Ryutaro and Tadashi wanted to combine two words to form the band name; something artificial and something natural. After trying a few combinations, they decided on ‘Plastic Tree’. Formerly, there were rumours floating around the web about the band’s name coming from Fake Plastic Trees but this was always disputed due to timing inconsistencies.
In the beginning, Plastic Tree were influenced greatly by The Cure. There was also a large britrock influence. Plastic Tree played a mix of indie rock, punk, and heavier grunge, characterized by Ryutaro’s generic Visual Kei voice and gloomy lyrics. They went through a period where they played more pop-rock and radio-style rock music, although they have recently returned from lighter music to their original roots.
In July 2006, Plastic Tree embarked on their first world tour that took them to Germany, France and Finland.
On the 23rd of February 2009, Sasabuchi Hiroshi left the band and was later replaced by Satou Kenken..
Sentiment Machine
Plastic Tree Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
nara surikomaretari shinai kana
mado no soto ni wa akai sora kaki
narasu no wa kuroi GUITAR
kuchibue CHIGUHAGU ni
oyogu CRAWL mizu no nai
POOL
hottoite mo ii yo kitto tada no
binetsu muri shite tsuyogari
te no tsukerarenai SENTIMENT
MACHINE kishinde BARA iro no yume wo
miru
junsui na hito ni nareta nara fukai
nemuri ni tsukeru kara
ironna mono ga kakesugite tachi tsukusu
no ga yatto sa
matataki kimagure ni
fusagu SPEED oitsukenai
LENS
maru de yuutairidatsu okizari no
taikutsu omoi ni fukette
te no tsukerarenai SENTIMENT
MACHINE kishinde bara iro no yume wo
miru
hottoite mo ii yo kitto tada no
binetsu muri shite tsuyogari
maru de yuutairidatsu okizari no
taikutsu omoi ni fukette
moshi kowareta boku ni sashinoberareru
no ga kimi no te dattara
inoru you ni utau SENTIMENT
MACHINE kishinde BARA iro no yume wo
miru
The lyrics to Plastic Tree's song Sentiment Machine speak of a desire to be transparent, understood and accepted by others. The first verse talks about wanting to be invisible, but at the same time wanting to stand out and be noticed. The motif of colors is used, where the outside world is a bright red, but the guitar that creates the music in the song is black. This contrast makes it clear that the singer is different from the world, yet still wants to blend in.
The chorus talks about the difficulties in expressing oneself, yet the longing for emotional connection is present. It speaks to the fear of vulnerability and the way that fear can limit one's ability to express their feelings. The "Sentiment Machine" mentioned in the title is a metaphor for this struggle. The singer clearly desires to be able to feel and express freely, but is held back by some unseen force.
Overall, the song seems to be about the difficulty of being yourself in a world that tries to make you conform. It speaks to the struggle to be transparent, to be seen for who you truly are, and to connect with others on an emotional level in spite of the fear of vulnerability.
Line by Line Meaning
toumei na hito ni nareta
I've become transparent, will I blend in?
nara surikomaretari shinai kana
Will I stand out or go unnoticed?
mado no soto ni wa akai sora kaki
Outside the window, the sky is red
narasu no wa kuroi GUITAR
The sound ringing out is from a black guitar
kuchibue CHIGUHAGU ni
Whistling out of tune
oyogu CRAWL mizu no nai
Swimming in a dry pool
hottoite mo ii yo kitto tada no
It's okay to let it all out, even if it's just a fever
binetsu muri shite tsuyogari
Toughing it out through an impossible fever
te no tsukerarenai SENTIMENT
A sentiment that can't be grasped
MACHINE kishinde BARA iro no yume wo miru
Looking at rose-coloured dreams through a dying machine
junsui na hito ni nareta nara fukai
If I became pure, would I sleep deeply?
nemuri ni tsukeru kara
Because I could finally rest
ironna mono ga kakesugite tachi tsukusu no ga yatto sa
I finally get up to face all the various things piled up
matataki kimagure ni
Blinking randomly
fusagu SPEED oitsukenai
I can't catch up to the closing speed
LENS
The lens
maru de yuutairidatsu okizari no taikutsu omoi ni fukette
Floating idly and getting engulfed in boredom of being left behind
moshi kowareta boku ni sashinoberareru no ga kimi no te dattara
If by any chance you can help lift me up broken as I am
inoru you ni utau SENTIMENT
Singing out a sentiment like a prayer
MACHINE kishinde BARA iro no yume wo miru
Looking at rose-coloured dreams through a dying machine
Contributed by Sarah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
sean hardy
heard u guys were looking for a frontman