Weekend — X Japan

I've put aside the pop for this entry, and instead humbly present Weekend by the brilliant and ridiculous masters of Japanese 80s hard rock- the incomparable X Japan. Try to cast your attention away from the hair and outfits, and instead enjoy the English translation of one of their most accomplished songs. Highlights include speed-of-light shredding on the solo and some deep piano work in the break.


Special thanks to YouTube user xrosannex for the video!

Song: Weekend
Artist: X Japan

VERSE 1
I hear a knock on the door,

激しくせまる
Hageshiku semaru
pressing in on me louder and louder.

失いかけた意識のなかで おまえがささやく
Ushinaikaketa ishiki no naka de omae ga sasayaku
You whisper through my fading consciousness,

追いつめられた 心溶かす
Oitsumareta kokoro tokasu
melting my hounded heart,

鈍色の肖像
Nibiiro no shōzō
A shadowy portrait

切り刻まれた記憶を 映しだす
Kirikizamareta kioku wo utsushidasu
cast upon my shredded memory.

VERSE 2
咲き乱れた hateful black heart
Sakimidareta HATEFUL BLACK HEART
My hateful black heart, bursting into life,

心にせまる研ぎ澄まされた transient feeling
Kokoro ni semaru togisumasareta TRANSIENT FEELING
Pounded by this knife-edged transient feeling

人波の中
Hitonami no naka
amidst a surging crowd.

ヒステリックに ざわめく風に
Hisuterikku ni zawameku kaze ni
In the face of the raving wind,

止まらない涙を 胸に抱きしめ 孤独を色どる
Tomaranai namida wo mune ni dakishime kodoku wo irodoru
I clutch my endless tears to my chest,
staining my loneliness

I've nothing to lose (Love me till the end)
Except your heart
I've nothing to lose (Love me till the end)
Except your heart

PRECHORUS 1
手首を流れる血を おまえの体に
Tekubi wo nagareru chi wo omae no karada ni
As I let the blood drain from my wrists

絡みつけると一瞬のうちに更みがえる
Karamitsukeru to isshun no uchi ni yomigaeru
over your body, my field of vision is drowned

記憶に視界を
Kioku ni shikai wo
by a flood of memories.

閉ざされ 笑いながら逃げてゆくおまえの姿を
Tozasare warainagara nigeteyuku omae no sugata wo
I watch you recede into the distance, laughing

見つめる 傷ついた俺が立ってる
Mitsumeru kizutsuita ore ga tatteru
as I struggle, wounded, to my feet.

CHORUS
Week End Week End
Week End I'm at my wits end }x2

SOLO

I've nothing to lose(Love me till the end)
Except your heart
I've nothing to lose(Love me till the end)
Except your heart (NO WAY OUT!)

VERSE 3
I hear a knock on the door,

激しくせまる
Hageshiku semaru
pressing in on me louder and louder.

失いかけた意識のなかで おまえがささやく
Ushinaikaketa ishiki no naka de omae ga sasayaku
You whisper through my fading consciousness

冷たい指先のばし
Tsumetai yubisaki nobashi
I stretch out with icy fingertips,

傷口に口づけ
Kizuguchi ni kuchizuke
plant a kiss on my gaping wounds,

赤く染まった狂気を抱きしめる
Akaku somatta kyōki wo dakishimeru
and embrace my sanguine madness

PRECHORUS 2
鏡を見つめながら ふるえる体に
Kagami wo mitsumenagara furueru karada ni
As I gaze in the mirror,

流れはじめた透き通る血を
Nagarehajimeta sukitōru chi wo
I entwine the translucent blood that flows across my trembling body

青白いおまえの心に
Aojiroi omae no kokoro ni
with your pallid heart

絡ませ 幻覚に消えて行く最後の涙を
Karamase genkaku ni kiete yuku saigo no namida wo
I gather up the last of my waning illusory tears

拾い集めて 血の海にまどろむ
Hiroiatsumete chi no umi ni madoromu
And slip into a warm red ocean

Week End Week End

BREAK

BRIDGE
Week End
I still love you
Week End
But I cannot carry on

VERSE 1 REPEAT

CHORUS

Understand — YUI

More Japanese to English, more Yui. I told you I was a fan! Bit of a sad one this time; Understand is a downbeat track that was used as the theme to the Japanese film Dog in a Sidecar. I haven't seen the movie but it came out when I was in Japanese looked suitably heartwarming/heartbreaking. Enjoy these very honest and personal lyrics.


Special thanks to YouTube user airc2008 for the video!

Song: Understand
Artist: YUI

たぶん泣いてた　帰り道　うつむいたままで
Tabun naiteta kaerimichi utsumuita mama de
You could have been crying,
staring at the ground as we headed for home

何も言えなかった　ずっと側にいたけど
Nani mo ienakatta zutto soba ni ita kedo
There was nothing I could say
Still, I stayed next to you the whole time

公園を横切って　近道して歩いた
Kōen wo yokogitte chikamichi shite aruita
As we cut across the park

なんとなく　わかってるよ　あたしにだって
Nantonaku wakatteru yo atashi ni datte
Somehow, it all became clear.

夕暮れに　伸びる　影　幸せのかたちが変わる
Yūgure ni nobiru kage shiawase no katachi ga kawaru
Like shadows lengthening at dusk
our happiness becomes distorted

ずっと一緒だよ　そう言っていたのに
Zutto isshō da yo sō iteta no ni
You said we’d be together forever…

悲しみはいつだって　愛情の近くに潜んで
Kanashimi wa itsu datte aijō no chikaku hisonde
There was always a sadness just beneath the surface of our love

意地悪するよって　笑いながら話してた
Ijiwaru suru yotte warainagara hanashiteta
“You’re so mean to me!” you'd say, laughing.

正義の味方なんて　もし本当にいたなら
Seigi no mikata nante moshi hontō ni ita nara
A knight in shining armour,
if that sort of thing really existed,

困らせてしまうかもね　なんて思った
komarasete shimau kamo ne nante omotta
would just be a nuisance… right?

夕暮れに　伸びる　影　幸せのかたちが変わる
Yūgure ni nobiru kage shiawase no katachi ga kawaru
Like shadows lengthening at dusk,
Our happiness becomes distorted

ずっと一緒には　いられないから
Zutto isshō ni wa irarenai kara
Because we can’t stay together...

責めてばかりいては　生きてゆけないよ
Semete bakari ite wa ikite yukenai yo
I can’t go on living with all this blame

だって間違いばかり　…繰り返すんだ　…繰り返すんだ
Datte machigai bakari ...kurikaesun da ...kurikaesun da
We just keep making the same mistakes over and over again…

夕暮れに　伸びる　影　幸せのかたちが変わる
Yūgure ni nobiru kage shiawase no katachi ga kawaru
Like shadows lengthening at dusk
Our happiness becomes distorted

歩き始めた　だいじょうぶだよ
Arukihajimeta daijōbu da yo
I start walking...
I think it’s for the best.

How Crazy — YUI

Some more Japanese to English lyrics. I'm a huge Yui fan, she's probably my favourite Japanese artist and so you can expect to see a lot more of her lyrics appearing on this site in the very near future. This song is How Crazy, a bit of a teenage angst anthem (as so many of Yui's songs seem to be). The fast, almost rap-like bridge is a cool and interesting touch to a great song.


Special thanks to YouTube user donte800 for the video!

Song: How Crazy
Artist: YUI

VERSE 1
冷たいギターをケースに押し込む
Tsumetai gitā wo kēsu ni oshikomu
I put the cold guitar into its case,

人通りはまだ多いけど　今日の気分はここまで　Getting all right
Hitodōri wa mada ōi kedo kyō no kibun wa koko made GETTING ALL RIGHT
though the street is still busy with people.
Today was a little better

尊敬できない大人のアドバイス
Sonkei dekinai otona no adobaisu
Some adult gives me some worthless advice

アタシはあなたみたいにはなりたくないと思った
atashi wa anata mitai ni wa naritakunai to omotta
"I hope I don’t turn out like you" I think.

PRECHORUS 1
汚れたジーンズで乗り込んでいる
Yogoreta jīnzu de norikondeiru
The girl in dirty jeans boarding the subway,

地下鉄の窓　映っている自分
Chikatetsu no mado utsutteiru jibun
reflected in the window of the train,

変わってなんかない　あの頃のまま
Kawatte nanka nai ano koro no mama
hasn’t really changed since those days

お金なんて　ちょっとあればいいのよ
Okane nante chotto areba ī no yo
You don't need to be rich to be happy

CHORUS
How Crazy　わかったようにアタシのこと話すのはやめてよ
HOW CRAZY wakatta yō ni atashi no koto hanasu no wa yamete yo
How crazy
Stop talking about me as if you understand me

How Crazy　深い海に沈んでゆく船から逃げてきたの
HOW CRAZY fukai umi ni shizundeyuku fune kara nigetekita no
How crazy
I've left your sinking ship behind.

夢にlove love love　いつも
Yume ni LOVE LOVE LOVE itsumo
My dreams are nothing but love, love, love

純情じゃいられない　How Crazy
Junjō ja irarenai HOW CRAZY
I shouldn’t be so naïve
How crazy

VERSE 2
駅前通り　地上へ続いている階段は
Ekimaedōri chijō e tsuzuiteiru kaidan wa
The dark steps up onto the station road

いつも暗くて不安だ
Itsu mo kurakute fuan da
always make me uneasy

夕暮れのコンビニの駐車場
Yūgure no conbini no chūshajō
In the twilight parking lot of the convenience store,

明日を知らない子供が小さくアタシに手を振っている
Asu wo shiranai kodomo ga chīsaku atashi ni te wo futteriru
A kid waves shyly at me, his life a blank canvas

知恵をつけなさい　将来負けないように
Chie wo tsukenasai shōrai makenai yō ni
You’ve gotta keep your wits about you
Or the future will trip you up

説得したいのに　うまく話せない
Settoku shitai no ni umaku hanasenai
I want to make this kid understand
But the words won’t come

そんなんじゃダメ　納得もできない
Sonnan ja dame naitoku mo dekinai
It’s useless — he’ll never get it.

Oh神様　ちょっと不公平だって思うよ
OH kamisama chotto fukōhei datte omō yo
Oh god, this is so unfair

CHORUS

BRIDGE
努力を続けた学生だって　結果にならなきゃ　家族はきっと　悲しむ
Doryoku wo tsuzuketa gakusei datte kekka ni naranakya kazoku wa kitto kanashimu
Try hard, be a good student, get results or you’ll disappoint your family

世渡り上手が　うまくはいっても　そんなの尊敬できない人生　um Baby
Yowatari jōzu ga umaku wa ittemo sonna no sonkei dekinai jinsei UM BABY
I have no respect for this ‘live to work’ mentality oh baby

矛盾ばっかな感情を　いったい　いつまで抱えて生きてゆくのでしょう?
Mujun bakkana kanjō wo ittai itsu made kakaete ikite yuku no deshō?
How the hell am I supposed to carry on surrounded by all these contradictory feelings?

CHORUS

VERSE 3
冷たいギター　もう一度そっと
Tsumetai gitā mō ichido sotto
I softly take the cold guitar once more

抱きかかえて一人で
Dakikakaete hitori de
Clutch it to my chest alone

あの頃みたいに歌った
Ano koro mitai ni utatta
And sing a song like I used to

全力少年 — スキマスイッチ (Zenryoku Shōnen — Sukima Switch)

Okay, some Japanese to English translated lyrics to get the ball rolling on what will hopefully become a rich and full collection. This song is Zenryoku Shōnen by a band called Sukima Switch. It's just two guys who play all the instruments, a concept which really appeals to me for some reason. It was featured in Moeru Nekketsu Rhythm Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! 2, a superb rhythm game for the DS. The lyrics are pretty inspirational- enjoy!


Special thanks to YouTube user REI20020915 for the video!

Song: 全力少年 / Zenryoku Shōnen / Make The Most Of Youth
Artist: スキマスイッチ / Sukima Switch

VERSE 1
躓いて、転んでたら置いてかれんだ
Tsumazuite, korondetara oite karen da
I stumbled and fell, got left behind

泥水の中を今日もよろめきながら進む
Doromizu no naka wa kyō mo yoromekinagara susumu
dragging myself through the mud as always

汚れちまった僕のセカイ　浮いた話など無い
Yogorechimatta boku no sekai uita hanashi nado nai
No room for frivolity in this dirty world of mine

染み付いた孤独論理、拭えなくなっている
Shimi tsuita kodoku ronri, nuguenakunatteru
The loneliness has made its mark on me, I can't wipe it away

試されてまでもここにいることを決めたのに
Tamesarete made mo kokoniirukoto wo kimeta no ni
I made the choice to remain here until something spurred me on,

呪文のように「仕方ない」とつぶやいていた
Jumon no yō ni “shikata ga nai” to tsubuyaiteita
muttering “There’s no point in trying” like a mantra

CHORUS 1
積み上げたものぶっ壊して　身に着けたもの取っ払って
Sumiageta mono bukkowashite mi ni tsuketa mono topparatte
Tear down the debris you’ve accumulated
Wipe away everything that’s weighing you down

止め処ない血と汗で乾いた脳を潤せ
Tomedo nai chi to ase de kawaita nō wo uruose
Rinse your stale mind with blood and sweat

あの頃の僕らはきっと全力で少年だった
Ano koro no bokura wa kitto zenryoku de shōnen datta
We used to make the most of our youth

セカイを開くのは誰だ？
Sekai wo hiraku no wa dare da?
Who will open up the world?

VERSE 2
遊ぶこと忘れてたら老いて枯れんだ
Asobukoto wasuretetara oite karenda
I forgot how to enjoy myself, grew old and withered

ここんとこは仕事オンリー　笑えなくなっている
Kokon toko wa shigoto onrī waraenakunatteriru
I focused only on my work and lost my smile

ガラクタの中に輝いてた物がいっぱいあったろう？
Garakuta no naka ni kagayaiteta mono ga ippai attarō?
There must have been some sparkling diamonds hidden in the trivialities of your life?

「大切なもの」全て埋もれてしまう前に
“Taisetsu na mono” subete umorete shimau mae ni
Before the things that are important to you get buried...

CHORUS 2
さえぎるものはぶっ飛ばして　まとわりつくものかわして
Saegiru mono wa buttobashite matowaritsuku mono kawashite
Brush aside everything that’s in your way
Evade those things which would ensnare you

止め処ない血と涙で渇いた心臓潤せ
Tometo nai chi to namida de kawaita shinzō uruose
Quench your thirsty heart with blood and tears

あの頃の僕らはきっと全力で少年だった
Ano koro no bokura wa kitto zenryoku de shōnen datta
We used to make the most of our youth

怯えてたら何も生まれない
Obietetara nani mo umarenai
Being scared won't accomplish anything

INSTRUMENTAL

BRIDGE
澱んだ景色に答えを見つけ出すのはもう止めだ！
Yodonda keshiki ni kotae wo mitsukedasu no wa mō yame da
Stop looking for answers in this stagnant world!

濁った水も新しい希望（ひかり）ですぐに澄み渡っていく
Nigotta mizu mo atarashī hikari de sugu ni sumiwatatteiku
Even the dirtiest water can be purified if you have hope

CHORUS 3
積み上げたものぶっ壊して　身に着けたもの取っ払って
Sumiageta mono bukkowashite mi ni tsuketa mono topparatte
Tear down the debris you’ve accumulated
Wipe away everything that’s weighing you down

幾重に重なり合う描いた夢への放物線
Ikue ni kasanariau egaita yume e no hōbutsusen
A soaring curve toward your manifold painted dreams

紛れもなく僕らずっと全力で少年なんだ
Magure mo naku bokura zutto zenryoku de shōnen nan da
Make no mistake— we will always make the most of our youth

セカイを開くのは僕だ
Sekai wo hiraku no wa boku da
I’m opening up the world

視界はもう澄み切ってる
Shikai wa mō sumikitteru
And all I see is serenity now