Tempalay presents ‘SOBA’ with Ayato Kobayashi writing the lyrics and composing alongside Kelly Hibbert and Taiji Okuda. The track lives on their album ((ika)). It mixes sharp words with a driving melody.
Released: May 1, 2024
SOBA
Tempalay • From “((ika))”
SOBA Lyrics Translation (from “((ika))”)
Ayato Kobayashi writes, ‘A short kiss is an act of revenge, like a master swordsman drawing his blade.’ The songwriter uses this blade image to show how love turns into a weapon. He also mentions paper-mache mountains and a spongy texture to build a strange, physical world.
Bgm no sei kaIs it because of the background music?
Kitto jinsei wa kakumeiSurely, life is a revolution.
Ikinari hatto shitaSuddenly, I’m startled.
Haji no ooi kurashi desuIt’s a life filled with many shames.
Bgm choudaiGive me some background music.
Hariboteyama no raifou moEven the arrival of paper-mache mountains,
Anata shiru tame no hintois a hint for me to get to know you.
Sashizume muudo wa kaimentaiFor now, the mood has a ‘spongy texture’,
Hijou ni kyoushuku shite iru noand I’m feeling very apologetic.
Bgm no sei kaIs it because of the background music?
Mijikai kisu wa fukushuu deA short kiss is an act of revenge,
Hitokiri battousailike a ‘master swordsman’ drawing his blade,
Uragiri wa gohatto deand betrayal is strictly forbidden.
Bgm choudaiGive me some background music.
Me ni wa me wo ja ni wa ja wo nante omotteruI’m thinking of ‘an eye for an eye, wickedness for wickedness’.
Pen de haite tottotsuketa you na kashi daroThese lyrics are just something I spit out with a pen, aren’t they?
Suttamonda iwan de yoDon’t talk about all the trouble.
Maji de yatteran de buI’m seriously not putting up with it.
Mashiteya kaitai shinshoLet alone a ‘new book on anatomy’,
Chanto erande egaitekuI’ll choose carefully as I keep on drawing.
Watashi wa ne yogensha na noYou know, I’m a prophet.
Anata ni motto suteki na miraiA much more wonderful future for you,
Otozureru otozuresaseyouit’ll come, I’ll make sure it happens.
Ikareteru tte omou no kanaI wonder if you think I’m crazy.
Mirai lo koto hanaseru yoriRather than being able to talk about the future,
Ima nani omotteru no ka shiritaiI want to know what you’re thinking right now.
Baka na koto tte wakaru keredoI know it’s a foolish thing to ask, but
Kimochiyoku okuridashite yoplease just send me off with a good feeling.
Kitto jinsei wa kakumeiSurely, life is a revolution.
Kaminari hatto shitaA lightning bolt startled me.
Ikihaji kaite utaun desuI’m singing while living through my public shame.
Bgm janai waIt’s not the background music anymore.
SOBA Music Video
The meaning of ‘SOBA’ is finding hope within shame. The Japanese lyrics from Tempalay present love as both a weapon and a promise.