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灯台 作詞・作曲・編曲：小林建樹
Song Credits
Apparently 小林さん has a characteristic arrangement style or even frontier arrangement techniques although I don't know what those may be. The song is definitely musically interesting but that's a later discussion. 小林さん has otherwise had his own pop career from 1999 to 2003 with a best hits album in 2006. That's it. I'm too lazy to look into how successful he was but I doubt anyone really cares anyway!
Title
This is the song that I singled out before I heard the album because of the title. The symbolism of a lighthouse (oh, 「灯台」 means lighthouse) is well known. I'll come back to that though. My thoughts on it are more like a conclusion of the song than a foreword. Just think of a lighthouse...
Opening Thoughts
If I were to write a song, I'd think of a concept and work around that. The concept might eventually become the title but as long as the concept is there, everything will work. Of course, that is how I feel about this song. It was written with a lighthouse in mind rather than the title being affixed after the song was complete.
灯台
Lighthouse
いいとこなしだね あなたの前では 気持ち隠しておどけてた
There's no good time is there?
In front of you I hid my feelings and joked about
あなたが彼女の 話をするたび 何度も胸が張り裂けたんだ
Whenever you talked about your girlfriend it rent my heart
気づかれちゃいけない想いが 私のことを 縛り付けていくよ
The thoughts that must not be noticed will tie me down
泣きたくて 胸が痛くて 届くはずない 想いがつのるよ
I want to cry and my heart hurts, thoughts that I don't expect to reach you build up
あの笑顔 心しめつける 彼女に向けた笑顔
That smile, that smile to her that crushes my heart
会うのが怖くて メールも無視した このまま離れてしまいたい
I'm afraid to see you and ignored your mail
I'd like to leave you like this
愛しさを知って傷ついて 傷つくたびに また会いたくなる
Knowing affection hurts but
Whenever it hurts I want to see you again
思い出にしてしまえれば あふれ出しそうな 涙も止めれる
If I return to my memories even my welling tears can be stemmed
また会えるときにはあなたの 明日を照らせるように
When I get to see you again I can be the one to shine on your tomorrow
過ごした時が 強いキズナに 変わってゆくよ
The time we spent together will change into tight bonds
もしいつか 困った顔の あなたがいたなら 背中を押せるよ
If one day you should be with a troubled face I can give you a push
いつだって 飛んでゆくから わたしは ずっと 友達
I'll always fly to you; I'll be your friend forever
Lyrics and Translation
Ugh... you know the kind of expression. The kind you get from hard-hitting revelations that really kick the wind out of you. Most people must have had a few in their lives, more than likely from a source much more serious than a song but this really kicks my feelings in the same way that any bad news ever has.
The translation mostly tells the story itself but I do have some things to elaborate on. The two heart lines (final lines of first verse and first chorus) really are that brutal. The verse one would more literally be "my chest burst" (not in some smutty way) which is obviously a metaphor for the pain she feels. The second one is literally "The heart tightening smile to your girlfriend". Maybe that sounds less brutal than crushing but it's a feeling of having the wind knocked out. And cardiac arrest!
For the second verse, the "leave" is the "depart" sort of rather than "allow to remain". Just thinking of his girlfriend makes her not want to see him, not because she hates him but she's jealous. As green as the Emerald City. I can empathise with that desire. The mere sight of him will only hurt her even more which she doesn't want. However, when she thinks of that, she wants to see him again á la second bridge. It's not quite a vicious circle though because through that little bit of thought the thought of separation is completely disippated.
I don't think the full force of the lyrics is translated in the second chorus. For the first line she has happy memories which enable her to look on the bright side and be strong so even though she's really sad, she's also appreciates these special moments in time that she spent with him. In the second line, which is the lighthouse part of the song, the idea that it brings into my mind is that the future is a dark unknown pass with hidden perils and she is the lighthouse that will shine through and guide him when times warrant it. Added to the fact that tomorrow is always ahead of us, she'll always be ahead of him to light the way. That's how my English translations speaks to me as well but only because I heard the Japanese and formed that. To someone just reading the line, it doesn't really push out the force.
I like what the middle eight suggests. The idea that spending time with someone creates something for the two people. I'm a believer in that and I'd like to think people I've spent time feel likewise. There's obviously the quality of time more than the quantity where watching a football match together is bottom of the ladder and something like a boat on a lake is somewhere about 3/4 up. But I like talking to my friends one to one. It's not that I'm not a group person (I'm not really but that's besides the point) but I find some of my friends are different people in private and it's nice to see it. I have one friend who
The last line reminds me of the very last ever episode of 「The Fresh Prince of Bel Air」. Yes, you know my generation! Will has a final talk with Ashley and I can't remember the exact quote because it was still the 1990's when I last saw it but it was something to the effect that if Ashley had any problems, he would take the first flight he could to help her (he said something similar to Carlton as well). Obviously there was no romantic link between Will and Ashley (or Carlton!) but it's just that sweetness factor that someone would stop what they're doing to help someone they care about no matter what. There's the same sweetness factor in this song and it's separate from the fact that she's in love with the guy. She'll put those feelings aside to help him as a friend, putting him before herself.
Or, the alternative interpretation where we switch 『彼女』 with 『彼氏』 and we have a song about Aya and Miki!
Just kidding. The connection was tenuous at best for 「ソウルメイト」 but this is just a bit too far.
Musical Style
I'm not sure what 小林さん's characteristic arrangement is but he knows his stuff regardless. We have two ears that makes our audio perception stereophonic (no, not the Welsh band from Cwmaman). 小林さん knows that. The intro alternates a few tracks between the left and right channels. It's audible through speakers but the best way to hear it is to use earphones because then sound is deposited right inside the ear so the right ear can't pick up the left channel and vice versa. It's serene. Just listen to the first three notes. The opening F♭ comes out of the left channel, the E♭ out of the right and then the D♭ out of the left again. The next note B♭ then goes from the left again followed by a B from the right and a D♭ from the left. The third set before the left hand kicks in once again starts from the left with a B then to the right with a B♭ then back the B on the left. That number of notes changes throughout the song but the alternation remains which makes for a very sensual aural experience. For the basic level pianists out there like me, the intro starts:
G♭-E♭-D♭-B♭-B-D♭-B-B♭-B
Musical buffs out there (unlike me) will instantly recognise that that's the key of G♭ major. I have no idea what the signficance of that is at all but according to Wikipedia, G♭ major is used for more piano pieces than orchestral. Just as well this isn't an orchestral song! The main instrument like a studio piano to me but I'm not entirely sure. If it is then it's been altered slightly electronically to give more of a ring. To complement that there are two guitars or one supremely talented guitarist but probably two separate ones to play lead and rhythm in the chorus. And there's a drum kit of course. Back to lazy drums (see Musical Style of 「ダブル レインボウ」 as well. Altogether a very beautiful song musically.
Thoughts and Conclusion
I said I'd return to the symbolism of a lighthouse...
I meant to mention an episode of The Simpsons in 「ソウルメイト」 but I completely forgot about it in the rush to publish. The episode is called 「El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer (The Mysterious Voyage of Homer)」 from season 8 where Homer starts hallucinating after eating Chief Wiggum's "Merciless Peppers of Quetzlzacatenango". Near the end of the episode, Homer says something to the effect of EARL (the "lighthouse keeper") being the lonliest person in Springfield. That's the impression I get from the song. It's a show of strength and benefit to others despite being isolated. Lighthouses are placed at isolated, dangerous extremities and are not operated by people whenever possible. The navigation systems of modern ships are extremely sophisticated which makes lighthouses less useful than they were a century ago but they are still invaluable, preventing ships running aground or damaging their hulls on hidden rocks. The thing is, most lighthouse are always on (including the dainty little one where my father grew up - check the image description for more info on that) whether they need to be or not which is what a good friend should be. When I say "always on", small ones like the ones I linked flash rather than rotate so they're not "always on" in that sense but they are in that they continually flash. It's that sweetness of being able to rely on her to block out her feelings in order to be a friend first and foremost that makes this the heart-tug song on the album, more so that 「ソウルメイト」. But by the same token it's also an extremely sad song because she is willing to give herself up for him but not the other way around.
It sounded amazing in concert. There's always the question about how the top will sound but she really shut me up. The song is mostly just below the middle of her vocal range rising to a little off her top so she could really deal with it comfortably. Plus she knows how to hold a note. But it's probably the shortest 4 minutes and 28 seconds ever. I refuse to believe that the song lasts that long because it just flies by!
This is seriously pushing to be my favourite song on the album. It's a bit strange because 「愛の船」 was the song I singled out of the 「1st GAM~甘い誘惑~」 tracklist pre-listen because of its title and it turned out to be my favourite on that album as well. I think I must just have a knack of knowing which songs will really hit me...
Romaji (aka who really shot JR!)
Ii toko nashi da ne Anata no mae de wa Kimochi kakushite odoketeta
Anata ga kanojo no Hanashi wo suru tabi Nando mo mune ga harisaketa n da
Kizukarecha ikenai omoi ga Watashi no koto wo shibaritsuketeiku yo
Nakitakute Mune ga itakute Todoku hazu nai Omoi ga tsunoru yo
Ano egao Kokoro shimetsukeru Kanoji ni muketa egao
Au no ga kowakute Meeru mo mushi shita Kono mama hanareteshimaitai
Itoshisa wo shitte Kizutuite Kizutsuku tabi ni Mata aitaku naru
Omoide ni shiteshmaereba Afuredashisou na Namida mo tomereru
Mata aeru toki ni wa anata no asu wo teraseru you ni
Sugoshita toki ga Tsuyoi kizuna ni Kawatteyuku yo
Moshi itsu ka Komatta kao no Anata ga ita nara Senaka wo oseru yo
Itsu datte Tondeyuku kara Watashi wa Zutto Tomodachi
Additional
Just for fun, I've attached the intro of the song as two separate mp3 files, one for each channel. I got the idea after plugging my phone into my guitar amp (as you do) which is monaural and only plays the left channel of stereo audio which makes the song sound weird and incomplete. Also, I did a screen record of the intro playing in Audacity (Megaupload). It shows the volume levels of the channels (green bars at the top of the video) so you can see how the left and right interact. A word of warning... the audio on that video is VERY loud! Hopefully that will clarify why I mentioned stereophonics if it wasn't already clear.
← Back to the main page
Song Credits
Apparently 小林さん has a characteristic arrangement style or even frontier arrangement techniques although I don't know what those may be. The song is definitely musically interesting but that's a later discussion. 小林さん has otherwise had his own pop career from 1999 to 2003 with a best hits album in 2006. That's it. I'm too lazy to look into how successful he was but I doubt anyone really cares anyway!
Title
This is the song that I singled out before I heard the album because of the title. The symbolism of a lighthouse (oh, 「灯台」 means lighthouse) is well known. I'll come back to that though. My thoughts on it are more like a conclusion of the song than a foreword. Just think of a lighthouse...
Opening Thoughts
If I were to write a song, I'd think of a concept and work around that. The concept might eventually become the title but as long as the concept is there, everything will work. Of course, that is how I feel about this song. It was written with a lighthouse in mind rather than the title being affixed after the song was complete.
灯台
Lighthouse
いいとこなしだね あなたの前では 気持ち隠しておどけてた
There's no good time is there?
In front of you I hid my feelings and joked about
あなたが彼女の 話をするたび 何度も胸が張り裂けたんだ
Whenever you talked about your girlfriend it rent my heart
気づかれちゃいけない想いが 私のことを 縛り付けていくよ
The thoughts that must not be noticed will tie me down
泣きたくて 胸が痛くて 届くはずない 想いがつのるよ
I want to cry and my heart hurts, thoughts that I don't expect to reach you build up
あの笑顔 心しめつける 彼女に向けた笑顔
That smile, that smile to her that crushes my heart
会うのが怖くて メールも無視した このまま離れてしまいたい
I'm afraid to see you and ignored your mail
I'd like to leave you like this
愛しさを知って傷ついて 傷つくたびに また会いたくなる
Knowing affection hurts but
Whenever it hurts I want to see you again
思い出にしてしまえれば あふれ出しそうな 涙も止めれる
If I return to my memories even my welling tears can be stemmed
また会えるときにはあなたの 明日を照らせるように
When I get to see you again I can be the one to shine on your tomorrow
過ごした時が 強いキズナに 変わってゆくよ
The time we spent together will change into tight bonds
もしいつか 困った顔の あなたがいたなら 背中を押せるよ
If one day you should be with a troubled face I can give you a push
いつだって 飛んでゆくから わたしは ずっと 友達
I'll always fly to you; I'll be your friend forever
Lyrics and Translation
Ugh... you know the kind of expression. The kind you get from hard-hitting revelations that really kick the wind out of you. Most people must have had a few in their lives, more than likely from a source much more serious than a song but this really kicks my feelings in the same way that any bad news ever has.
The translation mostly tells the story itself but I do have some things to elaborate on. The two heart lines (final lines of first verse and first chorus) really are that brutal. The verse one would more literally be "my chest burst" (not in some smutty way) which is obviously a metaphor for the pain she feels. The second one is literally "The heart tightening smile to your girlfriend". Maybe that sounds less brutal than crushing but it's a feeling of having the wind knocked out. And cardiac arrest!
For the second verse, the "leave" is the "depart" sort of rather than "allow to remain". Just thinking of his girlfriend makes her not want to see him, not because she hates him but she's jealous. As green as the Emerald City. I can empathise with that desire. The mere sight of him will only hurt her even more which she doesn't want. However, when she thinks of that, she wants to see him again á la second bridge. It's not quite a vicious circle though because through that little bit of thought the thought of separation is completely disippated.
I don't think the full force of the lyrics is translated in the second chorus. For the first line she has happy memories which enable her to look on the bright side and be strong so even though she's really sad, she's also appreciates these special moments in time that she spent with him. In the second line, which is the lighthouse part of the song, the idea that it brings into my mind is that the future is a dark unknown pass with hidden perils and she is the lighthouse that will shine through and guide him when times warrant it. Added to the fact that tomorrow is always ahead of us, she'll always be ahead of him to light the way. That's how my English translations speaks to me as well but only because I heard the Japanese and formed that. To someone just reading the line, it doesn't really push out the force.
I like what the middle eight suggests. The idea that spending time with someone creates something for the two people. I'm a believer in that and I'd like to think people I've spent time feel likewise. There's obviously the quality of time more than the quantity where watching a football match together is bottom of the ladder and something like a boat on a lake is somewhere about 3/4 up. But I like talking to my friends one to one. It's not that I'm not a group person (I'm not really but that's besides the point) but I find some of my friends are different people in private and it's nice to see it. I have one friend who
Spoiler
I only see alone though (boat friend), just because we don't share circles of friends having grown up together for 10 years then apart for 12. So yes, endearment building times. I'm all for treasuring them. The last line reminds me of the very last ever episode of 「The Fresh Prince of Bel Air」. Yes, you know my generation!
Will has a final talk with Ashley and I can't remember the exact quote because it was still the 1990's when I last saw it but it was something to the effect that if Ashley had any problems, he would take the first flight he could to help her (he said something similar to Carlton as well). Obviously there was no romantic link between Will and Ashley (or Carlton!) but it's just that sweetness factor that someone would stop what they're doing to help someone they care about no matter what. There's the same sweetness factor in this song and it's separate from the fact that she's in love with the guy. She'll put those feelings aside to help him as a friend, putting him before herself.Or, the alternative interpretation where we switch 『彼女』 with 『彼氏』 and we have a song about Aya and Miki!
Just kidding. The connection was tenuous at best for 「ソウルメイト」 but this is just a bit too far.Musical Style
I'm not sure what 小林さん's characteristic arrangement is but he knows his stuff regardless. We have two ears that makes our audio perception stereophonic (no, not the Welsh band from Cwmaman). 小林さん knows that. The intro alternates a few tracks between the left and right channels. It's audible through speakers but the best way to hear it is to use earphones because then sound is deposited right inside the ear so the right ear can't pick up the left channel and vice versa. It's serene. Just listen to the first three notes. The opening F♭ comes out of the left channel, the E♭ out of the right and then the D♭ out of the left again. The next note B♭ then goes from the left again followed by a B from the right and a D♭ from the left. The third set before the left hand kicks in once again starts from the left with a B then to the right with a B♭ then back the B on the left. That number of notes changes throughout the song but the alternation remains which makes for a very sensual aural experience. For the basic level pianists out there like me, the intro starts:
G♭-E♭-D♭-B♭-B-D♭-B-B♭-B
Musical buffs out there (unlike me) will instantly recognise that that's the key of G♭ major. I have no idea what the signficance of that is at all but according to Wikipedia, G♭ major is used for more piano pieces than orchestral. Just as well this isn't an orchestral song! The main instrument like a studio piano to me but I'm not entirely sure. If it is then it's been altered slightly electronically to give more of a ring. To complement that there are two guitars or one supremely talented guitarist but probably two separate ones to play lead and rhythm in the chorus. And there's a drum kit of course. Back to lazy drums (see Musical Style of 「ダブル レインボウ」 as well. Altogether a very beautiful song musically.
Thoughts and Conclusion
I said I'd return to the symbolism of a lighthouse...
I meant to mention an episode of The Simpsons in 「ソウルメイト」 but I completely forgot about it in the rush to publish. The episode is called 「El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer (The Mysterious Voyage of Homer)」 from season 8 where Homer starts hallucinating after eating Chief Wiggum's "Merciless Peppers of Quetzlzacatenango". Near the end of the episode, Homer says something to the effect of EARL (the "lighthouse keeper") being the lonliest person in Springfield. That's the impression I get from the song. It's a show of strength and benefit to others despite being isolated. Lighthouses are placed at isolated, dangerous extremities and are not operated by people whenever possible. The navigation systems of modern ships are extremely sophisticated which makes lighthouses less useful than they were a century ago but they are still invaluable, preventing ships running aground or damaging their hulls on hidden rocks. The thing is, most lighthouse are always on (including the dainty little one where my father grew up - check the image description for more info on that) whether they need to be or not which is what a good friend should be. When I say "always on", small ones like the ones I linked flash rather than rotate so they're not "always on" in that sense but they are in that they continually flash. It's that sweetness of being able to rely on her to block out her feelings in order to be a friend first and foremost that makes this the heart-tug song on the album, more so that 「ソウルメイト」. But by the same token it's also an extremely sad song because she is willing to give herself up for him but not the other way around.
It sounded amazing in concert. There's always the question about how the top will sound but she really shut me up. The song is mostly just below the middle of her vocal range rising to a little off her top so she could really deal with it comfortably. Plus she knows how to hold a note. But it's probably the shortest 4 minutes and 28 seconds ever. I refuse to believe that the song lasts that long because it just flies by!
This is seriously pushing to be my favourite song on the album. It's a bit strange because 「愛の船」 was the song I singled out of the 「1st GAM~甘い誘惑~」 tracklist pre-listen because of its title and it turned out to be my favourite on that album as well. I think I must just have a knack of knowing which songs will really hit me...
Romaji (aka who really shot JR!)
Ii toko nashi da ne Anata no mae de wa Kimochi kakushite odoketeta
Anata ga kanojo no Hanashi wo suru tabi Nando mo mune ga harisaketa n da
Kizukarecha ikenai omoi ga Watashi no koto wo shibaritsuketeiku yo
Nakitakute Mune ga itakute Todoku hazu nai Omoi ga tsunoru yo
Ano egao Kokoro shimetsukeru Kanoji ni muketa egao
Au no ga kowakute Meeru mo mushi shita Kono mama hanareteshimaitai
Itoshisa wo shitte Kizutuite Kizutsuku tabi ni Mata aitaku naru
Omoide ni shiteshmaereba Afuredashisou na Namida mo tomereru
Mata aeru toki ni wa anata no asu wo teraseru you ni
Sugoshita toki ga Tsuyoi kizuna ni Kawatteyuku yo
Moshi itsu ka Komatta kao no Anata ga ita nara Senaka wo oseru yo
Itsu datte Tondeyuku kara Watashi wa Zutto Tomodachi
Additional
Just for fun, I've attached the intro of the song as two separate mp3 files, one for each channel. I got the idea after plugging my phone into my guitar amp (as you do) which is monaural and only plays the left channel of stereo audio which makes the song sound weird and incomplete. Also, I did a screen record of the intro playing in Audacity (Megaupload). It shows the volume levels of the channels (green bars at the top of the video) so you can see how the left and right interact. A word of warning... the audio on that video is VERY loud! Hopefully that will clarify why I mentioned stereophonics if it wasn't already clear.
← Back to the main page
Attached Files
-
Toudai_Left_Channel.mp3 (343.67K)
downloads: 106 -
Toudai_Right_Channel.mp3 (343.67K)
downloads: 108
