Shiina Studies 101 – First Lecture

To illustrate the depth of Ringo Shiina studies in Japan, I am going to do a series of posts showcasing scholarly work on the very first song from her very first album.  I’m talking about Tadashii Machi from Muzai Moratorium.  This series, I’m afraid, will have little to do with manga-anime-doujin, except in the roundabout way in which it will give us a good sense of why so many Japanese artists (including mangaka and anime directors) are so obsessed with this one singer.

In this intro post I will simply talk about the song, let you listen and give my literal translation of it.  Each of the following posts will cover a different scholar’s analysis.

Tadashii Machi (=The Right Town) was penned by Ringo when she was 18.  That the song comes first in her first album is no accident: it deals with her move from Fukuoka Prefecture in Kyushu to Tokyo to become a star [just like Leiji Matsumoto :D].  In fact, Ringo was born in Saitama just outside Tokyo, but her family moved to Fukuoka City when she was young and that’s where she grew up.  Although there’s no PV for the song, the video below is great because it highlights the neighborhoods in which Ringo grew up and lived (including her school and Ja-Ja, the livehouse she first performed at, plus places actually mentioned in the song).  Have a listen.

OK, so below are the lyrics in romanized Japanese.  All of the symbols and colors belong to the analysis of the first scholar I will deal with in the next post so just wait for that, though I imagine those musically inclined might figure what is what by listening to the song.  BTW, I borrowed and slightly modified the romanized lyrics from this nice site [here].

(1 – C’) Ano hi tobidashita /
kono machi to kimi ga tadashikatta no ni ne. /

(2 – A) Fuyukai na emi o mu//ke, nagai chinmoku no / ato
taido o sara ni waruku shitara /
(3 – A’) tsumetai asufaruto / ni hitai o kosurase//te
kitai-hazure no atashi o semeta /
(4 – B) kimi ga mawari o nakushita /
atashi wa sore o mushi shita. /
(5 – C) Sayonara o tsugeta / ano hi no kuchibiru ga ichinengo /
(6 – C’) do iu kimochi de /
ima atashi ni kisu o shite kureta no kana. /

(7 – A) Mijikai uso o tsuna/ge, akai mono ni kae//te
sogai sareyuku honne o fuseta. /
(8 – A’) Taranai kotoba yori / mo chikai kyori o kono//mi
rikai dekite ita yo ni omou ga /
(9 – B) kimi ni namida o oshieta /
atashi wa sore mo mushi shita. /
(10 – C) Kawaii hito nara /
suteru hodo iru nante iu kuse ni
(11 – C’) do shite imada ni /
kimi no yoko ni wa dare hitori inai no kana. /

(12 – D) Nante daisoreta koto o yume mite
shimatta n daro. /
anna goman na tagui no ai o oshitsuketari. /
(13 – E) Tokai de wa fuyu no nioi mo tadashiku nai /
Momochihama mo kimi mo Muromigawa mo nai. /

(14 – C) Mo wagamama nado /
ienai koto wa wakatte iru kara /
(15 – C) asu no kuko ni /
saigo de mo kite nante totemo ienai. /
(16 – C) Chukoku wa subete ima batsu to shite genjitsu ni natta.

(17 – C’) Ano hi tobidashita /
kono machi to kimi ga tadashikatta no ni ne. /

Below is my translation of the song.  I’ve tried to be as literal as possible refrained from injecting my own interpretations (a comparison with the translation offered in the link above might be helpful).  I’ve also kept the verse numbers for easy reference.

(1) I flew away on that day
even though the town and you were right.

(2) I showed an unpleasant smile and then after a long silence
my behavior grew worse,
(3) you rubbed your forehead against the cold asphalt
and attacked me, who had disappointed you.
(4) You lost your surroundings
and I ignored that.
(5) The lips who said “goodbye” on that day, after one year
(6) what did they feel
when they kissed me, I wonder?

(7) I strung short lies until they became a red* one [red lie = big lie in Japanese]
and concealed my real intentions.
(8) Preferring a short distance to words that cannot suffice
I think it was understood
(9) but I, who taught you tears,
ignored them as well.
(10) Even though you say “As for cute people,
there are enough to throw away”
(11) why until this point
there is still no one beside you, I wonder?

(12) How outrageous was the dream
I ended up having,
pushing such an arrogant kind of love on you?
(13) The winter doesn’t smell right in the big city.
There’s no Momochihama*, no you and no Muromigawa*. [locations in Fukuoka]

(14) As for selfish demands
I know I can’t make them and so
(15) as for tomorrow at the airport
there’s no way I can ask you to come even if it’s the end.
(16) All of the warnings have come true as a punishment.

(17) I flew away on that day
even though the town and you were right.

***

The fun begins in the next series post…well, I guess it depends on what you consider fun 😀

~ by Haloed Bane on May 21, 2011.