Ken Ishii debuted on a legendary Belgian techno label, R & S Records, in 1993. In that year he straight won No.1 on the UK’s NME magazine’s techno chart, which led him to worldwide recognition. In 1995, the highly praised album “Jelly Tones” (R & S / Sony Japan) was released. In the following year, the video for the single “Extra” from this album (directed by Koji Morimoto, the animator of the worldwide hit cartoon, “Akira”) won MTV’s “Dance Video of the Year”.
Since then, Ken has been regarded internationally as one of the Japanese pioneers who can create world class electronic sounds. In 1998, he produced the official theme song for the winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan and it was played in more than 70 countries around the world. Then in 2000, Ken was interviewed and was on the cover of Newsweek magazine, featured as a symbol of the Japanese new culture. This was acclaimed as a great undertaking by a dance/electronic music artist.
He also produces music for films, such as doing the theme song and soundtrack for the monster hit Japanese film “Whiteout” in 2000, which led him to be nominated in Japanese Academy Awards. He expands his boundary to games as well. Rez, the game Ken contributed his exclusive tracks to, became a cult hit. In 2005, he reached a major achievement in being in charge of the music and designing an exclusive 12.2 surround sound system for the Seto-Nihon Pavilion, enforced by the Japanese Government, at World Expo in Aichi, Japan.
These days, Ken spends 2/3 of his time on travelling in Europe, Asia, North/South America DJ’ing and working as a true international artist/DJ. In 2004, he was awarded the Best Techno DJ at “Dance Music Awards” in Ibiza, proving himself to be one of the world’s most talented DJ’s in the scene as well. He often plays at mega dance festivals, such as Monegros (Spain), WIRE (Japan) and more. His unique blend always drives crowd into frenzy.
Ken set up his own label, 70 Drums, in 2002 starting off with an album “Future In Light”. His latest album is “SUNRISER” in 2006 and he again shows in it his futuristic vision and his deep love in his musical root, early Detroit techno.
Loop
Ken Ishii Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ppnade drrar och ls
En vacker idiot
Se vad dom gjort med dina ord - i frhren
Vad har du slt fr att f komma hrifrn?
Du har levt p lnad tid
Station alpha - beta - gamma
Vi kan hlla dig vid liv - som alla andra
En gng till
En gng till
S ditt nya mod
fick dig att vga byta spr
Du torkar inombords
Vad har du sagt - vad har du gjort - i frhren?
Vad har du slt fr att f lindansa s lngt?
Du har levt p lnad tid
Station alpha - beta - gamma
Vi kan hlla dig vid liv - som alla andra
Silikon och askorbin
En gng till
Kan vi hlla dig vid liv?
Station alpha - beta - gamma
Du har levt p lnad tid
som ingen annan
Silikon och kirurgi
En gng till
En gng till
En gng till
En gng till.
These lyrics are in Swedish and are from the song "Loop" by Ken Ishii. The lyrics talk about the consequences of selling oneself to society - giving up one's ideals and identity for the sake of fitting in and being accepted. The first verse talks about how someone's words have been twisted by society and how they have become a "beautiful idiot". The second verse talks about how the person has changed because of a "new courage" but is slowly withering inside. The chorus talks about how the person has lived on borrowed time and how society can keep them alive with the help of technology, but at the cost of their individuality.
The lyrics paint a picture of a world where individuality is suppressed and conformity is rewarded. It is a critique of the societal pressures and expectations that make people sacrifice their true selves for the sake of fitting in. The repeated line "en gng till" (meaning "once more") could be interpreted as a plea to stop the cycle of conformity and rediscover one's true self.
Line by Line Meaning
S dina nya ord
Your new words
ppnade drrar och ls
Opened doors and locks
En vacker idiot
A beautiful idiot
Se vad dom gjort med dina ord - i frhren
See what they've done with your words - in the front row
Vad har du slt fr att f komma hrifrn?
What have you sold to get away from here?
Du har levt p lnad tid
You've lived on borrowed time
Station alpha - beta - gamma
Station alpha - beta - gamma
Vi kan hlla dig vid liv - som alla andra
We can keep you alive - like everyone else
Silikon och sinnesfrid
Silicone and peace of mind
En gng till
One more time
En gng till
One more time
S ditt nya mod
So your new courage
fick dig att vga byta spr
made you dare to change direction
Du torkar inombords
You're drying up on the inside
Vad har du sagt - vad har du gjort - i frhren?
What have you said - what have you done - in the front row?
Vad har du slt fr att f lindansa s lngt?
What have you sold to get so far?
Du har levt p lnad tid
You've lived on borrowed time
Station alpha - beta - gamma
Station alpha - beta - gamma
Vi kan hlla dig vid liv - som alla andra
We can keep you alive - like everyone else
Silikon och askorbin
Silicone and ascorbic acid
En gng till
One more time
Kan vi hlla dig vid liv?
Can we keep you alive?
Station alpha - beta - gamma
Station alpha - beta - gamma
Du har levt p lnad tid
You've lived on borrowed time
som ingen annan
like no one else
Silikon och kirurgi
Silicone and surgery
En gng till
One more time
En gng till
One more time
En gng till
One more time
En gng till.
One more time.
Contributed by Isabelle B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gnarlykoala
I have always been listening to Ken Ishii, this track is just phenomenal
@meanwhileinjapan2265
すごい！the beginning of ken's music.
@MarkusAudio
Most beloved track from Ken Ishii. Futuristic as it gets.
@0The0Web0
I agree, its marvellous 😊
@AyuTube55
この曲がなぜか一番好きです
@dalek1952
sounds and visuals EPIC
@AyuTube55
All began in here.
Our story started here.
@0The0Web0
yeah - real classic! thank you :-)
@lilyshrimp
Didn't hear of Ishii but his work sounds cool! =) Video looks great, my friend!
@MorbidMayem
back in 93, KI still made good tracks...