Her next big single "Glisten" was used in a make-up commercial for Menard products, and did fairly well in the Japanese market. With this success, she gained even more popularity, and was asked to sing the end theme for the popular TBS animated series Fullmetal Alchemist, entitled "I Will", giving her an easy in with American fans. Because of "'I Will"', the two other songs included with her "I Will" single, "Candy Rain" and "Pearl Color ni Yurete", became popular among American fans. In 2005, her song "Candy Rain" was featured on the Soul Tree: a Musical Tribute to Toshinobu Kubota album and "Pearlcolor ni Yurete" was on the Momoe Yamaguchi tribute album Thank You For.... Likewise, her third single "Fortune" was selected for the American J-Pop compilation album Neo Soul, and "Across my Heart" from the Geofu album was added to the "Smooth Listening Compilation" album.
In November 2004, Sowelu released her 8th single, "Last Forever", which became the TV insert song for the new drama There goes Nurse-man, and her cover of "The Rose" was featured on a Nescafe commercial. Then finally, after one and a half years of waiting, Sowelu released her second album Sweet Bridge on January 7, 2005.
In 2005, Sowelu contributed to m-flo's album BEAT SPACE NINE on the track "So Exclusive", and again on their album DOPE SPACE NINE in the same song, remixed by Korean fusion band, Clazziquai.
In the music video for the song "to YOU" several photographs of her family and her childhood are intercut with scenes of her singing in a wide room with large glass windows. According to her website, the video location is a church about one hour away from Tokyo by car. At the end of the PV, the family members in the photos make an appearance together with Sowelu, including her grandmother, her mother and even Sowelu's pet chihuahua.
Her latest album "２４－ｔｗｅｎｔｙ ｆｏｕｒ－" was released on July 12, 2006. It debuted at #3, her highest ranking yet. The album remained at the #3 spot for two weeks on the Weekly Oricon Album Charts. One of the album's songs entitled "守るべきもの", is used as the ending of the 9th Pokemon movie Pokémon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea: Manaphy.
On December 12, 2007 Sowelu released her latest single "光". The single had moderate success and reached #28 on the Oricon Weekly Charts. More recently Sowelu will participate in the 2008 Nike ad campaign, "MY MUSIC,MY FORCE"; along with Perfume, Home Made Kazoku, Tohoshinki, Shota Moriyama and Shoko Nakagawa.
After All
Sowelu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tsuri kawa ni giri hitomi wo fuseta ano hito mitsuketa asa
Hanashi kake you toshite sugu ni kotoba wo nomi komu watashi ga ita
Mukashi hanashi hajimetara tanoshi koto wa wakatte iru kedo
Kore wa tabun ai ja nai
Minna kou yatte kawatte iku none shiranai hito he to
Madamada yoru wa samui mitai ne BURAUSU eri wo tateta
Machi no hi matata kidasu sou yo watashi konya wa isoga nakucha
Kokoro yurusu hito tachi wo shitta doko mo kowosare mou nai
Ato wa nani ni naru no kana
Soshite kiga tsukeba kawatte iru none shiranai machi he to
Ano koro no hoshi tachi wa mou mienai keredo
Ato mo naku kieta wake janai kara
Eki kara uchi made tsuduku kawa beri no michi wa aruki nareta mo nagai
Demo samashii basho nante nai hazu
Soka ni iru kono watashi dakega tada samashii dake
Kawatte iku watashi demo mirai no watashi honto ni yuruseru?
Dareka omoi hajimetara
Sorede kono kimochi koni samishi samo umerareru kashira
Mukashi hanashi hajimetara tanoshii koto wa wakatte iru kedo
Kore wa kitto ai jaanai
Ie ni tsuita nara mezamashi mo kakezu nemuri ni tsukimasu
The lyrics of Sowelu's song "After All" tell a story of self-reflection and uncertainty. The singer is reaching out to someone they found while fishing at a riverbank, eager to start a conversation but struggling to find the right words. They reflect on their past experiences and relationships, acknowledging that they've grown and changed because of them but uncertain what the future holds. They wonder if they can truly forgive and accept themselves, and if someone else could really see and accept them for who they are. The song ends with the singer returning home, admitting that they'll sleep in till late and putting off the stresses of the day, not sure what will come next.
The lyrics can be seen as a meditation on the process of growing up and changing, and the way that past experiences can shape our thoughts and feelings. The singer seems to be trying to make sense of their place in the world, and whether they can find meaning and connection with others. The imagery of the riverbank and the fishing could represent the transient nature of life and relationships, with the singer casting their line out into an uncertain future. The song's slow, meditative pace and sparse instrumentation give it a contemplative feel, emphasizing the introspective mood of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Narenai SUUTSU SHIWA mo tsukezu ni sesuji wo nobashita mama
I stood up straight without creasing my unworn suit or making wrinkles
Tsuri kawa ni giri hitomi wo fuseta ano hito mitsuketa asa
I found someone I once met while fishing and locked eyes with them
Hanashi kake you toshite sugu ni kotoba wo nomi komu watashi ga ita
I was the one who immediately consumed words while trying to start a conversation
Mukashi hanashi hajimetara tanoshi koto wa wakatte iru kedo
When I start to tell stories of old, I remember that they were enjoyable moments
Kore wa tabun ai ja nai
But now, it may not be love
Minna kou yatte kawatte iku none shiranai hito he to
Everyone is changing to become someone unknown
Okaeri michi mata ano hito ga ita otono no kao wo shiteru
On my way home, I see that person again and can tell they have grown older
Madamada yoru wa samui mitai ne BURAUSU eri wo tateta
It seems the night is still cold, I pull up my collar
Machi no hi matata kidasu sou yo watashi konya wa isoga nakucha
The lights of the town are beginning to twinkle and it seems like I don't have to rush tonight
Kokoro yurusu hito tachi wo shitta doko mo kowosare mou nai
I know people who have forgiven me, so there's no need to be scared
Ato wa nani ni naru no kana
I wonder what the future holds
Soshite kiga tsukeba kawatte iru none shiranai machi he to
And before I knew it, I'm changing to become someone unknown to the city
Ano koro no hoshi tachi wa mou mienai keredo
The stars of that time can no longer be seen
Ato mo naku kieta wake janai kara
However, they haven't disappeared completely
Eki kara uchi made tsuduku kawa beri no michi wa aruki nareta mo nagai
The riverbank path from the station to my house is a long, well-trodden route
Demo samashii basho nante nai hazu
But there shouldn't be a space that feels so empty
Soka ni iru kono watashi dakega tada samashii dake
Perhaps it's just me feeling lonely, although there are people around me
Kawatte iku watashi demo mirai no watashi honto ni yuruseru?
Even though I'm changing, can the future version of myself truly forgive me?
Dareka omoi hajimetara
Once someone starts to have feelings for me
Sorede kono kimochi koni samishi samo umerareru kashira
I wonder if these feelings can fill up the loneliness inside
Mukashi hanashi hajimetara tanoshii koto wa wakatte iru kedo
When I start to tell stories of old, I remember that they were enjoyable moments
Kore wa kitto ai jaanai
But now, it may not be love
Ie ni tsuita nara mezamashi mo kakezu nemuri ni tsukimasu
When I arrive home, I fall asleep without setting my alarm
Contributed by Nicholas M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.