Akina Nakamori (中森明菜, Nakamori Akina, born 13 July 1965 in Kiyose, Tokyo, J… Read Full Bio ↴Akina Nakamori (中森明菜, Nakamori Akina, born 13 July 1965 in Kiyose, Tokyo, Japan) is a multi-award winning j-pop singer and actress who debuted on May 1 of 1982. As a singer Akina came to be known for her mature yet rebellious style and powerhouse vocals, but also for her ever changing image both visually and musically as opposed to the conservative J-Pop scene. Together with Seiko Matsuda she dominated the 80's J-Pop scene and they were continuously rivaled by the media especially for their commercial success and contrasting "dark vs. light"-image conflict. Akina's so-called golden era situates between 1982 to 1989 till she attempted suicide for the failed romance with Kondo Masahiko. She has never gained back the popularity she once had from early to mid 1980's, yet she has still been able to maintain a somewhat steady career and her influence on the music industry never goes unnoticed. Today, Akina's built her image more as a cover artist with her Utahime cover albums with the award winning Enka. In 2024 she was the 21st best selling artist in Japan with over 25,1 million records sold. With a career as long as 41 years,nshe has explored many different music genres including pop, rock, R&B, jazz, blues, enka, folk and Latin music. After taking a series of hiatuses from 2010 to 2022 due to health issues, Akina has announced her slow yet certain return to the music industry after starting up a new management office, HZ VILLAGE. She released her self-cover of 1984's "Kita Wing" in 2023, and shortly after a behind-the-scene video and Youtube channel went up at December 25 of the same year as a Christmas present to fans who waited for her. At her first ever interview appearance at 2024, she revealed that she'll be releasing new music sooner.

Marionette
Akina Nakamori Lyrics

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ゆれるメロディに手を引かれ
ゆるやかに踊る月照かりの中
悲しい夜のプレリュード

海風が迷い込む

光と影の中で踊り続ける
遠い想い出にまだ操られてる

ひとり夢と踊るマリオネット

窓辺にもたれて耳をすませば
壊れたはずのオルゴールの歌
悲しい愛のラプソディ
風の中で舞いながら

時の間の中で踊り続ける
遠い面影にまだ操られてる
ひとり夢と踊るマリオネット

指と指をつなぐ糸が
強い風に切れないように

光と影の中で踊り続ける

遠い想い出にまだ操られてる
ひとり夢と踊るマリオネット

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Akina Nakamori's song Marionette describe a melancholic figure who is danced around like a marionette in the light and shadow of the moon. The melody creates a sentimental atmosphere that draws the figure into a prelude to a sad and lonely night. The ocean breeze finds its way into the scene as the figure continues to dance gracefully.

The lyrics continue to describe how the figure is still controlled by distant memories and is dancing in solitude in a dreamlike state. If the figure listens closely while leaning against a window, there is a broken music box melody playing in the wind that tells a story of a sad love. The figure is caught up in a rhapsody of heartache that continues to play while being carried away in the wind.

Overall, the song portrays a sense of longing for something that the figure can't seem to grasp. The figure seems like a puppet that is being controlled by its own thoughts, moving through life without purpose or direction. It's a poignant reminder that sometimes we can't control the past, and it continues to control us.

MarionetteAkina Nakamori Lyrics

Marionette
Akina Nakamori Lyrics