In 2006 they independently released 2 mini albums. Because of their albums sales, their participation in relatively large festivals that summer and their energetic shows in the outskirts of Tokyo, they were noticed by a foreign record company.
In March 2007 Tomoya officially joined the group and the band finally made their major debut by releasing their first single 内秘心書(Naihi Shinsho) on April 25th.
The band's name, One Ok Rock, came from "one o'clock," the time that the band used to practice on weekends. However, noticing that the Japanese language made no distinction between r's and l's, they changed "o'clock" to "o'crock" (or "o'krock") which then was separated to become "ok rock".
On April 5th, 2009, Alex was arrested for allegedly groping a female prep school student. They were going to release the single 「Ａｒｏｕｎｄ ザ ｗｏｒｌｄ 少年」on May 6th but this was cancelled. The song was also going to be used for the drama 'God Hand Teru' but was replaced. Also, a nationwide tour was cancelled because of the incident. On May 15th, it was announced the Alex has left the group and the other 4 members would continue activities in the summer without him.
ONE OK ROCK continued as a four-member group and made a comeback with a live concert tour that started on September 5, 2009, titled Overcome Emotion. Their first release afterwards was their fourth single, "Kanzen Kankaku Dreamer", on February 3, 2010. The band followed up with their fourth album, Niche Syndrome, which was released on June 9. Their next single, "Answer is Near", was released on February 16, 2011.
The band released their first double A-side single "Re:make/No Scared" on July 20, 2011, the latter song being the main theme for the Black Rock Shooter: The Game video game. The band's fifth album, Zankyo Reference, was released on October 5, 2011. Their single, "The Beginning", which is used as a theme for the live action movie adaptation of the Rurouni Kenshin manga, was released on August 22, 2012. Their next single Deeper Deeper / Nothing Helps was followed by their 6th full-length album titled Jinsei × Boku = released on March 6, 2013.
Their song Mighty Long Fall from their 9th single was used as the theme song for the second movie adaption of the Rurouni Kenshin manga titled Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno. The bands 7th album, 35xxxv was released in Japan on February 11, 2015. Later in 2015 the band signed with Warner Bros. Records in America and released their debut album in the US, 35xxxv (Deluxe Edition), an all-English album.
Members
* Taka (森内 寛貴, Moriuchi Takahiro, born April 17, 1988 in Tokyo) - Vocals. Former NEWS member.
* Toru (山下 亨, Yamashita Tōru, born December 7, 1988 in Osaka) - guitar and some vocals. Former member of the hip-hop dance group, Heads.
* Ryota (小浜 良太, Kohama Ryōta, born September 4, 1989 in Osaka) - bass. Former member of hip-hop dance group, Heads.
* Tomoya (神吉 智也, Kanki Tomoya, born June 27, 1987 in Hyogo) - drums.
Former members
* Alex (鬼澤ｱﾚｸｻﾝﾀﾞ, Alexander Onizawa, born March 19, 1988 in San Francisco) - guitar. Officially left band as of May 2009.
Listen
ONE OK ROCK Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You want me to save you again
After all these years, the days go by
I've seen you fall a million times
Everybody makes mistakes
It feels so hard to watch you hurt
From that pain a lesson learned
You feel so lost
I've been there, too
Skies so dark no way through
Stories only scars can tell
I've got so much love for you my friend
Ride or die until the end
But only you can save yourself
You just have to listen, listen
I hope that you know
Listen, listen
I won't let you go
I wish I could save you from the pain you've been through
And all I can tell you is the best thing to do
(You gotta) listen, listen
(Ah) listen, listen
(Ah) listen, listen
(Ah) to your heart (ah)
Listen, listen
Listen, listen
Listen, listen, I hope that you know
Listen, listen, I won't let you go (i won't let you go)
I wish I could save you from the pain you've been through
And all I can tell you is the best thing to do (the best thing to do)
(You gotta) listen, listen
(Ah) listen, listen
(Ah) listen, listen
(Ah) to your heart (to your heart)
(Ah)
Listen, listen (ah)
To your heart (ah)
The song "Listen" by ONE OK ROCK Feat. Avril Lavigne is a powerful ode to friendship and self-healing. The first few lines of the song set a somber tone and demonstrate the pain that the singer's friend is feeling. They are always calling the singer in moments of regret and want to be saved by them yet again. The following lines talk about how time passes by and the singer has seen their friend fall multiple times. The lines "Everybody makes mistakes, It feels so hard to watch you hurt, From that pain a lesson learned, This is how you find your way" are where the song starts to shift towards a message of hope.
The lyrics acknowledge that it's difficult to see someone you care about in pain. However, from that pain, one can learn and eventually find their way out. The chorus is incredibly poignant as it drives home the message that the singer has so much love for their friend and is willing to stand by them through thick and thin. However, at the end of the day, only the friend can save themselves, and the singer implores their friend to listen to their heart and take control of their life. The "Listen" chorus is repeated several times, emphasizing the importance of self-listening and self-healing. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the friend being encouraged to believe in themselves and trust their heart.
Line by Line Meaning
You always call me full of regret
You keep reaching out to me when you're feeling guilty about something you've done.
You want me to save you again
You're hoping that I can somehow fix your current situation the way I have in the past.
After all these years, the days go by
Despite the time that has passed, life continues as usual.
I've seen you fall a million times
You've made countless mistakes in the past that have led to your current struggles.
Everybody makes mistakes
It's okay to make mistakes in life, as long as you're willing to learn from them.
It feels so hard to watch you hurt
It's painful to see you suffer and struggle through tough times.
From that pain a lesson learned
Sometimes the most valuable lessons in life come from times of hardship and difficulty.
This is how you find your way
The struggles you face can help guide you towards a better path and a brighter future.
You feel so lost
You're feeling confused and unsure of what direction to take in life.
I've been there too
I understand what it's like to feel lost and uncertain about the future.
Skies so dark no way through
The future may seem bleak and hopeless at times, but there is always a way forward.
Stories only scars can tell
The difficult experiences you've been through have left scars, but they also form part of your unique life story.
I've got so much love for you my friend
I care about you deeply and want to help you through your struggles.
Ride or die until the end
I'll be there to support you no matter what, through thick and thin.
But only you can save yourself
Ultimately, it is up to you to make positive changes in your life and overcome your struggles.
You just have to listen, listen
Sometimes the best thing you can do is simply listen to your inner voice and intuition.
I hope that you know
I want you to understand that you're not alone and there are people who care about you.
To your heart
Trust in your instincts and listen to what your heart is telling you to do.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Nick Long, Colin Brittain Cunningham, Taka, Jamil
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind