Alive

Buck-Tick's song 'Alive' is a powerful exploration of existential themes, capturing the raw intensity of life and the inevitability of death. The lyrics, delivered in a mix of aggressive and reflective tones, paint a vivid picture of a journey through a metaphorical 'hell-bound highway.' The opening lines, 'アスファルトをけりあげて 死神とRendezvous' (Kicking up the asphalt, rendezvous with the Grim Reaper), set the stage for a confrontation with mortality, suggesting a fearless embrace of life's dangers and uncertainties.

The recurring theme of loneliness is evident in lines like 'まよいこなら のりなよ ひとりきり' (If you're lost, get on, alone) and 'こどくだろうが うまれたひから' (You've been lonely since the day you were born). These lines reflect a deep sense of isolation that the protagonist has felt since birth, yet there is a defiant acceptance of this solitude. The song suggests that even in the face of loneliness and the inevitability of death, one can find a sense of purpose and vitality.

The chorus, with its repeated declarations of 'かんじる これこそがせいとしだ' (I feel it, this is life) and 'ふるえる おれこそがせいとしだ' (I tremble, this is life), emphasizes the visceral experience of being alive. The use of words like 'きずをつけてやる' (I'll scar it) and 'きざみつけてやる' (I'll carve it) suggests a desire to leave a mark on the world, to assert one's existence despite the transient nature of life. Buck-Tick's 'Alive' is a celebration of the fierce, unyielding spirit that drives us to live fully, even in the face of our deepest fears and uncertainties.