Takeuchi started her own career with a single "Modotte-Oide, Watashi no Jikan" in 1978. From the late 1970s to the early '80s, she has recorded 5 albums and several singles including top-ten hit "Fushigi na Peach Pie". Those materials have featured dozens of Japanese and North American distinguished songwriters, instrumentalists, and producers, such as David Foster, Jim Keltner, Jay Graydon, Steve Lukather, Jeff Porcaro, David Hungate, Kazuhiko Kato, Kunihiko Kase, Shigeru Suzuki, Takashi Matsumoto, and her future long-term partner Tatsuro Yamashita.
"Heart to Heart", one of her songs co-written by Roger Nichols and released in 1980, was recorded by the Carpenters two years later, and became the last recording for the late Karen Carpenter.
In 1981, Takeuchi married to a singer-songwriter Tatsuro Yamashita, and stopped her career temporarily owing to the pregnancy. After her comeback to the Japanese music industry in 1984, she has accomplished huge commercial success more than when she was single. From that year to the present, she has recorded 6 successful studio albums that mainly consisted of her self-penned songs, and all of them have reached #1 on the Japanese Oricon chart.
As a singer-songwriter, she has produced 8 top-ten hit singles on the Oricon, including "Single Again", "Kokuhaku", "Junai Rhapsody", "Konya wa Hearty Party" and her only #1 hit "Camouflage".
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悩みごと聞き合う仲だった
でも男だとか女とか
越えてるふたりだった
恋がうまくゆかなくて
心ふさぐ時には
あなたの笑顔に救われて
遅くまで引きとめてばかり
私をわかってる安らぎ感じて
ありのままの自分を見せてきた
あなたの迷惑もかえりみないまま
たわいないジョークでウケる快感を
分け合える相手は
格好つけてデートするよりも
大切な気がした
夜に留守電になると
なぜか寂しくなって
居どころつきとめたくなるの
ひょっとして
あてもないジェラシー?
今になって口に出すのは
ちょっとてれるしくやしいけど
勇気出さなくちゃ
もう誰にも渡したくないこと
打ち明けたそのあと初めてキスした
回り道をずいぶんしたけれど
やっとたどり着いた運命の人よ
本当の愛は
あまりにも近くにいたことを
ようやくふたり気づいたの
これからずっと
あなたのそばにいて
もっと素直になって
生きてくと決めた
探していたソウルメイトは
ちゃんと目の前で
私を待ってくれてたの
La la la
The lyrics of "Soul Mate wo Sagashite" (Searching for a Soul Mate), are about the singer's relationship with someone who has become her confidante, but with whom she is unsure about her feelings. The song opens with the two talking to each other about their troubles and worries. Although they are both grappling with relationship issues, their gender doesn't matter, as they become close friends who understand and care for each other. The singer admits that when she feels down, the other person's smile lifts her up, and she ends up clinging to them longer than she should. They have a special bond, making her feel more comfortable being herself with this person than any other friend. They can share their dreams and jokes without hesitation, and the singer values this more than being with someone for show.
As the singer realizes how much the other person means to her, she becomes jealous of random women who she believes may be interested in him, and it occurs to her that maybe she's feeling this way because she doesn't want anyone else to be with him. It's also possible that she's just feeling somewhat afraid and exposed, but she finally comes to terms with her emotions after they kiss, confessing that while they've taken some detours, she's finally found her soul mate. They just needed to realize that they were both there for each other, and now they can be together forever.
The song touches upon the search for a possible romantic partner who can also be a perfect soul mate. It emphasizes that finding someone to share your life with can be tricky, but it's much more satisfying to have someone who understands you intimately and genuinely cares for you.
Line by Line Meaning
会えばいつもお互いに
Every time we meet, we confide in each other about our worries.
悩みごと聞き合う仲だった
We were in a relationship where we listened to each other's troubles.
でも男だとか女とか
Regardless of the fact that we were of different genders,
越えてるふたりだった
we were two people who transcended that difference.
恋がうまくゆかなくて
Because love wasn't going well,
心ふさぐ時には
during times of discouragement,
あなたの笑顔に救われて
your smile saved me.
遅くまで引きとめてばかり
I stayed late, only holding onto you.
いつのまにかどんな友達より
Before I knew it, I felt more at ease with you than my other friends.
私をわかってる安らぎ感じて
I felt a sense of security knowing that you understood me.
ありのままの自分を見せてきた
I showed you my true self.
あなたの迷惑もかえりみないまま
Even without caring about the trouble I cause you,
たわいないジョークでウケる快感を
I take pleasure in sharing trivial jokes with you.
分け合える相手は
A partner who I can share with
格好つけてデートするよりも
is more important than impressing others on a date.
大切な気がした
I felt that it was precious.
夜に留守電になると
When your answering machine is on at night,
なぜか寂しくなって
I somehow feel lonely.
居どころつきとめたくなるの
I want to find a place where I belong.
ひょっとして
Could it be possible that it's
あてもないジェラシー?
pointless jealousy?
今になって口に出すのは
Although it's embarrassing to say it now,
ちょっとてれるしくやしいけど
it's a little awkward and frustrating,
勇気出さなくちゃ
I have to be brave.
もう誰にも渡したくないこと
There's something I don't want to give to anyone else anymore.
打ち明けたそのあと初めてキスした
After confessing, we kissed for the first time.
回り道をずいぶんしたけれど
Even though I took a roundabout way,
やっとたどり着いた運命の人よ
I have finally found my soulmate.
本当の愛は
True love is
あまりにも近くにいたことを
being so close all along.
ようやくふたり気づいたの
Finally, the two of us realized this.
これからずっと
From now on,
あなたのそばにいて
I'll always be by your side.
もっと素直になって
I'll be more honest with you.
生きてくと決めた
I have decided to live my life.
探していたソウルメイトは
The soulmate I had been searching for
ちゃんと目の前で
was right in front of me all along.
私を待ってくれてたの
They were waiting for me.
La la la
La la la
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Mariya Takeuchi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind