松たか子 (Matsu Takako) is a famous actress and J-Pop artist from Universal Mus… Read Full Bio ↴松たか子 (Matsu Takako) is a famous actress and J-Pop artist from Universal Music Japan. She debut as a theater actress in 1994

Matsu Takako first emerged as a theater actress in 1993, when she was just 16, in Ninjo Banashi Bunshichi Mottoi. It wasn't until in 1994, after she played lead in the drama Hana no Ran did she gain media notice. Coming from the family of kabuki actors, it is no wonder that she took where her family left off. Afterwards, she had played lead roles in various television dramas, film and theater. At 1996, she had secured her position as the top actress in Japan after acting with SMAP's Kimura Takuya in Long Vacation and Love Generation, 2 movies considered by many among the best of their genre. At one point, she had switched High School because Shirayuri Gakuen, the school she previously enrolled, is prohibiting its students to enter the entertainment scene. She then switched to Horietsu High School. She was also cited as the youngest to host Kouhaku Utagassen in 1996 at the age of 19

In 1997, she had added her medium by debuting as a J-Pop artist, showing her versatility as an artist in general, writing and performing several top of the charts songs.

Over the years, she had received many citations and awards, most noteworthy of which is the 2004's Best Actress of the Year, making her one of the most cited J-Actress ever. As of 2006, she had 6 films done (1 is curruently in production and 1 was even released in Hong Kong), 20 dramas done, 8 albums released, 19 singles released and more to come.

Now and Then
松たか子 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

あるはずのない宝探し
立ち止まることを知らぬまま
思ったよりも遠くへ来た
さよならさえもそれなりに
馬鹿だなって笑われても
不器用でもいいかな
あぁいつも夕焼けは
私を無口にして

一番星が瞬いた
信じてみようかな
私の明日は輝いてると
ありふれた声うわべの会話
こぼれ落ちそうな不安抱えて
彼女を傷つけ彼を困らす
自分が嫌になることもある
どれくらい頑張れば
大人になれるのかな
あぁいつも夕焼けは
私を無口にして
あぁ何かが足りないまま
立ち止まる私を
あなたはずっと信じてくれるかな

あぁ今日も夕焼けが
私に問いかける
まだ何かが足りないまま

歩いてみようかな
私の明日を信じてみようかな

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of 松たか子's song "now and then" reflect a search for something that may not even exist. The singer is constantly moving forward without pausing, even though they have traveled farther than they expected. Even saying goodbye can be done in their own unique way, even if it makes them appear foolish or clumsy. The evening sky always silences the singer, and the first star begins to twinkle, prompting them to consider believing in something. The refrain echoes the singer's belief that their tomorrow is shining brightly, even amidst ordinary voices and superficial conversations. They carry the burden of falling anxieties, hurting others and causing them trouble, and sometimes even hating themselves. They wonder how much harder they have to work to become an adult. The evening sky always silences the singer, and they feel like something is missing, causing them to pause. They wonder if the person they love will continue to believe in them. The evening sky yet again challenges the singer, making them question if they are lacking something, but they decide to keep walking and try believing in their tomorrow.

Overall, the song explores themes of self-doubt, the search for purpose, the hope for a brighter future, and the need for someone to believe in us.

Line by Line Meaning

あるはずのない宝探し
Endless search for a treasure that doesn't exist

立ち止まることを知らぬまま
Continuously moving forward without ever stopping

思ったよりも遠くへ来た
Realizing that I have come much further than I anticipated

さよならさえもそれなりに
Even saying goodbye has its own significance

馬鹿だなって笑われても
Even if I am laughed at for being foolish

不器用でもいいかな
It's alright to be clumsy

あぁいつも夕焼けは
Ah, the sunset always

私を無口にして
Leaves me speechless

一番星が瞬いた
The first star twinkles

信じてみようかな
Should I give it a try to believe?