Hosono first came to attention in Japan as the bass player of the psychedelic rock band Apryl Fool, who released the album "The Apryl Fool" in 1969. Members from this band (including Hosono) then formed the influential folk-rock group Happy End, which led to Hosono's first collaboration with Van Dyke Parks. After Happy End disbanded, Hosono worked with a loose association of artists making "exotica"-style music under the title Tin Pan Alley and also released four solo albums with increasingly eclectic instrumentation. Additionally, he made an innovative electronic soundtrack for the film "Cochin Moon", together with artist Tadanori Yokoo.
In 1978, Hosono formed the Yellow Magic Orchestra with Yukihiro Takahashi and Ryuichi Sakamoto. The Yellow Magic Orchestra (a.k.a. YMO) released a number of albums in the late 70s and early 80s to considerable acclaim both inside and outside Japan. After YMO disbanded in 1984, Hosono released a number of solo albums covering a variety of styles, including film soundtracks, and a variety of electronic ambient albums.
He was one of the first producers to recognize the appeal of video game sounds and music. YMO's self titled debut in 1978 continued substantial game sounds and after YMO disbanded an early project was an album simply titled "Video Game Music" containing mixed and edited Namco game music and sounds. In the late 80s and early 90s the influence of world music on his music deepened, and he worked with international singers and musicians such as Amina Annabi.
As well as recording his own music, Haruomi has done considerable production work for other artists such as Miharu Koshi, Sheena and the Roketts, Sandii and the Sunsetz, Chisato Moritaka and Seiko Matsuda.
He's produced a number of short term band projects as a band member. His first post-YMO band was Friends of Earth. As with most of his projects he combines musical styles he's interested in. F.O.E. seemed to be a combination of Funk and Techno and included a collaboration with James Brown and Maceo Parker for a remake of the song "Sex Machine". Another notable band project was 1995's Love, Peace & Trance. Members were Mimori Yusa ("Love"), Miyako Koda ("Peace"), Haruomi Hosono ("&") and Mishio Ogawa ("Trance").
In the 1990s he started the Daisyworld label to release a wide range of experimental artists from Japan and the rest of the world. Hosono collorated on many of the releases, such as World Standard, a trip into Americana; HAT, a supergroup (the acronym stands for Hosono, Atom Heart, Tetsu Inoue),and "Quiet Logic", by Mixmaster Morris and Jonah Sharp. The Orb also paid tribute with a series of remixes including the notorious "Hope You Choke On Your Whalemeat".
In 2002 Haruomi formed the duo Sketch Show with his YMO band-mate Yukihiro Takahashi. They have released two albums, one of which, Loophole, has received a UK release. When the third former YMO member, Ryuichi Sakamoto deepened his involvement it was decided to bill those collaborations as Human Audio Sponge.
In 2007, his fellow YMO members and other artist paid tribute to Haruomi with a 2-disc album titled "Tribute to Haruomi" in Spring of 2007. Also, that same year, the animated film "EX MACHINA" (Appleseed) which will be released worldwide will feature a soundtrack performed and supervised by Haruomi Hosono.
冬越え
細野晴臣 Lyrics
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星屑と雨が 降れば
終りの灯 流れて海へ戻る
冬越えさ 季節の変り目さ
クシャミを ひとつ
曇空 落ちそうな
気になる 街の灯かり
カラスやニワトリ コケコッコー
冬越えさ 季節の変り目さ
クシャミを ひとつ
話す事は 多いけど
ただ クシャミを ひとつ
来ては去る 人の影
行き交う お茶と情け
ひとさじの ザラメ
紅茶と 人の絆
冬越えさ 季節の変り目さ
クシャミを ひとつ
話す事は 多いけど ただ
クシャミを ひとつ
クシャミを ひとつ
Humm, humm
The lyrics to 細野晴臣's song 冬越え speak of the changing season from winter to spring. The first verse sets the scene with the dimming lights of a city and the falling of stardust and rain. The second verse introduces the presence of crows and roosters, signaling the importance of time. The chorus speaks of the changing of seasons and the only sound being a simple sneeze - an indication that something new is coming.
The third verse mentions passing people and their interactions, symbolized by a single dose of sugar and a cup of tea. The repetition of the chorus highlights the importance of recognizing the changing of seasons, even though there is much to talk about, a simple sneeze can mark the turning point in time.
The lyrics are metaphorical in nature, using poetic language to express the idea of change and new beginnings. The use of city lights, stardust, and rain to represent winter, the sound of roosters and crows to represent the turning of time, and the sugar and tea to represent human connections, all combine to create a sense of quiet anticipation for what is to come.
Overall, 冬越え is a song that celebrates the changing of seasons and the new opportunities that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
消えかかる 街の灯かり
The fading city lights
星屑と雨が 降れば
It's raining stars and raindrops
終りの灯 流れて海へ戻る
The last light is flowing back to the sea
冬越えさ 季節の変り目さ
We've crossed over winter and reached a new season
クシャミを ひとつ
Just one sneeze
曇空 落ちそうな
The cloudy sky seems like it's falling
気になる 街の灯かり
The city lights are intriguing
大事な時を知らせる
They signal important moments
カラスやニワトリ コケコッコー
Crows and chickens crow and squawk
話す事は 多いけど
There are lots of things to talk about but
ただ クシャミを ひとつ
Just one sneeze
来ては去る 人の影
People come and go like shadows
行き交う お茶と情け
Tea and kindness are exchanged
ひとさじの ザラメ
A pinch of brown sugar
紅茶と 人の絆
Black tea and human bonds
クシャミを ひとつ
Just one sneeze
話す事は 多いけど ただ
There are lots of things to talk about but just
クシャミを ひとつ
Just one sneeze
クシャミを ひとつ
Just one sneeze
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Haruomi Hosono
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind