2017年、15枚目で初の英語アルバム「KAZOKU」がリリースされた。
ついに世界発信、英語アルバム発売！
購入はこちら。サイトからの購入ができない場合はakiramaniamusic@gmail.comにメールしてください。
「KAZOKU」
1. Ureshipa moshiri (ウレシパモシリ)
2. PUZZLE (パズル)
3. KAZOKU (家族)
4. Hello my mom! (ハローマイマム！)
5. Daijoub my friend (だいじょうぶマイフレンド)
6. Traveling man (トラベリングマン)
7. MAKERO (ハイボクノウタ)
8. An Occupation (ザ プロフェッション)
9. Grandma's Hands (ばあちゃんの手)
10. The Stone of The Brave (勇者の石)
11. The Blue Sky (雲のうえはいつも晴れだから)
12. Gods Bless You (祝福の歌)
13. ARIGATOU (ありがとう)
Produced by Ryusuke Sasaki
Arrenged by Ryusuke Sasaki
Mix and Mastering by Ryusuke Sasaki
Instrument and Programing by Ryusuke Sasaki
All songs written and Vocal by AKIRA
English Translation by AKIRA. Becca. Loretta. Toru Ogawa
Chinese Translation by Ricca Takiguchi
Photo and Design by Shino Tanaka
苦節4年、念願の英語アルバムが手元に届きました～
2013年10月、世界ベスト10ビーチにアジアから唯一選ばれたフィリピンのボラカイ島でこのプロジェクトははじまった。
2011年の東日本大震災、過酷な避難所ライブ、2012年突然の吐血とガン余命宣告からの復活を経て、「生きる喜びをみんなに伝えていきたい！」と決断した。
オレは約10万人の日本人にそのメッセージを伝えてきたが、「日本人限定なのか？」という疑問がよぎった。
ふつうの歌手ならそれでいいだろうが、オレは世界100カ国以上を旅してきた。
戦争や内戦で家族を失った人々、飢餓に苦しむ人々、路上で眠るストリートチルドレン、生きるために犯罪に手を染める人々、生死の限界で必死に生き延びようとする人々にもメッセージを届けたい。
「日本語だけじゃ届かない」
ボラカイ島ビーチフロントにある「ラ イスラ ボニータ」プリンセスルーム207号室(4000円)で、オレは煩悶しながらAKIRA歌の英語訳をはじめた。
https://ameblo.jp/akiramania/entry-11626116703.html
翻訳はかんたんだが、歌として成立させるには、メロディーとの整合性、アクセントの置き方、表現の柔軟性が要求される。
英語歌と日本語歌のもっとも大きなちがいは、1音に対して日本語１音、英語１単語がはいってしまう。
「わたしはだいち」が直訳の「I am land」じゃメロディーに対して字足らずになるのだ。
プロの翻訳者が英語から日本語に訳すには削ればいい。
しかし日本語から英語に訳すには言葉を増やさなくてはならない。
これは他人に任せられない。
それは新たな創作であり、作者以外できるものはいないのだ。
しかもメロディーのアクセントに合わせ、１行ごとに創作していかねばならない。
どれだけ改変したか、「ウレシパモシリ」で見ていこう。
I am the mother earth (わたしは大地)
I am the father sky (わたしは大空)
I am the grandma moon (わたしは月)
I am the grandpa sun (わたしは太陽)
I am the brother bird (わたしは鳥)
I am the sister flower (わたしは花)
And do you know what? I am you (そしてわたしはあなた)
この部分だけでもアメリカインディアンの「母なる大地、父なる太陽、祖母なる月、兄弟なる鳥、姉妹なる花」という思想を取り入れないとできなかった。
言葉の専門職である翻訳家は歌い手でもないし先住民の伝統文化や思想をしらないので、この翻訳は不可能だ。
はじめはちゃんとお金を払ってプロの翻訳家に任せようという選択肢もあったが、それはぶった切られた。
AKIRA歌を翻訳できるのは、オレしかいない。
ボラカイの美しいビーチをながめながら、１日10時間もかけて1曲を作り上げていく。
「家族」
https://ameblo.jp/akiramania/entry-11627662278.html
「The Profession」
https://ameblo.jp/akiramania/entry-11630988856.html
「Traveling man」
https://ameblo.jp/akiramania/entry-11634661696.html
「雲のうえはいつも晴れだから」
https://ameblo.jp/akiramania/entry-11635690419.html
さらに精度を高めるため、カナダ人教師ベッカに依頼する。
2016年の6月にベッカの住む富山県滑川市まで出かけていき、コミュニティセンターで、土曜日は12:00～22:00の10時間、日曜日は9:00～22:00の13時間という過酷な耐久レースでついに13曲を訳し終えた。
https://ameblo.jp/akiramania/entry-12170089266.html
2016年7月にアメリカ、ウェストバージニア出身、札幌で小学生に英語を教えているロレッタにチェックをしてもらう。
ベッカはカナダ人だし、アメリカ英語とのすり合わせも必要だ。
ロレッタは歌もうまいし、歌詞をメロディーに合わせるセンスが抜群である。
公共施設がいっぱいなので、たなかしの家をお借りして歌詞の手直しをやった。
さらにメロディとの融合を目指して、カナダ留学＋歌手のおがわとーるに訳詞を歌ってもらい、楽器の入ったオケをバックにデモ録音をしてもらう。
2017年1～3月にスリランカで歌いこみ、動画を撮る。
中国語とスペイン語訳もネイティブの方々に依頼し、たなかしのに字幕スーパー付きでアップしてもらう。
2017年5月、札幌のスタジオ リュウスケで8日間かけてボーカル録音を終えた。
アレンジャーのリュウスケいわく、「まるで最初から英語で書かれた歌じゃないかと思わせるほど、演奏とぴったりハマったので驚きです！」
アルバムのデザインはたなかしのだ。
ジャパニメーションでいこうとか、浮世絵風でいこうとか、いろいろ迷ったが、最終的にはしのにデレゲート（全任委譲）して、すばらしいデザインに仕上がった。
歌詞ページは中国語訳ものせているので言葉数が多く、シンプルな色ちがいの和紙にしたのもよかった。
珠玉の名作たちを英語で聴くと、オレはなぜか泣いてしまう。
日本語で聴いても平気なのに、まるで初めて聴くような新鮮さがあるからだ。
これからどのように海外展開していくかはわからないが、世界発信への一歩を踏み出したことだけは確かだ。
グラミー賞、待ってろよ！
「KAZOKU」購入はこちら
サイトからの購入ができない場合はakiramaniamusic@gmail.comにメールしてください。
[ Ureshipa moshiri ]
We grow together on Mother Earth (Ainu Language)
I am the mother earth
I am the father sky
I am the grandma moon
I am the grandpa sun
I am the brother bird
I am the sister flower
And do you know what? I am you
In front of the crossroad
You can't choose either road
What is the right way?
What is the wrong way?
You can ask me anytime
Turn a stone by the roadside
You'll find me. I'll be there
The walls of misery that you built up
Now you are trapped alone
Fearful in the dark
You can tell me anything
Look at the stars at night
And You'll find me. I'll be there
Look at me looking at you
The barriers slowly just fading away
We are all born from the same mother earth, with one love
I am the sad tears
I am the sweet smiles
I am the loneliness
I am the anger
I am the forgiveness
I am the prayer
And do you know what? I am you
You're afraid of people
You don't like yourself
Feeling so unloved
when you cannot move
You can find me anywhere
even in an old wise tree
You'll find me. I'll be there
Had to make a sacrifice
to show your kindness
Had to say goodbye
because you loved her
You can see me clearly
even in the mirror
And you'll find me. I'll be there
Look at me looking at you
Vanity slowly just fading away
We are all born from the same mother earth, with one love
I am an ordeal
I am knowledge
I am the light
I am a life
I am love
I am God
And do you know what? I am you
You lost your parents
You lost your friends
Broke up with your lover
Lost the meaning of life
You can feel my silence
in the blowing wind
And You'll find me. I'll be there
You curse your destiny
Lose faith in your God
Body stiff in your bed,
fearing the knock of death
You can feel my healing
Put your hand on your chest
And you'll find me. I'll be there
Flowers and animals and birds
We are all different in bodies and lives
We are all born from the same mother earth, with one love
Refrain 1
Refrain 2
Refrain 3
[ PUZZLE ]
Life is a puzzle even if one is missing
You wouldn't be you, wouldn't be here
wouldn't be here now, would not meet me
Life is a puzzle, although you had a painful past
It makes you shine, makes you warm
makes you strong, makes you smile
"What is the reason why you've come here to this world?"
The blowing wind is now asking me why
I'm on a journey to find the missing piece
to fill the hole in my heart
Tell me where to go. What should I do?
We are only one tiny piece of the puzzle of this world
The world is a tiny piece of the universe
But there is also a universe inside of our hearts
The people who you meet become shining stars
I was waiting for, I've been waiting a thousand years
Not allowed to meet until we're both prepared
Fate is not set, but meetings are all planned
The world gives you many lessons to learn
Refrain
You've been hurt enough
You've been hurt more than you've hurt
You've suffered from misunderstanding
Forgive not only sins but people themselves
It's hard for you to forgive
Forgive all of them, and forgive yourself
Not to love you as you are
would mean to deny all your past
Look back on your past to clear your mind
If your mother and grandmother didn't love,
you wouldn't be here now
You are made of infinite love from many links
The tears flowed from you
They deepened your looks
The rain clouded your face
But brightened your smile
There is no waste in the puzzle
Mistakes don't even exist
When you challenge misfortune, you will grow
Refrain
There is no perfect one,
Everyone is imperfect
That's why I need you, I love you
The Puzzle never ends
It will never be complete
Because there is no end to the passing love
Refrain
[ KAZOKU ] (Family)
I remember the day
when you were coming into this world
Mom did her best at the risk of her life
She suffered, she bore down,
she shouted like a beast
Finally, she gave birth to you
Daddy didn't know what to do
like a chicken without a head
I held mom's trembling hand so tightly
Then, you joined our family
Oh, I cried with joy
Repeat and repeat and repeat
We're living in a spiral of life
Reborn and reborn and reborn
We're learning the true love of life
Don't you think that we are family?
Don't you feel that we are family?
I'm sorry, I didn't care for you
because we were too close
Even if we couldn't understand
Even if we couldn't recognize
The only treasure in the world
This is your family
Do you remember the day
when our family broke up?
Mom always worried about you
She took care of you
She struggled and puzzled
Then she threw away our home
leaving you lonely, alone
Daddy loathed this family
And I hated myself
I was drunk every day
and lost my sense of self
Love was twisted, turned around
And then I hit you
Forgive me your lousy daddy
Repeat and repeat and repeat
We're living in a spiral of life
Reborn and reborn and reborn
We're learning the true love of life
Don't you think that we are family?
Don't you feel that we are family?
I am sorry, I turned away from you
because we were the same man
Even without permission
Even without respect
The only treasure in the world
This is your family
We remember the day
when mom left this world
Daddy also wanted to die and be with mom
I didn't have the time to say
I'm sorry to her
but I still love her even now
All families have a common fate
No one can escape
Carrying each other, we walk hand in hand
It is heavy and painful, a long and winding road
but I'm happy to be with you
Repeat and repeat and repeat
We're living in a spiral of life
Reborn and reborn and reborn
We're learning the true love of life
Don't you think that we are family?
Don't you feel that we are family?
I wanted to say thank you
for making our family
Even if we hurt each other
Even if we hate each other
The only treasure in the world
This is your family
Don't you think that we are family?
Don't you feel that we are family?...
Refrain
Then, you joined our family
Oh, I cried…cried with joy
[ Hello my mom! ]
Hello, my mom!
I remember that time clearly
Your tummy was warm
It was relaxing inside
Kick, kick, kick
Sleeping seeing dreams
I heard your lullaby
Such a gentle voice
Hello, my mom!
I was scared at that moment
I went down the slide
So narrow and so dark
When I was born into a brilliant shining light
I cannot forget such a joyful face
It's very nice to meet you
It's very lucky I'm your child
I was born to protect you
Mama ni aete yokatta
Mama no kodomo de yokatta
Hello, hello, my mom!
Hello, my mom!
I remember that time clearly
They cut it between us
Our final connection
Felt like sandpaper towels
The scale was cruelly cold
I cannot forget the warmth of your hands
Hello, my mom!
It's a little inconvenient
I cannot speak. I cannot move my body
You can't hear my thoughts
or what I want to do
No, I'm not crying
I'm singing a song for you
Refrain
Hello, my mom!
I remember that time clearly
I was up in the sky
with a gentle God and angels
Always watching you
from way up in the clouds
I saw your wedding, such a beautiful bride
Hello, my mom!
I decided by myself
I'll be your child
I'll choose you for my mother
Because I love you more than anyone
You are my only one
The best mom in the world
Refrain
[ Daijoub my friend ]
What up brother! Ma name's Carter
19 years old. Workin' in a corner store
Cashier, cleanin', stockin' sum products
Look! I'm a great clerk, heh?
Hey, you goddamn kid!
Don't spill that Slurpee
Old bastard! Get the fuck outta here!
Oh no no no I didn't mean it
It's not what I had really wanted to say
Basically, I despise everyone equally!
Oh no no no I didn't mean it
It's not what I had really wanted to do
I wasn't born to do this shitty-ass job!
Daijoub My Friend, Daijoub My Friend
Fuck up life in a royal way
Daijoub My Friend, Daijoub My Friend
Get screwed in a splendid way
How's itz goin? Ma name's Cathy
22 years old. Workin' in a night club
Fishnet tights with a bunny tail
Make a joke, fake a smile
I am an entertainer
Hey! Shut your mouth
You filthy scumbag!
Hands off! You son of a bitch!
You treat your mama like this?
Oh no no no I didn't mean it
It's not what I had really wanted to say
All men can go to hell,
except maybe my boyfriend
Oh no no no I didn't mean it
It's not what I had really wanted to do
I wasn't born to do such a sick job!
How do you do? My name is Suzuki
40 years old. Work in a company
Top in sales, selling myself
Economy crashed, I got burned
I have nowhere to go, nothing to do
no home, no work, no one, no hope
My wife thinks I'm worthless
My daughter calls me smelly garbage
Oh no no no I don't mean it
It's not what I had really wanted to say
Thinking about how to commit suicide everyday
Oh no no no I don't mean it
It's not what I had really wanted to do
I wasn't meant to have this miserable life!
Daijoub My Friend, Daijoub My Friend
Even though it doesn't go as you wish
Daijoub My Friend, Daijoub My Friend
That's why life is worth living
Refrain
[ Traveling man ]
I hated all humans. I hated all adults
I was against common sense
and fucking morality
I was barking and biting randomly
like a mad dog. I was 19 years old
I repeated mistakes stupid and reckless
I shed helpless tears for myself
There is one thing that I know
That I should not be here now
I am a Traveling man
What do I really wanna do?
I am a Traveling man
I'll find out cause I don't know
I am a Traveling man
Why do I rush so much?
I have to run away from here
Or die and go to hell
America is a monster dominating this world
I wanted to see its violent tusks
I tackled it like Don Quixote
I had nothing to lose. I was 20 years old
I took a bus from San Francisco
I crossed the island of a great turtle
I stayed at a cheap hotel
in New York on Broadway
I had my birthday with cockroaches
Europe is an old pervert
I really longed for dazzling places
The bitch Europe tempts the world
I was a horny, 21 years old
I slept on the streets
and in parks everywhere
I wandered all the way
from London to Rome
Money stolen by an Amsterdam whore
I took a piss on the wall of Berlin
Refrain
India beat me up
Flipped me upside down
Values broken into tiny chunks
I sold my backpack
I was wandering barefoot
Became a Sadhu. I was 22 years old
I was vomiting as corpses were burning
Jumped into the Ganga River
Got a disease, I was close to death
I went to the river between two worlds
I settled in New York City
without a visa, without money
I started painting and started singing songs
Woke up free I was 23 years old
I sold cocaine to buy heroin
I was a dangerous gangster
I was a homeless, I was a thief
It was the worst time in my whole life
Refrain
To anyone who wants to be perfectly free
I want to dedicate this song to you
To anyone who is chasing a dream
I want everyone to start on a journey
The world is charming. I want to kiss it
Quite foolish that I want to laugh
The world is dear. I want to hold it
So beautiful that I want to cry
[ MAKERO ]
All the cram school children, Oh, they laugh
at the homeless man living in the trash
They say, "That man is a loser."
Businessmen waiting in a line
A man yells at a slow elderly man
"Hurry up, and get out of my way!"
Help the weak, help the grieving
is the strength of the man
Only those who have lost something are
able to save others
Let's fail. Let's fail. Yes, let's fail
Know the pain of a loser's soul is so deep
Makero. Makero. Let's fail
Know the love of a loser's heart is so big
Yes. The number of your wounds
makes you stronger than before
You gentle beast
Please come on, rise
A young man kicked a baby carriage
getting on the crowded train
There was no apology for the mother
A father scolds his son for skipping school
"You're just a loser after all."
The irony is the father lost his job
There is a life
That's similar to yours
every weed you trampled down
Only the man who knows darkness
is able to light the way
Refrain
Let's fail. Let's fail. Yes, let's fail
Know the pain of a loser's soul is so deep
Makero. Makero. Let's fail
Know the love of a loser's heart is so big
Refrain
[ An Occupation ]
I was ashamed of my father's occupation
He was a caretaker for a boring small car park
He was sitting in a tiny shed all alone
kept his head down for 30 years
He had to quit his job
to care for my sick mother
I saw something that I couldn't believe
on the last day of his job
Colourful flower surrounded us
So many bouquets covered the desk
Everyone crowded around him
They said, "Thank you for your hard work."
A person's value is not based on occupation
It depends on how they do their work, care for all
Now I'm proud of my father's occupation
He is working unselfishly for others
It's the occupation
I did not want to end up like my mother
She studied music in college, wanted to be a pianist
She is playing cashier instead of the piano now
She is always smiling, talking with customers
It was the night of Christmas Eve
I went to the store where she works
I saw a sight I couldn't believe
There was just one lonely line
The store opened more registers
But everyone stayed in her line
because they wanted to salute her
Say "Merry Christmas!"
A person's value is not based on occupation
It depends on how they do their work, care for all
Now I'm proud of my mother's occupation
She is working for the happiness of others
It's the occupation
[ Grandma's Hands ]
Grandma's hands, wrinkled hands
Don't talk about anything
Grandma's hands, child-like hands
Like a lotus flower wrapped in time
The hands fought off a seeking mother
when she was born a long time ago
The hands knitted a flower necklace
when she was an innocent child
The hands wrote a love letter
when she was a dreaming girl
The hands waved a Japanese flag
for her elder brother going to war
Refrain
The hands loosened the belt of a Kimono
when she undressed on her wedding night
The hands tightly hugged her groom
Got married in an arrangement
The hands chopped chives for soup
They ate little and lived poorly
The hands wiped lonely tears
for the husband's betrayal
Refrain
The hands washed baby diapers
when she became a young mother
The hands touched an altar
when her parents passed away
The hands cradled her grandchild
when she was the most happy
The hands laughed for the first time
when she left this world
Many things had and many things lost
These hands hold her history
Grandma's hands, hands of God
A lotus flowers wrapped in time
Refrain
[ The Stone of The Brave ]
Before you came to this world
you chose your own stone
to carry on your back
for your life time
You're Reborn many times
and learn many things
Your soul gets stronger
by baring the heavy stone
The stone's very light. Baby turtle size
The stone of a child who does not have any worries
Blessed with much beauty,
health and wealth
Playing without fear of anything at all
The stone gets heavier. Raccoon size
The stone of a boy
who is starting to wake up
He will challenge and lose, but will always get up again
Keep on searching for your truth, never give up
Daijoub dayo
You can do it, you will be all right
The life that you have
is the Stone of Destiny
Let's keep on carrying
the stone of the brave
The stone grows heavier. Red deer size
The stone of the man
who knows many sorrows
He endures difficulties like a tsunami
Keep on protecting who you love
to the best you can
The stone is its greatest. Buffalo size
The stone of the brave
who are honored by God
He who overcame illness or disability
Keep on giving hope and courage
to men freely
Daijoub dayo
I think you will be all right
Daijoub dayo
I think you will be all right
Refrain
[ The Blue Sky ]
Violently cold rain
suddenly hits your cheek
You are scared like a dog
with frightened eyes
An unforgivingly strong wind
churns your hair
You have nothing left
Drop to your knees
In the rain, in the wind,
and even in a storm
The blue sky is always
up above the clouds
In the pain, in the grief,
and even in hell
I'm watching you, protecting you
from the sky above the clouds
The tsunami of destiny is
going to swallow you
As the shores disappeared,
you looked up at the sky
Don't fight the flow
Don't fight your fate
Believe in yourself
Just go with the flow
Refrain
Angels come down from the sky
using a ladder of light
Fallen trees will sink
into the earth, one more time
Green buds will grow
in a swamp of mud
Now, at this time,
you are still alive
Don't you know about your truth?
You are the rainbow warrior
The great soul, the brave heart
You are the eternal traveler
You create the world,
You stop the hate
You give everyone peace and love
You wake up now
You find your voice
You welcome yourself home
Refrain
[ Gods Bless You ]
God, you're a really bad liar
There were always two footprints,
yours and mine, on the beach,
But when I was so depressed,
one set of footprints disappeared
Felt like you left me behind
Dear child, listen to my words
I am always with you
Dear child, please open your heart, open your eyes
Can't you see that the footprints became one
sinking into the sand
At that time, I was carrying you on my back
No matter who denies you
No matter who hates you
I watch over you. I support and protect you
Even if you doubt yourself
Even if you blame yourself
My love for you will never change, never end
Gods bless the child even if they are weak
Gods bless the child even if they are bad
Thank you for being you
I give you this blessing song
I confess to you honestly
I was a junky and a thief
I confess to you honestly
I betrayed many people
But ghosts from hell whispered to me, voicelessly
I want to tell you something important before I die
God can't be found in a church or a shrine
God lives in the earth, birds, flowers, and in all things
And God also lives in your mind
When I call her by her name, It's love
No matter who laughs at you
No matter who scorns you
I am proud of you
I praise you with my heart
Even if you fool yourself
Even if you lose yourself
My love for you will never leave, never fade
There is a love, only your love, and always with you
Can't you hear her?
Your love is crying for you
She's waiting patiently,
You should take notice
because you have turned your back on her
Now is the time
Go wake your sleeping love up
Love, love, go love the world where you were born
Love, love, go love all lives, your brothers
Go love yourself more than anyone else
No matter who hurts you
No matter who beats you
I will hold you gently
And I'll wipe your tears, make your smile
Even if you judge yourself
Even if you reject yourself
My love for you will never break, never die
Refrain
[ ARIGATOU ]
I'm sorry that I was not honest with you
I'm sorry that I was not brave when you needed me
Go straight to your heart, my words, the truth of me
Only five letters of gratitude
There's nobody else who plays the part for me
There's nobody else but you, just you for me
When I think of you I feel like shedding tears of joy
Only five letters of gratitude
Thank you for meeting me, ARIGATOU
Thank you for loving me, ARIGATOU
Thank you for all, for all of you, ARIGATOU
That's all I want to say
I was always by your side, but I never told you
I was always trying, but too shy to tell you
How many times did I say it in my dreams?
Only five letters of gratitude
You helped me out during bad times
You cheered for me when I had good times
I'm living my life cause I have you
Only five letters of gratitude
Thank you for giving life, ARIGATOU
Thank you for raising me, ARIGATOU
Thank you for all, for all of you, ARIGATOU
That's all I want to say
Only five letters of gratitude
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アルバム、名言写真集Will の 海外発送も承ります。（一部地域を除く。詳しくは上記販売ページにて）