SMAP was first formed in 1988, though their debut single came in 1991. SMAP officially stands for the English words "Sports and Music Assemble People". SMAP originally consisted of the current five members plus 森且行 (Mori Katsuyuki) who left in May 1996 to pursue a career in auto racing.
SMAP was started as an idol group by the famous "Johnny & Associates", a conglomerate known for its "cute boys only" policy. The SMAP members met each other in 1987 and were called "Skate Boys." They were backup dancers for 光GENJI (Hikaru GENJI), which was a popular idol group at the time. In 1988, they formed SMAP. Nakai, the oldest, became the group's leader. Their debut in 1991, in a time when there weren't many music programs, was not immediately successful. Of all of Johnny's groups, SMAP was the least popular. Since SMAP was so unsuccessful, Nakai asked Johnny's office to let SMAP have a variety program to make people laugh with their unique personalities.
The program was called "I Love SMAP." Through this program, SMAP slowly gained popularity. 1993 was a year of opportunities for SMAP. They had a hit single, and SMAP member Takuya Kimura was in a dorama called 'Asunaro Hakusho," in which he played Osamu Toride, a shy cute boy. Asunaro was a big hit and Kimura's popularity soared. At the same time, SMAP also provided the opening ("Egao no GENKI") and ending songs for the anime Hime-chan's Ribbon, and Tsuyoshi Kusanagi appeared in multiple episodes both as himself as the voice of a regular character.
After that SMAP members starred in movies both individually and as a group, and SMAP continued to release new hit singles. Their song "Yozora no Mukou" is now in some Japanese textbooks.
In 1996, SMAP started their own variety program called SMAP X SMAP (also called S x S or SmaSma). On S x S, they cook, perform in comedy sketches, play games, sing, dance, and so on. S x S has been one of the most well-known TV programs in Japan since it started. The members of SMAP did things on the show that Japanese celebrities had never done on television before, steering Japanese television in new creative ways and creating even more publicity and popularity for the group. As "the super idol group that does anything", they began starring in a wide variety of programs ranging from live stage to music, dancing, hosting other programs, acting in movies, commercials, etc.
In 2001, Inagaki was involved in a traffic altercation. There were allegations of wrongdoing on his part, and he briefly retreated from the public spotlight. However, the ultimate result of the incident was to put SMAP in the public eye once more, which only increased their popularity. Inagaki has since made a comeback, and starred in a 2004 drama about a fictional Japanese investment banker killed in the events of September 11.
SMAP members are said to be the most famous stars in Japan. Though a comparison to American groups like The Backstreet Boys is not entirely musically inaccurate, even at the peak of their popularity, no American boy band has come close to the pervasiveness of SMAP. To give a sense of the popularity (and ubiquity) of SMAP, note that in 2003, SMAP leader Nakai was identified as the highest tax payer of any entertainer in Japan by the Japanese National Tax Bureau. That same year, he was involved in at least four television shows simultaneously, in addition to commercials.
There were speculations that SMAP would disband following Takuya Kimura's announcement of his marriage and Goro Inagaki's traffic altercation in 2001. Although they did not release even a single in 2004, the popularity of SMAP is still strong. This is reflected in the charts, where both their latest album and a recent single (017 SAMPLE BANG! and BANG BANG! バカンス!) topped the respective daily charts just moments after their release.
These releases were followed by the album "Pop Up! SMAP!" in 2006, which included the popular single "Dear Woman" used in a commercial for Tsubaki face care.
In 2007 musical activities seemed to have quieted down, with all members busy with other projects like TV dramas and movie, but the two singles of that year, "Arigatou" for Tsuyoshi's drama "Boku no aruku michi" and "Dangan Fighter" used a a theme for the TBS baseball coverage, again were major hits.
Besides more hit dramas in 2008, the singles "Sonomama/White Message" and "Sono toki, kitto yumejanai" were release, followed by a short surprise tour and a new album called "super.modern.artistic.performance" with it's release in September 2008.
Moment
SMAP Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
振り返るのはまだ 先でもいいけど
履き潰してきた靴を 並べては
歩き続けてきた距離を想った
時に悩み 時に憂い
時に寂しい自分に
嘘もついてきたけれど
この一瞬のための何千時間
この瞬間のために
なぜ時間ついやしてきたのか
知りたいから
すれ違う人の群れ 僕は見てた
振り返るのはほら あとにしよう
汚れてしまったシャツもそのままで
歩き続けるような強さが欲しい
すぐに迷い すぐに嘆き
すぐに疲れたふりして
嘘もついてきたけれど
この一瞬のための何千時間
壁は自分だった 今わかったこと
この瞬間のために
失ったことも多いけど
確かめたくて
この一瞬のための何千時間
強さって優しさ 今わかったけど
この瞬間のために
なぜ時間ついやしてきたのか
今わかったよ
この一瞬のためだけじゃないんだ
続きはまだあるんだ 探してたこと
この先で見つけられるかな
その一瞬のために歩き続ける
この瞬間
The SMAP song "Moment" is a reflective piece about life's journey and the various challenges it brings. The first verse talks about looking back at the journey so far and the physical evidence of progress - a worn-out pair of shoes embodying the distance that has been traveled. The second verse speaks to the emotional struggles that come with progress, the lies one tells themselves to keep going, and questioning the reasons why time has been spent in pursuit of "this moment."
The bridge highlights a realization: that strength and kindness go hand in hand, and the sacrifices made for this moment were not in vain. The final verse speaks to the continuation of the journey, with the acknowledgement of what has been lost and the desire to find what comes next.
Overall, the song seems to be a reflection on the human experience - the challenges, the lies we tell ourselves, the sacrifices we make for the sake of progress, and the ultimate realization of the importance of inner strength and resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
握りしめてきた手を 僕は見てた
I looked at the hands that I had held so tightly
振り返るのはまだ 先でもいいけど
It's okay if I don't look back just yet
履き潰してきた靴を 並べては
I arranged the shoes that I had worn down
歩き続けてきた距離を想った
And thought about the distance that I had walked
時に悩み 時に憂い
I've experienced worry and anguish at times
時に寂しい自分に
I've been lonely at times
嘘もついてきたけれど
Though I've also told some lies
この一瞬のための何千時間
I realized that all those thousands of hours were for this moment
強さって優しさ 今わかってきたよ
I now understand that strength can be found in kindness
この瞬間のために なぜ時間ついやしてきたのか
I want to know why I spent so much time for this moment
すれ違う人の群れ 僕は見てた
I watched the crowd of people passing by
振り返るのはほら あとにしよう
I'll leave looking back for later
汚れてしまったシャツもそのままで
My shirt's dirtiness remains as it is
歩き続けるような強さが欲しい
I desire the strength to keep walking
すぐに迷い すぐに嘆き
I'm often lost and feeling sorrowful
すぐに疲れたふりして
I tiredly pretended to be okay
壁は自分だった 今わかったこと
I now understand that the wall was myself
失ったことも多いけど 確かめたくて
I want to confirm things despite having lost much
この一瞬のための何千時間
All those thousands of hours were for this moment
強さって優しさ 今わかったけど
I now understand that strength lies in kindness
なぜ時間ついやしてきたのか 今わかったよ
I now know why I spent so much time for this moment
この一瞬のためだけじゃないんだ
It's not just for this moment after all
続きはまだあるんだ 探してたこと
There's still more to search for
この先で見つけられるかな
I wonder if I can find it from now on
その一瞬のために歩き続ける
I'll keep walking for that one moment
この瞬間
This moment
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: 山口一郎
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@multiple-exposure
滅多にテレビに出ないサカナクション笑
@3s47
momentに『バッハの旋律を夜に聴いたせいです。』のハミングが入ってる
@user-dk8lp1ef3r
山口一郎が歌った途端安定感すごい
@otinpoteacher
サカナクションはアイドルみたいに着飾らないところがまた良い
@user-pw7rg4mn9e
サカナクション感もあるしsmap感もあるんだよなあ
@mrssuen
100%山口一郎ボーカルのモーメントが見たい
@user-ep7cp2xi2v
これはSMAPが歌ってるからいいんじゃんよ!
@Dadaism13
セルフカバーして欲しいですよね！
脳内再生余裕ですけどね！
@user-rz5gj4qm5g
@@Dadaism13
インスタライブで公開してたみたいです
https://youtube.com/shorts/_HDpB3SJPNY?feature=share
@megusurydeca3284
インスタライブでデモバージョン流してましたね！