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.
south orange
MINMI Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kokoro no mannaka hiraita manma sa
Ai subeki kuukan ni me wo mukeru to wakaru hazu sa
Utsurikawari toorisugi yuku yo ni
Nagare makase dewa kanaekirenu musuu no negai zenbu kanaetai
Sou shite eta mono o anata to wakachiaitai
* Shinjitsu wa dokoka kore dake oikaketemo
Shinjiru ka iya ka sore dake no toikake
kono uta to kono kotoba no hiraita tobira
** DON'T CRY kurai kao wa shiterarenai
kitto dare ni mo dekinai koto ga dekiru hazu sa
Jidai yurugasu kurai dekkai koto wo
(TIME) nido to modoranai sa
(TRY) ima shika dekinai sa
(CRY) kimi ni nara toberu hazu sa SKY
Ima made ni nai muri na nandai kakan ni TRY
Mienai deguchi ni samayou tenkai
I Say "NEVER GIVE IT UP" akiramenna tte
Jibun to jibun to JIRENMA no hazama
Michi naki michi kirihiraku tabi wa hateshinaku
* repeat
** repeat
Moshi motometemo te ni hairanai naraba
Mada mada ikeru hazu sa to iu dake no koto sa
Tada sore dake no koto sa
Sora takaku kagayaku hoshi mitaku
owaru koto naku mune ni yume o idaku
Mabushisugite hitomi wo tojite
nami ga kudakete yuku oto dake kiiteta ano hi
Ima mo dokoka ni kokoro no mama nokoru kotoba ga
** repeat
The lyrics of MINMI's song "South Orange" speak about a world full of dreams and hopes. The opening lines emphasize the power of imagination, with the phrase "Itsumademo yumemisaseru mono" translating to "Something that can always make me dream." The following lines describe the feeling of opening one's heart to a loved one and the desire to share emotions with the people who matter most. The lyrics go on to acknowledge the fleeting nature of time and the inability to achieve every wish but express the desire to try to fulfill as many as possible. The chorus suggests that even in a world full of uncertainty and problems, one can find the strength to keep moving forward, never giving up on their dreams.
Throughout the song, MINMI employs poetic yet accessible language that invites multiple interpretations. The repeated phrase "Shinjitsu wa dokoka kore dake oikaketemo" means "No matter how much we chase after the truth," followed by "kotae de nai kono mondai no sekai" or "We cannot find the answers in this world of questions." This line can be interpreted in several ways, including questioning the meaning of existence and the human struggle to find purpose. At the same time, the chorus encourages the listener to keep trying, to keep hoping, and to keep crying if necessary, underlining the message of perseverance and resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
Itsumademo yumemisaseru mono
Something that can make you dream forever
Kokoro no mannaka hiraita manma sa
A candid and open heart
Ai subeki kuukan ni me wo mukeru to wakaru hazu sa
You should know where to turn your gaze when you seek love
Utsurikawari toorisugi yuku yo ni
The world keeps changing and keeps moving on
Nagare makase dewa kanaekirenu musuu no negai zenbu kanaetai
I want to fulfill all the countless wishes that couldn't be granted by leaving them to chance
Sou shite eta mono o anata to wakachiaitai
I want to share with you the things that I have gained
Shinjitsu wa dokoka kore dake oikaketemo kotae de nai kono mondai no sekai
The truth is somewhere out there, even though we chase it; it's a world where there's no answer
Shinjiru ka iya ka sore dake no toikake kono uta to kono kotoba no hiraita tobira
Whether to believe or not, that's the only question; the opened door that leads to this song and these words
DON'T CRY kurai kao wa shiterarenai
Don't cry; you can't always keep a dark face
kitto dare ni mo dekinai koto ga dekiru hazu sa Jidai yurugasu kurai dekkai koto wo
Things that no one can do, you can probably do; like shaking the entire world with your presence
(TIME) nido to modoranai sa
Time never comes back twice
(TRY) ima shika dekinai sa
You can only try now
(CRY) kimi ni nara toberu hazu sa SKY
If it's you, you should be able to fly to the sky while crying
Ima made ni nai muri na nandai kakan ni TRY
Try something impossible that hasn't been done before
Mienai deguchi ni samayou tenkai
Wandering around the unseen exit
I Say "NEVER GIVE IT UP" akiramenna tte
I say, never give it up; don't give up
Jibun to jibun to JIRENMA no hazama
Between myself and myself, in the gap of being conflicted
Michi naki michi kirihiraku tabi wa hateshinaku
The journey of cutting through an endless path without a path
Moshi motometemo te ni hairanai naraba
If it's something you can't get even if you want it
Mada mada ikeru hazu sa to iu dake no koto sa
It means there's still room to go just by saying so
Tada sore dake no koto sa
It's just that
Sora takaku kagayaku hoshi mitaku owaru koto naku mune ni yume o idaku
Like embracing a dream in my heart that I never want to stop, like looking up at the brightly shining stars
Mabushisugite hitomi wo tojite
Blinded, I close my eyes
nami ga kudakete yuku oto dake kiiteta ano hi
Remembering only the sound of the waves crashing down that day
Ima mo dokoka ni kokoro no mama nokoru kotoba ga
Even now, somewhere, words that remain in my heart
Contributed by Bentley D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TOUMEI. Y
オレンジ色の外灯 連れてって楽しい場所
あの子も来てるかなって 気になってあれからずっと
友達でいたいと思ってたのは まちがいと
伝えるチャンスは最後ラストナイト
遠い海でのできごと
初めて出会った場所
人だかり煙の香りの中探すアナタの姿
夜風が運ぶ音にゆれて アナタはどこにいるの?
もう会えないかもしれないから 今スナオになりたい
プライドもとまどいも捨てて スキですと伝えたい
溢れる気持ち勇気づけて あなたをもっと知りたい
まるで時が止まった 振り返るとあの子だった
何も知らないの たった 何回かしか会ってないけど
いつも楽しく笑いあったりしてたのに気まずくなった
気付く少し遅かった アナタが
あの日肩に置いた手ほどいたのは
イヤだった訳じゃないのただ よりそったまま いる程
余裕さえなかったの
午前二時過ぎ夜空の下 きっと今なら言える
瞳には無数の光とあなたしか写らない
もう一度会いたい人だから ねぇ約束しようよ
気付いた気持ち抱きしめたまま あなたにそっとふれたい
明日の今頃はもう あたし空の上
どうしたら近付けの? もっと…
確かめあうことも時は許さず
想いつのらせたまま…
夜風が運ぶ音にゆれて アナタはどこにいるの?
もう会えないかもしれないから 今スナオになりたい
プライドもとまどいも捨てて スキですと伝えたい
思い出を全て 胸につめて あなたのこと想ってる
こーすけ
やっぱMINMIで一番好きな曲だ
すずきたつのり
同感です。
ねじれたちゃん
間違いない!!
恵子
自分もです!
Omi
俺も
Asami H
私も
KuroDiamond
It wasn't until I heard Minmi did I realize that my reggae background has hit Japan. Thanks Minmi for your very innovative beats and sweet music Big up Jamaica! xD
JIGA BACHI
My latest Feel Good Song. Her voice is just so sweet.
RSLOVER1001
1stアルバムで一番好きな曲!!!! 切ないけれどメロディーが素敵過ぎる!
てんちゃんlove
瞳には無数の光とあなたしか映らない、最高の歌詞