Mr.Children or Misuchiru as they are known to their fans is a famous Japane… Read Full Bio ↴Mr.Children or Misuchiru as they are known to their fans is a famous Japanese pop/rock group formed in 1989 by Kazutoshi Sakurai, Kenichi Tahara, Keisuke Nakagawa, and Hideya Suzuki.

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.

Birthday
Mr.Children Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

しばらくして気付いたんだ本物だって
熱くなって冷やかしてとっちらかって

シャボン玉が食らったようにはじけて消えんじゃない?
そう思って加速度を緩めてきた

君にだって2つのちっちゃい牙があって
1つは過去 1つは未来に噛みつきゃいい

歴史なんかを学ぶより解き明かさなくちゃな
逃げも隠れも出来ぬ今を

It's my birthday
消えない小さな炎を
ひとつひとつ増やしながら
心の火をそっと震わせて
何度だって僕を繰り返すよ
そういつだって it's my birthday

「否定しか出来ないなんて子供だしね」って
期待された答えを吐き散らかして

無意識が悟った通り僕は僕でしかない
いくつになっても変われなくて

It's my birthday
飲み込んだ幾つもの怒りを
ひとつひとつ吹き消しながら
風に乗って希望へひとっ飛び
やがて素敵な思い出に変わるよ
そういつだって it's my birthday

It's your birthday
毎日が誰かの birthday
ひとりひとりその命を
讃えながら今日を祝いたい
そして君と一緒に歌おう
いつだってそう
It's my birthday
消えない小さな炎を
ひとつひとつ増やしながら
心の火をそっと震わせて
何度だって僕を繰り返すよ

そういつだって it's my birthday
そういつだって it's your birthday

Overall Meaning

The song Birthday by Mr.Children is about the human desire for growth and change. The singer reflects on the passing of time and how people are constantly changing, yet also staying the same. The first stanza talks about how the singer became aware of the truth and the difficulty of dealing with one's emotions. The second stanza talks about facing one's past and future, and taking hold of one's present. The chorus emphasizes the idea of celebrating oneself daily and nurturing the fire within oneself. The third stanza acknowledges the singer's stubbornness and how their thoughts are their own. The ending of the song switches the focus from the singer to the listener, emphasizing that every day is special and should be appreciated.

Overall, Birthday is a song that encourages growth and self-acceptance while celebrating the ups and downs of life.

Line by Line Meaning

しばらくして気付いたんだ本物だって
After a while, I realized that it was real.

熱くなって冷やかしてとっちらかって
I heated up, cooled down, and was confused.

シャボン玉が食らったようにはじけて消えんじゃない?
Like a soap bubble, will I burst and disappear?

そう思って加速度を緩めてきた
Thinking that, I started to slow down.

君にだって2つのちっちゃい牙があって
You also have two small fangs.

1つは過去 1つは未来に噛みつきゃいい
One for the past, and one for the future to bite into.

歴史なんかを学ぶより解き明かさなくちゃな
Rather than learning about history, I have to solve what's in front of me.

逃げも隠れも出来ぬ今を
This moment where I can't run away or hide.

It's my birthday
It's my birthday.

消えない小さな炎を
A small flame that won't disappear.