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.
小鳥の巣
新居昭乃 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
あなたのもとへ
銀の羽傷つき その窓を叩いた
くすくす笑いしながらもぐり込んだ毛布
冷えた足を暖めて やわらかいキスで
ここに来るまで誰とも口がきけなかった
暗い闇のとおせんぼ くぐり抜けて来た
金の籠に入れて置いてきた
悲しい夢
微笑んでくれるの? 怖がらないように
寂しがりの子供より弱い心かも
そう誰にも話さない 本当のことは
ないしょ話よりそっと打ち明けたつもり
でももうちゃんと知ってる
あなたはいつだって
ダレヲ ダレヲ キズツケタノ
ワタシ コンヤモ コノテデ
ドコヘ ユクノ キガツイタラ
トオク トオク トンデタ
折れた羽で
くすくす笑いしながらもぐり込んだ毛布
冷えた足を暖めて やわらかいキスで
ここに来るまで誰とも口がきけなかった
暗い闇のとおせんぼ くぐり抜けて来た
そっと そうっと 打ち明けたつもり
でももうちゃんと知ってる
あなたはいつだって
The lyrics to 新居昭乃's song 小鳥の巣 talk about a bird flying through a cold night to reach the person it loves. The bird has silver wings with wounds on them and taps on the window to enter. Upon entering, the bird cuddles under a warm blanket while giggling and warms its cold feet. The bird reveals that it couldn't talk to anyone else until it got here, passing through dark alleys.
The lyrics go on to talk about the bird's sad dreams and if the person it loves will smile at them or not. The bird thinks its heart might be weaker than a lonely child's heart, but it never reveals its true feelings to anyone. The song ends with the bird expressing how it thinks it has disclosed its secrets, but deep down, it knows that the person it loves always understands.
The lyrics evoke the image of a bird seeking comfort and love, much like a human being. The scratches on the silver wings of the bird could be an allegory to the bird's hardships before finding love. The song is a perfect example of Japanese shibui aesthetics, with its simple but profound lyrics and the melody that keeps ringing in your head long after the song is over.
Line by Line Meaning
凍る夜を越えて飛んできた
I flew over freezing nights to get to you.
あなたのもとへ
I came to your side.
銀の羽傷つき その窓を叩いた
With torn silver wings, I knocked on your window.
くすくす笑いしながらもぐり込んだ毛布
I snuggled under blankets while giggling softly.
冷えた足を暖めて やわらかいキスで
With soft kisses, you warmed my cold feet.
ここに来るまで誰とも口がきけなかった
Until I came here, I couldn't speak to anyone.
暗い闇のとおせんぼ くぐり抜けて来た
I sneaked through the dark shadows to come here.
金の籠に入れて置いてきた
I left the sad dream in a golden cage.
悲しい夢
A sad dream.
微笑んでくれるの? 怖がらないように
Will you smile at me so I won't be scared?
寂しがりの子供より弱い心かも
My heart may be weaker than that of a lonely child.
そう誰にも話さない 本当のことは
The true things I don't tell anyone.
ないしょ話よりそっと打ち明けたつもり
I thought I had confided in you more softly than a secret.
でももうちゃんと知ってる
But you already know that.
あなたはいつだって
You always are.
ダレヲ ダレヲ キズツケタノ
I hurt others, hurt others.
ワタシ コンヤモ コノテデ
Tonight, too, by this hand.
ドコヘ ユクノ キガツイタラ
Feeling pain wherever I go.
トオク トオク トンデタ
Flew far, so far.
折れた羽で
With broken wings.
そっと そうっと 打ち明けたつもり
I thought I confided in you secretly.
でももうちゃんと知ってる
But you already know that.
あなたはいつだって
You always are.
Writer(s): 新居 昭乃, 新居 昭乃
Contributed by Peyton E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.