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.
たいせつ
Smap Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ビルも舗道もはなやぐ
信号待ち
君は助手席で
渋滞の街 見上げて
うれしそう I wonder
ささやかでもそれぞれに
誰とも似ていたくない
ずっと前の
僕じゃなくてよかったよ
Everything is oh my 君となら
ちゃんとやれそうな気がするよ
たいせつだって思う時
スゴク素直なんだ
やすらぐんだ
強くなれてるんだ
時間をかけて
実るなにかが ほんとの
幸せさ (happy, happy)
うかれてた日の
僕をせつなく見ていた
君だった I'm sorry
街角では次にくる
季節のための show window
僕らもまた新しい
出来事に ふたり
試されにいこう
Everything is oh my 君となら
越えていけそうな気がするよ (you're special to me)
たいせつだって思わなきゃ
みんなひとりなんだ
不安なんだ
愛が支えなんだ
Aha,(aha) oh yeah (oh yeah) you and me
Just you and me, oh yeah
Come on, (aha) oh yeah (oh yeah) you and me
Everything is oh my 君となら
ちゃんとやれそうな気がするよ (you're special to me)
たいせつだって思う時
たぶん言葉よりも
分かり合える
君の眼は宝石
Everything is oh my 真実は
人の住む街角にある (you're precious to me)
たいせつさ 守り抜ける
ひとは superman じゃない
Superman じゃない
Superman じゃないけれど
The SMAP song "たいせつ" (Taisetsu) is a beautiful tribute to the precious moments we share with loved ones. The song begins with describing a busy city, with the sun setting, and the billboards and pavements glimmering. The singer is waiting at a traffic signal, and his companion is beside him, glad to be there with him in the midst of the crowded streets. The beauty of the moment is not lost on the singer, and he marvels at the simple joy of their togetherness.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea that everything feels manageable and worthwhile when he's with his companion. The lyrics reflect that they are stronger together and more at peace. The singer acknowledges that when he thinks about the important things to him, he is honest and feels tranquil. The final phrase of the chorus," Everything is oh my, true happiness is found in the streets inhabited by people,"and the last line of the song, "No one is superman," reflect the idea that we find the most significant joys and experiences around us and not through grandiose acts of heroism.
SMAP's "Taisetsu" is about ordinary people, living their lives, and sharing moments of great significance. It reminds that happiness can be found in the daily moments shared with those we love. It's an anthem that celebrates regular joys, everyday experiences, and the resilient human spirit that endures.
Line by Line Meaning
夕暮れがきて
As sunset arrives
ビルも舗道もはなやぐ
Buildings and streets become radiant
信号待ち
Waiting for the traffic signal
君は助手席で
You are sitting in the passenger's seat
渋滞の街 見上げて
Looking up at the city in traffic congestion
うれしそう I wonder
I wonder if you're happy
ささやかでもそれぞれに
Each a modest but unique life
暮しなのねと just ホロリ
It's a way of living, it makes me nostalgic
誰とも似ていたくない
I don't want to be like anyone else
ずっと前の
Before, long ago
僕じゃなくてよかったよ
I'm glad it wasn't me
Everything is oh my 君となら
Everything is 'oh my' if I'm with you
ちゃんとやれそうな気がするよ
I feel like I can do it properly
たいせつだって思う時
When I think it's important
スゴク素直なんだ
I'm really honest
やすらぐんだ
It makes me feel calm
強くなれてるんだ
It makes me stronger
時間をかけて
Taking time
実るなにかが ほんとの
Something that bears fruit is real
幸せさ (happy, happy)
Happiness (happy, happy)
うかれてた日の
The days when I was floating
僕をせつなく見ていた
You were watching me with sadness
君だった I'm sorry
It was you, I'm sorry
街角では次にくる
The next season comes at the street corner
季節のための show window
A show window for the season
僕らもまた新しい
We'll also start a new one
出来事に ふたり
Together with the events
試されにいこう
Let's face the test
Everything is oh my 君となら
Everything is 'oh my' if I'm with you
越えていけそうな気がするよ (you're special to me)
I feel like we can overcome it (you're special to me)
たいせつだって思わなきゃ
If you don't think it's important
みんなひとりなんだ
Everyone is alone
不安なんだ
They're anxious
愛が支えなんだ
Love is what supports them
Aha,(aha) oh yeah (oh yeah) you and me
Aha, oh yeah, you and me
Just you and me, oh yeah
Just you and me, oh yeah
Come on, (aha) oh yeah (oh yeah) you and me
Come on, oh yeah, you and me
Everything is oh my 君となら
Everything is 'oh my' if I'm with you
ちゃんとやれそうな気がするよ (you're special to me)
I feel like I can do it properly (you're special to me)
たいせつだって思う時
When I think it's important
たぶん言葉よりも
Maybe more than words
分かり合える
We can understand each other
君の眼は宝石
Your eyes are jewels
Everything is oh my 真実は
Everything is 'oh my', the truth is
人の住む街角にある (you're precious to me)
Located at the street corner where people live (you're precious to me)
たいせつさ 守り抜ける
We can protect the importance until the end
ひとは superman じゃない
People aren't Superman
Superman じゃない
They're not Superman
Superman じゃないけれど
They're not Superman, but
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: 暢美 戸沢
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind