Hotei is best known internationally for his song "Battle Without Honor or Humanity" , which has been used in numerous films, commercials, and video games, most notably Quentin Tarantino's feature film Kill Bill.
Born to a Korean father and a Japanese/Russian mother, Hotei first began playing the guitar in junior high school. In high school, his band Blue Film finished runners up in a school contest to Death Penalty, a band led by Kyosuke Himuro. Hotei was expelled shortly before graduation. The reason was that, when warned about his long hair he replied “Jesus had long hair!” Shortly after, he went to Tokyo where one day he received a phone call from Himuro. The two had never really known each other but hit it off and went on to hold auditions for a new band, which in 1981 became the six-member BOØWY. The band became major stars in Japan, in 1985 played the Marquee in London, and in 1986 had their first million seller, Beat Emotion.
When the band broke up in 1988, Hotei established himself as a solo star, as did Himuro. Hotei also made two albums with Koji Kikkawa as Complex, both of which went to number one in the national charts. Hotei frequently records overseas and has collaborated with many foreign musicians, including playing on The Stranglers Hugh Cornwell’s 1993 solo album, on stage with David Bowie at Nippon Budokan in 1996, and at the closing ceremony of the Atlanta 1996 Centennial Olympic Games with Michael Kamen.
He later recorded “Guitar Concerto” with Kamen. He has also worked with Andy Mackay of Roxy Music, guitarist Chris Spedding and Mike Edwards of Jesus Jones. Hotei also sometimes plays in Europe, including a number of major festivals. His regular drummer in recent years, Zachary Alford, has previously played with Bruce Springsteen and David Bowie. Hotei's 1998 album Supersonic Generation, recorded in part with Apollo 440 and Ofra Haza, was released in 14 European countries.
In addition to many bestselling solo albums, Hotei composed and performed the score for Hiroyuki Nakano’s Samurai Fiction, as well as starring in the film. He composed the score to Terry Gilliam’s feature film Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas together with Ray Cooper. Hotei's song “Battle Without Honor or Humanity” was used in the Quentin Tarantino’s feature film Kill Bill, the PlayStation 2 version of Dance Dance Revolution SuperNOVA,and Michael Bay’s feature film Transformers. Hotei recorded a cover of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” for Merry Axemas, an instrumental guitar Christmas album featuring tracks from guitarists including Jeff Beck, Joe Perry, Eric Johnson, Steve Vai and Steve Morse.
The Nintendo DS game Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan features his song "Thrill". The game's sequel, Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii, features another Hotei song, "Bambina". (Both songs are cover versions.) Hotei is featured in “Grace” on the Apocalyptica album Worlds Collide. The song is featured in the game NHL 09.
COSMIC PIRATES
布袋寅泰 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
カッ飛んでく 海賊
引力でさえ 権力でさえ
疾っくにない 解放区
何のために生まれた...
それが知りたくて
禁断の惑星 投獄された
愛を救う 航海
もう幻想なんだろう
Why don't you kill the law?
We'll break it! break it!
break it! break it!
ああ何て事たろう!
感情も in the 牢
Why don't you feel sorrow?
We'll break it! break it!
break it! break it!
境界線越えて 弾丸のワープ
ツッ込んでく ブラック・ホール
伝説にある 勇者に代わり
突破するぜ 巨大要塞
滅び始めたファンタジー
救うのなら今
反逆さえも 計算された
絶対的 システム
どうだっていいだろう
もう限界なんだろう
Why don't you kill the law?
We'll break it! break it!
break it! break it!
革命の蜃気楼
英雄に「セイ・ハロー!」
Why don't you feel sorrow?
We'll break it! break it!
break it! break it!
微笑みながら 死ぬことは
あなたの中で 生きること
心は宇宙 夢は惑星
信じれば 愛が
失くしたものが ここにある
Go Up＆Round!
宇宙に名だたる Cosmic Pirates
Go Up＆Round!
「未来を盗め」と笑う髑髏
<あなたがいる 全てが始まる>
愛なんて比喩だろう
もう幻想なんだろう
Why don't you kill the law?
We'll break it! break it!
break it! break it!
ああ何て事たろう!
感情も in the 牢
Why don't you feel sorrow?
We'll break it! break it!
break it! break it!
始めるために 終わるのは
野花が種を こぼすこと
生命の循環 巡る綺譚
永遠と愛が
もうすぐ溶けて 虹になる
Go Up＆Round!
危険を道連れ Cosmic Pirates
Go Up＆Round!
歪んだ歴史に 夢を放て
Go Up＆Round!
宇宙に名だたる Cosmic Pirates
Go Up＆Round!
「未来を盗め」と笑う髑髏
どうだっていいだろう
もう限界なんだろう
Why don't you kill the law?
We'll break it! break it!
break it! break it!
革命の蜃気楼
英雄に「セイ・ハロー!」
Why don't you feel sorrow?
We'll break it! break it!
break it! break it!
The lyrics of "COSMIC PIRATES" by 布袋寅泰 (Hotei Tomoyasu) speak about a rebellious spirit and the desire for freedom in a world where authority and power control everything. The song portrays a sense of frustration and the need for liberation.
The opening lines set the tone by describing a loud noise and a vacuum in space, symbolizing the vast emptiness and chaos of the world. The lyrics then introduce the idea of pirates, who are portrayed as fearless individuals breaking through the gravitational and political forces that restrict them. The question of why they were born arises, expressing a longing to understand their purpose and a desire to break free from the confines they find themselves in.
The concept of love is presented as a metaphor and an illusion, suggesting that it may no longer hold the same meaning or power. The lyrics emphasize the urgency to challenge and break the laws and systems that govern society, encouraging defiance and revolution. The chorus repeats the call to break the law and feel no sorrow, reinforcing the rebellious and defiant attitude of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
轟音上げて 真空の宇宙
Amplifying the sound in the vacuum of space
カッ飛んでく 海賊
Flying swiftly like pirates
引力でさえ 権力でさえ
Even gravity, even authority
疾っくにない 解放区
There is no haste in the liberation zone
何のために生まれた...
For what purpose were we born...
それが知りたくて
I want to know that
禁断の惑星 投獄された
Imprisoned on a forbidden planet
愛を救う 航海
A voyage to save love
愛なんて 比喩だろう
Love is just a metaphor
もう幻想なんだろう
It's already an illusion
Why don't you kill the law?
Why don't you defy the law?
We'll break it! break it! break it! break it!
We'll shatter it! shatter it! shatter it! shatter it!
ああ何て事たろう!
Oh, what a situation!
感情も in the 牢
Even emotions are in prison
Why don't you feel sorrow?
Why don't you experience sorrow?
境界線越えて 弾丸のワープ
Crossing the border, bullet's warp
ツッ込んでく ブラック・ホール
Rushing into the black hole
伝説にある 勇者に代わり
In place of the legendary hero
突破するぜ 巨大要塞
We will break through the gigantic fortress
滅び始めたファンタジー
A fantasy that has begun to crumble
救うのなら今
If we are going to save it, it's now
反逆さえも 計算された
Even rebellion was calculated
絶対的 システム
An absolute system
どうだっていいだろう
It doesn't matter anymore
もう限界なんだろう
It's already the limit
革命の蜃気楼
A mirage of revolution
英雄に「セイ・ハロー!」
Say hello to the heroes
微笑みながら 死ぬことは
Smiling while dying
あなたの中で 生きること
Living inside of you
心は宇宙 夢は惑星
The heart is the universe, dreams are planets
信じれば 愛が
If you believe, love will
失くしたものが ここにある
The things you lost are here
Go Up＆Round!
Go up and round!
宇宙に名だたる Cosmic Pirates
Renowned cosmic pirates
「未来を盗め」と笑う髑髏
A skull laughing and saying, 'Steal the future'
<あなたがいる 全てが始まる>
始めるために 終わるのは
In order to start, we must end
野花が種を こぼすこと
Wildflowers dropping seeds
生命の循環 巡る綺譚
The cycle of life, a revolving tale
永遠と愛が
Eternity and love
もうすぐ溶けて 虹になる
Soon melting and becoming a rainbow
危険を道連れ Cosmic Pirates
Cosmic pirates taking danger with them
歪んだ歴史に 夢を放て
Set dreams free in the distorted history
どうだっていいだろう
It doesn't matter anymore
もう限界なんだろう
It's already the limit
革命の蜃気楼
A mirage of revolution
英雄に「セイ・ハロー!」
Say hello to the heroes
Why don't you feel sorrow?
Why don't you experience sorrow?
We'll break it! break it! break it! break it!
We'll shatter it! shatter it! shatter it! shatter it!
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Yukinojo Mori
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind