The band was formed in 1987 by Sato (vocals, guitar, trumpet), Kin-Ichi Motegi (drums, vocals, sampler) and Kensuke Ojima (guitar and vocals). The addition of Yuzuru Kashiwabara (bass) and Hakase (keyboards) rounded up the original line-up. Their first recorded appearance is on the 1989 Captain Records' compilation Panic Paradise. Two years later, their first album Chappie, Don't Cry was released. The band’s easy-going sound (mainly influenced by reggae and dub, but also including elements of rock, pop, drum & bass, hip-hop, etc.), coupled with Sato’s androgynous vocals, gained them acceptance in Japan’s underground scene.
Fishmans released several albums on Pony Canyon records, slowly moving away from a strictly reggae sound, but always keeping a dub foundation, powered by Motegi and Kashiwabara’s rock-steady rhythm section. In 1995, they signed with Polydor Records. By then, both Kensuke Ojima and Hakase had left the band. Neither was replaced, and the resulting trio would work with a series of guest musicians on their next records, mainly Honzi (keyboards, violin, accordion and vocals) and Darts Sekiguchi (guitar). The addition of producer ZAK on sound mixing rounded out this second phase of the band, which further evolved its sound to incorporate space rock, ambient and shoegaze elements. Song length started to grow as well, as these new tendencies blended in with their dub foundation.
空中キャンプ (Kūchū Camp) was released in 1996, and included what is probably the band’s most famous song, Nightcruising. This was followed by LONG SEASON, a 35 minute song divided into 5 parts. Their final studio album, 宇宙 日本 世田谷 (Uchū Nippon Setagaya), was released in 1997.
Fishmans performed their final concert on December 28th, 1998, later released as the live album 98.12.28 男達の別れ (Otokotachi no Wakare). They played many of their best songs, and concluded with a full performance of Long Season. Sato left the stage immediately after a single "goodbye" with his eyes teary. This was to be Kashiwabara’s final performance with the band, though Sato and Motegi planned to continue working as Fishmans. However, Sato passed away March 15th, 1999 by unknown causes till this day.
After Sato’s death, Kin-Ichi Motegi began working as a stand-in drummer for Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra(東京スカパラダイスオーケストラ), whose own drummer passed away around the same time. He eventually became a full-fledged member of the band and plays drums and sings lead vocals with them to this day. Kashiwabara, who had planned to abandon the music industry, eventually joined forces with Ooya Yuusuke (ex. LaB LIFe) to form Polaris, whose spacey and dubby tracks bore some resemblance to Fishmans’ sound in the late 90’s.
The Fishmans story did not end there. Following Sato’s death, their popularity continued to grow. In 2004, a tribute album Sweet Dreams for Fishmans was released, and included covers by artists as diverse as OOIOO, Bonobos, and UA. This was followed by the albums Kuchu and Uchu in 2005, which included rare and unreleased tracks alongside their biggest hits.
On November 22, 2005 the remaining members of Fishmans paid tribute to their fans and Shinji Sato, by performing at the Rising Sun Rock Festival. The show lasted three and a half hours, and featured many guest singers, who performed the vocals. The following month, a tribute art exhibition The Long Season Rewind was held in Shibuya with contributions from various artists.
Most recently in 2006, The Long Season Revue was released on DVD. The live concert was originally only screened in theatres and it featured the original members of the band together with a cast of supporting musicians such as UA, Asa-Chang, ハナレグミ, Oki Yuichi (of 東京スカパラダイスオーケストラ) and 原田郁子 of Clammbon (クラムボン). Following these concerts, Honzi, long-time contributor with the band, also passed away.
なんてったの
Fishmans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
あの娘はささやく 何か僕に
でも何もわからないよ
今なんて 僕に言ったの?
今なんて 僕に言ったの?
ふりかえったらさ 君は見てたよ
甘い気持ちも 風も残して
僕を見つめてる
そんなまなざしが 時を止めてくれる
あの娘はつぶやく だれた街で
さえわたったセリフ
新しい気持ち つめたままで
僕に投げてくれる
また何か 僕に聞かせて
また何か 僕に教えて
君と見つけた 今年の夏は 新しい風さ
こんな気持ちは 逃しやしない
秋風にのせて 連れてゆきたいよ
ずっと遠くまで
The lyrics of this Fishmans song titled "Nantettano" describe the singer awakening from the land of sleep and walking around listlessly while a girl whispers something to him, but he cannot understand it. The singer wonders what the girl could have said to him that he could not understand. He then recalls how she was looking at him with eyes that stopped time and made him feel the sweet breeze and emotions of the past. The girl murmurs a line when they were in a quiet town and throws a new feeling towards him. He wants her to tell him more and teach him more.
The song portrays feelings of confusion and a desire to understand something that is out of reach. The singer cannot comprehend what the girl is saying to him, but the way she looks at him is enough to move him emotionally.
The song is full of metaphors and symbolism that elevate the listener's interest to explore the meaning behind the lyrics. Fishmans fans have different interpretations of the song, which creates meaningful conversations online among fans.
Line by Line Meaning
眠りの国から覚めた僕は だらしなく歩く
I wake up from the land of sleep and sluggishly walk, unsure of what's next.
あの娘はささやく 何か僕に でも何もわからないよ
That girl whispers something to me, but I don't understand anything.
今なんて 僕に言ったの?
What did you just say to me?
ふりかえったらさ 君は見てたよ ずっと昔の顔で
Looking back, I saw you staring at me with the face from the past.
甘い気持ちも 風も残して 僕を見つめてる
You gaze at me, leaving behind sweet feelings and memories in the air.
そんなまなざしが 時を止めてくれる
That gaze of yours makes time stand still.
あの娘はつぶやく だれた街で さえわたったセリフ
That girl mutters lines she learned in some random city.
新しい気持ち つめたままで 僕に投げてくれる
She throws her emotions at me, but she keeps them bottled up and new.
また何か 僕に聞かせて また何か 僕に教えて
Tell me something again, teach me something new.
君と見つけた 今年の夏は 新しい風さ
The summer I spent with you is a breath of fresh air.
こんな気持ちは 逃しやしない
I won't let go of these feelings.
秋風にのせて 連れてゆきたいよ ずっと遠くまで
I want to take them with me on the autumn breeze, all the way to the farthest place.
Writer(s): 佐藤 伸治, はかせ, 佐藤 伸治, ハカセ
Contributed by Anna Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@RandomCucumbersify
眠りの国から覚めた僕は だらしなく歩く
nemuri no kunikara sameta bokuha darashinaku aruku
あの娘はささやく 何か僕に
anoko ha sasayaku nani ka boku ni
でも何もわからないよ
demo nanimo wakaranaiyo
今なんて 僕に言ったの?
ima nannte bokuni ittano?
今なんて 僕に言ったの?
ima nannte bokuni ittano?
ふりかえったらさ 君は見てたよ
furikaettarasa kimi ha mitetayo
ずっと昔の顔で
zuttomukashi no kao de
甘い気持ちも 風も残して
amai kimochimo kazemo nokoshite
僕を見つめてる
boku wo mitsumeteru
そんなまなざしが 時を止めてくれる
sonnamanazashiga toki wo tometekureru
あの娘はつぶやく だれた街で
anoko ha tsubayaku dareta machi de
さえわたったセリフ
新しい気持ち つめたままで
atarashii komochi tsumetamamade
僕に投げてくれる
bokuni nagetekureru
また何か 僕に聞かせて
mata nanika bokunikikasete
また何か 僕に教えて
mata nanika bokuni oshete
君と見つけた 今年の夏は 新しい風さ
kimi to mitsuketa kotoshi no natsu ha atarashii kisasa
こんな気持ちは 逃しやしない
konna kimochi ha nogashiyashinai
秋風にのせて 連れてゆきたいよ
akikaze ni nosete tureteyukitaiyo
ずっと遠くまで
zutto tookumade
I romanized the lyrics from genuis for you, but I think that in this version he swithces a little bit of the lyrics and also he adds some inflections and style too them (as sato is best at :) )
@user-zq8wl5dn6c
なんて優しくて愛らしい曲。
@pablotacobo2521
I cry every time I listen to this song... Shinji Sato, we miss you.
@paprikaplateau4270
Rest in peace, Sato.
So talented, such a soulful singer
@xalted5207
Shinji is the best vocalist of all time imo
@nenalabo
気持ちいい〜〜この曲、このライブ音源が好きだ
@toejoe
this song makes me melt
@gonzalochervet8127
this song reminds me of my first home, my last rent day this was sounding on repeat as i was cleaning everything to the next tenant
@bluesandroots2008
That’s such a fitting and lovely story😊Thanks for sharing.
@carljuztine3328
my go to workout track
@MuhMuhMamaLuigi
interesting choice for a workout but i respect it hahaha