This is an English cover of "Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana" (The Only Flower in the World), a well-known song performed by Japanese boy band SMAP (founded in 1988 and disbanded just last year in 2016), with lyrics by singer-songwriter Noriyuki Makihara.
While I usually create my own translations, there was already a fantastic English version of this song by Hiromi De Young (YouTube linked below in the credits), and a great translation of the chorus by Nelson Babin-Coy (channel also linked). I used my favorite parts of each of these and made a few of my own changes.
I hope this song's message of acceptance and uniqueness reaches a larger audience through my cover.
Enjoy!
*Note: As usual, most of the translation is very close to the original meaning, but the second pre-chorus (the verse starting with "I saw a small flower...") is actually quite different from the original. However, I loved these lyrics so much that I kept them :)
The original meaning of the verse in Japanese is:
I didn't even know his name
But he gave me a smile that day
Just like a flower that was blooming
In a place where nobody would notice it
～♪～♪～♪～♪～♪～
今日は、昨年解散したSMAPの「世界に一つだけの花」を英語で歌ってみました♪
今回の英語詞はいつもと違って他人の訳詞を使わせていただきました。Hiromi De Youngによる素晴らしい英訳とNelson Babin-Coyによるサビ部分の素敵な英訳に、自分の変更を少し入れて歌わせていただきました。（お二人のYouTubeチャンネルへのリンクは下記のクレジットに記載しました。）
私のカバーを通じて、他人に対する寛容さと個性の大切さという、この曲のメッセージがより多くの人に伝わると嬉しいです。Enjoy!
※ちなみに、この英訳はいつものようにかなり原曲の歌詞に近いのですが、2番目のＢメロ（「I saw a small flower」から始まるところ）だけが原曲の意味とかなり離れています。それでも、ここの英語詞があまりにも素敵だったのでそのままにしました(^^)/
I saw a small flower as I walked by
通り過ぎたら小さな花を見つけた
It stretched from the shadows to reach for the sky
その花は影の中から空へと伸びていた
I thought to myself, what if I was that way
そして思った 私もその花と同じように
Reaching for my own dream and saying...
自分の夢に手を伸ばして こう言おう
～♪～♪～♪～♪～♪～
曲情報 / SONG INFO
～♪～♪～♪～♪～♪～
SMAP／世界に一つだけの花
2003年リリース
作詞曲：槇原敬之
英語詞： Hiromi De Young、ネルソン・バビンコイ、渡辺レベッカ
SMAP / Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana (The Only Flower in the World)
Released 2003
Music/Lyrics: Noriyuki Makihara
English Lyrics: Hiromi De Young, Nelson Babin-Coy, Rebecca Butler Watanabe
～♪～♪～♪～♪～♪～
リンク / LINKS
～♪～♪～♪～♪～♪～
■HP⇒ http://BlueEyedUtaUtai.jimdo.com
■Facebook⇒ http://facebook.com/blueeyedutautai
■Twitter⇒ @BlueEyedUtaUtai
■Chords
(Coming soon)
～♪～♪～♪～♪～♪～
歌詞／LYRICS
～♪～♪～♪～♪～♪～
No. 1にならなくてもいい
(No. 1 ni naranakute mo ii)
もともと特別なOnly one
(moto-moto tokubetsu na "Only one")
I saw all the flowers lined up on display
The shop full of colors with their scented embrace
We all have a blossom we like more than the rest
But I think, with flowers, they all are the best
No fighting or envy, they never contend
But smile in the sunlight and sway in the wind
They all know their mission, it fills them with pride
Everyone is different yet all are alike
I wonder why people must always compare
And judge one another it seems so unfair
To place color, status, and looks to the test
For how can these show us who’s the best?
Just like these flowers
In the whole wide world, you are one of a kind
Cherish your uniqueness, no, you don't need to hide it
Each one of us holds our own special seed
So just be true to you, that's all you'll ever need
A man stood beside me and peered with a sigh
He puzzled and pondered but could not decide
With so many flowers and various hues
All were so pretty, which one should he choose?
Suddenly, a big smile broke out on his face
Flowers in all different colors and shapes
He gathered up a bouquet with one of each kind
Hugging them softly with joy in his mind
I saw a small flower as I walked by
It stretched from the shadows to reach for the sky
I thought to myself, what if I was that way
Reaching for my own dream and saying...
そうさ 僕らも世界に一つだけの花
(sou sa bokura mo sekai ni hitotsu dake no hana)
一人一人違う種を持つ
(hitori hitori chigau tane wo motsu)
その花を咲かせることだけに
(sono hana wo sakaseru koto dake ni)
一生懸命になればいい
(isshou-kenmei ni nareba ii)
Small flowers, big flowers, all kinds of flowers
You will never find one that’s just like any other
So you don’t need to struggle to be number one
Just be yourself because there’s only one
La la la la...
