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.

Message
BUCK-TICK Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

何も無い　闇の向こうから
たった独り　君はやって来た
儚い　とても小さな翅(はね)を震わせ

見えるかい　あれが戦争の灯
聞こえる　あの祈りの歌
歌おう　静かに瞼閉じて　愛の歌

いつだって夢や幻　この腕すり抜けてゆく

君を見ている　今はここで
青空　君は命限り歌う
君を見ている　ずっとここで
僕には七日目の朝が来たよ

眠っている君は天使だ
目覚めた君小悪魔さ
夢見て　君は夢見ているの　夢中で

この手を離しはしない　世界が壊れようとも

君を見ている　今はここで
青空　君は命限り歌う
君を見ている　ずっとここで
僕には八日目の朝が来たよ

幻だろう　この世界は　幻だろう　こんな世界

君を見ている　今はここで
青空　君は命限り歌う
君を見ている　ずっとここで
僕には君の歌聞こえているよ
聞こえているよ　聞こえているよ

幻が燃える　幻が揺れる

Overall Meaning

The Japanese song "Message" by BUCK-TICK tells the story of a person who finds themselves alone in the darkness, encountering a being with small wings. The opening lines describe the arrival of this being and their fragile appearance as they shake their wings. The lyrics then mention the "light of war" and a "song of prayer" that can be heard, urging the being to join in a "love song" and close their eyes.

The lyrics continue with talk of dreams and illusions slipping away, yet the singer remains with the being, declaring that they will never let go. The final lines repeat the initial sentiment of the being singing as if it were their last moment, with the ending phrase "the illusion burns, the illusion shakes."

Overall, the song appears to be a poignant reflection on the impermanence of life and the importance of cherishing love and connection while we can. The symbolism of the small-winged being and mentions of war may be open to interpretation, but the song's emotional impact remains clear.

Line by Line Meaning

何も無い　闇の向こうから
From the emptiness beyond the darkness

たった独り　君はやって来た
You came alone

儚い　とても小さな翅(はね)を震わせ
You, with fragile, small wings trembling

見えるかい　あれが戦争の灯
Can you see it? That light of war

聞こえる　あの祈りの歌
Can you hear that prayerful song

歌おう　静かに瞼閉じて　愛の歌
Sing, closing your eyes quietly, a song of love

いつだって夢や幻　この腕すり抜けてゆく
Dreams and illusions always slip through these arms

君を見ている　今はここで
I am looking at you, right here, right now

青空　君は命限り歌う
You sing with your life under the blue sky

君を見ている　ずっとここで
I am looking at you, always here

僕には七日目の朝が来たよ
For me, the morning of the seventh day has come