In December 2009, they released an album 0. as a limited release of 500 copies in Aomori. Since the album created a lot of buzz and they were flooded with inquiries, they eventually released the album nationwide as 0.6.
As the intense worldview of their lyrics grabbed the attention of listeners with quick ears, they made a major debut with 爆弾の作り方 (How to Make a Bomb) released from Sony Music Associated Records in June 2010.
“a band led by Hiromu Akita from Aomori”
It was the only information officially shared about the band, but they have expanded their fan base by word of mouth, mostly through the Internet, to such an extent that their latest album ねえママ あなたの言うとおり (Hey Mom, It's Just as You Say) went up to number 8 in the Oricon weekly album chart.
When performing live, they have a unique style where they play behind a screen that covers the whole stage and projects various images to go along with the music. Their shows have been much talked about, and some say it gives the audience a sense of watching a film and enjoying live music at the same time.
They are also known as their music videos with CG animation and have won a variety of awards worldwide.
In 2010, their music video for 夏を待っていました ("Waiting for the Summer") won the Excellence Award at the 14th Japan Media Arts Festival. amazarashi’s 夏を待っていました and サカナクション's アルクアラウンド were the only music videos that won the awards that year.
Furthermore, they have attracted interest throughout the world as they won prizes at Annecy International Animated Film Festival (originally a part of Cannes Film Festival) in France, SIGGRAPH ASIA 2011 (the world’s biggest computer graphics event), one dot zero 2011 (a digital animation festival in London), and more.
More info can be found on their official homepage at http://www.amazarashi.com.
Kisetsu wa Tsugitsugi Shindeiku
amazarashi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
絶命の声が風になる
色めく街の 酔えない男
月を見上げるのはここじゃ無粋
泥に足もつれる生活に
雨はアルコールの味がした
アパシーな目で 彷徨う街で
挙動不審のイノセント 駅前にて
僕が僕と呼ぶには不確かな
半透明な影が生きてる風だ
雨に歌えば 雲は割れるか
賑やかな夏の干からびた命だ
拝啓 忌まわしき過去に告ぐ 絶縁の詩
最低な日々の 最悪な夢の
残骸を捨てては行けず
ここで息絶えようと
後世 花は咲き君に伝う 変遷の詩
苦悩にまみれて 嘆き悲しみ
それでも途絶えぬ歌に
陽は射さずとも
明日は次々死んでいく
急いても追いつけず過去になる
過去になる 生き急げ僕ら
灯る火はせつな
生きる意味などは後からつく
君が君でいるには不確かな
不安定な自我が 君を嫌おうと
せめて歌えば 闇は晴れるか
根腐れた夢に預かった命だ
拝啓 忌まわしき過去に告ぐ 絶縁の詩
最低な日々の 最悪な夢の
残骸を捨てては行けず
ここで息絶えようと
後世 花は咲き君に伝う 変遷の詩
苦悩にまみれて 嘆き悲しみ
それでも途絶えぬ歌に
陽は射さずとも
疲れた顔に足を引きずって
照り返す夕日に顔をしかめて
行こうか 戻ろうか 悩みはするけど
しばらくすれば 歩き出す背中
そうだ行かねばならぬ
何はなくとも生きて行くのだ
僕らは どうせ拾った命だ
ここに置いていくよ なけなしの
拝啓 今は亡き過去を想う 望郷の詩
最低な日々が 最悪な夢が
始まりだったと思えば
随分遠くだ
どうせ花は散り 輪廻の輪に還る命
苦悩にまみれて 嘆き悲しみ
それでも途絶えぬ歌に 陽は射さずとも
季節は次々生き返る
The lyrics to amazarashi's song Kisetsu wa Tsugitsugi Shindeiku express the inevitability of change and the transience of life. The first two lines translate to "Seasons die one after another, and dying voices become the wind." This highlights the theme of mortality and how everything is fleeting, even the seasons themselves. The singer of the song is a man who is unable to indulge in the vibrant city around him because he is feeling apathetic, trapped in a life where he feels like he is drowning. He is searching for his identity but is uncertain whether the shadow he sees represents who he wants to be.
The chorus of the song repeats the lyrics "拝啓 忌まわしき過去に告ぐ 絶縁の詩” (“Dear detestable past, this is my estrangement poem”) which is a representation of the singer's struggle with his past experiences and finding a way to understand them. He feels like he cannot leave behind the wreckage of his past and is stuck living out those days, but also acknowledges that his experiences are what make him who he is. The song ends on an optimistic note, with the lyrics "季節は次々生き返る” (“Seasons will be reborn one after another”) suggesting that while everything is transient, there is always change and opportunities for new beginnings.
Overall, the song encourages the listener to live life to the fullest, even in the face of adversity, and to learn from past experiences to shape a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
季節は次々死んでいく
Each Season dies in succession.
絶命の声が風になる
The voice of death becomes a part of the wind.
色めく街の 酔えない男
An un-drunk man in a bustling city.
月を見上げるのはここじゃ無粋
Gazing at the moon seems out of place here.
泥に足もつれる生活に
A life where feet sink in mud.
雨はアルコールの味がした
The rain tasted like alcohol.
アパシーな目で 彷徨う街で
In a city where everyone wanders with apathetic eyes.
挙動不審のイノセント 駅前にて
At the station, an innocent person with suspicious behavior.
僕が僕と呼ぶには不確かな
Uncertainty in the name I call myself.
半透明な影が生きてる風だ
Living like a semi-transparent shadow in the wind.
雨に歌えば 雲は割れるか
If I sing in the rain, will the clouds break?
賑やかな夏の干からびた命だ
A life that dried up in the summer's bustle.
拝啓 忌まわしき過去に告ぐ 絶縁の詩
A poem of disconnection written to the detestable past.
最低な日々の 最悪な夢の
The worst dreams of the worst days.
残骸を捨てては行けず
Unable to leave behind the remains.
ここで息絶えようと
To pass away in this place.
後世 花は咲き君に伝う 変遷の詩
A poem of change where later generations pass flowers to you.
苦悩にまみれて 嘆き悲しみ
Drowned in grief and sorrow but trying to stay alive.
それでも途絶えぬ歌に
Even so, there is a song that doesn't stop.
陽は射さずとも
Even without the sun.
明日は次々死んでいく
Tomorrow will die one by one.
急いても追いつけず過去になる
Rushing, but unable to catch up and it becomes the past.
生き急げ僕ら
Let's hurry up while we are alive.
灯る火はせつな
The glowing flame is bittersweet.
生きる意味などは後からつく
The meaning of life is something we understand later on.
君が君でいるには不確かな
Uncertainty in staying true to oneself.
不安定な自我が 君を嫌おうと
Even when your unstable identity hates you.
せめて歌えば 闇は晴れるか
If I sing, will the darkness clear?
根腐れた夢に預かった命だ
A life entrusted in a dream that has already started to rot.
拝啓 忌まわしき過去に告ぐ 絶縁の詩
A poem of disconnection written to the detestable past.
最低な日々の 最悪な夢の
The worst dreams of the worst days.
残骸を捨てては行けず
Unable to leave behind the remains.
ここで息絶えようと
To pass away in this place.
後世 花は咲き君に伝う 変遷の詩
A poem of change where later generations pass flowers to you.
苦悩にまみれて 嘆き悲しみ
Drowned in grief and sorrow but trying to stay alive.
それでも途絶えぬ歌に
Even so, there is a song that doesn't stop.
陽は射さずとも
Even without the sun.
疲れた顔に足を引きずって
Dragging feet on a tired face.
照り返す夕日に顔をしかめて
Frowning at the glaring sunset.
行こうか 戻ろうか 悩みはするけど
Deciding between moving on or going back with worries in mind.
しばらくすれば 歩き出す背中
After a while, the back starts walking.
そうだ行かねばならぬ
That's right, I must go.
何はなくとも生きて行くのだ
Even with nothing left, I will keep living.
僕らは どうせ拾った命だ
Anyway, we were just lucky to have been given life.
ここに置いていくよ なけなしの
Leaving behind our only, modest possessions here.
拝啓 今は亡き過去を想う 望郷の詩
A poem of nostalgia that recalls a past that is no longer with us.
最低な日々が 最悪な夢が
The worst days and the worst dreams.
始まりだったと思えば
Thinking it was just the beginning.
随分遠くだ
It's already become so far away.
どうせ花は散り 輪廻の輪に還る命
Anyway, flowers wilt and lives go back into the cycle of rebirth.
苦悩にまみれて 嘆き悲しみ
Drowned in grief and sorrow but trying to stay alive.
それでも途絶えぬ歌に 陽は射さずとも
Even so, there is a song that doesn't stop, even without the sun.
季節は次々生き返る
Seasons come back to life one after another.
Contributed by Ellie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.