Anri (杏里, Anri), real name Eiko Kawashima (川嶋栄子, Kawashima Eiko), is a Japa… Read Full Bio ↴Anri (杏里, Anri), real name Eiko Kawashima (川嶋栄子, Kawashima Eiko), is a Japanese singer and singer-songwriter born on August 31, 1961 in Yamato, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan . She has written much of her own music as well as singing songs written by others such as her debut release in 1978, Oribia o Kikinagara, by Amii Ozaki. Her song "Cat's Eye" was used as the first opening theme for the eponymous 1983 anime series Cat's Eye and debuted as #1 on Countdown Japan. It was one of the first J-pop songs used as an anime theme song, and it was included in a recent Dance Dance Revolution game. Her popularly skyrocketed following her appearance at the Red and White New Year's Music Special at the end of that same year.

Other hit songs include Summer Candles and Dolphin Ring, both of which became standard songs played at Japanese wedding and receptions. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Anri's albums were bestsellers. She is often cited as being one the first Japanese singers to fuse Britain and American music into j-pop. She has highly successful tours—one with attendance of almost 100,000—and toured Hawaii for the first time in 1987. She was given a boost by singing the closing theme for the 1998 Winter Olympics at Nagano. In 2002, she began collaborating with jazz fusion guitarist Lee Ritenour who produced her 2002 LP "Smooth Jam - Quiet Storm".

SUMMER CANDLES
杏里 Lyrics

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近すぎて見えない奇跡があるね
広い宇宙(そら)の片隅
ふたり愛し合えるこの時よ
若すぎた恋にああ傷つくたびに
あなただけはいつでも
変わらずにいてくれたの
流れ星たちがほらこぼれていくよ
願いかなえながら人の心へ

いつまでも Summer candles
新しい明日を
抱きしめて Summer candles
くちずけで灯す
こんなに深い涙を知ったの
あなたに愛されたから

夏の切なさがああ黄昏つれて
立ちどまればあなたが
一番優しかったわ
時間の銀河に咲く白い花びら
長い髪に飾り夢の静寂(しじま)へ
いつまでも Summer candles
美しい明日へ
抱きしめて Summer candles
導いてほしい
こんなに熱い想いを知ったの
あなたを愛した時に
幾千の胸に眠ってる
星が輝きを放つとき
奇跡がいまふたりを呼び合う
いつまでも Summer candles
新しい明日を
抱きしめて Summer candles
くちずけで灯す
こんなに深い涙を知ったの
あなたに愛されたから

こんなに熱い想いを知ったの
あなたを愛した時に

Overall Meaning

"Summer Candles" by 杏里 is a song about nostalgia, love, and hope for the future. The lyrics talk about a love that was too young, but which left a deep impression on the singer. The opening lines, "There are miracles that we can't see because they're too close," suggest that sometimes we fail to appreciate the good things in our lives because we take them for granted. The song then goes on to talk about a love that was special because it endured despite the obstacles and hardships that came its way. The imagery of shooting stars and white flowers in the galaxy highlights the beauty and fragility of love, and the idea of summer candles suggests that even though the season of love may pass, its light can still be kept burning.

The second verse of the song echoes the sentiments of the first, but this time the singer is looking back on the memories of their love. The bittersweet nostalgia of summer evenings and the tenderness of the loved one are depicted beautifully in the lines, "If I stop and look back, you were the kindest of all." The final lines of the song then speak of the hope that this love will lead to a bright future. The reference to thousands of stars shining in the sky represents the infinite possibilities that lie ahead, and the idea of a miracle bringing the two lovers together once again is a hopeful and romantic one.

Line by Line Meaning

近すぎて見えない奇跡があるね
Miracles that are too close are invisible, but they do exist.

広い宇宙(そら)の片隅
In a small corner of the vast universe.

ふたり愛し合えるこの時よ
This moment when we can love each other.

若すぎた恋にああ傷つくたびに
Every time I hurt in this young love.

あなただけはいつでも変わらずにいてくれたの
But you were always there for me, never changing.

流れ星たちがほらこぼれていくよ
Look, shooting stars are falling.

願いかなえながら人の心へ
As they grant wishes to human hearts.

いつまでも Summer candles 新しい明日を
Forever, summer candles. Embracing a new tomorrow.

抱きしめて Summer candles くちずけで灯す
Hold me tight, summer candles. Lit by a kiss.

こんなに深い涙を知ったのあなたに愛されたから
I learned about deep tears because you loved me.

夏の切なさがああ黄昏つれて
The summer sadness carries us into the twilight.

立ちどまればあなたが一番優しかったわ
When I stopped, you were the kindest.

時間の銀河に咲く白い花びら
White petals blooming in the galaxy of time.

長い髪に飾り夢の静寂(しじま)へ
Decorating my long hair, towards the silence of dreams.

いつまでも Summer candles 美しい明日へ
Forever, summer candles. Towards a beautiful tomorrow.

導いてほしい Summer candles こんなに熱い想いを知ったのあなたを愛した時に
I want you to guide me, summer candles. When I loved you, I learned about these passionate feelings.

幾千の胸に眠ってる星が輝きを放つとき
When the stars, sleeping in thousands of hearts, shine.

奇跡がいまふたりを呼び合う
Now, the miracle is calling us together.

いつまでも Summer candles 新しい明日を
Forever, summer candles. Embracing a new tomorrow.

抱きしめて Summer candles くちずけで灯す
Hold me tight, summer candles. Lit by a kiss.

こんなに深い涙を知ったのあなたに愛されたからこんなに熱い想いを知ったのあなたを愛した時に
I learned about deep tears because you loved me. When I loved you, I learned about these passionate feelings.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: 由美吉元

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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