Ahh. Youth~

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*re-worked with a bunch of edits thanks to locksleyu’s comments ^.^

恍惚、忘我
(koukotsu, bouga)
[ Ectsatic, Enthusiastic ]

東京、夕暮れ
(tokyo, yuugure)
[ Tokyo, Sunsets ]

君がいなくなっても生きていく
(kimi ga inaku natte mo ikiteiku)
[ I’ll live on even without you ]

原動力くれ
(gendouryouku kure)
[ Give me motivation ]

行動が思いをなしだして走っていく
(koudou ga omoi o nashi dashite hashitteiku)
[ I’ll run as all rationale leaves my mind, ]

鼓動よ届け、今走る
(kodou yo todoke, imahashiru)
[ Heartbeats, reach! I’m running now ]

空間性に追いつくように走っていく
(kuukan-sei ni oitsuku you ni hashitteiku)
[ I’ll run to somehow close that gap ]

感懐を託し
(kankai o takushi)
[ Leaving it all to intuition ]

私はアーティスト
(watashi wa aatisuto)
[ I am an artist ]

感性を磨く
(kansei o migaku)
[ Polishing my senses ]

才能、嫉妬、いらないわ
(sainou, shitto, iranai wa)
[ Talent, Envy; I have no use for ]

生命力くれ
(seimeiryoku kure)
[ Give me vitality ]

感動が目の前を襲って泣いている
(kandou ga me no mae o osotte naiteiru)
[ I’m crying in fear of the excitement before my eyes, ]

鼓動よ響け、今走る
(kodou yo hibike, ima hashiru)
[ Hearbeats, resound! I’m running now ]

扇動に傷付いたって走っていく
(sendou ni kizu tsuitatte hashitte iku)
[ I’ll run as I get hurt in agitation ]

行動を起こせ、今走る
(koudou o okose, ima hashiru)
[ Heartbeats, rouse! I’m running now ]

干渉、妨害、抗うように走っていく
(kanshou, bougai, aragau you ni hashitte iku)
[ I’ll run as I’m interfered, obstructed, and opposed; ]

感懐を託し、
(kankai o takushi)
[ Leaving it to intuition ]

持って、立った、君の口癖
(motte, tatta, kimi no kuchiguse)
[ Enduring, Standing — Like you always say ]

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ランナーズ・ハイ (rannaazu hai lit. runner’s high) is a song by Osaka-based three-piece band, First Impression.

For the most part, a “runner’s high” is pretty much the same thing as what you’d call an adrenaline rush — a state of both mind and body where exileration caused by aerobic exercise (ie running) produces feelings of “euphoria coupled with reduced anxiety and a lessened ability to feel pain”. Any and all inhibition is cast away, allowing someone to move completely unhindered through one’s own will. Or so the science goes.

Runner’s high in the context of this song was used, I believe, to tell a story of running through life; not away from all the challenges and tribulations that everyday brings, but through them, head-first with reckless abandon. In some ways this is a nice approach to dealing with things in an unfamiliar environment, especially for youths going out in the world for the first time trying to figure what to do with their lives. It might not be all that ideal to to just “run” towards things without considering the repercussions, but if anything it shows earnest resolve — which is always nice to have.

I seem to have a penchant for female-fronted three-piece bands as of late, but hey, if they all keep sounding like this then I’m always gonna be all ears. First Impression is such a treat in that they’re so.. simple. In a time where being experimental on the airwaves is all the rage, it’s the reliable riffs and runs that I can’t help but keep coming back to at times.

*An interesting thing I noticed while I was parsing the lyrics for this was the constant use of different words that had more or less the same meaning as one another:

恍惚、忘我 — koukotsu, bouga — ectsatic, enthusiastic
原動力, 生命力 — gendouryoku, inochiryouku —  motivation lit. driving force, life force
干渉、妨害、抗うよう — kanshou, bougai, aragau —  interfered, obstructed, or opposed

I just thought it was clever is all 😀

How’d you guys like it? 🙂
As always, I do these translations by myself, so they may not be the most accurate ones around — so for people more familiar with the language do feel free to call me out if a line or two (or three.. or four…) seems a bit if not completely off.