YUI began writing poems in ninth grade. At the age of 16, by recommendation of a friend, she began studying song, songwriting, and guitar at a private music school in her native Fukuoka. Aspiring to become professional, she carried her guitar around and sang at local places such as the seashore of Shingu and in the middle of the rice fields of Kaminofu.
In March 2003, at an audition hosted by Sony Music Japan, all judges evaluated her with the highest score, which caused a fierce scramble among labels. At this audition, she sang three songs - her first song "Why me", which was later coupled with her debut single, as well as "It's happy line" and "I know", which were included on her indie single - as opposed to the audition rule that a participant could only sing two songs. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, she strummed her guitar and sang. The judges and the others present claimed that "the performance created a tremendous aura from her heavenly voice, and captured the hearts of the whole audience".
Upon leaving her home of Fukuoka for Tokyo, YUI wrote the song "feel my soul". She was planning release on an indie label as a tribute to her hometown, when the song caught the ears of Fuji TV producer, Mr. Yamaguchi, who happened to see the demo video clip. He claimed YUI's voice haunted him so much that he went out of his way to visit the recording studio himself. He even made his channel's prime-time drama an extraordinary tie-in with YUI's debut track.
Although she is not the most comfortable when it comes to talking to people, she enjoys communicating with her audience at street performances in the Tenjin district of Fukuoka.
Her fifth single is "Good-bye days", which was also the theme for the film "Taiyou no Uta" ("Midnight Sun"). YUI took a role of a leading actress herself. The artist usually listed as singing "Good-bye days" is YUI for 雨音薫 (YUI for Kaoru Amane).
YUI's seventh single, "Rolling star", is the fifth opening theme of BLEACH. Selling almost 150,000 copies, it is YUI's second highest selling single to date (first being "Good-bye days" with over 200,000 copies.)
After taking a five-month long hiatus beginning in late August 2008, YUI celebrated her return by releasing the single "Again" which was chosen as the first theme song for Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Instantaneously successful, the song had the highest opening week sales for a female act in 2009, selling over 110,000 copies.
More info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yui_(singer)
Official site: www.YUI-net.com
My Friend
YUI Lyrics
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偶然のふりをしていた
放課後のグラウンドで
行く場所もなくて
夕暮れをなんとなく見てた
帰り道 教えてくれた
この街で流れるたびに
なつかしくなるんだ だけど
誓い合った夢 辿るように
あたしも頑張っているよ
季節が変われば いつまでも
こうしちゃいられないよね?って
バスを待つ長い影 恋人みたいに
並んでた なんとなく ずっと
元気ですか? あの歌を今も
あなたは覚えてるでしょうか?
いつまでも想い出のなかで
うつむいているよ
好きだとは言えなくて
サヨナラも言えなくて
大人になったけれど
帰り道 教えてくれた
初めて聴く歌が今も
この街で流れるたびに
なつかしくなるんだ だから
誓い合った夢 辿るように
あたしも頑張っているよ
The song My friend by YUI is a nostalgic vignette of two friends who used to pretend they just happened to bump into each other all the time. The singer now fondly remembers how they spent their afternoons on the school ground with nowhere to go, watching the dusk together. She also recalls that her friend taught her a song that she had never heard before, and how that song still makes her feel nostalgic when she hears it in the city. Although they had once pledged to chase their dreams together, the singer is now the only one who still tries to keep that promise.
The song is about the passage of time and growing up, but also about holding on to precious memories from childhood. It emphasizes the importance of genuine connections, and how even the smallest moments between friends can leave a lasting impact.
Line by Line Meaning
あの頃 あたしたちは いつも 偶然のふりをしていた
Back then, we always pretended it was a coincidence.
放課後のグラウンドで 行く場所もなくて 夕暮れをなんとなく見てた
After school, we had nowhere to go, so we watched the sunset on the playground.
帰り道 教えてくれた 初めて聴く歌が今も この街で流れるたびに なつかしくなるんだ だけど 誓い合った夢 辿るように あたしも頑張っているよ
On the way home, you taught me a new song and every time I hear it playing in this city, I feel nostalgic. But I'm working hard to follow our dreams that we promised each other.
季節が変われば いつまでも こうしちゃいられないよね?って バスを待つ長い影 恋人みたいに 並んでた なんとなく ずっと
As the seasons change, we can't stay like this forever, can we? We waited together for the bus, our shadows long like lovers, just standing there for what seemed like forever.
元気ですか? あの歌を今も あなたは覚えてるでしょうか? いつまでも想い出のなかで うつむいているよ
Are you doing well? Do you still remember that song? I'm still looking down, lost in memories.
好きだとは言えなくて サヨナラも言えなくて 大人になったけれど
I couldn't say that I loved you, and I couldn't say goodbye. I grew up, but...
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Yui
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind