Hi-Standard are a Japanese punk rock group who formed in 1991. Since then, … Read Full Bio ↴Hi-Standard are a Japanese punk rock group who formed in 1991. Since then, they have become a popular and influential part of Japanese underground music. The release of their hugely popular "Making the Road" sparked sold-out Japan shows and US/European tours with punk bands such as NOFX, WIZO, and No Use for a Name. Although Hi-Standard were Japanese born, all of their major releases were sung in English. Live footage of the band shows them talking to the crowd in their native Japanese and then immediately changing to English for the songs.

Style
Although classed as a 'punk rock' band, lyrically they were not angry or politically charged like many other punk bands. Many songs were about meeting a new girl, lost love, or the transition from teenage years to adulthood. The song "Teenagers are all assholes" from their final LP "Making the road" talks about how there is no justification for violence, with lyrics such as "Don't torment your friends and neighbors/Someday you'll see you are small/There is no good reason to assault somebody/If you wanna beat someone/Beat yourself". Musically they were very similar to many other popular punk-rock bands that were big in the 90's, such as NOFX, Millencolin and The Vandals; most of their songs were very fast and catchy, with a few slower songs scattered here and there. "Making the road" was probably their most musically diverse release, featuring some very fast, hard songs (Just Rock, Crows) mixed in with slower songs (Endless Trip, Dear my Friends) and even a gentle piccolo-driven instrumental (Tinkerbell Hates Goatees). The band was considered to be very talented musically, with the fast, tight, powerful drumming and creative guitar work often standing out.

Hiatus
After recording five albums, the band entered a hiatus in August of 2000, shortly after playing "Air Jam 2000". Ken Yokoyama began working on other projects, including BBQ Chickens and Ken Band, which is now simply known as Ken Yokoyama. Yokoyama revisited the bands original label Pizza of Death Records, which has since signed many punk and alternative rock bands. Akihiro Nanba's newest project is Ultra Brain. According to CDJapan, Nanba proclaims their debut album, Neo Punk, to be the birth of neo-punk [1]. Akira Tsuneoka now provides the drums for the group, Cubismo Grafico. Although the band has never officially called it quits, as time goes on it is looking more and more unlikely that they will play together again, especially now that each member has gone on to different projects. However, fans still hope to one day see a reunion show.

Discography
Growing Up (1996) Fat Wreck Chords
Angry Fist (1997) Fat Wreck Chords
Making the Road (1999) Fat Wreck Chords
Love Is a Battlefield (EP) (2001) Fat Wreck Chords
Last of Sunny Day (2000) Japan.
The full-length Last of Sunny Day contains songs from their prior releases and original songs. The band have an additional single "The Kids are Alright" available only in Japan
Hi-Standard perform punk covers of American songs "California Dreamin'", "Green Acres", Have you ever seen the rain?" and "Fools Rush In"

This Is Love
Hi-Standard Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't you know you are my angel?
On my knees I fall for you
Can I say this is love
Why don't we just get lost in the wind?
There's no end, forever together
This is love
Embraced in your warm and softness
Deep inside, we are as one

Can I say this is love
Why don't we just get lost in the dark?
There's no end, forever together
This is love
Hand in hand, we'll join and then grow old together
Let me share my life with you and pass the years
Don't need words
Can't even explain
Even when I hold you tightly
I'm in the palm of your hand
Can I say this is love
Why don't we just get lost in the crowd?
There's no end, forever together
This is love

Yeah, sweetheart
This is love.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Hi-Standard's song "This Is Love" depict a deep and abiding love and devotion between two people. The singer begins by proclaiming the object of their love to be their "angel," a comparison that suggests a sense of awe and wonder. The singer then goes on to describe falling to their knees in admiration and devotion, indicating a willingness to submit to their beloved. The singer asks if they can call this feeling "love," suggesting a desire for affirmation and mutual recognition. The chorus repeats the phrase "this is love" several times, emphasizing the strength and enduring nature of the bond they share.

The second verse continues to extol the virtues of the beloved, describing their warmth and softness and a sense of unity between them. The singer suggests getting "lost in the dark" together, emphasizing a desire for intimacy and closeness. The final verse envisions a shared life together, growing old in each other's company and without needing words to express their feelings. The singers recognize that they are in the "palm of [their] hand," suggesting a sense of protection and security.

Overall, the lyrics of "This Is Love" express a deep and profound connection between two people, characterized by devotion, intimacy, and mutual support. The song's simple and straightforward language emphasizes the power of the emotions being described, and the repetition of the phrase "this is love" throughout the song underscores the strength and certainty of the bond.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't you know you are my angel?
You mean the world to me and are my savior.

On my knees I fall for you
I submit entirely to your love.

Can I say this is love
Is this the overwhelming feeling of love that I've heard so much about?

Why don't we just get lost in the wind?
Let's escape reality and get lost in the moment together.

There's no end, forever together
Our love will endure endlessly.

This is love
There's no doubt in my mind, this feeling is love.

Embraced in your warm and softness
Held in your arms, I feel comfort and safety.

Deep inside, we are as one
Our souls are intertwined and we are united as a single entity.

Why don't we just get lost in the dark?
Let's explore the unknown together and be fearless in our love.

Hand in hand, we'll join and then grow old together
We'll spend the rest of our lives together, intertwined and happy.

Let me share my life with you and pass the years
I want to share my future with you and grow old together.