Dear readers, many thanks for visiting my site. It has been my interest to spread good music. I thank you for the support.

Commencing today, SOFM have moved to http://enxieferite.net84.net/ . Look for my top 10 recommendations over there.

I will continue to post great music over there.

This wordpress site will no longer be updated.

<Itsuka no merry christmas>, a song made by veteran Japanese band B’Z, is meant to be a song sang from a single, male, perspective. Due to the love of this song,other Japanese singers have been singing this song. There are duets being sang, although the song was not meant to be. Jpop princess Hamasaki Ayumi also sang this song in 1999. Below are the duet versions of the song. Both versions have a different style to it. Hamasaki Ayumi’s version is sadder, whereas Amuro Namie’s one is more upbeat. Enjoy!

Lyrics:

Yukkuri to juunigatsu no agari ga tomori hajime
Awatadashiku odoru machi wo dare mo ga suki ni naru

Boku wa hashiri heiten magiwa kimi no hoshigatta isu wo katta
Nimotsu kakae, densha no naka, hitori de shiawasedatta

Itsumade mo te wo tsunaide irareru youna kigashiteita
Nanimokamo ga kirameite, gamushara ni yume wo oikaketa
Yorokobi mo kanashimi mo zenbu, wakachiau hi ga kuru koto
Omotte hohoemi atteiru iroaseta, Itsuka no Merry Christmas

Utainagara senrozoi wo uchi e to sukoshi isoida
Doa wo aketa kimi wa isogashiku yuushoku wo tsukutteita

Hokorashige ni purezento miseru to, kimi wa kokoro kara yorokonde
Sono kao wo mita boku mo mata sunao ni kimi wo dakishimeta

Itsumade mo te wo tsunaide irareru youna kigashiteita
Nanimokamo ga kirameite, gamushara ni yume wo oikaketa
Kimi ga inakunaru koto wo hajimete kowai to omotta
Hito wo aisuru toiu koto ni ki ga tsuita itsuka no Merry Christmas

Heya wo somerurou soku no hi wo minagara “Hanareru koto wa nai” to itta
ato de kyuu ni boku wa nazedaka wakarazu naita

Itsumade mo te wo tsunaide irareru youna kigashiteita
Nanimokamo ga kirameite, gamushara ni yume wo oikaketa
Kimi ga inakunaru koto wo hajimete kowai to omotta
Hito wo aisuru toiu koto ni ki ga tsuita itsuka no Merry Christmas

Tachidomatteru boku no soba wo, dareka ga hashibaya ni
Toorisugiru nimotsu wo kakae, shiawasesouna kao de

Translations:

The lamps of December have begun to light up slowly
And everyone without exception start liking the busily dancing city

I ran and made it to the store before it closed and bought the stool that you longed for
Hugging it, inside the subway, I felt happiness all over me

I felt that we’re always gonna be together with our hands in each other’s
While everything is sparkling brightly, I run after my dream freely
There will be a day when we share happiness or unhappiness, or all of it
Thinking about it, I had a smile on my face
On that blurred colorful Merry Christmas once upon a time

I sang all the way while walking along the path
Closer to home, I started to walk faster
When I opened the door I saw you busily preparing our dinner

Proudly I showed you your present
And you are pleased from the heart
Seeing your happy face, once again, I couldn’t resist hugging you

* I felt that we’re always gonna be together with our hands in each other’s
While everything is sparkling brightly, I run after my dream freely
It was the first time ever that I start to feel afraid about losing you
I truly realized what loving someone really means
On that Merry Christmas once upon a time

While watching lights illuminating our room
“Let’s never ever be parted” I said
And soon afterwards, not knowing clearly why, I was suddenly in tears

Standing by myself now, all around me are people who walk by fast
Everyone hugging presents with such happy faces

This is one of the best songs from rising star Yui. <Life> was featured first as a single and then as one of the 13 songs on her first album. The song is upbeat, the lyrics are well written and hardly repeated, and the whole song is actually quite uplifting. Perhaps listening to <Life> every morning is a good way to start your day.

Lyrics:

Doro darake yo najime nai tokai de
Onaji you ni warae nai utsumuite aruita no
Isogi ashi de surechigau hito-tachi
“Yume wa kanai mashita ka?”
atashi mada mogaite iru

Kodomo no goro ni modoru yori mo
Ima wo umaku ikite mitai yo
Kowagari wa umare tsuki

Hi no atari basho ni dete
Ryoute wo hirogete mita nara
Ano sora koete yukeru ka na?
Nante omottanda
Tobitatsu tame no tsubasa
Sore wa mada mienai
kantan ni ikanai kara ikite yukeru

Nureta koinu hiroi ageta dakede
Chotto warae chau hodo
Namida ga koborete kita

Aisaretai aisaretai bakari
atashi itte ita yo ne
Motomeru dake ja dame ne

Kodomo no goro wa MAMA no koto
Hidoku kizutsuketa
Hi mo atta yo ne kawaritai
Ima zenbu

Hi no ataru basho ni dete
Kono te wo tsuyoku nigitte mitai
Ano basho ano toki wo kowashite
I can change my life

Demo kokoro no naka subete wo
Totemo tsutae kirenai
kantan ni ika nai kara
ikite yukeru

Hi no ataru basho ni dete
Chizu wo hirogete miru kedo
I know… You know…
Mayoimichi mo shikatanai
I can change my life

Sugite kita hibi zenbu de
Ima no atashi nanda yo
kantan ni ikanai kara
ikite yukeru

translations:

In the familiar, dirty city
We walked with our heads down,
Unable to laugh in the same way
People hurry past
“Has your dream come true?”
I’m still struggling

I’d rather try living well now than go back to when
I was a kid
Cowardice was born

I went out to a place where the sun shone
And held out my arms
And thought
Could I cross the sky?
I still can’t see any wings to fly with
It’s because it’s not simple
That I can go on living

Just picking up a wet puppy
I laughed so hard that tears flowed
In a way that was funny

I want to be loved, I just want to be loved
I said,
But you can’t just long for something

When I was a kid there were days
When I hurt my mother terribly
I want to
Change everything now

I went out to a place where the sun shone and
Gripped tightly with my hands
I can destroy that place, that time,
I can change my life

But there’s no way I can tell you
Everything that’s in my heart
It’s because it’s not simple
That I can go on living

I go out to a place where the sun shines
And open up a map, but
I know… you know…
You can’t help getting lost
I can change my life

All the days that have passed
Have made me who I am now
It’s because it’s not simple that
I can go on living

Rainie Yang’s first hit to the charts. This song is about a mutual, vague feeling that is hard to be called “love”, but some bonds do exist between the persons involved. This kind of feeling may be called ambiguous love, one that is not confirmed. Perhaps some of you have may have also experienced this kind of “Beyond friends, not yet lovers” feelings?

Lyrics:

暧昧让人受尽委屈
找不到相爱的证据
何时该前进 何时该放弃
连拥抱都没有 勇气

只能陪你到这里
毕竟有些事 不可以
超过了友情 还不到爱情
远方就要下雨的风景
到底该不该哭泣
想太多是我还是你
我很不服气
也开始怀疑
眼前的人是不是同一个真实的你

暧昧让人受尽委屈
找不到相爱的证据
何时该前进 何时该放弃
连拥抱都没有 勇气
暧昧让人变得贪心
直到等待失去 意义
无奈我和你 写不出结局
放遗憾的美丽
停在这里

哦~~哦~~呜

暧昧让人受尽委屈
找不到相爱的证据
何时该前进 何时该放弃
连拥抱都没有 勇气
暧昧让人变得贪心
直到等待失去 意义
无奈我和你 写不出结局
放遗憾的美丽
停在这里

Tranlations:

Ambiguity causes much pain
Can’t find the signs of love
When should I go forward? When should I give up?
I can’t even bring up the courage to hug you

I can come only with you to this far;
after all, there are still some things that we can not do yet
We’re more than friends, yet we have not reached love
The scenery afar seems to be raining soon

Should I cry or not? Which of us is thinking too much?
I’m very dissatisfied, and start to suspect
if the person in front of me is same, true you?

Ambiguity causes much pain
Can’t find the signs of love
When should I go forward? When should I give up?
I can’t even bring up the courage to hug you

Ambiguity makes people become greedy;
until we lose the purpose of waiting
It’s a pity that we are not able to end up

Let the beauty we regret

stop here

Ambiguity causes much pain
Can’t find the signs of love
When should I go forward? When should I give up?
I can’t even bring up the courage to hug you

Ambiguity makes people become greedy;
until we lose the purpose of waiting
It’s a pity that we are not able to end up

Let the beauty we regret

stop here

One of the best songs from Rainie Yang, <Ideal lover> depicts the story of a girl going on her first date, trying to appear her best, and asking herself questions of what are the qualities her date will want for his ideal lover.

Lyrics:

穿上洋装看着手表
时间快到心砰砰地跳
和你的第一次约会来临了
金色的阳光洒满人行道
换了新唇膏把头发弄好
要你看到我的好
喜欢看你走路充满自信
说话时候你的专注眼神
温柔的表情笑容里的天真
我相信找不到有比你更好的人
你心里理想情人是几分
是否也会有我的份
好想知道你的100分
会给怎样的人
亲爱的你不要再陌生增加我戏份
我想问亲爱的你把感情升等
朋友变成情人
可不可以告诉我标准
不要让我一直等
听着那时间滴答的走
对街的你在点头
好象一个梦
渐渐走到我前头

A sweet love song conveying strong desires to see the other person, more than any one else in his world. This song is easily one of the most emotional and bitter in the world of Japanese music. Much reminiscing, regrets and hopes of seeing the person again is well spread out through this wonderful song. The singer’s melancholic vibratos adds to the sorrow of this masterpiece.

Lyrics and translations:

kimi ni aitakute     dare yori mo aitakute
mou ichido kono te o tsunaide hoshii
[I want to see you     I want to see you more than anyone
Once more, I want you to hold my hand]

kono heya ni mada okiwasureta     kimi no omokage o sagashiteiru yo
me o tojireba ima mo kimi ga     soba ni iru you na ki ga shite
itsuka wa atarimae no you ni
wakare ga kuru koto     wakatteita no ni
[I'm looking for vestages of your presence     still left over in this room
If I close my eyes, even now     I can almost feel you next to me
I always took it for granted
Even though I knew     that we would part]

kimi ni aitakute     dare yori mo aitakute
wasureru koto nante     deki ya shinai kara
kimi ga mienakute     nando mo kizutsuketa keredo
mou ichido kono te o tsunaide hoshii
[I want to see you     I want to see you more than anyone
I simply cannot     forget about you
I cannot see you     I've hurt you so many times, but
Once more, I want you to hold my hand]

deatta shunkan ni koi ni ochite     omowazu kimi o dakishimeteita
sonna boku ni warainagara     “baka ne” to karuku kisu o shite…
daremo ga deai to wakare no naka de
tashika na ai ni     kizuiteiku
[The moment we met, I fell in love     and without thinking, I hugged you
You laughed at me and said     "You silly" and gently kissed me...
From the time they meet until the time they part
No one realizes     true love]

kimi ni aitakute     dare yori mo aitakute
hajimete kimi ni atta     hoshizora no shita de
kimi ni tsutaetai     todokanai omoi demo
boku no kokoro wa mada kimi o sagashiteiru
[I want to see you     I want to see you more than anyone
The first time I met you     underneath the starry sky
I want to tell you     about the feelings that haven't reached you
My heart is still searching for you]

itsuka wa atarimae no you ni
wakare ga kuru koto     wakatteita no ni
[I always took it for granted
Even though I knew     that we would part]

kimi ni aitakute     dare yori mo aitakute
wasureru koto nante     deki ya shinai kara
kimi no tame nara     sou kimi no tame nara…
[I want to see you     I want to see you more than anyone
I simply cannot     forget about you
If it's for you     Yes, if it's for you...]

mou ichido kono te o tsunaide hoshii
itsumo tsunaida te wa atatakakatta
[Once more, I want you to hold my hand
Your hand held in mine was always warm]

A very sweet Chinese song by Cyndi Wang Xin Ling, conveying deep pain about breaking up. The song takes place right at the moment of breaking up.

Cyndi is really a under-rated singer, known for her sweet looks and cute image. She also have a few cute songs that I shall not post in this site. When I listen to a few serious songs of hers, such as this one, I find that her voice is really not bad and the techniques are there, as you would admit in this song. It is the cute image that is stopping her from being known as a good singer. Then again, is this her fault, or is it the company who wants to establish such a image?

Lyrics and translations(Tales’s):

紧握着你的手
天很冷
路口正亮着红灯
说不出一句话
傻傻的站着你和我

[I held you your hand tight,

in this cold weather.

the traffic lights flashed red

unable to speak

we stood there like fools.]

熟悉的这首歌
这空气一起分享的呼吸
说完再见以后
说过的爱过的要怎么继续
好想再多一分钟
感觉你的温度你的味道
你温柔的手
在转身之后发现
我的眼睛跟着天空
突然下起了大雨
[This familiar song,

we draw breaths from this same air

after saying "goodbye"

how should we continue our words, our love

i wish to have one more minute

to experience your warmth, your smell

your gentle hands

after I turned away I realise that

my eyes, as if together with the sky

started to rain]
从最初到最后
要走到时间的尽头
不变的守候
You are my only love
[From the beginning til the ending
until the end of time

I'll watch out for you

You are my only love]

要记住我们曾拥有海阔天空
放开手才知道
冷风吹 心还痛

[Remember that we used to own this world

after I let go, I learnt that

the cold wind still blows, my heart still aches]

This song is used as the opening theme for the PS2 game <Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater> . The singer has such a powerful voice and has the most impressive vibratos I have heard of from female singers. The lyrics also mention things that the main character of the game did go through, so it is a very interesting song overall. Too bad, it is too short at a little before 3 minutes..

Lyrics:

What a thrill...
With darkness and silence through the night
What a thrill...
I'm searching and I'll melt into you
What a fear in my heart
But you're so supreme! 

I'd give my life
Not for honour, but for you! [Snake Eater]
In my time there'll be no one else
Crime, it's the way I fly to you! [Snake Eater]
I'm still in a dream,
Snake Eater!

Someday you go through the rain
And someday, you feed on a tree frog
This ordeal, the trial to survive
For the day we see new light!

I'd give my life
Not for honour, but for you! [Snake Eater]
In my time there'll be no one else
Crime, it's the way I fly to you! [Snake Eater]
I'm still in a dream,
Snake Eater!

I am still in a dream,
Snake Eater!

A masterpiece from the well-known Chinese singer Jeff Chang, this song is about the final moments before a break-up. These moments are that of a peaceful break-up, harmonous, kind and forgiving. The voice of this song wants to leave happy memories after the break-up, and therefore yearns for final hug before they finally say “good-bye” to each other.

Lyrics:

天 为何总要黑
爱 为何变忌讳
我想要的并不是并不是这安慰
当眼泪跌碎
一切怎挽回
心 为何想诉罪
痛 为何还不退
说无所谓启不是启不是
太虚伪太可悲
想爱的机会
到底是谁在支配
*给我最后温柔
抱在胸口
假装不必放手
还有以后
让多年后我回头
相信你的爱没尽头
给你最后温柔
你的自由
不要让你泪流
不要内疚
只要你回头
依然觉得有想我的理由

心 为何想诉罪
痛 为何还不退
说无所谓启不是启不是
太虚伪太可悲
再一次机会
我渴望的你不给

*给我最后温柔
抱在胸口
假装不必放手
还有以后
让多年后我回头
相信你的爱没尽头
给你最后温柔
你的自由
不要让你泪流
不要内疚
只要你回头
依然觉得有想我的理由

给我最后温柔
抱在胸口
假装不必放手
还有以后
让多年后我回头
相信你的爱没尽头
给你最后温柔
你的自由
不要让你泪流
不要内疚
只要你回头
会承认我们不止是朋友

Translations by Tales Zephyrus Lucrex:

The sky, why must it always come to dark?

Love, why has it become forbidden?

What I want is not this consolation

When tears fall and splatters

how would everything be recovered

My heart, why is it guilty?

Pain, why has it not subsided?

Isn’t saying “It does not matter”

too pretentious, too sad?

The chance to love

who is it giving it out?

*Embrace me with your final gentleness

hold me tight

pretend that we do not have to let go

that we still have a tomorrow

so that when years pass

I would believe that your love is eternal

I’ll embrace you with my final gentleness

giving you your freedom

I wouldnt let you cry

please don’t feel guilty

as long as when you look back at our past

you would feel that you have reasons to think of me

My heart, why is it guilty?

Pain, why has it not subsided?

Isn’t saying “It does not matter”

too pretentious, too sad?

The last chance

I long for, you would not grant me

*Embrace me with your final gentleness

hold me tight

pretend that we do not have to let go

that we still have a tomorrow

so that when years pass

I would believe that your love is eternal

I’ll embrace you with my final gentleness

giving you your freedom

I wouldnt let you cry

please don’t feel guilty

as long as when you look back at our past

you would feel that you have reasons to think of me

Embrace me with your final gentleness

hold me tight

pretend that we do not have to let go

that we still have a tomorrow

so that when years pass

I would believe that your love is eternal

I’ll embrace you with my final gentleness

giving you your freedom

I wouldnt let you cry

please don’t feel guilty

as long as when you look back at our past

you will acknowledge that we were more than just friends

[The translations are quite literal, in the sense that the translations sticks very closely to the original lyrics, therefore it may not look elegant in English.]

This song is originally a Korean song used for the hit Korean drama <Winter Sonata>. In this Chinese version of the song, we are blessed to have a very talented singer, Jeff Zhang Xin Zhe 张信哲, to bring out the right emotions of this song.

This song is about a man who have broken up with his love, but could not forget her no matter how hard he tried. Thus, he is questioning whether his life will be lead this way, never loving another more than he loved her.

Lyrics: