Time (Hikaru Utada)
恋愛なんかの枠に収まる二人じゃないのよ
Originally titled “temozolomide“ [after the cancer-treating drug used by a friend of Utada], Time continues the trope of forbidden love that is explored throughout many individual tracks in this playlist. It particularly highlights the experience of being close to someone, perhaps even closer than a significant other or even family. Appreciation, regret, and optimism are all explored within Time, which takes a R&B approach rather than the eccentric J-Pop that Utada can be known for - although there are still elements of this, alongside a bit of electric. This comes together for an overall upbeat tone despite the lightly melancholic lyrics where Hikaru faces regret about the irreversible passage of time. To be the only person close enough to console their friend after a bad breakup, as such that a family member or distant friend could not do. To be close for long where it feels out of place to arbitrarily put a label on this companionship. To neglect the questioning of this relation so as to not artificially change circumstances when everything, right now, is just right. This song is a memoir of enjoying companionship as it comes, in the moment, without having to be subject to society's interpretation of your mutual familiarity. As someone who dislikes our society's overall tendency of labelling, I really appreciate this track.
The music video is also another great addition to the overall package. While parts of it focuses on Hikaru herself, it takes on an early 2000s pop style direction with reliance on saturated colors and visual effects to convey overtones of uncontrollable ecstacy during periods of monologuing and regret, a juxtaposition very similar to other tracks in BAD MODE.
Lyrics[edit | edit source]
| Original | English |
|---|---|
| カレシにも家族にも言えない
いろんなこと あなたが聞いてくれたから どんな孤独にも運命にも耐えられた |
Things I couldn't tell anyone
Not even my boyfriend or my family I could always tell you That's why I was able to bear any kind of loneliness, endure any fate |
| 降り止まない雨に打たれて泣く私を
あなた以外の誰がいったい 笑わせられるの？ |
Who else can make me laugh
As I stand weeping in never ending rain But you? |
| いつも 近すぎて
言えなかった、好きだと 時を戻す呪文を 胸に今日も Go |
For so long we've been too close
I couldn't say I love you I keep in my heart a spell that can turn back time And carry on with the day |
| キスとその少しだけ先まで
いったこともあったけど 恋愛なんかの枠に収まる二人じゃないのよ (そゆことそゆことそゆこと) |
That one time we kissed
And even went a bit further But the two of us can't be kept within the confines of romance That's what it is, what it is, what it is |
| 大好きな人にフラれて泣くあなたを
慰められる Only one である幸せよ だけど 抱きしめて 言いたかった、好きだと 時を戻す呪文を 胸に今日も Go |
To be the only one that can soothe you
As you weep because your lover dumped you How fortunate I am But I wanted to hold you And tell you I love you I keep in my heart a spell that can turn back time And carry on with the day |
| ずっと聞きたくて
聞けなかった、気持ちを 誰を守る嘘をついていたの？ |
For so long I wanted to ask you
How you feel, and I couldn't Who was I trying to protect with my lies? |
| 逃したチャンスが私に
与えたものは案外大きい 溢した水はグラスに返らない 返らない 出会った頃の二人に 教えてあげたくなるくらい あの頃より私たち魅力的 魅力的 |
The chances I have missed
Have given me more than you'd think Water spilled can't be put back in the glass So much so that I wish I could let the two of us back when we met know We're so much hotter now |
| 友よ失って
から気づくのはやめよう 時を戻す呪文を 君にあげよう |
My friend
Let's stop noticing things after they're gone Let me give you A spell that can turn back time |
| If I turn back time
If I turn back time Will you be mine? If I turn back ...Time ..Time Time |
If I turn back time
If I turn back time Will you be mine? If I turn back ...Time ..Time Time |