Rie fu (舩越里恵/Rie Funakoshi; born January 11, 1985) is a Japanese singer-so… Read Full Bio ↴Rie fu (舩越里恵/Rie Funakoshi; born January 11, 1985) is a Japanese singer-songwriter born in Tokyo, Japan. She is a graduate of the University of the Arts, London.

From the age of 7 to 10, Rie fu lived in Maryland, United States. She was greatly influenced by The Carpenters and female singers/songwriters such as Sheryl Crow and Michelle Branch. Rie fu started writing songs in high school with her piano and guitar. Within a year, her talents were recognized by Sony, who released her first single in March 2004.

Rie fu's songs are often bilingual. Although most of her songs are primarily sung in Japanese, many feature entire verses written in English. Her debut album features two entirely English songs, "Voice" and "Shine," both of which she wrote herself. Of her songs written entirely in Japanese, at least two have later been released with English language versions.

Rie completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, London, in 2007. She has returned to Japan to further pursue her musical career.

Rie fu maintains a blog in Japanese.

Rose
Rie fu Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

きれいな木漏れ日小さな光の円
囁くその光本当は平気じゃない
そんなこと思ってないのに
少し少しざわめく気持ちが
高鳴って先行く
その種手にとってそっと握っててよ
Cuz you're not missing
From my heart

非常な足音きこえないふりをしてる
今でも忘れない
本当はもうすぐに記憶を消し去って
しまいたいのに
You will be you will be
First thing on my mind
You will see
The first rebirth
On a Sunday rainy market
Show the stranger
The right way there
Cuz you're not missing
From my heart
壊さないで Cuz you know you
Better get on now
And everybody won't take it
If you're not gonna take on now
Cuz you're not missing
From my heart

弱くは小さく強くは大きな音
響くはその力
残るはその後味本当は伝えたい
ことがあるのに
少し少し幼い気持ちが
迷わずにいたいと言う
その花手にとってそっと握っててよ

Cuz you're not missing
From my heart

Overall Meaning

The song "ROSE" by Rie fu is a beautiful ballad that deals with the emotions associated with holding onto memories of a past love. The lyrics describe the sunlight filtering through the leaves of trees and the quiet whispers of light that betray the singer's true feelings of longing and anxiety. Despite her attempts to ignore these emotions, they continue to grow and intensify until she is unable to contain them. The chorus reassures the lost love that they will always have a place in the singer's heart, even as they keep their distance and try to forget the past.

The second verse of the song reflects the same theme of holding onto memories, even as the singer tries to forget them. She remembers the sound of the lost love's footsteps and the desire to erase her memories of them. Nevertheless, they persist in her mind and remain the first thing on her mind each day. The idea of rebirth is introduced in the lyrics, which suggest that every rainy day brings with it the promise of new growth and possibility. The chorus once again reassures the lost love that they still hold a place in the singer's heart and that she hopes they will find their way back to her.

The final verse of the song describes the power of emotions and the desire to communicate them to others. The singer admits that she feels immature and hesitant at times, but she still wishes to express her feelings to the one she has lost. The image of a flower held in one's hands and the desire to hold onto it gently reflect the fragility of emotions and the need to protect them carefully. The chorus again reinforces the idea that the lost love is not forgotten and remains a vital part of the singer's heart.

Line by Line Meaning

きれいな木漏れ日小さな光の円
The beautiful dappled sunlight makes a small circle of light.

囁くその光本当は平気じゃない
Whispering, that light is not really alright.

そんなこと思ってないのに
Even though I'm not thinking about that.

少し少しざわめく気持ちが
My feelings are starting to stir a bit.

高鳴って先行く
They intensify and lead me forward.

その種手にとってそっと握っててよ
Hold that seed in your hand gently.

Cuz you're not missing
Because you haven't disappeared from my heart.

非常な足音きこえないふりをしてる
Pretending not to hear the loud footsteps.

今でも忘れない
I still remember it even now.

本当はもうすぐに記憶を消し去ってしまいたいのに
Even though I really want to erase that memory soon.

You will be you will be
You will always be you.