Sep 03 2008
Japanese for Overworked People: The Sunday Sing-Along
One of the best ways to become comfortable speaking in Japanese is to first become comfortable singing in Japanese. It’s all smooth sailing after that. Just about everyone is at least a little bit timid when it comes to singing, and combining that nervousness with a general lack of self-esteem when it comes to Japanese makes singing Japanese songs the perfect hurdle for cowardly Japanese students. Why would you be afraid to talk to someone in Japanese if you aren’t afraid to sing to them.
That’s why I’m introducing the Sunday Sing-Along. I know today’s not Sunday, but that’s not important. Every Sunday from now on I’ll post a YouTube video of a Japanese song and accompany it with the lyrics. Watch the video and Sing-Along. Then do it again. Actually get a feel for the song. Sing with some moxy. My high school Japanese teacher really advocated this approach, and its really effective.
Here’s an example of what this kind of thing will be like. This is the first song I learned in Japanese. Enjoy Banzai, by ULFULS
IEEEI kimi wo suki de yokatta
kono mama zutto zutto
shinu made happy
BANZAI kimi ni aete yokatta
kono mama zutto zutto
la la la futari de
tsumaranai koto de kimi wo komarasete
omoi dasu tabi akaku naru
waracchimau kurai ni mainichi wa
tada mou sugiteku a tto iu ma ni
sugee sugee shiawasena kibun no toki wa
kaeri michi de kimi wo omidasu
combini wo uro uro shinagara
omoidashi warai wo kami korosu
dassai kakko wa shitakunai
toshi wa toranai you ni
tsukuri warai nanka shitakunai
dakara BABY soba ni oide yo
IEEEI kimi wo suki de yokatta
kono mama zutto zutto
shinu made happy
BANZAI kimi ni aete yokatta
kono mama zutto zutto
la la la futari de
ii on’na wo mireba furikaeru
honto sukebe ore no ataman’naka
demo yappa gutto kuru hodo no on’na wa
kokoro no naka ni hitori dake
kiza na kotoba wa terekusai
kakko tsukezu ni ikou
itsumo futari de jaretetai
dakara BABY koko he oide yo
IEEEI kimi wo suki de yokatta
kono mama zutto zutto
shinu made happy
BANZAI kimi ni aete yokatta
kono mama zutto zutto
la la la futari de
dakara BABY BABY
soba ni oideyo
IEEEI kimi wo suki de yokatta
kono mama zutto zutto
shinu made happy
BANZAI kimi ni aete yokatta
kono mama zutto zutto
IEEEI kimi wo suki de yokatta
kono mama zutto zutto
shinu made happy
BANZAI kimi ni aete yokatta
kono mama zutto zutto
la la la futari de
Now go forth and SING!
3 Responses to “Japanese for Overworked People: The Sunday Sing-Along”
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Ugh, disgusting ろまじ. Wouldn’t the best bet be to be singing while reading 漢字 with ふりがな？