Feeling fine

I started listening to J-Pop and J-Rock when I was about tweleve years old. The sound is so different from what you hear here in the US, actually it's quite different from any music I've heard before.

The rock has a happier sound to it, yet most commonly a harder metal like background. And the lyrics are always more poetic it seems.

I've listened to many Japanese bands over the years. PuffyAmiyumi, Nana Kitade, High and Mighty Color, Gackt, but out of them all L'Arc~en~Ciel (which is french for Rainbow, or more litterally "The Arc In The Sky") is my favorite. Hyde, the frontman and lead singer, has this beautiful and powerful voice, clean and clear. Ken's lyrics always blow me away whether in English or in Japanese (I speak, write and read a bit).

One of my favorite L'Arc song is "Feeling Fine". The tune is catchy and happy, countering the slightly sad lyrics. The song is about breaking up and moving on, but it leaves you with happy thoughts. "Loving you made me happy everyday".

I'd recomend any and all of L'Arc's album's and songs. "Feeling Fine" is off their album "SMILE".

Be sure to also check out their album "AWAKE" though...everything they do is maginificant.

Below is a fan made video for "Feeling Fine" and the lyrics in both Japanese and English. Enjoy!


Feeling Fine-L'Arc~en~Ciel


-Original Japanese Lyrics-

Are you feeling fine?
Nemurenai yoru ni wa kimi no maboroshi ga...
She said, "Loving you made me happy everyday"
Ano koro to onaji sa mukaji na kao de hanashikakenaide

Tsunagatteite mo yokan shiteta kara saisho kara tabun
Tooi kako no koto sa oshietekureta wakare no imi

Itsu ni nareba ito wo tachikiri kimi wo norikoeru?

Are you feeling fine?
Nagai michi no tochuu de sayonara no kawari ni
She said, "Loving you made me happy everyday"
Nanigoto mo nai ka no you sekai wa mawaru boku wo nokoshite

Kagirinaku jiyuu... Tsukaenai kurai jikan wa tsukinai
Harewataru hibi ni tozashiteite mo jiyuu dakedo

Ude wo nobashi DOOR wo hiraite wasurekaketa no ni...

Are you feeling fine?
Nemurenai yoru ni wa kimi no maboroshi ga...
She said, "Loving you made me happy everyday"
Ano koro to onaji sa mukaji na kao de hanashikakenaide

Binetsu karuku doko ka kimi wo...

Imagoro kitto ki ni mo tomezu ni kimi wa yume no naka

Are you feeling fine?
Muda na teikou wa yamete ashita e to mukaou
I said, "Loving you made me happy everyday"
Itsu no ma ni ka nemuri ni togirete kieta egao no mama de



-English Translation-

Are you feeling fine?
On sleepless nights, the illusion of you...
She said, "Loving you made me happy everyday"
Don't talk to me with the innocent face you had back then

Though these feelings must have connected us from the start
I learned what it means to break up a long tim ago

When did the thread get cut and leave you hanging?

Are you feeling fine?
In the middle of the long road, instead of "goodbye"
She said, "Loving you made me happy everyday"
The world keeps turning, leaving me behind as if I were nothing

Unending freedom...Far more time than I have a use for
But at least I'm free to lock those days behind me

I've forgotten how to open the door that leads into my heart...

Are you feeling fine?
On sleepless nights, the illusion of you...
She said, "Loving you made me happy everyday"
Don't talk to me with the innocent face you had back then

You were somewhere in my fever...

Even now, I can't help but knowing you'll be in my dreams

Are you feeling fine?
Stop trying to resist, move on to tomorrow
I said, "Loving you made me happy everyday"
When did I start sleeping without seeing your smile?