Together for a brief three years and just one album, Sugar Babe has become somewhat of a legend in Japanese pop music circles. Featuring a pre-solo debut Tatsuro Yamashita (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Taeko Onuki (vocals), and produced by Yamashita and Eiichi Otaki (guitarist/vocalist for Happy End), Sugar Babe played melodic, well-crafted tunes heavily influenced by American pop. The group made its live performance debut in 1973 at the farewell concert for the band Happy End, with a tight set showcasing the members' strong musicianship and defined by vocal tradeoffs between Yamashita and Onuki, strong arrangements, and exquisite songcraft. Sugar Babe's lone album, Songs, produced and engineered by Otaki, was release in 1975 as the flagship release of Otaki's Niagara label. Songs channeled Yamashita's worshipful obsession with American pop from the '0s and '0s and soul music. While sales of the record were marginal, in retrospect it can be said that Songs was at least partially responsible for launching the fertile pop music scene that exploded in Japan through the '70s. From the funky, soul-laced euphoria of "Show" to the Isley Brothers influenced "Down Town", which became the group's signature tune, the record showed a band that was on top of its game. While the band broke up in 1976, due in part to the bankruptcy of their record label, both Yamashita and Onuki went on to have long and successful careers, and remain active as artists. Songs was re-released in 1999 on the Planets label, rekindling interest in the band and its music, and introducing it to a whole new generation of artists and music lovers. Even today, several decades after the dissolution of the band, their songs are a fixture on radio programs and in the sets of cover bands across the country.
指切り
SUGAR BABE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
蜜柑の皮を むいているけど
話はいつも 尻切れ蜻蛉
どうだいぼくと 指切りしないか
約束なんて 何もないけど
きみはとても つまらなそうに
花びらを ちぎっているけど
話はいつも 冬枯れたまま
約束なんて 何もないけど
きみの髪は 短かすぎるし
ぼくの嘘は 白すぎる
それにぼくらは ちょっと
喋りつかれた だけさ
The lyrics of "指切り" by Sugar Babe convey a sense of dissatisfaction and lack of depth in a relationship. The singer begins by describing how their romantic interest has a sharp and precise way of peeling oranges, suggesting that they are proficient at surface-level actions or gestures. However, the singer complains that their conversations always end abruptly, resembling the erratic movements of a dragonfly. Despite this, the singer proposes a promise by asking if they could make a finger-crossing pact, even though they acknowledge that promises hold no real significance.
The next verse continues the theme of disappointment, as the singer notices that their romantic interest always seems bored while tearing apart flower petals. The metaphor implies that their conversations remain stagnant, devoid of growth or emotional connection. Nevertheless, the singer again suggests making a finger-crossing pledge, even if there is no tangible promise to be made.
In the final verse, the singer comments on the physical appearance of their romantic interest and their own propensity for telling white lies. They observe that the romantic interest's hair is too short, perhaps symbolizing a lack of individuality or uniqueness. Furthermore, the singer admits that their own lies are too obvious and transparent, indicating a lack of authenticity. Ultimately, the singer concludes that they have simply grown tired of talking, implying that the relationship lacks substance and has become monotonous.
Overall, "指切り" by Sugar Babe expresses a sense of discontentment with a relationship that lacks depth and meaningful connection. The repetitive nature of the conversations, symbolized by the constant peeling and tearing, highlights the superficiality and boredom experienced by the singer. Despite this, the singer still longs for some sort of assurance or commitment, even though they recognize that promises hold little weight in their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
きみはとても 鋭い爪で
You peel the orange skin so skillfully
蜜柑の皮を むいているけど
But our conversations always end abruptly
話はいつも 尻切れ蜻蛉
What do you say, shall we pinky promise?
どうだいぼくと 指切りしないか
Even though there's no real commitment
約束なんて 何もないけど
You look so bored
きみはとても つまらなそうに
As you tear apart flower petals
花びらを ちぎっているけど
But our conversations remain cold as winter
話はいつも 冬枯れたまま
What do you say, shall we pinky promise?
どうだいぼくと 指切りしないか
Even though there's no real commitment
約束なんて 何もないけど
Your hair is too short
きみの髪は 短かすぎるし
And my lies are too painfully obvious
ぼくの嘘は 白すぎる
Besides, we've just grown tired of talking
それにぼくらは ちょっと
That's all
喋りつかれた だけさ
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: 隆 松本
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
S3Fruit
How did a rager like this not make it on the album
イテコマ
いやホンマやでそれわ。ええことゆうやん。
iMojado
Either the band disbanded soon after this recording of the demo or the royalties were too great for them
Degenerieren
Most of the songs from this album got taken of YouTube smh