Tamaki’s Compelling Lyrics
When discussing Koji Tamaki, everyone is enthralled by his exceptional singing ability. For me, however, I am already captivated by the charm of Tamaki’s lyrics.
In the 1998 album “GRAND LOVE,” the opening track is a song called “Negai” (“Wish”). The song “Negai” begins with the six letters “Su mi re no Ha na.” As it continues with five and nine letters, the imagery of violets blooming under the blue sky comes to mind! Quietly blooming on the roadside, two violet flowers swaying in the wind, nodding at each other—it feels like they are smiling, crying—such scenes pop into your head; truly amazing lyrics.
Expressing such scenes with just six, five, and nine letters. When the scenery comes to mind, emotions well up. Ah, if we could live together like that, nodding to each other, laughing, crying.
Wow.
After that, songs like “Tsugumi” and “Yukiwarisou” come up, and the landscape, the scenery of Hokkaido, emerges. Wow.
Do you want to go back to those days?
In 2012, Tamaki released a song called “Melody.” A song that recalls the past. There was nothing special, but it was fun, right? With everyone, at that coffee shop, we used to gather there a lot, talking about things that weren’t anything special. That kind of song.
In 1986, Bob Dylan released a song called “Bob Dylan’s Dream.” The lyrics of this song are somewhat similar to Tamaki’s melody. Even though nothing was going well, everyone was there, gathering at that shop, and the lyrics convey a sense of joy. Ah, the old days were good. The title “Bob Dylan’s Dream” suggests that Bob Dylan is singing about his past, right? At the end, Bob Dylan sings like this: “I wish I could go back to those days. If I could go back to those days, I would throw everything away.” That’s how he sings. Bob Dylan seems to have lost something important and regrets it.
Tamaki, too, in the melody, is, after all, regretful. He sings about losing something important. But Tamaki doesn’t write about wanting to go back.
Tamaki sings about those precious memories, the scenes at that time, the feelings at that time, which he still vividly remembers in his heart. He sings that the cherished memories are still alive in his heart. He doesn’t say at all that he wants to go back.
Losing someone important
Tamaki writes that he lost something important but hasn’t forgotten and is still supporting him. It might seem contradictory to say that he lost something but is still being supported. However, if you think about the feeling when you lose someone important, you might understand.
A year ago, within a few months, I lost three family members. After one of the funerals, I turned on the TV, which I don’t usually watch. When I turned on the TV, NHK was introducing the manga “Non Non Granny and me” by Shigeru Mizuki. Shigeru Mizuki is the author of GeGeGe no Kitaro.
The manga “Non Non Granny and me” depicts Shigeru’s childhood memories. Shigeru Mizuki, as a young boy, loses a friend, loses all motivation, and becomes absent-minded. Seeing that, Non Non Granny says, “Shige, you must be feeling heavy. The heaviness is because the soul of the child who died has entered Shige’s heart. That’s why your heart is heavy.”
I stared with wide-open eyes and watched the TV. What timing.
Non Non Granny continues. From now on, Shige will feel heavy. More and more, his heart will get heavier. But he has to endure it. He has to become able to endure it. He will grow up. That’s what growing up is.
My eyes remained wide open. My sorrow is because my father and mother have entered my heart. You can think that way. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. That’s right!
This feeling is probably similar to what Tamaki expressed earlier. Although something is lost, there is still support.
Tamaki has also lost his father and mother. Indeed, Tamaki mentioned on NHK that he lost his parents. Tamaki expressed something like this.
Although I lost my parents, I feel like they are closer to me now than before.
I feel the same way.
Because the memories of loved ones are still in my heart, I am supported. In that sense, it’s not at all the same. It’s different. There were important things in the past. They were important because, for oneself, at times, they were a supporting presence, at times, a presence to be hated, like a guideline for living, something to overcome. Hmm, it’s an existence that is not another self. Someone else. No longer there. Can’t meet anymore. Lost. But still, I haven’t overcome it, and I haven’t been able to live the way that person indicated. I don’t know what’s good and what’s bad. That kind of challenge-like thing suddenly fell into my chest, that kind of feeling.
The feeling of thank you.
Bob Dylan sang that he wants to buy back what he lost with money. It’s something that can’t be done from the start, and he sings it knowing that, so it’s somewhat, without anything. An emotional feeling.
Tamaki Koji is different. Although it may sound emotional on the surface, you can feel a tremendous will. He’s alive, and that’s okay! People are encouraged by listening to Tamaki Koji’s songs, but why is that? Because their eyes are wide open. There is such a strong, significant person! That kind of surprise. Tamaki Koji’s singing is amazing. But maybe, Tamaki Koji’s ability to write lyrics is even more incredible. That will to live! Please include such lyrics in elementary school textbooks.
Poet, Tamaki Koji
Tamaki Koji’s singing ability stands out, so it’s natural for attention to be drawn there. But Tamaki Koji’s poems, I think they have an incredible power.
Recently, I haven’t seen any new poems by Tamaki, but oh, it would be great to encounter a new poem again.
Recommended books
Thinking about what kind of person Non Non Granny was, it’s sad. I wish I could use words that strengthen and make people flexible, not words that bind people. Even though it’s a manga, I think you should read it.
コメント