The four of them came together in the music club of their university in 1996; for Gotoh, Kita, and Yamada, ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION was the first band they ever formed.
After a while, they began to perform at the school and in the local Yokohama area. Interestingly, their first songs were all written in English and, in fact, their first independent 6 track album (released in 2000) was entirely sung in English. The CDs were sold at concerts and over the internet.
In 2001, beginning with "YMD" they held many self-planned events at Yokohama's CLUB24.
Once "Konayuki," the first song in which they used Japanese lyrics, was completed, they sent copies to all the independent shows on the FM stations, and were consequently able to get their music played for the first time on FM radio.
After that, they released their second CD of original works, this time using Japanese lyrics. It achieved great success within the region and at all the Live Houses.
From this time on, starting at Shibuya, Shimokitazawa, Kichijouji and other places, they started putting on shows famed for their energy.
In 2002, they submitted a track to the Underflow Records Compilation CD. In November of the same year, they released "Houkai Amplifier," their first Mini Album to be produced professionally. This album, which would decide their future, debuted in the number 1 spot of Highline Records weekly charts, and also made it to the number 35 spot in the Oricon Indies Chart.
On April 4, 2003, "Houkai Amplifier" was re-released under Ki/oon Records. That summer, they appeared at FUJI ROCK (on the "ROOKIE A GO GO" stage), and at SUMMER SONIC '03 in Osaka.
Following their October 16, 2003 single "Kimi to Iu Hana," their first full album "Kimi Tsunagi Five M" was released on November 19.
From January 19 to February 25 2004, they went on the "five nano seconds" tour. All shows immediately sold out and were a massive success.
In 2004, their first proper single "Siren" and their second single, the iconic "Loop & Loop," were released, the former on April 14th and the latter on May 19th.
Their self-planned event ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION presents "NANO-MUGEN FEST" took place on July 1st at Nihon Budoukan and, that summer, they appeared live at festivals in areas all over the country. On August 4th, their new single "Rewrite" was released, followed by "Kimi no Machi Made" on September 23rd.
On October 20, 2004, their long-awaited new album "Sol-fa" was released and this really pushed the band to the forefront of the J-Rock scene. Then, on November 2nd, they started their second national tour: ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Tour Suihai No!
June 8 2005 saw the release of "NANO-MUGEN COMPILATION," an album composed of songs from various acts, both Japanese and English-language alike. Included was their first single after "Sol-fa": "Blackout." Later, the band released their first real single in over a year; "Blue Train."
In 2006, the band released another single "World Apart," followed by their third album, "Fanclub." A month later, they released their latest album "Feedback File," which includes live versions of some of their most popular tracks.
Their song "Haruka Kanata" was chosen to be a theme song for the anime series "Naruto," and the popular single "Rewrite" was selected as a theme song to the hit anime series "Fullmetal Alchemist." The song "Aru Machi no Gunjou" was used in the animated movie "Tekkon Kinkreet," and the song "After Dark" was used as a theme song for the animated series "BLEACH." The song "Maigo Inu to Ame no Beat" was used as the opening theme for the anime "The Tatami Galaxy".
ブラックアウト
ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
砂漠に
光るプラズマ
来たる未来の映像
光るプラズマTV
来たる未来の映像
孤独に合わせて跳ねる
ボタンひとつで転送
来たる未来を想像する
二つの黒い目が夜に輝いても
冬の雪原に
僕を忘れないでよ
今
君が確かめて
ただ立ち尽くす僕の弱さと青さが
日々を駆け抜ける
真実は知らない
現状と幻想の誕生
明日とその足音
321 感情の暴走
現実は逃げたい
想像と妄想の混同
今を掻き消してしまわないように
君のか細い手が弱く羽ばたいても
冬の雪原に茹だる炎天下
鈍る皮膚感覚
僕を忘れないでよ
開く距離
溶ける世界
終わりと始まりを流した涙で
弱い痛み
今
君が確かめて
ただ立ち尽くす僕の弱さと青さが
日々を駆け抜ける
そうさ 何度も…
The lyrics of ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION's song "ブラックアウト"(Blackout) are written in a poetic manner, portraying the different aspects of memory, the future, loneliness, and the quest for freedom. The opening lines describe the memories, thoughts, and worries that keep emerging in the singer's mind, but they are eventually dispelled by the dark clouds of a desert; a metaphorical representation of accepting the mysteries of the future. The songs continue with images of a sleeping carp that is dreaming of its journey ahead, a constant TV showing glimpses of a future yet to unfold, and the sensation of loneliness caused by endless rain.
The chorus of the song repeats a plea, not to let the present eradicate the feelings of the past. The contrast is vividly depicted by the imagery of the winter snow that covers the skin, taking away its sensitivity, versus the hot desert sunburn that enhances it. The singer asks not to be forgotten while trying to process reality versus fantasy, and finally, to let go of the pain.
The song is about accepting the unknown and letting go of fear by embracing the journey ahead. The metaphors and language are beautiful and poetic, lending the song an almost dreamy quality. It encourages one to embrace change and not to let the past dictate the future.
Line by Line Meaning
飛び交う記憶と黒い雲
Memories are swirling around like black clouds
砂漠に弾けて消える
Disappearing like bursting bubbles on a desert plain
光るプラズマTV 来たる未来の映像
The shining plasma TV screen displays visions of the future
真魚板の鯉はその先を思い浮かべては眠る
The carp on the wooden board thinks about what lies ahead before going to sleep
降り止まぬ雨は軒先で孤独に合わせて跳ねる
The ceaseless rain bounces off the eaves in sync with a sense of loneliness
ボタンひとつで転送 来たる未来を想像する
With just one button, we can imagine the future through teleportation
掻き消してしまわないように
To ensure it won't be erased or forgotten
二つの黒い目が夜に輝いても
Even when two black eyes shine in the night
冬の雪原に茹だる炎天下
Sweltering in the heat on a winter snowfield
鈍る皮膚感覚
Skin senses becoming dull
僕を忘れないでよ
Please don't forget me
今 灯火が此処で静かに消えるから
Now, because the lamplight is quietly extinguishing here
君が確かめて
You should check
ただ立ち尽くす僕の弱さと青さが
My weakness and innocence, standing still
日々を駆け抜ける
As the days rush by
321 情報が錯綜
321, tangled information
真実は知らない
We don't know the truth
現状と幻想の誕生 明日とその足音
The birth of reality and illusion, tomorrow's footsteps
321 感情の暴走 現実は逃げたい
321, emotions run wild, wanting to escape reality
想像と妄想の混同 掃いて捨てるモノ
Confusing imagination with delusions, getting rid of things
今を掻き消してしまわないように
To ensure it won't be erased or forgotten
君のか細い手が弱く羽ばたいても
Even if your small hand flaps weakly
冬の雪原に茹だる炎天下
Sweltering in the heat on a winter snowfield
鈍る皮膚感覚
Skin senses becoming dull
開く距離
Distance is opening up
溶ける世界
The world is melting away
終わりと始まりを流した涙で 滲む青
The blue color of tears cascading from the end to the beginning, blurring
弱い痛み
A weak pain
今 灯火が 此処で静かに消えるから
Now, because the lamplight is quietly extinguishing here
そうさ 何度も…
Yes, many times...
Contributed by Caroline K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@w.a.f.cmetal3941
letra en espanish .
Alegres recuerdos y nubes negras
Desaparecen mientras son disparados al desierto
Un brillante televisor de plasma, imágenes del futuro venidero.
Una carpa en la tabla de cortar considera su destino mientras duerme
Un brillante televisor de plasma, imágenes del futuro venidero.
La lluvia que cae salpicando el frente de la casa
Se encuentra con la soledad cuando cae al suelo
Un solo toque del botón de avance
Trae sobre imágenes del futuro venidero
Como si las cicatrices de mi desaparición fueran olvidadas
Dos ojos negros brillan en la noche
El mundo hierve bajo la nieve invernal
Entumeciendo mi sentido del tacto
No me olvides
Ahora, como la luz de la lámpara aquí se vuelve opaca en el silencio
Usted verifica para asegurarse
Aquí, mientras estoy agotado, mi debilidad contra el azul
Corre a través del día
3-2-1, información enredada, todavía no sé la verdad
El nacimiento de la fantasía y la realidad, pasos para el mañana.
3-2-1, emociones desbocadas, la realidad quiere escapar
La confusión de la imaginación y la ilusión, para ser barrida
Como si la pérdida de este momento fuera olvidada
Tus manos delgadas todavía logran revolotear débilmente
El mundo hierve bajo la nieve invernal
Entumeciendo mi sentido del tacto
No me olvides
La distancia se abre
El mundo se disuelve
Lágrimas del principio y el flujo final
Azul borrosa
Dolor débil
Ahora, como la luz de la lámpara aquí se vuelve opaca en el silencio
Usted verifica para asegurarse
Aquí, mientras estoy agotado, mi debilidad contra el azul
Corre a través del día
Así es, una y otra vez
@michaelmelro6641
LYRICS:
Tobikau kioku to kuroikumo
Sabaku ni hajikete kieru
Hikaru PURAZUMA TV
Kitaru mirai no eizou
Manaita no koi wa sono saki wo omoi ukabete wa nemuru
Hikaru PURAZUMA TV kitaru mirai no eizou
Furi yamanu ame wa nokisaki de kodoku ni awasete haneru
Botan hitotsu de tensou kitaru mirai no souzou suru
Kakikeshite shimawanai you ni
Futatsu no kuroi me ga yoru ni kagayaite mo
Fuyu no setsugen ni udaru entenka
Niburu hifu kankaku
Boku wo wasure naide yo
Ima tomoshibi ga koko de shizuka ni kieru kara
Kimi ga tashikamete
Tada tachitsukusu boku no yowasa to aosa ga
Hibi wo kake nukeru
321 Jyouhou ga sakusou
Shinjitsu wa shiranai
Genjyou to gensou no tanjyou
Ashita to sono ashioto
321 Kanjyou no bousou
Genjitsu wa nigetai
Souzou to mousou no kondou
Hai te suteru mono
Ima wo kakikeshite shimawanai you ni
Kimi no ka hosoi te ga yowaku habataite mo
Fuyu no setsugen ni udaru entenka
Niburu hifu kankaku
Boku wo wasure naide yo
Hiraku kyori
Tokeru sekai
Owari to hajimari wo nagashita namida de
Niji mu ao
Yowai itami
Ima tomoshibi ga koko de shizuka ni kieru kara
Kimi ga tashikamete
Tada tachitsukusu boku no yowasa to aosa ga
Hibi wo kake nukeru
Sousa nandomo
@HoverReid
AKG is the only band that has ever made me listen to their songs without putting them in the backround.
I open them up wanting to play a game and listen to nice music and I end up staring blankly into somewhere just enjoying the gorgeous sounds.
@reallycouldhappen
Me too.
@novus_00
wow that comment was beautiful
@Armon1990
I'm glad other people feel the same way
@tocan0632
Yea
@pachisan6033
Same dude, same 😌
@CanalKizaru
This seriously needs way more views, definitely one of my favorite songs from them.
@Nkipker
This band has anime intros down! and needs more views (full metal Alchemist : Rewrite.)
@CanalKizaru
@Nkipker Yeah I am aware of that. The first song of them I heard was After Dark (the 7th opening of Bleach) :)
@lnlonelyness6021
arguably their best song in Fan Club (though atm I'm addiced to Butterfly and yet again Blue Train, but my most favorite would personally be A Rabbit In Backyard)