First Beat – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: B&ZAI

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into B&ZAI's "First Beat," a powerful anthem that not only showcases their raw talent and emotional depth but also offers a unique window into Japanese contemporary music and the journey of a rising idol group. Through its poignant lyrics, you can explore expressions of resilience, ambition, and unity, with repetitive phrases like "足掻いて足掻いて足掻いて" (struggle, struggle, struggle) providing an engaging way to grasp core Japanese sentiments. The song's blend of powerful band performance and heartfelt storytelling makes it a compelling listen, encouraging a deeper appreciation for the language and the group's inspiring narrative of choosing their own future.

[English]

Are you ready? My mind

Once we start running, there's no turning back.

Go your own way, no regrets.

Entwining, fate spirals.

As our souls get into the groove,

We become like a single unidentified creature.

Let the world hear your voice

Be a hero, be a monster

Transform freely, go with the flow.

Let's go as far as we can.

Come on, let's make some noise!

Let's play.

Struggling, struggling, struggling, we found the start line.

Leaving all fears and hesitation behind, dive into the future!!!!!!!!

Overlapping 8 beat, Canned heat, roaring Heart out.

On a blank staff, an unprecedented history, history.

Raise it high!

This is the First Beat

Unwavering, always ride or die.

If I look back, you're always by my side.

Go our own way, we're not alone.

My dearest rival, who I compete with.

As our souls resonate,

We become like a single unidentified creature.

Let the world know who you are

The meaning of being born on this planet,

You won't know unless you live with all your might.

If you don't know, just create it.

So are you ready now?

Blurry Back in the days

This endless race

A pace that transcends limits

Break out of that cage!

Be your best, do your worst - The unknown world, never gonna run away.

Unleash everything - This distorted sound is the serenade of a new era.

Our pounding hearts tear through the darkness.

Let's play.

Struggling, struggling, struggling, we found the start line.

Leaving all fears and hesitation behind, dive into the future!!!!!!!!

Overlapping 8 beat, Canned heat, roaring Heart out.

On a blank staff, an unprecedented history, history.

Carve it into your heart.

Struggling, struggling, struggling, a ray line emitting light - Oh.

With both hope and despair as fuel, dive into the future!!!!!!!! - Toward the future

Overlapping 8 beat, Canned heat, roaring Heart out.

On a straight path, an immeasurable destiny, destiny.

Raise it high!

This is the First Beat

This is the First Beat

[Japanese]

覚悟は出来てるかい？ My mind

走り出したらもう戻れない

Go your own way 後悔はない

絡み合って運命は spiral

魂が groove していくと

まるでひとつの未確認 creature

Let the world hear your voice 

Be a hero, be a monster

自由自在に transform Go with the flow

行けるところまで行こう

さあひと暴れしようぜ

奏でよう

足掻いて足掻いて足掻いて 探し出した Start line

不安や迷いは全て置き去りで　未来へ dive!!!!!!!!

重なる 8 beat  Canned heat  轟く Heart out

真っ白な五線譜に前人未到の history history

掲げろ

This is the First Beat

どんな時も揺るぎない Ride or die

振り返ればいつも隣に

Go our own way ひとりじゃない

競い合ってく最愛の rival

魂が共鳴していくと

まるでひとつの未確認 creature

Let the world know who you are

この星に生まれた意味とか

必死に生きてみなきゃわからない

わからなきゃ作ればいいさ

So are you ready now?

滲んだ Back in the days

終わりない このレース

超える限界のペース

飛び出せ そのケージ

Be your best, do your worst 未知の世界 Never gonna run away

全て解き放て 歪んだこの音が新時代の Serenade

高鳴る鼓動が 闇を 切り裂いて

奏でよう

足掻いて足掻いて足掻いて 探し出した Start line

不安や迷いは全て置き去りで　未来へ Dive!!!!!!!!

重なる 8 beat  Canned heat  轟く Heart out

真っ白な五線譜に前人未到の history history

心で刻め

足掻いて足掻いて足掻いて 光放つ Ray line Oh

希望も絶望も全て燃料に　未来へ dive!!!!!!!! Toward the future

重なる 8 beat  Canned heat  轟く Heart out

真っ直ぐな軌道で広大無辺な destiny destiny

掲げろ

This is the First Beat

This is the First Beat

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
覚悟 /kakɯɡo/ B2	noun - readiness; resolve; resignation; preparedness (for the worst)
運命 /ɯnmeː/ B1	noun - destiny; fate
魂 /tamaɕiː/ B1	noun - soul; spirit
奏でる /kanaɕiɾɯ/ B1	verb - to play (a musical instrument); to perform (music)
足掻く /aɡakɯ/ B2	verb - to struggle; to writhe; to scramble
不安 /ɸɯan/ B1	noun - anxiety; uneasiness; worry; apprehension
迷い /majo.i/ B1	noun - hesitation; doubt; bewilderment; getting lost
未来 /miɾa.i/ A2	noun - future
轟く /todoɾokɯ/ B2	verb - to roar; to thunder; to resound; to reverberate
前人未到 /zeɲʑimmitoː/ C1	adjective - unprecedented; untrodden; uncharted
揺るぎない /jɯɾɯɡinai/ B2	adjective - unwavering; steadfast; firm; unshakeable
競い合う /kiso.iaɯ/ B1	verb - to compete with each other; to contend; to rival
共鳴 /kjoːmeː/ B2	noun - resonance; sympathy (e.g. emotional resonance)
限界 /ɡeŋkai/ B1	noun - limit; boundary; extreme
解き放つ /tokihaŋatsɯ/ B2	verb - to release; to set free; to unleash
歪む /jɯɡamɯ/ B1	verb - to be distorted; to be twisted; to be warped; to be crooked
鼓動 /kodoː/ B2	noun - heartbeat; pulsation; throb
切り裂く /kiɾisaꜜkɯ/ B2	verb - to tear apart; to cut through; to rip open
刻む /kizamu/ B1	verb - to engrave; to carve; to mince (food); to tick (time); to impress (on one's mind)
絶望 /zet͡sɯboː/ B2	noun - despair; hopelessness

Key Grammar Structures

• 覚悟は出来てるかい？ My mind

  ➔ 〜かい？ (kai?)

  ➔ The particle "〜かい?" is an "informal question particle", often used by males, similar to "か" but more casual and sometimes rhetorical, checking understanding or asking for confirmation. It can be translated as "Are you ready?" or "Do you understand?".

• 走り出したらもう戻れない

  ➔ 〜たら (tara) + もう〜ない (mou~nai)

  ➔ "〜たら" is a "conditional form" meaning "if/when," indicating that an action or state occurs after a preceding condition is met. "もう〜ない" expresses "no longer" or "cannot anymore," indicating that something previously possible or happening is now impossible or ceased.

• 魂が groove していくと

  ➔ 〜ていく (te iku)

  ➔ The "V-te iku" (verb te-form + いく) structure indicates a "continuous action" moving forward in time or space, a "gradual change", or something that will continue from the present into the future.

• 行けるところまで行こう

  ➔ Potential form (V-eru) + 〜まで (made) + Volitional form (〜よう, you)

  ➔ "V-eru" (potential form) means "can do V." "〜まで" means "up to/until." "〜よう" (volitional form) means "let's do V." Combined, it expresses "Let's go as far as we can go" or "Let's do it to the fullest extent possible."

• 不安や迷いは全て置き去りで　未来へ dive!!!!!!!!

  ➔ 〜や〜 (ya) + 〜で (de) (indicating state/manner)

  ➔ "〜や〜" is a particle used to "list two or more items as examples", but not exhaustively, meaning there might be other unmentioned items. The "〜で" after "置き去り" (being left behind) indicates the "state or manner" in which the action (diving into the future) is performed.

• 必死に生きてみなきゃわからない

  ➔ 〜てみる (te miru) + 〜なきゃ (nakya) + わからない (wakaranai)

  ➔ "〜てみる" means "to try doing something." "〜なきゃ" is a "colloquial contraction" of "〜なければ" or "〜なければならない" (must, or if not... then). In this context, "〜なきゃわからない" means "unless you try doing it, you won't understand."

• わからなきゃ作ればいいさ

  ➔ 〜なきゃ (nakya) + 〜ばいい (ba ii)

  ➔ "〜なきゃ" is a "colloquial contraction" of "〜なければ" (if not...). "〜ばいい" indicates "it's good if/you should/you may." The combination "V-nakya V-ba ii" means "If you don't V, then it's fine to V (something else)" or "If you don't V, you should V (something else)." Here, "If you don't understand, just create it."

• 真っ白な五線譜に前人未到の history history

  ➔ 〜に (ni) + 前人未到の (zenjin mitou no)

  ➔ "〜に" indicates the "target or destination" of an action, or the place where something exists/is written. "前人未到の" is an adjective phrase meaning "unprecedented," "never-before-reached," or "untrodden by human feet." It emphasizes the originality and groundbreaking nature of the "history."

• どんな時も揺るぎない Ride or die

  ➔ どんな〜も (donna~mo) + 揺るぎない (yuruginai)

  ➔ "どんな〜も" means "any/every/always," emphasizing "universality or persistence" regardless of condition. "揺るぎない" is an i-adjective (negative form of 揺るぐ, to waver) meaning "unwavering," "firm," or "steadfast." Together, they convey an unshakeable resolve through all circumstances.