Originally named X (エックス, Ekkusu), they released their debut album Vanishing Vision (1988) on Yoshiki's own Extasy Records one year after finalizing their line-up including bassist Taiji, lead guitarist Hide and rhythm guitarist Pata. They achieved breakthrough success in 1989 with the release of their second and major debut album Blue Blood. Following 1991's Jealousy, Taiji left the band in early 1992. He was replaced by Heath and the group changed their name to X Japan before producing the mini album Art of Life (1993), which is composed solely of the 29-minute title track. In 1995 the group dropped most of its original visual kei aesthetics in favor of a more casual look and released Dahlia (1996), which like their two previous albums debuted at number one. X Japan performed their last concert at the Tokyo Dome on December 31, 1997, making it the last of five consecutive sold-out New Year's Eve concerts the group held at the stadium.
After ten years, X Japan reunited in 2007 and recorded the new song "I.V.". Over the next two years they performed several concerts, including their first overseas show in Hong Kong, and formally added Sugizo as lead guitarist in place of Hide, who died in 1998, before holding a North American tour in 2010. In 2011, the band went on their first world tour throughout Europe, South America and Asia. Shortly after reuniting, work began on their sixth studio album. During its ten years of production, several release dates were announced, but it remains unreleased despite Yoshiki's claim of its completion in September 2018.
X Japan has released five studio albums, six live albums, and 21 singles. In 2003, HMV Japan ranked the band at number 40 on their list of the 100 most important Japanese pop acts. In 2007, Rolling Stone Japan ranked Blue Blood number 15 on its list of the 100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time.[1] In 2017, Loudwire named X Japan the Best Metal Band from Japan. It has been reported that X Japan has sold over 30 million records.[2][3]
Miscast
X JAPAN Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
分かり安さが売り物の価値だ
時に流れは静かに
真綿で締めつけるのさ お前を
偽善が含み笑いで手招く
戯けてるのは予定の行動
踊らされてることなど
誰も彼もが 目を閉ざして
自分の影も見えない
欲の果てが見えたらすでに
手遅れなのさ 選ばれた miscast
Too late, too late
Lick it up your wound 傷を舐め回せ
Too late, too late
Lick it up yourself 手遅れになるぜ
Show must go on
Dancing on the mirror
主役はないまま
Game is over, game is over
英雄きどりの
Miscast you are fired
理想は現実の墓の中で
笑われるまま その目を閉じた
無言劇だと知らずに
喋りだすのは 道化師の性か
識別不能 覚醒不能
安息は洗脳のメロディー
台詞忘れた 喜劇役者の
終焉を笑え 堕ちてゆく miscast
Too late, too late
Lick it up your wound 傷を舐め回せ
Too late, too late
Lick it up yourself 手遅れになるぜ
Show must go on
Dancing on the mirror
主役はないまま
Game is over, game is over 役たたずで死ね
Too late, too late
Lick it up your wound 傷を舐め回せ
Too late, too late
Lick it up yourself 手遅れになるぜ
Show must go on
Dancing on the mirror
主役はないまま
Game is over, game is over
朽ち果てて笑え (die in vain)
Miscast (die in vain, die in vain)
You're failed actor (die in vain, die in vain)
Miscast (die in vain, die in vain)
You're failed actor (die in vain)
The lyrics to X Japan's song Miscast have a strong message about society's obsession with success and the pressure to conform to certain roles. The first verse speaks to the idea that sacrifice is often required to become the star of one's time, and that this is what is valued by society. The second verse continues this theme, highlighting the hypocrisy that often comes with success - people will pretend to be your friend and manipulate you to get what they want. Meanwhile, the chorus repeats the phrase "too late, too late" over and over, emphasizing the urgency of the situation for those who have been miscast.
The bridge of the song takes a darker turn, with the lyrics referencing the idea of being buried alive with one's ideals, unable to speak or understand why things have turned out the way they have. The final chorus has an even more bleak message - that those who have been miscast will die in vain, unable to achieve their dreams and mocked as failed actors.
Overall, the lyrics of Miscast provide a strong commentary on the pressure to conform and the consequences of not fitting in with societal expectations. The sense of urgency and desperation conveyed throughout the song make it a powerful statement of defiance against these expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
犠牲は「時」の主役を選んだ
Sacrifice chose to be the lead actor for time
分かり安さが売り物の価値だ
The value proclaimed is in being easily understood
時に流れは静かに
Sometimes, time flows silently
真綿で締めつけるのさ お前を
I'll hold you tight with cotton so you can't move
偽善が含み笑いで手招く
Hypocrisy beckons with a sly smile
戯けてるのは予定の行動
The action planned is a foolish one
踊らされてることなど
Do you not care or simply don't want to know that you're being made to dance?
気にしないのか 知りたくないのか
Do you not care or simply don't want to know?
誰も彼もが 目を閉ざして
Everyone, closing their eyes
自分の影も見えない
Can't see their own shadow
欲の果てが見えたらすでに
If you can see the end of your greed, it's too late
手遅れなのさ 選ばれた miscast
It's too late, You've been miscast and chosen
Too late, too late
It's too late, it's too late
Lick it up your wound 傷を舐め回せ
Lick your wounds, wrap your tongue around your wounds
Lick it up yourself 手遅れになるぜ
Lick yourself, it's too late
Show must go on
The show must go on
Dancing on the mirror
Dancing on the mirror
主役はないまま
Without a leading actor
Game is over, game is over
The game is over, it's the end
英雄きどりの
Masquerading as heroes
Miscast you are fired
You're fired, miscast
理想は現実の墓の中で
Ideals lie buried in reality's grave
笑われるまま その目を閉じた
Laughing, closing those eyes
無言劇だと知らずに
Without knowing it's a silent play
喋りだすのは 道化師の性か
Is the impulse to speak, the nature of a clown?
識別不能 覚醒不能
Undetectable, unarousable
安息は洗脳のメロディー
Comfort is the melody of brainwashing
台詞忘れた 喜劇役者の
The comedian who forgot his lines
終焉を笑え 堕ちてゆく miscast
Laugh at the end, miscast, falling
朽ち果てて笑え (die in vain)
Rot away and laugh (die in vain)
Miscast (die in vain, die in vain)
miscast (die in vain, die in vain)
You're failed actor (die in vain, die in vain)
You are a failed actor (die in vain, die in vain)
Miscast (die in vain, die in vain)
Miscast (die in vain, die in vain)
You're failed actor (die in vain)
You are a failed actor (die in vain)
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hide
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind