Shihoko comes from a very musically influenced background. From age 6 to 17 she learned to play classical piano. From age 12, she was introduced to 70s and 90s soul music, and began singing. In college, she joined a band and seriously began to get into music. In 2002, she attended the "Soul Bird Musical School” to learn gospel. Shihoko began voice training at another music school in 2003. She studied under her vocal teacher, Mineko Yamashita. Today, Shihoko tours with the Persona Music Band and performs live around Japan. Two recent tours were at: Akasaka Blitz in Minato, Tokyo and Wel City, Tokyo.
Pursuing My True Self
平田志穂子 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Abound with so much information
Come on, let go of the remote
Don't you know you're letting all the junk flood in?
I try to stop the flow, double clicking on the go
But it's no use hey, I'm being consumed
Loading loading loading
Quickly reaching maximum capacity
Gonna short circuit my identity
Get up on your feet, tear down the walls
Catch a glimpse of the hollow world
Snooping round it will get you nowhere
You're locked up in your mind
We're all trapped in a maze of relationships
Life goes on with or without you
I swim in the sea of the unconscious
I search for your heart, pursuing my true self
The lyrics of "Pursuing My True Self" by 平田志穂子 reflects the struggles of contemporary society, where people face constant bombardment of information and media, leading to a sense of entrapment in their own minds. The opening lines of the song set up this theme, where the singer talks about how we are surrounded by an overwhelming amount of information. She urges the listener to "let go of the remote" and not let "all the junk flood in". However, despite attempts to stop the flow of information, the person feels consumed and overwhelmed by it, leading to a potential loss of their own identity.
The next verse takes this theme further, with the warning that this constant barrage of information could lead to us short-circuiting our own identities. The metaphor of a warning signal, coupled with the use of the words "loading" and "maximum capacity", creates a sense of urgency and danger. The chorus, then, provides a solution to this problem: getting up on one's feet, tearing down the walls, and catching a glimpse of the "hollow world". In other words, to escape the maze of relationships and the entrapment of our surroundings, we need to break free and pursue our true selves.
Line by Line Meaning
We are living our lives
We are existing and experiencing our existence
Abound with so much information
There is an overwhelming amount of data and knowledge available
Come on, let go of the remote
Stop trying to control everything externally
Don't you know you're letting all the junk flood in?
You are allowing meaningless information to enter your mind
I try to stop the flow, double clicking on the go
I attempt to disrupt the influx of distractions, but it is ineffective
But it's no use hey, I'm being consumed
It is futile, and I am becoming overwhelmed
Loading loading loading
Continuously taking in more information
Quickly reaching maximum capacity
Approaching the limit of what I can handle
Warning warning warning
Signaling that danger or harm is imminent
Gonna short circuit my identity
My sense of self is at risk of being lost
Get up on your feet, tear down the walls
Stand up and dismantle the barriers that separate you from the truth
Catch a glimpse of the hollow world
Observe the unfulfilling and empty reality we often experience
Snooping round it will get you nowhere
Searching for fulfillment in the wrong places will lead to disappointment
You're locked up in your mind
You are confined by your own thoughts and perspective
We're all trapped in a maze of relationships
Our interactions and connections with others can be complicated and confusing
Life goes on with or without you
The world continues to move forward, whether or not you are present
I swim in the sea of the unconscious
I explore the depths of my subconscious mind
I search for your heart, pursuing my true self
I am seeking a connection with someone else that will aid me in discovering my authentic essence
Writer(s): 目黒将司, 南場優, ｒｙｏｒｃａ
Contributed by Hunter V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.