Identity

Sakanaction's song 'Identity' delves deep into the existential quest for self-discovery and the struggle to define one's individuality. The repeated refrain 'アイデンティティがない 生まれない、らららら' (I have no identity, it won't be born, la la la la) underscores a profound sense of confusion and frustration. The lyrics reflect a common human experience of feeling lost and undefined, questioning one's preferences and comparing oneself to others, as seen in the lines '好きな服は何ですか？ 好きな本は？ 好きな食べ物は何' (What clothes do you like? What book? What food?). This comparison to others, symbolized by the '映し鏡ショウウィンドウ' (mirror show window), highlights the societal pressure to conform and the difficulty of finding one's unique identity amidst external influences.

The song also touches on the theme of retrospection and the realization of one's true self through past experiences. The imagery of a girl waiting for the wind, with a wet shirt from the morning rain, serves as a metaphor for the singer's own unrefined memories and past events. The lyrics '取りこぼした重大の思い出とかを掘り起こして気づいた' (I realized by digging up the important memories I had missed) suggest that self-awareness and identity are often discovered through reflecting on past experiences and understanding their impact on one's life.

As the song progresses, there is a shift from confusion to a burgeoning understanding of self. The lines 'どうして、時が立って 時が立ってそう僕は気がついたんだろう' (Why did I realize it as time passed?) and 'どうしても叫びたくて 叫びたくて 僕は泣いているんだよ' (I want to scream so badly, I am crying) convey a powerful emotional journey. The singer's tears and desire to scream symbolize the intense emotional struggle and the cathartic release that comes with the realization of one's identity. This journey from confusion to clarity, from societal comparison to self-acceptance, is a universal theme that resonates deeply with listeners.