We often hear the word "shinjiru" (to believe or trust) in Chihiro's songs. I found out that there are 10 numbers that include this word.
1. Gekko
None of these medicines lying around here don't work
What on earth should I believe
When no voice can be heard here
2. Cage
Tell me, somebody
Make me believe that everything has gone wrong
3. Memai
Tell me that I'm all right, my dear
Because you believe me very, very incredibly strongly
4. LITTLE BEAT RIFLE
All you can do:
To love with great difficulty
To believe
To give a big hug
5. ROLLIN'
The feathers scattered on the ground
Would be sufficient to warm me
I don't care if you don't believe me
6. Ibara no Umi
The purification grows blunter and blunter
When it's too late
I can't even believe
That all this will come to an end in due course of time
7. Rebel Luck
You bump against a wall
Whenever you try to believe something
But don't be afraid
8. Dining Chicken
I wish I was carried away
By the flock of doves that long to believe
9. Arashi-ga Oka
With all my virtue of believing and betraying quickly
Why can't I keep myself upright?
10. Watashi to Warutsu wo
Why do you strive to live a life
When you can't believe anything?
This stands out from other words—as many as 10 out of 36 original songs listed on the Data page (excluding "Ii Hi..." and "Mamotte..."). The following is a list of some of other commonest words found in her lyrics. (It's a little bit lengthy.)
Positive words:
warau / egao (to laugh or smile / smiling face) are used in:
kirei / utsukushii / beautiful (beautiful):
ai / aisuru (love / to love):
yorokobi (joy):
Negative words:
kanashii / kanashimi / grief / sorrow (sad / sadness / grief / sorrow):
naku / cry (to cry or weep):
minikui (ugly):
kitanai / yogoreta / yogosu (dirty / to dirty):
nikumu / iya (to hate):
Note: Positive words can be used in negative context (and vice versa). e.g. hikarabita egao (dried-up smiling faces) in "Shine".
I was under the impression that Chihiro uses mostly negative words without knowing why, but now I know I was not quite right.
Speaking of belief, there is no doubt that she has an interest in religion (specifically in Christianity). Although I don't know whether Chihiro is Christian or not, you can tell it from her lyrics and the Virgin Mary's figure she brings with her onstage.
If you have the ULTIMATE CRASH DVD at hand, you can see it toward the end of the scene after the concert where "Castle · imitation" (album version) is dubbed over. The figure was hung on the front grille of one of the two speakers placed in front of the singer on the stage. This way Chihiro rests assured, feeling that she is guarded by the Holy Mother.
Shinjiru koto, or to believe in something, has to be the source of Chihiro's single-hearted devotion that reverberates throughout her songs like basso continuo.
(All quotations are given from respective works listed above. Original text copyrighted by Chihiro Onitsuka. Translated and quoted by Folia in compliance with the Japanese Copyright Act. The above translations may be superficial rather than deliberate, and are intended for your information only.)
[2004-03-12]
I overlooked three words since I was looking primarily at Japanese words: "grief" in "LITTLE BEAT RIFLE", "sorrow" in "NOT YOUR GOD", and "cry" in "Our Song". Although this does not affect the point of this report, I made changes for accuracy.
[2004-03-15]
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