GLAY (グレイ) is a rock/pop band originally formed in Hakodate, Hokkaido, Jap… Read Full Bio ↴GLAY (グレイ) is a rock/pop band originally formed in Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan in 1988. They have since risen to become the 3rd best-selling artist of all time in the country. Primarily considered a classic rock band, they have also arranged songs using elements from a wide variety of genres, including punk, electronic, R&B, folk, reggae, gospel, and ska. In 1999 they were awarded the Guinness Record for largest single concert attendance in Japan for their outdoor expo "Survival" which exceeded 200,000 participants. They are often compared to The Beatles in terms of their diverse musical style, broad appeal, band history, and cultural significance.

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)

Back-Up
GLAY Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Back To Back!

気がつけばもう　人生の3分の1だ
たった1度の長い旅　後悔はしない

大きな璧にまたがって　世界覗いたら
まだここは旅の途中　Let Me Take You Down
想像は　自由の花　熱く咲かせよう

覚悟を決めた新世妃　気分は最高!
結果なんてどうでも良い　恐れる事はない

心で繋がる世界を　見てみたいから
また僕は旅に出る　Let Me Take You Down
可能性は　無限の花　丸く咲かせよう

Hey! Get The Power
All You Need Is Love
Love Is All You Need.
本当にそう思うよ　それが全てさ

Back To Back!

人の世は　希望の花　強く咲かせよう

Hey! Get The Power
All You Need Is Love

Love Is All You Need
本当にそう思うよ　それが全てさ

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of GLAY's song "Back-Up" encourage listeners to pursue their dreams and explore the world. It begins by reflecting on how quickly life passes by, realizing that approximately one-third of our lives are already over. However, the singer expresses no regrets about the journey thus far, having taken a long trip once before. The lyrics suggest that there isn't any need for regret because every experience is an opportunity to learn and grow.

The next verse of the song speaks to a traveler's sense of adventure, ready to take on the world, perched on a large rock, looking out over the horizon. The traveler is still in the middle of an adventure, and the singer invites listeners to come along, announcing, "Let Me Take You Down." The traveler's imagination is alive and well, free to bloom in the world. The lyrics encourage the traveler and listeners to embrace the unknown and the possibilities that a new journey can provide.

Love and hope are essential elements in this song's message. The lyrics state that love is everything, and hope is the flower that deserves to bloom strongly. The message is that if you "Get The Power" and "All You Need Is Love," anything is achievable. The song is optimistic about the future, suggesting that each moment is a chance to embrace the world's endless opportunities.

Line by Line Meaning

気がつけばもう　人生の3分の1だ
If you pay attention, one-third of your life is already gone

たった1度の長い旅　後悔はしない
Don't regret this once in a lifetime long journey

大きな璧にまたがって　世界覗いたら
If you take a look at the world while straddling a big boulder

まだここは旅の途中　Let Me Take You Down
We're still in the middle of this journey, let me take you down

想像は　自由の花　熱く咲かせよう
Let's make imagination bloom fiercely like a flower of freedom

覚悟を決めた新世妃　気分は最高!
The new queen is determined and in high spirits!

結果なんてどうでも良い　恐れる事はない
Results don't matter, there's nothing to fear

心で繋がる世界を　見てみたいから
Because I want to see a world that is connected by the heart

また僕は旅に出る　Let Me Take You Down　
I will set out on a journey again, let me take you down

可能性は　無限の花　丸く咲かせよう
Let's make the possibilities bloom round like infinite flowers

Hey! Get The Power
Hey! Get the power