Though less well-known to most of the world than bands such as Pizzicato Five or Cibo Matto, Buffalo Daughter is considered to be the linchpin of the so-called "cut-and-paste" rock Shibuya-kei (Wikipedia) movement from Japan. The band had its beginnings in the early 1990s signed to independent Japanese label Cardinal. Seeking wider exposure, they continued under the Beastie Boys' now-defunct music label Grand Royal, bringing their discography up to a total of four full-length album releases, an EP, and a handful of remixes. The band's style, always a variety grab-bag of different sounds and genres, evolved slowly but surely into a more cohesive and restrained melodic style. In 2002, Buffalo Daughter released their fifth full-length effort, I, in the United States on Los Angeles-based label Emperor Norton Records.
According to band member Ohno, "We call ourselves Buffalo Daughter because our sound is very strong. And the buffalo is strong." In a 1998 interview, the group explained that "Buffalo" projects a pleasing image of American culture and countryside and at the time of the group's original formation, all the members were girls, so "Daughter" was appropriate. Also, the sound of name itself appeals to the group.
It was announced that in 2006 Buffalo Daughter would collaborate with pop-star Ami Suzuki. They released the single "O.K. Funky God" together on February 28, 2007, and it was later included on Suzuki's Connetta album.
www.buffalodaughter.com
Cold Summer
Buffalo Daughter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cold, cold summer
Cold summer
Cold, cold summer
I got no sweat, no sweat
I got no sunshine
I just look at the vegetables
Cold summer
Cold, cold summer
Cold summer
Cold, cold summer
Brand new swim suit still in box
Purple gum boat turns to my cushion
Where has summer gone?
Where has summer gone?
Where has summer gone?
Where has summer gone?
Hot winter coming soon
Hot winter coming soon
Hot winter coming soon
Hot winter coming soon
Hot winter coming soon
Hot winter coming soon
Hot winter coming soon
Hot winter coming soon
Buffalo Daughter's song Cold Summer seems to be about disappointment, frustration and the feeling of being unfulfilled. The first verse, "I got no sweat, no sweat, I got no sunshine" suggests that the summer is not living up to the expectations of the singer - possibly because it is cold and rainy. The second verse, "Brand new swim suit still in box, Purple gum boat turns to my cushion" talks about items that are not being used because of the bad weather. The chorus repeats the phrase "Cold summer" and adds to the sense of disappointment.
The repetition of "Where has summer gone?" in the third verse implies that summer is over before it even began. The last verse, "Hot winter coming soon" suggests that the singer is not hopeful about things improving. This is an interesting contrast because usually winter is associated with cold weather and harsh conditions but in this case it is seen as preferable to the disappointing summer.
The song is open to interpretation but the overall message seems to be about unrealized expectations and the feeling of being unfulfilled.
Line by Line Meaning
Cold summer
Summer is not warm but cold.
Cold, cold summer
Summer is extremely cold.
I got no sweat, no sweat
It's not warm enough for the singer to sweat.
I got no sunshine
There's no sunshine to brighten up the days.
I just look at the vegetables
The artist is focused on seeing how high the prices are for produce.
High incredible price
The cost of vegetables is extremely high.
Brand new swim suit still in box
The singer hasn't had the chance to wear their new swimsuit yet because it's too cold.
Purple gum boat turns to my cushion
Instead of using a boat for water activities, the artist is using it as a cushion to sit on.
Where has summer gone?
The artist is wondering where the warm weather and typical summer experiences have gone.
Hot winter coming soon
The artist predicts that winter will be hot since summer didn't provide enough warmth.
Contributed by Caroline M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.