Makihara was first discovered by 坂本龍一 (Ryuuichi Sakamoto) in November 1985 on his radio show, Sound Street during a segment where he played demo tapes submitted by aspiring music makers. Upon winning the Axia Music Audition '89 in March 1990 with his song "NG", he signed with Warner Music Japan and made his debut in October 1990. His first album was a moderate success, peaking at top 50 on the Oricon Weekly Album Charts. With the breakout of "Donna Toki Mo." selling more than one million copies in 1991 alone, he gained his first appearance on the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen. Achieving his first million-seller in 1992 with "Kimi wa Boku no Takaramono" and making even more hits like "No. 1" and "SPY" into the mid-1990s, he has became one of the most popular singer-songwriters in Japan. Being arrested for possessing amphetamines in 1999, his career's success came to a standstill and despite making a comeback the subsequent year, his sales dipped and he entered a career slump. In 2003, upon writing the massive three-million-seller hit, "Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana" for SMAP, he had a second career breakout and has stayed successful ever since. He was subsequently put under arrest in 2020 for possessing stimulants but made a successful comeback in October 2021 with "Yosoro" and has recently concluded a 2-month tour around Japan for the album. Pulling through public opinion and homophobia after being forcibly exposed to having a male partner, he is currently the third best selling male solo act in Japan and has a stable and relatively big fanbase.
One could arguably compare him to Western pop stars such as Elton John, both in terms of musical ability and talent, and continued longevity despite playing to an intensely fickle industry. The two also seem to have shared something of a similar career path in terms of personal ups and downs, public scrutiny and survival through the years in spite of it all.
Makihara has managed to endure and maintain a healthy level of popularity in Japan and other nations worldwide, due to his soothing, appealing voice quality and flair for catchy melody. Not just your average manufactured pop star, real talent can be found in Mackey's work to this day.
It's interesting to note how, as the years have passed, the quality of Makihara's voice has deepened, bringing him into a soulful, velvety range that might remind one of Barry White or Luther Van Dross. Much of his music's lyrical content has revolved around the subject of romantic love, though themes of profound joy, reminiscence, gratitude and deeper spiritual aspects of the human condition have become predominant in recent years. When not more slowly paced and romantic, his tunes are bright and upbeat, and though certainly dated, even his albums from the 90's are still enjoyable and worth a listen. Remarkably, the cheesy, early 90's pop style lends an immortal charm to his early work, though he has been known to update and bring back old hits, such as "Donna Toki Mo.", which can be found currently as a B-side to his 2007 single, "Green Days."
To sum it up, Macky's an extremely good vibe, quality artist. The messages in his music are extremely positive, which only adds to the beauty of his arrangement and vocal appeal. If you haven't already, check him out! You won't be sorry.
モンタージュ
槇原敬之 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
あのコが働いてる店
友達につきあっただけ
僕のワードローブじゃない
ひとめみたとき
僕は生まれて初めて
自分の耳が赤くなっていく
音を聞いた
これっぽっちもないときに
限って恋がやってくる
思い出してみる
君がどんな顔だったか
凍りついてた心の
ドアをあっけなく開いた君
冷やかし半分の
友達の取り調べに
よけいにうまく行かない
君のモンタージュ
理屈を並べて
全てに答えを探して
方程式のないものは
あまり好みじゃなかった
それなのに今は
ふとしたはずみでやってくる
訳のわからない胸の
痛みを楽しんでいる
恋をしているのかも
本当はわからないけど
もう一度君に会いたいんだ
思い出してみる
君がどんな顔だったか
使い方の解らない
カメラでとったピンぼけ写真
友達のレジを
打つ横顔だけでは
やっぱりうまく行かない
君のモンタージュ
僕のハートを盗んだ犯人は
電車で二駅のところで
今日も笑ってる
These lyrics from 槇原敬之's song "モンタージュ" (Montage) depict the singer's reminiscence and mixed emotions about a past love. The song begins with the singer recalling a time when they accompanied a friend to a shop where the person they were interested in worked. It is implied that this encounter unexpectedly ignited feelings of love within the singer, even though they had no intentions of falling in love at that moment. The singer vividly remembers the initial attraction, with their own ears turning red upon hearing a certain sound. This nostalgic recollection also includes the image of the person who opened the frozen doors of the singer's heart, allowing them to experience a newfound sensation of love.
The second verse reveals the singer's tendency to rely on reason and logic, as they normally prefer things that can be explained by equations. However, they find themselves enjoying the unexplainable pain in their heart that often accompanies love. It is uncertain if the singer is truly in love or not, but they express a strong desire to meet the person again. The lyrics further delve into the memories of the person's face and a photo the singer took with a camera they did not know how to use. The verse ends with the notion that the friendship with this person's montage (a compilation of different aspects) is not going smoothly.
The last line of the lyrics introduces the idea that the person who stole the singer's heart is still happily living only two train stops away, indicating that they have moved on while the singer continues to hold onto these memories.
Line by Line Meaning
あの坂を登れば
If I climb that hill
あのコが働いてる店
I'll find the shop where she works
友達につきあっただけ
I was just accompanying a friend
僕のワードローブじゃない
It's not my style
ひとめみたとき
The moment I saw her
僕は生まれて初めて
It was the first time in my life
自分の耳が赤くなっていく
That my ears turned red
音を聞いた
I heard a sound
恋をするつもりなんて
I never intended to fall in love
これっぽっちもないときに
Especially not at a time like this
限って恋がやってくる
But love always comes unexpectedly
思い出してみる
I try to remember
君がどんな顔だったか
What your face looked like
凍りついてた心の
You effortlessly thawed
ドアをあっけなく開いた君
The frozen door of my heart
冷やかし半分の
Only half interested
友達の取り調べに
In my friend's interrogation
よけいにうまく行かない
Nothing goes well
君のモンタージュ
Your montage
理屈を並べて
Trying to have logical explanations
全てに答えを探して
Searching for answers in everything
方程式のないものは
But anything without a formula
あまり好みじゃなかった
Was never my preference
それなのに今は
And yet now
ふとしたはずみでやってくる
It comes unexpectedly
訳のわからない胸の
This inexplicable pain in my chest
痛みを楽しんでいる
I am enjoying the pain
恋をしているのかも
Maybe I'm in love
本当はわからないけど
Not really sure
もう一度君に会いたいんだ
But I want to see you again
思い出してみる
I try to remember
君がどんな顔だったか
What your face looked like
使い方の解らない
I took a blurry photo
カメラでとったピンぼけ写真
With a camera I don't know how to use
友達のレジを
Just a side profile
打つ横顔だけでは
But that alone won't work
やっぱりうまく行かない
Things won't go smoothly
君のモンタージュ
Your montage
僕のハートを盗んだ犯人は
The culprit who stole my heart
電車で二駅のところで
Just two stops away on the train
今日も笑ってる
Is still smiling today
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Noriyuki Makihara
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-wt6cu7lm2f
kaeruさん、お久しぶりで～す😊✌
明けましておめでとうございます。
今年もどうぞよろしくお願い致します。
投稿されるのを首を長くしてお待ちしてました。
この曲も大好きなのでアップ、ありがとうございます😄
マッキーの声も若いですね～(笑)
今回の画像も素敵です！✨✨
@user-mm2fk4lx8v
Montage
Up that hill, that's where she works
I was just hanging out with a friend
Not my wardrobe
When I first saw you,
I heard my ears turning red for the first time in my life
Love comes only when you have no intention of falling in love
I try to remember what you looked like
You opened the door of my frozen heart so easily
My friends make fun of me
It's even more difficult to get along
Your montage
Arranging theories and looking for answers to everything
I did’t like things without equations
But I'm enjoying the unexplained heartache that comes at the drop of a hat
I don't even really know if I'm in love
But I want to see you again
I try to remember what you looked like
An out-of-focus photo taken with a camera I don't know how to use
Just a profile of my friend hitting the register
I knew it wouldn't work
A montage of you
The person who stole my heart
Two train stops away
She's smiling again today
@toyoean
この曲と「SPY」は、まるで小説のようなストーリー。名曲ですよ。今でもドラマで使える。
@user-jm3bt7wj2c
お母さん好きです
@meme-hg9mn
人を好きになる瞬間を再現してる…さすがだよ
@user-gs8ur3eq5c
復帰した頃の歌ですね😃 相変わらず歌詞＆メロディ 最高です👍
@keh7231
好意を持つ相手の顔って、意外と思い出せないんよな。そのもどかしさが凄くわかる曲
@meme-hg9mn
すごくよくわかります！
@user-bs5ov8gc1u
マッキーに惚れてまうやろ～
@user-xw2no6eq6i
大好き💕
@user-kv8ne8hp5d
マッキー大好き❤
@user-de4hi2gr5w
イントロから神！