Refraction

Okay, Utada Hikaru has just released a new single. Its incredibly deep title is: ぼくはくま (I’m a bear.)

And here, again, is a rushed translation:

ぼくはくま　くま　くま　くま
車じゃないよ　くま　くま　くま
歩けないけど踊れるよ
喋れないけど歌えるよ
ぼくはくま　くま　くま　くま

I’m a bear bear bear bear
Not a car; bear bear bear
I can’t walk, but I can dance
I can’t talk, but I can sing
I’m a bear bear bear bear

ぼくはくま　くま　くま　くま
けんかはやだよ　くま　くま　くま
ライバルはエビフライだよ
ゼンセはきっとチョコレート
ぼくはくま　くま　くま　くま

I’m a bear bear bear bear
??? bear bear bear
My rival is fried shrimp
I was probably chocolate in a past life
I’m a bear bear bear bear

Bonjour! Je m’appelle kuma
comment ca va?

Hello, my name is Kuma
How are you?

ぼくはくま　くま　くま　くま
冬は眠いよ　くま　くま　くま
夜は「おやすみ、まくらさん」
朝は「おはよう、まくらさん」
ぼくはくま　くま　くま　くま

I am a bear bear bear bear
Winter’s sleepy bear bear bear
At night, “Good night, Mr. Pillow”
In the morning, “Good morning, Mr. Pillow”
I am a bear bear bear bear

夜は「おやすみ、まくらさん」
朝は「おはよう、まくらさん」
ぼくはくま　九九　くま
ママ　くま　くま

At night, “Good night, Mr. Pillow”
In the morning, “Good morning, Mr. Pillow”
I am a bear ku-ku bear
Ma-ma bear bear

Man, is this an odd song, or what?

She’s not a car: “Car” in Japanese is kuruma, one syllable off from kuma (“bear”, but somehow I think you figured that out already).

Her rival is shrimp: Okay, at this I must admit I am utterly clueless. And chocolate in a past life? QUOI?!

Ca va?: Why is there French in the middle of this song? Just…. why?

Mama bear?: Part of that play on words with ku-ku (and ma-ma), see?