THE ALFEE is a popular Japanese musical group comprised of Masaru Sakurai (… Read Full Bio ↴THE ALFEE is a popular Japanese musical group comprised of Masaru Sakurai (桜井賢 Sakurai Masaru) (voice, bass guitar, born January 20, 1955), Kōnosuke Sakazaki (坂崎幸之助 Sakazaki Kōnosuke) (voice, acoustic guitar, percussion, born April 15, 1954) and Toshihiko Takamizawa (高見沢俊彦 Takamizawa Toshihiko) (voice, electric guitar, born April 17, 1954). The group was formed with four members in 1973 after they met on the campus of Meiji Gakuin University. The fourth member, Yasuo Miyake (三宅康夫 Miyake Yasuo), left the band shortly after it formed (sometime between 1975 and 1979 based on the album covers and information on THE ALFEE's official site).

They released their debut single on August 25, 1974. In 2003, HMV Records Japan rated them #92 in their "Top 100 Japanese pops Artists".

踊り子のように
THE ALFEE Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

さぁ今夜は踊り明かそう
二人だけのラストショーさ
切ない胸は裏返して
陽気に振る舞えばいい

粋に別れようシャンペン浴びて
まるであなたがシャンデリア
そうさ愛の打ち上げパーティー

騒ぐほどに淋しくなる

男と女は踊り子のように
心に絡む想い出ひきずりながら
涙の衣装で舞い踊る
酔いどれてフラレフラリフラレフラリフラリ
フラレフラリフラレフラリフラリ
フラレフラリフラレ... Woo --

悲しみを敷きつめて
踊る心のラストタンゴ
さぁ最後まであなたには
可愛い女と呼ばれたい

せめて今宵ボトル枕に
二人酔いにまかせ夢ン中
なけなしの愛使い果たした
ボロボロの胸抱きしめて

男と女は踊り子のように
心に絡む想い出ひきずりながら
涙の衣装で舞い踊る
酔いどれてフラレフラリフラレフラリフラリ

フラレフラリフラレフラリフラリ
フラレフラリフラレ... Woo --

Overall Meaning

The song 踊り子のように by The Alfee is a beautiful ballad about a bittersweet farewell between two dancers in a last show. The lyrics describe how, despite the sadness in their hearts, they try to be cheerful and celebrate their love until the very end. The chorus refers to how men and women are like dancers, holding onto memories and emotions as they move through life, sometimes stumbling and falling, but continuing to dance nonetheless. The verses talk about the specific moments the couple share as they prepare to part ways, drinking champagne and getting drunk, longing to be called "cute" by each other, and finally embracing in tears. The final lines of the song, "woo", suggest that despite the sadness, there is hope for new beginnings and future dances.

Overall, the song is a poignant expression of the pain and beauty of love, and how it can sometimes feel like a dance in which we are both performers and audience members. The metaphor of dancing runs throughout the song, and adds a layer of richness and depth to the lyrics. The Alfee's powerful vocals and emotional guitar solos further accentuate the emotional intensity of the song, drawing the listener into the story.

Line by Line Meaning

さぁ今夜は踊り明かそう
Let's dance the night away

二人だけのラストショーさ
It's just the two of us for this last show

切ない胸は裏返して
My heart is aching, turn it inside out

陽気に振る舞えばいい
I'll act cheerful

粋に別れようシャンペン浴びて
Let's part ways in style, bathing in champagne

まるであなたがシャンデリア
You're like a chandelier

そうさ愛の打ち上げパーティー
Yes, it's a celebration of love

騒ぐほどに淋しくなる
The more we party, the lonelier I feel

男と女は踊り子のように
Like male and female dancers

心に絡む想い出ひきずりながら
Dragging along memories entangled in our hearts

涙の衣装で舞い踊る
Dancing in costumes of tears