For more than twenty years he has been releasing, to only marginal commercial and critical success, playful and transgressive albums on labels in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan. In his lyrics and his other writing he makes seemingly random use of decontextualized pieces of continental (mostly French) philosophy, and has built up a personal world he says is "dominated by values like diversity, orientalism, and a respect for otherness." He is also known in certain circles outside the U.S. as a producer. He is fascinated by identity, Japan, the avant-garde, time travel and sex. Live Momus shows are rare but when he does perform he often sings the crowd favourite 'maf' from the Stars Forever LP.
He wears a patch over his right eye because he lost the use of it after contracting acanthamoeba keratitis from a contact lens case washed with Greek tap water.
Nick Currie currently resides in Osaka, Japan.
Keigo Oyamada
Momus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's not fishing for your food but whistling a symphony
Caesar, Nova, cats of the ape, please forgive your master
For Cornelius helps this slow old world to turn a little faster
Keigo Oyamada tours the world, but who looks after you?
You catch rats and mice while Keigo edits desktop video
Though your life is hard please know your sacrifices are worthwhile
Courage oh my little cats, somewhere someone remembers you
Give your master Oyamada-San the credit he is due
For one day he'll pick you up and feed you liver giblets
Playing Beethoven he'll heap your plate with all your favourite titbits
Sometimes, oh my kitten droogs, it seems that he's forgotten you
Glorying in global fame or jamming in his studio
When you're feeling cold and hungry, sunk in an oblivion
Oyamada-Sensei will return to feed you in Elysium!
The lyrics to Momus's song Keigo Oyamada are a tribute to the musical genius and talent of the titular Keigo Oyamada, known professionally as Cornelius. The song is an ode to his craft and success, but also a recognition of the less glamorous aspects of his life, specifically the role his cats play in supporting his work. The lyrics paint a picture of Cornelius as a creative force constantly pushing the boundaries of musical expression while his feline companions act as his loyal assistants, catching mice and rats and waiting patiently for their master to return home.
The opening lines of the song reference the ape, a recurring metaphor in Cornelius's work, and highlight his ability to create symphonies out of seemingly ordinary sounds. This sets the tone for the rest of the song which celebrates his ingenuity and originality as an artist. However, the chorus, sung from the perspective of a cat, reminds Cornelius that his success is also due to the support and companionship he receives from his feline companions. The lyrics suggest that Cornelius's cats are central to his creative process and that without their presence and influence, his music may not be as brilliant or successful as it is.
Overall, the song is a tribute to Cornelius as both an artist and a cat lover, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between creativity and companionship. It acknowledges the role that small, everyday acts of love, such as providing food or playing with a pet, can play in supporting and sustaining a successful creative career.
Line by Line Meaning
When the ape's bineural microphones are pointed out to sea
When the ape is listening intently to the ocean with its sophisticated microphone technology
He's not fishing for your food but whistling a symphony
The ape isn't using its advanced hearing to catch food, but instead creating beautiful music with its whistling abilities
Caesar, Nova, cats of the ape, please forgive your master
The cats that belong to Caesar and Nova, the intelligent apes, should forgive their human master for any shortcomings he may have
For Cornelius helps this slow old world to turn a little faster
Cornelius, the brilliant mind behind the apes' intelligence, contributes to the progression of the world, even if it's just a small impact
Keigo Oyamada tours the world, but who looks after you?
The pets left behind while Keigo Oyamada travels the world are left with no one to care for them
You catch rats and mice while Keigo edits desktop video
The pets are left to fend for themselves by catching their own food while their owner is busy working on his computer
Though your life is hard please know your sacrifices are worthwhile
Even though the pets have a difficult life, their sacrifices are important and meaningful
For Cornelius is the genius with the world's most brilliant music style
Cornelius has an exceptional talent for creating music that is unmatched in the world
Courage oh my little cats, somewhere someone remembers you
The pets should have courage because someone in the world remembers them and cares about their well-being
Give your master Oyamada-San the credit he is due
The pets should give credit to their owner for his accomplishments and hard work
For one day he'll pick you up and feed you liver giblets
One day, Keigo Oyamada will return and reward his pets with delicious treats
Playing Beethoven he'll heap your plate with all your favourite titbits
As he feeds them, Keigo Oyamada will play classical music by Beethoven, and give his pets their favorite foods
Sometimes, oh my kitten droogs, it seems that he's forgotten you
Sometimes it may feel like Keigo Oyamada has forgotten about his pets
Glorying in global fame or jamming in his studio
He may either be reveling in his popularity around the world, or working intently in his music studio
When you're feeling cold and hungry, sunk in an oblivion
During times when the pets are cold, hungry, and feel forgotten
Oyamada-Sensei will return to feed you in Elysium!
Keigo Oyamada will come back to care for his pets in a paradise-like setting
Contributed by Alyssa L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@shinsouY
this is great! hail momus & ko
@orchestraglobola
great!