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.

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Distance
Mr.Children Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

いつものようにずっと
黙ったまま二人
走り抜ける夜のハイウェイ

見慣れた街を背に
哀しみを胸に
今夜最後の moonlight driving

あの時君が言ってた
言葉が今嘘になる

愛しい君の笑顔が
涙でにじむ前に
さよなら輝いていた
想い出だけを心の中に

窓を打つ雨が
やむころには二人
孤独な自由と向き合って

気づき始めてた
離れていく心
つないだのはいたわりだけ

あの時僕が話した
これからの二人の夢

いつかはこんな日がくると
互いに解ってたのに
それでもそばにいたのは
臆病だから? 愛していたから?

アクセルを強く踏んで君の街へ
二度とは引き返せない記憶の中へ

愛しい君の笑顔が
涙でにじむ前に
さよなら輝いていた想い出に今

いつかはこんな日が来ると
互いに解ってたのに
それでもそばにいたのは
臆病だから?
それとも今でも
愛しているから?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mr.Children's song Distance portray a couple driving through the night on a familiar highway. The song captures a bittersweet moment as they acknowledge that their love is fading away, and they are about to part ways. As they look back on the memories they shared, the emotions of sadness, loneliness, and regret are palpable. The lyrics speak of the lies they told each other, the dreams they shared, their mutual awareness of what was to come, and their cowardice in not facing the truth.

The song's first verse sets the scene of the two silently driving in the night, leaving town behind as their emotions weigh heavy on their hearts. The second verse reveals their conversations about their future together that will not come to fruition. The chorus reflects on the beauty of their memories and the sadness of letting go. The third verse talks about the rain that beats against the window as they come to grips with the hard reality that they have grown too distant to connect with each other anymore. Finally, the song concludes with them saying goodbye, acknowledging their fears and doubts, unsure of whether they still love each other.

In summary, Mr.Children's Distance is a powerful song that captures the essence of a bittersweet goodbye. The lyrics are raw with emotion and speak to the pain of letting go of a relationship that has run its course. It's a song that anyone who has struggled with the end of a relationship can relate to, which is why it remains a staple of Japanese pop music.

Line by Line Meaning

いつものようにずっと
As always, we remain silent

黙ったまま二人
Together, we are silent

走り抜ける夜のハイウェイ
We drive through the night highway

見慣れた街を背に
We head towards an all too familiar town

哀しみを胸に
We carry sadness in our hearts

今夜最後の moonlight driving
This is our last moonlight driving tonight

あの時君が言ってた
The words you said back then

言葉が今嘘になる
Those words have become a lie now

愛しい君の笑顔が
I don't want to see your beloved smile

涙でにじむ前に
Before it gets blurry with tears

さよなら輝いていた
Goodbye was shining