After working together in the noise rock band Leitoh Lychee, Miho Hatori and Yuka Honda formed Cibo Matto around 1994. While recording tracks for their first album, Viva! La Woman, they collaborated with the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's Russell Simmons and others, on a side project called Butter 08. The album was released in 1996.
They later enlisted band members Sean Lennon, Timo Ellis and Duma Love to help record their Super Relax EP and final full-length album, Stereo Type A. While Viva! La Woman had strong hip-hop and trip-hop elements, Stereo Type A leaned more more towards their rock, pop and Latin side. The group continued to play live concerts until disbanding near the end of 2001. Yuka Honda went on to release solo albums and continued to collaborate with Sean, while Miho Hatori moved onto bossa nova, teaming up with guitarist Smokey Hormel to form Smokey & Miho, then joining Gorillaz for their self-titled first album and eventually releasing her own solo album.
In 1997, the band guest-performed on the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer's second season premiere in the fictional club The Bronze, performing "Spoon" and "Sugar Water".
Since the break-up in 2001, their songs have been played in many different places, including the video game Jet Set Radio Future. "Birthday Cake" was featured in the Kids in the Hall's feature-length film, Brain Candy.
The band announced their reunion on March 18, 2011, to perform as part of a benefit concert for victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The concert, which took place on March 27 at Columbia University in New York City also included Yoko Ono, John Zorn, Sonic Youth, and Mike Patton, among others. Following on the success of this show, a second was added, this time featuring the Plastic Ono Band and Patti Smith along with Cibo Matto. They've since performed at the Hollywood Bowl on June 26 in another benefit with Yellow Magic Orchestra. Cibo Matto then went on their formal US reunion tour titled "Yeah Basically Cibo Matto." The tour's first part was from June 21 to June 26 at the Hollywood Bowl and the second part was July 12 to July 20 with stops in NYC, Chicago, Toronto, Washington, D.C. and Boston.
Cibo Matto released Hotel Valentine, their first album in 15 years, on Valentine's Day 2014 through Chimera Music, a label founded by Sean Lennon. They are touring the United States with Salt Cathedral and their current drummer Yuko Araki, as well as guest musicians on some songs.
Beef Jerky
Cibo Matto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My favorite is beef jerky
I'm a vagabond, I'm a vagabond
My mom says, "You are kinky!"
Who cares? I don't care!
A horse's ass is better than yours
Who cares? I don't care!
Who cares? I don't care!
A horse's ass is better than yours
Who cares? I don't care!
A horse's ass is better than yours
Lay down here, baby
Just relax, honey
My baby horse is Jennifer
What a beefy hip!
She has a fine coat of fur
What shiny hair!
Who cares? I don't care!
A horse's ass is better than yours
Who cares? I don't care!
A horse's ass is better than yours
Who cares? I don't care!
A horse's ass is better than yours
Who cares? I don't care!
A horse's ass is better than yours
Let's eat carrots together until
Let's eat carrots together untilÂ
On the surface, "Beef Jerky" by Cibo Matto may seem nonsensical with its repetition of the phrase "A horse's ass is better than yours," along with references to a 300-pound protagonist's love of jerky and admiration for a horse named Jennifer. However, the song can be interpreted through the lens of body image and self-acceptance. The overweight character in the song is unapologetically indulging in his favorite food, beef jerky, while not caring about societal expectations of weight and beauty. The line "My mom says, 'You are kinky!'" could be seen as a commentary on how unconventional or perceived "abnormal" behavior is stigmatized.
The chorus of the song, "A horse's ass is better than yours," might be interpreted as a rejection of societal expectations of attractiveness and a reclaiming of one's own body and self-worth. It could also be seen as a playful response to those who judge or criticize the singer's appearance. The use of a horse as a metaphor may signify the freedom and strength that comes with owning and accepting one's body, regardless of social beauty standards.
Overall, "Beef Jerky" can be interpreted as a fun and empowering anthem for body positivity and self-acceptance, while also pushing back against societal expectations of beauty and conformity.
Line by Line Meaning
My weight is 300 pounds
I am overweight
My favorite is beef jerky
I love to have beef jerky
I'm a vagabond, I'm a vagabond
I am a wanderer
My mom says, "You are kinky!"
My mother thinks that I am weird
Who cares? I don't care!
I don't care about your opinion
A horse's ass is better than yours
Your behavior is worse than a horse's backside
Lay down here, baby
Lie down here
Just relax, honey
Just relax
My baby horse is Jennifer
I have a horse named Jennifer
What a beefy hip!
Jennifer has a strong hip
She has a fine coat of fur
Her fur is very nice
What shiny hair!
Her hair is shiny
Let's eat carrots together until
Let's eat carrots together until
Let's eat carrots together until
Let's keep eating carrots
Who cares? I don't care!
I still don't care about your opinion
A horse's ass is better than yours
You are still worse than a horse's backside
Who cares? I don't care!
I will never care about your opinion
A horse's ass is better than yours
You will always be worse than a horse's backside
Who cares? I don't care!
You can keep talking, I still don't care
A horse's ass is better than yours
Your words are still terrible
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: MIHO HATORI, YUKA HONDA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind