Dragon Ash started out from humble punk beginnings to become one of the bri… Read Full Bio ↴Dragon Ash started out from humble punk beginnings to become one of the brightest groups in the growing New Japanese Rock movement in the late '90s, blending pop sensibilities with a hard-edged sound, producing albums and singles that play like a tour of Western rock of the '90s. Lead singer and guitarist Kenji Furuya, son of actor Ikko Furuya, met drummer Makoto Sakurai when they were junior high students in a Tokyo suburb, and the two started playing together. Though temporarily sidetracked into following in his father's footsteps, Furuya gave up the few acting gigs that he was getting on TV dramas to concentrate on music in high school. In 1996, knowing what they wanted but needing some sort of mentor, they took on bass player Ikuzo Baba, ten years their senior. Furuya and Sakurai had the talent and drive — Baba brought experience and a wealth of musical knowledge. Dragon Ash was born. The group debuted in 1997 with two EPs at the beginning of the year, The Day Dragged On and Public Garden, which showed their raw, punk hardcore style, influenced by another rock trio, Nirvana. By the end of the year and time of their release, Mustang!, the group had progressed from their simple punk roots to a blend of pop, funk, hardcore, rap, and metal. Through 1998 their popularity increased, and by the time of Buzz Songs, their sound had solidified to rock/rap, helped with the mixing skills of DJ Bots, who occasionally appeared on some songs. Two singles — "Let Yourself Go, Let Myself Go" and "Grateful Days," the latter featuring hardcore rapper Zeebra and soulstress ACO — sold so well that they cracked the Japanese Oricon charts, usually reserved for pop music, and went to number one. Now Dragon Ash had become a four-piece, with DJ Bots essential to the mix. Their third album, 1999's Viva la Revolution, not only signified the arrival of the band as a major group in Japan, but was one of the first volleys in the New Japanese Rock movement. In 2000, Dragon Ash undertook the Total Music Communication Tour, touring Japan with a lineup that included other rising rock acts, such as Missile Girl Scout, Penpals, and Skebou Kings. Meanwhile, Furuya and DJ Bots formed a duo of sorts, writing and producing songs for acts such as Sugar Soul under the name Steady & Co. Likewise, Baba and Sakurai sidelined as a remixing unit called Motor Headphone, popping up on various compilations. If anyone had any doubts that the group was softening around the edges, 2001's Lily of da Valley was as hard, funky, and uncompromising as their earliest work.

N. J. Soul
Dragon Ash Lyrics

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Huh, po-po-pon

あの青く光る星はこの街では
ぼんやりくすんで見え隠れする
子供は星に願うことはなく
いつか上を見ることさえしなくなる
N.J.soul, new Jap's soul

Yo, po-po-pon

いつどこで生まれた赤く燃える
太陽はこの星を半分燃やし
喋りすぎたぼくらが眠るころ
その裏側でまた燃えつづける
N.J.soul, new Jap's soul

四角い空で育った僕達
いつかこの街を出て旅に出よう
それぞれの場所軽率な人
築いた秩序を壊してまわろう
N.J.soul, N.J.soul, N.J.soul
N.J.soul, new Jap's soul, yo

Yo, po-po-pon

今静けさを取り戻した水は
その流れに任せ変化している
客観的にただ見てるだけで
この四角い空を気にも止めない
N.J.soul, new Jap's soul

四角い空で育った僕達
いつかこの街を出て旅に出よう
それぞれの場所軽率な人
築いた秩序を壊してまわろう
N.J.soul, N.J.soul, N.J.soul
N.J.soul, new Jap's soul

四角い空で育った僕達
この街を出て旅に出よう
それぞれの場所軽率な人
築いた秩序を壊してまわろう

N.J.soul, N.J.soul, N.J.soul
N.J.soul, new Jap's soul

Overall Meaning

Dragon Ash's song "N.J. Soul" addresses the theme of disillusionment with the world, particularly regarding the youth of Japan. The opening lines describe a star that children in the city can barely see because it is obscured by the pollution of their surroundings. The children do not even bother to gaze up at the sky and make wishes upon the star, suggesting that they have lost their sense of wonder and possibility. The song introduces the concept of N.J. Soul, or new Japanese soul, which emphasizes the need for change and a new perspective in Japan.

The second verse shifts to a discussion of the sun and its eternal burning, even as people sleep. This line metaphorically comments on the idea that life never stops moving forward, even when people are not paying attention. This is echoed in the later lines that describe water's ability to adapt and change over time. The songwriter urges people to look at the world objectively and with a sense of detachment, devoid of caring for the restrictive and sometimes hypocritical order created by society.

The chorus implores the listener to break free of the rigid societal structures and embrace their individuality, urging a departure from the square sky of their hometown in order to explore new places and ideas. The repetition of N.J. Soul at the end emphasises the need for change and a new attitude in Japanese society.

Line by Line Meaning

あの青く光る星はこの街ではぼんやりくすんで見え隠れする
The blue shining star is barely visible in this town.

子供は星に願うことはなくいつか上を見ることさえしなくなる
Kids stop wishing upon stars and even stop looking up at them.

N.J.soul, new Jap's soul
A reference to the New Jersey and Japanese souls.

いつどこで生まれた赤く燃える太陽はこの星を半分燃やし
The red burning sun born somewhere burns half of this planet.

喋りすぎたぼくらが眠るころその裏側でまた燃えつづける
While we overspeak and sleep, the sun continues to burn on its backside.

四角い空で育った僕達いつかこの街を出て旅に出よう
We, who grew up in a square sky, will leave this town and venture out someday.

それぞれの場所軽率な人築いた秩序を壊してまわろう
Let us foolishly break down the orders built by people at each of our respective places.

今静けさを取り戻した水はその流れに任せ変化している
The water, which has now regained its calm, changes along with its flow.

客観的にただ見てるだけでこの四角い空を気にも止めない
We observe objectively without considering this square sky.

N.J.soul, new Jap's soul
A reference to the New Jersey and Japanese souls.

この街を出て旅に出ようそれぞれの場所軽率な人築いた秩序を壊してまわろう
Let us leave this town and venture out, foolishly breaking down the orders built by people at our respective places.

N.J.soul, N.J.soul, N.J.soul
A repetition of the phrase 'N.J.soul' perhaps to emphasize its importance.

N.J.soul, new Jap's soul, yo
A reference to both the New Jersey and Japanese souls, with a rhythmic touch.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Kenji Furuya

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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