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.

TOKYO
BUCK-TICK Lyrics

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One day 道化師達血塗られた涙
One night 濡れたまつげ深い溜息
It′s dead cyber Tokyo その目の中
バラ色燃えあがるのさ

Cyber Tokyo
Cyber Tokyo

Too late 泣き濡れて女は夜へ
Too much 誘われるまま男は闇へ
It's dead cyber Tokyo その手の中
灰色甦るのさ

Cyber Tokyo
Cyber Tokyo

薬と花と毒されるこの胸
３,２,１ Let′s burn
醜くゆがむひざまづく恋人
３,２,１ Let's be crazy

Last night 最後の夜全て震える
Tonight 天を見上げる娼婦の瞳
It's dead cyber Tokyo その目の中
バラ色燃えあがるのさ

Cyber Tokyo
Cyber Tokyo

崩れる溶けるひび割れるこの東京
３,２,１ Let′s burn
切なく怯え抱き寄せる恋人
３,２,１ Let′s be crazy
Dark to dark, dark to dark, oh no

Let me be crazy, and psychoanalyze me
Let me be crazy, and psychoanalyze me
Let me be crazy, and psychoanalyze me
Let me be crazy, and psychoanalyze me

吐き気の女飛び散る体絶望に溶け込め

Cyber Tokyo
Cyber Tokyo

崩れる溶けるひび割れるこの東京
３,２,１ Let's burn
切なく怯え抱き寄せる恋人
３,２,１ Let′s be crazy
Dark to dark, dark to dark, oh no

Let me be crazy, and psychoanalyze me
Let me be crazy, and psychoanalyze me
Let me be crazy, and psychoanalyze me
Let me be crazy, and psychoanalyze me
Let me be crazy, and psychoanalyze me
Let me be crazy, and psychoanalyze me

Let me be crazy
Let me be crazy
Let me be crazy
Let me be crazy

(Cyber Tokyo)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to BUCK-TICK's song "TOKYO" paint a vivid picture of a dystopian and corrupted version of Tokyo. The first two lines introduce the theme of despair and darkness, with references to clowns (道化師達) and tears stained with blood (血塗られた涙). The following lines imply a sense of longing and dissatisfaction, with wet eyelashes (濡れたまつげ) and deep sighs (深い溜息).

The chorus repeats the phrase "Cyber Tokyo" several times, emphasizing the futuristic and artificial nature of the city. It suggests that this version of Tokyo is a place where everything is dead, with rose-colored flames (バラ色燃えあがるのさ) and gray revival (灰色甦るのさ). The repetition of "Cyber Tokyo" highlights the overwhelming presence of this synthetic and cold environment.

The second verse continues to explore the darkness and temptation that permeate this version of Tokyo. The references to crying women (女は夜へ) and men succumbing to darkness (男は闇へ) indicate a loss of innocence and a surrender to the corrupting influence of the city. The chorus then repeats, emphasizing the recurring theme of a Tokyo consumed by artificiality and destruction.

The bridge of the song introduces a sense of chaos and imbalance. It describes a heart poisoned by drugs, flowers, and toxicity (薬と花と毒されるこの胸). The countdown ("３,２,１ Let's burn") adds to the tension and urgency, as if urging for a release from this destructive cycle. The lines about twisted and desperate lovers (醜くゆがむひざまづく恋人) further highlight the darker side of relationships in this version of Tokyo.

The final verse describes a last night filled with trembling and the sight of the heavens through the eyes of a prostitute (ショウフの瞳). The chorus repeats once again, emphasizing the intense and all-consuming nature of this cyber Tokyo. The lyrics then acknowledge the crumbling and breaking of the city (崩れる溶けるひび割れるこの東京), accompanied by the countdown and the desire for a passionate embrace with a lover (切なく怯え抱き寄せる恋人).

Overall, the lyrics of "TOKYO" portray a dark and distorted image of a cyber-fueled Tokyo, where despair, temptation, and corruption reign.

Line by Line Meaning

One day 道化師達血塗られた涙
One day, the clowns shed tears stained with blood

One night 濡れたまつげ深い溜息
One night, wet eyelashes release deep sighs

It′s dead cyber Tokyo その目の中
In the dead cyber Tokyo, within those eyes

バラ色燃えあがるのさ
Rose-colored flames are ignited

Too late 泣き濡れて女は夜へ
Too late, the crying woman disappears into the night

Too much 誘われるまま男は闇へ
Too much, the man follows the temptations into darkness

It's dead cyber Tokyo その手の中
In the dead cyber Tokyo, within those hands

灰色甦るのさ
Grayness resurrects

薬と花と毒されるこの胸
This heart is poisoned by drugs, flowers, and toxins

３,２,１ Let′s burn
3, 2, 1, let's burn