Their first major label release, wonder style, was released in 1995, and produced in London, United Kingdom, by Chris Brown, who previously engineered albums and tracks for Radiohead and Pink Floyd. Their breakthrough album, however, was 1998's Gear Blues which sold more than 500,000 copies, a huge number in the Japanese recording industry. Gear Blues was released in the United States in 2000 by Alive Records, but the band's success in that country never reached the level that they had in Japan, although they had moderate success in Europe. With the release of Gear Blues, the band stopped using lowercase letters in their name, and became known as THEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT, with capitalized letters. The band announced that they would break up on October 11, 2003, after their Last Heaven tour of Japan.
After breaking up, the members have all continued activities in other bands. Chiba Yusuke recorded two albums and several smaller releases while in ROSSO, and has participated in projects of smaller scale, such as Midnight Bankrobbers, RAVEN and THE MIDWEST VIKINGS. In 2006, he and drummer Kuhara Kazuyuki got together again and formed The Birthday. As for the other TMGE members, bassist Ueno Koji was part of the three-piece rock band Radio Caroline for several years before suspending activities in 2009, and helped record the HIATUS' album Trash We'd Love. While not as active after the breakup as some of the other members, guitarist Abe Futoshi has among other things appeared in a band called KOOLOGI.
On July 22nd, 2009, it was announced on the band's official homepage that Abe Futoshi had passed away due to an acute epidural hematoma, a condition often caused by a blow to the side of the head. Abe was 43 years old.
Members:
Chiba Yusuke (チバユウスケ) – Vocal, guitar
Abe Futoshi (アベフトシ) – Guitar
Ueno Koji (ウエノコウジ) – Bass
Kuhara Kazuyuki (クハラカズユキ) – Drums
Official Webpages:
http://www.rockin-blues.com/
http://www.universal-music.co.jp/tmge/
http://columbia.jp/~michelle/
暴かれた世界
Thee Michelle Gun Elephant Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
俺の背骨を貫くだろう
ロデオ・タンデム・ビート・スペクターが
お前の頭かち割るだろう※
△年老いたブルーバード
雪の降るコンクリート
モノクロームの大地
パーティーは終わりにしたんだ△
抱きしめながらゆくとぐろをまく闇□
スピード・目隠し・死人列車
ヘルメットの数59で
ピース・マークだけで全て片付ける
奴にあきあきしてる
泥だらけ花売り女
つばめ服の占い師
火を吹くテネシーブーツ
パーティーは終わりにしたんだ
(□くり返し)
悲しくなんてないし
香港のガラス張りの
ビルが輝いたくらいで
パーティーは終わりにしたんだ
(※くり返し)
(△くり返し)
(□くり返し)
(□くり返し)
The lyrics of 暴かれた世界 by THEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT are enigmatic and evocative, painting a bleak picture of a world that's been exposed, laid bare for all to see. The opening lines speak of the power of the "rodeo tandem beat specter," a force that will pierce through the singer's spine and fracture the listener's head. The language is violent, but it's not clear who or what the beat specter represents. Perhaps it's a symbol for the harsh realities of life, or the forces that seek to destroy us.
The chorus is both melancholic and uplifting, reminding us that even in a world that's been exposed and laid bare, there's still hope to be found. The world might be dark, but if we hold on to our orange hearts, we can make our way through the twisting shadows. The juxtaposition of the two verses is striking. The first paints a picture of a desolate, monochrome world, where parties have come to an end. The second is more upbeat, a celebration of resilience in the face of darkness.
Overall, the lyrics of 暴かれた世界 are a powerful statement about the human condition. They remind us that even in the darkest of times, there is still light to be found. Life might be difficult, but it's still worth living.
Line by Line Meaning
ロデオ・タンデム・ビート・スペクターが 俺の背骨を貫くだろう
The rough and destructive reality of life will penetrate my soul.
ロデオ・タンデム・ビート・スペクターが お前の頭かち割るだろう
The rough and destructive reality of life will even split your head open.
年老いたブルーバード 雪の降るコンクリート モノクロームの大地 パーティーは終わりにしたんだ
The world has become dull and the party is over; the lone and aging bluebird in the snow-covered concrete jungle symbolizes the bleak and monochromatic nature of reality.
暴かれた世界は オレンジのハートを 抱きしめながらゆくとぐろをまく闇
The revealed world is full of darkness that coils around you while you try to protect the vestiges of hope represented by the orange heart you hold close to your chest.
スピード・目隠し・死人列車 ヘルメットの数59で ピース・マークだけで全て片付ける 奴にあきあきしてる
The artist is fed up with the illusion of heroism that some display, such as riding a death train at top speed while blindfolded or wearing 59 helmets, and pretending that peace can be achieved with a simple peace sign.
泥だらけ花売り女 つばめ服の占い師 火を吹くテネシーブーツ パーティーは終わりにしたんだ
The party is over and the singer finds himself surrounded by people like a mud-covered flower vendor, a fortune teller dressed in a chimney swallow-patterned outfit, and someone wearing boots lit on fire, signifying the chaotic and unconventional nature of life.
悲しくなんてないし 香港のガラス張りの ビルが輝いたくらいで パーティーは終わりにしたんだ
The party has ended, and the singer dismisses any feeling of sadness by pointing out how the glass-covered buildings in Hong Kong shine brilliantly, emphasizing the beauty of life even in the midst of all the chaos and darkness.
Writer(s): チバ ユウスケ, ミッシェル・ガン・エレファント, チバ ユウスケ
Contributed by Nora J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.