In addition to his solo works, he is a member of the Electronica duo Kimonos, which formed in 2010 with Mukai Shutoku of Zazen Boys. He is also is a member of the band Metafive, formed in 2015 with Yukihiro Takahashi, Keigo Oyamada, Yoshinori Sunahara, Towa Tei, and Tomohiko Gondo.
Alongside his own projects, he continues to contribute a wide range of music and text to various other artists.
Born in Tokyo to a Japanese father and Swedish mother. Educated at SOAS and Oxford University. Settled in Tokyo in July 2006 to launch music career with debut album ‘City Folk’.
Showcasing a variety of styles from heart-rending killer-tunes to angular rap, he not only represents a new style of singer-songwriter in J-Pop, but his blend of lyrical passion and austerity of design may mark something new for the world at large.
metro
LEO今井 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
千代の深い緑は秩序を描くソナタ
癒し系の色アクア何もネーゼ南北
白黒混ざる日比谷マイケルジャクソン国際化
地下通路から蛍光スピードで来た
ざわめくカラー、鳥が群れ上がる様だった
交じる色分からない、有楽町の女郎花
心臓の流るる血、ハート射抜く丸の内
子供の約七割、好む半蔵門紫
緊急感を伝えたくてしょうがないんだろう
君と僕も同じ線走ってるんだろう
I'm speeding out, to get on, get on, get on
I'm being pushed down, I know, I know, I know…
All the lights in my eyes
I'm caught in a metro rush and undersized
But when you're this atomised
You cannot but feel a freedom on the sly
Get on, get on, get on it
Get on, get on, get on it
Get on, get on, get on it
Get on, get on, get on it
Get on, get on, get on it
Get on, get on, get on it
Get on, get on, get on it
Get on, get on, get on it
The song Metro by LEO今井 paints a vivid picture of the bustling and vibrant city of Tokyo. The lyrics describe the different colors and areas of the city, from the prosperous and luxurious Ginza district symbolized by the color orange, to the serene and ordered Chiyoda district represented by deep green. The song goes on to describe the chaotic energy of the city, with various colors mixing together and exciting the senses as one travels through the underground tunnels at breakneck speed.
The lyrics also speak about the feeling of being pushed down and overwhelmed by the rush of the city, yet also feeling a sense of freedom at the same time. The chorus repeats the phrase "get on, get on, get on it," which may represent the need to keep moving forward and not let the city swallow you up. The final lines of the song suggest that everyone, including the singer and the listener, are on the same path and experiencing the same feelings of urgency and struggle.
Line by Line Meaning
橙色は金が鳴る街銀座
Ginza, the city that rings with gold, is painted in orange
千代の深い緑は秩序を描くソナタ
The deep green of Chiyoda portrays a sonata of order
癒し系の色アクア何もネーゼ南北
The healing color aqua is everywhere, from north to south
白黒混ざる日比谷マイケルジャクソン国際化
Hibiya has a mix of black and white, just like Michael Jackson's international appeal
地下通路から蛍光スピードで来た
I came from the underground passage at the speed of fluorescence
ざわめくカラー、鳥が群れ上がる様だった
The noisy colors were like birds flocking together
水平線の様に、東西は横たわり
East and West lie horizontally like the horizon
交じる色分からない、有楽町の女郎花
The oiran flowers of Yurakucho have indistinguishable mixed colors
心臓の流るる血、ハート射抜く丸の内
Marunouchi, where the blood of the heart flows, pierces the heart
子供の約七割、好む半蔵門紫
About seventy percent of children prefer the Banzo-mon purple
緊急感を伝えたくてしょうがないんだろう
I must want to convey a sense of urgency
君と僕も同じ線走ってるんだろう
You and I are probably running on the same line
I'm speeding out, to get on, get on, get on
I'm rapidly leaving, to get on the train
I'm being pushed down, I know, I know, I know…
I'm feeling pushed down, I know it, I know it
All the lights in my eyes
All the lights are in my eyes
I'm caught in a metro rush and undersized
I'm caught in a rush of the metro and feeling small
But when you're this atomised
But when you're this divided into small parts
You cannot but feel a freedom on the sly
You can't help but feel a secret freedom
Get on, get on, get on it
Get on it, get on it, get on the train
Get on, get on, get on it
Get on it, get on it, get on the train
Get on, get on, get on it
Get on it, get on it, get on the train
Get on, get on, get on it
Get on it, get on it, get on the train
Get on, get on, get on it
Get on it, get on it, get on the train
Get on, get on, get on it
Get on it, get on it, get on the train
Get on, get on, get on it
Get on it, get on it, get on the train
Get on, get on, get on it
Get on it, get on it, get on the train
Contributed by Declan E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Aurloch
Song's just AWESOME.
@jomanteb
nice song;)
@chantal98
AMAZIIIIIING SONG! greatings from guatemala guys! just on the other side of the world jajaja
@Idsynchrono24
I wish Mukai wrote other songs like this in Kimonos for Leo to perform. I really miss this sound :\
@KoziMORITA
かっこいい。頭のコードがビートルズだねｗ
@teppan1000
大手のレコード会社にしては愛を感じる！ このアーティストは手放しちゃいけんね！ あなた方が選んだ様に数少ない本物だから！
@klsp8989
I'm speeding outのファルセット歌うの難しいね。LEO今井の低音高音いったりきたりする歌唱が気持ちよい。
@rewip
おっ、これは
@weareallone12
バックバンドもやるなぁ。
@bnks204
ギターのひさ子感がすごい