GLAY started in 1988, when they were in high school, with TAKURO as the guitarist, TERU as the drummer and a bassist who quit when they decided to head to Tokyo. They needed a vocalist, so TERU made a tape of his singing to give to TAKURO and was immediately recruited for the part. On the search for another guitarist, HISASHI was asked to join but turned down the offer, as he was already part of a locally well-known heavy punk/rock band called 蟻 (Ari), which better suited his taste in music. When Ari disbanded, HISASHI accepted TAKURO's offer and became the lead guitarist of GLAY. By the time of TAKURO and TERU's graduation, GLAY had become more popular in their hometown of Hakodate and were playing in full live houses. Following HISASHI's high school graduation in 1990, the three of them moved to Tokyo to try and further expand their musical career. However things did not seem to improve for them in Tokyo. Their gigs only attracted a few people, and sometimes none at all.
During this time, members (particularly drummers) were constantly joining and leaving the band. When their bassist quit, Takuro had heard that JIRO, who was also from Hakodate and had played with the indie band ピエロ (Pierrot) (different from the now disbanded Japanese rock band PIERROT, that enjoyed mainstream popularity), had moved to Tokyo and invited him to join GLAY. He, too, declined the offer, insisting that he was already heading in the right direction for himself. It wasn't until TAKURO asked him to play at just one show to fill in for their missing bassist that he decided to go. Following that show, JIRO continued to receive invitations to play with GLAY, and in 1991 he had become GLAY's official bass player, finalizing the official four member lineup
Takuro was heavily influenced by his favourite band, The Beatles, and took a great interest in composing original songs and lyrics. The band name "GLAY" is a deliberate misspelling of the word "gray", which represents the style of music they wanted to play; a mixture between rock (black) and pop (white). Although GLAY primarily composes songs in the rock genre, they have also composed songs in styles ranging from reggae to gospel. Due to their musical diversity, beautiful lyrics and wonderful melodies, they have become one of the most successful and well known bands in Japan, and most of Asia.
Official site: HAPPY SWING SPACE SITE (glay.co.jp)
Ai
GLAY Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
鼓動をすり抜けて
裏通りが誘う猥雑に心奪われた
暗闇の奏でるリアルとモラルが
交差する午前零時
二つの影は口を揃えて問う
憐れみながら
「輝くナイフか二つの
汚れた僕の眼は迷わず
ナイフを選び闇を裂く
鏡に浮かぶ無限に無垢な一つの眼は
アオいホシとソラが
くれたアイ翡翠のよう
鏡の中で流される日々に溺れた眼
素晴しき明日の光さえ
気付かずに影を引き摺り廻す
彷徨い迷い砂漠で出会った奴は
こう言いやがる
「あの皮肉もジョークも
パロディーも笑えないでした」
僕らは同じ眼を持つ
二つの自分そう気付いた瞬間
二つの影は口を揃えて問う
憐れみながら
「貴方の鏡に映る
眼は綺麗に輝きますか?」
狂った両目は異次元を
捉え覚醒を覚え
アイが足りない欲望は渦巻く意識
無い金は余るカミキレにダイブ
ならNO DIVE
AI が足りないのーバグだらけ
尚今も
素晴らしき過去の光さえ
使わずに影と切れない縁
鏡に浮かぶ無限に無垢な一つの眼は
アオいホシとソラが
くれたアイ翡翠のよう
鏡の中で流される日々に溺れた眼
素晴らしき明日の光さえ
気付かずに影を引き摺り廻す
The song "Ai" by the Japanese band GLAY is a poignant representation of the struggle between light and dark, hope and despair, and the difficulties that come with finding one's identity. The opening lines of the song describe the feeling of being lost in one's hopes and dreams, overcome with the throbbing beats of one's heart. The singer is then drawn into the seedy back alleys of the city, where the dark realities of life clash with moral values.
The shadowy figure is then presented with a choice - to erase the painful memories of the past and move forward, or to dwell in the darkness and despair. The lyrics appear to suggest that the singer chooses to embrace the darkness, as he selects a knife without hesitation and plunges into the depths of the night. The song then shifts to a conversation between two individuals who share a common bond, both lost and confused in their search for meaning and purpose. The two shadows question each other on the state of their reflections in the mirror, a metaphor for the true version of oneself.
The song continues with a powerful depiction of the singer's desperation, as he seeks to drown out his insecurities with a reckless thirst for life. He is consumed by his desire for AI - representing both love and purpose - and yet remains trapped in a cycle of self-destruction. The poignant closing lines of the song express the singer's inability to move forward, despite the allure of a bright and promising future.
Overall, "Ai" is a hauntingly beautiful and introspective song that explores the many facets of human experience, from pain and despair to hope and love.
Line by Line Meaning
夢と希望に踊る胸が刻む
The heart dances with dreams and hopes, beating to its own rhythm.
鼓動をすり抜けて
Piercing through the heart's rhythm.
裏通りが誘う猥雑に心奪われた
Seduced by the seediness of the backstreets.
暗闇の奏でるリアルとモラルが
The reality and morality of the darkness playing in harmony.
交差する午前零時
Crossing paths at midnight.
二つの影は口を揃えて問う 憐れみながら
Two shadows ask in unison, with pity.
「輝くナイフか二つの 眼の光で消してみせろ」
Using the glint of a knife or a pair of eyes to destroy.
汚れた僕の眼は迷わず
My dirty eyes do not hesitate.
ナイフを選び闇を裂く
Choosing the knife and tearing through the darkness.
鏡に浮かぶ無限に無垢な一つの眼は アオいホシとソラが くれたアイ翡翠のよう
A pure, limitless eye reflected in the mirror like emerald eyes given by the blue stars and sky.
鏡の中で流される日々に溺れた眼
Drowning in the passing days reflected in the mirror.
素晴しき明日の光さえ 気付かずに影を引き摺り廻す
Dragging along in the darkness without recognizing the light of a brilliant tomorrow.
彷徨い迷い砂漠で出会った奴は
The person I met, wandering aimlessly in the desert.
こう言いやがる
He says this, as if to dare me.
「あの皮肉もジョークも パロディーも笑えないでした」
Saying, 'I couldn't even laugh at that sarcasm, joke or parody.'
僕らは同じ眼を持つ 二つの自分そう気付いた瞬間
Realizing that we share the same eye, the moment we saw ourselves differently.
二つの影は口を揃えて問う 憐れみながら
Two shadows ask in unison, with pity.
「貴方の鏡に映る 眼は綺麗に輝きますか?」
Asking, 'Do the eyes reflecting in your mirror shine beautifully?'
狂った両目は異次元を 捉え覚醒を覚え
My mad eyes grasp a different dimension and awaken.
アイが足りない欲望は渦巻く意識
The desire for more 'eye' creates a swirling consciousness.
無い金は余る カミキレにダイブ ならNO DIVE
If diving into a shortage of money leads to breaking apart, then 'No dive.'
AI が足りないのーバグだらけ 尚今も
Still lacking in 'AI,' full of bugs even now.
素晴らしき過去の光さえ 使わずに影と切れない縁
Unable to cut ties with the shadows, even without using the light of a wonderful past.
鏡に浮かぶ無限に無垢な一つの眼は アオいホシとソラが くれたアイ翡翠のよう
A pure, limitless eye reflected in the mirror like emerald eyes given by the blue stars and sky.
鏡の中で流される日々に溺れた眼
Drowning in the passing days reflected in the mirror.
素晴らしき明日の光さえ 気付かずに影を引き摺り廻す
Dragging along in the darkness without recognizing the light of a brilliant tomorrow.
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