Formed in 1988, B’z are guitarist 松本孝弘 and vocalist, 稲葉浩志. Over the span of… Read Full Bio ↴Formed in 1988, B’z are guitarist 松本孝弘 and vocalist, 稲葉浩志. Over the span of twenty-five years, B’z have released 19 albums, 6 EPs (including a Korea-only release) and 51 singles, with 16 of the albums and 47 of the singles consecutively debuting #1 on Japan’s Oricon Chart. B’z have sold over 80 million CDs in Japan alone, making them the best-selling artist in Japan’s history.
Under the recommendation of Steve Vai, B’z were inducted into the Hollywood Rock Walk in 2007 as the first Asian artist. As a world acclaimed six-string virtuoso, Tak Matsumoto joined legendary guitarists Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, Ace Frehley and Slash, to become the fifth guitarist in the world to have his own Gibson USA signature model, the ‘Tak Matsumoto Les Paul.’ In 2010, Matsumoto released Take Your Pick with jazz guitarist, Larry Carlton, and won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album at the 53rd Grammy Awards last February. Koshi Inaba’s solo efforts include the studio album, Hadou, which was also released in 2010 and debuted number one on the Oricon album charts. Inaba also appeared as a guest vocalist on Slash’s solo album last year.
Besides releasing a long line of number one singles and albums in Japan, B’z are known for their dynamic live shows. They began 2010 with a sold-out dome tour in Japan, including 4 nights at the famed Tokyo Dome with 600,000 fans in attendance.
B’z had North American tour visiting Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles in July 2011. After providing a song to “Download to Donate Tsunami Relief” organized by Music For Relief, B’z was asked to join the intimate private show with Linkin Park to raise money for Japan earthquake/Tsunami relief. The show took place on 8/31 with great success raising more than $35,000. They will start the Japan tour with 2 shows in Sendai which will benefit the affected area. Their tour “B’z LIVE-GYM 2011 –C’mon-“ includes 17 arena shows and 9 dome shows and continues till the last show on 12/25 at Tokyo Dome.

Roots
B'z Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

僕らははぐれた兄弟分かれ流れゆく河
蓮華の咲きみだれる野原で生まれ
ただ幸せを夢見泣き笑い夕陽を見つめ
それぞれの言葉で祈りつづけた

瞳に映るものだけを守ろうとするうちに
あなたを忘れかけるから今夜は手紙を書こう

この河を辿ってゆこう悲しみのルーツをさがして
この星の果てにいるあなたの痛みをもっとわかるように
今はまだ泣かないで太陽はそっちに昇るよ

言い伝えらえた感情僕らはすっかり信じて
イメージの海へとどっぷり沈んでゆく

ひかれた境界線は想うよりも深く
たった1つだった心をパズルの破片へと砕く

空高く昇ってゆこう一番遠くまで見渡して
この星の果てにいるあなたのぬくもり思い出せるように
今はまだ泣かないでいつか会える日のために

この河をたどってゆこう悲しみのルーツをさがして
歩いてきたこの道に最後には花が咲くように

誰もが同じものを同じとき同じように愛せないけれど
今はまだ泣かないでいつか会える日のために

Overall Meaning

The song "ROOTS" by B'z tells the story of two brothers who were born in a field of blooming lotus flowers but later separated and drifted apart like a river. They each pursued their own dreams, and through both laughter and tears, they continued to pray in their own words. However, as time passes, they realize that they have been focusing too much on protecting only what they see, and as a result, they have almost forgotten one another. Therefore, one of the brothers decides to write a letter to the other to rekindle their bond. The song then shifts its focus to the brother's journey to find the roots of their sadness, so that they can understand each other's pain better. The central message of the song is about finding one's way back to where they come from and their bond with siblings.

The lyrics are very poetic, with a lot of metaphors and imagery used to tell a story of sibling love and the importance of staying connected. The lotus field represents a place of purity and rebirth, while the river and the sadness they are trying to understand represent the challenges and hardships of life. The song encourages people to keep their bonds with loved ones strong, as they are integral to one's happiness.

B'z wrote "ROOTS" as a tribute to their own bond as friends and collaborators. The song was released in 1998 and became extremely popular in Japan. It also won several awards, including the prestigious Grand Prix Award at the 40th annual Japan Record Awards. Interestingly, the song has never been performed live, which has left fans eagerly waiting for the day when it will be included in one of their concerts.

Line by Line Meaning

僕らははぐれた兄弟分かれ流れゆく河
We are lost brothers, parting ways like a river splitting into many streams

蓮華の咲きみだれる野原で生まれ
Born in a field of blooming lotuses

ただ幸せを夢見泣き笑い夕陽を見つめ
Just dreaming of happiness, shedding tears and laughter while gazing at the sunset

それぞれの言葉で祈りつづけた
Continued praying with each of our own words

瞳に映るものだけを守ろうとするうちに
While trying to protect only what is reflected in our eyes

あなたを忘れかけるから今夜は手紙を書こう
I am beginning to forget you, so tonight I will write a letter

この河を辿ってゆこう悲しみのルーツをさがして
Let's follow this river and search for the roots of our sadness

この星の果てにいるあなたの痛みをもっとわかるように
So that we may understand your pain even more, at the edge of this star

今はまだ泣かないで太陽はそっちに昇るよ
Don't cry yet, the sun is rising over there

言い伝えらえた感情僕らはすっかり信じて
We believe completely in the emotions that have been passed down

イメージの海へとどっぷり沈んでゆく
We sink deeply into the sea of our imagination