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ナイトクルージング (romanized: Naitokuruujingu, English: Nightcruising) is a song released by Fishmans first on November 25, 1995 with the release of its accompanying single ナイトクルージング. Later, the song would appear on the band's fifth studio album, 空中キャンプ. It was the first release made by the band after signing onto record label Polydor in their new private studio Waikiki Beach, and the first musical output produced as a three-piece band. The song features Honzi and Shinya Kogure, making this their first studio output with the band.

Writer Shinji Sato first conceived of the song after earning his driver's license in 1995 shortly after the label transfer, inspired by the sights he would see as he drove through Tokyo. It is notable for being one of Fishmans' most recognizable and popular songs, as well as opening their final concert on December 28, 1998 @Akasaka Blitz after the performance of Oh Slime.

In Pool Volume 10, several members of Fishmans discuss the track:

Sato: This is a good one.
Neri representative: I'm glad I just listened to the live sound effects.
Sato: I was thinking about that, that was good. This song is the first of this studio... I feel like I honestly expressed the joy of having a place to be. I started using this studio in September of last year. I remember it was fun, even though I was alone in various ways, wondering if I should pass on bringing the amplifier for a while.
Motegi: It reminds me of our early days as a band.
Kashiwabara: At first I wasn't going to play bass, it was a little too warm for the song (laughs). So it was bassless at the beginning.
Sato: While I was reviewing the track, however, I added a bass section. And the arpeggio guitar is really pretty. I was playing it alongside Kashiwabara while writing the bass line, and he wanted to put it in too.
Kashiwabara: It's pretty cool after all.
Motegi: Nightcruising is a memorable song.

The CD Extra Dictionary has this to say about the song:

Untranslated Japanese

ナイトクルージング【ナイトクルージング】(曲)

1) 目的もなく夜中にヨットや車で流すこと。この曲の場合は車でする散歩ぐらいの意か。

2) 免許を取得したばかりの佐藤伸治が嬉しくなっちゃってついついつくってしまった曲…らしい。阪神大震災とオウム事件に明け暮れたどん底の95年末にポリドール移籍第1弾としてシングル・リリースされ、それまでとは比較にならない売り上げを記録した。夜気に溶けてしまいそうな淡いボーカルとどこまでも優しいギターのアルペジオ、そして重だるいベース・ラインがその後の彼らのイメージを決定づけたともいえる。『空中キャンプ』にも収録。

English Auto-translated Using Google Translate, Edited for Comprehension

Night Cruising (Song)

1) To aimlessly drive around on a yacht or in a car in the middle of the night. In this song, it probably refers to a car ride.

2) Apparently, this song was written by Shinji Sato, who had just gotten his driver's license and was overjoyed. Released as their first single after moving to Polydor in late 1995, a time when the band was at its lowest point, consumed by the Great Hanshin Earthquake and the Aum Shinrikyo incident, it achieved sales unparalleled to their previous releases. Its faint vocals, which seem to melt into the night air, the endlessly gentle guitar arpeggios, and the heavy, languid bass line defined their image thereafter. It's also included on "Kūchū Camp".

Appears on[]

Fishmans releases[]

Fishmans-related artists' releases[]

Known performances[]

Expand to see full concert list

Remixes[]

Music video[]

Lyrics[]

Japanese Romaji English (literal) English (stylized)

[INTRO]
ナイトクルージング
ナイトクルージング

[HOOK]
Up and down, up and down
Slow, fast! Slow, fast!
Up and down
おーナイトクルージング

[VERSE 1]
だれのせいでもなくて
イカれちまった夜に
あの娘は運び屋だった
夜道の足音遠くから聞こえる

[VERSE 2]
だれのためでもなくて
暮らしてきたはずなのに
大事なこともあるさ
あー天からの贈り物

[CHORUS]
Up and down, up and down
Slow, fast! Slow, fast!
Stay together
おーナイトクルージング
ナイトクルージング
ナイトクルージング

[BRIDGE]
窓はあけておくんだ
いい声聞こえそうさ
窓はあけておくんだ
いい声聞こえそうさ

[OUTRO]
おーナイトクルージング
ナイトクルージング
ナイトクルージング
ナイトクルージング

[INTRO]
Night cruising
Night cruising

[HOOK]
Up and down, up and down
Slow, fast! Slow, fast!
Up and down
Ō night cruising

[VERSE 1]
Dare no seide mo nakute
Ika re chimatta yoru ni
Anoko wa hakobi-yadatta
Yomichi no ashioto tōku kara kikoeru

[VERSE 2]
Dare no tamede mo nakute
Kurashite kita hazunanoni
Daijina koto mo aru-sa
Ā tenkarano okurimono

[CHORUS]
Up and down, up and down
Slow, fast! Slow, fast!
Stay together
Ō Night cruising
Night cruising
Night cruising

[BRIDGE]
Mado wa akete oku nda
Ī koe kikoe-sō sa
Mado wa akete oku nda
Ī koe kikoe-sō sa

[OUTRO]
Ō Night cruising
Night cruising
Night cruising
Night cruising

[INTRO]
Night cruising
Night cruising

[HOOK]
Up and down, up and down
Slow, fast! Slow, fast!
Up and down
Oh, night cruising

[VERSE 1]
It's not because of anyone
That that night was crazy
That girl was a carrier
Footsteps in the distance

[VERSE 2]
I didn't do it for anyone
We've been living our lives
But some things are more important
Ah! A gift from heaven

[CHORUS]
Up and down, up and down
Slow, fast! Slow, fast!
Stay together
Oh, night cruising
Night cruising
Night cruising

[BRIDGE]
Keep the windows open
I think I hear a nice voice
Keep the windows open
I think I hear a nice voice

[OUTRO]
Oh, night cruising
Night cruising
Night cruising
Night cruising

[INTRO]
Night cruising
Night cruising

[HOOK]
Up and down, up and down
Slow, fast! Slow, fast!
Up and down
Oh, night cruising

[VERSE 1]
That crazy night was nobody's fault
On that nighttime road we could hear
Footsteps in the distance
That girl was carrying something special

[VERSE 2]
Us not being able to live together is nobody`s fault
There are more important things
Ah! Like our gift from heaven

[CHORUS]
Up and down, up and down
Slow, fast! Slow, fast!
Stay together
Oh, night cruising
Night cruising
Night cruising

[BRIDGE]
Keep the windows down
I think I hear a nice voice
Keep the windows down
I think I hear a nice voice

[OUTRO]
Oh, night cruising
Night cruising
Night cruising
Night cruising