Kato writes most of her own music and lyrics. She has done collaborations with other Japanese artists such as m-flo, Heartsdales, Mika Nakashima, Shota Shimizu, and Dohzi-T.
In 2003, Kato started her career as a singer when she provided vocal to Reggae Disco Rockers' song "Cherry Oh! Baby".
After successfully winning an audition with Sony, Kato made her debut with the double A-side single "Never let go"/"夜空" in 2004. It reached #15 on the Oricon charts. Her first album "Rose" debuted at #2 in 2005.
Kato is known for popularizing sampling in the J-pop scene, and has incorporated a wide range of tracks in her songs. Regarded as one of the biggest J-pop musicians in the late 2000s and the early 2010s, Kato has sold over 12.6 million records and ringtones.
— Discography:
Albums:
• Rose (2005)
• Diamond Princess (2007)
• TOKYO STAR (2008)
• Ring (2009)
• HEAVEN (2010)
• TRUE LOVERS (2012)
• LOVELAND (2014)
• LIBERTY (2016)
• Utopia (2017)
• Femme Fatale (2018)
• WHO LOVES ME (2021)
• BLONDE16 (2023)
Compilation albums:
• BEST DESTINY (2008)
• M BEST (2011)
• MUSE (2014)
• M BEST II (2019)
Others:
• THE BEST《collaborative album with Shota Shimizu》(2014)
• M's X'Mas《EP》(2014)
• Kato Miliyah M-Mix: Mastermix Vol.1《remix album》(2015)
• I HATE YOU《EP》(2018)
• COVERS - WOMAN & MAN-《cover album》(2020)
Never Let Go
MILIYAH Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
そんな哀しい瞳をしないで 離れられないじゃない
これでいいのと 仕方ないのと
言い聞かせてるあたしが居る
もう思い出させないで 出会った頃のこと
そこには二人の空間しか存在しなかった
周りも何も見失ってた
So what has it, I do in my world
I'm gonna happen to me
I know what I used to be
やっと気付いたんだ 締めちゃだめだ
夢まで犠牲にするとこだったよ
ただ愛の海に溺れるだけじゃ
Misunderstood (never let go)
ただ繰り返すその囁きも
Misunderstood (never let go)
君よりもあたしは夢を選んで それでいい
もう戸惑うことなく 先へ進むしかないの
一人になると君を 思い出してしまうけど
愛する故に忘れかけてた
本当にやりたいことをずっと
So what has it, I do in my world
I'm gonna happen to me
I know what I used to be
プラスにならなきゃ 意味成さないから
いつも何かを追いかけたいんだ
ただ愛の海に溺れるだけじゃ
Misunderstood (never let go)
ただ繰り返すその囁きも
Misunderstood (never let go)
君じゃなくあたしは別れを選んで それでいい
Purpose 持たぬのは寂しい
少女の頃のような気持ち
いつまでも忘れずにいたい
純粋 素直さもすべて
ひたむきに汗流す背中を 恥ずかしがらずに誇って
やってできないことはない
あなたもあたしも oh yeah
ただ愛の海に溺れるだけじゃ
Misunderstood (never let go)
ただ繰り返すその囁きも
Misunderstood (never let go)
ただ愛の海に溺れるだけじゃ
Misunderstood (never let go)
ただ繰り返すその囁きも
Misunderstood (never let go)
君よりもあたしは夢を選んで それでいい
The song "Never let go" by MILIYAH is a powerful ballad about self-discovery and choosing to follow one's dreams, even if it means leaving behind the person you love. The first verse urges the other person not to look back and to go far away, as the singer cannot bear to see their sad eyes knowing they cannot be together. The singer accepts that this is how it is, and reminds themselves that it is inevitable.
The second verse speaks of the past when there was only space for the two of them, and the singer had lost sight of everything else, including their childhood dreams. But now they've realized that sacrificing their dreams would be too much, and that they must move forward alone.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Misunderstood (never let go)" suggesting that what the singer feels is difficult for others to understand, but they won't let go of their dreams. They know they must pursue something more to feel fulfilled, even though it means leaving the person they love behind.
The bridge speaks of the importance of having a purpose and a willingness to pursue that purpose with all your heart. It encourages the listener to be proud of their unwavering commitment and to never give up.
Overall, "Never let go" is a moving song that challenges the listener to reflect on their own dreams and aspirations and what they're willing to do to make them come true.
Line by Line Meaning
もう振り返らないで そう遠くへ行って
Don't look back, just go far away.
そんな哀しい瞳をしないで 離れられないじゃない
Don't make those sad eyes, it's hard to let go.
これでいいのと 仕方ないのと
It's okay like this, there's no choice.
言い聞かせてるあたしが居る
I'm telling myself this.
もう思い出させないで 出会った頃のこと
Don't remind me of when we met.
そこには二人の空間しか存在しなかった
There was only the space between the two of us.
周りも何も見失ってた
We lost sight of everything around us.
幼い頃から描いた夢も
Even the dreams we had as children.
やっと気付いたんだ 締めちゃだめだ
I finally realized, I can't be closed off.
夢まで犠牲にするとこだったよ
I was sacrificing even my dream.
ただ愛の海に溺れるだけじゃ Misunderstood (never let go)
Just drowning in the sea of love isn't enough, misunderstood (never let go).
ただ繰り返すその囁きも Misunderstood (never let go)
Just repeating those whispers, misunderstood (never let go).
君よりもあたしは夢を選んで それでいい
I choose my dream over you, and that's okay.
もう戸惑うことなく 先へ進むしかないの
I have to keep moving forward without hesitation.
一人になると君を 思い出してしまうけど
When I'm alone, I can't help but remember you.
愛する故に忘れかけてた
I almost forgot because of my love for you.
本当にやりたいことをずっと
What I truly want to do, always.
プラスにならなきゃ 意味成さないから
It has to have a positive impact, otherwise it's meaningless.
いつも何かを追いかけたいんだ
I always want to pursue something.
君じゃなくあたしは別れを選んで それでいい
I choose to leave you, and that's okay.
Purpose 持たぬのは寂しい
It's lonely without purpose.
少女の頃のような気持ち
The feelings of when I was a young girl.
いつまでも忘れずにいたい
I want to never forget.
純粋 素直さもすべて
Purity and honesty are everything.
ひたむきに汗流す背中を 恥ずかしがらずに誇って
I pride myself on my hard-working back that sweats without shame.
やってできないことはない
There's nothing I can't do.
あなたもあたしも oh yeah
You and me, oh yeah.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Miliyah Kato, Maestro-T
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind