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.
Moonchild
Cibo Matto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can I ask you something?
Is your life better now?
Sometimes I feel you're sitting next to me and listening to my stories
Time always shows me it's hard to understand how to be myself
Moonlight dries your tears, moonlight hides your fears
Sometimes I feel you're smiling at me and telling me your memories
Tide always moves fast
Can you tell me how to find words inside a shell
The song "Moonchild" by Cibo Matto is beautifully written about the singer's deep emotional connection with someone, represented by the metaphor of the moon. The first line mentions that Moonchild still lives in the singer's heart, indicating a past romantic relationship. The singer then poses a question to this person, asking if their life has improved since their time together. This suggests that the relationship may have been troubled or ended poorly.
The lyrics continue with the singer describing how they still feel the presence of this person in their life, even though they're not physically present. They long to understand how to be themselves in the wake of the emotional aftermath of their relationship. The moon is used as a symbol of hope and comfort, helping to dry their tears and hide their fears.
The second verse explores the idea of memories and the passage of time. The singer imagines the other person telling them their memories and stories. However, the tide always moves fast, hinting at the fleeting nature of time and the impermanence of things. In the final line, the singer asks for guidance on how to find the right words to express themselves when they feel trapped or scared, using the metaphor of words trapped inside a shell.
Overall, "Moonchild" is a poignant and poetic ode to love, loss, and the complexity of human emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Moonchild still lives in my heart.
The memory of someone important to me remains strong.
Can I ask you something?
May I inquire about how you're doing?
Is your life better now?
Have the circumstances in your life improved?
Sometimes I feel you're sitting next to me and listening to my stories
I often sense your presence as though you're here with me, attentive to my tales.
Time always shows me it's hard to understand how to be myself
The passage of time reveals to me the difficulty in truly knowing and being true to oneself.
Moonlight dries your tears, moonlight hides your fears
The comforting light of the moon has the power to dry tears and conceal worries.
Sometimes I feel you're smiling at me and telling me your memories
At times, I sense a joyful and nostalgic presence, sharing recollections with me through a smile.
Tide always moves fast
The ebb and flow of life's ups and downs seem to move quickly.
Can you tell me how to find words inside a shell
Do you possess the knowledge of how to extract the gems of communication buried within a closed and guarded person?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave
Written by: MIHO HATORI, YUKA HONDA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind