Tony Rebel's career began in the 1980's, and was often seen performing with Sugar Minott's Youthman Promotion sound system. Rebel is responsible for introducing a young Garnett Silk (then known as Bimbo or Little Bimbo) to the sound. The two were closely linked until Silk's untimely death in 1994.
Tony Rebel's career was at its peak in the early 1990's, with such hit records as "Fresh Vegetable", "Sweet Jamaica" and the duet with Garnett Silk "Christian Soldiers". He remained prominent in the late 90's with the smash hit "If Jah" on the La La Bella riddim.
Tony Rebel still performs occasionally, but has focused most of his energy into the career of protege Queen Ifrica and his immensely popular, annual reggae festival in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica entitled Rebel Salute.
Survival
Tony Rebel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Takanaru kodou kazoereba sentou kaishi no Bell
Tsutau ase wo nuguenu hodo
Midareru shikou noizu
Nani ni nottorareteru?
Izanae
Kuugen mo kako mo hitoshiku naru fiirudo
Honnou wa shoujiki sa
Dare mo kare mo sukoopu goshi no ai da ne
Zankyou kagayaku ame ga deawaseta
Eraser? houkou wa todokanai
Ashita wo ubawazu shite ubaiae
Shibatataku hitomi kimi wo utsu kono sukuriin
Gurari ochiteku
Suriru motome haruka tooi gunjou he
Mienakute mo ienakute mo
Kono isshun wo utagai nagara shinjiteku
Tadoru yuuseion yugamu onkai wo
Kakeagatte mo
Mada suteeji wa owarenai
Invitation
Kanshou mo kattou mo itoshiku naru fiirudo
Musekaeru shinkirou madoeba
Yurari yurete
Jareru himawari no you ni
Zanzou kagayaku ame ga kuruwaseta
Laser odoru handou wa
Nando mo nigeta yume kara mezamete
Tebanashita geemu hanarenu riariti
"Koko ni iru kara"
Kimi no me wa gunjou ni somatte…
Sanzan abita Sunray
Mujaki na egao de
Nagasu namida wo nugueteta nara…
Ikite iru
Kono shunkan no tame ni kasanatta
Senaka awase no kage
Oto mo naku
Kaze no tayori naku
Kono shoujun piriodo
Genjou daha de uchinuke
Saa hajime mashou ka tamashii no batoru wo
Ruuru wa tada hitotsu
"Ikinokore, seigi wo mune ni daite"
Naite mo waratte mo sashinobeta te wa
Nidoto hanasanai
Kimi to mata gunjou no shita de
Sanzan naita Sunray
Shoutai fumei na mama de
Himitsu no Trigger hikeba wagamama
Survive alive!
Kono shunkan no tame ni kasanatta
Senaka awase no kage
I feel blue
The lyrics to Tony Rebel's song "Survival" speak to the struggle of living in a world where chaos and confusion seemingly rule all. The opening lines of the song speak to the importance of maintaining a clear mind and staying level-headed in order to survive in this unpredictable world. The lines "Kizamu kokyuuon jirasu risei wo / Takanaru kodou kazoereba sentou kaishi no Bell" urge the listener to focus on their breathing and count their heartbeats like a bell tolling the start of a battle.
The chorus of the song speaks to the power of human connection and the importance of honesty and love in a world full of uncertainty. The lyrics "Honnou wa shoujiki sa / Dare mo kare mo sukoopu goshi no ai da ne" highlight the fact that everyone, no matter who they are, is connected by a thread of love that allows them to survive and thrive in the chaotic world they inhabit.
The second half of the song takes on a more introspective tone, speaking to the resilience needed to move forward in life despite the struggles and obstacles that may come your way. The lyrics "Mada suteeji wa owarenai / Invitation / Kanshou mo kattou mo itoshiku naru fiirudo" encourage the listener to keep moving forward, to keep pushing into uncharted territory, and to find joy and love along the way.
Overall, Tony Rebel's "Survival" is an inspiring and uplifting anthem that speaks to the indomitability of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Kizamu kokyuuon jirasu risei wo
Controlling our breathing and suppressing our emotions
Takanaru kodou kazoereba sentou kaishi no Bell
When the heart races, it signals the start of the battle
Tsutau ase wo nuguenu hodo
Not wiping off the sweat that flows as a sign of determination
Midareru shikou noizu
The noise of our thoughts becoming disordered
Nani ni nottorareteru?
What can we gain from it?
Izanae
Follow your own path
Kuugen mo kako mo hitoshiku naru fiirudo
Wisdom, past experiences, and the present are all coming together in a field
Iza mae he
Let's go forward
Honnou wa shoujiki sa
Instinct is honest
Dare mo kare mo sukoopu goshi no ai da ne
Everyone and everything is connected by a scoop of love
Zankyou kagayaku ame ga deawaseta
Echoing shining rain has met
Eraser? houkou wa todokanai
The direction of the eraser can't be reached
Ashita wo ubawazu shite ubaiae
We can steal and share tomorrow without taking it away from anyone
Shibatataku hitomi kimi wo utsu kono sukuriin
The screen that flickers as we hit it reflects you in my eyes
Gurari ochiteku
We're falling down firmly
Suriru motome haruka tooi gunjou he
Seeking pleasure, we head towards the distant ultramarine
Mienakute mo ienakute mo
Even though I can't see it or say it
Kono isshun wo utagai nagara shinjiteku
I believe in this moment while doubting it
Tadoru yuuseion yugamu onkai wo
Following the courage wave, we face the distorted sound
Kakeagatte mo
Even if we struggle
Mada suteeji wa owarenai
The stage isn't over yet
Invitation
Invitation
Kanshou mo kattou mo itoshiku naru fiirudo
Emotions and conflicts also become dear in the field
Musekaeru shinkirou madoeba
If we open the window, the silent mirage appears
Yurari yurete
Swaying lightly
Jareru himawari no you ni
Like a sunflower that leans towards the sun
Zanzou kagayaku ame ga kuruwaseta
The afterimage shining rain has driven us crazy
Laser odoru handou wa
The dancing laser beam
Nando mo nigeta yume kara mezamete
We wake up from a dream we've escaped from many times
Tebanashita geemu hanarenu riariti
The released game has an unbreakable reality
"Koko ni iru kara"
"I'm here"
Kimi no me wa gunjou ni somatte…
Your eyes are painted with ultramarine...
Sanzan abita Sunray
The sunrays we soaked in
Mujaki na egao de
With an innocent smile
Nagasu namida wo nugueteta nara…
If we could wipe away the tears that flow...
Ikite iru
We're alive
Kono shunkan no tame ni kasanatta
For the sake of this moment, we overlap
Senaka awase no kage
The shadow that matches our back
Oto mo naku
Without sound
Kaze no tayori naku
Without a guide of the wind
Kono shoujun piriodo
This rising period
Genjou daha de uchinuke
Stab with the present edge
Saa hajime mashou ka tamashii no batoru wo
Now, let's begin the battle of souls
Ruuru wa tada hitotsu
There is only one rule
"Ikinokore, seigi wo mune ni daite"
"Survive, holding justice in our hearts"
Naite mo waratte mo sashinobeta te wa
The hands we reach out, whether we cry or laugh
Nidoto hanasanai
We'll never let go
Kimi to mata gunjou no shita de
Again with you beneath ultramarine
Sanzan naita Sunray
The sunrays we cried in
Shoutai fumei na mama de
While still unknown
Himitsu no Trigger hikeba wagamama
If we release the secret trigger, we're selfish
Survive alive!
Survive alive!
Kono shunkan no tame ni kasanatta
For the sake of this moment, we overlap
Senaka awase no kage
The shadow that matches our back
I feel blue
I feel blue
Writer(s): 小林 武史
Contributed by Jack P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.