[romaji and translation] Sparkle

[RikkuChii]

I dunno how this song's possibly sexual..@_@

[Coelacanth]

I dunno about 'female empowerment', but maybe just 'empowerment' in general suits the song pretty well, don't you think? Maybe older generations of Japanese people wouldn't find it 'empowering' per se, but this sort of language may be aimed at a youthful crowd.

I like the lyrics, they're really inspiring to me atm since I feel like there's something I should be doing, but I don't have enough courage to step forward and do it. I think that maybe the first set of lyrics feel a bit disconnected from the song, but I think Ayu was simply experimenting and trying to do something "kakkoii", maybe for shock factor.

But for a 'step forward and do it' type song, I prefer Bold & Delicious. The lyrics and arrangement are just more uplifting and less aggressive. I feel like this is more of a 'you're in the club, go dance with her/him' because of the general dance sound and lyrics. Startin' too, perhaps, is a better 'step forward and do it' song, while it was aggressive, it had power. Sparkle seems kind of aggressive, but I don't sense too much power in it. Rather, it seems like it's telling you step forward and do something that you shouldn't be doing just for the sake of being crazy like 'hey come take some of these drugs, they'll make you feel good' lmao I'm sorry I'm not making any sense right now, am I?

Sparkle does remind me of a trashy underground erotic club with people on drugs though. Kouki Tange PV plz. <3

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by Coelacanth

Sparkle seems kind of aggressive, but I don't sense too much power in it. Rather, it seems like it's telling you step forward and do something that you shouldn't be doing just for the sake of being crazy like 'hey come take some of these drugs, they'll make you feel good' lmao I'm sorry I'm not making any sense right now, am I?

Sparkle does remind me of a trashy underground erotic club with people on drugs though. Kouki Tange PV plz. <3

Yes, yes, that's what it feels like imo as well. Although, that is an extreme example, haha.

[bluegie]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

Yes, yes, that's what it feels like imo as well. Although, that is an extreme example, haha.

now I'm really curious of how the final translation will look like... To those of you know can speak (or at least read) Japanese, this song sounds totally off, and it is like coming from a weird planet. This is pretty interesting, and at the same time make me panic. From your reactions and how sunshine described the Japanese reactions... if the lyrical content is sorta an indicator of what NEXT LEVEL will sound like, I can kinda imagine that there will be another (m)u incident again.. Last time ayu tried something very new (B&D, etc.), and the result was the decrease in cd sales (the starting point where her albums can't hit million copies anymore). If the Japanese thinks Sparkle is a weird thing like B&D, I can't imagine how bad NEXT LEVEL's sales will be...

[waterballoon]

Originally Posted by bluegie

now I'm really curious of how the final translation will look like... To those of you know can speak (or at least read) Japanese, this song sounds totally off, and it is like coming from a weird planet. This is pretty interesting, and at the same time make me panic. From your reactions and how sunshine described the Japanese reactions... if the lyrical content is sorta an indicator of what NEXT LEVEL will sound like, I can kinda imagine that there will be another (m)u incident again.. Last time ayu tried something very new (B&D, etc.), and the result was the decrease in cd sales (the starting point where her albums can't hit million copies anymore). If the Japanese thinks Sparkle is a weird thing like B&D, I can't imagine how bad NEXT LEVEL's sales will be...

But Sparkle's musical style is something that is present in some other J-pop singers, like Kuu and Namie Amuro. The really dance music that gets people groovy.

@ maikaru: Okay, I understand what you mean. The song is really enjoyable and the lyrics are confident at least.

@ sunshineslayer: Is it all right if your boyfriend could "identify" which "dialect" she's using to write this song? Because if I'm not wrong, Japan has several dialects, in which the speaking differs with each dialect. Perhaps she has chosen to write Sparkle in the slightly more "straightforward/rude" dialect?

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by waterballoon

@ sunshineslayer: Is it all right if your boyfriend could "identify" which "dialect" she's using to write this song? Because if I'm not wrong, Japan has several dialects, in which the speaking differs with each dialect. Perhaps she has chosen to write Sparkle in the slightly more "straightforward/rude" dialect?

I don't think it is really a "dialect" persay. It's not like Fukui-ben or something like that. It's more like Maikeru said - she uses more slang in this than usual. And just overall makes it more rough and un-ayu sounding I guess? Its something probably only totally native would completely get - 'cause I don't totally understand it either. I think I used the Koda comparison before, but when she talked about amniotic fluid getting bad, it really didn't sound bad in English right? But there was something in the way she said it that pissed a whole bunch of Japanese off for what reason, you and me will probably never figure out.
I don't know whether the lyrics are really going to be a problem in Japan or not, probably not, I just think they are just very different for Ayu. Some reactions to the lyrics have just been like 'eh whatever' while others are like Maikeru and don't like that style of lyric writing for Ayu.

To give an example, in the very first line she uses the term "kusubutte" which I was hard pressed to find in a dictionary (I tried 4 different ones) finally I was able to figure out that it means "to smolder". So its not just that she is saying "Hey there are cute boys here", she is literally saying "Hey there are smoldering hot cute boys here". It definitely makes the meaning of that line more sensual don't you think? And definitely not something you usually hear from Ayu I think everyone can at least agree on that. So naturally, some people just won't like that direction for Ayu. Also, if the romaji based on listening is correct there is a line about putting fingers in your mouth, which is supposed to imply want (and here is translated as "enviously"). But there are other ways of saying envious in Japanese without using the imagery of fingers and mouths, so it seems Ayu chose that kind of imagery deliberately. So yeah, new style for Ayu for sure.

Sorry for the long post, didn't mean for it to become a lecture!

[Kazeyomi]

thanks for helping us with your translations masa! \*_*/

[KarenPang]

thanks for the lyrics of Sparkle

[jbrat2219]

Thanks for the translations

[(miss)understood]

Why are so many people so relieved sparkle isnt sexual

who the hell thought it was sexual to begin with
who the hell thinks its wrong for ayu to be sexual in her music
she does it all the time, not typically lyrically but in many other ways

and IDK about any of you but it does not sound anything like Startin'.

[zyoeru]

Originally Posted by (miss)understood

Why are so many people so relieved sparkle isnt sexual

who the hell thought it was sexual to begin with
who the hell thinks its wrong for ayu to be sexual in her music
she does it all the time, not typically lyrically but in many other ways

and IDK about any of you but it does not sound anything like Startin'.

I agree, I had nothing wrong with Ayumi trying a new direction with her lyrics, her music is hers, no one has the right to put it down or not allow her to experiment with new styles, isn't that why we love her? Because she's not afraid to try something new?

I agree fully, Ayumi's lyrics aren't erotic...but her PVs, photo shoots and everything else is. I mean...my name's WOMEN PV? That's not exactly 'kawaii!! '

It's rather erotic, in my opinion anyway.

But anyway, I like the lyrics! So, thanks!

[taskinillusion]

Oh that's soooo sexual... please.

Thanks so much!

[Handjan]

Thank you

[Purple Neko]

Wow thank you!! She says a little English in this song. I didn't hear any the first 74 times lol.

[mcluva420]

thanks! [:

[Ayu_no_tenshi]

now all of you that said the song was overly sexual and 'provocative' can shut up...lol

[jimex289]

Thanks. The lyrics remind me of Catcher In the Light.

[Ani_C]

XD If I believed that Ayu spoke to me... I think my life would be twice as awkward. "Be Bolder Until you look disturbing", I don't think so

[jimex289]

It's a little different from some of the stuff she's written in the past but I think it's reasonable and people shouldn't be so taken aback by it. It's not something outrageous and out of no where.

[yoshino]

thanks masa for the lyrics and translation! ^_^