FLASH – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: Perfume
• Album: COSMIC EXPLORER

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the world of Japanese electronic music with Perfume's dynamic track “FLASH.” This song offers a fantastic opportunity to engage with the unique soundscapes of J-pop, characterized by its catchy electronic beats and distinctive vocal processing. Its powerful, martial arts-inspired choreography in the music video adds a visual layer that perfectly complements the song's themes of speed and impactful moments. Through its evocative lyrics and energetic production by Yasutaka Nakata, you can explore expressions related to quickness, heightened perception, and profound, non-romantic emotions. It’s a compelling example of how Japanese pop music fuses innovative production with captivating visuals and profound underlying messages.

[English]

The color of flowers can change

Close to the density of a long time

The frame is a moment in slow motion

In a straight line, splitting the light

Shake the air, let the heartbeat sound

Now, in this quiet night, I ignite a fire

It's a completely different emotion from love

That's really all it is...

Like sparks, it flashes and shines

The ultimate lightning game

Leaving behind the sounds that were made

Flash, surpassing

The ultimate lightning speed

In the fast time, it moves swiftly

Flash, shining

The ultimate lightning game

Turning the raised hand into a bow and arrow

Flash, surpassing

The ultimate lightning speed

Wishing, in the vacuum, it seems reachable, flash

...

Until the dancing leaves touch the ground

Close to a fleeting speed

The frame is a moment at high speed

In a straight line, splitting the light

Shake the air, let the heartbeat sound

Now, in this quiet night, I ignite a fire

It's a completely different emotion from love

Tonight is just the beginning

Like sparks, it flashes and shines

The ultimate lightning game

Leaving behind the sounds that were made

Flash, surpassing

The ultimate lightning speed

In the fast time, it moves swiftly

Flash, shining

The ultimate lightning game

Turning the raised hand into a bow and arrow

Flash, surpassing

The ultimate lightning speed

Wishing, in the vacuum, it seems reachable, flash

Swiftly moving

Swiftly moving

Swiftly moving

Swiftly moving

...

Like sparks, it flashes and shines

The ultimate lightning game

Leaving behind the sounds that were made

Flash, surpassing

The ultimate lightning speed

In the fast time, it moves swiftly

Flash, shining

The ultimate lightning game

Turning the raised hand into a bow and arrow

Flash, surpassing

The ultimate lightning speed

Wishing, in the vacuum, it seems reachable, flash

...

Flash

...

[Japanese]

花の色が 変われるほどの

永い時の密度に近くて

フレームは一瞬 スローモーションで

一直線 光裂くように

空気を揺らせ 鼓動を鳴らせ

静かな夜に今 火をつけるの

恋ともぜんぜん 違うエモーション

ホントに それだけなの...

火花のように flash 光る

最高の lightning game

鳴らした音も置き去りにして

Flash 超える

最高の lightning speed

速い時の中で ちはやぶる

Flash 光る

最高の lightning game

かざした手を弓矢に変えて

Flash 超える

最高の lightning speed

願う 真空の間で 届きそうだ flash

舞う落ち葉が 地に着くまでの

刹那的な速度に近くて

フレームは一瞬 ハイスピードで

一直線 光裂くように

空気を揺らせ 鼓動を鳴らせ

静かな夜に今 火をつけるの

恋ともぜんぜん 違うエモーション

今夜は これからなの

火花のように flash 光る

最高の lightning game

鳴らした音も置き去りにして

Flash 超える

最高の lightning speed

速い時の中で ちはやぶる

Flash 光る

最高の lightning game

かざした手を弓矢に変えて

Flash 超える

最高の lightning speed

願う 真空の間で 届きそうだ flash

ちはやぶる

ちはやぶる

ちはやぶる

ちはやぶる

火花のように flash 光る

最高の lightning game

鳴らした音も置き去りにして

Flash 超える

最高の lightning speed

速い時の中で ちはやぶる

Flash 光る

最高の lightning game

かざした手を弓矢に変えて

Flash 超える

最高の lightning speed

願う 真空の間で 届きそうだ flash

Flash

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
色 /iro/ A1	noun - color
変わる /kawaru/ A2	verb - to change
時 /toki/ A1	noun - time
密度 /mitsudo/ B2	noun - density
フレーム /fureemu/ B1	noun - frame
瞬間 /shunkan/ A2	noun - moment, instant
光 /hikari/ A1	noun - light
裂く /saku/ B2	verb - to tear, to split
空気 /kuuki/ A2	noun - air
鼓動 /koudou/ B1	noun - heartbeat, pulse
静か /shizuka/ A2	adjective - quiet, peaceful
火 /hi/ A1	noun - fire
願う /negau/ B2	verb - to wish, to desire
真空 /shinkuu/ C1	noun - vacuum

Key Grammar Structures

• 花の色が 変われるほどの

  ➔ ～ほどの (hodo no) expresses 'to the extent of' or 'so much that'.

  ➔ It shows the extent or degree of the 'color of the flower'.

• フレームは一瞬 スローモーションで

  ➔ で (de) indicates the means or method by which an action occurs.

  ➔ It indicates that the frame is happening in slow motion.

• 一直線 光裂くように

  ➔ ように (you ni) indicates a manner or way in which something is done, like 'as if' or 'like'.

  ➔ It describes doing something in a way that resembles lightning splitting a ray in a straight line.

• 鳴らした音も置き去りにして

  ➔ も (mo) is a particle meaning 'also' or 'even'.

  ➔ It conveys that even the sound that was played is left behind or disregarded.

• 願う 真空の間で 届きそうだ

  ➔ そうだ (sou da) is an expression indicating 'it seems' or 'it looks like', based on speaker’s inference.

  ➔ It suggests that it looks like the wish will reach within the vacuum space.

• 花の色が 変われるほどの

  ➔ が (ga) indicates the subject of the sentence, emphasizing 'the color of the flower'.

  ➔ It highlights that the 'color of the flower' is the subject emphasized in the context.