The group formed in Los Angeles, California, and originally consisted of Janice Marie Johnson (vocals, bass), Hazel Payne (vocals, guitar), Perry Kibble (keyboards) and Donald Johnson (drums).
Their first single, "Boogie Oogie Oogie," from their self-titled debut album A Taste of Honey, tapped into the popular disco style and spent three weeks at number one (#1) on the Hot 100 in 1978.
The group were awarded a platinum record for this single and went on the win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist (as was previously mentioned).
Their subsequent disco releases, such as "Do It Good" (#79 in 1979) from Another Taste and "Rescue Me" (1980) failed to attract attention, and by 1980 the group had reduced to a duo consisting of Janice Marie Johnson and Hazel Payne.
When recording their cover version of the Kyu Sakamoto song "Sukiyaki" (from their third album- Twice As Sweet, released in 1980) they resisted suggestions to turn it into a dance tune, and as a soft and simple ballad it brought them the second and final major hit of their careers in 1981, when it reached number one (#1) on the Billboard R&B and Adult Contemporary charts and number three (#3) on Hot 100. The group were awarded a gold record for this single.
A Taste of Honey released their final major album, Ladies of the Eighties in 1982. It featured their final Billboard Hot 100 charting single "I'll Try Something New" (#41).
Although their popularity waned in the early 1980s and beyond, both Janice Marie Johnson and Hazel Payne have remained periodically active in the music business and each of the two released solo albums after their group's success.
Sukiyaki
A Taste Of Honey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm feeling sad and blue
You went away now my life is just a rainy day
I love you so
How much you'll never know
You've gone away and left me lonely
Untouchable memories seem to keep haunting me
That once turned all my gray skies blue
But you've disappeared
Now my eyes are filled with tears
I'm wishin' you were here with me
Soft with love are my thoughts of you
Now that you're gone I don't know what to do
If only you were here
You'd wash away my tears
The sun would shine
And once again you'd be mine all mine
But in reality
You and I will never be
Cause you took your love away from me
If only you were here
You'd wash away my tears
The sun would shine
Once again you'd be mine all mine
But in reality
You and I will never be
Cause you took your love away from me, baby
You took your love away from me
Sayonara
The lyrics of A Taste Of Honey's song Sukiyaki depict the aftermath of a lover leaving and the subsequent emotional turmoil experienced by the singer. The song opens with the line, "It's all because of you, I'm feeling sad and blue," indicating that the singer's current state is a direct result of the lover's departure. The lyrics explain that the lover has left and now the singer's life is like a "rainy day," portraying a sense of emptiness and loneliness. The singer expresses their love for the departed lover and how they will never know the extent of it. The memories of the love they once shared "haunt" the singer, emphasizing the lasting impact of the departed lover.
The subsequent lyrics of the song reveal the singer's lingering feelings for the lover and how they now struggle to cope without them. The singer's thoughts are "soft with love" for their departed lover, but their absence brings tears to their eyes. They wish for their companion to be with them again so that they may wash away their tears and bring back the sunshine to their life. The final lines of the song acknowledge that the possibility of the lovers being together again is bleak because the lover has taken their love away. The song concludes with the Japanese word "Sayonara", meaning "goodbye."
Line by Line Meaning
It's all because of you
The cause of my sadness and depression is solely due to your absence
I'm feeling sad and blue
My emotions are filled with sadness and sorrow
You went away now my life is just a rainy day
Since you have departed, my life has been gloomy, dark, and depressing
I love you so
My love for you is immense and everlasting
How much you'll never know
You will never be able to fully comprehend the depth of my love for you
You've gone away and left me lonely
Your departure has left me in a state of loneliness and despair
Untouchable memories seem to keep haunting me
Indelible memories of our time together continue to torment and afflict me
Of love so true
Our love was genuine and authentic
That once turned all my gray skies blue
Our love had the ability to make the difficult times in my life feel bearable
But you've disappeared
But now, you have vanished from my life
Now my eyes are filled with tears
My eyes are brimming with tears
I'm wishin' you were here with me
I yearn for your presence in my life
Soft with love are my thoughts of you
My love for you is gentle, tender, and affectionate
Now that you're gone I don't know what to do
Since you've left, I am at a loss and don't know how to proceed
If only you were here
If only you were present in my life
You'd wash away my tears
You would take away the sadness and sorrow from my life
The sun would shine
The clouds of gloom over my life would clear
And once again you'd be mine all mine
I would regain the love and affection that we shared
But in reality
However, in truth
You and I will never be
We will never be together again
Cause you took your love away from me
Due to your actions of leaving, our love is no more
Sayonara
Goodbye (in Japanese)
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Janice Marie Johnson, Hazel Payne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind