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笑顔 作詞・作曲：谷村有美 編曲：岡ナオキ
Song Credits
岡ナオキ I already covered in 「ダブル レインボウ」 but I didn't say anything about 谷村さん when I translated 「笑顔」 before. She is one of Aya's 先輩 at Up-Front Agency being one of the talents outside Hello! Project (which 後藤真希 has now joined). She debuted in 1987 with a single 「Not For Sale」 and an album 「Believe In」 released simultaneously after succeeding in a Sony Music sponsored audition. In 2001 she released an album called 「マイ・プレジャー～With my pleasure～」 which featured two songs called 「NO PAIN NO RAINBOWS」 and 「DESTINATION～Over The Rainbow 虹の彼方へ～」. Even more interestingly, the album also featured a song called 「風に任せて」! Small world! Also in that year she held a concert tour entitled 「LOVE LIVE LIFE～OVER THE RAINBOW 虹のかなたへ～」, obviously based on the latter of those two rainbow songs. She is about to enter the final week of her 20th anniversary tour 「おでかけツアー2007 笑顔～もっとお側に～」 which, as you can see is based around this song. She writes her own songs and as far as I know composes the majority of them as well.
Title
Although I've translated it as "smiles", 「笑顔」 is literally "smiling face" which takes the whole expression into account. There are different types of smile ranging from a tired smile all the way down to a solemn smile but 「笑顔」 is a happy smile, beaming ear to ear with bright eyes and a perceptible cheer.
Opening Thoughts
I heard this song was going to be the image song for NTV's 「NEWS24」 before I heard it which I thought was extremely strange but after hearing the song, it did make a lot of sense. I mean the choice to have this as the image song for the news. The song makes a lot of sense as well but the decision to use it makes good sense, although if it song actually turns anything around, 谷村さん will have written the opposite of the 「Gloomy Sunday」 (if the suicide claims about that song are true). Ultimately, I don't think a song is going to stop suicide but it is a great piece of encouragement.
Other
The initial plan was to just add some additional thoughts on the song here but I decided to repost the whole translation again. It won't do any harm, will it? Still, the notes here won't repeat what I said last time when appropriate.
笑顔
Smiles
起こるはずのないことが現実になり
The completely unexpected becomes reality and
ヒトは誰も無力さを思い知る
You realise that nobody can do a thing to help
何が正しいのか どこへ行けばいいのか
What would be right? Which way should you go?
見失って 引き返すことさえできない
You lose your way and can't even find your way back
愛するものを守るため
立ち上がり 歩き続けても
Even if you stand up and keep walking to protect the things you love
果てしない道程に
On the never-ending journey
疲れ果て 力尽き 声も出ない・・・
You're worn out, at your end and your voice won't come out
笑顔になれない 悲しいときには
When you're sad and can't muster up a smile
どうか思い出してみて
Somehow, try to remember:
生きてさえいれば 何かが生まれる
As long as you keep on living something will come up
生きてさえいれば 報われる
As long as you keep living you'll be rewarded
だから負けないで
So don't give up
ひとりじゃないから
Because you're not alone
心無い言葉に傷つけられて
ヒトに会うのも 時に辛くなる
It's sometimes hard to face people when you've been hurt by heartless words
頭ごなしに否定されたようで
You have been unerringly negative and
頑張ったことでさえ 自信が持てない
Had no confidence even when doing your best
信じることを貫いて
立ち向かい 歩き続けても
Even if you resist, keep walking and stick to what you believe
果てしない道程に
On the never-ending journey
優しさの本当の意味を知る・・・
You'll know the true meaning of kindness...
笑顔になれない 泣きたいときでも
Even when you can't smile and want to cry
どうか辛くならないで
Somehow, don't be down
生きてさえいれば 明日が来るから
Because as long as you keep on living tomorrow will come
生きてさえいれば 乗り越える
As long as you keep on living you'll overcome it
だから負けないで
So don't give up
ひとりじゃないから
Because you're not alone
ひたむきな夢も 不器用さも
まるごと自分自身を受け止めればいい
It's ok to accept yourself completely, earnest dreams, clumsiness and all
冷え切った身体も心も
Your frozen body and heart as well
そのまま・・・
Just the way you are
笑顔になれない 悲しいときには
When you're sad and can't muster up a smile
どうか思い出してみて
Somehow, try to remember:
生きてさえいれば 何かが生まれる
As long as you keep on living something will come up
生きてさえいれば 報われる
As long as you keep living you'll be rewarded
La la la la・・・
生きてさえいれば 明日が来るから
Because as long as you keep on living tomorrow will come
生きてさえいれば 乗り越える
As long as you keep on living you'll overcome it
だから負けないで
So don't give up
どんなときでも・・・
ひとりじゃないから
Because you'll never be alone
Lyrics and Translation
There are two methods of suicide-prevention negotiation. The first is the optimistic way which is to speak verbosely an philosophically in the hope that the victim (?) uses their brain or there's the direct way. This song is the direct way. There are in fact, a few direct ways: one is the "jump and it's really going to hurt" method, another is "you wimp!" and a third is the "you never know unless you try". This song is the third of those, telling an "It ain't too bad" story as well. This song is purposefully direct with no hidden meaning. Just don't do it. Can't really get a clearer message than that!
Musical Style
Pianooooooo!
I'm such a kid! 
In fact it's the whole shebang: the quartet of piano, guitar, drums and strings. There's a rush of water between the first chorus and the second verse that I hadn't noticed before. At first I thought it was something up with my computer because I had a random Windows error while looking up something on Wikipedia but I checked it on my hi-fi and it's definitely there. I covered everything else last time.
Thoughts and Conclusion
This was the first song performed at the 「ダブル レインボウ」 concert but it was severely clipped, probably to save Aya from ruining her voicebox before the end of the month! Like I said last time, sound great but is probably causing some serious degradation in her larynx. It's a nice song to be performed though. On 07-08-18, she performed it in front/on top of a bunch of the luckiest screaming fangirls for 「魁音楽番付夏フェス生放送スペシャル」. The wore long, light, sheer white dress with no shoes which is the kind of feeling I get for this song. Fluttery, buttery love for life. Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet.
It's the shortest entry of the lot but with the other one it's probably the longest.
Romaji (aka The Reason Why Aliens are Ignoring Us)
Okoru hazu no nai koto ga genjitsu ni nari
Hito wa dare mo muryokusa wo omoishiru
Nani ga tadashii no ka Doko e yukeba ii no ka
Miushinatte Hikikaesu koto sae dekinai
Aisuru mono wo mamoru tame
Tachiagari Arukitsuzukete mo
Hateshinai michinori ni
Tsukarehate Chikaratsuki Koe mo denai
Egao ni narenai Kanashii toki ni wa
Dou ka omoi dashitemite
Ikite sae ireba Nani ka ga umareru
Ikite sae ireba Mukuwareru
Dakara makenaide
Hitori ja nai kara
Kokoronai kotoba ni kizutsukerarete
Mito ni au no mo Toki ni tsuraku naru
Atamagonashi ni hitei sareta you de
Ganbatta koto de sae Jishin ga motenai
Shinjiru koto wo tsuranuite
Tachimukai Arukitsuzukete mo
Hateshinai michinori ni
Yasashisa no hontou no imi wo shiru
Egao ni narenai Nakitai toki de mo
Dou ka tsuraku naranaide
Ikite sae ireba Ashita ga kuru kara
Ikite sae ireba Norikoeru
Dakara makenaide
Hitori ja nai kara
Hitamuki na yume mo Bukiyousa mo
Marugoto jibun jishin wo uketomereba ii
Hiekitta karada mo kokoro mo
Sono mama
Egao ni narenai Kanashii toki ni wa
Dou ka omoi dashitemite
Ikite sae ireba Nani ka ga umareru
Ikite sae ireba Mukuwareru
La la la la...
Ikite sae ireba Ashita ga kuru kara
Ikite sae ireba Norikoeru
Dakara makenaide
Donna toki de mo
Hitori ja nai kara
← Back to the main page
Song Credits
岡ナオキ I already covered in 「ダブル レインボウ」 but I didn't say anything about 谷村さん when I translated 「笑顔」 before. She is one of Aya's 先輩 at Up-Front Agency being one of the talents outside Hello! Project (which 後藤真希 has now joined). She debuted in 1987 with a single 「Not For Sale」 and an album 「Believe In」 released simultaneously after succeeding in a Sony Music sponsored audition. In 2001 she released an album called 「マイ・プレジャー～With my pleasure～」 which featured two songs called 「NO PAIN NO RAINBOWS」 and 「DESTINATION～Over The Rainbow 虹の彼方へ～」. Even more interestingly, the album also featured a song called 「風に任せて」! Small world! Also in that year she held a concert tour entitled 「LOVE LIVE LIFE～OVER THE RAINBOW 虹のかなたへ～」, obviously based on the latter of those two rainbow songs. She is about to enter the final week of her 20th anniversary tour 「おでかけツアー2007 笑顔～もっとお側に～」 which, as you can see is based around this song. She writes her own songs and as far as I know composes the majority of them as well.
Title
Although I've translated it as "smiles", 「笑顔」 is literally "smiling face" which takes the whole expression into account. There are different types of smile ranging from a tired smile all the way down to a solemn smile but 「笑顔」 is a happy smile, beaming ear to ear with bright eyes and a perceptible cheer.
Opening Thoughts
I heard this song was going to be the image song for NTV's 「NEWS24」 before I heard it which I thought was extremely strange but after hearing the song, it did make a lot of sense. I mean the choice to have this as the image song for the news. The song makes a lot of sense as well but the decision to use it makes good sense, although if it song actually turns anything around, 谷村さん will have written the opposite of the 「Gloomy Sunday」 (if the suicide claims about that song are true). Ultimately, I don't think a song is going to stop suicide but it is a great piece of encouragement.
Other
The initial plan was to just add some additional thoughts on the song here but I decided to repost the whole translation again. It won't do any harm, will it? Still, the notes here won't repeat what I said last time when appropriate.
笑顔
Smiles
起こるはずのないことが現実になり
The completely unexpected becomes reality and
ヒトは誰も無力さを思い知る
You realise that nobody can do a thing to help
何が正しいのか どこへ行けばいいのか
What would be right? Which way should you go?
見失って 引き返すことさえできない
You lose your way and can't even find your way back
愛するものを守るため
立ち上がり 歩き続けても
Even if you stand up and keep walking to protect the things you love
果てしない道程に
On the never-ending journey
疲れ果て 力尽き 声も出ない・・・
You're worn out, at your end and your voice won't come out
笑顔になれない 悲しいときには
When you're sad and can't muster up a smile
どうか思い出してみて
Somehow, try to remember:
生きてさえいれば 何かが生まれる
As long as you keep on living something will come up
生きてさえいれば 報われる
As long as you keep living you'll be rewarded
だから負けないで
So don't give up
ひとりじゃないから
Because you're not alone
心無い言葉に傷つけられて
ヒトに会うのも 時に辛くなる
It's sometimes hard to face people when you've been hurt by heartless words
頭ごなしに否定されたようで
You have been unerringly negative and
頑張ったことでさえ 自信が持てない
Had no confidence even when doing your best
信じることを貫いて
立ち向かい 歩き続けても
Even if you resist, keep walking and stick to what you believe
果てしない道程に
On the never-ending journey
優しさの本当の意味を知る・・・
You'll know the true meaning of kindness...
笑顔になれない 泣きたいときでも
Even when you can't smile and want to cry
どうか辛くならないで
Somehow, don't be down
生きてさえいれば 明日が来るから
Because as long as you keep on living tomorrow will come
生きてさえいれば 乗り越える
As long as you keep on living you'll overcome it
だから負けないで
So don't give up
ひとりじゃないから
Because you're not alone
ひたむきな夢も 不器用さも
まるごと自分自身を受け止めればいい
It's ok to accept yourself completely, earnest dreams, clumsiness and all
冷え切った身体も心も
Your frozen body and heart as well
そのまま・・・
Just the way you are
笑顔になれない 悲しいときには
When you're sad and can't muster up a smile
どうか思い出してみて
Somehow, try to remember:
生きてさえいれば 何かが生まれる
As long as you keep on living something will come up
生きてさえいれば 報われる
As long as you keep living you'll be rewarded
La la la la・・・
生きてさえいれば 明日が来るから
Because as long as you keep on living tomorrow will come
生きてさえいれば 乗り越える
As long as you keep on living you'll overcome it
だから負けないで
So don't give up
どんなときでも・・・
ひとりじゃないから
Because you'll never be alone
Lyrics and Translation
There are two methods of suicide-prevention negotiation. The first is the optimistic way which is to speak verbosely an philosophically in the hope that the victim (?) uses their brain or there's the direct way. This song is the direct way. There are in fact, a few direct ways: one is the "jump and it's really going to hurt" method, another is "you wimp!" and a third is the "you never know unless you try". This song is the third of those, telling an "It ain't too bad" story as well. This song is purposefully direct with no hidden meaning. Just don't do it. Can't really get a clearer message than that!
Musical Style
Pianooooooo!
I'm such a kid! In fact it's the whole shebang: the quartet of piano, guitar, drums and strings. There's a rush of water between the first chorus and the second verse that I hadn't noticed before. At first I thought it was something up with my computer because I had a random Windows error while looking up something on Wikipedia but I checked it on my hi-fi and it's definitely there. I covered everything else last time.Thoughts and Conclusion
This was the first song performed at the 「ダブル レインボウ」 concert but it was severely clipped, probably to save Aya from ruining her voicebox before the end of the month!
Like I said last time, sound great but is probably causing some serious degradation in her larynx. It's a nice song to be performed though. On 07-08-18, she performed it in front/on top of a bunch of the luckiest screaming fangirls for 「魁音楽番付夏フェス生放送スペシャル」. The wore long, light, sheer white dress with no shoes which is the kind of feeling I get for this song. Fluttery, buttery love for life. Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet.It's the shortest entry of the lot but with the other one it's probably the longest.
Romaji (aka The Reason Why Aliens are Ignoring Us)
Okoru hazu no nai koto ga genjitsu ni nari
Hito wa dare mo muryokusa wo omoishiru
Nani ga tadashii no ka Doko e yukeba ii no ka
Miushinatte Hikikaesu koto sae dekinai
Aisuru mono wo mamoru tame
Tachiagari Arukitsuzukete mo
Hateshinai michinori ni
Tsukarehate Chikaratsuki Koe mo denai
Egao ni narenai Kanashii toki ni wa
Dou ka omoi dashitemite
Ikite sae ireba Nani ka ga umareru
Ikite sae ireba Mukuwareru
Dakara makenaide
Hitori ja nai kara
Kokoronai kotoba ni kizutsukerarete
Mito ni au no mo Toki ni tsuraku naru
Atamagonashi ni hitei sareta you de
Ganbatta koto de sae Jishin ga motenai
Shinjiru koto wo tsuranuite
Tachimukai Arukitsuzukete mo
Hateshinai michinori ni
Yasashisa no hontou no imi wo shiru
Egao ni narenai Nakitai toki de mo
Dou ka tsuraku naranaide
Ikite sae ireba Ashita ga kuru kara
Ikite sae ireba Norikoeru
Dakara makenaide
Hitori ja nai kara
Hitamuki na yume mo Bukiyousa mo
Marugoto jibun jishin wo uketomereba ii
Hiekitta karada mo kokoro mo
Sono mama
Egao ni narenai Kanashii toki ni wa
Dou ka omoi dashitemite
Ikite sae ireba Nani ka ga umareru
Ikite sae ireba Mukuwareru
La la la la...
Ikite sae ireba Ashita ga kuru kara
Ikite sae ireba Norikoeru
Dakara makenaide
Donna toki de mo
Hitori ja nai kara
← Back to the main page
