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.

Kutsuhimo
Mr.Children Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

いつまでうだうだしてるんだ
どうすべきかは知ってるんだ
君の絵の具で濁った僕がいい
こだわってたものみんな
誰かに譲ったっていいや
失いたくない急がなくちゃ

靴ひもも結ばずに駆け足で飛び出して

停留所を通過してくそのバスに飛び乗って
あぁ一秒でも早く君の待つ場所へ

スーパーの前の歩道に
主人を待つ雑種の犬
ガードレールに繋がれている
君に微笑んで欲しくて
吊り革握っている僕とどこか似ている
そわそわして

愛しくて苦しくてそして自分を見失って
ウザッたくて終わらしてでももっと苦しくて
あぁ一瞬でも早く君の待つ場所へ

渋滞で停車したこのバスを飛び出して
靴ひもも気にせずに全力で駆け出して
愛しくて切なくて君の色で濁っている
その部分が今一番好きな色僕の色

あぁ一秒でも早く君の待つ場所へ
あぁ一瞬でも早く君の待つ場所へ

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mr.Children's song "靴ひも" (Kutsuhimo / Shoelaces) talk about a sense of urgency and a desire to reach someone or a specific place quickly. The singer seems to be tired of procrastinating and knows what needs to be done. They mention how they, like brushstrokes with mixed paints, have become unclear or diluted. Yet, they feel attached to everything they have cherished but are willing to let go if necessary, as long as they don't lose it and have to hurry.

They mention running out without tying shoelaces, implying a hasty departure, passing by a bus stop and jumping into a bus to reach the place where the person they are waiting for is. There is a connection made to a dog waiting for its owner, tied to a guardrail on the sidewalk in front of a supermarket. The singer wishes for a smile from the person they long for, as they grip a handrail on the bus, feeling restless and uneasy.

The lyrics express a mix of emotions - love, pain, and a sense of losing oneself. They express a desire to reach the person's place as soon as possible, even if it's just a second or a moment faster. The frustration of the singer is evident, wanting to end something that bothers them but feeling the pain intensify. In the end, they mention how their love for the person they're waiting for has made them feel muddy or colored by their presence, and that part, colored by the person they love, has become their favorite color.

Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of urgency and longing to reach someone beloved, even if it means rushing and sacrificing some attachments along the way.

Line by Line Meaning

いつまでうだうだしてるんだ
How long will I continue to be indecisive?

どうすべきかは知ってるんだ
I already know what I should do.

君の絵の具で濁った僕がいい
I prefer the version of myself colored by your paint.

こだわってたものみんな
Things I was fixated on,

誰かに譲ったっていいや
It's fine to let someone else have them.

失いたくない急がなくちゃ
I don't want to lose them, I have to hurry.

靴ひもも結ばずに駆け足で飛び出して
Without tying my shoelaces, I rush out.

停留所を通過してくそのバスに飛び乗って
Passing by the bus stop, I jump onto that bus.

あぁ一秒でも早く君の待つ場所へ
Ah, I want to reach the place where you are waiting, even a second faster.

スーパーの前の歩道に
On the sidewalk in front of the supermarket,

主人を待つ雑種の犬
A mongrel waiting for its owner.