The origins of the group's name remain obscure, but according to some it is a mispronunciation of an in-joke among the band members.
The group first started as a Tokyo-based folk trio in 1966 when leader Kiyoshiro Imawano was still in junior high school and playing in a Ventures copy band.
The group is hard to classify, but in early years their sound was mostly R&B fashioned music played acoustically. Imawano, however, has quite a distinctive high warbling voice that is not typical of soul singers, and which frankly some people find annoying.
More than a singer, he is known as a lyricist for his clever and timely lyrics.
RC Succession developed a reputation early on as a strong live band, but did not have a hit record until 1972, and then not again for a long time after that.
In the late 70s the group took on a more electric sound, as well as an odd glam influenced look, with Imawano in particular often appearing in loud clothing and heavy makeup.
The group became part of a hot late 70s scene which included Yellow Magic Orchestra, The Plastics, and Sandii & The Sunsetz, created when these groups began interacting with foreign bands and releasing internationally.
RC Succession did not catch on internationally as much as some of the others, but they did take part in a famous concert in 1982 called "The Day of R&B", which took place at a packed baseball stadium and included as headliners Chuck Berry and Sam Moore of Sam & Dave.
The event was filmed and released as a video. Another thing in 1982 that helped establish them as a major act was a collaboration with Ryucihi Sakamoto called "Ikenai Rouge Magic".
The single's jacket and promotional picture featured Imawano and Sakamoto kissing - quite a shocker at the time.
The song was also used in a popular TV commercial. Among the best-known RC Succession songs are "Ameagari No Yozora Ni" and "Toranjitsu Rajio".
RC Succession have often collaborated with other artists, and Imawano marks among the highlights of his career working with his heroes Booker T. & The MG's.
RC Succession are also unusual in that for a Japanese pop band they are fairly political and outspoken. They are one of the few Japanese bands that regularly play benefits, and Imawano has spoken out against war, nuclear power and in favor of Tibetan freedom.
In 1988 the group recorded an album of cover versions of famous songs re-worked with Japanese lyrics, called Covers.
Among them was a version of Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues" with anti-nuclear power lyrics. Their record label at the time, however, was Toshiba-EMI, and given that Toshiba had nuclear related business they refused to release the album, which eventually came out on Kitty Records.
Johnny Thunders of the New York Dolls also appeared on this album on a re-make of "Eve of Destruction".
Imawano also stirred up controversy when he formed the side project Timers (slang for marijuana), and did a rock version of the national anthem "Kimigayo".
Imawano seems to have many interests and hobbies. He has written children's books and is widely known as a big bicycling enthusiast.
He has also dabbled in acting, appearing in the movies Otakus in Love in 2004, and in Takashi Miike's film The Great Yokai War in 2005. He has been one of the most frequent performers in the history of the Fuji Rock Festival. Since the festival began in 1997 he has appeared in 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2005, and is booked for 2006. He famously rides his bike to the festival's mountain setting.
キミかわいいね
RCサクセション Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
でも それだけだね
キミかわいいよ
でも それだけだよ
それだけさ キミと話してたら
ボクこんなにつかれたよ
キミかわいいね
でも それだけだね
お人形さんみたい それだけさ
キミといっしょに
いたら ボクこんなにつかれたよ
酒でも飲まなきゃ
キミとはいられない
シラフじゃとっても
いっしょにいられない
キミかわいいね
でも それだけだね
それだけさ
水の無い川 エンジンのない車
弦の切れたギター
ヤニのないタバコ
キミかわいいね
テレビにでも出たら
キミかわいいよ
モデルにでもなれよ
キミかわいいよ お人形さんみたい
それだけさ
ぼくは さよなら
するよ 男には困らないだろ
キミかわいいね
でも それだけだね
キミかわいいよ
でも それだけだよ
キミかわいいだけだね
ただそれだけだね
キミかわいいだけだね
The lyrics to RCサクセション's song キミかわいいね (Kimi Kawaii ne) describe a bittersweet, unrequited love between the singer and the person they are speaking to. The repeated lines "キミかわいいね" (Kimi kawaii ne) and "でもそれだけだね" (Demo sore dake da ne) mean "you're cute, but that's all" and "you're cute, but that's all there is." The singer is infatuated with the person they are speaking to, but it's clear that the feeling is not mutual, as the other person is described as being like a doll or robot.
The singer is tired from spending time with this person, and even mentions that they need to drink to be able to stand being around them, indicating that the relationship is one-sided and perhaps even toxic. The repetition of "それだけさ" (Sore dake sa), meaning "that's all there is," throughout the song emphasizes the limited nature of the singer's feelings for the other person.
Overall, the lyrics of "Kimi Kawaii ne" capture the pain of unrequited love and the frustration of being in a one-sided relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
キミかわいいね
You're cute, aren't you?
でも それだけだね
But that's all there is to it
キミかわいいよ
You're cute
でも それだけだよ
But that's all
それだけさ キミと話してたら
Just talking with you like this
ボクこんなにつかれたよ
Makes me so tired
キミかわいいよ
You're cute
お人形さんみたい それだけさ
Just like a doll
キミといっしょに
Being with you
いたら ボクこんなにつかれたよ
Makes me so tired
酒でも飲まなきゃ
I have to drink alcohol
キミとはいられない
Or I can't be with you
シラフじゃとっても
Even though I really can't handle it sober
いっしょにいられない
I can't be with you
キミかわいいね
You're cute, aren't you?
でも それだけだね
But that's all there is to it
キミかわいいよ
You're cute
お人形さんみたい それだけさ
Just like a doll
キミといっしょに
Being with you
いたら ボクこんなにつかれたよ
Makes me so tired
水の無い川 エンジンのない車
A river without water, a car without an engine
弦の切れたギター
A guitar with busted strings
ヤニのないタバコ
Cigarettes with no smoke
キミかわいいね
You're cute, aren't you?
テレビにでも出たら
If you were on TV
キミかわいいよ
You're cute
モデルにでもなれよ
You could even be a model
キミかわいいよ お人形さんみたい
You're cute, just like a doll
それだけさ
Just that's all there is to it
ぼくは さよなら
I'm saying goodbye
するよ 男には困らないだろ
I can handle being on my own
キミかわいいね
You're cute, aren't you?
でも それだけだね
But that's all there is to it
キミかわいいよ
You're cute
でも それだけだよ
But that's all there is to it
キミかわいいだけだね
You're just cute, that's all
ただそれだけだね
Nothing more, nothing less
キミかわいいだけだね
You're just cute, that's all
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: 清志郎 忌野
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
亜亜
キミかわいいね
でも それだけだね
キミかわいいよ
でも それだけだよ
それだけさ キミと話してたら
ボクこんなにつかれたよ
キミかわいいね
でも それだけだね
キミかわいいよ
お人形さんみたい それだけさ
キミといっしょに
いたら ボクこんなにつかれたよ
酒でも飲まなきゃ
キミとはいられない
シラフじゃとっても
いっしょにいられない
キミかわいいね
でも それだけだね
それだけさ
水の無い川 エンジンのない車
弦の切れたギター
ヤニのないタバコ
キミかわいいね
テレビにでも出たら
キミかわいいよ
モデルにでもなれよ
キミかわいいよ お人形さんみたい
それだけさ
ぼくは さよなら
するよ 男には困らないだろ
キミかわいいね
でも それだけだね
キミかわいいよ
でも それだけだよ
キミかわいいだけだね
ただそれだけだね
キミかわいいだけだね
歌：RCサクセション
作詞：忌野清志郎
作曲：肝沢幅一
すとろんぐZERO
後のタイマーズを彷彿とさせますね。当時の表現の自由を上手く利用した歌詞だと思います。実際に当時作った「あそび」という曲はＯＵＴだったと聞きます。（キヨシロのソロ1986年アルバムで聞けます）
7inchdj
強く印象に残る歌詞の歌を書かせたら大天才だった。
駒木利光
誰におもねるわけでもなくさらっとこういう歌を歌ってくれる清志郎が大好きでした。
UPありがとうございました。
スナハラミキ
駒木利光 なぜ過去形なんだ
ポコジロウタカール
好きな曲
Yutaka Murase
水の無い川 、、
エンジンのない車、、
弦の切れたギター、、
ヤニのないタバコ、、
今 聞いても強烈だわ
4GP
ケンチギター上手いのになー
oki mul
こちらのサムネイルは『RCサクセションのすべて』 でしょうか。1982年頃欲しくてたまらない1冊でした。