Yoshioka Yui (吉岡唯; known/stylized as YUI (ユイ)) (born March 26, 1987 in Fuku… Read Full Bio ↴Yoshioka Yui (吉岡唯; known/stylized as YUI (ユイ)) (born March 26, 1987 in Fukuoka, Japan), is a japanese singer-songwriter and actress. She sings and plays acoustic guitar, and writes her own songs, and apart from playing acoustic guitar, she also likes watching movies, reading books, and playing badminton. Her third single "LIFE" was the fifth ending theme for BLEACH, a popular Japanese anime series, which has brought her some international fame.

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

U‐niform
YUI Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

恋人ってわけじゃない
彼女もいたはずよ
本当のとこ知らないけど
いいの

汚れたユニフォームで
遠くから手を振ってくれた

憧れの先輩だったわ
いつだってカッコ良かった
笑ってる顔も素敵なのに
試合にはたまにしか出ないの
でもいいの

とある日の公式戦
代打で現れた

アタシの運全部つかう
だから

見慣れたユニフォームに
遠くから夢をたくしていた

憧れの先輩だったわ
あきらめない気持ちで
一塁へ滑り込む姿
アタシはずっと見ていた
好きだった

青春を駆け抜ける
白いボールに込めた
Run and run

憧れの先輩だったわ
いつだって真剣だった
苦しい時もあったはずよ

アタシはずっと見ていた
あなたを

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to YUI's song "U-niform" depict a story of admiration towards a senior member in a sports team. The singer explains that they are not lovers and the senior member had a girlfriend. Despite not knowing the true feelings of the senior member, the singer is okay with the situation. In their dirty uniform, the senior member would wave from a distance, which made the singer feel special.

The senior member was someone the singer looked up to, always appearing cool and having a nice smile. However, they only participated in matches occasionally, but the singer is still okay with that. One day, during an official match, the senior member appeared as a substitute player. The singer feels that they will use all their luck for the senior member because they have placed their dreams on their familiar uniform from a distance.

The singer admires the senior member who never gives up and slides into first base with determination. The singer has always watched this and realized they have feelings for the senior member. The song expresses the idea of running through youth, using a white ball as a symbol, and the admiration and love the singer has for the senior member.

Line by Line Meaning

恋人ってわけじゃない
We weren't lovers

彼女もいたはずよ
I'm sure he had a girlfriend

本当のとこ知らないけど
I don't really know the truth

いいの
But it's okay

汚れたユニフォームで
In a dirty uniform

遠くから手を振ってくれた
He waved at me from a distance

憧れの先輩だったわ
He was my admired senior

いつだってカッコ良かった
He was always cool

笑ってる顔も素敵なのに
Even his smiling face was lovely

試合にはたまにしか出ないの
But he only played in matches occasionally

でもいいの
But it's okay