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.
Identity
布袋寅泰 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
妄想ジェネレーション
壊れたギターで
かき鳴らせデザイアー身体中で
振り絞るように FREEDOM
高らかに叫べ
傷だらけの夜暗闇に包まって
涙も流さず泣いたことがあるかい?
孤独と言う名の FREEDOM
俺たちのラブソン
ググレーの街四角い空の下
押しつぶされそうになっても
喜怒哀楽主義でいこうぜこの魂
宇宙に―つ誰も知らない
本当の自由な世界
LET ME GO 迷わずこの道をゆくだけ
なんで皆他人の目ばかり
気にして生きてるんだろう
喜怒哀楽主義でいこうぜこの魂
宇宙に一つ夢も涙も
それぞれのアイデンティティ
風に吹かれて誇らしく羽ばたけ
誰も知らない本当の自由な世界
LET ME GO 迷わずこの道をゆくだけ
The lyrics to 布袋寅泰's song Identity are a call to break free from societal expectations and embrace one's individuality. The song begins by describing the current times as dry and barren, with a generation full of wild imaginings. The broken guitar becomes a symbol of the desire to make noise and express oneself freely, with the body wringing out every last drop of freedom. The chorus encourages the listener to shout out loud, despite the scars and darkness that may be felt inside. The lyrics question why people focus so much on the eyes of others, when they should be living with a philosophy of embracing all of life's emotions. The song encourages people to pursue their dreams and fly proudly, guided by their unique identities.
Overall, the song's message is one of liberation and individualism. It challenges listeners to reject societal norms and expectations, and to instead embrace their deepest desires and emotions. The upbeat tempo and driving guitar riffs enhance the song's message of freedom and rebellion, making it a powerful anthem for all those seeking to live life on their own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
乾ききった時代の
This is a generation with too many delusions that exist in a society that has lost its vibrant and energetic side.
妄想ジェネレーション
This generation is filled with people who are lost in their imagination and need to find their true identity.
壊れたギターで
With a damaged guitar, one can make music that expresses their emotions and desires.
かき鳴らせデザイアー身体中で
Play your guitar hard and express your innermost feelings, your deepest desires.
振り絞るように FREEDOM
Fight and break free from the shackles that imprison liberal thoughts in one's mind.
高らかに叫べ
Shout out loud and make your voice be heard by the world.
傷だらけの夜暗闇に包まって
In a dark night with scars all over, one can find solace and comfort in the dark.
涙も流さず泣いたことがあるかい?
Have you ever cried so much that you don't even have any more tears left to shed?
知らないだろう?
You don't know that feeling, do you?
孤独と言う名の FREEDOM
The feeling of loneliness can also bring freedom- freedom from the pressure of society's expectations.
俺たちのラブソン
This is our love song that we sing for ourselves.
ググレーの街四角い空の下
This is a place where a person can feel small and insignificant, in a gray and colorless city with a square sky above.
押しつぶされそうになっても
Even if you feel like you're about to be crushed by the weight of the world,
喜怒哀楽主義でいこうぜこの魂
You can still live life to the fullest by embracing all the different emotions that come with it.
宇宙に―つ誰も知らない
In the vast universe, there is something that nobody knows yet.
本当の自由な世界
A world of true freedom where everyone can be their true selves and nobody judges them.
LET ME GO 迷わずこの道をゆくだけ
Let me go and walk this path without any doubts and fear.
なんで皆他人の目ばかり
Why do people care so much about what others think of them?
気にして生きてるんだろう
Why is living with the constant worry of others' opinions necessary?
喜怒哀楽主義でいこうぜこの魂
Live life to the fullest by embracing all the different emotions that come with it.
宇宙に一つ夢も涙も
In the vast universe, every dream and every tear that falls is unique and special.
それぞれのアイデンティティ
Everyone has their own identity that makes them unique, and it's important to embrace and celebrate that.
風に吹かれて誇らしく羽ばたけ
Let the wind guide you and fly with pride, free from any constraints.
誰も知らない本当の自由な世界
The world of true freedom and acceptance, where nobody is judged and everyone is free to be themselves, is still unknown to many.
LET ME GO 迷わずこの道をゆくだけ
Let me go and walk this path without any doubts and fear.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: hotei tomoyasu
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind