Originally calling themselves the A Cappella Circle when they were at the University of Waseda, they changed their name to the Gospellers in 1991 after graduating. They spent the next ten years working towards national recognition, releasing 24 singles and 9 albums during that time. They became the first complete a cappella group to be in the top 3 of the Oricon chart ranking in Japan with their song, "HITORI".
In early 2006, the group made a side-project release, Gosperats, featuring the members in blackface and singing with a jazzier accompaniment Rats & Star's member Masayuki Suzuki, Nobuyoshi Kuwano and Yoshio Sato. Many of the western Gospeller fans were upset about the outrage it caused on some discussion forums, many non-fans felt offended by the blackface the group members had chosen to take on. Fortunately, this project was announced as a side-project and released only one album under its name.
The members of Gospellers are now producers for several Japanese artists, including Tatsuya Ishii and Masayuki Suzuki. (This text has been cited from Wikipedia)
スローバラード
ゴスペラーズ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
あの娘と手をつないで
市営グランドの駐車場
二人で毛布にくるまって
カーラジオからスローバラード
夜露が窓をつつんで
あの娘の寝言を聞いたよ
ほんとさ 確かに聞いたんだ
カーラジオからスローバラード
夜露が窓をつつんで
悪い予感のかけらもないさ
ぼくら夢を見たのさ
とってもよく似た夢を
These lyrics are about a young couple who spent the night together in a car. The singer reminisces about the previous night, where they were holding hands while sleeping in the car at a public parking lot wrapped in a blanket. They had Slow Ballad playing on the car radio, and the night dew was tapping on the window. There was no hint of a bad feeling at that time, which suggests that they were very content and in love.
Towards the end of the lyrics, the singer also mentions that they both had a dream that was very similar. This dream might have symbolized their togetherness, and even though it's not clear what the dream was about, it shows that they were in sync even subconsciously and that their love was deep.
Overall, the lyrics of スローバラード are quite simple yet vivid, painting a picture of a romantic night spent in a car, and the emotion that comes with young love.
Line by Line Meaning
昨日はクルマの中で寝た
Last night, I slept inside a car.
あの娘と手をつないで
I held hands with that girl.
市営グランドの駐車場
We parked at the municipal ground's parking lot.
二人で毛布にくるまって
We wrapped ourselves in a blanket together.
カーラジオからスローバラード
The car radio played a slow ballad.
夜露が窓をつつんで
Dew formed on the car window.
悪い予感のかけらもないさ
There was not even a hint of a bad feeling.
あの娘の寝言を聞いたよ
I heard that girl talking in her sleep.
ほんとさ 確かに聞いたんだ
I really did hear it, I promise.
ぼくら夢を見たのさ
We dreamed together.
とってもよく似た夢を
A dream that was incredibly similar.
Contributed by Ian H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.