The group's mostly instrumental compositions were novel melodic sound collages based on digital sampler technology, which was new at the time. Inspired by turn-of-the-20th-century revolutions in music, the Art of Noise were initially packaged as a faceless anti- or non-group, blurring the distinction between the art and its creators. The band is noted for innovative use of electronics and computers in pop music and particularly for innovative use of sampling.
From the earliest releases on ZTT, the band referred to itself as both Art of Noise and The Art of Noise. Official and unofficial releases and press material use both versions.
Beat Box
Art of Noise Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yebo, yebo
Utanga zaba zolo
Zai akhia
Zai assina
Utanga zaba zolo
Zai assina
Utanga zaba zolo
Zai akhia
Zai assina
Pepezela, pepezela, yebo, yebo, yebo
Utanga zaba zolo
Zai akhia
Zai assina
Utanga zaba zolo
Zai akhia
Zai assina
Utanga zaba zolo
Zai akhia
Zai assina
Pepezela, pepezela, yebo, yebo, yebo
Zai akhia, assina, utanga zaba zolo
Akhia, assina, pepezela
Zai akhia, assina, utanga zaba zolo
Zai akhia, zai akhia
Utanga zaba zolo
Zai akhia
Zai assina
Utanga zaba zolo
Zai akhia
Zai assina
Utanga zaba zolo
Zai akhia
Zai assina
Pepezela, pepezela, yebo, yebo, yebo
Utanga zaba zolo
Zai akhia
Zai assina
Utanga zaba zolo
Zai akhia
Zai assina
Utanga zaba zolo
Zai akhia
Zai assina
Utanga zaba zolo
Zai akhia
Zai assina
Utanga zaba zolo
Zai akhia
Zai assina
Utanga zaba zolo
Zai akhia
Zai assina
Utanga zaba zolo
Zai akhia
Zai assina
Utanga zaba zolo
Zai akhia
Zai assina
Utanga zaba zolo
Zai akhia
Zai assina
Utanga zaba zolo
Zai akhia
Zai assina
Utanga zaba zolo
Zai akhia
Zai assina
Utanga zaba zolo
Zai akhia
Zai assina
Yes
A Bear of Very Little Brain, of course.
Be Happy
Very Good
It Is Beautiful
Utanga zaba zolo
Utanga: Piglet
ree
heavy rains
Zai akhia
Interrogative, "who will ?"
Hear me
Zai assina
Save, or rescue
Pepezela, pepezela, pepezela
Pepezela
The lyrics to Art of Noise's song "Beat Box" seem to be nonsensical and made up of purely phonetic sounds with a few words from various languages thrown in. The repeated phrase "yebo yebo" is a South African expression meaning "yes yes" or "for sure." "Utanga zaba zolo" is Zulu and seems to mean something like "Piglet in heavy rain." "Zai akhia" and "zai assina" are Arabic phrases that loosely translate to "Who will hear me?" and "Save me." Overall, the lyrics seem to be a mixture of random sounds and words from different cultures.
The song itself is considered one of Art of Noise's most influential and groundbreaking tracks. It was released in 1984 and was one of the first songs to use sampling as a primary instrument. The song repeats various vocal and instrumental snippets, creating a unique and chaotic sound. It was also one of the first songs to utilize beatboxing as a primary sound, with vocal percussion being used throughout the track.
Line by Line Meaning
Yebo
Yes
Yebo, yebo
Be Happy, Very Good
Utanga zaba zolo
Piglet, heavy rains
Zai akhia
Interrogative, 'who will ?'
Zai assina
Save, or rescue
Pepezela, pepezela, yebo, yebo, yebo
Pepezela
Akhia, assina, pepezela
Hear me, Save Me, Pepezela
Zai akhia, assina, utanga zaba zolo
Who will save Piglet from heavy rains?
Zai akhia, zai akhia
Who will hear me?
Pepezela
Pepezela
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RONI SIZE, SUV
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jacknjill3000
Back when I would hit the record stores and find all these songs when they were new and not many knew about. It wax all about getting the king playing 12” to make a mix tape at home. When playing the tape on my boombox or car stereo, ppl. would turn heads bc it sounded so good, but not many knew any of the songs. I loved getting that reaction and that was part of always going to record stores to find more new songs on 12”.
Now you hear old school and everyone know all the songs, but back when these songs were brand new, this music was new to all that heard it. But unless you were aggressive with finding these songs, it wasn’t easy to know who it was by or name of the song. Oh and all all mainstream record stores carried groups like this. So you had to go to a special dance music dj record store.
Also, around this time in the 80’s, music was divided up by white and black audiences. So the blacks knew of most of the black artist that was being played on black stations, but this dance music made by British groups were not being played on black stations until it was well known. But at the beginning, many blacks had no idea about many of the British dance music. I know this bc I grew up in a black and Latin area in San Francisco and when this music was coming out, no one knew any of these groups or songs bc they were not exposed and many didn’t have MTV and cable tv. It took about the early 90’s for some from my area to catch on to this music.
Yeah, back in the days, not many were open minded and stayed listening to the same style of music that all their friends were listening to. Meaning blacks didn’t listen to music made by white ppl. even if it was good bc it was frown upon in that conmunity. I know this bc in the early 80’s I’d changed the music i listen to and changed the way o dressed and I got a lot of hell from everyone. But 5 to 7 years later, they were doing the same.
Hey, someone has to be the one to change things up, but it’s not easy getting the approval from others. Lol!
@mairimsulaiman8230
I’m 62. After spinal fusion surgery, my breaking days are over! BUT…I can still lock, tut, moonwalk, and freeze! It entertains my grandkids to no end!
@marlonsutherland4294
😂😂😂😂the best days
@reshuner
My dad turns 60 this year and can still pop with the best of them.
@The_cool_kid-xo9ji
Yall have to post videos!!!
@nateword
we need a video!!!
@bettyholden72
I still have this record in album form. I used to break dance to this record. When I was 15, I'm now 52.
@KENEDA1970
Best track for the breakdance, alternation with Smurf or Looking, paradoxically the break's tubes (Afrika Bambaataa style) it annoys me, but on Art of Noise or New Order (Confusion) it gave me a solid energy, we have the same age, take care of yourself !!!
@albarber7356
You had to breakdance if this came on in 1984: If you had skills! 💪😎
@tealx2014
Same here!!!!👍🏾
@bethpedone8771
I am 51. And I would watch you guys breakdance on your small pieces of cardboard. 😉