His best albums are said to be: "Symbol" where he used samples of classical music pieces, melodies from Vivaldi, Shostakovitch, Mahler, Albinoni are found within it, "Sakura" (LEAF 2000) "Grinning Cat" (LEAF 2001), "The Boy and the tree" (LEAF 2002) and his last CD (with Vocals) "Wonder Waltz" (LO 2006). On "Wonder Waltz" he collaborated with Czech avant-garde violinist and singer Iva Bittová.
Susumu Yokota died on the 27th of March 2015 after "a long period of medical treatment."
Albums
Frankfurt Tokyo Connection (1993) - Released under the alias "Yokota"
Zen (1994) - Released under the alias "Ebi"
Acid Mt. Fuji (1994)
Plantation (1995) - Released under the alias "Ringo"
Metronome Melody (1995) - Released under the alias "Prism"
Ten (1995) - Released under the alias "Ebi"
Anima Beat (1996) - Released under the alias "Anima Mundi"
Cat, Mouse and Me (1996) - Released under the alias "Yokota"
Fruit of the Room (1997) - Released under the alias "Stevia"
Fallen Angel (1997) - Released under the alias "Prism"
Greenpeace (1998) - Released under the alias "Stevia"
Magic Thread (1998)
1998 (1998)
Image 1983-1998 (September 13, 1999)
1999 (1999)
Sakura (1999)
Mix (1999)
Zero (2000) - released in the UK on Exceptional Records
Zero Remixes (2001)
Grinning Cat (2001)
Will (2001)
Sound of Sky (2002) - released in the UK on Exceptional Records
The Boy and the Tree (2002)
Over Head (2003)
Laputa (2003)
Baroque (2004)
Symbol (2004)
Distant Sounds of Summer (2005) - in collaboration with Rothko
Wonder Waltz (2006)
Triple Time Dance (September 2006) – Techno in waltz time
LOVE or DIE (eta May 2007)
Red Swan
Susumu Yokota Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can hide your fear
Can lie, my dear
このまま 夢を見て
血だらけの翼 広げて
Like a fallen angel 時の風に
Into the starry night 女神のように
抱きしめて 永遠を
Fly into heaven
What′s the lie
What's the truth
What to believe
In my life
See the flowers breathing in the rain
Try growing to the edge of light
It′s so far away to reach out to the sky
I'll seize, I'll seize the roses with my wings
We′ll fly
Like a Fallen Angel 時の風に
流されて 落ちてゆく
Into the starry night 女神のように
抱きしめて 永遠を
We′ll fly away
We'll find a way
You can hide your fear
Can lie, my dear
We′ll see the end
We'll be the end
抱きしめて
永遠を
Fly into heaven
The song "Red Swan" by Susumu Yokota is a hauntingly beautiful track that explores themes of fear, dishonesty, and the search for eternal love. The opening lines, "Like the scarlet night veiling the dark, you can hide your fear, can lie, my dear," paint a vivid picture of someone trying to conceal their true emotions and intentions. The singer acknowledges this act of deception, but seems to empathize with their partner's need to protect themselves.
The next lines, "Fly into the starry night, like a fallen angel swept up in the winds of time," introduce the idea of flight and escape, as the characters attempt to transcend their earthly limitations and achieve a sense of spiritual freedom. There is also a sense of melancholy as they acknowledge the inevitability of their descent and relinquish their control.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more ambiguous, with phrases like "what's the lie, what's the truth, what to believe in my life" and "we'll see the end, we'll be the end" suggesting a sense of existential uncertainty and doubt. However, the repeated line "抱きしめて 永遠を" ("Embrace eternity") provides a hopeful anchor, and the soaring, ethereal melody underscores the idea of transcendence and the search for something greater.
Overall, "Red Swan" is a hauntingly poetic meditation on the human experience, with lyrics that capture the complexity and emotional depth of our relationships and our quest for meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
Like the scarlet night veiling the dark
Similar to how the darkness of the night is hidden by its red color, you can also conceal your fear and true emotions.
You can hide your fear
You have the power to keep your fear hidden from others.
Can lie, my dear
You can also deceive others with your words, my beloved.
このまま 夢を見て
Just like this, let's continue to dream.
血だらけの翼 広げて
Spread your wings, even if they are stained with blood.
Like a fallen angel 時の風に
Flow with the winds of time, like a fallen angel.
流されて 落ちてゆく
Drift away and fall downward.
Into the starry night 女神のように
Embrace the starry night like a goddess.
抱きしめて 永遠を
Hold onto it and have it for eternity.
Fly into heaven
Fly high into the heavens.
What's the lie
What is the untruth?
What's the truth
What is the genuine fact?
What to believe
What should you have faith in?
In my life
In your own existence.
See the flowers breathing in the rain
Observe the flowers as they absorb and breathe in the rain.
Try growing to the edge of light
Attempt to expand and develop yourself towards the light.
It's so far away to reach out to the sky
It may be incredibly distant, but aspire to touch the sky nevertheless.
I'll seize, I'll seize the roses with my wings
I will grasp and take hold of the roses using my wings.
We'll fly
Together, we will soar.
We'll find a way
We will discover a method.
We'll see the end
We will view the conclusion.
We'll be the end
We will be the conclusion.
抱きしめて
Hold it tightly.
永遠を
For eternity.
Fly into heaven
Fly high into the heavens.
Writer(s): Susumu Yokota
Contributed by Levi O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.