BUCK-TICK is a Japanese rock band, originally formed by Imai Hisashi in 198… Read Full Bio ↴BUCK-TICK is a Japanese rock band, originally formed by Imai Hisashi in 1983 in Gunma, Japan, with its current line-up lasting since 1985. They are commonly credited as one of the founders of the visual kei movement. As of yet, they have released twenty-three original studio albums and one of self-covers, nearly all reaching the top ten on the charts. Their most recent album, "異空 -IZORA-", was released on 12th April 2023.

The band members are 櫻井敦司 (Sakurai Atsushi) (vocals), 今井寿 (Imai Hisashi) (guitars, noises, electronics, vocals), 星野英彦 (Hoshino Hidehiko) (guitars, chorus), 桶口豊 (Higuchi Yutaka) (bass) and ヤガミ・トール (Yagami Toll) (drums).

BUCK-TICK's music has changed and evolved hugely over the course of their career. Their early work is what the Japanese call "positive punk". It used simple rhythms and chords, with the songs mostly in major keys and using some English words in the lyrics. Starting with 1989's TABOO, they experimented with a darker sound, which grew more mature with 狂った太陽 in 1991. darker than darkness style 93 delved into a harsher industrial rock sound which continued all the way up through Mona Lisa OVERDRIVE in 2003. With 2005's 十三階は月光, they deliberately adopted a "goth" concept, which they combined with a retro straight rock sound for the albums 天使のリボルバー (2007) and Memento Mori (2009). Their next album, 2010's RAZZLE DAZZLE, then incorporated many instances of dance-rock.

Some elements that persist throughout their music are resounding, jangling guitar chords, throbbing, prominent bass lines, harsh roars of electronically distorted noise, and ambivalent melodies that wander between major and minor keys, as well as Sakurai's distinctive rich baritone voice. Jrockrevolution described the band's style as having gone "from the bubbly sounds of pop to the buzz of electronic cyberpunk to lustful velvety goth to the smooth style of hard rock and back again". Sakurai, who is the main lyricist of the band, is famous for the erotic decadence of his lyrics, but he also often addresses existential psychological themes. His lyrics is also described as "dance in a daydream about reality". Imai, the main composer, has written many songs that read like science fiction stories, involving genetic engineering and computer hackers, but more recently has branched out into love songs.

As Josephine Yun describes them, in 'A Concise Report on 40 of the Biggest Rock Acts in Japan', "BUCK-TICK's music is smashed-together nuances of everything from Depeche Mode and New Order to U2 and The Knack. While wry, it can float and be nebulously melodic. [...] Masked in eye makeup, Atsushi looks and sounds possessed. BUCK-TICK was (and continues to be) and anomaly in the Japanese music scene, a tangle of goth rock diluted with synth and electronica. It's unhappy, dirty music, the musical equivalent of exploded soot and smoke."

BUCK-TICK and their members have performed with, for example, KMFDM, Soft Ballet, Luna Sea, Sheena Ringo, and The Yellow Monkey. The band members have also participated in different side-projects, such as Schaft, Schwein (Sakurai and Imai with Raymond Watts (PIG) and Sascha Konietzko (KMFDM)), and The Mortal.

IN
BUCK-TICK Lyrics

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アナタの売りはオーバーザムーン
メイクアップにファッション
波乗り
スノップ共にバラ撒こう
毒にもならないそのアビリティー
アレの時はいつも
フェミニスト気取りで
プヨプヨの海泳ぎだす

緑色に光るカメレオン
カギ穴に滑り込んで
そのままベッドまでのファイター
唇の端にネバついてる関係
頭の中ではまるで卑猥あなた
はしゃぐ声！あえぐ声！爪を立てて
可愛い唇でそっと僕に触れて
儚い指先でずっと僕を抱いて

曼陀羅に溶けていく
ピンク色に変わるカメレオン
君の中滑り込んで
このまま深い宇宙へダイバー
眠らせておくれ
許してこの私を
頭の中ではまるで卑猥あなた
甘い声！叫び声！爪を立てて
あなたの波しぶき
濡れたままで泳ぐ
あなたの海の底泳ぎ疲れ眠る

可愛い唇でそっと僕に触れて
儚い指先でずっと僕を抱いて
あなたの波しぶき

濡れたままで泳ぐ
あなたの海の底泳ぎ疲れ眠る

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to BUCK-TICK's "IN" depict a passionate and intense physical relationship. The singer is infatuated with their partner and describes them as a shape-shifting chameleon that can seem innocent and pure one moment but becomes sultry and seductive the next. The singer is drawn to their partner's unique abilities and describes them as harmless even though they are entranced by their power.

Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes the physicality of their connection, using phrases like "scratching nails," "cute lips," and "fleeting fingertips" to describe their partner's touch. The singer also reflects on the dominance and submission dynamics of their relationship, with the partner often taking control and the singer submitting to their desires. The song ends with the singer pleading to be allowed to sleep and rest, physically and emotionally exhausted from their intense and all-consuming relationship.

Overall, "IN" is a complex and intense exploration of physical and emotional intimacy, with the singer being enraptured and exhausted by their partner's power and sexuality.

Line by Line Meaning

アナタの売りはオーバーザムーン
Your allure is out of this world

メイクアップにファッション
Makeup and fashion

波乗り
Surfing

スノップ共にバラ撒こう
Let's sprinkle snow together

毒にもならないそのアビリティー
That ability is harmless

アレの時はいつも
At that time, always

フェミニスト気取りで
Pretending to be a feminist

プヨプヨの海泳ぎだす
Start swimming in a soft and flabby sea

緑色に光るカメレオン
A chameleon that shines in green

カギ穴に滑り込んで
Slip into the keyhole

そのままベッドまでのファイター
A fighter all the way to the bed