The band's roots trace back to 1975, when Kuwata Keisuke was part of a popular group Better Days. The group saw many changes to its name and members. It was when keyboardist Hara Yuko and bassist Sekiguchi Kazuyuki joined the group that it had a permanent name.
After more and more changes of members, the group finally saw light as they released their debut single 'Katte ni Sinbad' in 1978.
January of 2000 saw the release of TSUNAMI, which was #1 on the Oricon charts for 5 weeks, selling almost 3 million copies. The single was marked the 3rd best-selling one in Japan.
In 2003, HMV Japan announced Southern All Stars to be the No.1 Japanese pop artist in its survey of “Top 100 Japanese pops Artists” all-time.
Members:
Kuwata Keisuke (桑田佳祐) (Lead vocals, acoustic & electric guitars)
Sekiguchi Kazuyuki (関口和之) (Bass)
Hara Yuko (原由子) (Vocals & keyboards)
Matsuda Hiroshi (松田弘) (Drums)
Nozawa Hideyuki (野沢秀行) (Percussion)
Former Members:
Omori Takashi (大森隆志) (Guitar) (Left August 2001)
メリケン情緒は涙のカラー
サザンオールスターズ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
翔びかう妙な叫びが Yokohama に
エノケン・ロッパの芝居途中どうして oh no
彼女の姿が消える?
夜霧の china town を中ほど行くあたり
吐きだめたなびく 魔のとびら oh, oh, oh
今ここにいない打つ手も無い 悲しく lonely man
BUND-HOTELの バスタブにゃ黒い薔薇
殺意告げる message on the floor
漂ようムードは胸元 heavy, oh no
行方も手がかりさえ見つからず
なぜか 国籍不明の big tanker, oh no
港の灯に揺れている
山手の裏街 いばらの地の果てに
噂のシンジケート謎の影 oh, oh, oh
I belong to you my life is your sora-miyo
頻闇惑う命まで 今宵も lonely man
"産業道路にて待て"との連絡は
夢をつなぐ message from the man
良くない予感を脱ぎ捨てて
彼女の帰りを待つの
メリケン情緒は涙の color, oh no
彼女の姿が消える oh, oh, oh, stop!
The lyrics to "メリケン情緒は涙のカラー" by サザンオールスターズ depict a sense of melancholy and mystery. The opening line suggests that the Americanized atmosphere carries a color of tears, possibly implying a sense of sadness or nostalgia. The following lines mention a peculiar shout in Yokohama and question why the actress Enoken's presence disappears in the middle of a play. There is a reference to Yokohama's Chinatown and its fog, where a bewitching door is mentioned.
The chorus expresses a strong connection between the singer and an unnamed person, stating that the singer's life belongs to this person and they are currently apart, feeling helpless and lonely. A black rose on the floor of a bathtub at the BUND-HOTEL symbolizes a message that conveys a sense of murderous intent.
The second verse talks about a drifting mood that weighs heavily on the chest, with no clues or whereabouts. An unidentified big tanker sways in the light of the harbor. The lyrics then mention the shady underworld of the backstreets of Yamate, where a mysterious shadow connected to a syndicate is rumored.
The chorus repeats, emphasizing the singer's deep connection and loneliness. A message from someone instructs the singer to wait on an industrial road, intertwining dreams. The final lines suggest a sense of unease and the singer waiting for the return of the woman mentioned throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
メリケン情緒は涙の color, oh no
The American sentiment is colored with tears, oh no
翔びかう妙な叫びが Yokohama に
Strange cries fly around Yokohama
エノケン・ロッパの芝居途中どうして oh no
Why is Enoken Roppa's play interrupted, oh no
彼女の姿が消える?
Does her figure disappear?
夜霧の china town を中ほど行くあたり
Around the middle of the night foggy Chinatown
吐きだめたなびく 魔のとびら oh, oh, oh
The swaying devil's door that I vomited, oh, oh, oh
I belong to you my life is your sora-miyo
I belong to you, my life is yours, sora-miyo
今ここにいない打つ手も無い 悲しく lonely man
Being here unable to do anything, sadly a lonely man
BUND-HOTELの バスタブにゃ黒い薔薇
In the Bund Hotel's bathtub, there's a black rose
殺意告げる message on the floor
A message on the floor expressing murderous intent
漂ようムードは胸元 heavy, oh no
The drifting mood weighs heavily on the chest, oh no
行方も手がかりさえ見つからず
Without finding any clue about their whereabouts
なぜか 国籍不明の big tanker, oh no
For some reason, an unidentified big tanker, oh no
港の灯に揺れている
Swinging in the lights of the harbor
山手の裏街 いばらの地の果てに
At the end of the backstreets of Yamanote, in the land of thorns
噂のシンジケート謎の影 oh, oh, oh
The rumored syndicate, a mysterious shadow, oh, oh, oh
頻闇惑う命まで 今宵も lonely man
Even my thoroughly confused life tonight, I remain a lonely man
"産業道路にて待て"との連絡は
The message saying "Wait on the industrial road"
夢をつなぐ message from the man
A message from the man connecting dreams
良くない予感を脱ぎ捨てて
Discarding the bad premonition
彼女の帰りを待つの
Waiting for her return
メリケン情緒は涙の color, oh no
The American sentiment is colored with tears, oh no
彼女の姿が消える oh, oh, oh, stop!
Her figure disappears, oh, oh, oh, stop!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Keisuke Kuwata
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
田中良輔
この歌めっちゃ好きなんで、ありがとうございます😭
桜田へミリア
この曲とても好きなので飼ってる猫に「メリケン情緒」って名前を付けてあげました♪
気に入ったみたいで「メリケン情緒っ」って呼んであげるとすっ飛んで来ます😺
ぽん
斬新
石アタマ英二
人気者の中ではこの曲が１番好きなのです。
角川次郎
名曲のダブルパンチ！
「メリケン情緒は涙のカラー」も「顔」も音楽として素晴らしいです。
「人気者で行こう」も「KAMAKURA」も大好きなアルバムですが、この二曲は群を抜いて好きです。
特に「顔」は歌詞が現代を生きる私たちをまるまるそのまま映し出している気がします。
顔にコンプレックスを抱えた男そのままです。
この曲を国民的アーティストが、オリジナルアルバムの２枚目の、しかも一曲目に発表しているのは本当に重要なことです。
この曲を知ってサザンオールスターズの深い人間への愛を感じました。
霊夢 ゆっくり
ヒロシのドラムかっこいい
tak 6
曲間にケチャを採り入れるセンス最高👍
Minami
良い歌ですね❤
なるみ ましま
この歌は最近聞き始めたんだけすごく桑田さんの声が胸にジンジン響いてすごく好き❤❤毎日何回も聞きまーす🎉🎉大好き桑田さん💕💕
小林健児
歌声もさることながら、演奏が上手いです。