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.
Shadows on the Ground
Yellow Magic Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you remember, how you turned the clock to May
From that day, you took my heart and pulled the strings
I′m suspended in time and space and wandering
In our dream world, shining light from all around
I never noticed our shadows on the ground
Outside the sun is shining
There's not a cloud in sight
Your words are turning me to ice
From that day, you took my heart and pulled the strings
I'm suspended in time and space and wandering
In our dream world, shining light from all around
I never noticed our shadows on the ground
I want to love everybody
I want to hurt no one
Maybe it's just an illusion
The dark side of the sun
Outside the sun is shining
There′s not a cloud in sight
Inside the season′s changing
Your words are turning me to ice
I want to love everybody
I want to hurt no one
Maybe it's just an illusion
The dark side of the sun
Outside the sun is shining
There′s not a cloud in sight
Inside the season's changing
Your words are turning me to ice
I want to love everybody
I want to hurt no one
Maybe it′s just an illusion
The dark side of the sun
The song "Shadows on the Ground" by Yellow Magic Orchestra is a somber reflection on the pain that comes with change. The lyrics describe a time when everything was cold and grey, but the singer remembers how his lover "turned the clock to May" and brought warmth and light into his life. However, despite the happiness they shared, there is an acknowledgement that their relationship is not perfect. The singer is "suspended in time and space and wandering" and cannot help but notice the shadows on the ground.
The imagery of light and shadow is used throughout the song to represent the contrasting emotions of joy and sadness. The dream world described in the lyrics is a place of shining light from all around, but the shadows on the ground suggest that even in the happiest moments, there is still some darkness lurking. The singer wants to love everybody and hurt no one, but he knows that this might be an illusion. The dark side of the sun is a metaphor for the pain that comes with change, and the line "Your words are turning me to ice" suggests that the singer's lover might be the source of that pain.
Overall, "Shadows on the Ground" is a powerful exploration of the complexities of love and loss. The song shows that even in moments of great happiness, there is always some sadness underneath, and that change can bring pain as well as joy.
Line by Line Meaning
November, my whole world was cold and grey
The singer's world was bleak and gloomy in November.
Do you remember, how you turned the clock to May
The singer is asking if the listener remembers how they brightened up their world.
From that day, you took my heart and pulled the strings
The singer's emotions have been controlled by the actions of the listener.
I'm suspended in time and space and wandering
The artist feels lost and disconnected from reality.
In our dream world, shining light from all around
The artist and listener share a utopian dream world.
I never noticed our shadows on the ground
The singer wasn't aware of the darker aspects of their relationship.
Outside the sun is shining
It is sunny outside.
There's not a cloud in sight
The sky is clear and cloudless.
Inside the season's changing
Despite the nice weather outside, the artist is going through an internal change.
Your words are turning me to ice
The listener's words are making the artist feel cold and emotionally distant.
I want to love everybody
The singer desires to have a positive emotional connection with everyone.
I want to hurt no one
The artist has no intentions of causing emotional harm to anyone.
Maybe it's just an illusion
The singer acknowledges that their desire for universal love may not be entirely realistic.
The dark side of the sun
The negative aspects of the listener's influence on the singer's life.
Writer(s): Ryuichi Sakamoto, Yukihiro Takahashi, Pete Barakan
Contributed by Sydney M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@tabasuimari4842
坂本教授も亡くなり、私はただの１ファンながらも心の穴を自覚しつつ、この曲をここでも有り難く聴かさせて頂いてます。
変わりゆく季節、知らぬ間に長くなる地面の影…。
心に沁みる歌詞ですが、演奏もそれを優しくエレガントに表した名曲です。
このアルバムが出た時、わけが分かりませんでした。約４年の活動の最終アルバムだったからです。
え、もっと売れるのに短すぎるしもっと他の曲も聞きたい、と思っていましたが、今でも…、今でも、これもServiceだったのかなと納得するしかありません。
この曲の歌詞に、「覚えてる？時計を５月にする方法を」とありますが、これだけでも心にグッとくるものがあります。
本当にいい曲なので、どこかでこの曲の良さを話したかったです。
@hiroyukikubo7195
November, my whole world was cold and grey
Do you remember, how you turned the clock to May
From that day, you took my heart and pulled the strings
I’m suspended in time and space and wandering
In our dream world, shining light from all around
I never noticed our shadows on the ground
Outside the sun is shining
There’s not a cloud in sight
Inside, the season’s changing
Your words are turning me to ice
From that day, you took my heart and pulled the strings
I’m suspended in time and space and wandering
In our dream world, shining light from all around
I never noticed our shadows on the ground
I want to love everybody
I want to hurt no one
Maybe it’s just an illusion
The dark side of the sun
Outside the sun is shining
There’s not a cloud in sight
Inside, the season’s changing
Your words are turning me to ice
I want to love everybody
I want to hurt no one
Maybe it’s just an illusion
The dark side of the sun
@nukegara7081
猛烈なファンには怒られそうだけど何だかんだでこのアルバムがYMOで一番好きかもしれない
@nom4001
スネアの位置が変わるところがセンス。
ユキヒロさん、素敵な曲をありがとうございました、
@sk-gr7mz
実はスネアの位置はずっと2,4の表。
イントロのパッド音が半拍前なのに、1拍目に聞こえてしまうのはアレンジの上のトリックです。
@tabasuimari4842
坂本教授も亡くなり、私はただの１ファンながらも心の穴を自覚しつつ、この曲をここでも有り難く聴かさせて頂いてます。
変わりゆく季節、知らぬ間に長くなる地面の影…。
心に沁みる歌詞ですが、演奏もそれを優しくエレガントに表した名曲です。
このアルバムが出た時、わけが分かりませんでした。約４年の活動の最終アルバムだったからです。
え、もっと売れるのに短すぎるしもっと他の曲も聞きたい、と思っていましたが、今でも…、今でも、これもServiceだったのかなと納得するしかありません。
この曲の歌詞に、「覚えてる？時計を５月にする方法を」とありますが、これだけでも心にグッとくるものがあります。
本当にいい曲なので、どこかでこの曲の良さを話したかったです。
@ferrioseco5139
RIP Takahashi. Such a great loss for music.
@brsbros
ほんとだね
@user-rt9dt2id2w
YMO、サーヴィス、このジャケットとこの曲を聴くと何か寂しさを感じる、自分の中で何かが終わった、
さらば十代、パッとしなかった十代の青春、そしてささらばYMO、
@macbig73
ファオーーーン♪、ファオオーーーン♪のシンセサイザーだけでご飯２杯食べられるな。
こんな豪華な気持ちよい曲、なんで最近出てこないのかな？
@MN-fr7ne
当時小学生だった自分が、レコードを買って、親に隠れて(マセている、と怒られていたので)聴いていた曲。あれから37年。自分の感性は間違ってなかったと思う。残念ながらレコードは処分したのですが、やはりCDを買おうかな☺️
@macbig73
すごくエレガンスでゴージャス。しかしながら、歌詞と転調を含めて切ない曲展開。超名曲だと思う。天才だわ。