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.
覚醒都市
新居昭乃 Lyrics
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目的があるように歩く僕
泣いているの？ほんのささやかな過去たちよ
見上げれば デジタルのスクリーンに 空が
風の歌を 高い階段を登り
聞こうとした 抱いて
覚めてもいい 泣かないで
病んだ都市 いびつなゆりかごで育った
僕たちは知らない 愛し合う意味を
痩せた腕を 強く引き寄せた
騒音が襲う舗道を ただ駆け抜けるだけの
人波の奥深くへ 隠れよう
冷たく白い アルミのキスは いつでも引き出せるよ
ディスペンサーから それでいいね？
風の歌が 地上の果てから届くこの世界へ
まだ君のことさえも 信じないこの心へ
だけど甘く傷ついた夢を抱きしめる
ただ駆け抜けるだけの
僕たちの愛しい今を 抱きしめる
The lyrics to 新居昭乃's song 覚醒都市 or "Awakened City" describe the city as a place that is polished to perfection, almost like a lie. The singer is walking with a purpose, as if they have a destination in mind. They then notice the sky on the digital screen above and wonder if the past, which makes them cry, is as insignificant as the screen. The song then moves onto the theme of escape, with the singer climbing a high staircase to hear the wind's song. They embrace their sweetly wounded dreams and refuse to wake from them.
The song then moves to describe the twisted city they grew up in, where they don't know the meaning of loving one another. They pull their thin arms with force and hide deeper behind the crowds in the city filled with noise. The singer then speaks of a cold, aluminium kiss that can be pulled out whenever it's needed- followed by the question "is that okay?" The wind's song continues to reach the ends of the earth and everyone's hearts, including the singer- who still doesn't even believe in themselves. The song then ends with them embracing their beloved present moment- a moment where they can run through and hold onto the sweetly injured dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
きょうも 嘘のように磨かれる街並みを 目的があるように歩く僕
Today, as usual, I walk through the streets that are polished like a lie with a sense of purpose.
泣いているの？ほんのささやかな過去たちよ 見上げれば デジタルのスクリーンに 空が
Are you crying? It’s just the memories of insignificant past that make you sad. Look up, the sky is now a digital screen.
風の歌を 高い階段を登り 聞こうとした 抱いて 甘く傷ついた 夢がもう 覚めてもいい 泣かないで
As I reached high up on winding stairs, I hold close to me a dream that is sweetly hurtful, which I don't mind waking up from, but please don't cry.
病んだ都市 いびつなゆりかごで育った 僕たちは知らない 愛し合う意味を
This sickly city was my twisted cradle, and we do not know the meaning of mutual love.
痩せた腕を 強く引き寄せた 騒音が襲う舗道を ただ駆け抜けるだけの 人波の奥深くへ 隠れよう
I pulled my slender arms tightly, and, to escape the noise, I just run through the street's crowds, deeper into the unknown depths.
冷たく白い アルミのキスは いつでも引き出せるよ ディスペンサーから それでいいね？
You can always get a cold, white, aluminum-kiss from a dispenser. Is this all we need, I wonder?
風の歌が 地上の果てから届くこの世界へ まだ君のことさえも 信じないこの心へ
The wind's song comes from the ends of the earth into this world, and this heart still does not trust even you.
だけど甘く傷ついた夢を抱きしめる ただ駆け抜けるだけの 僕たちの愛しい今を 抱きしめる
But I embrace a dream of bittersweet pain, as I run through this present moment that we cherish so dearly.
Contributed by Julia S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.