人間の心の中には生まれつきある音楽が流れていてそれに似た曲を人は好きになるんだとか。「自分の曲」は何だろうといつも考えながら歌詞を和訳しています。
I have heard that every one of us has a special music running deep inside our soul and whatever music we love in our lives has something in common with it. I always translate English lyrics into Japanese, wondering what my music sounds like.
あのDavid Guettaのような大御所DJにもかつては無名時代というものがありました。先日観たTV番組で彼がDJになりたての頃に働いていたクラブを訪れ，そこであった思い出話をしていたのですが，ある日，コロンビア系アメリカ人DJのErick Morilloの音頭で，彼の最初の曲であるこの曲をそのクラブのフロアにいた全員が合唱してくれたそうです。
Even an establish DJ and producer like David Guetta once had days of being nobody. In a TV program I watched the other day, he visited a club where he started his music career as a DJ and talked about his memories of those early days. One day Erick Morillo, a renowned Colombian-American DJ surprised him to have everybody in the room sing this song, his very first record. Just A Little More Love (David Guetta ft. Chris Willis)
Just a little more love
Just a little more peace
It's all it takes to live a dream
Walk hand in hand
Gotta understand
And one day soon
We'll live in harmony
歌詞を見た時，これはいわゆるラヴ・アンド・ピースに代表されるような1960年代～1970年代のフォークソング」なのではないかと一瞬錯覚してしまいましたが，どうしてどうしてあのDavid Guettaが2002年に出した曲です。ただ，振り返って見れば，彼は同じChris Willisと組んでLove Is Goneという曲を書いているので，実は元々こういうキャラなのかもしれません。
この曲を歌っているOf Monsters and MenのNanna Bryndís HilmarsdóttirがNMEに語ったところによると，この曲の歌詞は「雨」に象徴される困難に立ち向かうこと (coping with adversity)なのだとか。雨という言葉で，困難と同様に悲しみや不和そして人生における辛い時期などを表現するのは珍しくありませんが，この曲が他と違うのは，その雨という言葉を，最終的に主人公の人生に成功をもたらしてくれる激流と結び付けて肯定的に使っている点でしょう。
According to Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir of Of Monsters and Men, the song is about coping with adversary and the rain in the lyrics represents it. It's pretty common that the rain in song lyrics represents something unpleasant such as a sorrow, rift and tough times in life as well as adversary. I think what makes the song stand out from others is that it uses the word in a positive way by associating it with a wild river which eventually brings prosperity to the protagonist. Empire (Of Monsters and Men)
(Official Fan Video)
[Verse 1]
Feel the ocean as it breathes
Shivering teeth
See the mountains where they meet
Smothering me
As the wind fends off the waves
I count down the days
Heavy stones
Fear no weather
[Verse 2]
I find comfort in the sound
And the shape of the heart
How it echoes through the chest
From under the ground
As the hills turn into holes
I fill them with gold
Heavy stones
Fear no weather
[Chorus]
And from the rain
Comes a river running wild that will create
An empire for you
Illuminate!
There's a river running wild that will create
An empire for you
An empire for two
An empire for you
An empire for two
[Verse 3]
And I paint your body black
I hide in your hair
And you're staring back at me
Like I wasn't there
As our bodies become stills
We welcome the fear
Heavy stones
Fear no weather
[Chorus]
And from the rain
Comes a river running wild that will create
An empire for you
Illuminate!
There's a river running wild that will create
An empire for you
An empire for two
An empire for you
An empire for two
[Bridge Instrumental]
[Chorus]
And from the rain
Comes a river running wild that will create
An empire for you
Illuminate!
There's a river running wild that will create
An empire for you
An empire for two
An empire for you
An empire for two
あくまでも私見ですが，この主人公は自分を毒ヘビに喩えているような気がします。「アタシの唇は血の気がなくて青白いけどちょっと危険なものなんだ(my lips are pale and vicious)」「口から泡を吹きながら(You’re foaming at the mouth)」「そんな苦しみはすぐにアタシが吸い出して楽にしてあげるから(I’ll suck the pain right out)」といった箇所もそれを裏付けていると思われるのですが，いかがでしょうか
In my humble opinion, I think the protagonist compares herself to a viper. Lines like "my lips are pale and vicious", "You’re foaming at the mouth" and "I’ll suck the pain right out" are in accordance with the comparison. What do you think? Love Bites (So Do I) (Halestorm)
Don’t listen what your girlfriend says
She reads those magazines
That say you failed the test
You don’t have what she needs
I slither like a viper
And get you by the neck
I know a thousand ways to help you forget about her
That bitch can eat her heart out!
Love bites, but so do I, so do I.
Love bites, but so do I, so do I.
Love bites!
My lips are pale and vicious.
You’re foaming at the mouth.
You’ve suffered in the darkness.
I’ll suck the pain right out.
So come and taste the reason
I’m nothing like the rest.
I kiss you in a way you’ll never forget about me.
That chick can eat her heart out!
Love bites, but so do I, so do I.
Love bites, but so do I, so do I, so do I!
It checks you in and kicks you down,
And chews you up and spits you out.
It messes with your sanity by twisting all your thoughts around.
They say it’s blind they say it waits but every time it seals your fate.
And now it’s got you by the balls it won’t let go until you fall.
I was down and out, got up I said “Hey love I’ve had enough!”
I’ve felt pleasure without pain.
My soul you’ll never tame!
Love bites, but so do I.
Love bites, but so do I, so do I
Love bites, but so do I, so do I, so do I!
Love bites, but so do I, so do I.
Love bites!
Love bites!
この曲のなかでTyler Josephは子どもの頃を懐かしがり「できるなら，楽しかったあの頃に，時間を戻して帰りたい，ママの歌を聞きながら，眠れてたあの頃に，なのに今じゃストレスまみれ」とできるものなら戻りたいと言っています。 聞いていると，彼の子ども時代はなにもかもが美しく幸せだったようですが本当でしょうか？
研究者によると，人間はいい思い出は長く覚えているが，悪い思い出はじきに忘れてしまう傾向にあり，そうすることで「不快な状況に対応し，人生を前向きに捉えることができるようになる」んだとか。仮にそうならこの主人公 (Tyler Joseph)も，しばらくしたら「確かに苦しかったけどそれだけのことはあった」とかなんとか言いながら，現在の状況を肯定的に思い出すのではないでしょうか？
In this song, Tyler Joseph misses his early days and wishes if he could be there again, saying "Wish we could turn back time to the good old days, When our momma sang us to sleep but now we're stressed out." Everything in his childhood seems to be beautiful and happy but is it true?
Researchers say that we tend to hold onto our good memories and leave the bad ones behind because it "helps us to deal with unpleasant situations and retain a positive outlook on life." If so, it's possible that the narrator (Tyler Joseph) will soonb recall the situation he's now in positively, saying like "it's not easy but it's worth it." Stressed Out (twenty one pilots)
[Verse 1]
I wish I found some better sounds no one's ever heard
I wish I had a better voice that sang some better words
I wish I found some chords in an order that is new
I wish I didn't have to rhyme every time I sang
I was told when I get older, all my fears would shrink
But now I'm insecure, and I care what people think
[Pre-Chorus]
My name's Blurryface and I care what you think
My name's Blurryface and I care what you think
[Chorus]
Wish we could turn back time to the good old days
When our momma sang us to sleep but now we're stressed out
Wish we could turn back time to the good old days
When our momma sang us to sleep but now we're stressed out
[Verse 2]
Sometimes a certain smell will take me back to when I was young
How come I'm never able to identify where it's coming from?
I'd make a candle out of it, if I ever found it
Try to sell it, never sell out of it, I'd probably only sell one
It'd be to my brother, cause we have the same nose, same clothes, home grown, the stone's throw from a creek we used to roam
But it would remind us of when nothing really mattered
Out of student loans and tree house homes, we all would take the latter
[Pre-Chorus] + [Chorus]
[Bridge](x2)
Used to play pretend, give each other different names, we would build a rocket ship and then we'd fly it far away
Used to dream of outer space, but now they're laughing at our face singing "wake up, you need to make money", yeah
[Chorus]
[Outro] (Blurryface)
We used to play pretend, used to play pretend, bunny
We used to play pretend, wake up you need the money
Used to play pretend, used to play pretend, bunny
We used to play pretend, wake up you need the money
Used to play pretend, give each other different names, we would build a rocket ship and then we'd fly it far away
Used to dream of outer space, but now they're laughing at our face saying "wake up, you need to make money", yeah
歌詞の中で主人公は相手に対して「だからそのハートの中に，閉じ込めたままにしていかないで (Don't leave me locked in your heart)」と求めています。一体どういう経緯で彼女がそこに閉じ込められるに至ったかはわかりませんが，相手が故意に彼女をそこに誘い込んだのでない限り，そこに閉じ込められたと相手に文句を言うことはできません。所有者あるいは居住者の許可なく他人の住居に入り込めば，住居侵入の罪に問われます。自業自得ですね。
In the lyrics, the narrator asks the second person not to leave her in their heart. I don't know how she ended up being locked up there but unless the second person deliberately lured her to get in, she cannot blame them for trapping her there. If you break into someone's house without any permission from the owner or the residents, you could be accused of trespassing. She asked for it. Can't Get You Out of My Head (Kylie Minogue)
[Chorus 1]
La la la
La la la la la
[Chorus 2
I just can't get you out of my head
Boy your loving is all I think about
I just can't get you out of my head
Boy it's more than I dare to think about
[Verse 1]
Every night, every day
Just to be there in your arms
Won't you stay? Won't you lay?
Stay forever and ever and ever and ever
[Chorus 1]
[Chorus 2]
[Verse 2]
There's a dark secret in me
Don't leave me locked in your heart
Set me free, feel the need in me
Set me free, stay forever and ever and ever and ever
[Chorus 1]
[Outro]
I just can't get you out of my head
I just can't get you out of my head
I just can't get you out of my head
因みにそのブリちゃんのToxic，元々このKylie Minogueのために書かれたそうですが彼女がパスしたんだとか。このCan't You Get Out of My Head，アメリカではイギリスや他の国ほどヒットしなかったようですが，これに対してToxicの方はかなりヒットした模様。無論Britneyだったから良かったのかもしれませんが，逃した魚は決して小さくはなかったと思われます。
Lost Frequenciesによるこの曲のリミックスを聞くまで，Lost Frequenciesと同様，Easton Corbinという名前も聞いたことがありませんでしたし，彼らが一体どういう人物なのかも全く知りませんでした。この曲に出会えたことは大変嬉しいのですが，それと同時に世の中には和訳する歌詞が限りなくあるという事実に気付き圧倒されています。
Before I heard the remix of this song by Lost Frequencies, I hadn't never heard the name Easton Corbin as well as Lost Frequencies. I didn't have the slightest idea of who they were, either. Now I'm grateful that I stumbled upon it but pretty overwhelmed by the fact that there are far too many songs for me to translate. Are You With Me (Easton Corbin / Lost Frequencies)
(Lost Frequencies Remix)
[Verse 1]
I want to dance by the water 'neath the Mexican sky
Drink some Margaritas by a string of blue lights
Listen to the Mariachi play at midnight
Are you with me, are you with me?
I want to fall like the Carolina rain on your skin
I want to walk a little too far out on that limb
Take you every place I've been and never been
Are you with me, are you with me?
[Chorus]
We can chase the wild dreams, live like crazy
Love me baby, come on, come on, come on
Just throw your arms around me
We can run like we won't run out of time
[Verse 2]
I want to fly so high that I'll never come down
I want to love so hard, it could rip my heart out
I want to get so lost that I'll never be found
Are you with me? Are you with me?
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Are you with me?
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Are you with me?
Are you with me?
Are you with me?
[Outro]
Come on, come on, come on
Just come with me
タイトルのare you wit meですが，会話の中では込み入った話をする際，途中で相手に「いい？ここまではわかってる？」と確認する意味で使うことが多いような気がします。
元々この曲をLost Frequenciesのリミックスで知りそちらの歌詞を和訳しようとしていたわけですが，リミックス版では，インデントした部分がなかったため，このare you with meが「いっしょにいてくれる？」あるいは「同じ気持ち？」という意味なのか「ここまではわかってる？」という意味なのかがなかなか掴めませんでした。
歌詞の最後の2行の解釈については，それは違うとお考えの方もおいでになるかもしれません。確かに最初は私もそこは主人公が語っているのだと思いました。ただ後でその部分を語っているのは主人公ではなく相手の方であるという解釈を見つけ，そちらの方がはるかに筋が通るように思われました。
主人公は相手（おそらく男性）に「ひとつでいいから教えてよ，このままで，いた方がいいその理由（わけ）を」と迫ります。ここで注目していただきたいのは，件の2行の直前に主人公が「一体どうしてこのままで，いる方がいいって言うの？ (Baby just give me one reason, Give me just one reason why I should stay)」と言っており，その次の行が「だって (Because)」で始まっている点です。
Some of you might not agree with me on the interpretation of the last two lines in the outro. At first I thought it's the narrator who said the lines. Later I came across an interpretation that it's the second person not the narrator herself. That made a lot more sense to me.
She keeps asking the second person (probably a guy) to give her one reason to stay there. Please note that just before these lines, the protagonist says, "Baby just give me one reason, Give me just one reason why I should stay" and the following lines begin with "Because". Give Me One Reason (Tracy Chapman)
[Chorus]
Give me one reason to stay here
And I'll turn right back around
Give me one reason to stay here
And I'll turn right back around
Because I don't want leave you lonely
But you got to make me change my mind
[Verse 1]
Baby I got your number and I know that you got mine
But you know that I called you, I called too many times
You can call me baby, you can call me anytime
But you got to call me
[Chorus]
Give me one reason to stay here
And I'll turn right back around
Give me one reason to stay here
And I'll turn right back around
Because I don't want leave you lonely
But you got to make me change my mind
[Verse 2]
I don't want no one to squeeze me, they might take away my life
I don't want no one to squeeze me, they might take away my life
I just want someone to hold me and rock me through the night
This youthful heart can love you and give you what you need
This youthful heart can love you and give you what you need
But I'm too old to go chasing you around
Wasting my precious energy
[Chorus]
Give me one reason to stay here
And I'll turn right back around
Give me one reason to stay here
And I'll turn right back around
Because I don't want leave you lonely
But you got to make me change my mind
[Outro]
Baby just give me one reason, Give me just one reason why
Baby just give me one reason, Give me just one reason why I should stay
Because I told you that I loved you
And there ain't no more to say
このタイトルが競馬の「流し」であったなら軸はJohnですね。それはともかく，John Cougar，John DeereそしてJohn 3:16は，カントリー・シンガーのJohn Mellencamp，有名なトラクタのブランド，聖書のヨハネ3章16節をそれぞれ表しており，この3つはアメリカのカントリー文化の中に深く織り込まれています。
Suppose that the title is a wheel betting in horse racing, the key is a horse called 'John'. Anyway, each of John Cougar, John Deere and John 3:16 in the title represents a country singer, John Mellencamp, a well-known brand of tractors and chapter 3, verse 16 of the Gospel of John respectively. These all three are deeply entwined in the country music culture in the US. John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16 (Keith Urban)
[Verse 1]
I'm a 45 spinning on an old Victrola
I'm a two strike swinger, I'm a Pepsi Cola
I'm a blue jean quarterback saying "I love you" to the prom queen
In a Chevy
I'm John Wayne, Superman, California
I'm a Kris Kristofferson Sunday morning
I'm a mom and daddy singing along to Don McLean
At the levee
[Chorus]
And I'm a child of a backseat freedom, baptized by rock and roll
Marilyn Monroe and the Garden of Eden, never grow up, never grow old
Just another rebel in the great wide open on the boulevard of broken dreams
And I learned everything I needed to know from John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16
[Post-Chorus]
Hey, hey
Everything I needed
That's right
[Verse 2]
I'm Mark Twain on the Mississippi
I'm Hemingway with a shot of whiskey
I'm a TV dinner on a tray trying to figure out the Wheel of Fortune
I'm a Texaco star, I'm a Gibson guitar
I'm still a teenage kid trying to go too far
I'm a jukebox waiting in a neon bar for a quarter
[Chorus]
And I'm a child of a backseat freedom, baptized by rock and roll
Marilyn Monroe and the Garden of Eden, never grow up, never grow old
Just another rebel in the great wide open on the boulevard of broken dreams
And I learned everything I needed to know from John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16
[Bridge]
I spent a lot of years running from believing, looking for another way to save my soul
The longer I live, the more I see it: there's only one way home
[Chorus]
And I'm a child of a backseat freedom, baptized by rock and roll
Marilyn Monroe and the Garden of Eden, never grow up, never grow old
Just another rebel in the great wide open on the boulevard of broken dreams
And I learned everything I needed to know from John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16
And I'm a child of a backseat freedom, baptized by rock and roll
Marilyn Monroe and the Garden of Eden, never grow up, never grow old
Just another rebel in the great wide open on the boulevard of broken dreams
And I learned everything I needed to know from John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16
[Outro]
(John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16)
Everything I needed
(John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16)
Everything I needed
(John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16)
That's right
時折自分でも言葉にこだわり過ぎている時があるのですが，人間なら誰でも他人には理解できないこだわりのひとつやふたつはあるものですよね？食べ物にうるさい人もいますし，着るものにこだわりがある人も，礼儀作法にやたら厳しい人もいます。
ところで，この歌詞に登場する「この俺はBuddy Hollyにそっくりだから，お前は彼とウワサになったMary Tyler Mooreみたいなもんだ (I look just like Buddy Holly, Oh-oh, and you're Mary Tyler Moore)」の箇所，元々は「お前はジンジャー・ロジャース (Ginger Rogers) そっくりだから，俺だってアステアみたいに動いてやるぜ (Fred Astaire)」だったんだとか。個人的には変えたことでさほど大きな違いが出たとは思えませんが，バンドの誰かはきっと「ある」と思ったんでしょうね。
Sometimes I'm a bit fussy about words. We all have our own obsessiveness that others don't understand, don't we? Some people are fussy about foods, some about clothes and others about manners.
The lines, "I look just like Buddy Holly, Oh-oh, and you're Mary Tyler Moore" were originally, "You look just like Ginger Rogers/Oh-oh/I move just like Fred Astaire." I don't think that made a significant difference but probably someone in the band thought it did. Buddy Holly (Weezer)
[Verse 1]
What's with these homies dissin' my girl?
Why do they gotta front?
What did we ever do to these guys
That made them so violent?
[Pre-Chorus]
Woo-hoo, but you know I'm yours
Woo-hoo, and I know you're mine
Woo-hoo, and that's for all time
[Chorus]
Woo-ee-oo, I look just like Buddy Holly
Oh-oh, and you're Mary Tyler Moore
I don't care what they say about us anyway
I don't care 'bout that
[Verse 2]
Don't you ever fear, I'm always there
I know that you need help
Your tongue is twisted, your eyes are slit
You need a guardian
[Pre-Chorus]
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Bang! Bang! A knock on the door
Another big bang and you're down on the floor
Oh no! what do we do?
Don't look now but I lost my shoe
I can't run and I can't kick
What's a matter, babe, are you feelin' sick?
What's a matter, what's a matter, what's a matter you?
What's a matter, babe, are you feelin' blue? Oh-oh!
(And that's for all time
And that's for all time)
最初は第一連に登場する「she」は主人公の恋愛相手だと思っていたのですが，今はこれは彼の母親のことであり，そこに登場する「旅(the next flight)」は「この世からの旅立ち」だと考えています。だからこそ主人公は「いつも電話を手放せない」のでしょう。
At first I thought 'she' in the first verse represented someone the narrator's in love with but not anymore. Now I think 'she' is his mother and 'the next flight' the narrator mentions is a metaphor for the departure from this life. That's why he keeps the phone by his side. Great Big Storm (Nate Ruess)
[Intro]
Because we’re
Holding our own in a great big storm
It’s a great big storm and we’re holding our own
Holding our own in a great big storm
It’s a great big storm and we’re holding our own
[Verse 1]
I’ve been lost in this maze
Losing love, losing friends
Losing faith in chemicals
Afraid one day you’ll find me
Asleep above the stars
I watch my mother cry
Father Time is catching up
I keep the phone by my side
Afraid she’ll wake me up to catch the next flight
In time to say goodbye
[Pre-Chorus]
But sometimes I fall asleep at night
To the TV light and it sings
Oh ooo whoa oh
One day the sun will break into the room
[Chorus]
Because we’re holding our own in a great big storm
And though we’re cutting it close
We won’t let go
Oh no I can’t believe
Everything falling down around me
But now we’re holding our own
And won’t let go
Holding our own in a great big storm
It’s a great big storm and we’re holding our own
Holding our own in a great big storm
It’s a great big storm and we’re holding our own
[Verse 2]
Broken hearts broken homes and broken bones
Secret love let me go
You know I gotta find my own way
Through mistakes that I can’t change
Because there’s beauty in every sin
Every single black eye
Has some blue like the moon just before the sun shines
No I don’t believe in all the things that they preach
[Pre-Chorus]
But sometimes I fall asleep at night
And I just know you’re smiling at me
Oh ooo whoa oh
One day I’m gonna make this up to you
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
I can’t stand myself
And all the curse words that fall from my mouth
I can’t stand myself
Or my legs as they run from the ones here to help
But I just woke up with you next to me
Some new air to breathe
And a belief that it’s all gonna be alright
I can’t stand myself
But it’s high time that we gave it a try
And I think I’m gonna finally give myself a new try
繁華街でこの曲が演奏されているのを何度も聞いたことがあります。演奏しているのはアマチュアだったり，そこで自分のCDを売っているようなセミ・プロであったりと様々です。曲調は美しいものの物悲しく感傷的なので，なんとなくこの曲は「世俗的な豊かさを捨てて自由になろう」的な曲だと思っていました。それで間違いというわけではないのですが正しいとも言い切れません。疑問がひとつ残ります。
I've heard buskers play this tune around the downtown many times before. Some of them seemed to be amateurs and some semi-pro selling their CD's there. Because of its beautiful but sad and melancholic melody I somehow reckoned it's a song about leaving our earthly possessions and let ourselves free. Well, I wasn't totally wrong but not correct either. One question remains. El Condor Pasa (If I Could) (Simon & Garfunkel)
'd rather be a sparrow than a snail
Yes I would
If I could
I surely would
I'd rather be a hammer than a nail
Yes I would
If I only could
I surely would
Away, I'd rather sail away
Like a swan that's here and gone
A man gets tied up to the ground
He gives the world
Its saddest sound
Its saddest sound
I'd rather be a forest than a street
Yes I would
If I could
I surely would
I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet
Yes I would
If I only could
I surely would
Away, I'd rather sail away
Like a swan that's here and gone
A man gets tied up to the ground
He gives the world
It's saddest song
It's saddest song
Demi Lovatoは社会の求める最高のロール・モデルになるのがイヤになったのではないでしょうか？人生には，自分の思い通りに生きられず周囲の期待するように生きるよう求められる場合があって，そういう場合には，常にああしろこうしろと指示されそれに従うように言われます。その期待に応えて周囲を喜ばせようとするのは非常に大変なことです。
Maybe Demi Lovato's tired of being a 'good girl' who is the best role model for others. Sometimes you're expected to live your life not the way you want but the others do. They keep telling you what you're supposed to do and ask you to oblige. Trying to live up to what they want from you to please them is so hard to do. Cool For The Summer (Demi Lovato)
[Verse 1]
Tell me what you want
What you like
It's okay
I'm a little curious too
Tell me if it's wrong
If it's right
I don't care
I can keep a secret could, you?
[Pre-Chorus]
Got my mind on your body
And your body on my mind
Got a taste for the cherry
I just need to take a bite
Don't tell your mother
Kiss one another
Die for each other
We're cool for the summer
(Ha)
[Chorus]
(Ooh, Ooh)
Take me down into your paradise
Don't be scared cause I'm your body type
Just something that we wanna try
Cause you and I
We're cool for the summer
[Verse 2]
Tell me if I won
If I did
What's my prize?
I just wanna play with you, too
Even if they judge
Fuck it, I'll do the time
I just wanna have some fun, with you
[Pre-Chorus]
Got my mind on your body
And your body on my mind
Got a taste for the cherry
I just need to take a bite
Don't tell your mother
Kiss one another
Die for each other
We're cool for the summer
(Ha)
[Chorus]
(Ooh, Ooh)
Take me down into your paradise
Don't be scared cause I'm your body type
Just something that we wanna try
Cause you and I
We're cool for the summer
(Ha)
We're cool for the summer
We're cool for the summer
[Bridge]
Shhhh...don't tell your mother
Got my mind on your body
And your body on my mind
Got a taste for the cherry
I just need to take a bite
[Chorus]
Take me down
Take me down into your paradise
(Done be scared) Don't be scared cause I'm your body type
Just something that we wanna try (wanna try)
Cause you and I (you and I)
We're cool for the summer
[Outro]
(Take me down) We're cool for the summer
(Don't be scared) cause I'm your body type
(Just something) Just something that we wanna try
Cause you and I (you and I)
We're cool for the summer
(Ha) Ooh
We're cool for the summer
特にビートルズの熱心なファンでなくても，Paul McCartneyという名前を聞くとなんとなく威厳のようなものを感じてしまいます。間違いなく音楽業界でも1・2を争う大御所で，どこかの皇室のメンバーのように，常に自分たちの手の届かないところにいる存在です。
ところが，下のヴィデオで彼はパリの観客に対して，フランス語で「ありがとう，本当にありがとう。ありがとう。こんにちは，こんにちは？こんにちは。ええと次は I'm A Loserという曲です」とこの曲を一生懸命紹介していて，それを見ていると彼も自分たちと変わらないのだなと思えてきます。
Even to those who are not a devoted fan of The Beatles, the name Paul McCartney is associated with some grandeur. He's definitely one of the most established artists in the music industry and is always beyond our reach like a member of a royal family.
In the video below, Paul McCartney did his very best to introduce this song to the audience in Paris, saying something like "Thank you, thank you very much. Thank you. Hi, hi? Hi. Er...Now a song called I'm A Loser" in French. That makes me realize that he's just one of us. I'm A Loser (The Beatles)
[Intro]
I'm a loser
I'm a loser
And I'm not what I appear to be
[Verse 1]
Of all the love I have won or have lost
There is one love I should never have crossed
She was a girl in a million, my friend
I should have known she would win in the end
[Chorus]
I'm a loser
And I lost someone who's near to me
I'm a loser
And I'm not what I appear to be
[Verse 2]
Although I laugh and I act like a clown
Beneath this mask I am wearing a frown
My tears are falling like rain from the sky
Is it for her or myself that I cry
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
What have I done to deserve such a fate?
I realise I have left it too late
And so it's true, pride comes before a fall
I'm telling you so that you won't lose all
RihannaのTowards The Sunと同じく，こちらもDreamWorksのアニメーション映画Homeのサウンドトラックからの曲で，Jennifer Lopezは主人公の母親の声を担当しています。
ところで「光 (light)」という単語は希望，知識，英知などといった言葉を連想させることが多いため，それ自体が良いものであるように考えがちですが，実際にはそうではありません。光が強すぎると，ヒリヒリする日焼けや皮膚がんなどのダメージを受ける場合があります。
Like Rihanna's Towards The Sun, this song is also from the soundtrack of the DreamWorks animated movie, Home in which Jennifer Lopez voices the protagonist's mother.
Anyway, the word light is often associated with something positive such as hope, knowledge and wisdom and we tend to think it's a good thing in it's own right. Actually it's not. If the light is too strong, it can cause a damage like sunburn and melanoma. Feel The Light (Jennifer Lopez)
[Intro]
Here I go
Here I go
Feel better now
Feel better now
Here I go
Here I go
It's better now
Feel better now
[Verse]
Do you remember when we fell under
Did you expect me to reason with thunder
I still remember when time was frozen
What seemed forever was just a moment
Hurry up, hurry up
There's no more waiting
We're still worth saving
[Chorus]
Feel the light
Shining in the dark of night
Remember what we forgot
I know it's a long shot
But we're bringing it all back
We're bringing it all back
Feel the light
Shining like the stars tonight
Remember what we forgot
I know it's a long shot
But we're bringing it all back
We're bringing it all back
[Outro]
Here we go
Here we go
It's better now
Feel better now
同性婚を祝うLGBTのテーマ曲のリストにこの曲が挙がっているのを見た時には「ギャグだよね？この曲はずっと前から知ってるけど「別れてせいせいしたわ」的な破局ソングでしょ？」と思ったのですが，どうやらそうではなく私が間違っていたようです。
この曲を共作したNile RogersはDiana Rossそっくりのドラグ・クイーンの集団がヒントになってこの曲ができたと語っているようです。
When I saw this song on a list of LGBT anthems to celebrate marriage equality, I thought like, "it's a joke, isn't it? I've known the song for years and I was pretty sure it's about coming through a faltered relationship and a revelation brought to her by that." Well, they say it's not and I was wrong about the song.
It's said that Nile Rogers who co-wrote the song acknowledged being inspired by a group of drag queens who looked like Diana Ross. I'm Coming Out (Diana Ross)
[Intro]
I'm coming out
I'm coming
I'm coming out
I'm coming out
I'm coming out
[Hook]
I'm coming out
I want the world to know
Got to let it show
I'm coming out
I want the world to know
I got to let it show
[Verse 1]
There's a new me coming out
And I just had to live
And I wanna give
I'm completely positive
I think this time around
I am gonna do it
Like you never knew it
Ooh, I'll make it through
The time has come for me
To break out of this shell
I have to shout
That I am coming out
[Hook]
[Verse 2]
I've got to show the world
All that I wanna be
And all my abillities
There's so much more to me
Somehow, I have to make them
Just understand
I got it well in hand
And, oh, how I've planned
I'm spreadin' love
There is no need to fear
And I just feel so good
Everytime I hear
[Hook + Breakdown]
[Outro]
I'm coming out
I want the world to know
Got to let it show.... scat to end
ネット上には山のようにリリック・ヴィデオが存在しますが，その中にはこちらやこちらのような手間とヒマのかかったものも存在し，場合によってはミュージック・ヴィデオを凌ぐ出来になっています。このリリック・ヴィデオは洗練やお洒落さとはあまり縁がなさそうですが，撮影前に相当の練習が必要だったことは間違いありません。そういう意味で，Chris Martinが歌詞を逆から歌ってみせたColdpayのThe Scientistを連想させます。
You can find tons of lyrics videos out there on the Internet and some of them like this and this are elaborate and pretty time-consuming enough to sometimes eclipse the music video. The lyric video below doesn't seem to be very sophisticated or stylish but definitely requires a lot of practice beforehand. It reminds me of the music video of The Scientist (Coldplay) in which Chris Martin had to learn to sing the song backward. Higher Love (Prides)
(Lyric Video)
[Verse 1]
I can see a difference, a difference over me
There's something that has happened, no more cold defeat
There's another dawning, a tremor where we stood
They said I would never, I said that I would
[Pre-Chorus]
That I would do something good
That I would do something better, hey-yeah
That I would do something, something, something!
[Chorus]
I know it's a higher love
They say we don't know enough [x2]
Well I know enough
I know this is it for us
They say we don't know enough [x2]
Well I know enough
[Verse 2]
Didn't mean to be so distant, so callous and so cruel
Never meant to make you worry, never meant to act the fool
There's another dawning, a tremor where we stood
When they said that I would never, you said that I would
[Pre-Chorus]
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
I know that another will change, another will change
I know that the blood's still pumping through my veins
I know that the slower it fades, the slower it fades
I know when another will change, another will stay
I know that the blood's still pumping through my veins
I know that the blood's still pumping through my veins
(1,2,3,4!)
[Chorus]
[Outro]
I know it's a higher love (Well, I know enough)
I know it's a higher love
Well, I know enough for the both of us
I know enough for the both of us
Well, I know enough for the both of us
I know enough for the both of us
I know!
まあ，アーティストというものは何を見ても曲がかけるものなんですね。この曲のOdoronoはデオドラント（体臭防止剤）の商品名なので，タイトルの点でNirvanaのSmells Like Teen Spiritと似ています。最初は，Teen Spiritと違い，この商品はジョークで作った架空の製品だと思っていたのですが，実はそうではなかったようです。
Well, anything can inspire artists to write a song about it. This song Odorono was a deodorant and it seems to be similar to Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana) in terms of title. Unlike Teen Spirit, I first thought it's a fake product just made up as a joke but I was wrong. Odorono (The Who)
She sang the best she'd ever sang
She couldn't ever sing any better
But Mister Davidson never rang
She knew he would forget her
She'd seen him there
And put herself to ransom
He had stared
He really was quite handsome
She had really looked her best
She couldn't ever look any better
But she knew she'd failed the test
She knew he would forget her
Triumphant was the way she felt
As she acknowledged the applause
Triumphant was the way she'd felt
When she saw him at the dressing room door
She was happier than she'd ever been
As he praised her for her grace
But his expression changed, she had seen
As he leant to kiss her face
It ended there
He claimed a late appointment
She quickly turned
To hide her disappointment
She ripped her glittering gown
Couldn't face another show, no
Her deodorant had let her down
She should have used Odorono
以前夢を見ました。ずっと会っていなかった友人が笑顔で近づいて来たので「今までどこ行ってたの？みんな会いたがってたんだよ」と言い，彼に触れようとした瞬間に目が覚めました。この曲の主人公とは違い，そこに彼の姿はなく亡くなったままでした。今まで見た中で一番幸せな夢でしたが同時に間違いなく一番悲しい夢でした。ただの夢だったから。
Once I had a dream in which my friend was approaching me with a smile on his face. I hadn't seen him for a long time. So I said to him, "Hey, where have you been? We've been missing you so much" and reached him. Then I woke up. Unlike the protagonist in the lyrics, he's not there and still gone. It was one of the happiest dreams I've ever had but definitely the saddest at the same time because it's just a dream. Like I'm Gonna Lose You (Meghan Trainor ft. John Legend)
[Verse 1: Meghan Trainor]
I found myself dreaming in silver and gold
Like a scene from a movie that every broken heart knows
We were walking on moonlight, and you pulled me close
Split second and you disappeared and then I was all alone
[Pre-Chorus 1: Meghan Trainor]
I woke up in tears, with you by my side
A breath of relief, and I realized
No, we're not promised tomorrow
[Chorus: Meghan Trainor]
So I'm gonna love you like I'm gonna lose you
I'm gonna hold you, like I'm saying goodbye
Wherever we're standing, I won't take you for granted
Cause we'll never know when
When we'll run out of time
So I'm gonna love you, like I'm gonna lose you
I'm gonna love you, like I'm gonna lose you
[Verse 2: John Legend]
In the blink of an eye, just a whisper of smoke
You could lose everything, the truth is you never know
So I'll kiss you longer baby, any chance that I get
I'll make the most of the minutes and love with no regret
[Pre-Chorus 2: John Legend]
So let's take our time to say what we want
Use what we got before it's all gone
No, we're not promised tomorrow
[Chorus: Both]
[Bridge: Both]
So I'm gonna love you
Like I'm gonna lose you
I'm gonna love you
Like I'm gonna lose you
Metrolyricsのトップ100に登場したこの曲のアーティスト名を見た時は「えぇ？これってあのMark Wahlberg？」と思いましたが実際そうでした。これは2012年に公開されたTEDという映画のなかで，Mark Wahlberg演じる主人公が，大好きなTEDというクマのぬいぐるみ（中身は大変下品なオヤジ）と一緒に歌う曲です。
When I first saw his name on the top 100 list of Metrolyrics, I was like, "What? Is it that Mark Wahlberg?" Yes, it was. It's a song the protagonist (portrayed by Mark Wahlberg) sings with his favorite teddy bear named TED who is actually extremely inappropriate middle aged man in the film TED (2012). Thunder Buddy Song (Mark Wahlberg)
When you hear the sound of thunder,
dont you get too scared.
Just grab your thunder buddy,
and say these magic words:
Fuck you, Thunder.
You can suck my dick.
You cant get me, Thunder,
because you're just Gods farts.
愛（すなわち恋愛感情）というものは一体どれくらい続くのでしょうか？真実の愛なら一生涯続くと考える人もいますが，恋愛の初期段階と，その時期に感じることの多い高揚感はそこまで続かず，12か月を過ぎた辺りから薄れ始めると言う科学者もいます。この曲はHayley Williamsの実の婚約者Chad Gilbertとの遠距離恋愛を歌ったものだそうで，2人は付き合い始めてすでに5年とか。仮に前で述べた説が正しいとするとちょっとした驚きですね。
How long does love (I mean romantic love) last? Some people believe true love lasts a lifetime. Some scientists say that the infatuated phase of love and the feeling of elation often experienced in that honeymoon period does not last very long and starts wearing off after 12 months. This song is said to be inspired by Hayley Williams' real life long distance relationship with her fiancee, Chad Gilbert. They have been together for five years. Given the theory above correct, isn't it a bit surprising? Proof (Paramore)
[Verse 1]
It’s really hard
I can’t cry in your arms
‘Cause you’re not here
It’s not your fault
And if it was I wouldn’t care
My heart is bigger
Than the distance
In-between us
I know it ‘cause I
Feel it beating
So strong it'll knock you down
So strong, so strong
[Verse 2]
Over here
Can't count the miles away
From where I want to be
I bet your skin is warm
And that you're smiling
Yeah, that’s what I always
Loved the most about you
So strong
Come and knock me down, hey
[Chorus]
Baby, if I’m half the man I say I am
(Whoa-oh-oh), if I’m a woman with no fear
Just like I claim I am, (whoa-oh-oh)
Then I believe in what you say
There’s nothing left for you to do
The only proof that I need is you
[Verse 3]
I’ll get in my car
Drive it faster than I
Ever did before
Head out west until I finally
Reach the shore
And then I’ll swim out
To wherever you are
And we'll ride the undercurrent
Down to the floor
Making friends with all
The unfamiliar creatures
And pushing back
All the unnecessary pressure
Come up for air just so you
Know we won’t drown
You’re so strong
The world can't keep us down, hey!
[Chorus]
[Verse 4]
So do you love me? (Yeah)
All you got to do is say yes
Now do you love me? (Yeah, hey)
And I won’t ever second guess
Now do you love me? (Yeah)
All you got to do is say yes
Now do you love me? (Yeah, hey)
Then you already proved it
Yeah, yeah, hey
[Chorus]
Baby, if I’m half the man I say I am
(Whoa-oh-oh), if I’m a woman with no fear
Just like I claim I am, (whoa-oh-oh)
Then I believe in what you say
There’s nothing left for you to do
The only proof that I need is
明るいメロディですが歌詞の内容はかなり暗めです。ただ字義通りに受け取らないでください。メタファーだと思いますしそうであるはずです。
それはともかく，今までにいくつかメロディーと歌詞にギャップのある曲をここで取り上げています。例としてはFoster The PeopleのPumped Up Kicks，GrimesのOblivionそしてOf Monsters and MenのLittle Talksなどがありますが，これらに共通するのが，明るい曲調に暗い歌詞という点でしょう。逆に曲調は禍々しいもののメッセージは肯定的という別の種類のものも存在しますが，その一例が Dark Tranquility's Fatalistでしょう。
The melody is upbeat but the lyrics are pretty gloomy. Don't take them literally, though. I believe it's a metaphor and it should be.
Anyway, I've picked up some songs whose melody contradicts the lyrics. These include songs like Foster The People's Pumped Up Kicks. Grimes' Oblivion and Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men. What these songs have in common is that the melody is upbeat but the lyrics are not. On the other hand, there's another kind of songs whose ominous melody betrays its positive lyrics. One of them is Dark Tranquility's Fatalist. Girlfriend In A Coma (The Smiths)
Girlfriend in a coma, I know
I know - it's serious
Girlfriend in a coma, I know
I know - it's really serious
There were times when I could
Have "murdered" her
(but you know, I would hate
Anything to happen to her)
No, I don't want to see her
Do you really think
She'll pull through?
Do you really think
She'll pull through?
Do...
Girlfriend in a coma, I know
I know - it's serious
My, my, my, my, my, my baby, goodbye
There were times when I could
Have "strangled" her
(but you know, I would hate
Anything to happen to her)
Would you please
Let me see her !
Do you really think
She'll pull through ?
Do you really think
She'll pull through ?
Do...
Let me whisper my last goodbyes
Ed SheeranのThinking Out Loudがお好きならこの曲も気に入ると思います。歌詞も大変ロマンティックなのでヒップホップが嫌いでなければ結婚式の曲にもピッタリです。この曲，特に「贅沢な暮らしをさせてやれなくたっていいって言ってくれんのか？(If I couldn't buy you the fancy things in life, Shawty, would it be alright?)」の箇所がThe StylisticsのCan't Give You Anything (But My Love)を連想させます。
If you love Ed Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud, you'd love this, too. The lyrics are so sweet that it would make a very good wedding song unless you hate hiphop. It also reminds me of The Stylistics' Can't Give You Anything (But My Love), especially this line, "If I couldn't buy you the fancy things in life, Shawty, would it be alright?" Locked Away (Rock City ft. Adam Levine)
[Chorus: Adam Levine]
If I got locked away
And we lost it all today
Tell me honestly, would you still love me the same?
If I showed you my flaws
If I couldn't be strong
Tell me honestly, would you still love me the same?
[Verse 1: R. City]
Right about now
If a judge for life me,.. would you stay by my side?
Or is you gonna say goodbye?
Can you tell me right now?
If I couldn't buy you the fancy things in life
Shawty, would it be alright?
Come and show me that you are down
[Pre-Chorus: R. City]
Now tell me would you really ride for me?
Baby tell me would you die for me?
Would you spend your whole life with me?
Would you be there to always hold me down?
Tell me would you really cry for me?
Baby don't lie to me
If I didn't have anything
I wanna know would you stick around?
[Chorus: Adam Levine]
If I got locked away
And we lost it all today
Tell me honestly, would you still love me the same?
If I showed you my flaws
If I couldn't be strong
Tell me honestly, would you still love me the same?
[Verse 2: R. City]
Let's get it diddly-down-down-down
All I want is somebody real who don't need much
A gal I know that I can trust
To be 'ere when money low
If I did not have nothing else to give but love
Would that even be enough?
Gal meh need to know
[Pre-Chorus: R. City]
Now tell me would you really ride for me?
Baby tell me would you die for me?
Would you spend your whole life with me?
Would u be there 2 always hold me down?
Tell me would u really cry 4 me?
Baby don't lie to me
If I didn't have anything
I wanna know would u stick around?
[Chorus: Adam Levine]
If I got locked away
And we lost it all today
Tell me honestly, would you still love me the same?
If I showed you my flaws
If I couldn't be strong
Tell me honestly, would you still love me the same?
[Post-Chorus: R. City]
Tell me, tell me, would you want me?
Tell me, tell me, would you call me?
If you knew I wasn't balling
Cuz I need a gal who's always by my side
Tell me, tell me, do you need me?
Tell me, tell me, do you love me?
Or is ya just tryna play me?
Cause I need a gal to hold me down for life
[Chorus: Adam Levine] (x2)
If I got locked away
And we lost it all today
Tell me honestly would you still love me the same?
If I showed you my flaws
If I couldn't be strong
Tell me honestly would you still love me the same?
「確かにあの子はかわいいかも，だけどただの「代打」なんだよ(Although she may be cute, She's just a substitute)」という箇所が気になりました。「あの子はかわいいかも (she MAY be cute)」と主人公が言っているからです。
字義通りに受け取れば「かわいいと思う人もいるかもしれないけど，みんながみんなそう思うわけじゃない（俺は違う）」ということになるのでしょうが，私はそうは思いません。その子は実際にかわいいんです。しかも（主人公の周囲の）ほぼ全員がそれについては彼と同意見です。だからこそ彼は自分のセリフに「かも」と付け足さなければならなかったわけです。そうしなければ自分の本当に欲しいもの，つまり相手の元彼女が手に入らないからです。
The line, "Although she may be cute, She's just a substitute" drew my attention. "she MAY be cute," he says.
Taking it literally, it means "Some people think she is cute but not everyone does (actually I don't)." but I think otherwise. She IS cute and almost everybody agrees with the narrator about that and that's why he has to add 'may be' to his remark to get what he really wants: the second person. The Tracks of My Tears (Smokey Robinson)
People say I'm the life of the party
Because I tell a joke or two
Although I might be laughing loud and hearty
Deep inside I'm blue
So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
I need you, need you
Since you left me if you see me with another girl
Seeming like I'm having fun
Although she may be cute
She's just a substitute
Because you're the permanent one
So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
I need you, need you
Outside I'm masquerading
Inside my hope is fading
Just a clown oh yeah
Since you put me down
My smile is my make up
I wear since my break up with you
So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
個人的には「だけどただの代打なんだよ(She's just a substitute)」と言われてしまった彼女に同情を禁じ得なかったのですが，冷静に考えれば主人公が「確かにあの子はかわいいかも」と言わねばならぬほどイケている彼女です。むしろ主人公が本命のご機嫌取りに必死になっている間に，別の誰かが言い寄って来ていると思われるので，同情など全く必要ないと思われます。
