Creepy Nuts – Bling-Bang-Bang Born Translation + Explanation

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Video explanation for Bling-Bang-Bang-Born by Creepy Nuts, enjoy! (Sorry for the scuffed audio!)

Translation

You’re using cheat codes, you are just gifted, such a power play, everyone wants me

You can’t say that, that’s against the rules, they didn’t even see me coming

That’s not fair, you are not on my level, I’m not even from this world

There’s no way you say, but I didn’t even ask

AY all my rivals say the same

Wow all my rivals say the same

They say it’s a glitch, it’s just luck, they won’t acknowledge me no matter what

Are you for real? That you? In the flesh?

It’s all real It’s all real yeah yeah yeah yeah

Bling-bang-bang, Bling-Bang-Bang-Born

Bling-bang-bang, Bling-Bang-Bang-Born

Before I even show what I got

They just pretend not to see

I’m very happy of an increasing difficulty

Because I’m clearly the best by far

I keep evolving everyday (Bling Bling)

I don’t need cash from mommy, my ice is icyer than yours (I see)

I know, it looks impossible to me too but I’m happy with it

Ah, I’m losing it… everyone around is just amazed

I’m just blessed by family and friends (happy)

If you think it’s not fair, then just leave it to me (Bang Bang Bang)

Can’t find it in textbooks, can’t find it in workbooks

Listen to these BAD lines

Mirror, mirror just tell them

Who’s the best? I’m the best! Oh yeah

Just like this I keep going

To the next, to the top of the top

Now singin’

Bling-Bang-Bang, Bling-Bang-Bang, Bling-Bang-Bang Born

Bling-Bang-Bang, Bling-Bang-Bang, Bling-Bang-Bang Born

Bling-Bang-Bang, Bling-Bang-Bang, Bling-Bang-Bang Born

To the next, to the top of the top

Eyday Just being me is such a flex

Eyday nobody can’t deny (don’t test)

Eyday Just being me is such a flex

Eyday nobody can’t deny (don’t test)

Got no degrees, no criminal records, still I make Bling-Bling so easy

My brain itself it’s a cultural treasure Bling-Bling

Got so much cash I don’t even have the license for my car

Nationwide sensation

Loaded with bullets

Heavy bars in Kansai dialect

Music, Luck, Goddess of fortune, tonight too they are on my lap Bang Bang

I’m like one of those bad yakuza in the mangas

My head and my lips are just too strong

Don’t got tattoos

Don’t got scars on my face

All the bars I keep spitting

Make wrinkles appear on my face, making me look me wiser

Bling-Bang-Bang, Bling-Bang-Bang, Bling-Bang-Bang Born

I was just Born in Japan to get Bling, Bang and Bang again

Mirror, mirror just tell them

Who’s the best? I’m the best! Oh yeah

Just like this I keep going

To the next, to the top of the top

Now singin’

Bling-Bang-Bang, Bling-Bang-Bang, Bling-Bang-Bang Born

Bling-Bang-Bang, Bling-Bang-Bang, Bling-Bang-Bang Born

Bling-Bang-Bang, Bling-Bang-Bang, Bling-Bang-Bang Born

To the next, to the top of the top

Eyday Just being me is such a flex

Eyday nobody can’t deny (don’t test)

Eyday Just being me is such a flex

Eyday nobody can’t deny (don’t test)

Maria Takeuchi – Plastic Love

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In the video, in depth analysis of the lyrics and insight of the meaning and the song

_

Translation

_

With a sudden kiss or an intense gaze

Please don’t derail the schedule of love

I’ll fill in the timing of our first meeting and last goodbye

And once the time comes, it’ll be over, don’t hurry!

_

Since that day when my love got hurt

I go on with my life where day and night are inverted

And while dancing all night in a trendy disco

I learned the magic word I’m sorry!

_

Don’t you ever love me for real

Love is nothing but a game

As long as you’re having fun, that’s good

Decorating my shut off heart

My flashy dress and shoes are my lonely companions

_

Those trying to lure me in are always a joke

They look like him

And for some reason the memories overlap

So if my glass falls and I tear up

Don’t ask me why, ok?

_

By the time I fall asleep on the highway late at night

Only the halogen lights glimmer enticingly

Even if you hear whispering voice

Saying that I’m women cold as ice don’t worry!

_

I’m just playing games

I know that’s plastic love

Dance to the plastic beat

Another morning comes

YOASOBI – IDOL Translation+Video Explanation

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In the video, in depth analysis of the lyrics and insight on the meaning and the song: audio & video quality are still a work in progress

Original song here

Translation

Stirring up the media with your unrivaled smile,

Everyone wishes to know your secrets, so mysterious!

Looking like you don’t care, that’s your strong point

You, so perfect and a liar

Are a genius Idol

  

What did you eat today?

What’s your favorite book?

Where do you go in your free time?

I don’t eat at all

That’s a secret

Even when asked that

I just give vague answers

 

Yes, so vague,

Yet so brilliant

The secret that you try to see through has the taste of honey

Nonono, it’s not like that

Nonono, it’s not like this

What’s your type?

Do you have a partner?

Come on, tell us

 

“I don’t even know if I like someone”

I don’t know what’s real and what’s a lie

These words make me sink into loneliness

But I make you like me even more

 

Stealing everyone’s attention

You are the perfect ultimate idol

Never showing your true self

The reincarnation of the brightest star

With your smile and your “I love you”

You make everyone fall on their knee

Your eyes and your words

They might be a lie, but they are the perfect love

 

Yeah yeah, that girl is a case on its own

We cannot even compare from the start

I am just a lowly sidekick to the star

But that’s not thanks to her anyway

Who does she think she is

It’s not like I’m jealous anyway

It’s not even a joke

So I won’t be easy on you

I won’t forgive you when are you are anything but perfect

And I won’t forgive myself

I’ll never acknowledge anyone stronger than you

 

Everyone has faith in you and worships you

Yes, you truly are the perfect ultimate idol

You have no weak spot

Truly the spirit of the brightest star lives in you

You shouldn’t show your weak point

Don’t show us what we don’t want to know

We won’t like you if you are not the one and only

Yes, this is true love

 

Firing up the media with a perfect smile

The only secret that I should always conceal

Is that to lie and say I love you it’s the carrier I am pursuing

This is exactly what I call love

My dripping sweat is a beautiful essence

My eyelids conceal rubies

Singing and dancing, I’m just like Mary

Yes, lies are the pinnacle of love

 

I’ve never been loved

And never loved anyone

Yet, this lie of me, one day

I believe it’ll come true

 

One day I’ll have everything,

Yes, I’m such a greedy idol

Without filter, all of you,

I want to love you

So, today too, I’ll tell my lies

So wish for the day in which my words will come true

Yet again

I couldn’t tell this to you and you

 

Ah, I finally said it

This is definitely not a lie

I love you

Some posts later… and until the next post… – Departure, work, music

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I never know how to open this kind of posts, so I’ll just start.

October 10th 2021, that is the official date established for my arrival in Japan. Yes, in a world where accessing Japan hasn’t been such a huge hurdle since the 18th century, I managed to find a job in the land of the rising sun. I’ll be working for almost a year as a CIR (Coordinator for International Relations) in a small town called Minamishimabara in the Nagasaki Prefecture.

When I started working in March and when I applied for this position in April, I couldn’t really imagine how fast my life would have changed and these last 6 months have fled by so quicly that I’m almost scared that in a blink of an eye I might be turning into a bald 50 year old men. And while I was turning step-by-step into a single, fully vaccinated 26 year old men who has grown his curly hair as never before, I realize I didn’t have the mental energy to keep up with some of the activities I used to do before. Translating new songs from my favourite artists, searching for new artists, listening to them, planning new posts… this process has changed many times since I started this blog and now I feel like this kind of format is no more effective. My love for Visual-Kei and Japanese music in general is still there (you can find me screaming my favourite song in my car when stuck in the traffic jam), but at the moment I feel like I cannot contribue to the scene the way I want to: this will be my last post, at least for a while.

Of course, no need to worry, I won’t delete the blog: it has been such a wonderful and unique (virtual) place that I couldn’t even imagine deleting it. It started as my personal training ground for my Japanese language studies in Uni, then slowly turned into a fun way to gather information for my Master’s thesis and, overall, it has always been a way to recharge my mental energy and confidence thanks to your support and your comments, especially when things around me IRL tended to go sideways.

The modern music industry (both Japanese and worldwide) keeps pushing songs aiming for fast earnings at the release, giving birth to meteor-like tracks that strike the listener at first, but then are easily forgotten. My choice of working on the lyrics, in that sense, has gone towards the complete opposite direction, as understanding a text takes time and a sensibility that one may not posses at the moment. As you can easily see from this blog, it took me years to completely understand some songs, and some other I’m still in the process of understanding, but, thanks to that, a bunch of those I’ve translated here are stuck in my playlist, most likely forever… hopefully, some of them are in your playlist as well.

With this in mind, I leave all of my work here, for free, so that if, by chance, someone would want to look back at it, it can be a valuable tool. It has been so for me, and I’ll keep bringing this experience in my future job(s), until next time I’ll post something here… could be in years, could be in month if something goes wrong with my departure.

Thanks again and best of luck to all of you.

Emanuele

摩天楼オペラ (Matenrou Opera) – Helios Translation

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Kanji

Translation

–

We cannot find any god to pray to no more

and we just stand here,

helpless, just feeling the present.

–

It’s not something I should hate

nor should I hate someone because of this,

I understand that,

I see the road I should follow, don’t be afraid.

–

I look up at the rain stricking the ground and raise my arm as to stop it,

I changed the warmth that my heart desidered into my voice and sang.

Don’t fill even your heart with that freezing sadness,

please, listen to my voice

–

A smile is still there, inside me, inside you,

you should cry as much as you want,

because in the end that smile will be waiting for you.

–

I look up at the rain stricking the ground and raise my arm as to stop it,

the warmth that my heart desidered…

–

Oh, light of hope, engulf everything! Soar over everything, high like the sky!

All over the sky, to the end of the world, like the breath of life,

I start singing as if I was about to explode and the glimmering scream of existence

make my whole body resound and vibrate

–

The tender feeling of being able to love,

my chest does know that.

My temperature rises, my voice withers

and we all burn the same life away…

–

Notes and Others

Man, this song aged a lot…

Looking back at it, I’d say the first 2/3 are definetely an average 2010 era Visual-Kei song, but then that damn final part comes in saying “‘sup, we are Matenrou Opera, you dig?” and blows me away still to this day. I don’t know, those last lines to me are so fitting with the melody, Sono’s vibrato and message of the song, they are just great.

And the last line. Oh.my.god. That to me is a beautiful verse if I ever saw one. Perfect closing, deep meaning, in the right spot: I wish I wrote that. Every time I think I might be over Visual-Kei, that line comes to mind just to remember that these guys (talking about the band and the scene) have such a huge potential that is unlikely for me to just find a new thing to obsess on.

Hopefully, my translation made you appreciate those lines too.

Mejibray – ネペンテス (Nepenthes) Translation

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Kanji

Translation

–

Fall… fall, fall

–

The sins of my past strongly cladded to me

and the scissors pick me up

Countless stuffed toys,

without changing their expression

nor laughing, were watching me

–

I’ll liquify with your saliva

a mark on the tip of your tongue

like a pink information left there “to be awaited”

the corner of your mouth moved

–

If I was left in a world

where pain and hurt didn’t exist,

I’d probably pull your hand and say

“If you are thirsty, cut my throat and I’ll be your water”

–

If in this garden where flowers bloom

the roses won’t mock me,

I’d like to be tamed.

If I can decorate

the table where you are waiting,

then melt*,

persuade me*,

dissolve*

–

Ah… my dear**,

were you still crying?

Ah… my dear**,

where are our roots?

–

Whether it’s good or bad, if it’s my destiny to suggest that

denying grief and sorrow

is probably the mistake of this world,

then I think I’d recklessly pull your hand.

And if we are destined to a reality

where even existing is denied,

I’d link my light

to dissolving your body.

–

If in this garden where flowers bloom

the roses won’t mock me,

I’d like to be tamed.

If I can decorate

the table where you are waiting,

then melt*,

persuade me*,

dissolve*,

melt*,

melt*,

melt*

–

Notes and Others

*=these words are all read the same way, however they are all written in different ways, sometimes with different meaning. Also, in the final part of the song, the way of writing them become more and more elementary in each line, symbolizing in same way that the writing itself is dissolving in a simpler form.

**= even if it’s an endearing term used for one’s beloved/dear person, it is written in katakana, which kinda turns it into something alienating, weird, bad in a certain way. Not sure why tho. My guess is that it might be a recurring thing in Mejibray lyrics, but don’t quote me on that.

First things first, although I was obsessed with Mejibray artsy-gloominess, I cannot even come close to consider myself an expert in decoding their messages or symbols, but there someone who can and pretty much already did: Kii (HERESIARCHY). His blog is a must see and truly one of the few that I consider a truly valuable resources due to his amazing work on a huge number of lyrics.

That said, I’m a sucker for symbols and I’ve become much more competent in interpreting them (especially in Japanese culture), however I lack a general knowledge of the “the Mejibray/Tsuzuku writing style”. Yes, in the english translation it may seems like everything is its place, but Mejibray’s lyrics are pretty intricate and to me it always feels like they are hiding something from me. Who’s singing? Who feels like that? From what perspective is the song singed? While for many artist the answer is “the singer” or “the main character of the story”, with Mejibray I never feel confident in any of those answer. In one line it might be a certain “self”, but then in the next line it might be the “you” speaking about the “self” or even something else. The same thing goes for the choice of words, which in Visual-Kei is already pretty unusual, but somehow Mejibray managed to set up even more obscure metaphores through their discography.

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love this, but what I am trying to say is that I can’t give you a full-on interpretation like I do for other bands. Here we go.

In his interpretation, Kii says that the Nepenthes is a drug which, according to Greek mithology, could cure any kind of pain or sorrow, but actually I think Mejibray are referring to a kind of plant with the same name. This plant is similar to a deep and thin vase (if you know pokemon, it’s basically Victreebell) and attracts flies by creating a sweet substance inside itself just to catch them and then slowly “digesting” them.

In the song, I think the main characters wants to depict himself as a Nepenthes: while everyone else is a beautiful rose mesmerizing everyone with their beautiful appearance, he feels like an ugly existence, just waiting for a fly to fall (see the first line of the song) in his trap.

There’s much more, but I think that’s more tied to the general “topoi” of Mejibray’s lyrics, so I don’t feel comfortable digging in too much in it.

Mucc – 流星 (Ryuusei) Translation

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Kanji

Translation

Title: Falling Stars

–

A small flower inhabiting a railroad, at its side the rail track are lined up,

walking barefeet on the grass field, when I suddenly looked up there was a starry sky with no moon,

a panorama of raining falling stars, a dazzling of who knows how many light-years away,

and among that clear deep blue sky, the sparkling Greek Gods.

My stained toes*, while pulling you

who were looking at the sky, I go on walking, with my dirty hands.

I will not forget the true colours** of the panorama you loved.

But now even the stardust is too dazzling

and the two lovers are holding back their tears while trembling

and their entangled hands are so warm and yet full of sorrow.

–

Please don’t forget the beauty of the future you dreamt of,

that group of falling stars, fading stars and your smile.

Please, blame me for obstructing that sky of yours.

What do you think of the sky you see now when watching up?

The two lovers are holding back their tears while trembling

and their entangled hands are so small***, so frail…

Your flowing tears turn into stars****,

now fill up the sky with them and turn them into falling stars****

–

Clear sky, dazzling stars, wet with night dew, under the railroad tracks,

lives a fleeting existence between the rotting railroad, a white flower with four petals.

May those entangled hands never part

May you never let go of our entangled fingers

Over our heads pouring falling stars,

just like an early summer shower, or the light rain of early winter,

I walk barefeet on this Earth that loves a bit too much untainted things, those railroad as my only lead,

our entangled hands are warm,

and my hand is still dirty.

I walk among the panorama of pouring falling stars with my stained* toes

May you never let go of our entangled hands

May our entangled hearts never be torn apart

–

Notes and Others

*=this verb is ambigous in its meaning: it generally indicates something bloated/stained, but also hints that from that particular a certain feeling/characteristic can be seen, almost like being able to tell the feeling an artist through the strokes of paint of a piece.

**=again, very general word. Could mean “colour”, “true nature”, “emotion” and anything related to something personal or characteristic of a person.

***=it means “thin”, but it’s weird finding it here with that meaning, so it might be a way to hint at its more figurate meaning of “worrying”.

****=in Japanese “falling stars” are written as “flowing stars”, making the relationship between the tears and the stars much clear for the Japanese audience.

Mucc is probably one of the band that I struggle the most to appreciate. Not because I think they are overrated or plain (honestly, Tatsuro’s voice is something so rare in the whole Japanese scene that should belong to a museum), but because as soon as I think “ah, but yes of course, that is what they want to say!” they come out with a sentence that completely destroys all of my theories and makes me think they lined up words that have a good sound. I’m sure that’s not the case, but this problem convinced me that, to me, Mucc are to appreciated from a certain distance.

Ryuusei to me embodies this struggle. This song has been on my playlist for at least 7-8 years, when I try to sing it, it sounds so profound, but every time I approach to the lyrics and try to translate them, it feels like I’m completely missing the point and shredding any form of poesy of the words. But goddamn I love this song.

What’s the interpretation? Honestly, I’ve no real clue. It’s a story about a couple walking barefeet under a starry sky. It’s about feeling like a frail flower, trapped between a railroad (maybe the railroads of life), watching the stars and dreaming about them. It’s about a sad love story, like those of the constellation which take the name from characters of Greek Mithology and have always a tragic ending, like two lovers unable to be together or something. It’s a just song with a beautiful imagery. Maybe all of this, maybe only some part of it: fuck you Mucc, I really don’t understand how to love you.

Acid Black Cherry – ピストル (Pistol) Translation

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DISCLAIMER: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN CONTENT NOT SUITABLE FOR UNDERAGE PEOPLE (MANY MANY SEXUAL REFERENCES). VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

Kanji

Translation

–

Come on, don’t make me bored, don’t let the honey of love spill down

that pistol you go so proud of, stick it right here.

Just like passing a thread through a needle, just like crashing a fruit with your bare hand,

going forecefully* towards Heaven, come on, the countdown has already started

–

Touch me in that place where I’m wet, talk to me in a more sadistic way than that asshole

make me lose my composure more, don’t avert your eyes

–

Whisper in my ears, choke me, tease me, make me feel good to the point my eyes turn blank

I’m tired of waiting for the Show time, a russian roulette with a single bullet, aim at me, I put the pistol in my mouth

and kiss it until it melts!

–

Let’s Get out Dance!

Crazy! I have nothing!

Baby! Don’t stop!

Fill me with your heat, let that russian ecstasy** flow in me!

Crash me! I’m coming! My soul!

Break out! Pierce me and tear me apart!

It’s a pleasure-like hurt, even if I pretend to look strong, leave me senseless, Bang!

–

You don’t like a lewd pet like me***? Even that asshole had to recognize my ability.

See, sex is a talent, even ABC sing that****.

Try moaning one more time, that’s the position that that asshole liked,

3 cm per second, nobody can lie after that.

–

I let my tongue out, let out your love, that overflowing jelly, a sparkling jewel,

we entangle and kiss!

–

Let’s Get Out Dance!

Crazy! I have nothing!

Baby! Don’t stop!

The paradise is right over there, don’t leave me behind!

Crash me! I’m coming! My soul!

Break out! Pierce me and tear me apart!

In such a reckless reality, shoot out the past***** too Bang!

Crack! Pain! Shoot me! Wake up!

–

I heard so many times the same loving words in mainstream songs, I’m sick of it.

Don’t try to show off, your trigger cannot hold it anymore, when I touch your erected revolver…

it shoots out, kiss!

–

Let’s Get out Dance!

Crazy! I have nothing!

Baby! Don’t stop!

Fill me with your heat, let that russian ecstasy** flow in me!

Crash me! I’m coming! My soul!

Break out! Pull the trigger!

With that bullet called Ascension, leave this weak me senseless Bang!

Crack! Pain! Shoot me! Wake up!

–

Notes and Other

Words in Italic are in English in the original lyrics.

*=this word is pretty much impossible to translate properly since it express an indefinite feeling rather than a precise thing. The idea is two things grinding together forecefully, almost if you were to put together two thing that don’t really match.

**= it’s a pun on russian roulette, in line with the imagery of the song, meaning that the pistol is a way to get to ecstasy.

***= this sentences is written in an overly servile wording, making it even more lewd.

****= yes, they just quoted themselves in their own song: ABC are the initials of Acid Black Cherry and everyone calls them that way.

*****= written as “past”, read “that asshole”.

Acid Black Cherry are definitely on another level with their lyrics: while the sex theme is definetely not new to the Visual-Kei scene (in some years it was even overused in my opinion), I feel like nobody manages to be so consistently graphic in their lyrics as Acid Black Cherry. Even though they rose to mainstream fame in Japan thanks to way more PC songs, ABC have a whole array of lewd-ish song with lyrics written from the perspective of a woman, something that is actually a really taboo-ish topic in Japan, and that attracted a wide public from the underground scene and outside of it.

To put it bluntly, if you still haven’t realized it, this song is about sex, in particular, about a woman begging for rough sex in order to forget the previous partner (called “asshole” throughout the song). Again, ultra-classic topic, but sang from the perspective of a woman who keeps instructing his partner, in love with her own lust and very distant from the expected image of women in Japan (to give you a general idea, a horribly common saying recites “good wife, wise mother”).

Before someone tries to cram sexism in the discussion, I need to point out that I find it difficult to believe that these lyrics enforce the image of a submissive woman: idols and pop music in general really push the image of “immaculate” women loving unconditionally sweet men, which limits the range the expression of women. On the other hand, ABC often put women in shambles as main characters of their narration, dealing with rough love stories and showing an alternative image of women. To further prove my point, while idols are unfamous for having tons of middle-aged men fantasizing about them as fans, ABC fans are mainly women (at least at live concerts): if women didn’t enjoy or empatize with such content, they wouldn’t engage with it.