Tag: nishino kana

[Translation] Nishino Kana – Have a nice day

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5分おきに鳴る目覚まし
お願い寝かせてもう少し
まだ眠いしテレビも見たいしお腹すいた　(Good morning!)
スマホを片手にコーヒー
気づけばヤバいもう8時
よっしゃ！駅まではダッシュするしかない

My alarm goes off every 5 minutes
Please just let me sleep a bit more
I’m still sleepy, I want to watch TV, and I am hungry (Good Morning!)
Smartphone in one hand while drink my coffee
When I realize the time it’s already 8am
Alrighty!  Looks like I’m gonna have to make a dash to the station.

愛とか恋とかラララララ
気になる彼は彼女がいた
ドンマイ　ドンマイ
これも運命

Love and Romance, Lalalala
The guy I am interested in has a girlfriend.
Don’t mind, Don’t mind
This is also fate!

I say,　がんばれ私！　がんばれ今日も
「行ってきます」「行ってらっしゃい」
Happy Lucky Sunny Day
行け！行け！私！　その調子、いい感じ！
がんばれ私！　がんばれ今日も
「行ってきます」「行ってらっしゃい」
Happy Lucky Sunny Day
偉いぞ私　負けるな　焦るな　くじけるな
そうやって今日だって
一生懸命生きてるから
I say, Have a nice day

I say,  do your best, me! Do your best today
“I’m heading out!” “Have a good day!”
Happy Lucky Sunny Day
Go! Go! Me! Just like that, good vibes!
Do your best, me! Do your best today
“I’m heading out!” “Have a good day!”
You’re doing great, me. Don’t loose, don’t get flustered, don’t get disheartened!
That’s right, today I’m living to the fullest.
I say, Have a nice day

たまにはパーっとしたいのに
まだまだやること山積み
もう眠いしまだ終わんないしお腹すいた　(I’m hungry!)
みんな帰っちゃうお先に
気づけば夜も10時過ぎ
よっしゃ！こうなれば本気出すしかない

Sometimes I just want to take a break,
but the work just keeps piling up.
I’m tired, nothings finished, and I’m getting hungry (I’m hungry!)
Everyone’s already left before me,
and before I realized its already after 10pm
Alrighty! I’ve just gotta work harder on this.

夜中のスイーツラララララ
ダイエットはまた明日から
ドンマイ　ドンマイ
これはご褒美

Midnight Sweets Lalalala
I’ll start my diet again tomorrow.
Don’t mind! Don’t mind!
This is my reward.

I say,　がんばれ私！　がんばれ今日も
「お疲れさん」「おやすみなさい」
Happy Lucky Sunny Day
週末まではあと2日　あと2日
がんばれ私！　がんばれ今日も
「お疲れさん」「おやすみなさい」
Happy Lucky Sunny Day
凄いぞ私　優しく　可愛く　イラつかず
そうやって今日だって
一生懸命生きてるから
I say, Have a nice day

I say,  do your best, me! Do your best today
“Good Work Today” “Goodnight!”
Happy Lucky Sunny Day
There are only 2 more days until the weekend, 2 more days!
Do your best, me! Do your best today
“Good Work Today” “Goodnight!”
That’s amazing!, me. You’re nice, sweet, and patient!
That’s right, today I’m living to the fullest.
I say, Have a nice day

Monday　ブルーな溜め息の　Tuesday
Wednesday　乗り切ったらやっと　Thursday
華の　Friday　夜更かしの　Saturday
あっという間　眠りたくない　Sunday
起きたら　Monday

Monday with a blue sigh leads to Tuesday
Wednsday humpday, then its finally Thursday
Beautiful Friday, Late-night Saturday
Just like that I don’t want to go to sleep Sunday
When I wake up it’s Monday

I say,　がんばれ私！　がんばれ今日も
「行ってきます」「行ってらっしゃい」
Happy Lucky Sunny Day
行け！行け！私！　その調子、いい感じ！
がんばれ私！　がんばれ今日も
「行ってきます」「行ってらっしゃい」
Happy Lucky Sunny Day
偉いぞ私　負けるな　焦るな　くじけるな
そうやって今日だって
一生懸命生きてるから
I say, Have a nice day

I say,  do your best, me! Do your best today
“I’m heading out!” “Have a good day!”
Happy Lucky Sunny Day
Go! Go! Me! Just like that, good vibes!
Do your best, me! Do your best today
“I’m heading out!” “Have a good day!”
You’re doing great, me. Don’t loose, don’t get flustered, don’t get disheartened!
That’s right, today I’m living to the fullest.
I say, Have a nice day

Translators Notes:

This was my translation of “Have a nice day” from her “Just LOVE” Album. Please note that Japanese is my second language and this translation is just my interpretation of the lyrics based on my knowledge of the Japanese and English language. If you have any suggestions to better it, please comment below! Also, I do not own the rights to these song lyrics.

I had such a fun time translating this really light and fun song! I love Nishino Kana’s lyrics and this song may seem childish, but if you look a bit deeper I see a song that is motivating and positive, telling you to work hard but don’t be too hard on yourself sometimes. Self-love I guess?

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Japanese Entertainment: 3 Underrated Female Japanese Singers

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Although Johnny’s is the main type of music that I like here in Japan, over the past few years of living here I have discovered a handful of female singers that have caught my attention. Some of these singers aren’t extremely popular as compared to big artists like Namie Amuro and Koda Kumi or idol groups like AKB48, but people will definitely know their name if you mention them. That is why I describe them as “Underrated” Female singers. In this post, I will introduce three Female singers that I feel are underrated and are also a good bridge into Female singers in Japan.

1: Becky

Most people will know her as a “Talento”, or a TV personality in Japan, but surprisingly she also has a singing career under the name ベッキー♪♯. As most people are, I was first introduced to her through the variety show ItteQ and some dramas where she made an appearance. She is half Japanese, half English and began her singing debut in 2009 with her single “Kokoro Komete” 「心こめて」. She is the oldest out of the artists in this post at 30 years old, but her personality is so vibrant that she still seems in her 20’s!

For her music, she has a very distinct pronunciation when she sings by emphasizing her vowels and I was very attracted to that when I first heard her debut single. She has a very “pure” sounding voice to me and her more upbeat songs are very fun and vibrant, really showcasing her personality that I see on Television. The songs I would recommend from her are her debut single 「心こめて」(Kokomo Komete) as well 「ヤルキスイッチ」(Yaruki Switch) and 「風のしらべ」(Kaze no Shirabe). She has a YouTube channel with her music videos on it, so head there from the music video for  「心こめて」(Kokoro Komete) linked below!

2: Ayaka

Ayaka is a Japanese singer from Osaka and made her debut in 2006 with “I Believe” for a Japanese drama. Her debut year was a huge success and her first album “First Message” topped the Oricon charts and became the highest selling debut album for a female singer in 7 years. She is married to famous actor Mizushima Hiro since 2009 and also in 2009 she announced a hiatus due to a diagnosis of Graves Disease. She was on hiatus until 2012 and made a comeback with her album “The beginning”.

I was introduced to Ayaka through a Johnny’s friend who invited me to her concert in 2013. I had heard some of her songs before, but I didn’t realize that it was Ayaka that had sung them. This year, I had the opportunity to see her live again, this time for an acoustic live. This time I really felt the power of her voice and her vocal range is amazing! She can be powerful, as well as soft in the same song and her voice is so clear. Ayaka mostly sings ballads from what i’ve heard from her. Some of my favorites songs from her are new single「にじいろ」(Nijiiro), as well as “Beautiful”, which was the theme song for the drama 「シェアハウスの恋人」(Share House no Koibito), and 「はじまりのとき」(Hajimari no Toki). She also has a YouTube channel with some of her music videos on there, so please check out “Nijiiro” below!

3: Nishino Kana.

Nishino Kana debuted in 2008 with “I”. She was originally signed to SME records in 2006 when she won a contest called the “Miss Phoenix Auditions”. One of her biggest hits was “Best Friend” in 2010, as well as well as 「会いたくて」 (Aitakute). She has been nominated and won many MTV Music Video awards and Japan Record awards. She also appears in many fashion magazines for her specific style, which is not quite “Gyaru” , but a popular type of style with college age girls and women in their early 20’s.

Compared to the other two artists, she has a bit more of a “Pop” like sound to her music, making it more mainstream than the other two artists. Though she has more of a pop sound, she still writes a lot of her music. Out of all of these artists today, Nishino Kana is probably my favorite, as I like the majority of the music that she releases. I also find her lyrics very relatable to the average person, especially women in their late teens and 20’s. My favorite songs by her are are “ SAKURA, I love you?” “We Don’t Stop”, and “Be Strong”, as well as “Best Friend”. She also has a YouTube channel, so please check out “We Don’t Stop” below!

Had you heard of these artists before? If so, who do you like? If you didn’t know them before, are there any of them that you became interested in? Please feel free to let me know in the comments below!

As always, please remember to follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for new updates!

Top 5 Spring-Like Songs of 2014

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Spring is already in full swing here in Japan. The Cherry Blossoms bloomed, their petals have already fallen, and summer is beginning to peak on the horizon as the temperature continues to rise by the day. I find myself inspired by music that has a seasonal feel, so today I wanted to write a post on my top 5 favorite songs of this Spring before the season changes! They are in no particular order, just how I feel like presenting them! Also, I am a big fan of J-pop, so all of these songs are Japanese songs.

 

#1: SAKURA, I love you? – Nishino Kana （西野カナ）

Though this is a sad love song about not being able to get over some one, the beat and the sound of the song is very Spring-like to me. I can listen to this song over and over again and feel myself walking through a row of Cherry Blossom trees. Even when its not spring I like listening to this song to make me feel like I am back in Cherry Blossom season. The music video is beautiful and every time I go to Karaoke I have to sing this song with the music video playing in the background.

#2 “Sakura Girl”「サクラガール」- NEWS

This song has a lot of the same sounds as Nishino Kana’s song above. I think it is the synthesizer that makes the beat of the song very spring-like to me. It’s a sad love song about a fleeting love, just like the short time a cherry blossom tree blooms for. I love the harmony and the chorus of “La, La, Love, Sakura”. Just like the above song too, I can just imagine walking through a row of cherry blossom trees and can feel the emotion of not being with someone anymore who you loved dearly.

#3 “Sayonara ni Sayonara”「サヨナラにさよなら」-  Tegomass テゴマス

This is a slower song compared to the other two songs, but the softness and sweetness of the song and the lyrics make me think of a love that starts in the Spring and the promise of never saying goodbye. The Piano and the music video also give it a spring-like feel as well! This song was also released Spring of 2013 so I have the image of this song being a spring song in my head. This song is also my favorite Tegomass song, next to Kiss “Kaerimichi no Love song”「キッス帰り道のラブソング」。

#4 “Haru Meki”「ハルメキ」 – Tegomass テゴマス

Another Tegomass song! Somehow I relate Tegomass with Spring recently and I think it’s because in 2013 they had Spring single releases and this year they had a Spring tour. This song is a song off of their new album “Tegomass no Seishun” . The title means “Spring Like” or the “Coming of Spring” and the lyrics are all about how everything is becoming like spring and the flowers are blooming. I love this song because its very upbeat and is a different type of spring song than is mentioned above, because it isn’t a love song.

#5  “Hana ni Omoi wo”「花に想いを」 – Tegomass テゴマス

The final pick is also a Tegomass song. This was the B-side track from their “Neko Chuudoku” single and I had no idea it was the B-side until I heard them perform this song in the concert tour I went to. The Harmonica and the the country-like feel to this song really makes me feel like I am in the country side in America with a bunch of flowers around me. It’s a different feeling than the first few songs, because America and Japan have different perceptions of spring. Spring is about flowers blooming, but in Asia it’s specifically the Cherry blossoms and plum blossoms that it revolves around. In Americ,a its about flowers blooming in general and Easter. This song really makes me smile while I am listening to it walking somewhere recently, and I can really feel that spring is here!

 

I hope you all enjoyed this post! Please comment below and tell me your favorite songs of this Spring and why! I look forward to hearing them!