😷 A raw and honest J-Pop ballad about the masks we wear and the courage to show our true selves. For everyone who's ever hidden pain behind a smile.

LYRICS: (Japanese)

また　うまく笑えた気がする
鏡の中の僕は　きっと優等生だ
「元気そうだね」って　誰かが言うたび
胸の奥のざらつきが　そっと黙り込む

本当の気持ちなんて　言わないのが大人だって
誰が決めたんだろう

微笑みの仮面をかぶって
今日もまた　うまく生きてるふりをしてる
痛みを知られたくなくて
強がってる僕を　君は見抜いてたね

すれ違う人の目を　避けながら歩く
「大丈夫です」って　繰り返す防衛本能
優しさは時に　刃より鋭くて
心の奥の柔らかいとこ　切り裂いてく

泣きたくなる夜ほど　誰にも会いたくなくて
誰かを求めてる

微笑みの仮面がひび割れ
隠してた涙が　頬を伝っていく
壊れることを恐れて
壊れかけた僕を　君が救ってくれた

何も言わず　ただ隣にいてくれた
その沈黙が　本当の声に聞こえた

もう仮面なんか　いらない
素顔の僕を　君に見せたいんだ
たとえ　不器用な表情でも
笑える日が来ると　信じてみたいから

誰もがきっと　何かを隠してる
その優しさに　今日も救われている

---

(English Translation)

On the day I pretended not to notice,
your voice wavered like a trembling flame.
I searched for the right words,
but they slipped through my fingers like grains of sand.

The sky was too bright to look up at,
so I kept my gaze on the asphalt instead.
The truth hid behind a smile,
a mask I couldn’t take off.

The mask of a smile—
it’s worn so well, even I start to believe it.
Even the sadness deep in my chest
becomes something I show no one.

The clock’s ticking sounds cruel
in a room without you.
The more I try to fill the emptiness,
the more it echoes in the dark.

We were chasing the same dream once,
running without looking back.
But somewhere along the way,
our paths began to fade apart.

The mask of a smile—
so no one will notice the cracks.
If I could bare my heart just once,
would you still stay by my side?

Even if the night steals away the colors,
I’ll keep a small light alive inside.
Someday, when I can face myself,
I’ll take off this mask and call your name.

The mask of a smile—
today, it’s still on my face.
But if your hand reaches out to me,
I might find the courage to remove it.

Until that day comes,
I’ll keep walking with this mask of a smile.

---

Sometimes we all wear masks to protect ourselves, but true connection happens when we find the courage to be vulnerable. This song is for anyone ready to take off their mask.

#AuthenticSelf #SaturdayReflection #JapaneseMusic

Behind the Smile

(1)Come out and play

Sainsonic feat. Synthesizer V Eri - You Make Me Free

🔥 AGAINST ALL ODDS - Raw Hip-Hop Storytelling

A powerful anthem of resilience from the streets to success. Real-life struggle meets triumphant beats in this deeply personal track about overcoming impossible circumstances. Every bar is lived experience, every rhyme is hard-earned truth.

🎵 Genre: Hip-Hop / Rap / Storytelling Rap
🎧 Vibe: Powerful, Raw, Triumphant, Authentic
⏰ Perfect for: Motivation, grinding through tough times, inspiration

---
LYRICS:
Yeah… they said I’d never make it out.
They said the streets would swallow me whole.
But look at me now…
Against all odds.

Born where the sirens sing lullabies at night
Where the streetlights flicker like they scared of the fight
Momma workin’ two jobs just to keep on the lights
Pops long gone, had to teach myself right
Hand-me-down dreams, pockets full of nothin’
Still I saw a crown in the clouds, had to hunt it
Cold nights, hungry days, felt the world shut in
But I kept a little spark in my chest, still runnin’
Had to hustle for the bus fare, hustle for the lunch
Had to fight for respect, never fold under punch
Life’s a crooked dealer but I stacked my deck
Now I’m cashin’ in the chips they said I’d never collect

Against all odds, I rise, I fight
Turn the coldest night to the brightest light
No chains, no walls, I’m breakin’ through
Ain’t no force alive gonna stop my move
Against all odds, yeah, I made my stand
Took the weight of the world in my own two hands
Against all odds, against all odds
I’m still here, still standin’, against all odds

Told me I was too small, told me I was too broke
Told me I was dreamin’, laughin’ at the hope
But every “no” I heard just became my fuel
Every door slammed shut, I just kicked that through
I was writin’ in the dark, spittin’ bars to myself
Now I’m writin’ my name in the stars for the shelf
Every scar on my skin is a trophy I own
Every tear in my past is a seed I’ve grown
I’ve seen friends turn foe, seen love turn cold
Seen the game eat souls if you don’t stay bold
So I kept my faith in my grind, not the lies
Kept my eyes on the prize, now the limit’s the skies

Against all odds, I rise, I fight
Turn the coldest night to the brightest light
No chains, no walls, I’m breakin’ through
Ain’t no force alive gonna stop my move
Against all odds, yeah, I made my stand
Took the weight of the world in my own two hands
Against all odds, against all odds
I’m still here, still standin’, against all odds

They can try to break me, try to fade my name
But the harder they push, the more I flame
Every shadow they cast, I just outshine
Every mountain they build, I make that mine
From the bottom to the top, this is more than luck
This is every late night that I stayed stuck
This is every time they said, “Boy, you’re done”
And I turned that doubt into fuel to run

Now I’m standin’ on stages where my idols stood
Turnin’ pain into power like I said I would
From the block to the boardroom, same old me
Just a little more wise, little more free
Still got the hunger that the struggle gave
Still hear the echoes from the roads I paved
I’m proof that the dirt can grow diamonds inside
Proof that the storm can be tamed by the tide
So here’s to the fighters that nobody backs
To the dreamers that rise from the deepest cracks
If they count you out, go and flip that script
Let your scars be the proof of the life you lived

Against all odds, I rise, I fight
Turn the coldest night to the brightest light
No chains, no walls, I’m breakin’ through
Ain’t no force alive gonna stop my move
Against all odds, yeah, I made my stand
Took the weight of the world in my own two hands
Against all odds, against all odds
I’m still here, still standin’, against all odds

They said it was impossible…
But impossible’s just a word for the ones who quit.
And I ain’t never been one of them.
Against all odds… I’m still here.
---

🙏 For everyone fighting their own battles
🔄 Share if this speaks to your journey
❤️ Follow for fresh beats daily - from chill vibes to hard trap & J-Pop

Against All Odds

1170 — Piano

2 Late

Showed Grandma the class

As always, produced & mastered by BotNikStudio2, Bottna, Sweden.

THE DARK TOWER RISES

The Light Machine & The Light (Rehearal)

Lyrics By: Paulo Sergio Carvalho

Sonhar com você é tão doce
Como um doce que ninguém seduz
Você me faz girar sem parar
Não quero fuga, quero ficar

Você acende o céu de verão
Cada olhar me tira do chão
Se é loucura, eu digo que sim
Meu mundo pega fogo assim

Estou sonhando com você
Cada instante, cada porquê
Como um hit na minha mente
Repete sempre, eternamente

Sim, sonhando com você
Tudo é novo, tudo é fé
Se isso é amor, não vou negar
Quero sonhar sem nunca acordar

Dançar a noite toda com você
Cada passo é luz pra viver
Cada momento é pura emoção
Espero que não tenha fim, não

Pode ser sorte ou pode ser lei
Mas meu coração disparou, eu sei
Se é feitiço, eu não vou fugir
Quero esse encanto até o fim

Estou sonhando com você
Cada instante, cada porquê
Como um hit na minha mente
Repete sempre, eternamente

Sim, sonhando com você
Tudo é novo, tudo é fé
Se isso é amor, não vou negar
Quero sonhar sem nunca acordar

Sonho, sonho, não vou parar
Tua história quero cantar
Sonho, sonho, sempre eu sei…
Menina, sonhando com você!

Sonhando com Você (Portuguese)

I see music in the stars, I hear music when I sleep, its a never ending story... Paulo Sergio Carvalho, known to the music world as iPauloSergio, was born in the stunning city of Ponta Delgada in the Azores, Portugal. His early years were enriched by the lush landscapes and vibrant culture of the islands. At the tender age of 13, Paulo discovered his passion for music, immersing himself in the sounds of the piano, keyboards, and guitar. This early exposure laid the foundation for his lifelong love of music and set him on a path to become a multifaceted musician.

Paulo’s music is a rich tapestry woven from a wide array of influences. He admires legends such as Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Bob Dylan for their storytelling prowess, while also drawing inspiration from the melodic genius of Billy Joel and the powerful anthems of Journey and Van Halen. Furthermore, the innovative sounds of electronic pop icons like Pet Shop Boys and Depeche Mode can be felt in his work. This fusion of genres reflects Paulo's ability to connect with a diverse audience and create music that resonates on multiple levels.

In addition to his solo pursuits, Paulo has collaborated with fellow musician iGracie to write songs for various bands, including the country outfit Devils and Debutantes and the indie rock group Love Bomb Poets Society. These partnerships have allowed him to explore different musical styles and expand his songwriting repertoire, blending heartfelt lyrics with catchy melodies that appeal to listeners across genres.

Bitcoin address for tips: bc1ql38nsruy9s3ejfzwpcvuyuw7qczapcevdknmjn

Sonhando com Você (Portuguese)

iPauloSergio

Related tracks