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.
two of us
SMAP Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
we, going going no where
two of us
we, going only one way
two of us...
甘い期待に満たされながら
今日が不確かに流れていく
不意に見つめた瞳の奥に
心の窓 はみ出してる
理想の地図を少しだけ
たためばそこに輝く大事なもの
掴んだ ドラマみたいな
未来への鍵を
繋いだこの手の中に握り締めるよ
強く 熱く 響く声はいつも流線型
すべての衝動に素直になろう
two of us
we, going going no where
two of us
we, going only one way
two of us...
きっと誰もが探す近道
そこじゃ見えない空もあるのさ
他の誰もが後ずさりする
道を踏みしめる僕らの旅
思うがまま詰め込んでる
想像の自分を少しだけ
捨てた隙間に見えた最初の景色
滲んだ 絵画みたいな
未来のストーリーを
繋いだこの手で描き直していくんだ
色を合わせ なぞり重ね
広いキャンバスに
ふたりの表情を映し出そうよ
悩んで 迷って 戸惑っても
答えはひとつだけじゃない
登り坂でも手を取り合って
深い闇に躊躇っても
茨の影の向こうに
遠回りでも 辿り着けるから
掴んだ ドラマみたいな
未来への鍵を
繋いだこの手の中に握り締めるよ
強く 熱く 響く声はいつも流線型
すべての衝動に素直になろう
two of us
we, going going no where
two of us
we, going only one way
two of us...
The lyrics to SMAP's song "two of us" convey a message of unity and determination in the face of uncertainty. The song begins by describing the two individuals as being filled with sweet expectations but unsure of the path they are taking. They find solace in the flickering lights and steady markers within their own hearts, as if following a map. They hold tightly to the key to their future, resembling a drama, while acknowledging that nothing is certain. Their voices are described as strong, resonant, and always moving forward. They choose to be true to their instincts and embrace every impulse.
The second verse suggests that everyone is searching for shortcuts, but it's in those shortcuts that one might find an unseen sky. The two protagonists of the song continue their journey, stepping on a path that others may hesitate to take. They fill it with their own aspirations and discard the selves they imagined, making room for the first glimpses of a new scenery. The future is portrayed as a blurry painting that they will rewrite with their own hands, blending colors and layering them on a wide canvas to reflect their emotions and expressions.
The chorus reassures that even in times of doubt and confusion, there is never just one answer. They hold onto each other's hands while climbing uphill and hesitate in the deep darkness. Beyond the thorns' shadows, they will reach their destination even if they take a detour. In this journey, they continue to hold the key to their future, gripping it tightly in their hands. Their voices remain powerful, resonant, and always moving forward. They choose to embrace every impulse, staying true to themselves.
Overall, "two of us" is an inspirational song about two individuals facing the uncertainties of life together, navigating their own path, and embracing their instincts and emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
two of us
Both of us, together as a unit
we, going going no where
We are not making any progress or achieving anything meaningful
two of us
Both of us, together as a unit
we, going only one way
We are focused and determined, moving forward in the same direction
two of us...
Both of us, united in purpose
甘い期待に満たされながら
While being filled with sweet expectations
今日が不確かに流れていく
Today is uncertainly passing by
不意に見つめた瞳の奥に
In the depths of our eyes unexpectedly caught
揺れる灯かり 確かな目印
A flickering light, a definite signpost
心の窓 はみ出してる
Our hearts' windows are protruding, open wide
理想の地図を少しだけ
Just a little bit of the ideal map
たためばそこに輝く大事なもの
When we unfold it, there shines something important
掴んだ ドラマみたいな
Grasping something like a drama
未来への鍵を
The key to the future
繋いだこの手の中に握り締めるよ
We hold tightly in these connected hands
強く 熱く 響く声はいつも流線型
Our strong, passionate, resounding voices are always streamlined
すべての衝動に素直になろう
Let's be true to all our impulses
きっと誰もが探す近道
Surely everyone is searching for a shortcut
そこじゃ見えない空もあるのさ
But there, there are also invisible skies
他の誰もが後ずさりする
While everyone else is retreating
道を踏みしめる僕らの旅
Our journey, stepping on the path
思うがまま詰め込んでる
We are filling it with our own thoughts
想像の自分を少しだけ
Just a little bit of our imagined selves
捨てた隙間に見えた最初の景色
The first scenery that appeared in the gap we discarded
滲んだ 絵画みたいな
A blurred, painting-like
未来のストーリーを
The story of the future
繋いだこの手で描き直していくんだ
We will redraw it with these connected hands
色を合わせ なぞり重ね
Matching colors, overlapping lines
広いキャンバスに
On a wide canvas
ふたりの表情を映し出そうよ
Let's reflect our expressions on it
悩んで 迷って 戸惑っても
Even when we worry, get lost, and are confused
答えはひとつだけじゃない
There is not only one answer
登り坂でも手を取り合って
Even on an uphill climb, let's hold hands
深い闇に躊躇っても
Even when hesitating in deep darkness
茨の影の向こうに
Beyond the shadow of thorns
遠回りでも 辿り着けるから
Because even with detours, we can reach it
掴んだ ドラマみたいな
Grasping something like a drama
未来への鍵を
The key to the future
繋いだこの手の中に握り締めるよ
We hold tightly in these connected hands
強く 熱く 響く声はいつも流線型
Our strong, passionate, resounding voices are always streamlined
すべての衝動に素直になろう
Let's be true to all our impulses
two of us
Both of us, together as a unit
we, going going no where
We are not making any progress or achieving anything meaningful
two of us
Both of us, together as a unit
we, going only one way
We are focused and determined, moving forward in the same direction
two of us...
Both of us, united in purpose
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: 大智
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
saopyonsmap
この曲をカラオケで１人で歌うと、息切れしますよね笑
あはりん
うまいっす
ayami 0920
この曲大好きだけど、歌うの超難易度高いですよね💧
smapmountain
@saopyonsmap いやぁ、そうとう疲れます（笑 この歌こそパート分けて歌うのがカッコいいですよね〜