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.

ROMANESQUE
BUCK-TICK Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

あいそをつかすころにはいつも
Last playing
please give me 言うけど
今度ばかりは
いつもと違う言葉をさがしてる
くだけたグラスのように
いつも Last playing
please give me 言いわけで

指をすべらせただけじゃ
とてもすまされないはずさ
Just one minute Just one minute
Oh no stop with me romanesque
Just one minute Just one minute
前がみえなくて
もつれた足はダンスで一夜
Last playing please give me
ごまかして
一足おくれ本気は
今宵めずらしさで終わる
見あきた顔に仮り初めおぼえ
Last playing please give me
ごまかされ
ひねくれはじめた心
今じゃ受話器でからまわり
Just one minute Just one minute
Oh no stop with me romanesque
Just one minute Just one minute
前がみえなくて
Just one minute Just one minute
Oh no stop with me romanesque
Just one minute Just one minute
前がみえなくて
どうにもならない ROMANESQUE
HEART の神経さかなでる
どうにもならない ROMANESQUE
HEART の神経さかなでる
<間奏中>
Just one minute Just one minute
Oh no stop with me romanesque
Just one minute Just one minute
前がみえなくて
Just one minute Just one minute
Oh no stop with me romanesque
Just one minute Just one minute
前がみえなくて
どうにもならない ROMANESQUE
HEART の神経さかなでる
どうにもならない ROMANESQUE
HEART の神経さかなでる
どうにもならない ROMANESQUE
HEART の神経さかなでる

どうにもならない ROMANESQUE
HEART の神経さかなでる

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to BUCK-TICK's song ROMANESQUE appear to be about a tragic relationship in which the singer is desperately trying to find the right words to communicate to their partner. The singer mentions always feeling the need for excuses and apologies, but this time they are searching for different words to express themselves. The singer compares themselves to a casual glass that is easily broken and pleads for just one minute of time to help them sort out their emotions.

The song also seems to convey a sense of confusion and uncertainty regarding the direction of their relationship. The singer mentions that they are one step behind and tonight's passion will end in rarity, suggesting that the relationship is fading away. The line "Just one minute Oh no stop with me romanesque" could be interpreted as the singer begging for a moment to pause and figure things out, but also feeling trapped and unable to escape the complicated emotional landscape of their relationship.

Overall, the lyrics to ROMANESQUE paint a picture of a relationship in turmoil, with the singer struggling to understand and communicate their feelings.

Line by Line Meaning

あいそをつかすころにはいつも
Whenever we're close to parting ways, it's always the same

Last playing please give me 言うけど
During our last moments together, please tell me

今度ばかりはいつもと違う言葉をさがしてる
This time, I'm searching for words that are different from our usual ones

くだけたグラスのように
Like a casual glass

いつも Last playing please give me 言いわけで
Every time, with my excuses during our last playing

指をすべらせただけじゃとてもすまされないはずさ
Just slipping my fingers won't be easily forgiven

Just one minute Just one minute Oh no stop with me romanesque
Just one more moment, just one more moment, oh no stop with me, romanesque

前がみえなくてもつれた足はダンスで一夜
With my tangled, sightless feet dancing through the night

Last playing please give me ごまかして
During our last playing, please deceive me

一足おくれ本気は今宵めずらしさで終わる
One step behind, my sincerity ends in tonight's rarity

見あきた顔に仮り初めおぼえ
I remember the beginning of our pretend faces, eyes tired of seeing each other