Moving this here. My translation is here:
http://precious-metals.livejournal.com/14694.html#cutid1Ryuichi’s writing style is very unique. He tends to write in fragments and although this technique can be jarring, his lyrics have just as much depth if not more so than detailed, descriptive lyrics. And it’s not just the lyrics themselves – it’s the song as a whole that creates this beautiful masterpiece that is "4:00AM".
This was my first LUNA SEA song so I thought for the longest time that Ryuichi usually sang like this. Not quite - if you listen to the rest of their music, this is far from his normal singing voice. He’s still got that uniquely Ryuichi Kawamura pacing that he uses for Luna Sea’s slower songs ~ you know, where he sings at an even pace and it has this interesting effect of slowing everything down and forcing you to really listen to the lyrics. The way he sings in "4:00AM" creates a very intimate atmosphere almost like you're eavesdropping on him talking to his lover. There’s this quiet heart breaking sadness in the tone of his voice. Towards the end of the song, he even sounds as if he’s on the verge of tears T___T. Overall, it’s like listening to a completely different singer.
Same thing can be said about the music too. It’s definitely like listening to a completely different band. If J’s distinctive bass solo wasn’t in here, it’d be hard to believe that this was one of Luna Sea’s babies. The music is really mellow and remains sedate until the end. What really drives the song is Ryuichi’s voice and that simple melody reiterated by the piano and guitars ("da da da, da da da" – ok it looks stupid written out – shut up). "4:00AM" begins with a cell phone ringing and goes straight into that simple piano melody that is woven throughout the rest of the song and from there the song builds up gradually. The part that really gets me is when Sugizo holds those notes like for forEVER, @ about 3:46 when Ryuichi sings “dawn comes softly.” But don’t mind me – I just have a squeeing/swooning thing for guys who make their guitars wail :B And Sugizo is like the GAWD of guitar-wailing. That man makes a piece of wood and metal strings ssssssssssssssssssiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnngggggggggg. Anyhoo - It’s only after Ryuichi finishes singing that the music FINALLY builds and builds and softly bursts or implodes or explodes or whatever the Mana you want to call it, just like a firecracker.
Onto the lyrics!
Because of the nature in which Ryuichi writes his lyrics – Luna Sea songs are open to a variety of interpretations. I think "4:00AM" is about the end of a relationship. It’s that point where you’ve tried all you can to salvage the relationship but sometimes you just can’t. And you have to admit to yourselves and each other that it’s time to move on with your lives.
This is how I envision it: The song begins in the early morning when it’s still dark, after the couple has spent their last night together. "It's ok to mix together" makes me think about sex. "Cold" and "warm" can be seen as two opposites ~ as in two people who are completely different from one another or man and woman. The cell phone ringing in the beginning of the song as an alarm clock telling him that it’s time to go. I checked and apparently the sun rises at about 4AM-5AM in Japan. Clever Ryuichi. The song’s title backs up my interpretation that this song is about the end of a relationship. Sun rise leads to a new day, symbolizing new beginnings, leaving behind the remains of yesterday’s baggage.
The speaker has a lot of love for his lover. The vulnerable tone of his voice as he sings to her is as much a reflection of his own sadness over this parting as well as an attempt to soothe her. He wants her to hear this song because he cares about her and wants to reassure her about his love. But as much as he wants the night to last forever ("Night, don't disappear"), like the end of a relationship, you can't stop the sun from rising.
And the end of the song – Oh My Gawd. By the time he finishes singing and leaves her, the sun has begun to rise. And kiddies, if you could turn visuals into music, 4:28 onward is exactly how dawn would sound like. The sun slowly peeks out over the horizon, slowly, slowly and then the earth is suddenly and completely saturated with sunlight. I don’t know how to explain any better :’( Just listen to it and imagine the sun rising!
Download the dang song! They're just plain AWESOME!
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
exhausted
aggravated
sleepy
drained
chipper
weird