Mystic Fragrance (Lyrics Translation)

[shivalries]

All lyrics in italics were originally written in English!

Verse 1



Lingering in your chest, is this fragrance...

As we pass by each other, I'm sure you'll notice
My intention,
Ritsu/Arashi: (Feel me)
Touchless,
Ritsu/Arashi: (Please)
Luring you in

Tsukasa/Leo: Borne of my true feelings reflected in the mirror,
I feel a
Izumi/Ritsu/Arashi: (Secret)
Tsukasa/Leo: Secret sentiment
Izumi/Ritsu/Arashi: (Veil)
Tsukasa/Leo: Wafting forth

Behind innocent feelings
Hides an uncontrollable desire
Under the moon's beautiful glow
Izumi/Arashi: It spreads its wings in the night...

All: (Let me, un, deux, trois)
Tsukasa/Leo: As a top note,
All: (Impression)
Ritsu/Arashi: A pure white dress
All: (Wanna be Odette)
I'm waiting for my one and only

All: (Mystic Fragrance)
Cloaked in a perfume called love
All: (Mystic Fragrance)
I dance a ballet

Verse 2

Izumi/Arashi: If I were to wear it, I would want to
Be someone who
Leo/Ritsu: (Feel me)
Izumi/Arashi: Suits it
Leo/Ritsu: (Please)
Izumi/Arashi: My Style

Tsukasa/Ritsu: My figure reflected in the mirror
Is no doubt
Leo/Izumi/Arashi: (Your eyes)
Tsukasa/Ritsu: The only thing
Leo/Izumi/Arashi: (Only)
Tsukasa/Ritsu: Reflected in your eyes

I know how it feels to stop in your tracks, head down
And that's why can I adorn myself now
I know I can shine even brighter
Izumi/Ritsu: It's okay to have faith that day will come

All: (Let me, un, deux, trois)
Leo/Ritsu: As a middle note,
All: (Personality)
Tsukasa/Izumi: A colorful dress
All: (Wanna be Myself)
As I fall in love, I learn the truth

All: (Mystic Fragrance)
Izumi/Ritsu: Cloaked in a perfume called love
All: (Mystic Fragrance)
I dance with elegance

Arashi: Soak through...

Bridge

Ritsu/Arashi: Softly, gently, deftly seeping
Tsukasa/Izumi: Further, deeper, into your memory
This fragrance turns instants to eternities,
All: Enveloping you

All: (Let me un, deux, trois)
Tsukasa/Izumi: As a last note,
(Desire)
Leo/Ritsu: A pitch black dress
(Wanna be Odile)
I want your eyes on me
All: My one and only

(Mystic Fragrance)
When the perfume dissipates
(Mystic Fragrance)
I'll tell you the truth
(Mystic Fragrance)
Izumi/Ritsu: Leaving a single delicate piece
Of a fondness that never fades
(Mystic Fragrance)
Lingering in your chest, is this fragrance...

All: Within your heart...

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Translation notes:

- Odette/Odile are from Swan Lake (ballet) and are traditionally represented by white and black outfits, respectively, with Odette being the heroine and Odile her sly, deceitful foil

- Top/middle/base notes are fragrance terminology, though I decided to keep "last note" as it seemed more fitting to the song's vision rather than "base note"

- "in your chest" and "within your heart" come from the same Japanese word 胸 but I used both chest/heart to give the ending a little more punch

- Final 貴方 "you" is gender neutral, compared to the usual 貴女 in other Knights songs. 貴女, feminine "you", is often used as a gesture of respect for a woman higher in station than yourself—suggesting a princess. 貴方, being gender neutral and not as heavily associated with respect, does not suggest a princess. (Alluding to Arashi -> Akiomi from the story? Or perhaps the protagonist of Swan Lake -> her prince? Or both?)


Commentary from Youhei Matsui, lyricist, taken from his twitter (my commentary in parentheses):

- In a twt thread, Matsui comments that the move through white > colorful > black dresses in Mystic Fragrance is the progression of the main character's emotions: the white dress suggests pure feelings > light refracts through the "prism" of a person's complex emotions, resulting in many colors, expressing joy and individuality > the light fades, and the many colors mix together to become the black of desire, an immovable color that cannot be influenced by others. These colors are layered over the imagery of a perfume scent slowly fading after being first put on—at first, the fragrance is a tool to influence whoever the main character of the song is talking to, then fades away to reveal true feelings.

- The lyrics are dedicated to the "Queen of Quintetto" (perhaps because Arashi is the queen of Knights?)

- Three hints he gave in July that he followed up on later:

1. The title can be shortened to MF -> follow-up: Matsui paid attention to the words and who sings which part so that the lyrics are "not caught up in gender" (Given the above point about gender-neutral 貴方, this is a very interesting change. Unsure exactly what Matsui means by "who sings which part" but it's something to consider.)

2. Who wants to be Odette? Who wants to be Odile? -> follow-up: The protagonist of Swan Lake, having turned into a swan, and the black bird who looks like her both dance alone ("alone" and "dance" in the original tweet pick up on lyrics in MF)

3. Swan "Lake": hiding for a while is the best -> follow-up: In Silent Oath, the protagonist throws a key into a lake. In the original Swan Lake, the protagonist throws herself into a lake. Silent Oath, however, is a different song so there is no indication in the lyrics whether the key is left in the lake or taken out later. On that topic, Matsui then says Swan Lake has different versions that have good or bad ends, and the ending is apparently up to the director, who Matsui calls the "producer". (No doubt referring to us fans as producers...)