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.
flowers
Cibo Matto Lyrics
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Memory rubs in my heart like sand on my feet
My heart is frozen tonight like blue coral in the sea
You are my twilight though not always right
You are so kind like the tide by my side
Because of time we lost our pride for love
I feel I'm alone again in the heat wave
I wish we could meet again,
You are already miles away
The lyrics of Cibo Matto's song Flowers are full of vivid imagery and metaphorical language, contributing to the overall feel of the song. The feeling expressed in the lyrics is one of nostalgia and longing for love that has been lost, or that was never fully realized. The lines "I want certain words more than a thousand flowers" can be interpreted in different ways, but the underlying meaning seems to be that the singer craves verbal affirmation and reassurance more than material tokens of love.
The lyrics also utilize similes, such as "Memory rubs in my heart like sand on my feet," to describe the way the past experiences and emotions continue to affect the singer. The line "My heart is frozen tonight like blue coral in the sea" creates a strong visual impression of desolation and emotional numbness. The lyrics further suggest that the singer's relationship with their significant other is complex and sometimes turbulent.
The lines "You are my twilight though not always right" hint at an ambivalent attitude towards the person addressed in the song. The singer recognizes their partner's flaws but also values their presence in their life. The metaphor of the tide suggests that the person has been a consistent source of support and comfort for the singer. The final lines express the sadness and regret that the relationship has ended and the sense of distance that has grown between the former lovers.
Overall, the lyrics of Flowers convey a poignant sense of loss, a yearning for connection and an appreciation for the beauty and fragility of human relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I want certain words more than a thousand flowers
I value verbal communication more than physical gestures or gifts
Memory rubs in my heart like sand on my feet
Painful memories continue to haunt me
My heart is frozen tonight like blue coral in the sea
I'm emotionally numb and cold
You are my twilight though not always right
You bring balance and beauty to my life, even when you're not perfect
You are so kind like the tide by my side
You are supportive and dependable, like the reliable ebb and flow of the ocean
Because of time we lost our pride for love
Our relationship has suffered due to neglect and the passage of time
I feel I'm alone again in the heat wave
I feel isolated and overwhelmed in difficult circumstances
I wish we could meet again
I long for the familiarity and connection we used to share
You are already miles away
You have moved on or become distant, leaving me behind
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Fintage House Publishing
Written by: MIHO HATORI, YUKA HONDA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind