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.

Friend
松田聖子 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Friend それは永遠の
Friend 宝物だから
みんな一緒仲間同士
思い切り遊びに行こうよ
最近ちょっと忙し過ぎる日々
時々は息抜き
それも大事なことだから
仕事など忘れて楽しみましょう

Wou Wou 手をつなぎ子供のように
風の中走ってゆく
何歳になったって一緒に集まり
昔のようふざけ合いたいね
大人になり社会に出て
嫌な事いっぱいあるけど
そんな時に思い出してほしい
いつだってまわりに
友達がいることを
一人だけ悲しんだりしないでネ
Wou Wou 手をつなぎ子供のように
風の中走ってゆく
何歳になったって一緒に集まり
昔のようふざけ合いたいね
Wou Wou 手をつなぎ子供のように
風の中走ってゆく

何歳になったって一緒に集まり
昔のようふざけ合いたいね

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Friend" by 松田聖子 (Seiko Matsuda) celebrate the eternal bond of friendship and the importance of cherishing those connections. The song emphasizes the idea of friends being treasures and emphasizes the joy of gathering together and having fun. The lyrics highlight the busy and stressful days of adulthood but also remind us of the importance of taking breaks and enjoying ourselves. The song encourages us to let go of our work-related worries and remember the value of friendship.

The lyrics convey a sense of nostalgia and longing for the carefree days of the past, where friends would gather and play around. Despite growing up and facing the challenges of society, the song reminds us that we always have friends around us, and we should never feel alone or sad. It encourages us to hold hands like children and run in the wind, symbolizing the freedom and joy that comes from being with friends.

Overall, the lyrics of "Friend" by 松田聖子 convey a message of the enduring power of friendship, the importance of taking breaks from work, and the nostalgia for the carefree days of youth.

Line by Line Meaning

Friend それは永遠の
Friendship, it is eternal

Friend 宝物だから
Friendship is a treasure

みんな一緒仲間同士
Everyone together, as comrades

思い切り遊びに行こうよ
Let's go play to our heart's content

最近ちょっと忙し過ぎる日々
Lately, the days have been a bit too busy

時々は息抜き
Sometimes, we need to take a break

それも大事なことだから
Because that is also important

仕事など忘れて楽しみましょう
Let's forget about work and enjoy ourselves

Wou Wou 手をつなぎ子供のように
Wou Wou, holding hands like children

風の中走ってゆく
Running in the wind

何歳になったって一緒に集まり
No matter how old we become, let's gather together