[(Please do listen to the music “Tegami by Angela Aki before reading this =)]

It was 2008.

I remembered that day very well.

That was the day I cried out a river for a song!

Angela Aki, you are my heroine.

XXX

Dear you,

I wonder if it is the change of hormones (or have I simply grown up?) for I have never shed a tear just for a song!  However, before the almighty Angela Aki, I broke down.

Angela Aki?  Kiyomi Angela Aki is a Japanese Pop singer-songwriter and pianist from Itano, Tokushima, Japan.  She is the daughter to Kiyoshi Aki, the owner and the co-founder of Aeon Corporation (Jusco’s owner, shocking?!).  At the age of three, she began taking piano lessons. She, however, graduated with a political science degree from George Washington University.

After going to Sarah McLachlan’s concert in 1997, she decided to join the music world.  She was so determined that she quit her job as a secretary and worked in McDonald’s in order to sing in a club at night.  Although she released her debut album in the US later, it did not gain enough media response and she decided to go back to Japan.  With the song title “HOME”, she made headlines and slowly gained publicity and popularity as a songwriter and a singer. She even performed in Nippon Budokan Hall, the first artist to ever perform solo there – without any backup orchestra, basically nothing; it was just herself and her piano.

Among so many songs, “Tegami” has touched the hearts of millions.  One of the comments that I particularly like is by DarkCyradis.  She said, “Aww, Angela Aki is such a kind person.  To think of writing a song like this for all the poor kids stumbling along trying to figure out life on their own in an ever more bewildering world…  Heck, I’m 27 and I feel lost and confused like that sometimes.  Hearing her sincere wish for everyone to be happy was really touching.  I do not know why such kindness should make me cry but I’m definitely crying now.  A beautiful song.”

I got to know about this song through my sister.  She said to me, “A letter for you.”  I was initially puzzled and lost – why is my sister leaving me a web link and say it is a letter for me?  Without further thoughts, I clicked on the link and was immediately attracted to the song.  I had just heard one of the most beautiful songs on earth!

It started off with a small and slow introduction by the piano, and slowly, she entered the piece with a low and submissive voice.  As the song went on, emotions went into a roller coaster ride and so did my tears.

The song is actually a letter from a 15-year-old girl to her future self.  She is expressing her fear of the future, for she is lost and confused in this fast-paced world.  She is seeking guidance and a light to lead her out of the tunnel of life.  Growing up is not always easy, is it?

The second part of the song sings of the reply from her future self, telling her younger self that this is life; she should keep on believing in herself, and everything in life has its own meaning. She should not be afraid and she should keep on building her dreams.  In this era, there is no running away.  There is no “I can’t”.  Even when she is lost, just believe in her voice and move forward.  Lastly, Angela ended with a final note, wishing everyone who listens to this song happiness.

Nothing could describe how touched I was by this song.  This “letter” is written in a simple manner yet loaded with meaning.  So wait no more, go and check it out!

Yours truly,
Lysia

Extra note:  The song by Angela Aki with the title “Tegami” means “letter” in Japanese.

 

manglish_lysia loves nothing more than spending an evening, enjoying some freshly-brewed tea with some good music, if time permits, of course!

Image taken from here.