The band was originally conceived as a one-off studio project by Hosono, the other two members being recruited session musicians - the idea was to produce an album fusing orientalist exotica (cf their cover version of Martin Denny's Firecracker) with modern electronics. However , the first album (with its cutting-edge production) was very popular, and the studio project grew into a fully fledged touring band and career for its three members.
Making abundant use of new synthesizers, samplers, digital and computer recording technology as it became available, their popularity and influence extended beyond Japan. Generally, the band was highly regarded as electronic pioneer and continues to be remixed and sampled by modern artists. The members have also worked with European synth/new romantic artists, such as David Sylvian of the band Japan. The single Bamboo Houses is one such example (Sylvian/Sakamoto).
The band stopped working together by 1984, the three members returning to their solo careers. They released a one-off reuinion album, Technodon, in 1993.
The early 2000s saw Hosono & Takahashi reunited in a project called Sketch Show. On the occasions when Sakamoto joined them in concerts, they called themselves Human Audio Sponge (HAS). The band played Rydeen at the 2007 Live Earth concert in Kyoto, Japan. They released two new singles that summer under the band name of HASYMO, an updated version of Rydeen and the new song Rescue.
Read more here.
Ballet
Yellow Magic Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A hint of calla
She was a refugee from across the wall
Acting out a story
Written in air
Silent applause
Dancing with sadness
Just for hersel
Lost in the motion
A mine with no end
Shadows hold jealous eyes
Ice in may
Points on a silhouette
Slow fading shoes
The lyrics of Ballet by Yellow Magic Orchestra convey the image of a woman who is lost in her own world, dancing alone with only shadows as an audience. The first line, "Turning faded pages", suggests that she is reflecting on the past, perhaps flipping through old photographs or memories. The next line, "A hint of calla", adds to this nostalgic tone, as calla lilies are often associated with funerals and mourning.
The woman is then described as a "refugee from across the wall", adding a political element to the song. She may be fleeing from a war-torn country or a country with strict censorship and oppression. The line "Acting out a story / Written in air" suggests that she is creating her own narrative through her dance, a form of self-expression that cannot be suppressed.
The rest of the lyrics paint a picture of a woman who is completely absorbed in her dance, with no regard for anyone else watching. The darkness is "illicit", implying that what she is doing is frowned upon, but she finds solace and catharsis in the movements. The "silent applause" represents the satisfaction she feels with herself, and "dancing with sadness" suggests that she is working through her emotions. The final line, "Slow fading shoes", implies that the dance will continue on, despite the wear and tear of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Turning faded pages
Looking back at memories that have become old and blurry
A hint of calla
A subtle reference to the white calla lily flower, often associated with rebirth and new beginnings
She was a refugee from across the wall
The woman in the song was an outsider trying to find solace and happiness in a place she didn't belong
Acting out a story
Portraying a narrative through body language and movement
Written in air
The story being conveyed was not spoken, but rather communicated through gestures
Illicit in the darkness
Doing something forbidden or frowned upon, hidden away from the eyes of others
Silent applause
Appreciation for the performance being given, even though it was not expressed out loud
Dancing with sadness
Expressing one's emotions through dance, including negative feelings like sadness
Just for herself
The woman was dancing purely for her own enjoyment and release, not for anyone else's benefit
Lost in the motion
Being fully immersed and consumed by the action of dancing
A mine with no end
The feeling of endlessly digging deeper into oneself through dance, without ever truly reaching the bottom
Shadows hold jealous eyes
The negative or envious gaze of others, lurking in the darkness
Ice in may
The juxtaposition of cold, brittle imagery with the warmth and vitality of springtime (May) symbolizes the woman's internal conflict between light and dark emotions
Points on a silhouette
The subtle details of a dancer's form and movement, even when cast as a shadow
Slow fading shoes
The physical artifact of the dance and the woman's journey, reflecting the gradual diminishment of her emotional intensity over time
Writer(s): Yukihiro Takahashi, Pete Barakan Copyright: Yano Music Publishing Co. Ltd.
Contributed by Hailey D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@luzokei6737
Turning faded pages
A hint of calais
She was a refugee
From across the wall
Acting out a story
Written in air
Illicit in the darkness
Silent applause
Dancing with sadness
Just for herself
Lost in the motion
A mind with no end
Shadows hold jealous eyes
Ice in may
Points on a silhouette
Slow fading shoes
Dancing with sadness
Just for herself
Lost in the motion
A mind with no end
Acting out a story
Written in air
Illicit in the darkness
Silent applause
Dancing with sadness
Just for herself
Lost in the motion
A mind with no end
Dancing with sadness
Just for herself
Lost in the motion
A mind with no end
Dancing with sadness
Just for herself
Lost in the motion
A mind with no end
Dancing with sadness
Just for herself
Lost in the motion
A mind with no end
Dancing with sadness
Just for herself
Lost in the motion
A mind with no end
Dancing with sadness
Just for herself
@leslieschmidt19
I have loved this song since the age of 17, now 60. Never sick of hearing it! RIP, Mr. Sakamoto.
@dogman3362
I am so glad his music is still getting love
@johnnyjohnny8700
Leslie just like you 60 and coming from an era without computers. It took me at least 10 years before i knew what they were singing dancing with sadness etc etc, come on man what a lyric. This song is my lifetime number 1 ever. I could hear this everyday 24/7 on repeat.
@yt2907
テクノポリスもライディーンも大好きですが、この曲も本当に大好きです。40年経っても全く古くならないのは、細野さんの仰る通り消費されていないからだと思いますが、BGMは本当にすごいアルバムだと思います。BGMで一番好きなこの曲は、一生聞き続けると思う五十路でした。
@user-ig5ms4ux8n
自分は中学生の時、このアルバムをおこずかいを貯めて買いました。当時。「めちゃ最先端！20世紀の終わりを告げる曲！！」と思ってましたが想像をはるかに超えてますね‥‥これが４０年以上前の曲なんて本当に奇跡です
@yt2907
私も中学生でしたが、最初は暗いイメージしか無かったです。が、何か引っかかるものがあって、何度も聞いているうちにハマってしまった感じです。周りもどちらかというと否定的でした。この年になって思うのは”凄い”としか言いようがないです。
@vvncalx
One of their most unique sounding songs, very cool and awesome!
@marsmediapro
Yellow Magic Orchestra was definitely ahead of their time. Great grooves! Thanks for posting.
@gloverelaxis
this album is a masterwork
@luzokei6737
Turning faded pages
A hint of calais
She was a refugee
From across the wall
Acting out a story
Written in air
Illicit in the darkness
Silent applause
Dancing with sadness
Just for herself
Lost in the motion
A mind with no end
Shadows hold jealous eyes
Ice in may
Points on a silhouette
Slow fading shoes
Dancing with sadness
Just for herself
Lost in the motion
A mind with no end
Acting out a story
Written in air
Illicit in the darkness
Silent applause
Dancing with sadness
Just for herself
Lost in the motion
A mind with no end
Dancing with sadness
Just for herself
Lost in the motion
A mind with no end
Dancing with sadness
Just for herself
Lost in the motion
A mind with no end
Dancing with sadness
Just for herself
Lost in the motion
A mind with no end
Dancing with sadness
Just for herself
Lost in the motion
A mind with no end
Dancing with sadness
Just for herself