On April 8, 2024, Japanese singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu released a new single “Sayonara, Mata Itsuka!” (often shortened to just “Sayonara”), which translates to “goodbye, see you again someday!” The song was written for “Wings of a Tiger,” a new TV series that tells the true story of the first female lawyer in Japan. The song itself carries a lighthearted, springy melody, conveying a message of looking at the bright side of things, so let’s take a look at this catchy song.
Instrumentals:
The song starts off with an orchestral introduction, greeting the listener with a peppy string ensemble before breaking down into a simple yet upbeat melody. Most of the instruments used resemble one of Yonezu’s previous songs, “Lady,” which was release around the same month last year, in spring. It sounds like the same kind of piano was used, keeping to the theme of his more upbeat, relaxed songs.
Overall, the instrumentals capture the positive attitude the lyrics convey, as the song feels like a breath of fresh air to the listener.
Vocals:
As per usual, Yonezu’s voice throughout the song is dynamic and expressive, conveying the lyrics with a bright, positive tone. However, on some parts of the chorus, his voice switches to a raspy, forceful tone, much like his tone of voice in the song “KICK BACK.” Usually, this tone kicks in when the lyrics switch to a darker undertone (as I’ll cover in the next section).
Overall, with a nice blend of smooth and rough, Yonezu’s vocals still never fail to impress, especially in this song.
Lyrics:
As far as the lyrics go, like I mentioned earlier, the song conveys a message about looking at the bright side of life, with lines such as “Beyond the place people refer to as hell / Is where I see spring” and “Fly away to wherever your heart desires / Would we remember in 100 years? Who cares? / So long and see you again!”
However, some darker and harsher symbolism is used to convey this message, such as “Blood seeps in my mouth without warning / And I spit into the sky” and “Grasping the top that binds me, / I chew it off resolutely.”
There are also many references to “Wings of a Tiger” throughout the song, such as one of the lyrics being a mantra the main character repeats for motivation.
Conclusion:
I think it’s safe to say that this long-awaited single was definitely worth the wait, as “Sayonara” is a springy, refreshing song that never fails to put the listener in a good mood. In an interview, Yonezu stated that most of the songs he has planned for this year will be more relaxed, so we can
All in all, this songs is perfect for kicking back and relaxing, so I like to see this song as a break we all deserve.
Ratings:
Instrumentals: 9/10
Vocals: 10/10 Lyrics: 10/10 Overall: 10/10
