Seiko Matsuda (Matsuda Seiko, 松田聖子, born Kamachi Noriko, 蒲池法子, on March 10,… Read Full Bio ↴Seiko Matsuda (Matsuda Seiko, 松田聖子, born Kamachi Noriko, 蒲池法子, on March 10, 1962) is a Japanese pop singer-songwriter. Born in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, she rose to fame in 1980 as a teen idol, making her debut with the song "Hadashi no Kisetsu". Later in the same year, "Kaze wa Aki-iro" became the first of her 24 consecutive #1 hits in Japan.

Seiko used to hold the record for the most number 1 singles by a female singer until March 2006 when Ayumi Hamasaki's Startin' / Born To Be... reached number 1, making it her 26th single to top the charts. Nevertheless Seiko still holds the record of the most consecutive No.1 singles for a female artist, a record that she has been holding for two decades and not likely to be broken anytime soon (Ayumi has 23 consecutive number 1 singles as of July 2010).

Seiko is also on the Top 3 list of Most No.1 albums, Most Top 10 singles and Most Top 10 albums. Widely recognised as one of the most influential artists in J-pop history, HMV Japan ranked her No. 10 Top Japanese Artist of All Time, and No. 7 Top Singer of All Time. Her unusual staying power gives her the title of 'Forever Idol'.

Nobody in Japanese history (including royalty, politicians and sports stars) got more news coverage than Seiko. Controversial news about her personal life, as well as her resilient ability to bounce back from any scandals or set-backs, garnered extensive media attention.

She attempted to break into the North American market with an English-language, self-titled album in 1990. She scored a hit with "The Right Combination", a duet with boy band New Kids on the Block singer Donnie Wahlberg. Album sales were mediocre, however, and her follow-up Was it the Future failed to generate any significant sales.

Sony will be releasing a deluxe box set for Seiko in July 2006 that will set another record. This box set will contain 55 CDs, 860 songs costs 100,000 yen and has a play time of over 80 hours. It is definitely a tribute to Seiko's amazing music career.

Seiko still holds annual concerts, Christmas dinner shows and New Year's Eve Countdown shows. Despite of the high ticket price (her dinner show tickets are the most expensive among female artists), she always performs to a sold out crowd.

Married to actor Masaki Kanda from 1985 to 1997, she has a daughter, herself a singer, who performs under the name SAYAKA.

In addition to music, her career includes appearances in television, film, commercials, and radio. Two books of photos of Matsuda, and two books about her, have been published.

秘密の花園
松田聖子 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

月灯り青い岬に
ママの眼をぬすんで来たわ
真夜中に呼び出すなんて
あなたってどういうつもり

真面目にキスしていいの? なんて
ムードを知らない人 ah あせるわ

Moonlight magic 私のことを
口説きたいなら三日月の夜
Hold me tight 入江の奥は
誰も誰も知らない秘密の花園

ルックスは割といいから
もてるのも仕方ないけど
他の娘に気を許したら
思い切りつねってあげる

小舟のロープほどいて二人
流れる星を見上げ ah さすらう

Moonlight magic 魔法のような
揺れる瞳でじっと見つめて
Hold me tight 海に咲く百合
白く白く輝く秘密の花園

Moonlight magic 私のことを
口説きたいなら三日月の夜

Hold me tight 入江の奥は
誰も誰も知らない秘密の花園

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to 松田聖子's song 秘密の花園 describe a romantic rendezvous between the singer and her lover in a secret garden. The song includes the singer's inner thoughts and wonderment about her partner's true intentions. In the first verse, she questions why her lover has called her out so late at night and what his true intentions might be. She wonders if he wants to kiss her or if he simply does not understand the mood.

The second verse expresses the singer's desire to protect her partner’s attention and affection. She threatens to pinch him if he shows interest in other girls. The lyrics describe the couple riding in a small boat enjoying the sight of shooting stars. In the chorus, the singer is allured by the magic of the moonlight as she is held tightly by her lover. The song explores the idea of the couple being the only ones who know of the garden's existence, adding to the intimacy and magic of their relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

月灯り青い岬に
I came here to this blue cape that is lit by the moon

ママの眼をぬすんで来たわ
I snuck away from my mom's watchful eyes to come here

真夜中に呼び出すなんて
Why did you call me out here in the middle of the night?

あなたってどういうつもり
What are your intentions?

真面目にキスしていいの? なんて
Asking if you can kiss me seriously? You don't even understand the mood, I feel uneasy.

ムードを知らない人 ah あせるわ
Ah, I'm getting frustrated with someone who doesn't understand the mood.

Moonlight magic 私のことを
Moonlight magic, for someone who wants to seduce me,

口説きたいなら三日月の夜
It's on a crescent moonlit night

Hold me tight 入江の奥は
Hold me tight, because deep in the inlet

誰も誰も知らない秘密の花園
is a secret flower garden that no one knows about

ルックスは割といいから
I have a relatively good look,