Zauner released a tape in June 2013 under the solo moniker Japanese Breakfast. The tape was titled June and boasted thirty tracks written and recorded every day of the month. A stark deviation from Little Big League's guitar-based indie rock, it showcased Zauner's dark lyrics, unique vocals and inherent knack for pop melody.
Two bedroom pop cassettes later, Japanese Breakfast returns with a first full-fledged LP and vinyl release, Psychopomp. The album explores Zauner's experimental interests and hosts a wide range of sound: jarring anime samples, minimalist ballads, rhythms and synths reminiscent of Tango in the Night-era Fleetwood Mac paired with the moody intimacy of Mount Eerie. Psychopomp revisits and revamps lo-fi tracks and adds chilling new songs to fall in love with.
In 2019, Japanese Breakfast released two singles under the W Hotels music label, "Essentially" and a cover of the Tears for Fears song, Head Over Heels.
In 2021, Zauner returns, having released three singles to her upcoming album, Jubilee, which will be out on the 4th of June. The singles are Be Sweet, Posing in Bondage, and Savage Good Boy; they were released in this order.
Soft Sounds from Another Planet
Japanese Breakfast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For no reason at all
Counting backwards, things you endured
Pitting them up against happier lives
That's not the way to hurt me
That's not the way to hurt me
I'll show you the way to hurt me
In search of a soft sound from another planet
In search of a quiet place to lay this to rest
Striving for goodness while the cruel men win
There's no part of me left that can feel or hear it
They'll never let you hurt me
They'll never let you hurt me
I'll never let you hurt me
Hurt me, oh
The lyrics in "Soft Sounds from Another Planet" by Japanese Breakfast speak to themes of self-harm, emotional pain and the search for an inner peace away from the cruelty of others. The singer wishes to protect someone from the self-harm they inflict upon themselves, to distract them from harming themselves with reminders of happier experiences.
However, they are also seeking escape from the pain through a "soft sound from another planet," and "a quiet place to lay this to rest." The lyrics suggest the desire to find a place where they cannot be hurt or feel the sting of harsh words or actions from cruel people, a place where they can be protected from harm.
The lyrics ultimately reveal that the singer is strong and unwilling to allow anyone to hurt them, even as they search for ways to protect themselves from the pain of the world. The phrase "I'll show you the way to hurt me" implies that they are in control of their own pain, and that others cannot hurt them without permission.
Overall, "Soft Sounds from Another Planet" speaks to universal struggles with self-worth, emotional pain, and the search for a safe haven. The song acknowledges the difficulty of these challenges while simultaneously showing that there is strength to be found in standing up to the hurt that others may cause.
Line by Line Meaning
I wish I could keep you from abusing yourself
I desire to prevent you from harming yourself willingly
For no reason at all
Even when there's no justifiable purpose for the self-inflicted harm
Counting backwards, things you endured
Recollecting agonizing moments you've been through in the past
Pitting them up against happier lives
Comparing them to the better circumstances of others, worsening your emotional state
That's not the way to hurt me
Those methods won't cause me pain
I'll show you the way to hurt me
I'll aid you in what you should do to make me feel hurt
In search of a soft sound from another planet
Looking for a pleasant and distinct noise from an extraterrestrial realm
In search of a quiet place to lay this to rest
Seeking silence to bring closure to something that causes distress
Striving for goodness while the cruel men win
Trying to do right amidst unfavorable circumstances, where iniquitous people thrive
There's no part of me left that can feel or hear it
Nothing in me can perceive and react to what's happening
They'll never let you hurt me
Others will never allow you to cause me pain
I'll never let you hurt me
I won't allow you to hurt me either
Hurt me, oh
Please make an attempt to hurt me
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.
Written by: Michelle Chongmi Zauner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind