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.
Double Trouble
布袋寅泰 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bar でテキーラ飲んだ後は
途切れちゃってる記憶
部屋に散らばる下着
焦ってるとチャイムが響く
ドアの向こうで恋人が今日も
優しく笑ってる
Double Trouble Double Trouble
Double Trouble Double Trouble
気がつくと絶体絶命
Double Trouble Double Trouble
I say Oh my God What a crazy day
ギリギリで遅れそう
約束した Party のギグ
ギター背負い跨るバイク
エンジンがかからない
街もこの時間になると
おかしな奴らがウロウロしてる
よせばいいのに悪ガキが
ケースに唾を吐いた
Double Trouble Double Trouble
平和主義者の俺なのに
Double Trouble Double Trouble
気がつくと派手に暴れてる
Double Trouble Double Trouble
I say Oh my God What a crazy day
夢を信じるから
災難もそれだけ増える
ロマンティストに課せられた
愛と地獄の日々だけど思うのさ
絶望するよりマシだと
胸に RockandRoll
響かせてトラブルへ飛び込め
Double Trouble Double Trouble
常にヒタムキな俺なのに
Double Trouble Double Trouble
気がつくと絶体絶命
Double Trouble Double Trouble
I say Oh my God What a crazy day
Double Trouble Double Trouble
平和主義者の俺なのに
Double Trouble Double Trouble
気がつくと派手に暴れてる
Double Trouble Double Trouble
I say Oh my God What a crazy day
Double Trouble Double Trouble
I say Oh my God What a crazy day
Double Trouble Double Trouble
I say Oh my God What a crazy day
Double Trouble Double Trouble
I say Oh my God What a crazy day
What a shame
Don't you think
Oh Oh Oh Oh
The lyrics to 布袋寅泰's song "Double Trouble" depict a chaotic and unpredictable day in the life of the singer. The song begins with the line, "A naked beauty sleeps next to me, someone I don't know." This suggests a spontaneous and possibly reckless encounter with a stranger. The singer's memories are interrupted after drinking tequila at a bar, leaving scattered underwear in the room. The doorbell rings, and outside, the lover is smiling gently. The chorus repeats the phrase "Double Trouble," emphasizing the recurring theme of the singer's constant turmoil and unexpected situations.
The second verse describes the singer being on the verge of being late for a promised gig at a party. They carry their guitar and ride a bike, but the engine doesn't start. The city becomes strange and filled with odd people roaming around at this hour. Despite the singer's peaceful nature, they find themselves in a flashy and unruly situation. The lyrics continue to highlight the singer's contradictory experiences of being a peace-loving person mixed with incidents of chaos and trouble.
The bridge reinforces the idea that believing in dreams brings both misfortune and fulfillment. The singer embraces their role as a romanticist, accepting the days of love and hell as part of their life. They express the belief that it's better to endure trouble than to despair, carrying the spirit of Rock and Roll in their heart.
Overall, "Double Trouble" portrays a day marked by unexpected encounters, strange events, and the conflict between the singer's peaceful nature and their frequent involvement in chaotic situations.
Line by Line Meaning
誰かわからない裸の美女隣に寝てる
There is a beautiful naked woman sleeping next to me, but I don't know who she is.
Bar でテキーラ飲んだ後は 途切れちゃってる記憶
After drinking tequila at the bar, my memories become fragmented.
部屋に散らばる下着
There are scattered underwear in the room.
焦ってるとチャイムが響く
As I panic, the doorbell rings.
ドアの向こうで恋人が今日も 優しく笑ってる
Beyond the door, my lover is smiling kindly, just like every day.
Double Trouble Double Trouble
Double Trouble, I'm always in trouble.
常にヒタムキな俺なのに
Even though I am always alert.
気がつくと絶体絶命
Before I know it, I'm in a desperate situation.
I say Oh my God What a crazy day
I say, 'Oh my God, what a crazy day.'
ギリギリで遅れそう 約束した Party のギグ
I'm almost late for the gig at the party I promised.
ギター背負い跨るバイク エンジンがかからない
Carrying my guitar, I straddle the bike, but the engine won't start.
街もこの時間になると おかしな奴らがウロウロしてる
At this time, strange people roam the streets.
よせばいいのに悪ガキが ケースに唾を吐いた
Although I should ignore them, some delinquent kid spat on my guitar case.
平和主義者の俺なのに
Even though I am a pacifist.
気がつくと派手に暴れてる
Before I know it, I'm causing a scene.
夢を信じるから 災難もそれだけ増える
Because I believe in dreams, disasters also increase.
ロマンティストに課せられた 愛と地獄の日々だけど思うのさ
Although I am burdened with the romanticist's life of love and hell, I still think.
絶望するよりマシだと 胸に RockandRoll
Rather than despair, I choose to have rock and roll in my heart.
響かせてトラブルへ飛び込め
Let it resonate and dive into trouble.
What a shame
Such a shame.
Don't you think
Don't you think so?
Oh Oh Oh Oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: moriyukinojou
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind