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.
They Spy You
布袋寅泰 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
のぞき屋どもよ
その腐った生き方に恥を知れ
THEY SPY YOU THEY SPY YOU
平気で嘘をつく奴ら
THEY SPY YOU
他人の人生売って飯食らってちゃ
親、兄弟、子供達が泣くぜ
正義の味方のつもりかい?
THEY SPY YOU
THEY SPY YOU THEY SPY YOU
朝から晩まで懲りずに
THEY SPY YOU
THEY SPY YOU THEY SPY YOU
平気で嘘をつく奴ら
THEY SPY YOU
THEY SPY YOU THEY SPY YOU
正義の味方のつもりかい?
THEY SPY YOU
THEY SPY YOU THEY SPY YOU
THEY SPY YOU THEY SPY YOU
THEY SPY YOU THEY SPY YOU
THEY SPY YOU THEY SPY YOU
おまえら腐った豚だ
The lyrics to 布袋寅泰's song "They Spy You" criticize a group of people who are described as peeping toms disguised as journalists. The first line, "ジャーナリスト気取りののぞき屋どもよ" (Jānarisuto kidori no nozokiya domo yo), conveys the message that these people are pretending to be journalists but are really just spies with rotten lifestyles. The next line, "その腐った生き方に恥を知れ" (Sono kusatta ikikata ni haji o shire) tells them to be ashamed of their disgusting way of life.
The chorus, "THEY SPY YOU THEY SPY YOU 平気で嘘をつく奴ら THEY SPY YOU 他人の人生売って飯食らってちゃ 親、兄弟、子供達が泣くぜ THEY SPY YOU THEY SPY YOU 正義の味方のつもりかい? THEY SPY YOU" (They spy you, they spy you, people who lie without a care, they spy you. Selling off other people's lives to make a living, causing parents, siblings, and children to cry. They spy you, they spy you, do they think they're the heroes of justice? They spy you) repeats the message that these people lie and sell other people's lives to make money, causing harm to innocent families.
The final lines, "おまえら腐った豚だ" (Omaera kusatta buta da) are a direct insult to the spies/journalists.
Overall, the song is a powerful indictment against unethical journalism practices that harm individuals and families.
Line by Line Meaning
ジャーナリスト気取りの
Those pretending to be journalists
のぞき屋どもよ
you peeping toms
その腐った生き方に恥を知れ
Be ashamed of your rotten way of living
THEY SPY YOU THEY SPY YOU
They are spying on you, they are spying on you
平気で嘘をつく奴ら
Those who easily tell lies
THEY SPY YOU
They are spying on you
他人の人生売って飯食らってちゃ
Selling someone else's life for a living
親、兄弟、子供達が泣くぜ
Your parents, siblings, and children will cry
THEY SPY YOU THEY SPY YOU
They are spying on you, they are spying on you
正義の味方のつもりかい?
Do you think you are on the side of justice?
THEY SPY YOU THEY SPY YOU
They are spying on you, they are spying on you
朝から晩まで懲りずに
Without getting tired from morning till night
THEY SPY YOU
They are spying on you
THEY SPY YOU THEY SPY YOU
They are spying on you, they are spying on you
正義の味方のつもりかい?
Do you think you are on the side of justice?
THEY SPY YOU
They are spying on you
THEY SPY YOU THEY SPY YOU
They are spying on you, they are spying on you
THEY SPY YOU THEY SPY YOU
They are spying on you, they are spying on you
THEY SPY YOU THEY SPY YOU
They are spying on you, they are spying on you
THEY SPY YOU THEY SPY YOU
They are spying on you, they are spying on you
おまえら腐った豚だ
You are rotten pigs
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TOMOYASU HOTEI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind