Yumi Matsutōya (松任谷由実, born January 19, 1954) is a Japanese singer-songwrit… Read Full Bio ↴Yumi Matsutōya (松任谷由実, born January 19, 1954) is a Japanese singer-songwriter. She was born in Hachioji, Tokyo. Her nickname is Yuming, which she received at the age of 13 from a Chinese artist, who inspired her to take on a career in music. Her first 4 albums are released under her maiden name, Yumi Arai (荒井由実).

In 1972, she released her debut single Henji wa Iranai (返事はいらない, "No Response Necessary"). The next year she released her first album Hikoki-gumo (ひこうき雲, "Contrail").

In 1976, at the age of 22, she married her producer, Masataka Matsutoya (松任谷正隆), and from then on she went by her new name Yumi Matsutoya. In 1990, she received a gold disc grand prix. She also made appearances in many television commercials. Fans take note of her singing talent as well as her unique singing voice.

She became famous for many songs, including Hikoki-gumo and Haru yo, Koi (春よ、来い, 1994, "Spring, Come") which was used as the opening theme song for a TV drama by the same name. Her song Rouge no Den'gon (ルージュの伝言, "Rouge Message") is featured in the anime film Kiki's Delivery Service from the famed Studio Ghibli.

As reported on various websites, Yuming also writes songs for other singers, using the pen name Kureta Karuho.

Downtown Boy
松任谷由実 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

あんなにナイーブなひとには
それまで会ったことなかった私

きたないシャツ着たやつだと
兄貴は電話さえ取り次がないの
工場裏の夕陽の空地
二人は愛を誓い合った

あなたは素敵な downtown boy
不良のふりしている
気まずいことがおこっても
私をあきらめないでね

家族に会うのはいやだと
あの日も近所で私を降ろした
ついてはゆけない私は
ミラーに泣きながら小さくなった

宝島だった秘密の空地
今ではビルが建ってしまった

勝気な瞳の downtown boy
未来を夢見ていた
どこかで恋をしてるなら
今度はあきらめないでね

本当は淋しい downtown boy
まぶたの奥に立ってる
あなたの思い出つれて
今日もビルに夕陽落ちる

勝気な瞳の downtown boy
未来を夢見ていた
どこかで恋をしてるなら
今度はあきらめないでね

あなたは素敵な downtown boy
不良のふりしていた
ハートにしまった輝き
死ぬまで失わないでね

本当は淋しい downtown boy
まぶたの奥に立ってる
あなたの思い出つれて (downtown boy)
今日もビルに夕陽落ちる (downtown boy)
Downtown boy
Downtown boy

Downtown boy
Downtown

Overall Meaning

In 松任谷由実's song Downtown Boy, she sings about a naïve girl who falls in love with a downtown boy who she thought was a delinquent. They meet in the empty lot behind a factory where he tells her his dreams of the future, and together they make a promise to love each other. She describes him as a rebellious boy with an intense gaze who dreams of something more than his current life. Despite the challenges they face, the girl believes in his potential and tells him not to give up on her.

Throughout the song, Yumi Matsutoya contrasts the beauty of their love with the emptiness and coldness of the world around them. She reminisces about the abandoned lot they used to meet in, now replaced by cold, towering buildings. She also acknowledges the boy's loneliness, standing in the background of her memories. Despite this, the girl holds onto their love and the magic of their youth.

The song captures the essence of a classic love story, told through the eyes of a young woman who sees the beauty and potential in a man from a different world. It is an ode to the beauty of young love, the recklessness of youth, and the power of holding onto memories.

Line by Line Meaning

あんなにナイーブなひとには
I had never met such a fragile person before

それまで会ったことなかった私
Until then, I had never met someone like this

きたないシャツ着たやつだと
My brother wouldn't even answer the phone for someone wearing a dirty shirt

兄貴は電話さえ取り次がないの
My older brother wouldn't even forward calls for them

工場裏の夕陽の空地
The empty lot behind the factory at sunset

二人は愛を誓い合った
We shared a promise of love

あなたは素敵な downtown boy
You're a charming downtown boy

不良のふりしている
Trying to act like a delinquent

気まずいことがおこっても
Even if something awkward happens

私をあきらめないでね
Please don't give up on me

家族に会うのはいやだと
You didn't want to meet my family