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.
Sunrise
Mr.Children Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Supiikaa ni mimi wo sumashite
Kawaita heya ni yoin ga kodamashita
Me no mae no doa akenai boku wo
Sekashitsuzukete ita jikan ga
Sono aida dake shizuka ni tomatta
Koen no hou kara waraigoe
Omoidasou to shite yamete...
Omoikiri iki wo suikonde
Kono omoi wo sora ni hanachitai
Jibun no sekai ni tojikomotta
Saenai kibun kara nuke dashite
Donna toki datte sanraizu
Kono mune ni kagayakasete itain da
Ookina mono yuruginai mono
Sou utagai mo shinaide sugoshita
Kazoku no ai ni itsumo mamorarete
Doushite konna futashika na mono wo
Mujaki ni shinjite iretan da?
Doushite konna futantei na mono wo...
Shounen no hibi wo omou toki
Fushigi na hodo koufuku na kimochi ga boku wo tsutsumu
Omoikiri ryoute wo nobashite
Ano yasashii kuuki ni sawaritai
Boku wo kanashibari ni suru
Subete no mayoi wo hikichigitte
Mada wakaritaku wa nai
Douse itsuka omoishirasererun da
Sunrise brightens up
Dareka wo ai shitari dakiattari
Kurikaesu inochi ni sukoshi ima mo mune ga odoru
Omoikiri iki wo suikonde
Kono omoi wo sora ni hanachitai
Jibun no sekai ni tojikomotta
Saenai kibun kara nuke dashite
Nando shizundatte sanraizu
Kono mune ni kagayakasete itain da
The Mr.Children song SUNRISE presents a contemplative mood accompanied by a calm rhythm as the lyrics reflect upon the different emotions and experiences that awaken both joy and pain. The opening lines "Feedo auto shite yuku yasashii merodii / Supiikaa ni mimi wo sumashite" speak of a gentle melody that fades away while listening through speakers. The following verse "Kawaita heya ni yoin ga kodamashita / Me no mae no doa akenai boku wo" ("A lullaby echoes in my dry room / In front of me is an open door that I can't seem to walk through") alludes to the singer's struggle to move on from a stagnant place. The next lines "Sekashitsuzukete ita jikan ga / Sono aida dake shizuka ni tomatta" ("The time that was ticking by / Has come to a sudden silence") suggests that the singer has been stuck in the same place for some time.
The song further narrates the singer's desire to let go of their insecurities and negative feelings that have kept them from seeing the beauty around them. The lyrics reveal the singer's intention of letting go of their past as the verse "Jibun no sekai ni tojikomotta / Saenai kibun kara nuke dashite" ("Breaking free from my enclosed world / That has kept me feeling so colorless") illustrates. In the chorus "Omoikiri iki wo suikonde / Kono omoi wo sora ni hanachitai" ("I want to take a deep breath / And release these thoughts into the sky"), the singer expresses their desire to free themselves from the burden of the past and find joy in the present.
Overall, Mr.Children's SUNRISE encourages listeners to move past their fears and uncertainties and to cherish the beauty of life. The song's melancholic yet reflective tone provides listeners with an opportunity to think about their current and past struggles and identify ways to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Feedo auto shite yuku yasashii merodii
A gentle melody that gradually fades away.
Supiikaa ni mimi wo sumashite
Listening intently on the singers.
Kawaita heya ni yoin ga kodamashita
A feeling of loneliness echoes in this dry room.
Me no mae no doa akenai boku wo
Unable to open the door right in front of me.
Sekashitsuzukete ita jikan ga
The time that kept flowing continuously.
Sono aida dake shizuka ni tomatta
In that time, only a moment of silence remained.
Koen no hou kara waraigoe
Laughter coming from the park.
Saigo ni waratta hi
The last day I laughed.
Omoidasou to shite yamete...
Stop trying to remember...
Omoikiri iki wo suikonde
Taking a deep breath.
Kono omoi wo sora ni hanachitai
I want to let go of these feelings and send them up to the sky.
Jibun no sekai ni tojikomotta
I confined myself in my own world.
Saenai kibun kara nuke dashite
Trying to escape from these colorless emotions.
Donna toki datte sanraizu
No matter when, I want to shine in this chorus.
Kono mune ni kagayakasete itain da
I want to make my heart shine bright.
Ookina mono yuruginai mono
Things that are large and unwavering.
Sou utagai mo shinaide sugoshita
I passed the time without doubting those things.
Kazoku no ai ni itsumo mamorarete
Always protected by my family's love.
Doushite konna futashika na mono wo
Why did I believe in such uncertain things?
Mujaki ni shinjite iretan da?
Did I believe in them innocently?
Doushite konna futantei na mono wo...
Why did I believe in such unreliable things?
Shounen no hibi wo omou toki
When I think back on my boyhood days.
Fushigi na hodo koufuku na kimochi ga boku wo tsutsumu
A mysteriously happy feeling envelops me.
Omoikiri ryoute wo nobashite
Stretching out both of my hands.
Ano yasashii kuuki ni sawaritai
I want to touch that gentle atmosphere.
Boku wo kanashibari ni suru
It holds me back.
Subete no mayoi wo hikichigitte
I want to pull out all of the doubts.
Mada wakaritaku wa nai
There are still things I don't understand.
Douse itsuka omoishirasererun da
But I'm sure, someday I'll realize.
Sunrise brightens up
The sunrise shines brightly.
Dareka wo ai shitari dakiattari
Loving and hugging someone.
Kurikaesu inochi ni sukoshi ima mo mune ga odoru
My heart dances a little even now in this repeating life.
Nando shizundatte sanraizu
No matter how many times I fall, let's shine together.
Kono mune ni kagayakasete itain da
I want to make my heart shine bright.
Contributed by Tristan T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-ro6qp4jl8u
音綺麗すぎる泣ける
@tardoren
Mr.Childrenの曲の中でもトップクラスに好きな曲。この曲が有名曲や話題曲にならなくて本当に良かった。おかげで僕の心にだけ刺さっているような勘違いをさせてくれるそんな美しくて熱い曲
@user-kn8uo8oe1n
全俺が泣いた
@arufarufamoyashi
SUNRISEはとにかく最高。マジで最高。ホンマに最高。大好きすぎる。
@--z9o6w0qo13l
シングルになってもいいくらいの曲
@user-kf7pj3hv2q
原曲よりも田原さんのギターがけっこう出てて良い
@mai-zm4hl
SUNRISE だいすきな曲
はじまりから鳥肌、、😭💓
@CHIBA-KUROU
健一さんの奏でるギターリフがエモくて胸震える
@7fuk672
ニートがテーマの曲らしいのですが、温かい気持ちになれる曲。
気だるく目覚めた朝なのにこの曲を聴きながら朝日を浴びると不思議と力が湧いてくる。
@innocentboy2872
なるほど、言われてみれば引きこもりを連想させる歌詞ばかりですね。