charm point

Here’s a simple and lovely song. The phrase “charm point” is Japanese-originated English that means, roughly, one’s most attractive feature. I’ve left it as-is here rather than trying to rephrase it, since it’s the title of the song! Given some of what Ms. Ikuko has revealed about her early influences, it’s reasonable to believe that this song is partly inspired by her own discovery of Nina Simone.

English

charm point

She has a very unique voice
Like a monster’s, they all teased her

She just let herself be hurt, kept quiet
Chewed her dried-out lips

Why did you give me this voice? she blamed her parents
What should I do? she found loneliness
She, who didn’t want to be around anyone, in her tiny room
One day a raspy singing voice came through her radio

How long are you going to just be hurt and keep quiet?
Open up your dried-out lips
Let me hear your voice
That is your “charm point”

She who didn’t want to talk to anyone
Only that one jazz singer could speak to her

Are you going to just be hurt and keep quiet?
Go ahead and bring a song to your dried-out lips
Let me hear your voice
That is your “charm point”

Japanese

charm point

彼女はとってもユニークな声をしている
怪獣みたいってみんなにいじめられた

あんまり　傷ついて　黙り込んで
かわいた　くちびるを　噛みしめた

なぜ　こんな声にしたの？　親を責めた
どうすればいいの？　はじめて孤独を知る
誰にも会いたくない彼女の　狭い部屋に
ある日ラジオから　だみ声の歌が流れた

いつまで　傷ついて　黙っているの？
かわいた　くちびるを　開きなさい
あなたの　声を聞かせてちょうだい
それこそが　あなたのcharm pointなの

誰とも話したくない彼女に　たったひとり
ジャズシンガーだけが　語りかけた

あんなに　傷ついて　黙っているの？
かわいた　くちびるに　うたをどうぞ
あなたの　声を聞かせてちょうだい
それこそが　あなたのcharm pointなの

Karaoke

charm point

kanojo wa tottemo yuniiku na koe wo shiteiru
Kaijuu mitaitte minna ni ijimerareta

anmari kizu tsuite damarikonde
kawaita kuchibiru wo kamishimeta

naze konna koe ni shita no? oya wo semeta
dou sureba ii no? hajimete kodoku wo shiru
dare ni mo aitaku nai kanojo no semai heya ni
aru hi rajio kara damikoe no uta ga nagareta

itsu made kizu tsuite damatteiru no?
kawaita kuchibiru wo hirakinasai
anata no koe wo kikasete choudai
sore koso ga anata no chaamu pointo na no

dare to mo hanashitaku nai kanojo ni tatta hitori
jazu shingaa dake ga katarikaketa

annani kizu tsuite damatteiru no?
kawaita kuchibiru ni uta wo douzo
anata no koe wo kikasete choudai
sore koso ga anata no chaamu pointo na no