She got 7 more label offers, but ultimately signed with Sony Music, and teamed up with Shinichi Osawa.
After finishing high school, aged 19, she started work on her debut single, “Lights”, which was produced by Shinichi Osawa (as are all of Eri’s songs), and was released in the spring of 2004. It starred as the themesong of the Japanese film “ 深紅 " (English title: “The Deep Red”). The song was also featured on Q Entertainment’s Playstation Portable game “Lumines”, along with the B-track “I hear the music in my soul”. Many overseas fans discovered Eri through the game (which was a huge success with 500 000 units sold in Europe and the US ) and it also helped launch her career in Japan . In 2006, Lights became the ending theme to the Anime, FLAG.
Months later, the second single, “Voice” was released. It was a song that was totally different from “Lights”, in which Shinichi Osawa’s club/underground background is more apparent. Although Sony Music expected much of the song, it relatively flopped, only barely making the top 100 at Oricon ( Japan ’s leading pop chart), at #94 for 3 weeks.
In June 2005, “Sketch for Summer” was released, yet again, a very different genre compared to the previous singles. It was a mellow ballad with some hints of jazz. In the PV, she’s featured in colour for the first time, as all of her videos are black & white. The single scored even worse, #175 at Oricon, for just one week.
”Kodou” (English: “Heartbeat”) was released December 7 th, 2005 , closely followed by Eri’s debut album “nobuchikaeri”, on December 21 st, 2005 .
Her latest release is the DVD single “Yume no Kakera”, animated by Studio 4C (“The Animatrix”), which came out March 1st, 2006.
On the personal side, Eri Nobuchika seems to be a very nice, friendly and hardworking artist. She was featured in the bi-weekly vodcast "Swallow Tail Radio" (hosted by Sony Music Japan) in which she talked about her career, releases, and where she also addresses messages from fans. She also has a personal blog, which she updates regularly.
Lights
Eri Nobuchika Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
美しい光を見たい
どれだけの夜が訪れて
暗闇が降りてきても
いつか すべて
照らされるなら
何もいらない
悲しみに
ひたすらに歩けるように
もっと強く願えたらいい
通り過ぎた影に
かき消す輝きを…
迷う度に心を
落としていく
痛みが突き抜けて
歩き出す度 闇を
踏みしめる強さ
気付いては噛み締め
また星を待っていられる
目の前の行き場をなくして
音もなく
すべて消えても
鮮やかに描ける景色が
薄れない確かなモノに
変わるのなら
それだけでいい
ただ信じてみたい
微かに見える日を
辿り着く度消えて
何一つない
恐さ押し寄せて
手を伸ばす度 そこに
掴んでる事を
祈っては見上げる
夜空に夢を重ねる
辿り着く度消えて
何一つない
恐さ押し寄せて
手を伸ばす度 そこに
掴んでる事を
祈っては見上げる
夜空に夢を重ねる
The lyrics to Eri Nobuchika's song Lights are about the desire to find a beautiful light amidst darkness and sadness. The singer wishes to see a single beautiful light in the midst of the many dark nights that come their way. They want to be able to walk steadfastly towards this light, and they are willing to go through any amount of pain and hardship to reach it. The song contains themes of hope, perseverance, and the healing power of light.
The lyrics also touch on the struggle of living in the shadows and haze of confusion, heartbreak, and loss. The singer talks about the pain that comes with being lost, and the feeling of dropping one’s heart with every moment of uncertainty that passes by. The imagery of walking through the darkness and treading lightly towards the light captures the feeling of navigating through life, with one’s own path to follow, looking for some kind of guiding light at the end of the tunnel.
The overall message of the song is one of hope and determination. No matter how much darkness there may be, there is always a chance for a beautiful light to guide you through. By holding onto this hope, the singer is able to keep moving towards their dream, even when everything else seems to be falling apart.
Line by Line Meaning
1度だけ1つだけでいい
I just want to see a beautiful light once, just one time
どれだけの夜が訪れて 暗闇が降りてきても
No matter how many nights come, and darkness falls
いつか すべて 照らされるなら 何もいらない
If someday everything will be illuminated, I won't need anything else
悲しみに 埋もれないように ひたすらに歩けるように
So that I won't be buried in sadness, I can walk single-mindedly
もっと強く願えたらいい 通り過ぎた影に かき消す輝きを…
If I can wish harder, I hope to erase the brightness that was overshadowed by my past shadows
迷う度に心を 落としていく
Every time I hesitate, my heart drops
痛みが突き抜けて 歩き出す度 闇を 踏みしめる強さ 気付いては噛み締め
As pain pierces through me, whenever I start to walk, I realize the strength it takes to step on the darkness
また星を待っていられる
I can wait for the stars again
目の前の行き場をなくして 音もなく すべて消えても
Even if there's no sound and everything in front of me disappears,
鮮やかに描ける景色が 薄れない確かなモノに 変わるのなら それだけでいい
if I can vividly paint the scene and it won't fade away, that's enough
ただ信じてみたい 微かに見える日を 辿り着く度消えて 何一つない 恐さ押し寄せて
I just want to try to believe, but the faint day I can see disappears every time I reach it, and anxiety overwhelms me
手を伸ばす度 そこに 掴んでる事を 祈っては見上げる 夜空に夢を重ねる
Every time I reach out, I pray that I can grasp what's there and gaze up at the night sky, overlaying my dreams upon it
辿り着く度消えて 何一つない 恐さ押し寄せて 手を伸ばす度 そこに 掴んでる事を 祈っては見上げる 夜空に夢を重ねる
Every time I reach it, everything disappears, and fear overwhelms me, but I still reach out, pray I can grasp what's there, gaze up at the night sky overlaying my dreams upon it
Contributed by Ellie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.