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.
Melody
Fishmans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
MUSIC COM′ON ROCKERS! COM'ON ROCKERS!
MUSIC COM′ON ROCKERS! COM'ON ROCKERS!
よく日の当たるこの部屋では 音楽はマジックを呼ぶ
地上7m この部屋では 太陽は人を変えるよ
僕にMELODY 暗いメロディー ずっと
窓からカッと飛び込んだ光で 頭がカチッと鳴って
20年前に見てたような 何もない世界が見えた
すぐに終わる幸せさ すぐに終わる喜びさ
なんでこんなに悲しいんだろう
あと2時間だけ夢を見させて
ホコリと光のすごいごちそう
ゆれるテンポの中で 見たこともない顔を見せる
君は今も今のままだね
流れるミュージック(流れるミュージック)
暗いメロディー(暗いメロディー)
君がくれたメッセージ
見えてる景色(見えてる景色)
窓枠どおりの(窓枠どおりの)
エンピツでかいたみたいな
流れるミュージック(流れるミュージック)
暗いメロディー(暗いメロディー)
ホコリの匂いのする
見えてる景色(見えてる景色)
窓枠どおりの(窓枠どおりの)Yeah
MUSIC
MUSIC COM′ON ROCKERS!
MUSIC COM′ON ROCKERS!
流れるミュージック 暗いメロディー 君がくれたメッセージ
見えてる景色 窓枠どおりの エンピツでかいたみたいな
流れるミュージック(流れるミュージック)
暗いメロディー(暗いメロディー)
ホコリの匂いのする
見えてる景色(見えてる景色)
窓枠どおりの(窓枠どおりの) Oh yeah Oh yeah
流れるミュージック ミュージック MELODY MELODY
The lyrics of Fishmans' song "MELODY" celebrate the power of music and the transformative effect it has on people. The opening lines, "MUSIC COM'ON ROCKERS! COM'ON ROCKERS!" serve as a call-to-action, urging listeners to embrace the music and let it take them to a different world. The song suggests that music has a magical quality that can change individuals and bring joy and happiness.
The lyrics describe a room where the sun shines brightly, and in that room, music has the power to bring about a profound change. The singer longs for a melody, even a dark one, to accompany them constantly, suggesting a deep connection and reliance on music. The song speaks of the sensation of a burst of light entering through the window, triggering a mental awakening and allowing the person to see a world that feels familiar yet lacking. It highlights the transient nature of happiness and joy, questioning why they can be so fleeting and ultimately leaving the singer feeling a deep sadness.
The lyrics also touch on the desire to hold onto dreams and the beauty and richness that can be found in simple things like the dust and the play of light. The mention of an unseen face and the recognition that the person they are addressing remains the same, suggests perhaps a longing for change or growth in a stagnant relationship.
Overall, "MELODY" is a song that celebrates the power of music to transport and transform, and it also reflects on the fleeting nature of happiness and the longing for something more.
Line by Line Meaning
MUSIC COM'ON ROCKERS! COM'ON ROCKERS!
Calling out to all the rockers, let's get the music started!
よく日の当たるこの部屋では 音楽はマジックを呼ぶ
In this room where the sun shines bright, music calls upon the magic.
地上7m この部屋では 太陽は人を変えるよ
At 7 meters above the ground, in this room, the sun has the power to change people.
HEY MUSIC COM'ON ROCKERS
Hey music, come on rockers!
僕にMELODY 暗いメロディー ずっと
Give me a melody, a dark melody, forever.
窓からカッと飛び込んだ光で 頭がカチッと鳴って
The light bursting in through the window makes my head snap.
20年前に見てたような 何もない世界が見えた
I saw a world that resembled what I saw 20 years ago, where there was nothing.
すぐに終わる幸せさ すぐに終わる喜びさ
The happiness, the joy, they vanish quickly.
なんでこんなに悲しいんだろう
Why is it so sad?
あと2時間だけ夢を見させて
Just let me dream for another 2 hours.
ホコリと光のすごいごちそう
A magnificent feast of dust and light.
ゆれるテンポの中で 見たこともない顔を見せる
In the swaying tempo, I show a face I've never seen before.
君は今も今のままだね
You are still the same as you were.
流れるミュージック(流れるミュージック)
Flowing music (flowing music).
暗いメロディー(暗いメロディー)
A dark melody (a dark melody).
君がくれたメッセージ
The message you gave me.
見えてる景色(見えてる景色)
The scenery I see (the scenery I see).
窓枠どおりの(窓枠どおりの)
Just like the window frame (just like the window frame).
エンピツでかいたみたいな
Like it was drawn with a pencil.
ホコリの匂いのする
With the smell of dust.
Oh yeah Oh yeah
Oh yeah, oh yeah.
流れるミュージック ミュージック MELODY MELODY
Flowing music, music, melody, melody.
Writer(s): Shinji Satou
Contributed by Scarlett N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Fay
fismans - melody
MUSIC COM`ON ROCKERS!
In this well sunlit room, music conjures magic.
In this room 7m above the ground, the sun can change people.
HEY MUSIC COM`ON ROCKERS!
The melody, my melody is always dark.
The light flew in through the window causing my head to cry out.
I saw the world of nothing, that I saw 20 years before.
Happiness that ends soon, joy that ends soon,
why is it all this sad?
Let me dream for two more hours,
the amazing light and dust in the shaking tempo,
i`ll show you a face you have never seen.
You, even now, just like that.
Flowing music,
dark melody,
the message you had given me,
the scenery I can see,
drawn just like a window frame in pencil.
Flowing music,
dark melody,
the smell of dust,
the scenery I can see,
just like a window frame (oh yeah oh yeah)
Flowing music, music, melody, melody
47ea3c67
One of the best songs ever created by humanity
Diego Navia
4:46 god I can't even put into words how this part makes me feel
Moisés Daniel
amazing performance, when they play the entire long season album it's so fucking beautiful
Bora Çetinkaya
Masterpiece
erik
love it so much
Fay
fismans - melody
MUSIC COM`ON ROCKERS!
In this well sunlit room, music conjures magic.
In this room 7m above the ground, the sun can change people.
HEY MUSIC COM`ON ROCKERS!
The melody, my melody is always dark.
The light flew in through the window causing my head to cry out.
I saw the world of nothing, that I saw 20 years before.
Happiness that ends soon, joy that ends soon,
why is it all this sad?
Let me dream for two more hours,
the amazing light and dust in the shaking tempo,
i`ll show you a face you have never seen.
You, even now, just like that.
Flowing music,
dark melody,
the message you had given me,
the scenery I can see,
drawn just like a window frame in pencil.
Flowing music,
dark melody,
the smell of dust,
the scenery I can see,
just like a window frame (oh yeah oh yeah)
Flowing music, music, melody, melody
事務所村上
いつ聴いても、感動するよ。
gamachan73
♪音楽がマジックを呼ぶ...というフレーズを最初聴いた時に、ガツーンと脳天を直撃されて、この曲を１週間リピートしていました(^o^)丿
Weather report
Best song forever
haru h
お酒より気持ちい気分になる。
声といい、メロディといい