Nakashima had dreamed of becoming a singer since she was a child. She decided not to attend high school or college, and pursued her dream in a musical career. She was chosen out of three thousand girls as the heroine of the 2001 fall season drama, 傷だらけのラブソング (Kizudarake no Love Song, Scarred Love Song) from Fuji TV Station. In November, she made her sensational debut under Sony Music Associated Records with the song STARS, which was also the theme song of the drama. STARS is Nakashima's best-selling single to date, with sales nearing 470 000 copies since its release in November of 2001.
Her second single, CRESCENT MOON, was limited to only 100 000 copies. Amazingly, it sold out on the first day of its release.
In March of 2002, she released her third single ONE SURVIVE and her first video compilation DVD, FILM LOTUS. In May her fourth single HELPLESS RAIN. In August her fifth single, WILL, was released, tying up sales of over 200 000 copies. She released her first album, TRUE, in August of 2002. TRUE peaked at #1 on the Oricon 200 Album Chart in Japan, and has sold 1,174,000 copies since its release.
In 2003, she released five singles, 愛してる (Aishiteru, I Love You), Love Addict, 接吻 (Seppun, Kiss), FIND THE WAY and 雪の華 (Yuki no Hana, Flowers of Snow), a mini-album, RESISTANCE, and a full-length album, LOVE. LOVE went on to sell over 1.5 million copies, surpassing the sales of her debut.
During the next two years, Nakashima released another five singles: SEVEN, 火の鳥 (Hi no Tori, Phoenix), LEGEND, 桜色舞うころ (Sakura Iro Mau Koro, When the Colors of Cherry Blossoms Flutter), and ひとり (Hitori, Alone). She also released another mini-album, 朧月夜～祈り (Oborodzukiyo～Inori, A Misty, Moon-lit Night ～ Prayer), and her third full-length album, MUSIC. Her compilation album BEST, which was released in December 2005, surpassed the 1.2 million sales mark, and is the second best-selling album in Mika's career after LOVE.
Nakashima was chosen to play one pf the main roles in the live-action movie NANA in 2005, and also sang its theme song, GLAMOROUS SKY under the name NANA starring MIKA NAKASHIMA.
In December of 2006, Nakashima released 一色 (Hito Iro, A Single Color) for the NANA 2 movie under the name NANA starring MIKA NAKASHIMA, as well as a NANA album titled THE END, which marked the conclusion of her association with NANA.
Nakashima released another five singles, CRY NO MORE, ALL HANDS TOGETHER, MY SUGAR CAT, 見えない星 (Mienai Hoshi, A Star that Can't Be Seen), and 素直なまま (Sunao Mama, Gentle Ways). that led up to the release of her fourth album in 2007, YES.
During the last part of 2007 and during 2008, Nakashima released five singles, LIFE, 永遠の詩 (Eien no Uta, Song of Eternity), SAKURA ～花霞～ (SAKURA ～Hanagasumi～, SAKURA ～Mist of Flowers～, I DON'T KNOW, which was a collaboration with the comedy group 森三中 and released under the artist name MICA 3 CHU (pronounced Mika San Chū), and ORION. She then released her fifth album in November of 2008, entitled VOICE.
In the current era, which began in March of 2009 with the release of the compilation album NO MORE RULES., Nakashima has released two singles entitled Over Load and CANDY GIRL. The single 流れ星 (Nagare Boshi, Shooting Star) will be released on November 4th, and the single ALWAYS will be released in January of 2010.
Nakashima is known to make cover versions of English songs, such as AMAZING GRACE, THE ROSE, WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD and YOU'D BE SO NICE TO COME HOME TO.
Apart from singing and sometimes modeling, Nakashima has been involved in several commercial campaigns, including KANEBO Cosmetics 「KATE」, Meiji Seika Kaisha, Ltd. 「BODA」「GALBO」「FRAN」, SONY 「Hi-MD Walkman」, and ROHTO 「ROHTO Zi:φ」.
Official Website: www.mikanakashima.com
Orion
中島美嘉 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
弱さを見せないことが そう
強い訳じゃないって君が
言っていたからだよ
I believe
息が冷たくなる帰り道に
ただ星が揺れている
確かめたばかりの
淡いぬくもりさえ
もう忘れそう
人を好きになれることに
初めて気付いた 今は
泣いたのは僕だった
つながった冬の星座
この空に消えてかない様に
見つめていたんだよ
I believe
かじかんだ手のひら
離れぬ様に いつまでもふれていたい
伝えたい言葉を繰り返すのに
また声にならない
他愛ないことで笑って
優しく包むよ 君を
流れ星数えてた
君と出会えたキセキが
今僕に
生きている意味を
教えてくれたから
I believe
泣いたのは僕だった
弱さを見せないことが そう
強い訳じゃないって君が
言っていたからだよ
I believe
言っていたからだよ
I believe
The lyrics of 中島美嘉's song ORION are a beautiful portrayal of the fragility of human emotions and the strength that can be derived from acknowledging one's vulnerabilities while seeking the comfort of love. The song begins with the persona revealing that contrary to what everyone might believe, it was actually him who cried and not the person he was with. He did so because he was told that it was okay not to pretend to be strong all the time. This confession sets the tone for the rest of the song and emphasizes the importance of honest communication within relationships.
The persona goes on to describe a cold and lonely journey home, where the only comfort he finds is in watching the stars twinkle. He admits that he may forget the warmth he had just felt and was trying to hold onto. However, he goes on to state that falling in love for the first time had made him realize the value of connecting with others.
The chorus repeats the sentiment of the persona not having to pretend to be strong and how he had been looking at the winter constellation, hoping it would never disappear into the sky. He goes on to describe his desire to hold someone's hand forever and the frustration of not being able to express his feelings. However, he promises to always provide love and protection in whatever way he can.
Overall, the lyrics of ORION are a wistful depiction of the beauty and uncertainty of human relationships, and how we can find hope and solace in love even amidst the harsh reality of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
泣いたのは僕だった
I was the one who cried
弱さを見せないことが そう
I didn't want to show my weakness
強い訳じゃないって君が
You said it's not about being strong
言っていたからだよ
That's what you said
I believe
I believe
息が冷たくなる帰り道に
On the way home where breaths become cold
ただ星が揺れている
Only the stars are swaying
確かめたばかりの
Just confirmed
淡いぬくもりさえ
Even the faint warmth
もう忘れそう
I'm about to forget
人を好きになれることに
I realized for the first time that I can love someone
初めて気付いた 今は
And now I am aware for the first time
つながった冬の星座
The connected winter constellations
この空に消えてかない様に
So they won't disappear into this sky
見つめていたんだよ
I was watching them
かじかんだ手のひら
My numb palms
離れぬ様に いつまでもふれていたい
I want to keep touching you forever so we don't separate
伝えたい言葉を繰り返すのに
Even though I keep repeating the words I want to convey
また声にならない
They still won't come out
他愛ないことで笑って
Laughing at trivial things
優しく包むよ 君を
I'll gently embrace you
流れ星数えてた
I was counting shooting stars
君と出会えたキセキが
The miracle of meeting you
今僕に
Now, to me
生きている意味を
It taught me the meaning of life
教えてくれたから
Because it taught me
Contributed by Jeremiah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-zj4hy5ke1t
今も聴いてるみんな用です
泣いたのは僕だった
弱さを見せないことが そう
強い訳じゃないって君が
言っていたからだよ
I believe
息が冷たくなる帰り道に
ただ星が揺れている
確かめたばかりの
淡いぬくもりさえ
もう忘れそう
人を好きになれることに
初めて気付いた 今は
泣いたのは僕だった
つながった冬の星座
この空に消えてかない様に
見つめていたんだよ
I believe
かじかんだ手のひら
離れぬ様に いつまでもふれていたい
伝えたい言葉を繰り返すのに
また声にならない
他愛ないことで笑って
優しく包むよ 君を
流れ星数えてた
君と出会えたキセキが
今僕に
生きている意味を
教えてくれたから
I believe
泣いたのは僕だった
弱さを見せないことが そう
強い訳じゃないって君が
言っていたからだよ
I believe
言っていたからだよ
I believe
@user-mu3gb3qo6l
大好きな中島美嘉さん、確かにこの頃は声が本調子ではなさそうです。それでも大ファンです。名曲アップありがとうございます。
@user-wl4ef7iq2k
凄い！
耳の病気患っているのに、そんなマイナス面をも感じさせないような歌唱力！
凄いがんばって特訓したのがわかる！
聴いているこちらにも、勇気を感じとれる！
素晴らしい！
@user-uc2tr3yy6b
純粋に聞きたくなったから来ました。
@user-cj2fj2iu2x
この曲好きです❤
@user-yc6xl8fl3e
あらためて聞きたくなりました
@user-ow1in9ih4l
いつ見てもかわいいし、心響く歌声❣️
@user-wl4ef7iq2k
流れ星…のとこのテンポ好き！
@user-zf3uw3tz8n
魂の歌声！
@user-ej3cw1fk3o
この声が安定してない感じもまた癖になる、すごい表現力だなぁ。
@user-tn9rj7ed2d
耳が聞こえなかったそうですよ