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.
Speechless
Cibo Matto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm so speechless, I'll never come back to you
Did you call me? Once in a week?
All you want to do is to be like a sheik
Always catching girls like fishing for crawfish
You won't get a dish never, you're just a selfish
I'm not a freak I don't want to lose my shoes
Do you? You do? I go through your taboo you do now I'm so blue
Don't make my mouth water, don't make me want to slaughter
If you give me a dishwasher, don't clean my life with your style
I'm so speechless, I saw something I've never known
I'm so speechless, I saw something you've never shown
You want quantity. I want quality.
How can I get up to go through this tragedy
There's no remedy in my satchel.
Only some memory, I feel empty
Love is like a bubble, easily breakable
I can't take this ache for my own sake
I'm cutting the rope from your boat but something still sticks in my throat
The song "Speechless" by Cibo Matto is a contemplative piece that reflects on the experience of a relationship that has ended. The singer in the song is lost for words, reduced to silence by the emotions brought on by the experience. The opening lines, "I'm so speechless, you saw me crying you've never known, I'm so speechless, I'll never come back to you," express the singer's sense of despair and sadness. The relationship has taken an emotional toll on the singer, and they can never go back to the way things were.
The song goes on to explore the different aspects of the relationship that led to its demise. The singer accuses the other person of being selfish and only interested in catching girls like fish. The line, "Please don't take me to the bayou, I'm not a freak I don't want to lose my shoes," implies a sense of danger and vulnerability that the other person represents. The singer is not willing to compromise who they are, and they refuse to be part of the other person's world.
The song's final lines, "I'm cutting the rope from your boat, but something still sticks in my throat," imply that the singer has taken decisive action to end the relationship, yet they are still left with a sense of loss and longing. Despite their desire to move on, the memory of the relationship lingers on, and the singer is left feeling empty.
Overall, "Speechless" is a poignant reflection on the end of a relationship and the lingering emotional impact it can have.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm so speechless, you saw me crying you've never known
The pain you caused me has left me speechless and I don't think you understand how much it has hurt me
I'm so speechless, I'll never come back to you
I am so hurt and disappointed by what you did to me that I can never forgive you and will never come back to you
Did you call me? Once in a week?
You hardly ever bothered to contact me or make an effort in our relationship
All you want to do is to be like a sheik
You are only interested in living a lavish, extravagant lifestyle and showing off your wealth and status
Always catching girls like fishing for crawfish
You are constantly chasing after other women and treating them like disposable objects
You won't get a dish never, you're just a selfish
You will never find a girl who will put up with your selfish, entitled behavior
Please don't take me to the bayou
I don't want to be dragged down to your level or be involved in any of your sleazy, questionable activities
I'm not a freak I don't want to lose my shoes
I am not interested in anything weird, dangerous or inappropriate that you might suggest or want me to do
Do you? You do? I go through your taboo you do now I'm so blue
I reluctantly went along with some of your unacceptable behaviors or desires, and now I feel depressed and unhappy
Don't make my mouth water, don't make me want to slaughter
Don't tempt me or arouse my anger or violent tendencies because of what you did to me
If you give me a dishwasher, don't clean my life with your style
If you offer me something, don't try to convince me to live my life or do things your way or with your influence
I'm so speechless, I saw something I've never known
I witnessed something that is beyond my comprehension or experience, which has left me speechless and in awe
I'm so speechless, I saw something you've never shown
I discovered something about you that you always hid or kept secret from me, which has left me shocked and dismayed
You want quantity. I want quality.
You are obsessed with having more and more, regardless of the value or quality, while I care about having something that is meaningful and enriching
How can I get up to go through this tragedy
How can I find the strength or motivation to deal with the emotional pain and suffering that you have caused me
There's no remedy in my satchel.
I don't have any solution or cure for the hurt and damage that you have inflicted on me
Only some memory, I feel empty
All I have left is some memories of our time together, but they now make me feel sad and hollow
Love is like a bubble, easily breakable
Romantic love is fragile and vulnerable, and can easily burst or disappear if not treated with care and respect
I can't take this ache for my own sake
I am unable to bear this pain and suffering any longer, and I need to take care of myself above all else
I'm cutting the rope from your boat but something still sticks in my throat
I am severing ties with you and moving on with my life, but I still can't shake off the feeling of hurt, betrayal and bitterness you caused me
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: MIHO HATORI, YUKA HONDA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind