-tabi."
Their sound is essentially a blend of light pop and classic rock. But due to the band's inclination to experiment with various music styles, their sound is constantly evolving. They have delved into various types of rock as well as jazz, blues, folk, country, and dance. Despite this constant change, however, their music has progressed successfully, proving them to be a versatile band that can last.
The main force behind the band is their singer and songwriter, Kazutoshi Sakurai, who composes almost all of their songs. The rest of the band include Kenichi Tahara on guitar, Keisuke Nakagawa on bass, and Hideya Suzuki (Jen) on drums and backing vocals. They also have supporting musicians on keyboards, guitar, brass instruments (trumpet and saxophone), and computer programming for their tours because they usually embellish their recordings.
It must be noted that a good part of what makes Mr.Children's songs unique is Sakurai's remarkable vocal ability. His vocal range is higher than the typical male range, and he sings with a noticeable Western style. Also, it is because he is influenced by the great classic rock artists of the '60s and '70s (in particular, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones) that the band's music usually has a classic rock feel. But being the vocalist of the band doesn't prevent him from sometimes sharing guitar solos with Tahara, or playing them by himself. He also plays the piano and harmonica proficiently.
Tahara and Nakagawa are the quietest members of the group, often choosing to remain in the background when the band appears on TV shows. Jen seems to be the most extroverted member who takes his top off onstage at any opportunity. He also always matches Sakurai's sense of humor. They are all very talented musicians who make vital contributions to the band.
On December 31, 2004, their song "Sign," was again awarded the Japan Record Award, ten years after the first.
Mr. Children has a long-time association with the Toys Factory record label.
HANABI
Mr.Children Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
僕が今生きているこの世界に
すべてが無意味だって思える
ちょっと疲れてんのかなぁ
手に入れたものと引き換えにして
切り捨てたいくつもの輝き
いちいち憂いていれるほど
平和な世の中じゃないし
一体どんな理想を描いたらいい?
どんな希望を抱き進んだらいい?
答えようもないその問いかけは
日常に葬られてく
君がいたらなんていうかなぁ
「暗い」と茶化して笑うのかなぁ
その柔らかな笑顔に触れて
僕の憂鬱が吹き飛んだらいいのに
決して捕まえることの出来ない
花火のような光だとしたって
もう一回 もう一回
もう一回 もう一回
僕はこの手を伸ばしたい
誰も皆 悲しみを抱いてる
だけど素敵な明日を願っている
臆病風に吹かれて 波風がたった世界を
どれだけ愛することができるだろう?
考えすぎで言葉に詰まる
自分の不器用さが嫌い
でも妙に器用に立ち振舞う自分は
それ以上に嫌い
笑っていても
泣いて過ごしても平等に時は流れる
未来が僕らを呼んでる
その声は今 君にも聞こえていますか?
さよならが迎えに来ることを
最初からわかっていたとしたって
もう一回 もう一回
もう一回 もう一回
何度でも君に逢いたい
めぐり逢えたことでこんなに
世界が美しく見えるなんて
想像さえもしていない 単純だって笑うかい?
君に心からありがとうを言うよ
滞らないように 揺れて流れて
透き通ってく水のような
心であれたら
逢いたくなったときの分まで
寂しくなったときの分まで
もう一回 もう一回
もう一回 もう一回
君を強く焼き付けたい
誰も皆 問題を抱えている
だけど素敵な明日を願っている
臆病風に吹かれて 波風がたった世界を
どれだけ愛することができるだろう?
もう一回 もう一回
もう一回 もう一回
The lyrics to Mr.Children’s HANABI express feelings of loneliness and a search for meaning in life. The singer questions the value of his existence and finds it difficult to see the purpose of everything in the world around him. He feels tired and wonders if other people feel the same way. He has given up things in exchange for what he has, but there are many shining things he wants to cut off. Living in a world that is not perfect, he wonders what kind of ideal he should aspire to, what kind of hope he should hold, but these questions are buried in his everyday life with no answers.
The singer longs for someone to be with him, to help him break through his depression. He thinks about someone who would laugh, even when everything seems dark and uncertain. The image of this person’s gentle smile makes him feel better, and he wants to reach out to her. The chorus repeats the phrase “One More Time” as the singer addresses the person he is thinking about. He wants to spend time with this person, knowing that everyone has their own problems but still wishing for a brighter tomorrow. The song ends with the singer contemplating how much he can love in a world that is so full of uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
どれくらいの値打ちがあるだろう?
How much value does my life hold in this world?
僕が今生きているこの世界に
The world in which I am currently living
すべてが無意味だって思える
I sometimes feel like everything is meaningless
ちょっと疲れてんのかなぁ
I wonder if I'm just a little bit tired
手に入れたものと引き換えにして
Trade the things I have acquired for something else
切り捨てたいくつもの輝き
So many things I want to throw away, so many shining things
いちいち憂いていれるほど
It's not a peaceful world where I can afford to worry about each and every one of them
平和な世の中じゃないし
After all, it's not a peaceful world
一体どんな理想を描いたらいい?
What kind of ideal should I envision?
どんな希望を抱き進んだらいい?
What kind of hope should I hold onto as I move forward?
答えようもないその問いかけは
Those questions that are just impossible to answer
日常に葬られてく
Are being buried in my everyday life
君がいたらなんていうかなぁ
I wonder what I would say if you were here
「暗い」と茶化して笑うのかなぁ
Would I make light of it and laugh, saying it's depressing?
その柔らかな笑顔に触れて
If I could touch your gentle smile
僕の憂鬱が吹き飛んだらいいのに
It would be great if my melancholy could just disappear
決して捕まえることの出来ない
Even though I can never catch it
花火のような光だとしたって
Even if it's a light like a firework
僕はこの手を伸ばしたい
I want to reach out my hand
誰も皆 悲しみを抱いてる
Everyone carries sadness within them
だけど素敵な明日を願っている
But we all hope for a wonderful future
臆病風に吹かれて 波風がたった世界を
In a world full of cowardly winds and turbulent waves
どれだけ愛することができるだろう?
How much love can I give in return?
考えすぎで言葉に詰まる
I overthink and get tongue-tied
自分の不器用さが嫌い
I don't like how clumsy I am
でも妙に器用に立ち振舞う自分は
But the way I act so skillfully is even worse
それ以上に嫌い
I hate that even more
笑っていても
Even if I'm laughing
泣いて過ごしても平等に時は流れる
Time flows the same way whether I'm crying or laughing
未来が僕らを呼んでる
The future is calling out to us
その声は今 君にも聞こえていますか?
Can you hear that voice too, right now?
さよならが迎えに来ることを
Even though I knew that farewell was coming
最初からわかっていたとしたって
From the very beginning
何度でも君に逢いたい
I want to meet you over and over again
めぐり逢えたことでこんなに
Just by having met you
世界が美しく見えるなんて
The world looks so beautiful
想像さえもしていない 単純だって笑うかい?
I can't even imagine it, and it's so simple, I could just laugh
君に心からありがとうを言うよ
I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart
滞らないように 揺れて流れて
So that I won't stagnate, I'll sway and flow
透き通ってく水のような
Like water becoming clear
心であれたら
If only my heart could be that way
逢いたくなったときの分まで
Even for the moments when I miss you
寂しくなったときの分まで
Even for moments when I feel lonely
君を強く焼き付けたい
I want to engrave you deeply in my heart
誰も皆 問題を抱えている
Everyone has their own problems
だけど素敵な明日を願っている
But we all hope for a wonderful future
臆病風に吹かれて 波風がたった世界を
In a world full of cowardly winds and turbulent waves
どれだけ愛することができるだろう?
How much love can I give in return?
Contributed by Sadie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.