With much expectations, MINMI has made the artist contract with JVC, and MINMI’s first Maxi Single "The Perfect Vision" was released in August 2002. And this single was well accepted by the radio stations, as shown by the figure of 20 FM stations heavy rotated the song. As the song gradually became popular in the market, the song started to climb up the Sales Chart over 3 months period, and eventually reached the sales of 400,000 units, an extraordinary figure for a début single.
And with the 2nd Maxi Single "T.T.T.", released in December 2002, MINMI has revealed her diverse approach in her music, from the Reggae based 1st single to this time a Hip Hop based track for the 2nd single. And as a result of the newly tasted tracks and the popular melodies blended in her songs, MINMI became the popular figure among the many of female music fans of 10s~20s.
So a long-awaited 1st Album "Miracle" was released in March 2003. Though there was only a limited exposure, the album ranked in the Top 5 of the Album Sales Chart for 2 months period, and eventually the album sales exceeded 600,000 units. This only proved that MINMI's music itself is what the market has desired.
To coincide with the album release, MINMI's first nationwide tour [LIVE TOUR 2003 "Miracle"] took place from June 20, 2003. The tickets were all sold out instantly, and the tour took place in full pack audiences in every venue. She also participated in major concert events in many places in the summer of 2003, and appealed her performance, which was trained through her live activities in the underground music scene.
After that, MINMI has been constantly releasing singles, 3rd Single "Another World" In September 2003, and 4th Single "Ai No Mi" in March 2004. She has blended the latest music trend with the Japanese popular music trend, and now, she is known as the major artist in the Japanese music industry with plenty of Black music and Dance music essence, who does not belong to a specific musical genre.
Regarding her production, MINMI is rare artists in that she basically does all the songwriting (including the lyrics), arrangements, produce works, and making tracks. Her production is so highly accepted in the industry that she is now getting the offer of the production for the other artists. And also, many of the leading musicians and the engineers from Jamaica, home of Reggae music, and the United States, home of Hip Hop and R&B music, participate in her production which is the key factor of blending the latest music trend and making a high quality music.
On June 30, 2004, her long anticipated 2nd album “imagine” was released, which coincided with the nationwide live tour “MINMI LIVE TOUR 2004 “imagine” ”, started on September 10, 2004. In December, she released her 5th single “Are yu ready”. The song was originated from MINMI’s original riddim “SAKURA” which contains a sample of Japanese traditional guitar, Shamisen. This riddim “SAKURA” became popular in Jamaica as well. From this point, the produce team ZAREK for TSURU-KAME Recording, the team consist of MINMI and JUNIOR(Red Spider), who produced the riddim “SAKURA”, started their produce works in Jamaica. They have produced various Jamaican artists, and released their original 7 inch vinyls in Jamaica in the start of 2005.
She was very active in live performances in 2005, from organizing a monthly regular reggae club event in Tokyo, a nationwide club tour, to appearing in the major summer rock festival “Summer Sonic” in August. In September, MINMI released the album “FRIENDS”, the best selection compilation album of her featured works.
In 2006, MINMI’s single “Summertime!”, the song based on a Soca rhythm, had a big reaction in Trinidad & Tobago, the home of Soca. In February 2007, she was invited to Trinidad to perform at the Bmobile International Soca Monarch Competition, where she did a live performance in front of 30,000 audience, and fascinated everyone who saw her performance, including Wyclef Jean of the Fugees. In March, MINMI released a long-awaited 3rd album “Natural”. The album proved that MINMI is not just another a Reggae Diva, but is capable of diverging into many music genres.
MINMI’s nationwide tour entitled "Natural Mystic" & "Natural Showcase" coincided with the release of "Natural", and ended successfully, selling out all the dates. In the summer, MINMI appeared in the major rock festival "SUMMER SONIC’06" as the headliner, only Japanese artist to headline in the Festival ever. In Sept. 2006, MINMI was nominated as the Best New Artist of SOCA AWARDS, took place in New York,
as the only Japanese artist ever to be nominated in the Awards. She was the center of the attention of the worldwide media.
In 2007, MINMI participated in the Trinidad Tobago Festival for the second straight year.
MINMI recorded the new Soca tune "Sha na na ～Japanese Wine～" a collaboration with Machel Montano HD, known as the "King Of Soca", to coincide with this year's Festival.
Machel was the person responsible for bringing MINMI over to the Festival the previous year.
This year, they got together to record the new tune just in time for this year's Festival.
And "Sha na na ～Japanese Wine～" is included in Machel's new album "Book Of The Angels"
was just released in Trinidad Tobago.
Also, in this year's Festival, MINMI participated in "Soca Monarc", a competition for the local major artists.
She became the first Japanese artist ever to win in the preliminary round and advance s into the final round of the competition. She performed on the National Stage, in front of the audience of over 30,000 people, and MINMI became the first Japanese artist ever to make it into the Best 8 of the Competition. She was Best 3 artist among the female artists in the Competition.
During her month long stay in at the Festival, MINMI was the center of attention of the local media,
including TV programs, newspapers, and magazines. And MINMI performed in front of over 100,000 audiences in total in Trinidad Tobago this year.
MINMI's activity has no limit, in Japan nor abroad, and will keep on going beyond everyone's expectations in the future to come.
Home Town
MINMI Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
BIRU tachihadakaru mori samayoi suunen ga sugite
Shounen no hitomi wa tooi takaku narabu kabe mitsume hitori
Tatazumi tada kanjiru kaze mikata ka kataki ka
The Vibe is ok? is all right? is ok?
Itsu no ma ni ka machi no iro wo shita sono me ni utsushitai
Sora kara miorosu Isn't it Babylon?
Deyou ka hirogeta chizu tadoru you ni
Sentai kyuusenkai jiyuu ni sekaijuu ni tabidatsu no sa ima
Bokutachi wo terasu taiyou ranhansha
Kimi kuchizusamu MERODI sore wa guuzen ni My Favorite (Who!)
Ha ga yurasu kaze BIITO utsu daichi fune nishimuki yuuhi no oka yuki
Aru machi hazure no oka no ue ni oriyasumou
Shiroi koko no momo no ki no shita no kokage de
Yagate akekakete Morning mezamete subete wasurete
RIARU na yumemiru you ni nijimu sora kurakute...
KARASU iro ni tabaneta kami ga areba kaiketsu suru SUTORIITO
Mune itamiteta shibai chikagoro ja HARIUDDO sanagara
The Vibe is ok?, is all right?, is ok?
Muragaru gunshuu surinukete kakikesareta koe
Wazuka na tsubuyaki tadotte
"Mou omoi KEESU wa oiteke"
Toki wo tome kimi wo tsuredashite
Kaze no uta kiki ni mukau kibun joushoukiryuu ni nori yoritakaku
Miagetara kumo kara nozoku taiyou GOORUDO KARAA
Mune no Voice Recorder Box kara warai koe ga shita
Atari mimawashisagashita Rainbow Bridge ameagaru hikaru asa ni
Kazeashi wo tome hakonda kaori nazeka natsukashii
Itsuka dokoka shitte iru you na ki ga shita
Kitto mitasu to omoi machikado de te ni ireta mono wa nani?
Narabete ita noni...
Itsuwari no imi o oshiete kyou mo tameiki ni oborenai you ni Morning
"Mou omoi KEESU wa oiteke"
Toki wo tome kimi wo tsuredashite
Kaze no uta kiki ni mukau kibun joushoukiryuu ni nori yoritakaku
* Bokutachi wo terasu taiyou ni kansha
Kimi kuchizusamu MERODI sore wa guuzen ni My Favorite (Who!)
Ha ga yurasu kaze BIITO utsu daichi fune nishimuki yuuhi no oka yuki
Aru machi hazure no oka no ue ni oriyasumou
Miagetara kumo kara nozoku taiyou GOORUDO KARAA
Mune no Voice Recorder Box kara warai koe ga shita
Atari mimawashisagashita Rainbow Bridge ameagaru hikaru asa ni
Kazeashi wo tome hakonda kaori nazeka natsukashii
* repeat
The lyrics of MINMI's “Home Town” describe reminiscing about one's hometown and the memories that come along with it. The opening verse talks about a misty morning and a city that has changed over the years. The singer reminisces about being a boy and standing in front of a high wall and feeling the wind, trying to figure out if it's an ally or an enemy. She then wonders if the vibe is okay and she sings about how she wants to capture the colors of her hometown's streets in her eyes. She references Babylon and time running out on a clock as she wants to explore the world while holding a map.
The second verse follows the same theme of memory and nostalgia. It talks about a sun that reflects all around and creates a rainbow of colors. The singer sings about a melody someone hummed becoming her favorite and how the wind beats a rhythm on the ground. As the sun sets, she wants to rest at a place in the hills outside of town under a peach tree. The song ends with the singer wanting to capture the golden colors of the sun and a laugh from a voice recorder in her heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Fukai kiri kakaru Morning haku iki subete kasumete
The deep cold morning air engulfs me as I take a deep breath
BIRU tachihadakaru mori samayoi suunen ga sugite
I've been wandering in this forest for years with towering buildings in the distance
Shounen no hitomi wa tooi takaku narabu kabe mitsume hitori
Standing alone, gazing at the tall wall with distant boyish eyes
Tatazumi tada kanjiru kaze mikata ka kataki ka
Feeling the wind that seems to be my ally or maybe my foe
The Vibe is ok? is all right? is ok?
Is everything good? Is everything alright? Is it all okay?
Itsu no ma ni ka machi no iro wo shita sono me ni utsushitai
Without even noticing, I want to reflect the colors of the town in my eyes
Sora kara miorosu Isn't it Babylon?
Looking down from the sky, it feels like I'm in Babylon
"Mou udedokei wa hazushiteke!"
"I'm done with clocks!"
Deyou ka hirogeta chizu tadoru you ni
Shall we go? Let's follow the map we spread out
Sentai kyuusenkai jiyuu ni sekaijuu ni tabidatsu no sa ima
Now it's time to embark on a journey, freely traveling around the world
Bokutachi wo terasu taiyou ranhansha
The sun shines upon us, creating a beautiful reflection
Kimi kuchizusamu MERODI sore wa guuzen ni My Favorite (Who!)
You hum a melody and that happens to be my favorite (who knows why!)
Ha ga yurasu kaze BIITO utsu daichi fune nishimuki yuuhi no oka yuki
The wind rustles the leaves, hitting the earth with a sound while facing the sunset in the snow-capped hills near the pier
Aru machi hazure no oka no ue ni oriyasumou
Let's rest over the hill of the outskirts of a certain town
Shiroi koko no momo no ki no shita no kokage de
Under the shade of a white-mottled peach tree in this place
Yagate akekakete Morning mezamete subete wasurete
Gradually, daybreak comes, waking up and forgetting everything
RIARU na yumemiru you ni nijimu sora kurakute...
I had a dream like it was real, melting into the dark sky
KARASU iro ni tabaneta kami ga areba kaiketsu suru SUTORIITO
If you have raven-colored hair, you can solve the street crisis
Mune itamiteta shibai chikagoro ja HARIUDDO sanagara
I was down, still huffing and puffing like I'm Harley Quinn
Muragaru gunshuu surinukete kakikesareta koe
Slipping through a chaotic crowd, a faint voice gets muffled
Wazuka na tsubuyaki tadotte
Listening to a faint murmur
"Mou omoi KEESU wa oiteke"
"I'm done with these heavy thoughts"
Toki wo tome kimi wo tsuredashite
Stopping time, I'm taking you with me
Kaze no uta kiki ni mukau kibun joushoukiryuu ni nori yoritakaku
Riding the wave of an uplifting feeling when facing the wind's song
Miagetara kumo kara nozoku taiyou GOORUDO KARAA
When I look up, I see a golden sun peeking through the clouds
Mune no Voice Recorder Box kara warai koe ga shita
From the voice recorder box in my chest, a laughing voice emerges
Atari mimawashisagashita Rainbow Bridge ameagaru hikaru asa ni
I searched for Rainbow Bridge, and there it was shining on a rainy morning
Kazeashi wo tome hakonda kaori nazeka natsukashii
Stopping with the smell carried by the wind, it's somehow nostalgic
Itsuka dokoka shitte iru you na ki ga shita
I felt like I knew of this place somewhere, sometime, somehow
Kitto mitasu to omoi machikado de te ni ireta mono wa nani?
I wonder what did we get hold of in the corner of the town that filled our hearts with so much emotion
Narabete ita noni...
Even though we are lined up together...
Itsuwari no imi o oshiete kyou mo tameiki ni oborenai you ni Morning
Teach me the meaning of deceit, so I won't drown in today's sighs, Morning
"Mou omoi KEESU wa oiteke"
"I'm done with these heavy thoughts"
Toki wo tome kimi wo tsuredashite
Stopping time, I'm taking you with me
Kaze no uta kiki ni mukau kibun joushoukiryuu ni nori yoritakaku
Riding the wave of an uplifting feeling when facing the wind's song
Bokutachi wo terasu taiyou ni kansha
We are grateful for the sun that shines upon us
Kimi kuchizusamu MERODI sore wa guuzen ni My Favorite (Who!)
You hum a melody, and that happens to be my favorite (who knows why!)
Ha ga yurasu kaze BIITO utsu daichi fune nishimuki yuuhi no oka yuki
The wind rustles the leaves, hitting the earth with sound while facing the sunset in the snow-capped hills near the pier
Aru machi hazure no oka no ue ni oriyasumou
Let's rest over the hill of the outskirts of a certain town
Miagetara kumo kara nozoku taiyou GOORUDO KARAA
When I look up, I see a golden sun peeking through the clouds
Mune no Voice Recorder Box kara warai koe ga shita
From the voice recorder box in my chest, a laughing voice emerges
Atari mimawashisagashita Rainbow Bridge ameagaru hikaru asa ni
I searched for Rainbow Bridge, and there it was shining on a rainy morning
Kazeashi wo tome hakonda kaori nazeka natsukashii
Stopping with the smell carried by the wind, it's somehow nostalgic
Contributed by Maria S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.