Since 1999 POLYSICS have released several albums. The albums 1st P and A.D.S.R.M! were released on the independent label DECKREC Records. Just after the release of 1st P their bassist, known only as "POLY-2", left. The band dropped the "POLY-X" names, and reduced to a trio, with new member Fumi on Bass Support on some of the tracks from Neu. In 1999, Asian Man Records released their US Debut album, Hey! Bob! My Friend to rave reviews, but weak sales. The album was a compilation of tracks from their first two Japanese releases. In 2000, POLYSICS signed to Ki/oon Records (a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.) and released their first major album Neu. The album carried with it the same manic energy as their independent releases but more refined. On the 2001 album Eno, Synthesizers became more prevalent in the mix, but the songs still had an intense punk-like energy. For this album, Fumi returned to the band as a full member, returning POLYSICS to a quartet. 2002 saw the release of the album FOR YOUNG ELECTRIC POP, POLYSICS attempt at a pop album. The manic punk energy was minimized, but the band showed it had an amazing sense of harmony and style. The songs "Black Out Fall Out" and "Code 4" from this album are very emotional.
In 2003, drummer Junichi Sugai left the band after recording the Kaja Kaja Goo EP. For the 2003 album National P, Ishimaru joined on Drum Support, returning POLYSICS to a trio. Also in 2003, Neu was released on Asian Man Records in the United States to rave reviews and great sales. POLYSICS came to the US to tour, which was then captured on the PippikkippippiP In USA DVD. In 2004, POLYSICS released a Best Of compilation titled POLYSICS OR DIE!!!! which contained new versions of some early POLYSICS songs. It was also released in the United Kingdom, and was the first POLYSICS album to be released in Europe. POLYSICS toured Europe and the US for the 2005 US Release of POLYSICS OR DIE!!!!. With the recent 2006 release of "Now is the time!", they are now currently touring the US and preparing for the UK tour in April. Their most recent album is KARATE HOUSE. They also released POLYSICS OR DIE!!! VISTA, which is an updated version of POLYSICS OR DIE!!! which includes tracks from Now is the Time! and KARATE HOUSE. It also includes a bonus dvd with promotional videos and a few songs from their Now is the Live! concert dvd. They toured the US in 2007 as openers on the MySpace music tour and are currently back in Japan.
The biggest influence on POLYSICS is clearly the band Devo. From the start, POLYSICS have tried to make music in, as Hiroyuki describes it, "The spirit of Devo." Obvious references to Devo have been made in POLYSICS videos, and songs. each life each end from the album Neu borrows the riff from the Devo song "Girl U Want", and the lyrics are playfully paraphrased from the songs "The Day My Baby Gave Me A Surprise" and "Red Eye Express", while "Plaster Caster" is a semi-cover of the song "Uglatto", one of their more obscure songs which was released on Hardcore Devo Vol.1 74-77. In a miniposter included with National P, POLYSICS members sit to eat cakes shaped like Devo's famous Energy Dome headgear. In addition, the giant robot mascot from the cover of POLYSICS' "Lo-Bits" EP (who also starred in the promo video for the song "Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto") sports a battle-helmet that resembles the same iconic dome.
While POLYSICS claim Devo as their most prevalent influence, other bands and artists that have influenced their music include Talking Heads, Orchestral Manouvres in the Dark, Sparks, The B-52's, XTC, King Crimson, Kraftwerk, P-Model, Neu!, Brian Eno, Nirvana, and David Bowie. POLYSICS have also covered songs by Styx, Suzi Quatro, The Plastics, The Ramones, The Knack, Soft Cell, and Frank Sinatra.
Announced in the official email newsletter December 23rd, 2009, keyboardist/vocalist KAYO will be performing her last show with the band at the Nippon Budokan on March 14th, 2010.
Digital Coffee
POLYSICS Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ラタタラッタタ終日禁煙エアポート
最近のトーテムポール目立つ魅力色
招待状未発表食べたんだでしょ
「効能 I know 虹が出た！」
Shooting Star 高速移動
フラフラフラフラッシュそれいただきます
境界線３つ混ぜたでしょ
象乗って地方出張２億４千万回ターン夢帝国
ドライブスルー経由で本州一周気分
毎回疲れて食べ歩くから頭に残る
「効能 I know 虹が出た！ You know 才能 星を見た！」
Funny Monday 目が冴えた
Funny Monday 声が出た
You are right! 記憶史上
まさかまたかの連日連夜の異常気象
最近のコーラスグループメタル・ラウド仕様
配線上PA表噛んだでしょ
恐怖新聞昨日廃刊こんにゃく畑でlearn枚キャッスル
天然束縛パーマロックンロールfreak
最近フラれて帰ってないから頭に残る
「効能 I know 虹が出た！ You know 才能 星を見た！」
Funny Monday 目が冴えた
Funny Monday 声が出た
I'm gonna go to dream land 目玉泳がせて
Feel like one is in a dream 余計目が冴えた
The lyrics of the song Digital Coffee by POLYSICS are cryptic and require a deep understanding of the Japanese culture and contemporary trends to fully interpret them. The song's refrain "You know, I know, shooting star" conveys the idea of being in sync with the universe and living in the moment. The lyrics are playful and full of metaphors, with many references to pop culture, from Totem poles to Digital Coffee.
One of the metaphors in the song is the Digital Coffee, which represents the infusion of technology into everyday life. The song describes how the mixing of three borders creates a unique flavor, symbolizing the fusion of different cultures in contemporary Japan. The song also references the importance of dreams and how they influence one's daily life. The lyrics talk about the dream kingdom, where the singer travels 2.4 million turns around the country while riding an elephant, suggesting the importance of imagination and having a creative mindset.
Overall, the song's lyrics are open to interpretation, and the images and metaphors used stay true to the playful and imaginative nature of the band's music. The use of traditional Japanese elements, mixed with modern references, creates a unique blend of sounds that is emblematic of the band's eclectic style.
Line by Line Meaning
We are right! 記録以上
We are not just correct, we are beyond accurate
ラタタラッタタ終日禁煙エアポート
We are at the no-smoking airport all day long going back and forth
最近のトーテムポール目立つ魅力色
The recent totem pole is alluring and stands out colorful
招待状未発表食べたんだでしょ
I ate something not even announced in the invitation
「効能 I know 虹が出た！」
I know the effect, I saw a rainbow!
Shooting Star 高速移動
Moving at high speed like a shooting star
フラフラフラフラッシュそれいただきます
I'll have that dizzying flash
デジタルコーヒーふーチャテイストドリップ
Digital coffee is dripping with futurist taste
境界線３つ混ぜたでしょ
I mixed three boundary lines
象乗って地方出張２億４千万回ターン夢帝国
Riding on an elephant, I've taken a business trip to the dream kingdom 2.4 million times, taking turns in every province
ドライブスルー経由で本州一周気分
Feeling like driving all around Honshu via the drive-through route
毎回疲れて食べ歩くから頭に残る
Every time, I get tired from eating while walking, so it stays in my head
「効能 I know 虹が出た！ You know 才能 星を見た！」
I know the effect, I saw a rainbow! You know the capability, you saw the stars!
Funny Monday 目が冴えた
Funny Monday, my eyes are wide awake
Funny Monday 声が出た
Funny Monday, my voice came out
You are right! 記憶史上
You are not just correct, you are unparalleled in history
まさかまたかの連日連夜の異常気象
Unexpectedly, there are abnormal weather conditions day and night as usual
最近のコーラスグループメタル・ラウド仕様
The recent chorus group is designed to be metal-loud
配線上PA表噛んだでしょ
I probably messed up with the PA system's wiring
恐怖新聞昨日廃刊こんにゃく畑でlearn枚キャッスル
Yesterday's horror newspaper was discontinued, I learned about it on a konjac field event
天然束縛パーマロックンロールfreak
A natural bondage perm, I'm a lock-and-roll freak
最近フラれて帰ってないから頭に残る
It's still in my head that I got dumped recently and haven't come home
「効能 I know 虹が出た！ You know 才能 星を見た！」
I know the effect, I saw a rainbow! You know the capability, you saw the stars!
I'm gonna go to dream land 目玉泳がせて
I'm going to dreamland, swimming with my eyeballs
Feel like one is in a dream 余計目が冴えた
Feeling like it's a dream, my eyes are wide awake beyond description
Contributed by Aaliyah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.