Why SMAP is so amazing :) Esp. for miss_dian :D

[scottishlass]

I know some of you might think I have lost my mind over my recent craze about JPOP, but seriously, don't dismiss the music before having a good listen.

I would like to introduce SMAP - SMAP stands for Sports Music Assemble People, a silly name, but all the hype in the late 1980's. The former six member group was formed out of many Johnny Juniors that were background dancers for the pop group Hikaru Genji. The group consisted of twelve to fifteen members and had to dance and skateboard as a backdrop for HG. Apart from that the youngsters (between nine and twelve) also sang a couple of cute songs, mostly cover versions of other big names from Johnny Entertainment.
In 1988, JE split the big group into two bands, namely TOKIO and SMAP. SMAP consisted of six members then: Nakai Masahiro, Mori Katsunagi, Kimura Takuya, Inagaki Goro, Kusanagi Tsuyoshi and Katori Shingo, their age ranging from barely eleven to sixteen at that time. SMAP was formed as a rap band but it was quickly certain that five out of six members had good enough voices to carry full harmonies and so SMAP went to debut in 1991.

Their first single holds a sad record, that of the worst sales of a debut single by any JE group EVER. But instead of disbanding the band, Nakai Masahiro persuaded management to try the six members out in fledgling comedy and variety that became popular during that time and as ppl say, the rest is history. Due to their appearance in doramas as well as comedy shows, their faces and names became household items in Japan. By 1996, when their first offcial comedy show was launched, they were the biggest selling popgroup in Japan, even surpassing their sempais from Hikaru Genji. When Mori Katsunagi decided to leave the group in 1996 to pursue a motorcycling career, many thought that this might be the end of SMAP as well but the remaining members went steadily on to become superstars both as singers as well as actors, writers and show masters.

What is so strange for Westerners is the fact, that although these five guys are superstars in their own country and also in Asia, they are actually on a salary with JE. JE pays them all approximately 3000 Euros each and they earn the bulk of their money with advertising and dorama work.

SmapxSmap, their Monday night comedy show, has been running for 11 years consecutively and still has a huge audience in the whole of Japan. With almost 20 years in the business, their albums still sell very well and their concert tours are always sold out within hours of the opening of ticket sales. Almost all their kouhei groups from JE try to copy them either due to style or music, but somehow SMAP isn't just another JE boyband, they have become an institution in Japan, their fans ranging from small kids barely in school to 70+ oba-sans. As well as their songs appearing in text books, as school anthems or even featuring in space as a wake up call for the astronauts during a mission in 2003.

Okay and now on to the music :)


Orenji (Orange)

Lionheart (in 2000 live as ending song for their weekly SMAPxSMAP show)

Dawn

DAWN

In this era whereby we can only fight to express ourselves,
Anyone would surely start to feel weary right?
It seems so difficult even to believe in anyone that solitude is chosen.
Wishing for someone to softly touch this heart....

Be it sorrow, be it hatred, let it just flow into this sea...
If we are to meet again
Let's present so with a smile then.

We are so gently surrounded by the light that shines upon us...
Walk out of the despair and darkness...
Something is waiting for us ahead out there ...
Linking the overflowing thoughts one by one...

Even if we hold on our knees and offer a prayer, a miracle does not happen,
Anyone would surely be struggling through this right?

Even the flowers along the road evoke such envy that tears fall...
Wishing for someone to give a soft pat on the back...

Be it sorrow, be it hatred, one day it will flow away...
If it is possible to forgive each other, let's have a long hold of hands...

We are so gently surrounded by the light that shines upon us...
Fly towards the faraway future...
Something is waiting for us ahead out there ...
The flooding hopes will be granted one by one...

If you find yourself
Being swallowed into the raging mud-stream of desires...
There is only one...
There is only one Truth, brightly guiding you through...

We are so gently surrounded by the light that shines upon us...
Walk out of the despair and darkness...
Something is waiting for us ahead out there ...
The overflowing thoughts of unlimited love...

We are so gently surrounded by the light that shines upon us...
Fly towards the faraway future...
Something is waiting for us ahead out there ...
Now the end of a long long night is approaching...


Donna ii Koto

Every You (English version Donna Ii Koto) PV

Arigatou (live)

Kimi wa Kimi dayo (ending song live of SMAPxSMAP)

Shiosai (solo by Kimura, ending song live of SMAPxSMAP)

SHIOSAI

The sound of waves cover up the rain
causing me to halt in my breath
We hurry up and hide in the car...

Images of people from afar,
we can't see them anymore
all that is the 2 of us,
using our sweaters to keep the warmth
but we do not feel cold anymore.

We have not visited the beach
for such a long time,
and yet it's raining now....
"who's fault is that?" you laughed and said.

At that point of time,
the way your expression makes me love you more
and erased all troubles in my mind
this is more than words can say.
hug me...

The tattered clouds now show a ray of sun
It feels like a world in a painting , silently I wished.
A lousy joke that was made unconciously
" I can't laugh" you said and smiled.

I am truely thankful to have met you, this fate
which will accumulate all the memories
that will be strongly remembered.

The seagulls that have gathered,
their wings fight the winds
where are they flying towards to?
We will start our flight too,
towards tomorrow..... Towards the future.

At that point in time,
the way your expression makes me love you more
and erased all troubles in my mind
this is more than words can say.
hug me...

I am truely thankful to have met you, this fate
which will accumulate all the memories
that will be strongly remembered.

Forever, Precious One
And ever gracious time
You're not the only lonely one

Forever, Precious One
And ever gracious time
You're not the only lonely one
You're not the only lonely one
You're not the only lonely one　


Take Off PV

TAKE OFF

TAKE OFF, OFF, OFF, OFF...

*1 kagami no naka no boku wa hareyaka na kao de waratteru
The vision of myself in the mirror Is laughing with a clear and bright face

senaka no tsubasa wo chikara ippai hirogete
The wings on my back is expanding with strength

*2 TAKE OFF tobitatsu toki da TAKE OFF mou daijoubu sa
the moment when I fly away everything will be okay

TAKE OFF shiawase tsukami ni Fly higher higher
with happiness in my grasp Fly higher higher

nanigenaku de aruku hirusagari
Walking out in the early afternoon

minareta keshiki itsumo no machinami
The same usual scenery The accustomed streets

kouen de hashaideru kodomo-tachi
In the park, the shy children

mukashi no jibun to futo kasanete ita
Your suddenly regain your former self

ano koro wa motto mainichi ga kitto
That time once more when everyday

kirakira kagayaki itsumo waratte ita noni
you glitter and shone and laughed

otona ni nari kabe ni butsukattari
But then you grew up and hit a wall

kurikaesu tabi ni mata okubyou ni naru
With time, you hid behind the cowardly mask

kodoku no kara ni tojikomori
Confined inside your lonely shell

hitori kokoro tozashiteta
You have closed your own heart

kono mama ja dame da
This cannot be right

I gotta keep my head up baby

ima kara demo osokunai
Even now it is not too late

atarashii jibun sagashi ni yukou
to search for a new self in you

kako no yowasa ni SAY GOOD BYE!!
To your past weakness SAY GOOD BYE!

*1, *2 repeat

dare ni mo makenai mono nanika hitotsu
Nobody can defeat the one thing

me wo toji sagasu kokoro no ARUBAMU
That you find when you close your eyes The ALBUM of your heart

mitsukareba It's show time! habatakeru!
When you find it, It's show time! Flap your feathers!

hontou no jibun wo ima, torimodoshita
Your true self now you have regained

shounen no jidai ni tobashita kamihikouki
In your youth, flying the paper airplanes that you folded

morokutemo jiyuu ni kaze wo kitte ita you ni
Feebly but freely through the wind that cut its path

mirai e no kagi "hon no sukoshi no yuuki"
therein lies the key to the future "with just a little bit of courage"

sore sae areba itsu datte tobidaseru
If you just have this you'll always be able to fly out

atomodori nante mou shinai
It does not do to go backwards

omoikiri atatte kudakero
Breaking yourself with all of your strength

donna toki demo
But at times

You gotta keep your head up baby

naname 45ｰ(yonjuugo-do) ue
slanted up at 45 degrees

tsune ni kao akete aruite yukou
Always walking with your face forward

asu no bokura ni SAY HELLO!!
to tomorrow's us you will SAY HELLO!
*1, *2 repeat

Sky high feel the wind blowin'

chuu wo mai looking for something
dancing in the universe looking for something

We got to keep flyin'
*1, *2 repeat

yo ga akereba hi ga mata noboru you ni
After the night the day comes the sun will still rise once again

kanashimi no saki ni yorokobi ga aru
Ahead of all the sorrow the happiness is there still

shinpai wa nai sa jibun wo shinjite
Throw away the worry have faith in yourself

1,2,3 TAKE OFF!

TAKE OFF, OFF, OFF, OFF...


Freebird PV

Yozora no mukou PV

Yozora no Mukou (Beyond the Sky)
Since that day,
what were we able to believe in?
Beyond the night sky,
tomorrow awaits

Noticing someone else's voice,
we hid ourselves
Along the fencing at the park,
the night wind blew

Your hand that squeezed,
attempting to tell me something
To this day is grasping the most sensitive
part of my heart.

Since that day,
what were we able to believe in?
As I gently open the window,
I smelled the winter wind.

Would sadness ever disappear?
My sighs appeared white in the air
and disappeared quickly.

Even walking was becoming a drag
I thought I can ignore the pointless common senses.

The words that I have said to you,
how much does it remain?
It roams aimlessly in the
deepest part of my heart.

Are we standing in the future of that day?
Things just does not go as well as I thought.
Would days continue on forever like this?
The cloudless sky continues beyond the window.

Since that day,
what were we able to believe in?
Beyond the night sky,
tomorrow awaits
oh, baby.....


Sekai Ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana (live 2003)

SEKAI NI HITOTSU DAKE NO HANA

“The One and Only Flower in the Flower in the World”

You don’t need to become Number 1
You’ve always been a very special only one

Before a flower shop I saw many blossoms in a row
Each person has their favorite but they’re all handsome

Not one trying to be the best or compete amongst themselves
They each stood tall and proud their chests open to the world.

Just how can we humans start to compare?
Each one of us is precious but we don’t even see
How special and unique everyone really is
Is this the way it really has to be?

Yes that’s right we all are
Just like the one and only flower in the world
Every single person holds a different seed
Wouldn’t it be beautiful if each flower blossomed
Let’s each do our best to realize that dream

It was then I saw a person wandering through all the rows
They looked a little troubled but they smiled as they strode
Since each and every flower was shining so bright
How could they choose which one was just right?

So finally that person emerged from the store
She was holding something so tightly to her chest
A bouquet of brilliant flowers no two quite the same
She walked away with a peaceful and smiling face.

I never even knew her name, but on that day
That person gave me the gift of a smile and new hope
And so I found a flower had bloomed inside me
In place that none of us can ever see

Each of us are also
Just like the one and only flower in the world
Every single person holds a different seed
Wouldn’t it be beautiful if each flower blossomed
Let’s each do our best to realize that dream

Small flowers, big flowers, there are all kinds but no two are just quite
Exactly the same one

You don’t need to become Number 1
You’ve always been a very special only one


And SMAP can be Rock/Hip Hop-y, too:

ROTFLMAO - This happens when Nakai & Co. write their own songs :D

Kimura finding his inner Rockstar :)

With the Backstreet Boys:

And last but not least - why SMAP is so amazing ...
... they can make fun of each other individually and as a group. One of their most funny skits in SMAPxSMAP is Idol Gakuen (Idol Kickoff) where they make fun of their origins as Skaterboys and sing abominably wrong (and wear pink shirts and white shorts OMG). Also, they are expert cooks due to their work on Bistro SMAP (in SMAPxSMAP) and they come up with the silliest batsu games (punishment) where they run marathons or climb Mt. Fuji to play with a kite.

SMAP as We Are The World Artists with Cyndi Lauper, who is shocked, amazed and can barely hold in her laughter :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXmvUp0GEAw
And last but not least: another fan tribute to SMAP