Flame

Buck-Tick's song "Flame" is a poetic exploration of love, memory, and the inevitable passage of time. The lyrics are rich with imagery and metaphors, painting a vivid picture of a love that once burned brightly but is now fading into memory. The recurring motif of a flame symbolizes the intensity and transience of emotions, particularly love. The flame, which once burned passionately, is now on the verge of extinguishing, representing the end of a relationship or the fading of a cherished memory.

The song opens with the imagery of a flower blooming, which is a metaphor for the beginning of a love affair. The flower, like the flame, is beautiful but ephemeral. The lyrics describe moments of intimacy and longing, with the narrator reminiscing about the past and the intense emotions they felt. The line "anata no yokogao nusumi miteita" (I was stealing glances at your profile) suggests a deep, almost secretive admiration and love.

As the song progresses, the tone shifts to one of melancholy and acceptance. The flame that once burned in the narrator's heart is now fading, and the beloved's face is becoming a distant memory. The repeated plea to "zuttoitene" (stay forever) reflects a desire to hold onto the past, even as it slips away. The imagery of lovers dancing under a silver sky, smiling and embracing, adds a dreamlike quality to the song, emphasizing the beauty and fragility of these moments.

In the final verses, the song reflects on the natural cycle of life and death, comparing the blooming and withering of flowers to the rise and fall of love. The narrator acknowledges that just as flowers bloom and die, so too must they live and move on. This acceptance of life's impermanence is both poignant and liberating, capturing the essence of the human experience.