Akino Arai (新居昭乃, Born August 21st 1959, in Tokyo) is a new age, dream pop… Read Full Bio ↴Akino Arai (新居昭乃, Born August 21st 1959, in Tokyo) is a new age, dream pop, folk and world music singer, songwriter and composer. She likes to create laidback songs with dreamy atmospheres, often using ethnic elements, mixing synths and electronic sounds with folk instruments and aerial vocals. Her style is close to shoegaze. She is known for her work in anime series such as Outlaw Star, Noir, Macross Plus and many others.

She's performed with Yoko Kanno, ZABADAK, SAMPLY RED, Yayoi Yula, and she was once in a group called Marsh-Mallow. Arai had her debut in 1986, with the song "Beautiful Planet".

'Voices" the theme to Macross Plus, is probably her most famous single until now.

ビーズ
新居昭乃 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

おんなじ形の窓ばかりが並んでる
聞こえる? 繰り返す音のようだね

夢見よ旅せよ
いつもの街を出て

眺める雨粒ビルの上浮かんでく
一日歩けば風の向こうへ

恋せよ乙女よ
心に花咲かせて

優しく空が
君を見下ろすよ
いつでもここにいると
痛いくらいの美しさできっと
君をそっと包んでいるよ

友達には分けてあげよう
密かに変化するすべてのことを

夢見よ旅せよ
見知らぬ人が待つよ

雨はじける
まるでビーズのように
奏でる七色の音楽
答えは遠く
遠ざかる地平の先に
そっと潜んでいるよ

優しく空が
君を見下ろすよ
いつでもここにいると

痛いくらいの美しさできっと
君をそっと包んでいるよ

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "ビーズ" by 新居昭乃 speak of leaving one's comfort zone and taking a journey through life. The singer reflects on the monotony of their surroundings, with identical windows lined up in a row. They hear the sound of something repeating, perhaps a metaphor for the sameness of their routine. They encourage themselves to dream and travel, to leave their usual city behind, and to embrace love and the blossoming of their heart.

As they walk through rain and gaze at buildings, they see a glimmer of hope and the possibility of change. The raindrops seem like "beads" floating above the buildings. The music of life, like a seven-colored melody, is just waiting to be discovered. While the answer to their quest may be far away on the horizon, there is a sense of comfort and beauty in the present moment, with the kind sky looking down on them and gently embracing them. The lyrics encourage listeners to embrace change and adventure and to trust in the beauty of life.

Line by Line Meaning

おんなじ形の窓ばかりが並んでる
Rows of identical-shaped windows are lined up

聞こえる? 繰り返す音のようだね
Can you hear it? It sounds like a repeating sound

夢見よ旅せよ
Dream and travel

いつもの街を出て
Leave the familiar town

眺める雨粒ビルの上浮かんでく
Raindrops float on top of the buildings I am gazing at

一日歩けば風の向こうへ
If I walk for a day, I will be beyond the wind

恋せよ乙女よ
Fall in love, young maiden

心に花咲かせて
Let the flowers bloom in your heart

優しく空が
The gentle sky

君を見下ろすよ
Overlooks you

いつでもここにいると
I will always be here