In her beginning Okada went on many auditions for talent shows in hopes of becoming an idol. Finally she was accepted to Star Tanjou! on Nippon Television. In March 1983, she won the contest.
On April 21, 1984, Okada debuted with a single, "First Date". She was known as "Yukko" in the beginning of her career as a result of her mispronouncing her name, Yukiko, stemming from her nervousness on her first television appearance on "The Best Ten".
Okada won the Rookie of the Year title that same year and was awarded the title of best new artist for the 26th Japan Record Awards for her 3rd single, "Dreaming Girl: Koi, Hajimemashite." Her 1986 song "Kuchibiru Network" written by Seiko Matsuda and composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto reached the number one spot on the Oricon weekly single charts on February 10, 1986.
Just as she was starting to come into her own as a star in the idol industry a tragedy occurred. The Sun Music building, located in Yotsuya, Tokyo, Around 10 o'clock April 8, 1986, 18 year old Okada was found with a slashed wrist in her gas-filled Tokyo apartment. Two hours later, Okada jumped to her death from the seven-story building. The reason for Okada's suicide is still unknown.
Plastic Girl
岡田有希子 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
あなた見つめていて
壊れそうな心
抱きしめてよ
女の子はいつも
そっと守られたいの
ときめく想いだけ
気がかりな日曜日
一人の部屋で
あなたの写真
涙で曇る
占ったトランプは
ハートのクイーン
微笑むけれど
何故か悲しい
愛してるのに どうしていつも
ケンカばかりね わがままなの
あなたの心 確かめたくて
無理を言ったの ごめんなさい
プラスティックな恋
あなた迎えに来て
壊れそうな心
抱きしめてよ
女の子はいつも
そっと愛されたいの
感じる想いだけ
胸に抱いて
遠くから響いている
ベルの音 いま
受話器の向こう
あなたがいたの
照れながら つまらない
ジョークをひとつ
笑ったけれど
涙が出たの
ひとりになって いつもわかるの
大事な恋を しているって
あなたの心 確かめたくて
無理を言ったの ごめんなさい
プラスティックな恋
あなた見つめていて
壊れそうな心
抱きしめてよ
女の子はいつも
そっと守られたいの
信じる想いだけ
胸に抱いて
The song "Plastic Girl" by Yukiko Okada is a poignant ballad about a girl who longs for love and protection. The opening line "プラスティックな恋 (Plastic Love)" suggests a love that may not be genuine, but rather superficial - like a plastic toy. The singer of the song yearns for her lover's embrace to ease her fragile heart which is on the verge of breaking. She wants to be protected by her lover's gentle touch and reassured of his love.
The first verse describes the girl's desire to be protected and cherished by her lover. She harbors a secret crush on him and keeps her feelings to herself. The second verse reveals the girl's loneliness and how she finds solace in her lover's photograph. She is drawn to the Queen of Hearts card in the Tarot deck, which symbolizes love and passion, but is also saddened that her own relationship is fraught with conflict and selfishness.
The chorus of the song repeats the title line, emphasizing the dichotomy of the girl's love, which is both fragile and superficial, and yet deep and genuine. The bridge describes a moment of joy between the couple, when the girl discovers her lover on the other end of the phone line. Despite the frivolous joke he shares, she is moved to tears by the sound of his voice. The final verse repeats the theme of love and protection, underscoring the girl's deep desire to be loved and cherished by her partner.
Line by Line Meaning
プラスティックな恋
A love that seems fake, nothing but a façade
あなた見つめていて
I gaze at you, longing for your attention
壊れそうな心
A heart that is fragile, about to break
抱きしめてよ
Hold me tight, make me feel safe
女の子はいつも
Girls always
そっと守られたいの
Want to be protected, taken care of gently
ときめく想いだけ
Only carrying the fluttering feeling in their heart
胸に抱いて
Hold it close to their chest
気がかりな日曜日
A Sunday filled with worries and anxiety
一人の部屋で
In a room alone
あなたの写真
Your photograph
涙で曇る
Becomes cloudy with tears
占ったトランプは
The tarot card I drew showed
ハートのクイーン
The Queen of Hearts
微笑むけれど
Smiling, but
何故か悲しい
For some reason, it's sad
愛してるのに どうしていつも
Even though I love you, why is it always
ケンカばかりね わがままなの
We fight all the time, and I'm so selfish
あなたの心 確かめたくて
I just wanted to confirm your feelings
無理を言ったの ごめんなさい
I'm sorry for asking too much
あなた迎えに来て
Come and pick me up
女の子はいつも
Girls always
そっと愛されたいの
Want to be loved gently
感じる想いだけ
Only feeling the emotions
胸に抱いて
Hugging them close to their chests
遠くから響いている
Echoing from a distance
ベルの音 いま
The sound of a bell, right now
受話器の向こう
On the other side of the receiver
あなたがいたの
You were there
照れながら つまらない
While feeling embarrassed, a boring
ジョークをひとつ
Joke slipped out
笑ったけれど
I laughed, but
涙が出たの
Tears fell
ひとりになって いつもわかるの
When I'm alone, I always realize
大事な恋を しているって
That I'm in love with something important
あなたの心 確かめたくて
I just wanted to confirm your feelings
無理を言ったの ごめんなさい
I'm sorry for asking too much
プラスティックな恋
A love that seems fake, nothing but a façade
あなた見つめていて
I gaze at you, longing for your attention
壊れそうな心
A heart that is fragile, about to break
抱きしめてよ
Hold me tight, make me feel safe
女の子はいつも
Girls always
そっと守られたいの
Want to be protected, taken care of gently
信じる想いだけ
Believing in their feelings
胸に抱いて
Hugging them close to their chests
Writer(s): 山口 美央子, 山口 美央子
Contributed by Anna F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@suishou_no_sakanatachi
このアルバムの中では一番好きな歌です♡
カラオケでもたまに歌います☆
@user-ff1jk5fm1f
８０年代的なサウンドも今聞くと不思議と新鮮ですね。
@Misakosoya
ＭＡＮＳＡＫＵＳＡＫＵ
それだけ魅力的な曲なんです。
@mariyou_3007
Damm dis was my favorite song a year ago, love you Yukiko Okada!!
@user-nh7xx8wb5u
いつも有希子さんの貴重な曲聞かせてもらってます。当時は自分はまだ幼稚園児であまり記憶はなくて、ラブジュシャンプーのCMしか記憶に無いのです。本当に良い曲が多いですね。
@today848
彼女のファーストアルバムの曲の中で一番好きです。まさに80年代テイストのメロディーが懐かしい。
@AyNokFromLaos
懐かしいアルバムですね。タイムスリップしちゃいました。有難うございます。
ドラムマシーンは Linn Drum , 不思議な歪み感があるシンセは Fairlight CMI II かな。ファーストアルバムから制作陣かなり力いれていたんでしょうね。
@user-kz8ys6ki3e
女の子の切ない心がよく表現された曲ですね? 好きな曲です!
@user-vq2ci8qn9n
ユッコちゃんの笑顔好きです。
@montesa35
Yukko: Hi Mariya, can I sample your Plastic Love?
Mariya: Yes, my dear.
~several moments later~
Yukko: Thanks, finally I got my own.
Mariya: What is it?
Yukko: Plastic Girl