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.
LIBERTY WINGS
布袋寅泰 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
展開期待してたのに
なんで俺たち窮屈なだけの現状
突破できないんだろう
果てしない蒼い空奪われた籠の鳥
あきらめるのはまだ早いだろ
夢のアツさで勝負
途中経過はあえて気にせず
燃え尽きるまでやり遂げるまで
立ち止まってちゃ No future
夢を信じる者たちだけの
銀の翼 Liberty Wings
間奏
どこか不完全で微妙にアンバランス
人間そんな生き物
人生理屈や論理で語っちゃロンリー
絶対割り切れない
太陽を追いかけて風になれ籠の鳥
金じゃないだろ地位じゃないだろ
夢のデカさで勝負
幸か不幸か打たれ強さは
人並み以上 Born to be wild
弾けたいだろ叫びたいだろ
天下無敵の Big future
夢を信じる者たちだけに
奇跡は降る Liberty Wings
間奏
あきらめるのはまだ早いだろ
夢のアツさで勝負
途中経過はあえて気にせず
ただひたすら Going my way
燃え尽きるまでやり遂げるまで
立ち止まってちゃ No future
夢を信じる者たちだけの
銀の翼 Liberty Wings
金じゃないだろ地位じゃないだろ
夢のデカさで勝負
幸か不幸か打たれ強さは
人並み以上 Born to be wild
弾けたいだろ叫びたいだろ
天下無敵の Big future
夢を信じる者たちだけに
奇跡は降る Liberty Wings
The lyrics to 布袋寅泰's song LIBERTY WINGS convey a message of longing for freedom, adventure, and the courage to pursue one's dreams. The song expresses frustration with the current situation of feeling confined and unable to break through the limitations that society imposes. The lyrics describe a bird trapped in a cage, its boundless blue sky stolen away, but it is too soon to give up. The song urges listeners to embrace the passion of their dreams and continue moving forward, disregarding the obstacles along the way. It emphasizes the importance of believing in one's dreams and finding the strength to overcome challenges and achieve greatness.
The lyrics highlight the idea that human beings are imperfect and inherently unbalanced creatures. The pursuit of a fulfilling life cannot be reduced to mere logic or reasoning; it is a lonely journey that cannot be easily comprehended or explained. The song encourages individuals to chase after the sun, become free like the wind, and reject the notion that success is measured by wealth or status. Instead, it promotes the idea that the size of one's dreams and the ability to overcome adversity define true success. The lyrics emphasize the desire to break free, scream out, and live a life without constraints or limitations, believing that only those who dare to dream and hold on to their dreams will receive the miraculous gift of liberty.
Line by Line Meaning
もっと自由で大胆でスリリングな
Desiring for more freedom, boldness, and thrill
展開期待してたのに
Yet, expecting for exciting developments
なんで俺たち窮屈なだけの現状
Why are we stuck in such a restricted situation?
突破できないんだろう
Why can't we break through it?
果てしない蒼い空奪われた籠の鳥
Like a caged bird, feeling the endless blue sky stolen
あきらめるのはまだ早いだろ
It's still too early to give up
夢のアツさで勝負
Let's compete with the intensity of our dreams
途中経過はあえて気にせず
Without intentionally worrying about the progress
ただひたすら Going my way
Just single-mindedly going my own way
燃え尽きるまでやり遂げるまで
Until burning out, until achieving
立ち止まってちゃ No future
There's no future in just standing still
夢を信じる者たちだけの
Only for those who believe in their dreams
銀の翼 Liberty Wings
Silver wings, Liberty Wings
間奏
Instrumental break
どこか不完全で微妙にアンバランス
Somewhere imperfect and subtly unbalanced
人間そんな生き物
Humans, such creatures
人生理屈や論理で語っちゃロンリー
Speaking of life through reasoning and logic, it becomes lonely
絶対割り切れない
Cannot be completely rationalized
太陽を追いかけて風になれ籠の鳥
Become the wind, chasing the sun, like a caged bird
金じゃないだろ地位じゃないだろ
It's not about money, it's not about status
夢のデカさで勝負
Let's compete with the magnitude of our dreams
幸か不幸か打たれ強さは
Whether fortunate or unfortunate, the strength to endure
人並み以上 Born to be wild
Born to be wild, beyond mediocrity
弾けたいだろ叫びたいだろ
Wanting to burst, wanting to scream
天下無敵の Big future
An invincible, big future
夢を信じる者たちだけに
Only for those who believe in their dreams
奇跡は降る Liberty Wings
Miracles will descend, Liberty Wings
間奏
Instrumental break
あきらめるのはまだ早いだろ
It's still too early to give up
夢のアツさで勝負
Let's compete with the intensity of our dreams
途中経過はあえて気にせず
Without intentionally worrying about the progress
ただひたすら Going my way
Just single-mindedly going my own way
燃え尽きるまでやり遂げるまで
Until burning out, until achieving
立ち止まってちゃ No future
There's no future in just standing still
夢を信じる者たちだけの
Only for those who believe in their dreams
銀の翼 Liberty Wings
Silver wings, Liberty Wings
金じゃないだろ地位じゃないだろ
It's not about money, it's not about status
夢のデカさで勝負
Let's compete with the magnitude of our dreams
幸か不幸か打たれ強さは
Whether fortunate or unfortunate, the strength to endure
人並み以上 Born to be wild
Born to be wild, beyond mediocrity
弾けたいだろ叫びたいだろ
Wanting to burst, wanting to scream
天下無敵の Big future
An invincible, big future
夢を信じる者たちだけに
Only for those who believe in their dreams
奇跡は降る Liberty Wings
Miracles will descend, Liberty Wings
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: hotei tomoyasu
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind