Sowelu, born Aki Harada (原田亜希, Harada Aki), is a J-pop singer. She was born… Read Full Bio ↴Sowelu, born Aki Harada (原田亜希, Harada Aki), is a J-pop singer. She was born on November 6, 1982 in Tokyo to a Japanese father and a half-Irish half-Japanese mother. Her career started in 2002 with the release of her first single Beautiful Dreamer, a soft love ballad which did very well in the charts, and was later featured on the Relaxin’ with Japanese Lovers compilation album. Her first single was modestly successful, and it wasn't until the release of her album Geofu in the summer of 2003 that she gained recognition. Geofu did exceptionally well in the charts, scoring a number 4 position with more than 300,000 copies sold. Her first single after Geofu, "Rainbow" was used as the theme song for the Japanese drama Netsuretsuteki Chukahanten, and the other A-side song on that single, "breath ~Omoi no Youryou~" was used for the national promotion campaign of JFN Radio. She performs under Sony Music Japan's DEFStar records label.

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.

Joy
Sowelu Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ame agari sora wo mita hitori demo aruiteta
Tooku te mo tadori tsukeba ii
Yuki saki wo kimeru no wa watashi dakara
Subete wa

Joy hi wa mata noboru deshou
Joy kono te ni
Joy tobira wa hiraku deshou

All of mind kanjiteru

Tsuki wo daki yoru ga yuku
Tamerai wa oite yuku
Ai sareru mae ni aishitai
Sayonara mo hajimari ni itsuka kawaru
Subete wa

Joy hi wa mata noboru deshou
Joy sono me ni
Joy anata ni kiduku deshou
All of mind michitekuru

Nagasarete mo oyoide yukeba ii
Hito no nami ni yurare nagara

Joy hi wa mata noboru deshou
Joy kono te ni

Joy tobira wa hiraku deshou
All of mind kanjiteru

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Sowelu's song "Joy" are reflective and hopeful, expressing the idea that even in difficult times, there is always a way forward. The song begins with the singer walking alone after the rain, suggesting perhaps a feeling of loneliness or isolation. However, the singer affirms that even if they have to go far, they will find their destination - implying a sense of determination and resilience. The line "Yuki saki wo kimeru no wa watashi dakara" (I am the one who decides where I'm headed) reinforces this idea.

The chorus, with its repetition of the word "Joy," reinforces the theme of the song. The phrases "the joy will rise again" and "the door to joy will open" suggest that even if things seem difficult now, there is always a possibility for happiness and a brighter future. The line "All of mind kanjiteru" could be translated as "I feel it with my whole being," showing the intensity of the singer's emotion.

The second verse delves into the idea of letting go of fears and hesitations in order to love fully. The singer acknowledges that they want to love before they are loved in return. The line "Sayonara mo hajimari ni itsuka kawaru" (Goodbye will someday turn into a beginning) illustrates the singer's mindset that even difficult endings can lead to new opportunities.

Overall, "Joy" is a song about hope and resilience, encouraging listeners to keep going even in challenging times.

Line by Line Meaning

Ame agari sora wo mita hitori demo aruiteta
Even alone, I walked after the rain and looked up at the sky

Tooku te mo tadori tsukeba ii
It’s okay to try to catch far off things

Yuki saki wo kimeru no wa watashi dakara
I decide my destination

Subete wa
Everything is

Joy hi wa mata noboru deshou
The sun of joy will rise again

Joy kono te ni
Joy is in my hands

Joy tobira wa hiraku deshou
The door of joy will open

All of mind kanjiteru
I feel it with all of my being

Tsuki wo daki yoru ga yuku
The night holding the moon passes

Tamerai wa oite yuku
My hesitation is left behind