In December 2002, fra-foa's contract with Toy's Factory ended. At the beginning of 2003, having released their second album "13 leaves" and after vocalist Chisako Mikami announced her marriage and pregnancy. In May of the same year--still without a new contract--Chisako gave birth to a baby daughter.
Fra-foa broke up after playing a concert on May 14, 2005.
The group's name "fra-foa" did not have any significant meaning. Chisako Mikami invented this name by the pronunciation of this word which represented a kind of floating feeling or image. The imagery of fra-foa's music is energetic vocals like a flashing blue light out of the roaring sound of distorted guitars and drums. Live performances were very essential to fra-foa. Audiences perceived their tremendous energy release as well as catharsis from their performance.
Mikami began a solo career in 2004, but has been inactive musically since 2005.
edge of life
fra-foa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tada atatakana ibasho o motomete naita
Mezamereba usugurai tenjyou
′Nante hitori bocchi de izurai sekai da'
Kare wa arukidashita
Mawari to umaku yaru koto ni nareta
Chikatetsu no mado ni utsuru
′Kimi wa ittai nani ga shitai?'
Sekai wa sono mune ni aru
Kimi ga ugokeba sekai mo ugoku
'Nee, doko ikou?′
Kitai ni sasu yuuhi miteta
Migite ni wa ima notta ea-chiketto
Sou sa boku wa kono ashi de
Boku no ibasho sagashi ni ikou
Hitsuyou to sareru basho
Sekai wa nante suteki na no
Shibaritsuketeta no wa jibun datta
′Nee, donna boku ni narou?'
Rakka suru kitai
Sono shunkan, kizuku
′Ima' iru koko ga tsune ni boku no ibasho!
Koukai shinai sa
Donna ketsumatsu demo boku no CHOICE, boku no LIFE
Ima masa ni ′iki'dashita---
The opening lines of the song "Edge of Life" by fra-foa depict the struggles of a person who is searching for a warm, comfortable place to call their own. The lyrics explain that they were born into this world crying, in search of a secure and welcoming place. When they wake up, they see a bleak and gloomy sky, feeling weighed down by the world that is difficult and lonely for an individual.
The following verse tells of a person who has mastered the art of blending in and adapting to the ways of the world. In a crowded train, they fixate on their own reflection and question whether anyone else has a clear sense of what they really want in life. The lyrics speak to the fact that everyone is struggling to find their place in the world while confronting the reality that feeling lost is a common experience in life.
The chorus of the song complete the picture – the world can be a beautiful place, but it is also for each person to search for their own anchor in the midst of chaos. They must avoid regret by making their own choices and living life the way they see fit. In the end, the answer is in the present moment that one is currently in. The singer acknowledges this and claims that they have realized where their home lies.
Line by Line Meaning
Kare wa umareochita
He was born
Tada atatakana ibasho o motomete naita
Weeping, he sought a warm place to belong
Mezamereba usugurai tenjyou
Upon awakening, the sky was pale grey
′Nante hitori bocchi de izurai sekai da'
'What a difficult world to suffer through alone'
Kare wa arukidashita
He started walking
Mawari to umaku yaru koto ni nareta
He learned to navigate his surroundings well
Chikatetsu no mado ni utsuru
Reflected in the subway window
Saenai kao ni futo toikakeru
He suddenly questioned a face he didn't recognize
′Kimi wa ittai nani ga shitai?'
'What exactly do you want?'
Sekai wa sono mune ni aru
The world is in your heart
Kimi ga ugokeba sekai mo ugoku
If you move, the world will move too
'Nee, doko ikou?'
'Hey, where shall we go?'
Kitai ni sasu yuuhi miteta
Watching the sunset with expectations
Migite ni wa ima notta ea-chiketto
In his right hand was a ticket he just received
Sou sa boku wa kono ashi de
Yes, I'll use these feet of mine
Boku no ibasho sagashi ni ikou
To search for my place to belong
Hitsuyou to sareru basho
The place that is necessary
Sekai wa nante suteki na no
What a beautiful world it is
Shibaritsuketeta no wa jibun datta
I was the one who had been tied down all along
'Nee, donna boku ni narou?'
'Hey, what will become of me?'
Rakka suru kitai
My expectation is falling apart
Sono shunkan, kizuku
In that moment, he realized
′Ima' iru koko ga tsune ni boku no ibasho!
'This place I am in now is always my place to belong!'
Koukai shinai sa
I won't regret
Donna ketsumatsu demo boku no CHOICE, boku no LIFE
No matter the outcome, it's my choice, my life
Ima masa ni ′iki'dashita---
I took a deep breath right now and started---
Contributed by Matthew W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Awesome Possum
This song only exists on the internet in the US for this video. I wish I could get my hands on 13 Leaves, but cannot find the album anywhere.