Take a deep breath: It’s ‘Aozora’ time

Fair warning: This is a sappy one.

 

For more than two years, “Aozora ga Itsumade mo Tsuzuku You na Mirai de Are!,” loosely translated as “Let the Future Be One Where the Blue Sky Extends Forever,” has shown why it is one of the most enduring representations of the positive, empowering human spirit ever conceived, written, arranged and finally performed.

 

It was sung during the Rainbow 7 concert in the spring of 2006, by Morning Musume alone right before Konno and Mako graduated. Morning Musume brought it back in that fall, in the memorable Morning Curry concert with only eight members – and it was another massive hit.

 

But it kept coming back. In May 2007, it was an anthem for Yossie’s graduation concert for Morning Musume, and she had the entire Saitama Super Arena population dancing with her, arm-to-shoulder, in what has to be one of the most astonishing sights ever seen and heard in a large-arena concert.

 

In July 2007, it was a giant number during the Hello Project Summer 2007 concert at Saitama Super Arena, the first major event after fan favorite Miki Fujimoto left under a cloud of boyfriend-related controversy. “Aozora” kind of took the sting out of that, along with a rousing rendition of “Jump!” to end that fantastic concert.

 

The big question would become: Did “Aozora” wear out its welcome? The fabulous answer was “no!” and Tsunku, in January, led off both the Wonderful Hearts theater concert tour and the massive Hello Project Winter 2008 Awards Show at Yokohama Arena with one of the most optimistic, cosmic songs ever sung by any group of human beings anywhere. The arrangement is explosive -- big-band brass, and an undulating clarinet solo that is unmatched.

 

As these screencaps began to take shape, it was almost too much to remember what a surreal weekend it was, Jan. 26-27, when most every desire anyone could ever have was invested in the minds, bodies and voices of the more than 60 Hello Project singers who made this magic happen that weekend.

 

Nothing gets lost in translation. If anything, the song’s extraordinary message resonates as much or more in English than its gentle, native Japanese. Just let the lyrics, generously translated by Projecthello.com, speak for themselves:

 

Aozora ga Itsumade mo Tsuzuku You na Mirai de Are!
青空がいつまでも続くような未来であれ！
"Let the Future Be One Where the Blue Sky Extends Forever!"

Ah, there's a long, long history to this earth,
so I'm even a teensy part of it

Let the future be one,
where the blue sky extends forever.
That's what I'm wishing today.
Forever wishing.

Let's connect our hearts and make it happen.
Even a little thing will do.
I was taught that if it's to happen, it'll happen.

Put big hopes into your dreams,
and get ready to fly.
Because if the wind blows, we can fly to the big sky.

Ah, that too-juicy story is alright,
so believe in yourself all the time (GO)

The blue sky is always inside that chest.
It's always being said.
You're always saying it.

Let's make our hearts become honest,
even though it's something we have interest in.
If there's love, it's beautiful, isn't it?

Put that dazzling smile into your dreams,
and get ready to shine
Even on rainy days, we'll fly all the way to space.

La la la …

Let's connect our hearts and make it happen.
Even a little thing will do.
I was taught that if it's to happen, it'll happen

Put big hopes into your dreams,
and get ready to fly.
Because if the wind blows, we can fly to the big sky.

Let's make our hearts become honest,
even though it's something we have interest in.
If there's love, it's beautiful, isn't it?

Put that dazzling smile into your dreams,
and get ready to shine.
Even on rainy days, we'll fly all the way to space.

There is nothing more to be said. There is nothing more that can be said.

This is Radicalipton signing off -- for now.