dis was at da first ICW NHB show in New Jersey. i still have da towel they gave me at da door lol. thank you Masashi Takeda! welcome back to pro wrestlin! 💜
*this song contains some explicit lyrics in English
A note on the pronouns: There were only four pronouns explicitly used in the song (three instances of “you” in varying forms of politeness, and a singular “I”). I ended up translating most of the song to “you,” but in a general sense. The song isn’t being sung to/about one person in particular, but humanity as a whole. The reason I didn’t translate it as “we” is because the singer – while admitting he’s part of the problem since he is, in fact, an imperfect human being – is trying to appeal to everyone else to wake up and stop being so self-absorbed and pay attention to the world falling apart around them.
There are quite a few notes on this one, but they’re well worth it, in my opinion. Also, since I do not have a physical copy of the lyric booklet, my translation was completed using lyrics I found (and double-checked against other sites) online.
ROTTEN ORANGE Romaji
GURAGURA no fuantei fuantei [1] kuu ka kuwareru ka kyouzonfuka DEATHGAME
ZUTAZUTA no furyouhin furyouhin kitaiHAZURE no SHIT sou kimi wa ROTTEN ORANGE
Kyoukasho no koroshi atteiru ijin ni akai sen boku yori mo tsumibukai kuse ni shousareteiru
Naraba fuhai! fuhai! fuhai! kusatteshimae!
Naraba fuhai! fuhai! fuhai! ULTRA VIOLENCE
GIRIGIRI no fukinshin fukinshin nabiku dake nabiite nakami wa kara no JOHN DOE
BAREBARE no fubyoudou fubyoudou miteminu FURIshite amai mitsu wo choudai
Tokeijikake houteishiki no ue de odorou
Kyou de shinou sou wameiteiru ANOko ni akai sen
Kimi yori mo kizu asai no ni kidzuite moraeteiru
Naraba fuhai! fuhai! fuhai! kusatteshimae!
Naraba fuhai! fuhai! fuhai! ULTRA VIOLENCE
ROTTEN TO THE CORE mikan mikan
[ROTTEN TO THE CORE mikan mikan
ROTTEN TO THE CORE mikan mikan
ROTTEN TO THE CORE mikan mikan
ROTTEN TO THE CORE]
GURAGURA no fuantei fuantei kuu ka kuwareru ka kyouzenfuka DEATHGAME
ZUTAZUTA no furyouhin furyouhin kitaiHAZURE no SHIT tsuihoushite toutashite
Tokeijikake houteishiki no ue de odorou
Mushuusei jishukisei fukenzen fukenzen kono sekai
Odorou nanajuu-oku no KABI to kuchite kuzureru kajitsu
Kizuato wo hajite hajite chouiku shitekure mikansei HUMANRACE
Donotsura de dare ni dare ni ayamareba ii oshiete oshiete
GIRIGIRI no fukinshin fukinshin nabiku dake nabiite nakami wa kara no JOHN DOE
BAREBARE no fubyoudou fubyoudou mite minu FURIshite amai mitsu wo choudai
Tokeijikake houteishiki no ue de TEMEE ni kake kouteishi ikireru no ka
Kusarikake wakesei no ue de ROTTEN ORANGE
ROTTEN ORANGE English Translation
Indecisive insecurity corrupt insecurity[1] to eat or be eaten? you can’t coexist with this DEATHGAME
Defective product, falling apart corroded defective product [this] SHIT isn’t all I’d hoped it would be[2] you’re like a ROTTEN ORANGE
[Mark] a red line around the [3] esteemed figures killing each other off in our history books: these sinful flaws [the world] so admires are more than just mine
It’s a case of corruption! depravity! decay![4] you'll rot away to nothing!
It’s a case of corruption! depravity! decay! ULTRA VIOLENCE
Unrepentant degenerate corrupt degenerate you just bow down and yield to the emptiness within you, JOHN DOE[5]
Undeniable inequality corrupt inequality you pretend not to see and drink down that sweet nectar
[Like] clockwork you’ll probably just dance around[6] the solution
So [mark] a red line around the bawling children: today’s the day we’re gonna die[7]
If only you could realize how superficial [this world is], that these flaws are more than just yours
[But] it’s a case of corruption! depravity! decay! you'll rot away to nothing!
It’s a case of corruption! depravity! decay! ULTRA VIOLENCE
ROTTEN TO THE CORE defective [you’re] defective[8]
[ROTTEN TO THE CORE defective [you’re] defective
ROTTEN TO THE CORE defective [you’re] defective
ROTTEN TO THE CORE defective [you’re] defective
ROTTEN TO THE CORE]
Trembling insecurity corrupt insecurity to eat or be eaten? you can’t coexist with this DEATHGAME
Defective product, falling apart corroded defective product [this] SHIT isn’t all I’d hoped it would be you’ll be cut out and eliminated
[Like] clockwork you’ll probably just dance around the solution
This world is unchanged willingly captive sickly polluted[9]
[You] seven billion blights[10] will probably dance, [you] fruits gone bad with rot
Be ashamed of your scars be ashamed of what you’ve been nurturing[11] [you] imperfect HUMANRACE
Who the hell should apologize to whom? tell me tell me
Unrepentant degenerate corrupt degenerate you just bow down and yield to the emptiness within you, JOHN DOE
Undeniable inequality corrupt inequality you pretend not to see and drink down that sweet nectar
[Like] clockwork will you shits[12] bet it all on the solution and live right?
You’re a ROTTEN ORANGE on a planet that’s decaying
Translator’s Notes:
[1] The first kanji of the repeated word is switched out. Normally it is written 不安定 fuantei “instability,” but the first kanji has been switched to be 腐 which can also be read as fu and means “rot, decay, sour.” This is done throughout the song every time a word beginning with fu is repeated, adding an element of “rotten” or “corrupt” to the word spoken before.
[2] 期待外れ kitaihazure as a single compound means “disappointing,” but he splits it up writing ハズレ in kana – translated separately the words mean something along the lines of “failed [to meet] expectations” or “wasn’t what I hoped.” So, while it kind of still means the same thing, I just wanted to note the word switch.
[3] Red is an almost-universal color for drawing attention to something (or even noting something is incorrect). To me, this whole stanza reads something like, “Look, I’m not perfect, and I’m part of humanity, too, but the world is putting the wrong shit on a pedestal. Case in point: look at all the people who are remembered throughout the ages simply for being monsters. The world’s problems are way bigger than a single generation or a single person; they’ve been going on since humanity existed.”
[4] All these words are 腐敗 fuhai. I translated each one slightly differently because the word has more meanings than just the rot on a piece of fruit like in the title; it also has a negative emotional aspect.
[5] “John Doe” is an English catch-all name given to “an unknown or anonymous person.” (Someone is brought into the hospital unable to speak and without identification - “John Doe.” Someone pens an angry letter to the editor but doesn’t want their name attached to it to avoid repercussions for stating an opinion that is unpopular - “John Doe.”) Speaking about the void/emptiness within, this seems like, “You’re so screwed up and corrupt that you’re empty inside; you aren’t even a real person anymore,” or even, “You might think you’re being sly and staying anonymous: looking good on the outside but rotten inside - but I know what you’re really like.” (Side note, the female equivalent an unknown/missing person is “Jane Doe.”)
[6] He actually uses 上 ue which can mean “atop, on top of, the surface,” as well as 方程式 houteishiki “equation, solution / method for solving a problem or achieving a particular result.” This sounds like it might be like the English phrase “dancing around the ____” (be that issue, problem, solution, etc.) – meaning you’re just skirting the issue, trying to carry on like the answer – which you probably don’t like – isn’t right in front of you.
[7] Back to the red line again, this stanza seems to be like, “You think it’s fine for you – yourself, one person – to act irresponsibly, but when everybody on earth feels the same way… Well, the kids are the ones who will pay the price because we’ve fucked the whole world up for them.”
[8] This is a play on words. He writes 未完 mikan, which means “incomplete, unfinished, defective, deficient,” – but ミカン mikan is also the word for a mandarin orange/satsuma, like the title. In fact, the first time he says mikan, in the PV the shot zooms out and the band is standing on an orange slice. If you’re not reading the kanji but only listening to the music, this line could be taken as “ROTTEN TO THE CORE / [you’re] an orange / [a rotten] orange.”
[9] This word is a repetition of 不健全 fukenzen “unhealthful” with the kanji switch noted before. So instead of ‘corruptly unhealthy,’ “polluted” is a good alternative that encompasses both of those words’ meanings. Since the song is a criticism of the state of the world, it seemed like a good fit.
[10] Seven billion refers to all the people on the planet. The word used for “blights” is カビ kabi “mold” – so basically, he’s saying everyone is rotten and corrupt and decayed inside and contributing to the state of the world. “Blights” sounded better in English than “seven billion molds.”
[11] This is 教育してくれ kyouiku shitekure and could also be translated as “teaching [someone].” So technically this whole line could be either, “You should feel bad for the filth and muck you’ve been tolerating / allowing to grow / actively encouraging,” or “You should feel bad for the filth and muck you’ve been teaching [your children].”
[12] This is one of the only actual pronouns in the whole song besides two uses of 君 kimi “you” earlier on and one 僕 boku for “mine.” This is てめえ temee (written テメー in this case) and is a vulgar/rude or derogatory way of saying “you.” Since it’s so rough and aggressive, especially compared to the earlier and more normal/polite use of kimi, I translated it as “you shits.”
Wow I’m surprised I never posted these because I’m really proud of them. My friend got me into visual kei a bit ago and I have fallen in love with Chisa thanks
