Sakai was also a very prolific songwriter. She had written all her own lyrics, and had released several books of poetry as well. She had also written songs for other artists, most notably, for JPOP groups Field of View, WANDS and DEEN. She also wrote the lyrics for and participated in the collaboration for the single "Hateshinai Yumewo" featuring JPOP groups ZARD, REV & WANDS. The single also featured famed Japanese baseball hero Shigeo Nagashima. Some of her singles have been used in Anime, such as Dragon Ball GT and Detective Conan. Sometimes, she would cover songs she's written for other artists like Field of View's "DAN DAN Kokoro Hikareteku" or Teresa Teng's "Anata to tomo ni ikite yuku".
ZARD was also known for being mysterious. This is partially because her record label does not release too much personal information on their artists, and also because she did not make that many personal appearances. She had rarely appeared on any live TV music programs (eg. Asahi TV's Music Station, Fuji TV's Hey Hey Hey Music Champ), which the main public relations tool for the record industry in Japan, since 1993 or do any public appearances. Her first concert was in 1999, which was held on a cruise ship for a mere 600 people in her fan club (300 entries x2 among 2 million concert ticket requests). Her first real concert tour, "what a beautiful moment tour", was held in 2004, 13 years after her debut. Almost every single concert was sold out at the time. The tour ended up having 10 concerts spanning 4 months from March to July 2004, with a final concert held in the famed Budokan.
ZARD was one of the most successful female singers in the 1990s, with her record sales being #1 for female singers, and #3 for overall total, just behind the groups B'z and Mr. Children. She has had 11 singles reach the #1 spot on the Oricon Singles Charts, and 9 albums reach the #1 spot on the Oricon Album Charts.
She will have released 42 singles 11 albums and 5 best albums as of 10 May 2006
She passed away on May 27, 2007 in Keio University Hospital. She was put in the hospital in June 2006 after discovering she had cervical cancer. In April 2007, the cancer had moved to her lungs, delaying her stay in the hospital. According to the hospital, she would take daily walks every morning, during her walk on May 26, 2007, she accidentally fell from the stairs and was discovered at around 5 a.m. She was sent to the emergency room, but unfortunately passed away. She had planned to release a new album in the fall, as well as her first live tour in three years to show her fans that she's fighting strong against her illnesses. Her company sincerely thanks her fans for the sixteen years of support and wishes that she can live forever in the hearts of the fans. She was 40 years old.
Singles
'Good-bye My Loneliness' (10 February 1991)
'Fushigine' (25 June 1991)
'Mou Sagasanai' (6 November 1991)
'Nemurenai Yoru wo Daite' (5 August 1992)
'IN MY ARMS TONIGHT' (9 September 1992)
'Makenaide' (27 January 1993)
'Kimi ga Inai' (21 April 1993)
'Yureru Omoi' (19 May 1993)
'Mou Sukoshi Ato Sukoshi...' (4 September 1993)
'Kitto Wasurenai' (3 November 1993)
'Kono Ai ni Oyogitsukaretemo' (2 February 1994)
'Konna ni Soba ni Irunoni' (8 August 1994)
'Anata wo Kanjiteitai' (24 December 1994)
'Just believe in love' (1 February 1995)
'Ai ga Mienai' (5 June 1995)
'Sayonara ha Ima mo Kono Mune ni Imasu' (28 August 1995)
'Mai Furendo' (8 January 1996)
'Kokoro wo Hiraite' (6 May 1996)
'Don't you see!' (6 January 1997) (Closing Theme to Dragon Ball GT.)
'Kimi ni Aitakunattara...' (26 February 1997)
'Kaze ga Torinukeru Machi he' (2 July 1997)
'Eien' (20 August 1997)
'My Baby Grand -Nukumori ga Hoshikute-' (3 December 1997)
'Iki mo Dekinai' (4 March 1998)
'Unmei no Ruretto Mawashite' (17 September 1998)
'Atarashi Doa -Fuyu no Himawari-' (2 December 1998)
'GOOD DAY' (2 December 1998)
'MIND GAMES' (7 April 1999)
'Sekai ha Kitto Mirai no Naka' (16 June 1999)
'Itaikurai Kimi ga Afureteiruyo' (14 October 1999)
'Kono Namida Hoshi ni Nare' (1 December 1999)
'Get U're Dream' (6 September 2000)
'promised you' (15 November 2000)
'Sawayakana Kimi no Kimochi' (22 May 2002)
'Asu wo Yumemite' (9 April 2003)
'Hitomi Tojite' (9 July 2003)
'Motto Chikakude Kimi no Yokogao Miteitai' (12 November 2003)
'Kakegae no Naimono' (23 June 2004)
'Kyou wa yukkuri hanasou' (24 November 2004)
'Hoshi no Kagayaki yo/ Natsu wo matsu SEIRU no You ni' (20 April 2005)
'Kanashii Hodou Anata ga Suki/ Karatto Ikou!' (8 March 2006)
'Heart ni Hi wo Tsukete' (10 May 2006)
'Glorious Mind' (12 December 2007)
'Tsubasa wo hirogete/ Ai wa kurayami no naka de' (9 April 2008)
Albums
Good-bye My Loneliness (27 March 1991)
Mou Sagasanai (25 December 1991)
HOLD ME (2 September 1992)
Yureru Omoi (10 July 1993)
OH MY LOVE (4 June 1994)
forever you (10 March 1995)
TODAY IS ANOTHER DAY (8 July 1996)
ZARD BLEND -SUN & STONE- (23 April 1997)
Eien (17 February 1999)
ZARD BEST The Single Collection -Kiseki- (28 May 1999)
ZARD BEST -Requested Memorial- (15 September 1999)
ZARD Cruising & Live (26 January 2000)
Toki no Tsubasa (15 February 2001)
ZARD BLEND II -LEAF & SNOW- (21 November 2001)
Tomatteita Tokei ga Ima Ugokidasita (28 January 2004)
Kimi to no Distance (7 September 2005)
Golden Best -15th Anniversary- (25 October 2006)
ZARD Request Best -beautiful memory- (23 January 2008)
この愛に泳ぎ疲れても
ZARD Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
もうひき返さない
たどりつく日まで
すれ違う恋人達
バスケット一杯の夢を
抱えながら歩く
まるであの頃の あなたと私
この愛に泳ぎ疲れても
流されぬ様に 勇気を与えて
出合ってしまった 週末の雨に
あなたとの運命 感じた
傷ついてもいい… 愛したい
いくつ恋を重ねても
いつも心震えるの
無口なあなただから
不安な時もある
だけど少女のように泣けない
このまま
この愛に泳ぎ疲れても
もうひき返せない
ふたつの足跡
失くすものなんて 思う程ないから
そう 裸の自分になって
愛を計るより… 愛したい
この愛に泳ぎ疲れても
流されぬ様に 勇気を与えて
出合ってしまった 週末の雨に
あなたとの運命 感じた
傷ついてもいい… 愛したい
The lyrics to ZARD's song "この愛に泳ぎ疲れても" (Kono Ai ni Oyogi Tsukarete mo) speak of a love that has been tested, but will not be abandoned. The singer acknowledges the difficulties and challenges that come with being in love, and that even when feeling tired and overwhelmed, they will not turn back. Instead, they ask for courage to continue, to not be washed away from the love they share.
The lyrics also touch upon the memories of past love, and the nostalgia that comes with it. The singer sees themselves and their loved one in the passing dreams of other couples, and it reminds them of the way things used to be. Despite the challenges and uncertainties that come with love, the singer is willing to face them. They acknowledge the possibility of getting hurt, but state that they still want to love.
The overall message of the song seems to be one of perseverance, courage, and a willingness to take risks in love. It acknowledges the struggles that come with loving someone, but ultimately makes the case that it's worth it.
Line by Line Meaning
この愛に泳ぎ疲れても
Even if I get tired of swimming in this love
もうひき返さない
I won't turn back anymore
たどりつく日まで
Until I reach the end
すれ違う恋人達
Passing by other lovers
バスケット一杯の夢を
Carrying a basketful of dreams
抱えながら歩く
Walking with them in my arms
まるであの頃の あなたと私
As if it were you and me back then
懐かしさに 振り向いた
I looked back with nostalgia
流されぬ様に 勇気を与えて
Giving me courage to not be swept away
出合ってしまった 週末の雨に
In the rain of that weekend when we met
あなたとの運命 感じた
I felt our destiny with you
傷ついてもいい… 愛したい
Even if I get hurt, I want to love
いくつ恋を重ねても
No matter how many loves I have
いつも心震えるの
My heart always trembles
無口なあなただから
Because you are always quiet
不安な時もある
I still have times of anxiety
だけど少女のように泣けない
But I can't cry like a young girl
もうひき返せない
I can't turn back anymore
ふたつの足跡
Our two footprints
失くすものなんて 思う程ないから
Because I don't think we'll lose anything important
そう 裸の自分になって
Yes, even if we become vulnerable
愛を計るより… 愛したい
Rather than measuring our love, I want to love
Contributed by Oliver W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-we6po2py7x
揺れる想いや…君がいない等に続く。密かな個人的NO1ソングです👍👍👍
@kato31142
この曲を聴くと高3の卒業間近の時を思い出す
@user-dx3zb7cz3m
こんなに美人で唄が上手いなんて信じられません!
泉水さんの存在を知ってからは近い人を探してたような気が。
いるわけもなく探せるわけもなくでした。 今でも雰囲気が似てると心がざわつく自分がいて😢。
この歌声を聴いてるだけで元気になれるんですけどね。
@user-le2qk1uj7q
30何年か前にFMから聞こえて来た曲
懐かしい
でも、色褪せない名曲
@safari0317
自分的アクセル全開にする曲
@user-nc8tx6lo4k
僕も、それほど年齢を重ねた訳ではないから、初めて知った事ですが、周りの文学とか漫画の影響によって
受け方(当たり方)も変わってくるのではないかなぁ、と思うのでした。坂井泉水さんの曲から想像するデート(遊び)は安全そうで良い感じがするからでした。
@andesuk
坂井泉水は最高
@user-zp4zo3cs6q
やりました❗
@d-ZARDCingviermal
おー
@user-cb7uc2od6n
その曲を聴くと冬の日本海で北陸の難所の親不知の通過を走破し思い起こすよ✋