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.

CANDY
Mr.Children Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

「あきらめよ」と諭す回路に君がそっと侵入してきて
何食わぬ顔で夢をチラつかす
上手に包んで仕舞ったものが「飛び出したい」と疼いてる
痛い記憶を最後に寝たふりしていたくせに

柄でもないけど会えると嬉しいよ
悩んだ末に想いを飲み込む日々
ほろ苦いキャンディーがまだ胸のポケットにあった

気付かせたのは君

多くの事を求め過ぎて出来るだけ側に居たくて
そんなことしてる間に息が詰まる
大抵人はこんな感じで大事なもんを失うんだろう
そして懲りもせず君を欲しがってる

みっともないけどすべてが愛しいよ
ふと夕暮れに孤独が爆発する
甘酸っぱいキャンディーが僕の胸のポケットにあるんだ
君が食べておくれ

昨日の夜いつもの偏頭痛が僕を襲って飲み込むタブレット
やけに会いたくて声が聞きたくなって

みっともないけどすべてが愛しいよ
ひとり夜更けに孤独が爆発する
ほろ苦いキャンディーがまだ胸のポケットにあったただひとつだけ

甘酸っぱいキャンディーがまだ胸のポケットにあるんだ
君が食べておくれ

Overall Meaning

The song "Candy" by Mr.Children expresses the feelings of unrequited love and the emotional pain that comes with it. The lyrics describe the singer's struggle to come to terms with their feelings and the internal battle between holding on and letting go. The opening lines speak to the singer's struggle to move on as they are confronted by someone who tries to console them and make them give up on their feelings. However, the singer tries to keep the dream of being with their love interest alive, even though it causes them pain. The imagery of candy is used to symbolize the sweet and bitter aspects of love.

The chorus further emphasizes the internal conflict within the singer. They express their desire to hold on to their feelings and be near their love interest, but they also acknowledge that such feelings will only cause them more pain. The candy mentioned in the chorus represents the bittersweet nature of love and the memories associated with it.

The song ends with the singer reflecting on their pain and their unresolved feelings. They express their longing for their love interest to be happy, even if it means letting go of their feelings. The final mention of candy suggests that the memories of their unrequited love will stay with them, but they are willing to accept it.

Overall, "Candy" is a poignant and relatable song that speaks to the universal experience of unrequited love and emotional conflict.

Line by Line Meaning

「あきらめよ」と諭す回路に君がそっと侵入してきて
You quietly entered the circuit that was telling me to give up

何食わぬ顔で夢をチラつかす
You appeared unfazed and showed me glimpses of my dreams

上手に包んで仕舞ったものが「飛び出したい」と疼いてる
Things I had put away neatly were now aching to break free

痛い記憶を最後に寝たふりしていたくせに
Despite pretending to sleep after painful memories

柄でもないけど会えると嬉しいよ
I'm not exactly sure why, but I'm happy when I see you

悩んだ末に想いを飲み込む日々
Days where I struggle and swallow my feelings

ほろ苦いキャンディーがまだ胸のポケットにあった
A bittersweet candy still remains in my heart's pocket

気付かせたのは君
You made me aware of it

多くの事を求め過ぎて出来るだけ側に居たくて
Wanting too many things and trying to be as close to them as possible

そんなことしてる間に息が詰まる
As a result, I feel suffocated