True Feelings

“There’s still something that we want to find so bad, somewhere in this world. Something that makes us give our voices out loud, and even risk our lives to find. No matter what it is, we spend our days hurting and healing each other through trial and error.” –Yu Takahashi, True Feelings (OST. Q10) [translated lyrics]

A Japanese talented singer-songwriter, Yu Takahashi, released a single titled “True Feelings” (in Japanese: “Honto no Kimochi”) on October 29^th 2010. Lagu ini dikenal juga dengan judul “Real Feelings”. Ini adalah single keduanya setelah debut bersama major label Warner Music Japan di tahun 2010. Sebelumnya, sejak tahun 2002 ia telah menjadi seorang musisi indie dan sempat merilis beberapa album. “True Feelings” menjadi theme song untuk serial drama “Q10”, yang dibintangi aktor tampan Takeru Satoh dan mantan personil AKB48, Atsuko Maeda, sebagai pemeran utama.

“True Feelings” menggambarkan bahwa cinta adalah sebuah perasaan yang nyata yang dapat dimiliki oleh manusia di tengah segala pertanyaan dan keraguan tentang hidup. Hidup ini penuh dengan misteri. Manusia hidup dengan berbagai pertanyaan yang datang dan pergi dalam kepalanya. Manusia hidup dengan mempertanyakan berbagai hal, serta mengapa hal-hal tersebut terjadi. Bahkan hal-hal sepele yang terjadi dalam hidup ini dapat menimbulkan pertanyaan dalam benak manusia. Namun satu hal yang dapat manusia sadari bahwa nyata adanya adalah perasaan mereka. “It seems like I know the truth about everything, but I really don’t know anything. But still, I have to keep on living somehow. I can’t pretend I know, but there’s not much I want to know either. The one thing I know for sure is how I feel. I love you.” Hidup ini penuh dengan ketidakpastian. Manusia kerap mempertanyakan masa depan, apa yang akan terjadi kemudian, akan menjadi seperti apa mereka kelak. Bahkan hal-hal yang terjadi di luar sana dalam hidup ini dapat memunculkan keraguan dalam pikiran manusia. Namun satu hal yang dapat manusia percayai nyata adanya adalah saat ini. Because we live in this moment, neither yesterday nor tomorrow. “I think I understand the truth about everything, but I really can’t understand anything. But still, I have to keep on walking somehow. I can’t just keep doubting, but there isn’t much I can believe in either. The one thing I know for sure is this moment now. Who do you love?” Terlepas dari betapa mereka tidak memahami dunia, dari betapa mereka tidak memercayainya, manusia harus terus hidup dan melangkah. Ada sesuatu di luar sana yang selalu manusia cari dalam kehidupan ini. Sesuatu yang membuat mereka rela melakukan segalanya demi mendapatkannya. Sesuatu yang memberi mereka kekuatan dan rasa percaya untuk terus hidup. Sesuatu yang membuat mereka selalu bangkit kembali setiap kali mereka terjatuh.  Sesuatu yang dapat mereka temukan dalam diri orang yang mereka sayangi. Sesuatu yang mereka sebut cinta.

Kesuksesan serial drama “Q10” turut melambungkan popularitas lagu “True Feelings” sebagai main theme song-nya. Lagu ini menjadi lagu pertama Takahashi yang menempati posisi Top 30 dalam berbagai tangga lagu Jepang, sekaligus membawanya tampil untuk pertama kali dalam program acara musik “Music Station”. “True Feelings” was later served as Takahashi’s second single that released physically on November 10^th 2010. Lagu ini kemudian menjadi bagian dari album major label perdana Takahashi, “Real Time Singer Songwriter”, yang dirilis pada tanggal 20 April 2011.

“True Feelings” adalah sebuah lagu pop dengan iringan band music yang diperindah dengan alunan biola dan denting piano pada beberapa bagian. Pertama kali mendengar lagu ini sebagai lagu penutup serial drama “Q10”, saya langsung ketagihan dengan irama melodinya yang super addictive. Vokal Takahashi yang gahar menyatu secara apik dalam lagu ini. The dynamic rhythm and energetic sound fit so well with the drama. Plus, after understanding the meaning of its lyrics, I feel that indeed this song suits very well too with the drama’s storyline. “True Feelings” is such a relaxing yet mood-boosting song. And surely, this is one of the greatest drama soundtracks ever.

“I think I understand the truth about everything, but I really can’t understand anything. But still, I have to keep on living somehow or other. I can’t just keep doubting, but there isn’t much I can believe in either. The one thing I know for sure is how I feel. Let me hear your voice, there’s something in it that I can believe in. The one thing I know for sure is this moment now. I love you.” –Yu Takahashi, True Feelings (OST. Q10) [translated lyrics]

* Ditulis sambil mendengarkan lagu “True Feelings” oleh Yu Takahashi, yang merupakan OST dari serial drama “Q10”. Lirik lagu berupa romanisasi dari Bahasa Jepang, beserta dengan translasinya ke dalam Bahasa Inggris.

“Kaidan no katasumi ni suwari uzukumaru ano hito ni nani ga attan darou?
(What happened to that person crouching in the corner of the stairs?)

Ittai nani o mite kitan darou?

(What on earth has he seen?)
Hitogomi no naka de niramiau danjo no aida ni nani ga okotta no?

(What happened between that couple in the crowd, glaring at each other?)
Ittai donna jijou ga attan darou?

(What on earth that caused it?)

Itsuka boku o yobidashita sensei ga donatteta sono shin’i wa donna dattarou?
(What was the real reason my teacher called me out and shouted at me that one day?)

Ittai boku wa nani o shitan darou?

(What on earth had I done?)
Me no mae de manmen no emi o ukabete akushu shiteru kono hito wa dare darou?

(Who is this person right in front of me, shaking my hand with a big smile?)
Boku wa ima doko de nani o shiten darou?

(Where am I, what am I doing now?)

Koto no shinsou wa nani mo wakatteru you de wakaranai

(It seems like I know the truth about everything, but I really don’t know anything)

Sore de mo dou ni ka ikite ikanakucha naranai

(But still, I have to keep on living somehow)
Shittakaburi nante dekinai demo shiritai koto mo amari nai

(I can’t pretend I know, but there’s not much I want to know either)
Tada hitotsu tashika na no wa boku no kimochi, “Kimi ga suki”

(The one thing I know for sure is how I feel, “I love you”)

Itsuka tabeta pasuta no ue ni nokkatteta guzai wa nan dattan darou?

(What was that stuff on the pasta I ate that one time?)
Ittai boku wa nani o tabetan darou?

(What on earth did I eat?)
Itsu kara ka tsuzuiteru sensou no hate ni donna koto ga matteirun darou?

(What is waiting at the end of that war that has been going on for ages?)
Soshite boku ni nani ga dekirun darou?

(And what is there that I can do?)

Koto no shinsou wa nani mo shitteiru you de shirienai

(I think I understand the truth about everything, but I really can’t understand anything)
Sore de mo dou ni ka aruite ikanakucha naranai

(But still, I have to keep on walking somehow)
Utagatte bakari irarenai demo shinjireru mono mo sukunai

(I can’t just keep doubting, but there isn’t much I can believe in either)
Tada hitotsu tashika na no wa ima kono toki, “Dare ga suki?”

(The one thing I know for sure is this moment now, “Who do you love?”)

Sono koe o karashite made sono inochi kezurashite made

(There’s still something that we want to find so bad, somewhere in this world)
Mitsukedashitai mono ga mada kono yo no dokka ni ate

(Something that makes us give our voices out loud, and even risk our lives to find)
Sore ga nan de are shikou sakugo shi kizutsuke iyashiau bokura no kyou

(No matter what it is, we spend our days hurting and healing each other through trial and error)

Terebi no naka de donariatteiru ano hitotachi ni nani ga atta no?

(What happened between those people yelling at each other on the TV?)
Ittai donna jijou ga attan darou?

(What on earth that caused it?)
Sukoshi kimazuku natteita tomodachi ni ima denwa shitara nani o iwareru darou?
(If I call my friend whom I'm not on the best terms with now, what would they say?)

Soshite boku wa nante iun darou?

(And what would I say?)

Channeru o kaetara bukimi ni warau hitotachi nani ga okashiin darou?

(I change the TV channel and see people laughing weirdly, what’s so funny?)
Bokura wa nani o kowagatteirun darou?

(What am I afraid of?)
Ano toki kimi ga kureta kiss ni wa donna omoi ga kakusareteita no?

(What feelings were hidden in that kiss you gave me back then?)
Ima kimi wa doko de nani o shiten darou?

(Where are you and what are you doing now?)

Koto no shinsou wa nani mo shitteiru you de shirienai

(I think I understand the truth about everything, but I really can’t understand anything)
Sore de mo dou ni ka kou ni ka ikite ikanakya naranai

(But still, I have to keep on living somehow or other)
Utagatte bakari irarenai demo shinjireru mono mo sukunai

(I can’t just keep doubting, but there isn’t much I can believe in either)
Tada hitotsu tashika na no wa boku no kimochi

(The one thing I know for sure is how I feel)
Kimi no sono koe kikashite yo shinjireru mono ga soko ni aru yo

(Let me hear your voice, there’s something in it that I can believe in)
Tada hitotsu tashika na no wa ima kono toki, “Kimi ga suki”

(The one thing I know for sure is this moment now, “I love you”)”