Mr.Children is one of the most popular bands in Japan. They made their major debut in 1992 with the release of their first album, "EVERYTHING", but it wasn't until one of their singles was used as a drama theme song, like their fourth single "Cross Road", that they started getting noticed. They got their big break in 1994 with the release of their fifth single, "innocent world", which made record sales and earned the Japan Record Award in 1994. Their fourth album, "Atomic Heart", which was released in the same year, is still their top selling album to date. Since then, all their singles have been number one hits in the Oricon charts like "Tomorrow never knows" and "Namonaki-uta", and many of them became million sellers, and they've produced other noteworthy albums.
In 1997, they took a long vacation, and came back to the Japanese music scene the next year with the single "Owari-naki-tabi."
Their sound is essentially a blend of light pop and classic rock. But due to the band's inclination to experiment with various music styles, their sound is constantly evolving. They have delved into various types of rock as well as jazz, blues, folk, country, and dance. Despite this constant change, however, their music has progressed successfully, proving them to be a versatile band that can last.
The main force behind the band is their singer and songwriter, Kazutoshi Sakurai, who composes almost all of their songs. The rest of the band include Kenichi Tahara on guitar, Keisuke Nakagawa on bass, and Hideya Suzuki (Jen) on drums and backing vocals. They also have supporting musicians on keyboards, guitar, brass instruments (trumpet and saxophone), and computer programming for their tours because they usually embellish their recordings.
It must be noted that a good part of what makes Mr.Children's songs unique is Sakurai's remarkable vocal ability. His vocal range is higher than the typical male range, and he sings with a noticeable Western style. Also, it is because he is influenced by the great classic rock artists of the '60s and '70s (in particular, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones) that the band's music usually has a classic rock feel. But being the vocalist of the band doesn't prevent him from sometimes sharing guitar solos with Tahara, or playing them by himself. He also plays the piano and harmonica proficiently.
Tahara and Nakagawa are the quietest members of the group, often choosing to remain in the background when the band appears on TV shows. Jen seems to be the most extroverted member who takes his top off onstage at any opportunity. He also always matches Sakurai's sense of humor. They are all very talented musicians who make vital contributions to the band.
On December 31, 2004, their song "Sign," was again awarded the Japan Record Award, ten years after the first.
Mr. Children has a long-time association with the Toys Factory record label.
花 －Mémento-Mori－
Mr.Children Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
人混みの中へ 吸い込まれてく
消えてった小さな夢を なんとなくね 数えて
同年代の友人達が 家族を築いてく
人生観は様々 そう誰もが知ってる
悲しみをまた優しさに変えながら 生きてく
ふと自分に 迷うときは 風を集めて空に放つよ今
恋愛観や感情論で 愛は語れない
この想いが消えぬように そっと祈るだけ
甘えぬように 寄り添うように 孤独を分け合うように
等身大の自分だって きっと愛せるから
最大限の夢描くよ たとえ無謀だと他人が笑ってもいいや
やがてすべてが散り行く運命であっても
わかってるんだよ 多少リスクを背負っても
手にしたい 愛・愛
負けないように 枯れないように 笑って咲く花になろう
ふと自分に 迷うときは 風を集めて空に放つよ
ラララララ ラララララ
心の中に永遠なる花を咲かそう 咲かそう
The lyrics of Mr.Children's song 花 －Mémento-Mori－ speak about familiar paths and the rush of being lost amidst the crowd. It reflects upon the small dreams that have vanished and how we somehow still count them. The song acknowledges that our friends from the same generation are building families and that everyone has different perspectives on life, something that is widely understood. It explores the idea of transforming sadness into kindness and continuing to live while doing so.
The lyrics emphasize the determination not to lose and not to wither, aspiring to become a flower that blooms with a smile. When feeling lost, the song suggests gathering the wind and releasing it into the sky. It touches upon the difficulty of expressing love through theories of romantic relationships and emotions, and instead, quietly praying for these feelings to never fade away. It also mentions the importance of not being dependent or clinging to others, but rather supporting each other and sharing loneliness.
The song encourages embracing oneself with all its flaws and believes in the ability to love and dream to the fullest, even if others may mock those dreams as reckless. It acknowledges the inevitability of everything eventually scattering away, yet accepting the risks and still desiring to obtain love.
In the end, the lyrics inspire the idea of blooming an eternal flower within one's heart, encouraging the pursuit of love and dreams regardless of the risks and challenges that may come along.
Line by Line Meaning
ため息色した 通い慣れた道
Walking down the familiar road with a sigh of resignation
人混みの中へ 吸い込まれてく
Getting lost in the crowd
消えてった小さな夢を なんとなくね 数えて
Counting the faded dreams, somehow
同年代の友人達が 家族を築いてく
Friends of the same age are building their families
人生観は様々 そう誰もが知ってる
Everyone knows that perspectives on life vary
悲しみをまた優しさに変えながら 生きてく
While turning sadness into kindness, they continue living
負けないように 枯れないように 笑って咲く花になろう
Let's become a flower that blooms with a smile, never losing or withering
ふと自分に 迷うときは 風を集めて空に放つよ今
When you're suddenly lost, gather the wind and release it into the sky now
恋愛観や感情論で 愛は語れない
Love cannot be explained through views on romance or emotional theories
この想いが消えぬように そっと祈るだけ
Just silently praying that these feelings won't fade away
甘えぬように 寄り添うように 孤独を分け合うように
To not rely on each other too much, to be close, and to share loneliness
等身大の自分だって きっと愛せるから
Because even the true self can surely be loved
最大限の夢描くよ たとえ無謀だと他人が笑ってもいいや
I'll paint the biggest dream, even if others laugh at it as foolish
やがてすべてが散り行く運命であっても
Even if everything eventually scatters away as fate
わかってるんだよ 多少リスクを背負っても
I know, even if it means carrying some risks
手にしたい 愛・愛
I want to grasp love, love
心の中に永遠なる花を咲かそう 咲かそう
Let's make an eternal flower bloom in our hearts, bloom
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Kazutoshi Sakurai
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DDiamond TAIPEI
Mr.children-花 -Memento-Mori
一副嘆著氣的表情 通過了那常走的街道
混入了人群之中
不知為什麼地數著那些
已消失的小小夢想
同年代的朋友們 一個個地建立著家庭
任誰也知道人生觀是人人各異的
一面把悲傷變成溫柔 而活下去
不服輸地 不枯萎地
成為那笑著盛開的花朵吧
每當自己迷惘的時候
就聚集著風 開向天空吧
懷著戀愛觀和感情論
愛是說不出口的
這想法像是不會消失地
在那靜靜地祈禱著
不撒嬌地依偎著妳 孤獨也一起分享
即使是現在的自己 我也一定能去愛
去描繪出那最大的夢想吧
就算是被別人笑是愚蠢也好
就算是不久後一切都會消散的命運也好
我已經了解了 就算背負了多少的危險
也想得到那 愛‧愛
不服輸地 不枯萎地
成為那笑著盛開的花朵吧
每當自己迷惘的時候 就聚集著風
開向天空吧La La La...........
在心中開出那永遠的花朵吧
Mr.children-hana -Memento-Mori
ため息色した 通い慣れた道
人混みの中へ 吸い込まれてく
消えてった小さな夢をなんとなくね 数えて
同年代の友人達が 家族を築いてく
人生観は様々 そう誰もが知ってる
悲しみをまた優しさに変えながら 生きてく
負けないように 枯れないように 笑って咲く花になろう
ふと自分に 迷うときは 風を集めて空に放つよ今
恋愛観や感情論で 愛は語れない
この想いが消えぬように そっと祈るだけ
甘えぬように 寄り添うように 孤独を分け合うように
等身大の自分だって きっと愛せるから
最大限の夢描くよ たとえ無謀だと他人が笑ってもいいや
やがてすべてが散り行く運命であっても
わかってるんだよ 多少リスクを背負っても
手にしたい 愛・愛
負けないように 枯れないように 笑って咲く花になろう
ふと自分に 迷うときは 風を集めて空に放つよ
ラララ、、、
心の中に永遠（とわ）なる花を咲かそう
motoaki tanaka
Flower (translation)
On the street where I commute, colored by my sigh,
I’m being swallowed into the crowd unconsciously counting my little dreams that dispersed.
My friends of the same age as me have had a family.
Everyone knows everyone has different outlooks on life.
I live on turning my sorrow into gentleness.
Not being beaten, not withering, let me be a flower blooming with a smile.
When I lose myself, I gather wind and let it go into the sky right now.
You cannot talk about what love is just because you read about love or feelings.
I pray secretly for this thought not to go away.
Not depending on others, I’d try to be in empathy and share loneliness with them.
I’m sure to love myself as I am.
So let me draw my biggest dream.
I don’t care even if others laugh at me saying I’m a daydreamer.
Even if everything were to pass away sometime, I know,
I’d like to gain love taking some risk.
Not being beaten, not withering, let me be a flower blooming with a smile.
When I lose myself, I gather wind and let it go into the sky.
Let me bloom a flower in my heart that never withers.
‘20/04/21
Agatsuma
スロカスの話なんだけど勝ち続ける事なんてできない。
逆に負けっぱなしもない。
すげぇはまっちゃう時もあるけど、当たる時はすげぇ当たる。
人生もきっとそんな感じだと思うよ。
今もし光が見えなくても、前を見続けてください。
私に光が差すのに7年くらい掛かりました。
でも陽が差したと思ったら、また孤独という闇に放り込まれました。
それでも自分はまた光を探しています。
諦めないで苦しくても前に進みましょう。
motoaki tanaka
Flower (translation)
On the street where I commute, colored by my sigh,
I’m being swallowed into the crowd unconsciously counting my little dreams that dispersed.
My friends of the same age as me have had a family.
Everyone knows everyone has different outlooks on life.
I live on turning my sorrow into gentleness.
Not being beaten, not withering, let me be a flower blooming with a smile.
When I lose myself, I gather wind and let it go into the sky right now.
You cannot talk about what love is just because you read about love or feelings.
I pray secretly for this thought not to go away.
Not depending on others, I’d try to be in empathy and share loneliness with them.
I’m sure to love myself as I am.
So let me draw my biggest dream.
I don’t care even if others laugh at me saying I’m a daydreamer.
Even if everything were to pass away sometime, I know,
I’d like to gain love taking some risk.
Not being beaten, not withering, let me be a flower blooming with a smile.
When I lose myself, I gather wind and let it go into the sky.
Let me bloom a flower in my heart that never withers.
‘20/04/21
Distance Briliant
リアルタイムでは無かったけれど、
此の曲が入ってる『深海』や
翌年の『BOLERO』をよく聴きながら、
病み期だった高校時代を乗り越えて
今日まで生きてきた
結果として病みがちなのは
変わらなかったけれど、
人間としての生きる価値が無くても
腐りながらでも生きてやるって誓ったんだ
『深海』と『BOLERO』の二枚は、
そんな切っ掛けを作る様になった
俺の人生の中でも大切なアルバムかな
ホーリーナイト
暗い曲調なのに、恐ろしいほど力強い曲。
辛い時はいつも聞いてます。
murasaki fttb
@Mr.Adults 🉑!
空気砲
ネガティブを力に変えるそんな気がします。「ALIVE」も。
mss spk
イエモンの「球根」にも言える
Mr.Adults
Aメロがマイナー調で歌詞もマイナスなのに対してサビからいきなりメジャー調になって歌詞もプラスになるから、なんというかその高低差にやられるよね。
うりえもん
ALIVEもすき
axxzxxzx
今人生うまくいってない時期だからこの曲がすごい聴きたくなる
鵺野鳴介
頑張って下さい
南斗白鷺拳
なんとも言えない世界観、雰囲気がたまらん！
0809 innocent
言葉では表しきれないくらい名曲