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.

UFO
Mr.Children Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

「上手くいかないことばかりだよ」と
君が肩を落とすから
気が付けば抱き寄せてた
あの日一緒に見た奇妙な光
アダムスキーだなんだと
茶化して帳消しにしたいんだろう
腫れ物を触るみたいな
核心を避ける話題

冷めかけたスパゲティーを
フォークに巻き付けては
甘い憂鬱を噛みしめる
バランスとるのはやめて
愛を吐き出したら
つぐんでた昨日より
胸のつかえはなくなるけど
どうかなぁ

互いの胸のうちに気付いてる以上
僕らは共犯者だ
念を押して確かめなくても
僕を信じきっているあの人を
嫌いになれもしないから
よけい分かんなくなるんだよ
なぜ二人
今になって惹きあって
しまうんだろう

遥か彼方から飛来する未知の光が
僕らを包んで
迷いも苦しみもない
世界へと連れ去る
身勝手なその夢は
低空飛行の旅客機の地響きに
はぎ取られた

遥か彼方から飛来する未知の光が
僕らを包んで
迷いも苦しみもない世界へと誘う
あの UFO が出てくる夢
僕の心を無重力の
宇宙へ浮かべる

二人を夢の中へ連れてっておくれ
UFO 来ないかなぁ

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mr.Children's song "UFO" depict a story of two people who find solace and comfort in each other amidst the struggles and disappointments of life. The opening lines convey the singer's empathy towards the other person, who is feeling down and saying that everything is going wrong. The singer then remembers a peculiar light they saw together on a certain day, associating it with Adamski, a figure known for his claims of encounters with extraterrestrial beings. However, the singer wants to dismiss and make light of this memory, perhaps to avoid discussing deeper, sensitive topics that feel like touching a sore spot.

The next verse presents a scene where the singer is dealing with lukewarm spaghetti, metaphorically representing a lack of enthusiasm or satisfaction. While chewing on the bittersweet melancholy, the singer decides to stop trying to maintain a balanced approach and expresses their love instead. By doing so, they hope to alleviate the heavy feeling in their chest, but there is still uncertainty about whether it will be effective or not.

The chorus projects a sense of mutual understanding between the two individuals, acknowledging that they are co-conspirators who recognize what lies within each other's hearts. There is a trust and belief in the other person that does not require constant reassurance. However, this level of intimacy makes it harder to understand why they are becoming attracted to each other just now, despite being in each other's lives for some time.

The final part of the song introduces the concept of a mysterious light from afar, representing an unidentified flying object (UFO). This light wraps around them, offering a sense of security and taking them away from doubt and pain. Their selfish dream of escaping to a world without uncertainty and suffering is disrupted by the loud noise of a low-flying passenger plane, symbolizing the harsh reality that interrupts their desires. Yet, they still long for the appearance of the UFO in their dreams, hoping it will take them to a weightless place within their hearts.

Line by Line Meaning

「上手くいかないことばかりだよ」と
Saying 'things never go well'

君が肩を落とすから
You feel down

気が付けば抱き寄せてた
I found myself embracing you

あの日一緒に見た奇妙な光
The strange light we saw together that day

アダムスキーだなんだと
Talking about Adamski and stuff

茶化して帳消しにしたいんだろう
Maybe trying to dismiss it with jokes

腫れ物を触るみたいな
Like touching a sore spot

核心を避ける話題
Avoiding the heart of the matter

冷めかけたスパゲティーを
Rolling up half-eaten spaghetti

フォークに巻き付けては
With a fork wrapped around it

甘い憂鬱を噛みしめる
Chewing on bittersweet melancholy