Misheard lyrics are great fun. Misheard lyrics involving my Japanese girlfriend, Akemi, are downright hilarious.  Every often, I will catch her belting out a tune and ask: “What are you singing?”.  She’ll repeat the lyrics and, when I correct her, she’ll frown and say: “But that doesn’t make any sense.”  Then we invariably debate the logic of a song’s actual lyrics and her alternate interpretation.  Never a dull moment.

Anyway, here are six lyrical Akemi-isms for you to decipher.  Some are fairly obvious.  Others, not so much…

I know it’s up for me
He’s still my essential!
Making sure I’m not in too deep
He’s still my essential!

Sweet home Obama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet home Obama
Lord, I’m coming home to you

Oh, are you ready girls?
Oh, are you ready now?
Ooh, yeah
Teach mahaha Give it a start
Ooh, yeah, baby Ooh, yeah
Teach mahaha Hope it never stops
Ooh, yeah, baby

All my colors I’ve lost
In your eyes, Johnny’s bike
Save your light of this moment
Sunrise, bike, Johnny’s bike

Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’
Stay on the line, stay on the line
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stay on the line, stay on the line
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stay on the line

You’re so thin (two minutes later)
You’re so thin
You’re so thin (got your picture)
You’re so thin
Wider, baby, smile and you’ve just made a million
Fuses pumping

22 thoughts on “October 19, 2017: Lyrical Akemi-isms!

  1. I’m really into J-pop and K-pop. I can only imagine what I’m actually saying as I try to phonetically copy the lyrics.

  2. well, I don’t have to worry if she will be doing a RUSH, my all time favorite, soon. I am with Line Noise and cat4444.

  3. Hi Joe,

    It’s been so long since Stargate Atlantis finished, but I’ve just rewatched nearly all the series on Stargate Command (Although I rewatch every year or two on DVD).

    I just have to ask, and I really hope you don’t mind me asking this…did ford survive the hive ship? 🙂

    Sorry to ask, it’s just been in my mind for years.

    Please take care and thanks for all your work through the years. It’s been one hell of a ride 🙂

    Danny Fleming

  4. @Akemi – THANKS for the new contest.

    Priceless Akemisms…
    Sweet home Alabama was the only one I got.
    @Rindy – thanks I would not have ended up there for a really long time although now as we analyze…the ah ha ha ha..is the clue. BUT…I did not get that until seeing Rindy’s post.

    Please do share the songs she is singing….now we have a critical NEED TO KNOW…LOL.

  5. I sometimes get lyrics wrong also, but in my case it’s failing hearing. The only Akemi-ism I got was the Bee Gees, “Stay’in Alive”. Some parts of that song ARE difficult to understand either because they’re sung too quickly or the heavy disco thumping distorts the words. Anyway, love the Akemi-isms!!

    Best of luck with Masked! I will get a copy digitally. Does this mean you aren’t pitching your other ideas/projects and are focusing solely on Masked?

    2cats

  6. Perfect! Although l too only got Sweet Home.

    Got back home at midnight. If anyone is considering future vacation destinations, Victoria BC is spectacular. So much to do, good food, scenic, walkable, friendly. Yes, expensive, but any city is. Biggest drawback is the pedestrians who fearlessly stride out into the streets and parking lots without looking. We nearly got a handsome white haired lady with our rented Camry. I don’t think they let you bring them home as trophies though.

  7. Akemi’s lyrics are abstract and magical, rock on! Garou has helped me improve my French; when you have to practice conversation in class it can feel awkward, it’s way more fun to sing along with Johnny Hallyday and Maxime Le Forestier.

  8. He’s still my essential! = You’re My Obsession

    Sweet home Obama = Sweet home Alabama
    (though I’m sure Obama would love Akemi’s version)

    Teach mahaha =?????

    Johny’s Bike = ?????

    Staying on the line = Staying Alive

    Youre so thin = ??????
    (maybe?? Carly Simons Youre So Vein ????)

  9. “He’s still my essential” = “If you steal my sunshine”

    “Sweet home Obama” = “Sweet home Alabama”

    “Stay on the line” = “Stayin’ alive”

    Those are the only ones I know.

    I had a friend once who NOTORIOUSLY misheard lyrics, and belted them out in the car, adding hilarity to everyone’s trip. One that I remember was the Gin Blossoms’ “Hey Jealousy”:

    Tell me do you think it’d be alright
    If I could just crash here tonight?
    You can see I’m no sheep or dragon,
    Anyway, I got no place to go.

    She had this whole justification in her head for why the guy would be saying he’s neither a sheep nor a dragon — something about how he’s not a pathetic wimp (a sheep), but he’s also not a raging jerk (a dragon), so she shouldn’t object to his staying over.

    She was so disappointed when, after laughing our asses off, we explained what the real lyrics were.

    “That’s so much less poetic.”

  10. Jeff is notorious for incorrect lyrics. Our conversations resemble those of that TV commercial. I’m good at this game.

    First song I can’t recognize.

    Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skyrnrd

    Kickstart My Heart by Motley Crue

    In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel

    Staylin Alive

    You’re So Thin (is Duran Duran “Girls on Film” )

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