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.
Natsuko Tayama
Momus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The shy soul sister
I got a whole list of
Things on my chest
I want to express
But I'm too shy
To talk to a guy
So I don't even try
Cos I'm shy
Superfly!
Well my face goes flush
I flash a goofy grin
I stammer and I stutter
Don't know where to begin
And I don't change much after sake or gin
(She don't change much after sake or gin)
When I'm on the mike
You can stop right there
I've never been anywhere near
I wouldn't dare
Cos I'm shy
Well you can stop right there!
Superfly!
You know I skipped off school
Too shy for knowledge
I studied silent film when I went to college
Like Andy Warhol and Jonas Mekas
We'd like to be transparent
You can look but don't touch
Or we'll kick your ass!
Cos we're the shy class
Superfly!
I'm Natsuko Tayama
I find there's glamour
In being a wallflower
With a stammer
I love what I am
And you won't change me
So take me how I am
Baby!
Cos I'm super-shy
Superfly!
Well people make quiver
And people make me shiver
Loud people make me want to jump in a river
Cos I'm shy
Here come the tongue-twister
Well I'm shy, mister!
Ha! Superfly!
Well you know
people make quiver
And people make me shiver
Loud people make me want to jump in a river
I can't pluck up the courage to flirt
I'm the world champion heavyweight introvert
I'm shy
Superfly!
Cos I'm Natsuko Tayama
I find there's glamour
In being a wallflower
With a stammer
I love what I am
I'm the best
Funk the rest!
Cos I'm shy
Superfly!
The song "Natsuko Tayama" by Momus is a tribute to shyness and introversion. The song's narrator, Natsuko Tayama, is a self-proclaimed "shy soul sister" who keeps a list of things she wants to say but can't because she's too shy. She's too shy to talk to guys, too shy to flirt, and too shy to even try to express herself. Despite her shyness, she finds glamour in being a wallflower with a stammer.
Throughout the song, Natsuko Tayama celebrates and defends her shyness, declaring that she loves who she is and that nothing can change her. She even admits to skipping school because she was too shy for knowledge and instead studied silent film in college. Despite being shy, she has no problem being confident and assertive when it comes to defending herself and those like her.
Overall, the song serves as an anthem for introverts and shy individuals, celebrating their unique qualities and encouraging them to embrace who they are.
Line by Line Meaning
I am Natsuko Tayama
Introducing herself as Natsuko Tayama
The shy soul sister
Describing herself as a shy person
I got a whole list of Things on my chest I want to express
Having a lot of things to say
But I'm too shy To talk to a guy So I don't even try
Being too shy to talk to guys
Cos I'm shy Superfly!
Emphasizing her shyness
Well my face goes flush I flash a goofy grin I stammer and I stutter Don't know where to begin
Describing her nervousness and inability to start speaking
(She don't change much after sake or gin)
Saying that alcohol does not help her become less shy
When I'm on the mike You can stop right there I've never been anywhere near I wouldn't dare
Being too nervous to perform or speak in public
Well you can stop right there!
Declining the invitation to perform
You know I skipped off school Too shy for knowledge I studied silent film when I went to college
Preferring to study something on her own rather than attending class
Like Andy Warhol and Jonas Mekas We'd like to be transparent You can look but don't touch Or we'll kick your ass!
Referencing two avant-garde filmmakers and wanting to be appreciated but not disturbed
Cos we're the shy class Superfly!
Identifying with other shy people
I find there's glamour In being a wallflower With a stammer I love what I am And you won't change me So take me how I am Baby!
Being proud of herself despite her shyness
Well people make quiver And people make me shiver Loud people make me want to jump in a river
Feeling uncomfortable around loud people
Here come the tongue-twister Well I'm shy, mister! Ha! Superfly!
Making a joke despite feeling shy
I can't pluck up the courage to flirt I'm the world champion heavyweight introvert
Defining herself as an introvert who is too shy to flirt
I'm the best Funk the rest!
Being confident in herself despite her shyness
Cos I'm shy Superfly!
Reiterating her shyness at the end of the song
Contributed by Layla G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aldo Charles
on Morality Is Vanity
I’ve been listening to this song last two weeks.