Initially, the term was applied to Flipper's Guitar, and Pizzicato Five, bands strongly influenced by French yé-yé Music and its most notable proponent, Serge Gainsbourg. Other influences include lounge, and bossa nova. As the style's popularity increased at end of the 90s, the term began to be applied to many bands, such as Puffy, whose musical stylings began to reflect a more mainstream sensibility.
Some artists rejected or resisted being categorized as "Shibuya-kei," but the name ultimately stuck. The style was favoured by local businesses, including Shibuya Center Street's HMV Shibuya, which sold Shibuya-kei records in its traditional Japanese music section.
Increasingly, musicians outside of Japan, such as Britain's Momus, France's Dimitri from Paris, and the US artists Natural Calamity and Phofo are labelled Shibuya-kei.
Drop
Cornelius Lyrics
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AH hard, solid, pick-up
Throw, skip
AH shucks, expectations, difference
AH about five times fly
Throw, skip
AH world, wide, seems like
AH loose, breeze, brushes, cheek
The lyrics of Cornelius's song "Drop" present a series of abstract images that seem to point towards a sense of displacement or disorientation. The first verse references an unexpected sight that is wide in scope, followed by the image of a hard, solid pick-up. This could be interpreted as a physical object that is being encountered in an unfamiliar context. The repetition of the phrases "throw, skip" suggests a sense of play or experimentation, but also hints at a lack of control or direction.
The second verse introduces the words "shucks" and "expectations", which could be seen as signifiers of disappointment or frustration. The phrase "about five times fly" is somewhat cryptic, but could be interpreted as a reference to the passing of time or the experience of fleeting moments. The repeated "throw, skip" seems to continue the theme of experimentation or play, but again suggests a lack of groundedness or purpose.
The final verse references a world that seems wide and loose, with a breeze brushing against the cheek. This adds to the overall sense of disorientation and uncertainty, but also suggests a certain openness or expansiveness. Overall, the lyrics of "Drop" seem to be exploring a sense of being adrift or unmoored, with a focus on sensory impressions and fleeting moments.
Interesting facts about "Drop":
Interesting Facts
Note: This section uses generative AI, which can be inaccurate.
Line by Line Meaning
AH unexpected, sight, wide
Wow, I am surprised by how breathtaking and expansive this view is.
AH hard, solid, pick-up
The object I'm touching feels firm and strong in my hand as I lift it up.
Throw, skip
I toss the object forward and watch it bounce off the surface of the water multiple times.
AH shucks, expectations, difference
Oh no, I had some preconceived ideas about how this would turn out and they weren't accurate.
AH about five times fly
The object I threw bounced off the water five times before coming to a stop.
Throw, skip
I toss the object again and it skips across the water's surface once more.
AH world, wide, seems like
The world feels vast and unlimited from this vantage point.
AH loose, breeze, brushes, cheek
There's a gentle gust of wind that blows a strand of hair across my cheek.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KEIGO OYAMADA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind