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.
ヒッピーに捧ぐ
RCサクセション Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
すぐに済んでしまった
いつものような なにげない朝は
知らん顔して ぼくを起こした
電車は動きだした
豚どもを乗せて
ぼくを乗せて
次の駅で ぼくは降りてしまった
涙をふいて 電車に乗りこんだ
遅刻してホールについた
ぼくらは歌い出した
君に聞こえるように
声を張り上げて
空を引き裂いて 君がやって来て
ぼくらを救ってくれると言った
検屍官と市役所は
君が死んだなんて言うのさ
明日また 楽屋で会おう
新しいギターを見せてあげる
The lyrics to RCサクセション's song ヒッピーに捧ぐ tell the story of a sudden farewell. The singer wakes up on a normal morning, only to be ignored by someone they care about. They board a train, alongside other passengers and pigs, and get off at the next station. Over the course of the next half hour, the singer cries and eventually boards another train. Though they are late, they arrive at a hall where they begin to sing. They sing, hoping that the person they care about will hear them and come to their rescue. However, the lyrics also reveal that the person they hoped would come to their rescue has passed away. They promise to meet them again in the afterlife and show them their new guitar.
The song has an introspective and melancholy tone, exploring themes of grief, loneliness, loss, and hopelessness. The singer's sudden farewell and the death of their loved one are depicted with vivid imagery and raw emotions. The song also has a hopeful note towards the end, with the singer promising to meet the departed loved one again in the future.
Line by Line Meaning
お別れは突然やってきて
We parted ways suddenly
すぐに済んでしまった
It was over quickly
いつものような なにげない朝は
That ordinary morning
知らん顔して ぼくを起こした
You pretended not to notice me and woke me up
電車は動きだした
The train started moving
豚どもを乗せて
It carried the pigs
ぼくを乗せて
It carried me too
次の駅で ぼくは降りてしまった
I got off at the next station
30分泣いた
I cried for 30 minutes
涙をふいて 電車に乗りこんだ
Wiping away my tears, I got back on the train
遅刻してホールについた
I was late and arrived at the hall
ぼくらは歌い出した
We started to sing
君に聞こえるように
So you can hear us
声を張り上げて
We raised our voices
空を引き裂いて 君がやって来て
Tearing through the sky, you come to us
ぼくらを救ってくれると言った
You said you would save us
検屍官と市役所は
The medical examiner and city hall
君が死んだなんて言うのさ
Say that you died
明日また 楽屋で会おう
Let's meet at the dressing room again tomorrow
新しいギターを見せてあげる
I'll show you my new guitar
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: 清志郎 忌野
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
まーきー
お別れは突然やってきて
すぐに済んでしまった
いつものようななにげない朝は
知らん顔してぼくを起こした、
電車は動きだした 豚どもを乗せて
ぼくを乗せて
次の駅で ぼくは降りてしまった
30分泣いた 涙をふいて
電車に乗りこんだ
遅刻してホールについた、
ぼくらは歌い出した
君に聞こえるように
声を張り上げて
空を引き裂いて
君がやって来て
ぼくらを救ってくれると言った。
検屍官と市役所は 君が
死んだなんていうのさ
明日 また 楽屋で会おう
新しいギターを
見せてあげる
穂藤豊明
私の中のRCサクセション
最高のアルバムは
シングルマン
中でもいちばん大好きな曲
ヒッピーに捧ぐ。
スローバラードでは
ありません。(^_^;)))
スタジオテイクが大好きで
後半 清志郎の嘆きからの
コーラスに入る部分は
鳥肌ものですね。
当時は小学生ながら
感動したのを思い出します。
ありゃんけみ
清志郎さん
あなたと同じ世代に生きてこれて本当に良かった
思春期からどれだけあなたに、あなたの歌に励まされ、癒され、そして幸せを頂いたか！
言葉では表せない程感謝しています。
いつか天国に行った時、真っ先にあなたのライブチケット買うよ
それまで待っててね
大好きだー！
yuri kat
高校生のときに伝説の日比谷野音でこの曲を聞いた。衝撃のシャウトで鳥肌が立ったのを覚えている。RCは私の青春だった。同じ時代に生きられたこと、感謝している。素晴らしいときをありがとう、清志郎。
ナナのママ
清志郎さんの言葉には歌には嘘偽りが無いから心の奥底まで沁みる
個人用アカウント
自分は中二なんですけどこんな魂で歌っている歌手はどこにも居てないと思います。
過去にも後にももうこんな人は出てこないですね。
T N
名曲中の名曲歌詞もメロディーもそして誰も真似できない清志郎の圧倒的な歌唱力！
最後のシャウト泣けて泣けてどうしようない清志郎〜清志郎〜愛してま〜す
chero1008
僕の人生に音楽という彩りを与えてくれた清志郎 深く感謝します。
yohzi akazawa
何年も聴いてなかったのに急に聴きたくなって、数週間前これを見たときには涙が止まらなかった。ここ数日見続けてます。 今まで何度も救われました。 感謝しかありません。
こじまよしゆき
清志郎の歌、歌ってみたいなと思って聴き始めた
曲の後半に、何でこんなに叫び声が長く続くんだろうって不思議に感じていた
その後、ヒッピーというあだ名で呼ばれていた仲間がいた事などを知った
美しいメロディ、淡々と状況描写される歌詞、慟哭のような歌声
悲しい記憶をこんなに美しい曲にしてしまうなんて
すごいなぁ清志郎
若松元明
ホントに優しい声だと思います
ならぶたかし
この歌で急死した不遇時代のRCの数少ない支援者を送った清志郎を今度は僕らがこんなに早く送ることになるとは信じたくありません😭
私生涯サイコーの歌です🎶
k free
素晴らしい音楽と生き方に深く感謝します。