In 1971, Ken debuted as an enka-oriented singer with a single "Daitokai no Yasagure On'na". In 1975, after the release of several charted singles, she gained the first outstanding commercial success with a song "Guzu", which was written by Ryudo Uzaki and his wife Yoko Aki. "Abayo", a song written by Miyuki Nakajima became the most successful single for Ken, selling more than 600,000 copies. In 1976, the prize-winning song reached number-one spot on the Oricon, Japan's most eminent chart.
In addition to the success as a musician, she also obtained popularity as a tarento in the mid 1970s, through her comical actings on the multiple TV shows including Kakkurakin Daihousou!!.
After the temporary hiatus of its career in 1977, she returned to the Japanese entertainment industry with a hit tune "Kamome wa Kamome". The melancholic ballad written by Nakajima became known as one of her signature songs, finally sold in excess of 300,000 units.
In 1982, she gained huge commercial success as a singer again with a cover version of the Southern All Stars' song "Natsu wo Akiramete", winning several Japanese music prizes. The song is her last top-ten hit solo single so far.
Through her long-term career as a comedic TV personality, she has released several novelty singles with other performers such as Ken Shimura. The song "Natsuzakari Ho no Ji Gumi" recorded with an idol singer Toshihiko Tahara is the last top-40 hit single for Ken on the Japanese record charts.
夏をあきらめて
研ナオコ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
二人で思いきり遊ぶはずの
on the beach
きっと誰かが恋に破れ
噂のタネに邪魔する
君の身体も 濡れたまま
乾く間もなくて 胸元が揺れたら
しずくが砂に舞い
Darlin' Can't.You See?
I'll Try To Make It Shine
Darlin' Be With Me
Let's Get To Be So Fine
潮風が騒げばやがて雨の合図
悔やしげな 彼女とかけこむ
Pacific Hotel うらめしげに
ガラスごしに 背中で見てる渚よ
腰のあたりまで切れ込む
水着も見れない 熱めのお茶を飲み
意味シンな シャワーで
恋人も泣いてる あきらめの夏
Darlin' Can't.You See?
I'll Try To Make It Shine
Darlin' Be With Me
Let's Get To Be So Fine
岩影にまぼろしが見えりゃ
虹が出る 江の島が遠くに
ボンヤリ寝てる
このまま君と あきらめの夏
The lyrics to "natsu wo akiramete" by 研ナオコ describe a bittersweet summer romance that ultimately ends in resignation. The verses paint a picture of a beach vacation, where the sound of the waves and the wind are intertwined with the anticipation of rainy weather. Despite their initial plans to have fun together, the singer acknowledges that someone has been brokenhearted and is spreading rumors to disturb their peace. In the midst of this tense atmosphere, the singer's body is soaked with water, and as drops of water and sand mix, she feels a sense of defeat and acceptance that this summer will end without fulfilling her love desires.
The chorus serves as a plea to her lover to recognize her efforts to make their relationship work despite the challenges they face. The line "Darlin' Can't.You See? I'll Try To Make It Shine" expresses her frustrations at her lover's inability to see how hard she is working to keep their relationship alive. She implores him to stay with her, having faith that if they put in the effort, they can be happy together.
Despite the melancholic tone, the song's lyrics create a vivid setting that one can easily picture themselves in. The use of natural imagery like the waves and wind highlights the singer's isolation while the scenes of the Pacific Hotel and the beach show how people around her have other intentions. The song is an excellent example of how music can transform our moods and transport us to a different time and place.
Line by Line Meaning
波音が響けば 雨雲が近づく
When the sound of the waves echoes, rain clouds approach.
二人で思いきり遊ぶはずの on the beach
Meant to play freely on the beach together, just the two of us.
きっと誰かが恋に破れ 噂のタネに邪魔する
Surely, someone who has been heartbroken will interfere with gossip as a topic of conversation.
君の身体も 濡れたまま
Your body is still wet.
乾く間もなくて 胸元が揺れたら しずくが砂に舞い
Before it dries, if your neckline shakes, the water droplets will dance in the sand.
言葉もないままに あきらめの夏
A summer of resignation without words.
Darlin' Can't.You See?
Darling, can't you see?
I'll Try To Make It Shine
I'll try to make it shine.
Darlin' Be With Me
Darling, be with me.
Let's Get To Be So Fine
Let's get to be so fine.
潮風が騒げばやがて雨の合図
If the sea breeze grows stronger, soon it will be a sign of rain.
悔やしげな 彼女とかけこむ Pacific Hotel うらめしげに
Sadly brooding about my girlfriend, the Pacific Hotel in which I stay is full of resentment.
ガラスごしに 背中で見てる渚よ
The beach is being watched by my back through the glass.
腰のあたりまで切れ込む 水着も見れない
It cuts into my lower back, I can't even see your swimsuit.
熱めのお茶を飲み 意味シンな シャワーで
Drinking warm tea, taking a simple shower.
恋人も泣いてる あきらめの夏
A summer of resignation where lovers are crying too.
岩影にまぼろしが見えりゃ
If you can see a mirage in the silhouette of the rocks.
虹が出る 江の島が遠くに
A rainbow appears and Enoshima is in the distance.
ボンヤリ寝てる
I'm laying down, just being half awake.
このまま君と あきらめの夏
If it's like this with you, it's a summer of resignation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Keisuke Kuwata
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AiraLoveWorld358
大好き😊❤
母が運転する母ご自慢の
ピカピカの愛車でドライブの時
何度も何度もリピートで聴いていました♪
バッチリ覚えるまで😂
お家でも歌っていたなぁ🎉
今も歌って聴かせると母はめちゃくちゃ喜びます😊
素敵な思い出の歌❤
母とステージ観に行きたいなぁ😊
@user-ruru0727
ナオコさんの声とっても良いですね
@user-mt2tm7jx9g
この掠れ具合がたまんなく好きです
@user-mo7oi6fz3c
とても❤🎉😂グッと
@user-cp3cq5is7s
懐かしい。当時を思い出して、泣けてきそう。うるうる。
ナオコさんの、寂しげで憂いのある渋い声が、なんとも良いんですよね。たまらんわ。
@user-qt7wq4dx2t
何度、聴いても素敵な歌ですね
ナオコさんの切ない声がこの曲にピッタリ
ナオコさん、テレビで歌ってください
名曲が聴きたいです
@REI-lm8yl
まさに名曲✨✨👏👏👏
@kizunadaizi
この歌好きよーー
@user-qk5js1jb9g
桑田さんの歌って、他の人が歌うと今ひとつだったりするけど、ナオコさんのこの歌とっても良いよね…🥰💖✨
@user-yq9bs5of7v
ナオコさんのお声は
音霊ですね❣️
ほんとっ 艶っぽくて…💕
私もあの頃に戻れちゃいました🫶
@kooltomoyuki
これ系もっと見たいな