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.
Triangle
Smap Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
小さなこの部屋から
どんなに目を凝らせど
見えないものばかりだ
例えば遠い空に誰かが祈っていたり
例えば身を潜めてキミが怯えてたり
すべてに満ち足りた明日の日を
求め彷徨う亡者の影
未来の世界を愛せないよ
僕の目がキミの手が僕らの声が
それぞれ異なっているように
自由でこそ生命だから
僕の肌キミの母僕らの愛は
蒼く浮かぶちっぽけなほしに
舞い降りた奇蹟
無口な祖父の想いが
父へと時代を跨ぎ
一途に登り続けたひどく過酷な道
わずかな苦しみも知らぬまま
後に生まれ生きる僕ら
受け継ごうその想い
声の限りに伝えるんだ
大国のヒーローや戦火の少女
それぞれ重さの同じ
尊ぶべき生命だから
精悍な顔つきで構えた銃は
他でもなく僕らの心に
突きつけられてる
深く深く刻まれたあの傷のように
僕の目がキミの手が僕らの声が
それぞれ異なっているように
自由でこそ生命だから
僕の肌キミの母僕らの愛は
蒼く浮かぶちっぽけなほしに
舞い降りた奇蹟
大国の悲しみも見果てぬ母も
それぞれ重さの同じ
尊ぶべき生命だから
精悍な顔つきで構えた銃は
他でもなく僕らの心に
突きつけられてる
そう怯えるキミの手で
The lyrics of Smap's Triangle talk about the struggles and sacrifices of humanity, from the past to the present. The song starts with the observation of the world from a small room at the outer edge of the city center. It talks about the things that we cannot see, like someone praying under a distant sky or someone cowering in fear. It goes on to describe the wandering shadows of those who seek to find a fulfilled tomorrow, but can only see destruction in the future.
The song then shifts to a more personal level, talking about the individual differences in people's eyes, hands, and voices. It emphasizes the importance of freedom in life and the love that can exist between people. The chorus talks about miracles that come down to us through the universe, and how even amidst war and sadness, all life is valuable and should be respected.
The song continues to talk about the pain and sacrifices of those who came before us and how it is our duty to carry on their legacy. It ends with the realization that the guns that look so menacing are nothing compared to the wounds that are etched deep in our hearts.
Overall, Triangle is a song that encourages people to be grateful for life, respect the sacrifices of others, and recognize the value of freedom and love.
Line by Line Meaning
都心を少し外れた
We are in a little room, slightly outside of the city center
小さなこの部屋から
Our location is small and confined
どんなに目を凝らせど
Despite our efforts to see more than what's in front of us
見えないものばかりだ
We are unable to see what we desire
例えば遠い空に誰かが祈っていたり
For instance, someone may be praying in the faraway sky
例えば身を潜めてキミが怯えてたり
Or you may be trembling, hiding in fear
すべてに満ち足りた明日の日を
We are chasing after a future that is full and complete
求め彷徨う亡者の影
However, we feel lost in our search for that perfect tomorrow
破壊でしか見出せない
We find ourselves only able to see destruction
未来の世界を愛せないよ
We are unable to love the future world we've envisioned
僕の目がキミの手が僕らの声が
My eyes, your hands, our voices
それぞれ異なっているように
We are all unique in our own ways
自由でこそ生命だから
We must cherish our freedom, for it is what makes us alive
僕の肌キミの母僕らの愛は
My skin, your mother, our love
蒼く浮かぶちっぽけなほしに
Floats in the sky among tiny, blue stars
舞い降りた奇蹟
A miracle has descended upon us
無口な祖父の想いが
The silent thoughts of our grandfather
父へと時代を跨ぎ
Crossing over to my father's generation
一途に登り続けたひどく過酷な道
He climbed a path that was long and painfully harsh
わずかな苦しみも知らぬまま
Without even experiencing the slightest pain
後に生まれ生きる僕ら
Born later and now living
受け継ごうその想い
We inherit those thoughts
声の限りに伝えるんだ
And shout them out with all our might
大国のヒーローや戦火の少女
Heroes of nations and girls of war
それぞれ重さの同じ
All of equal weight and value
尊ぶべき生命だから
Their lives are precious and should be respected
精悍な顔つきで構えた銃は
Held firmly with a handsome face
他でもなく僕らの心に
Indeed, they point their guns at our hearts
突きつけられてる
And we feel their cold steel
深く深く刻まれたあの傷のように
Like a wound that has been etched deeply, deeply
大国の悲しみも見果てぬ母も
The sorrow of nations and mothers who will never see their children again
それぞれ重さの同じ
All with equal measure
尊ぶべき生命だから
Their lives are precious and should be respected
精悍な顔つきで構えた銃は
Held firmly with a handsome face
他でもなく僕らの心に
Indeed, they point their guns at our hearts
突きつけられてる
And we feel their cold steel
そう怯えるキミの手で
Trembling in fear, your hand
Lyrics © TV Asahi Music Co., Ltd.
Written by: 喜康 市川
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind