The group were an important part of the Tokyo Shibuya-kei scene in the 1990s, and Oyamada went on to produce work for Pizzicato Five and his one-time partner Kahimi Karie. The band were never shy to wear their influence on their sleeves, and their song titles often either namechecked their Anglo idols — Goodbye Our Pastels Badges, Haircut 100, Colour Field — or aped them — The Quizmaster from Doctor Head's World Tower treads the line between inspiration and plagiarism of Primal Scream's "Loaded".
Following the demise of the band in 1991, the two members pursued solo careers. Ozawa released the album "The Dogs Bark But The Caravan Moves On" under his own name, and Oyamada recorded under the name of Cornelius.
Camera! Camera! Camera!
Flipper's Guitar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
探してた 手に入れた
やけに明るい土曜日
僕は見る 君を見る
ほらツンと澄まして上向いて
右手をほおにあててみて
このままでいたいと僕は思うから
カメラの中の３秒間だけ僕らは
そして全てわかるはずさ
いつも黙ってる君と
退屈な旅をする
バックミラーをのぞいて
気にしてた 気づいてた
でもほおづえついて僕を見て
ちょっと唇とがらせて
こもままでいたいと僕は思うから
カメラの中の３秒間だけ僕らは
突然恋をする
そして全てわかるはず
ah! どうせ僕らは
イカサマなカードで逃げまわる
ah! くやしいけど
忘れやしないだろう！
このまでいたいと僕は思ってたこと
カメラの中の３秒間だけ僕らは
突然恋をする
そして全てわかるはず
本当のこと何も言わないで別れた
レンズ放り投げて
そして全て終わるはず
The lyrics in Flipper's Guitar's "Camera! Camera! Camera!" describe the excitement of finally owning a camera and the experience of using it to capture a moment with someone special. The singer's attention is drawn to the person they are with, noticing their subtle movements and expressions as they aim the camera and take a photo. The singer expresses a desire to stay in that moment forever, but recognizes that it can only be captured for a fleeting three seconds within the camera's frame. The three seconds become symbolic of a sudden and intense romantic connection that the singer longs for, despite knowing their time together is limited.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on other moments they have shared with the same person, highlighting the monotony of their shared experiences like dull car rides, and the pang of desire they feel while looking at the person through the rearview mirror. The singer seems to hold back from sharing their true feelings and instead immortalizes the moment through the camera, a sentiment expressed in the closing lines of the song when the singer leaves, abandoning the camera and any chance of capturing more moments.
Overall, the song portrays a bittersweet longing for a romantic connection that is temporally fixed but intensely felt. The camera becomes a symbol of the desire to preserve a moment in time and the hope to capture a feeling that might not be captured again.
Line by Line Meaning
ずっと欲しかったカメラ
I've always wanted a camera
探してた 手に入れた
I searched for it, and found it
やけに明るい土曜日
On a strangely bright Saturday
僕は見る 君を見る
I see, I see you
ほらツンと澄まして上向いて
Look, you're looking up with a sharp clarity
右手をほおにあててみて
Try putting your right hand on your cheek
このままでいたいと僕は思うから
Because I want to stay just like this
カメラの中の３秒間だけ僕らは
突然恋をする
そして全てわかるはずさ
For just three seconds inside the camera, we fall suddenly in love, everything should make sense
いつも黙ってる君と
退屈な旅をする
バックミラーをのぞいて
With you, who's always silent, and with a boring journey, I look in the rear view mirror
気にしてた 気づいてた
でもほおづえついて僕を見て
ちょっと唇とがらせて
I was worried, and noticed, but still leaned on my hand and looked at me, lips slightly parted
こもままでいたいと僕は思うから
Because I want to stay just like this
ah! どうせ僕らは
イカサマなカードで逃げまわる
ah! くやしいけど
忘れやしないだろう！
Ah! We'll just run away with trick cards anyways, It's frustrating, but you won't forget it!
このまでいたいと僕は思ってたこと
カメラの中の３秒間だけ僕らは
突然恋をする
そして全てわかるはず
That's what I thought I wanted, for just three seconds inside the camera, we fall suddenly in love, everything should make sense
本当のこと何も言わないで別れた
レンズ放り投げて
そして全て終わるはず
We parted without saying the real thing, throwing away the lens, and everything should end
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DOUBLE KNOCKOUT CORPORATION
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind