X Japan (Japanese: エックス・ジャパン, Hepburn: Ekkusu Japan) is a Japanese rock ban… Read Full Bio ↴X Japan (Japanese: エックス・ジャパン, Hepburn: Ekkusu Japan) is a Japanese rock band from Chiba, formed in 1982 by drummer and pianist Yoshiki and lead vocalist Toshi. Starting as a predominantly power/speed metal band with heavy symphonic elements, they later gravitated towards a progressive sound with an emphasis on ballads. Besides being one of the first Japanese acts to achieve mainstream success while on an independent label, the group is widely credited as one of the pioneers of visual kei, a movement among Japanese musicians comparable to Western glam.

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]

Célébration
X Japan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(So tired) のらりくらりの Cheap time
I'm never satisfied
午前3時の TV show 蔑む口唇からは sex appeal

(Bitch) 見掛け倒しの hyper lady
I'm never satisfied
たった5分のセレブレーション金曜の朝までにゃ消え失せろ!

真夜中過ぎのシンデレラよ
ガラスのくつはもういらない

エリートきどりのピノキオの鼻は折れて灰になる
時計仕掛けの DNA マネキンどものバベルは 9 to 5

いまいましく燃えくるう太陽を引きずり堕ろせ
待ちわびてた時はせまる 3つ数えるまでにゃケリつけろ! (one, two, three, you got it)

New York から俺の部屋まで
黒いカーテンで覆いつくせ velvet night

Hey! セレブレーション! Ring a bell! Swing your heart! Sing a song!
Hey! セレブレーション! Throw away! Sail away! Shout it out!
Come on! セレブレーション! 紫の smoke and illusion
Stand up! Revolution リムジンに火をつけろ!

When the clock struck at the midnight, the coach turned into a pumpkin
And the dress became a rug! And only a glass slipper was left behind
Suddenly Cinderella crushed it and she kicked her fxxkin' old stepmother out
And she started for the real celebration that would start very soon

スパンコールの月が笑う街
フィナーレの声は届かない

Hey! セレブレーション! Ring a bell! Swing your heart! Sing a song!
Hey! セレブレーション! Throw away! Sail away! Shout it out!

Come on! セレブレーション! 青い血のワインを
Cheers! Congratulations! 世界中に let it fall

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to X Japan's song CELEBRATION depict a luxurious and extravagant lifestyle, with references to a hyper lady who is never satisfied and a TV show at 3 am with an ironic sex appeal. The verses continue with criticism to those who pretend to be something they're not, like a Pinocchio who is all dressed up and has an elite demeanor, but whose nose will break and turn into ashes. The song refers to a "time bomb" that is "burning up the sun" and "dragging it down", possibly alluding to the danger of living recklessly and the eventual consequences of doing so. The chorus invites listeners to celebrate and let go of inhibitions, throwing away any negativity and sailing towards a better future.

The lyrics to CELEBRATION have a pessimistic undertone that contrasts with the upbeat and catchy melody. The song was part of X Japan's last studio album, DAHLIA, released in 1996, and marked the end of the band's first incarnation. After this, drummer and founding member Yoshiki went on hiatus due to health issues, and guitarist hide died tragically in 1998. The band reunited in 2007 and has been active ever since. X Japan is considered one of the pioneers of visual kei, a Japanese music and fashion movement that emerged in the 1980s and mixes elements of rock, goth, and glam.

Line by Line Meaning

(So tired) のらりくらりの Cheap time
I am wasting my time and feeling tired of it. It feels cheap and meaningless.

I'm never satisfied
No matter what I do or have, I never feel truly satisfied or content.

午前3時の TV show 蔑む口唇からは sex appeal
At 3 am, there is a TV show that I watch while feeling disdain for the sexualized women on it.

(Bitch) 見掛け倒しの Hyper lady
I see many women who seem to be fake and just trying to look good to others. They seem over-the-top and hyper at times.

I'm never satisfied
Like before, I still feel never fully satisfied with my life despite my accomplishments.

たった5分のセレブレーション金曜の朝までにゃ消え失せろ!
I have just a five-minute celebration, and I wish it could last longer until Friday morning.

真夜中過ぎのシンデレラよガラスのくつはもういらない
Like Cinderella, I'm out late at night, but unlike her, I don't need the glass shoes to find success; I am strong and self-sufficient.

エリートきどりのピノキオの鼻は折れて灰になる
The lies of those posers acting elite will catch up with them and ultimately crumble their false image.

時計仕掛けの DNA マネキンどものバベルは 9 to 5
Our DNA is like a clock's mechanism, always ticking. However, the corporate slaves of humanity all speak different languages and operate on a nine-to-five basis.

いまいましく燃えくるう太陽を引きずり堕ろせ
I must pull down this burning sun that so arrogantly sets in front of me.

待ちわびてた時はせまる 3つ数えるまでにゃ (1, 2) ケリつけろ! (3 you got it!!)
When I wait too long, it starts to feel like time is running out, and I need to act quickly; let's count to three and make that decision!

New yorkから俺の部屋まで黒いカーテンで覆いつくせ Velvet night
From New York to my room, cover everything with black curtains and create a night of pure velvet.

Hey! セレブレーション! Ring a bell! Swing your heart! Sing a song!
Celebrate life, ring a bell! Get your heart swinging and sing a song out loud!

Throw away! Sail away! Shout it out!
Throw away your pains and sail far away. Shout out your joy and let everyone know.

Come on! セレブレーション! 紫のSmoke and illusion Stand up! Revolution リムジンに火をつけろ!
Come on, let's celebrate! With purple smoke and illusion, stand up for a revolution and set fire to the limousine!

スパンコールの月が笑う街フィナーレの声は届かない
The city is like a lively moon, shining with the energy of the people. However, the actual finale is never quite reached or heard.

青い血のワインを Cheers! Congratulations! 世界中にLet it fall.
Cheers to success with wine that feels like blue blood. Let it fall all over the world!

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hide

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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