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.
Long Distance Call
BUCK-TICK Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes, yes, I can hear you. Sorry you've woken up.
Nothing that important to say. It might just be a funny story. Aa...
Can you hear? Can you hear me? Just like this for a little longer.
Yes, yes, I can hear you. Thank you for listening to me.
That's the end of this call. That's that...
I love you, Mama. There's nothing else at all.
I love you. I love you. There's nothing else.
I love you, Mama. I can't say it well any more.
I love you. I love you. There's nothing else.
We won't be able to meet for awhile. Only a good night.
That's the end of this call. Well, then...
I love you, Mama. There's nothing else at all.
I love you. I love you. There's nothing else.
I love you, Mama. I can't hear you clearly any more.
I love you. I love you. There's nothing else.
My heart is going to break. I will go hurt someone.
I won't stop, no. I'm going.
I love you, Mama. I can't say it well any more.
I love you. I love you. There's nothing else..."
At first listen, "Long Distance Call" by Buck-Tick appears to be a conversation between two people over the phone. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that it is a one-sided conversation from the perspective of someone who is saying goodbye to their mother. The opening lines suggest that the singer is aware that they may be waking up their mother with the call. It is a tender moment that reveals a deep affection between mother and child. The singer then tries to lighten the mood by telling a funny story – the fact that this is not told adds to the poignancy of the song.
As the conversation continues, it becomes more emotional. The singer repeats their affection for their mother, saying "I love you" several times. This repetition not only reinforces the depth of emotion that the singer is feeling but also indicates that they may not have had the opportunity to express their love previously. As the conversation draws to a close, the singer expresses their sadness at not being able to meet for a while. It's unclear why they can't see each other, but it adds to the sense of longing and sadness that permeates the song. The final lines are the most heart-wrenching. The singer admits that they can't say "I love you" well anymore, and their heart is breaking. They say goodbye and then announce that they are going to "hurt someone" – it's unclear who they mean but suggests that they are acting out of a sense of pain and desperation.
Overall, "Long Distance Call" is a touching and emotional song that captures the deep love between a mother and child, while also conveying a sense of longing and sadness. It's a song that speaks to the universal experience of saying goodbye to someone you love and not being able to express all that you feel.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you hear? Can you hear me? Oh, you were sleeping?
Yes, yes, I can hear you. Sorry you've woken up.
Nothing that important to say. It might just be a funny story. Aa...
Yes, yes, I can hear you. Thank you for listening to me.
Can you hear? Can you hear me? Just like this for a little longer.
We won't be able to meet for awhile. I'll say good night.
That's the end of this call. That's that...
I love you. I love you. There's nothing else.
I love you, Mama. There's nothing else at all.
I love you. I love you. There's nothing else.
I love you, Mama. I can't say it well any more.
We won't be able to meet for awhile. Only a good night.
That's the end of this call. Well, then...
I love you. I love you. There's nothing else.
I love you, Mama. I can't hear you clearly any more.
My heart is going to break. I will go hurt someone.
I love you. I love you. There's nothing else.
I won't stop, no. I'm going.
Contributed by Mackenzie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ふくなおなお
涙なしに聴けないです。
あっちゃん大好き。
愛してる。
「じゃあね」って
まだまだ言って欲しくなかったな。
本当に遠くに行ってしまったね。
あなたの声はずっと聴こえるよ
愛してるよ。
他には何にもないよ。
Rest in peace😢😢😢
Love you so so much😢😢😢
jennie
Rest in peace Atsushi Sakurai, rest well, reunite with your beautiful mother 🖤 you are forever a legend.
bay
this song came on while i was driving and i just absolutely bursted into tears. rest in peace atsushi </3
HinaMatsuri
RIP Atsushi-san... May you find peace with your mama... Thanks for everything
veevv
Imposible no llorar 💔 ojalá que tu alma descanse en paz y te hayas podido reunir con tu mamá, Atsushi san
HeyDreamer25
Rest in peace Atsushi <3
I don't know if the afterlife exists, but if it does, I hope you were reunited with your mum. Your impact on the world will not be forgotten.
Emily Filon
i lost my mom to cancer in october. my friend just showed me this song and i am just sobbing. it saddens me knowing he had to go through the experience to be able to write this song, but it’s so raw and full of love- which is what i feel for my mother everyday. </3
Hazel Rubio
Lost my dad to cancer 2017 :(
小玉
Legend, gone far too soon. But at least you and mama are together In Heaven 😣
RyseZen
That laugh gives me chills and the raw emotion in his voice though the entire song, simply amazing and heartbreaking
Payton Cinema
i love buck tick so much, thank you for everything Atsushi we will always miss you