On Utada Hikaru’s Flavor of Life

Utada Hikaru is perhaps one of the best singers in Japan,her soothing voice made me listen more to Japanese songs. It even move me to be serious with learning Nihongo, not just romaji but kana as well. This song “Flavor of Life” is one of my most favorite and is the song used for the Live Action Drama Hana Yori Dango, literally Boys over Flowers.

Flavor of Life (Ballad Version) by Utada Hikaru

Arigatou to kimi ni iwareru to nandaka setsunai
sayounara no ato no tokenu mahou awaku horonigai
The flavor of life

tomodachi demo koibito demo nai chuukan chiten de
shuukaku no hi wo yumemiteru aoi furu-tsu
ato ippo ga fumidasenai sei de
jirettai no wa nande?

arigatou to kimi ni iwareru to nandaka setsunai
sayounara no ato no tokenu mahou awaku horonigai
The flavor of life

amai dake no sasoi monku ajike no nai doku
sonna mono ni wa kyoumi wa sosorarenai
omoitoori ni ikanai toki datte
jinsei suteta mon janai tte

doushita no? to kyuu ni kikareru to “uun. nandemo nai”
sayounara no ato ni kieru egao watashi rashikunai
sinjitai to negaeba negau hodo nandaka setsunai
“aishiteru yo” yori mo “daisuki” no hou ga kimi rashii janai?
The flavor of life

wasurekakete ita hito no omoi wo totsuzen omoidasu koro
furitsumoru yuki no shirosa wo omou to sunao ni yorokobitai yo

daiyamondo yorimo yawarakakute atatakana mirai
teni shitai yo kagiri aru jikan wo kimi to sugoshitai
“arigatou” to kimi ni iwareru to nandaka setsunai
sayounara no ato no tokeru mahou awaku horonigai
The flavor of life
—–

English translation (edited…)

For some reason it’s painful when you say “Thank You”
Like a magic spell that isnt undone after “good bye,” faintly bittersweet
The flavor of life

Stuck in the middle of being friends and lovers
Like an unriped fruit dreaming of the day of harvest
Unable to move one step forward
Why is it so vexing?

For some reason it’s painful when you say “Thank You”
Like a magic spell that isnt undone after “good bye,” faintly bittersweet
The flavor of life

Simply sweet words of invitation are a senseless poison
It sparks no interest in me
Life isn’t something that you throw away
when things don’t go your way

When I’m suddenly asked “what’s wrong?” I just say “no, nothing”
The smiling face that disappears after “good bye” isn’t like me
The more I want to believe in you, the more painful it is
It’s more like you to say “I like you” more than “I love you”
The flavor of life

When you suddenly remember people you were about to forget
I honestly want to be happy when I think of the whiteness of the snow that builds up

More than diamonds, I want a soft, warm future
I want to spend my limited time with you
For some reason it’s painful when you say “Thank You”
Like a magic spell that isnt undone after “good bye,” faintly bittersweet
The flavor of life

Credit goes to: sunny0401 (youtube), akaiyubi (http://akaiyubi.wordpress.com) and St3p1onm3 (www.jpopasia.com)