ナイトクルージング (song)

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[]

ナイトクルージング - Track 1. (6:02)
"空中キャンプ" Rough Edit - Track 5.
空中キャンプ - Track 5. (6:00)
空中キャンプ - Season - Track 6. (6:02)
8月の現状 - Track 3. (7:41)
8月の現状 (vinyl) - tracks 1 and 2. (7:10) (7:58)
98.12.27 男達の別れ - Track 2. (6:26)
The Three Birds & More Feelings - Video 6. (6:07)
Aloha Polydor - Track 2. (6:03)
98.12.28 男達の別れ - Disc 1, track 2. (6:25)
99.07.15 フィッシュマンズ的組合 ~ Partial - Track 1. (10:58)
記憶の増大 - Video 7. (12:24)
Radio Fishmans Night 3 - Tracks 12 and 13. (3:55) (6:56)
宇宙ベスト・オブ・フィッシュマンズ - Disc 1, track 10. Disc 2, tracks 2 and 4. (6:02) (3:57) (7:37)
若いながらも歴史あり 96.3.2 @新宿Liquid Room - Track 17. (7:59)
The Long Season Revue - Track 20. (8:03)
2011.3.28 LIVE@DOMMUNE!!!!!!!!!! - Track 9. (11:30)
Live 2011/5.3 At Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall "A Piece Of Future" - Track 15. (15:50)
Earth × Heart Live 2012 - Track 10. (7:32)
Golden Best Fishmans: Polydor Years - Track 1. (6:02)
Long Season '96~7 - 96.12.26 Akasaka Blitz - Disc 2, track 1. (9:19)
Long Season 2016 - 16.07.14 Zepp Tokyo - Track 6. (8:51)
Night Cruising 2018 - Track 1. (6:03)
Night Cruising - Track 1. (6:02)
19.02.19 闘魂2019 @Zepp Tokyo - Track 12. (6:18)
20.06.14 @Super Dommune ~ AR Live Invisibility - Track 17. (6:31)
21.04.21 Live 'Time Passes and the Future is Now' - Track 10. (9:33)
2022.1.7 俺たちの決起集会 - Track 6. (9:10)
2022.3.2 History of Fishmans @Liquid Room~1995-1998 - Track 14. (8:00)
21世紀の現状 - Track 7. (6:25)
22.09.11 Wind Parade '22 - Track 21. (11:25)
23.10.24 Long Season 2023 - Track 12. (7:57)
23.11.01 Long Season 2023 - Track 15. (8:10)
23.11.02 Long Season 2023 ~ Audience - Track 12. (7:38)
23.11.02 Long Season 2023 ~ Space Shower TV - Track 7. (7:04)
24.07.16 フィッシュマンズ TV - Track 5. (8:59)
25.02.18 Uchu Nippon Tokyo - Track 15. (6:55)
History of Fishmans - Disc 2, track 14. (4:36) Radio edit of the song.
History of Fishmans - Disc 4, track 2. (7:28)
25.10.11 Uchu Taipei Fishmans - Track 13. (7:16)
25.10.12 Uchu Taipei Fishmans - Track 16. (10:30)

Fishmans-related artists' releases[]

99.08.22 闘魂'99 - Track 5. (14:45) Performed by MariMari Rhythmkiller Machinegun and Tokyo No.1 Soul Set
Sweet Dreams for Fishmans - Track 3. (6:39) Performed by Clammbon
I Love Fish - Track 2. (3:44) Performed by Pine Barons

Known performances[]

Expand to see full concert list

Remixes[]

ナイトクルージング - Track 2. (7:39) Titled ナイトクルージング (Plasma Mix)
Night Cruising 2018 - Track 6. (6:58) Titled ナイトクルージング2018
Night Cruising - Track 2. (6:58) Titled ナイトクルージング2018

Music video[]

Found on The Three Birds & More Feelings.

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