The original lineup of the band included Kato, Mika, drummer Hiro Tsunoda, and lead guitarist Masayoshi Takanaka. This lineup recorded the single 'Cycling Boogie' in 1973. Subsequently Tsunoda left the band, to be replaced by Yukihiro Takahashi, and bassist Rei (Ray) Ohara joined the band. This lineup completed the band's first, self-titled, album. This album was released on the Harvest label in the United Kingdom.
Their second album Kurobune (literally 'Black Ship(s)') was recorded in England, produced by Chris Thomas. Thomas also introduced Mika to Badfinger while he produced their 1974 masterpiece Wish You Were Here, her vocals can be heard on the track 'Know One Knows' (translating Pete Ham's lyrics to Japanese. Keyboardist Yu Imai who had worked as a supporting musician on the first album was promoted to full member status. The album sold well in Japan. In the United Kingdom, where the album was released on Harvest records, the album sold poorly, but received high praise from critics.
Bassist Ray Ohara left the band, and was replaced by Tsugutoshi Goto. Chris Thomas also produced their third album, Hot! Menu. The album "Hot Menu" featuring tracks such as "Mada, Mada Samba" is now quite rare though it featured on Radio Four's "Sounds Interesting". They played live on BBC TV's "Old Grey Whistle Test" during October, 1975. The band featured two tracks from the "Hot Menu" album, 'Time To Noodle' and 'Suki, Suki, Suki'.
The band played live in the United Kingdom supporting Roxy Music. Recordings from these concerts were released as their Live in London album.
After this album was released, Kazuhiko Kato and Mika divorced, and both left the band. Mika later married British producer Chris Thomas, and moved to the UK, where she worked as a food researcher.
HMV Japan rated them #94 in their "Top 100 Japanese pops Artists".
賑やかな孤独
サディスティック・ミカ・バンド Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
都は今宵も 歌劇(オペラ)に溢れる
詐欺師が見せる 手品につられ
1キャラット大きな
夢と引き換えに
輝きを 失う君
ルーレットが選びだす 主役
演し物は「賑やかな孤独」
月の雫も 浪漫にかしづく
だけど夜明けの ショウが終わると
街は汚れて 甘く酔いしれた
葡萄酒は 涙になる
飽きもせず繰り返す 歌劇(オペラ)
気がつくと剥がせない
仮面(マスク)
ルーレットが選びだす 主役
演し物は「賑やかな孤独」
電気じかけの 未来に浮かれ
さっき失した 愛の意味さえも
データを調べる僕
政治家に憧れた 指揮者
科学者に雇われた
踊り子(ダンサー)
週刊誌を読むだけの
道化師(ピエロ)
僕達は声のない 役者
飽きもせず繰り返す 歌劇(オペラ)
演し物は「賑やかな孤独」
The lyrics of サディスティック・ミカ・バンド's song "賑やかな孤独" depict a vibrant and glamorous world filled with illusions and performances. The opening lines describe a city overflowing with opera, where the light flowers bloom and lure people with their enchantment. However, this world is deceptive, as con artists use their tricks to deceive and trade dreams for a glamorous facade, ultimately losing their true radiance. The singer, chosen by the roulette wheel, becomes the central character in this grand spectacle known as the "lively solitude."
The lyrics then shift focus to a night of indulgent and passionate love. The romantic moonlight enhances the scene, but as the show of dawn comes to an end, the city becomes dirty and tainted, as the sweetness of intoxication fades away. The lyrics emphasize the transformation of the beloved wine into tears, symbolizing the ephemeral nature of pleasure. This cycle of opera continues relentlessly, with the roulette selecting new main characters, repeating the spectacle of the "lively solitude."
In the second verse, the song explores a futuristic world driven by technology, where even the meaning of lost love can be found in data. The singer examines information, embodying multiple roles, aspiring to be a conductor, hired by scientists, and dancing as a performer. The mention of reading tabloids and the reference to a clown-like figure highlights the artificiality of their existence. They are voiceless actors, continuously repeating the opera of the "lively solitude."
Overall, the lyrics of "賑やかな孤独" present a vivid portrayal of a world filled with illusions, performances, and the persistent pursuit of pleasure, ultimately leading to a sense of glamorous emptiness and solitude.
Line by Line Meaning
光の花が 咲き乱れて
The flowers of light are blooming vibrantly
都は今宵も 歌劇(オペラ)に溢れる
The city overflows with opera tonight as well
詐欺師が見せる 手品につられ
Deceived by the magician's tricks
1キャラット大きな 夢と引き換えに
In exchange for a dream as big as a 1-carat diamond
輝きを 失う君
You lose your radiance
ルーレットが選びだす 主役
The roulette chooses the singer
演し物は「賑やかな孤独」
The performance is a 'lively solitude'
淫らに君が恋する夜
A night where you immorally fall in love
月の雫も 浪漫にかしづく
The moon's droplets gently embrace romance
だけど夜明けの ショウが終わると
But when the show of dawn ends
街は汚れて 甘く酔いしれた
The city becomes tainted, intoxicated sweetly
葡萄酒は 涙になる
The wine turns into tears
飽きもせず繰り返す 歌劇(オペラ)
Repeating the opera without getting tired
気がつくと剥がせない 仮面(マスク)
Unaware and unable to remove the mask
電気じかけの 未来に浮かれ
Excited about the artificially created future
さっき失した 愛の意味さえも
Even the meaning of love that was just lost
データを調べる僕
I, who examines the data
政治家に憧れた 指揮者
The conductor who admired politicians
科学者に雇われた 踊り子(ダンサー)
The dancer employed by scientists
週刊誌を読むだけの 道化師(ピエロ)
The clown who only reads tabloids
僕達は声のない 役者
We are voiceless actors
飽きもせず繰り返す 歌劇(オペラ)
Repeating the opera without getting tired
演し物は「賑やかな孤独」
The performance is a 'lively solitude'
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: 雪之丞 森
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
kazu0220sea
この曲が収録されたアルバム「天晴」は、この世で一番好きなアルバムです。
「暮れる想い」も大好き曲です。
Kyoko Hashimoto
このコメントを残してくださり、ありがとうございます。私もそうです。この世で一番好きなアルバム!
マサヨシ
小原さんと幸宏さんの声、すごくいいです。
切ない歌です。
加藤さん、安心してますね。
小原さんと、幸宏さんが、傍に居るから。
加藤さん、幸せそうです、楽しそうです。
大好きです、ミカバンド。