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.
Kamome wa Kamome
研ナオコ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
もう 電話も かけない
あなたの側に 誰がいても
うらやむだけ かなしい
かもめはかもめ
孔雀や鳩や
ましてや 女には なれない
はじめから なれない
青空を 渡るよりも
見たい 夢は あるけれど
かもめはかもめ ひとりで空を
ゆくのがお似合い
あきらめました あなたのことは
もう ゆくえも 知らない
あなたがどこで 何をしても
何ひとつ 私では 合わない
かもめはかもめ
孔雀や鳩や
ましてや 女には なれない
あなたの望む 素直な女には
最後まで なれない
この海を 失くしてでも
ほしい 愛は あるけれど
かもめはかもめ ひとりで海を
ゆくのがお似合い
The lyrics of 研ナオコ's song Kamome wa Kamome reflect a sense of resignation towards a lost love. The singer has given up trying to reach out to their former partner, avoiding even making phone calls. Even if someone new were to be by the partner's side, the singer can only feel sorrow and envy. The chorus compares the singer and their identity to that of a seagull, emphasizing how they don't fit the mold of what their partner was looking for in a "naive" woman. The 2nd verse shows the singer dreaming of things they want to see more than the clear sky, but notes that it's best suited for seagulls like themselves to fly alone in the sky.
The final verse repeats the same themes of the first verse, with the singer having given up on the relationship and not understanding where the partner is or what they're doing. The second repetition of the chorus again emphasizes the singer's inability to become the ideal "naive" woman that their partner desired. The final line suggests that while they may lose everything, the singer would still want the love they sought, similarly to how a seagull would rather fly alone in the ocean.
Overall, the lyrics of Kamome wa Kamome communicate themes of resignation, envy, and self-awareness. The singer understands their identity and limitations compared to their partner's expectations, but still desires love despite the pain it may cause.
Line by Line Meaning
あきらめました あなたのことは
I have given up on you
もう 電話も かけない
I won't be calling you anymore
あなたの側に 誰がいても
No matter who is by your side
うらやむだけ かなしい
I can only envy and feel sad
かもめはかもめ
A seagull is a seagull
孔雀や鳩や
Neither a peacock nor a pigeon
ましてや 女には なれない
And certainly not a woman
あなたの望む 素直な女には
I can never be the obedient woman you desire
はじめから なれない
Right from the beginning, I can't be that woman
青空を 渡るよりも
Though I want to see my dreams come true
見たい 夢は あるけれど
More than flying through the blue sky
かもめはかもめ ひとりで空を
Seagulls are meant to soar the skies alone
ゆくのがお似合い
That's what they're best at
あきらめました あなたのことは
I have given up on you
もう ゆくえも 知らない
I no longer know what will become of you
あなたがどこで 何をしても
No matter where you are or what you do
何ひとつ 私では 合わない
Nothing fits with me
この海を 失くしてでも
Though I want to keep the love
ほしい 愛は あるけれど
Even if it means losing this sea
かもめはかもめ ひとりで海を
Seagulls are meant to navigate the sea alone
ゆくのがお似合い
That's what they're best at
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Miyuki Nakajima
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind