Okazaki was born in Nagasaki but her family moved to Tokyo when she was in third grade. As a high school student, she formed a band with two classmates called Eleanor (エレナー), in which she played piano and sang backup vocals. It was at this time she began writing original songs. She began her professional career in 1985 composing music for TV programs and commercials as well as for other singers under a variety of names, the most frequently used being Ritsu ("Ritz") Morino (森野律). She debuted as a solo artist in 1993 with the single "Kanashii jiyû" (悲しい自由) followed shortly by her first album, "Sincerely yours,". She spent much of the 1990s creating solo works. Around 2000 until her death, her career became profoundly more focused on music for animated series. To this end, in 2001 she teamed up with singer-songwriter Megumi Hinata (日向めぐみ) to form Melocure, a project that produced music for a variety of series.
In the spring of 2003, Okazaki discovered she had stomach cancer. This information was not announced to the public at the time and she continued to pursue her professional activities to the best of her ability. On May 5, 2004, she passed away suddenly and unexpectedly from septic shock. She was 44 years old. Her album "For RITZ", which was in production when she passed, was completed with what voice recordings were available (some were only preliminary) and released as a tribute.
-- -- -- -- -- --
長崎県西彼杵郡高島町(現長崎市)端島出身。高校一年の時に同期生2人とバンド「エレナー」を結成し、3人で音楽活動を始める。当時の担当はピアノ、コーラスだった。
音楽業界に入った後に「森野律」などの名義でコマーシャル音楽などを手がけたり、アーティストに楽曲を提供していた。OVA『1月にはChristmas』主題歌「冬のないカレンダー」で、歌手の「岡崎律子」としてトーラスレコード(その後、会社自体がポリグラム(現在はユニバーサルミュージック)に編入された)からデビュー、晩年はスターチャイルドに移籍した。テレビアニメ『魔法のプリンセスミンキーモモ』イメージソング「4月の雪」「約束」を担当。歌手活動と並行して、ラジオやエッセイなどで活躍したり、アニメ・ゲーム作品や声優の曲を数多く手がけている。日向めぐみとのユニット「メロキュア」も、広く注目を得る。ヤマハ音楽教室のピアノ・エレクトーン教室の音楽教材にも、曲をいくつか提供しており、音楽教室の生徒向け教材CDに収録されている。
2004年5月5日に敗血症性ショックのため死去。44歳没。
その死後、2003年春にスキルス胃がんを発病して、闘病生活を送りつつ創作活動を続けていたことが明らかになった。交流のあった芸能関係者以外では一部の例外を除き、親族の意向により墓所は一般公表されていない。遺作となった『for RITZ』は、制作途中であったため、発表時には冥福を祈る意味でタイトルが変更された。同アルバムには、本番収録が間に合わずテスト状態で収録された曲もある。
空色
岡崎律子 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
痛い なにかが切れて もう歩けない
つま先立ちみたいな日々でも いつかきっと
つよくなりたいと見上げる空は高く
よろこびもかなしみも ふいに私を試す
もう幾度 越えただろう
小さな決心くり返し 歩いていくの
はらはらと雪の舞う道も 春には花
傷つけあう日があるけれど でも平気
ほんとうは誰もがやさしくて 求めあってる
かなしくてかなしくて 心ちぎれそうな夜
それでもなお信じてみる
細い希望つないで
こらえてもこらえても 落ちる涙ならいいの
雨が降る 激しく降る
すべてを流してく
生きるのは苦しいの 同じくらい素敵なの
今を越えて ここを越えて
また笑ってみせて
よろこびもかなしみも その手に抱きしめていける
The lyrics of 岡崎律子's song "空色" (Sora-iro) convey a universal message of the struggles of life and finding hope amidst difficulties. The opening lines describe stumbling on a long uphill road and the pain of something snapping, making it impossible to continue walking. However, the singer is determined to be strong, and she looks up at the sky with the desire to overcome her challenges.
The song portrays a sense of perseverance despite the harsh realities of life. The joy and sadness are suddenly tested on occasion, and the singer often cries alone at dawn, but she repeats to herself that she wants to be stronger. She walks forward with small steps and makes small decisions. Although there are days when people hurt each other and sadness prevails, she believes that everyone is kind and that they are all looking for love and support.
Towards the end of the song, the singer expresses the reality of life that it can be tough to live, but it is also beautiful. She urges herself to overcome the present and move on to the next challenge, with tears flowing down her cheeks. The singer can embrace both joy and sorrow and find comfort in them, knowing that hardships will pass and new growth will follow.
Line by Line Meaning
長い長い坂道の途中でつまずいて
During the middle of a long, long uphill climb, I stumble and fall.
痛い なにかが切れて もう歩けない
It's an excruciating pain, something snaps and now I can't continue.
つま先立ちみたいな日々でも いつかきっと
Each day feels like I'm treading lightly, carefully trying to stay afloat.
つよくなりたいと見上げる空は高く
But I still look up at the sky and yearn to become stronger, and the sky is so high above me.
よろこびもかなしみも ふいに私を試す
Trials and tribulations, joy and pain come upon me suddenly and unexpectedly.
もう幾度 越えただろう
But how many obstacles have I already overcome?
ひとり泣きあかした夜明け
After crying alone all night, the dawn breaks and a new day begins.
小さな決心くり返し 歩いていくの
I make many small, determined decisions and thus continue walking.
はらはらと雪の舞う道も 春には花
Even though the path is now scattered with snow, in the spring it will bloom with flowers.
傷つけあう日があるけれど でも平気
Even though there are days where we hurt each other, we are okay.
ほんとうは誰もがやさしくて 求めあってる
The truth is that everyone is kind and we are all searching for the same thing.
かなしくてかなしくて 心ちぎれそうな夜
During times of sadness and heartbreak, when my heart feels like it's breaking in two...
それでもなお信じてみる
...even then, I still try to believe.
細い希望つないで
Holding on tightly to hope, no matter how thin it may be.
こらえてもこらえても 落ちる涙ならいいの
Even if I'm holding back and holding back, it's okay to let my tears fall.
雨が降る 激しく降る
The rain falls, falling heavily and unstoppably.
すべてを流してく
It washes away all my troubles and woes.
生きるのは苦しいの 同じくらい素敵なの
Living is hard, but it's just as beautiful.
今を越えて ここを越えて また笑ってみせて
Push past this moment, past where we are now, and let's smile once again.
よろこびもかなしみも その手に抱きしめていける
Each and every joy and sorrow, I will hold them close to my heart and continue on.
Writer(s): 岡崎 律子, 岡崎 律子
Contributed by Sadie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.