Their debut single “Hitohira No Hanabira (ヒトヒラのハナビラ)", released on November 5, 2008, was the 17th ending theme for the famous anime series Bleach and ranked #25 on the Oricon Weekly Charts. Their second single "Namida No Mukou (泪のムコウ)" was the second opening theme for the second season of the Sunrise series Mobile Suit Gundam 00 and it ranked #2 in the Oricon charts.
In March 2009, the girls performed at SXSW 2009 in Austin, Texas, and received a thunderous ovation.
Their third single "I do it", released on April 22, 2009, is a collaboration with fellow Sony Music Entertainment Japan singer YUI. Their debut studio album "Hydrangea ga Saiteiru (ハイド.ランジアが咲いている)" was released on June 17, 2009 and ranked #7 on the Oricon weekly charts. The song “Seishun ni, Sono Namida ga Hitsuyou da!” from the album was featured in a Japanese Lipton Iced Tea television commercial. Shortly after, the band went on their first tour, A hydrangea blooms. Along with the tour goods, there were 50 signed score band books in each venue for purchase.
In August 2009, Stereopony released their fourth single "Smilife (スマイライフ)." “Smilife” was used as the theme song for the 2009 anime film Yatterman: Shin Yatter Mecha Daishūgō! Omocha no Kuni de Daikessen da Koron!. Their fifth single "Tsukiakari no Michishirube (ツキアカリのミチシルベ)" was also released with a tie-in with the second season of hit anime series Darker than Black: Ryūsei no Gemini; it ranked #8 on Oricon. Stereopony’s seventh single, "OVER DRIVE ", was released on May 12, 2010 and was used for the opening theme for the Japanese drama Pro Golfer Hana.
After releasing four singles, in June 2010 the girls released their much anticipated second studio album "OVER THE BORDER" and returned to the United States to perform at AnimeNEXT. It would be the first time for the band to perform at an anime convention in the United States. Their eighth single "Chiisana Mahou (小さな魔法)," the opening theme of anime series Letter Bee: REVERSE, was released on December 8, 2010.
Stereopony performed at Anime Boston 2011 as special guests at the Hynes Convention Center on April 23, 2011. They played a wide selection of songs from both albums and their latest single, as well as a cover of Green Day’s “American Idiot.” Shortly after returning from their appearance at Anime Boston, the group announced they would be providing the theme song to the 2011 film Tengoku kara no Yell (天国からのエール). Stereopony will collaborate with the band Kariyushi58 to produce the single "Tatoeba Utaenakunattara (たとえば唄えなくなったら)" to be released on August 10, 2011. Stereopony will contribute the song “Akashi” (証) on the Zone tribute album Zone Tribute: Kima ga Kureta Mono (ZONEトリビュート～君がくれたもの～) to be released on August 10, 2011; “Akashi” is a cover of Zone’s 2002 single. On July 16, 2011 Aimi officially started an Ameblo blog. The band's tenth single, "Arigatō" (ありがとう?), will be released on September 28, 2011. The movie version of the music video for the single, released on September 1, 2011, featured well known movie actor Abe Hiroshi. He also will be on the cover of the Version B single.
Stereopony decided to disband in October 2012.
Smilife
Stereopony Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
見えてしまいそうな時にボクは
どうしようもなくて
めちゃくちゃになって
キミに助けを求めた
自分らしく生きればいいって、
そんなこともなんとなくわかってる
今は我慢して耐えて
そんなときでもキミは
そばで笑ってくれた
Tonight ボクらは明日を信じて
今も走り続けて
キミと走る道のりは長く遠く
いいことばっかりじゃないかもね?
でも なにか大きなものに
背中押されボクらはゆく
疲れきって寝てたら...
キミのドアを叩く音で目がさめ
満面の笑み
なにかをたくらんでる時に見せる
無邪気な顔
ボロボロのスニーカーで
かけあがる この街一番の坂道
見えてきた星空
頑張ってくいしばって
あと少し もう少し
頂上は近い
この痛みが教えてくれる
Tonight
ボクらは声枯れるまで
この丘で歌い続け
一歩一歩確実に踏みしめた
ひとつひとつキミと乗り越えた
ここから見える景色
キミと見るためここまできた
ある時歌ができた...
ひょんなことからキミにも
一緒に歌ってもらって
そんなことなんだけど...
でも あえてそのとき
キミがそばにいた奇跡
下ばっかむいて生きてたボクらは
前を向いて歌うチャンスを得た!
Tonight ボクらは明日を信じて
今も走り続けて
キミと走る道のりは長く遠く
いいことばっかりじゃないかもね
でもなにか大きなものに
背中押されボクらはゆく
Good night 今日から明日を信じた
ボクらから呼びかける
いつかきっと必ずたどりつけるよ
どこまでもキミとなら行ける
そういつも大きな笑顔
胸に抱きボクらはゆく
The lyrics of Stereopony's song "Smilife" convey a sense of uncertainty and struggle, but also the hope and resilience to keep moving forward. The singer feels overwhelmed and helpless when everything seems to be falling apart. They reach out to someone for help, possibly a person they care about, and realize that they need to live true to themselves and endure the hardships. Despite the difficulties, the singer finds comfort in the presence of this person, who continues to support and smile with them.
The song emphasizes the idea of believing in tomorrow and not giving up. It acknowledges that the journey with this person may be long and not always filled with good things, but there is a determination to push forward. The lyrics mention the image of running together with the person, facing challenges and being spurred on by something greater. There is also a sense of gratitude for the person's influence and the shared moments of joy.
Overall, "Smilife" encourages perseverance, embracing difficulties, and finding strength in the support and companionship of others. It highlights the importance of staying positive and keeping a big smile as they navigate through life's ups and downs.
Line by Line Meaning
何もかもすべてダメに
When everything seems to be falling apart
見えてしまいそうな時にボクは
In those times when it feels like I can't see anything
どうしようもなくて
Feeling completely helpless
めちゃくちゃになって
Everything becomes a mess
キミに助けを求めた
I reached out for your help
自分らしく生きればいいって、
Knowing that I should just live as myself
そんなこともなんとなくわかってる
Even though I vaguely understand that
今は我慢して耐えて
For now, I'll endure and be patient
何も考えずに朝をまってみる
Without thinking, I'll wait for the morning
そんなときでもキミは
Even in those times, you
そばで笑ってくれた
Were by my side, smiling for me
Tonight ボクらは明日を信じて
Tonight, we believe in tomorrow
今も走り続けて
We keep running even now
キミと走る道のりは長く遠く
The path we run with you is long and far
いいことばっかりじゃないかもね?
It may not always be pleasant, right?
でも なにか大きなものに
But something big
背中押されボクらはゆく
Pushes us forward
疲れきって寝てたら...
When I'm exhausted and about to sleep...
キミのドアを叩く音で目がさめ
I wake up to the sound of you knocking on my door
満面の笑み
With a smile on your face
なにかをたくらんでる時に見せる
Showing it when you have something planned
無邪気な顔
An innocent face
ボロボロのスニーカーで
In worn-out sneakers
かけあがる この街一番の坂道
Climbing up this city's steepest hill
見えてきた星空
Seeing the starry sky
頑張ってくいしばって
Biting down and persevering
あと少し もう少し
Just a little more, a bit further
頂上は近い
The summit is near
この痛みが教えてくれる
This pain teaches me
Tonight
Tonight
ボクらは声枯れるまで
We will keep singing until our voices are hoarse
この丘で歌い続け
Continuing to sing on this hill
一歩一歩確実に踏みしめた
Taking each step with certainty
ひとつひとつキミと乗り越えた
Overcoming each and every obstacle with you
ここから見える景色
The view visible from here
キミと見るためここまできた
I came this far to see it with you
ある時歌ができた...
One day, a song was born...
ひょんなことからキミにも
By chance, I also asked you
一緒に歌ってもらって
To sing along with me
そんなことなんだけど...
It's just something like that...
でも あえてそのとき
But deliberately, at that moment
キミがそばにいた奇跡
The miracle of you being by my side
下ばっかむいて生きてたボクらは
Us, who always looked down and lived
前を向いて歌うチャンスを得た!
Gained the chance to face forward and sing!
Tonight ボクらは明日を信じて
Tonight, we believe in tomorrow
今も走り続けて
We keep running even now
キミと走る道のりは長く遠く
The path we run with you is long and far
いいことばっかりじゃないかもね
It may not always be pleasant, right?
でもなにか大きなものに
But something big
背中押されボクらはゆく
Pushes us forward
Good night 今日から明日を信じた
Good night, from today I believe in tomorrow
ボクらから呼びかける
We call out
いつかきっと必ずたどりつけるよ
Someday, surely we'll make it there
どこまでもキミとなら行ける
With you, we can go anywhere
そういつも大きな笑顔
Yes, always with a big smile
胸に抱きボクらはゆく
Embracing it in our hearts, we move forward
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Aimi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind