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)
マイ フレンド
ZARD Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ずっと見つめてるから 走り続けて
ひたむきだった遠い日の夢は 今でも眩しい
どんなに不安がいっぱいでも 真っすぐ自分の道を信じて
飾らない素顔のあなたが好き 変わってしまうことが哀しい
いつも輝いていたね 少年のまま 瞳は my friend
この距離通り抜ける 風になりたい
真実の愛なら きっと色んな事 乗り越えられたのに
星のパレード 涙がこぼれない様に 大きく息を吸った
ひとりでいる時の淋しさより 二人でいる時の孤独の方が哀しい
いつも笑っていたね あの頃二人 せつない my friend
あなたを想うだけで 心は強くなれる
ずっと見つめてるから 走り続けて
いつも輝いていたね 少年のまま 瞳は my friend
あなたを想うだけで 心は強くなれた
ずっと見つめてるから 走り続けて 走り続けて...
The lyrics to ZARD's song マイ フレンド (My Friend) express a deep sense of admiration and friendship towards a person who has been a source of inspiration and encouragement. The songwriter states that just thinking about this person has made their heart stronger, and that they have been watching this person for a long time, always striving to keep up with them. The dream of the past when they were both single-minded is still vivid, and a sense of sadness is expressed at the thought of people changing.
The songwriter fondly remembers how their friend was always shining brightly, even back when they were just boys. The presence of this friend made them feel more sincere and honest. They wish to become like the wind that passes through this distance, unencumbered and free. They lament the fact that, despite the power of love, they were not able to overcome some hurdles in their relationship, and struggled with feelings of loneliness when they were alone or when they were with this person.
Overall, the song is a tribute to the power of friendship and the lifelong impact that certain people can have on us. It speaks to the universal human experience of cherishing the past but also hoping to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
あなたを想うだけで 心は強くなれる
Just by thinking of you, my heart grows stronger
ずっと見つめてるから 走り続けて
I keep running because I'm always gazing at you
ひたむきだった遠い日の夢は 今でも眩しい
The dreams of those distant, earnest days are still shining brightly
どんなに不安がいっぱいでも 真っすぐ自分の道を信じて
No matter how full of anxiety I am, I believe steadfastly in my own path
飾らない素顔のあなたが好き 変わってしまうことが哀しい
I love your unadorned face, and it's sad to see you change
いつも輝いていたね 少年のまま 瞳は my friend
You always shone bright like a boy, my friend, with sparkling eyes
あなたがそばにいると 何故か素直になれた
When you were around, I somehow became more open
この距離通り抜ける 風になりたい
I want to become a wind that can pass through this distance
真実の愛なら きっと色んな事 乗り越えられたのに
If it is true love, then surely we can overcome anything
星のパレード 涙がこぼれない様に 大きく息を吸った
I took a deep breath to stop the tears from falling during the parade of stars
ひとりでいる時の淋しさより 二人でいる時の孤独の方が哀しい
The loneliness of being together is sadder than the loneliness of being alone
いつも笑っていたね あの頃二人 せつない my friend
We always laughed back in those days, my friend, it's bittersweet
あなたを想うだけで 心は強くなれた
Just by thinking of you, my heart became stronger
ずっと見つめてるから 走り続けて 走り続けて...
Because I'm always gazing at you, I will continue to run, run...
Writer(s): 坂井 泉水, 織田 哲郎, 織田 哲郎, 坂井 泉水
Contributed by Julian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@KZ-HERO823
「桜木君がこのチームにリバウンドとガッツを加えてくれた
宮城君がスピードと感性を
三井君はかつて混乱を...のちに知性ととっておきの飛び道具を
流川君は爆発力と勝利への意志を
赤木君と木暮君がずっと支えてきた土台の上に これだけのものが加わった
それが湘北だ」
@user-tf4fe7sg1c
歌詞
あなたを想うだけで 心は強くなれる
ずっと見つめてるから 走り続けて
ひたむきだった遠い日の夢は
今でも眩しい
どんなに不安がいっぱいでも
真っすぐ自分の道を信じて
飾らない素顔のあなたが好き…
変わってしまうことが哀しい
いつも輝いていたね 少年のまま 瞳は My Friend
あなたがそばにいると 何故か素直になれた
この距離通り抜ける 風になりたい
真実の愛なら きっと色んな事
乗り越えられたのに
星のパレード 涙がこぼれない様に
大きく息を吸った
ひとりでいる時の淋しさより
二人でいる時の孤独の方が哀しい
いつも笑っていたね あの頃二人 せつない My Friend
あなたを想うだけで 心は強くなれる
ずっと見つめてるから 走り続けて
いつも輝いていたね 少年のまま 瞳はMy Friend
あなたを想うだけで 心は強くなれた
ずっと見つめてるから 走り続けて
走り続けて…
@bktrgwsn397
一人でいる時の寂しさより二人でいる時の孤独の方が悲しい…天才やな
@user-nt1rk6tb3j
スラムダンクの映画のエンディングはこれがいいです！
@user-fb9bh8zw1c
小さな頃はZARD見て「何でこんな地味な人が人気なん？」と思ってたけど
大人になって改めて聴くと、飾り気が全くない透明感抜群なスーパーナチュラル超美人に変わった。
@KZ-HERO823
「桜木君がこのチームにリバウンドとガッツを加えてくれた
宮城君がスピードと感性を
三井君はかつて混乱を...のちに知性ととっておきの飛び道具を
流川君は爆発力と勝利への意志を
赤木君と木暮君がずっと支えてきた土台の上に これだけのものが加わった
それが湘北だ」
@user-wl4gh7fh8j
涙出てきました・・・
@user-lz6fo9yh1r
読んでて感極まった所や
@user-hj6nq9bl1e
なぜアニメ化しない
@user-rs7jy4hq3l
しい アニメ化してほしい気持ちも分からなくはないけど、あの感動をあの興奮を再現できるとは思えない。
@Syu05300530
泣けてきます、、、
@user-iv2co5eq7m
「ひとりでいる時の淋しさよりふたりでいる時の孤独の方が哀しい」
天才か！！