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.
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Solid State Survivor
Yellow Magic Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Softly through the sea
In a broken
Stone age dawn
You fly so high
I get a strange magic
Oh, what a strange magic
Oh, it's a strange magic
Got a strange magic
You're walking
Meadows in my mind
Making waves
Across my tide
Oh no, oh no
I get a strange magic
Oh, what a strange magic
Oh, it's a strange magic
Got a strange magic
Got a strange magic
Oh, I'm never gonna
Be the same again
Now I've seen the way
It's got to end
Sweet dream, sweet dream
Strange magic
Oh, what a strange magic
Oh, it's a strange magic
Got a strange magic
Got a strange magic
It's magic, it's magic
It's magic
Strange magic
Oh, what a strange magic
Oh, it's a strange magic
Got a strange magic
Strange magic
(Strange magic)
Oh, what a strange magic
(Strange magic)
Oh, it's a strange magic
Got a strange magic
Strange magic
(Strange magic)
Oh, what a strange magic
(Strange magic)
Oh, it's a strange magic
Got a strange magic
Got a strange magic
You know, I got a strange magic
Yeah, I got a strange magic
Ooh, strange magic
The lyrics of Yellow Magic Orchestra's song "Solid State Survivor" convey a feeling of surrealism and wonder. The singer describes sailing softly through the sea in a broken stone age dawn, flying so high that they experience a strange magic. They then transition to walking meadows in their mind, making waves across their tide, ultimately realizing that they will never be the same again after experiencing this strange magic. The chorus repeats the phrase "strange magic" several times, emphasizing the otherworldly nature of this experience.
Line by Line Meaning
You're sailing
You're moving gracefully, like a ship on the sea.
Softly through the sea
Your movement is gentle, like the rocking of waves.
In a broken
In a world that's seen better days.
Stone age dawn
A time where civilization was young and developing.
You fly so high
You're achieving great things and reaching new heights.
I get a strange magic
I feel an unexplainable, captivating feeling.
Oh, what a strange magic
This feeling is unusual and hard to describe.
Oh, it's a strange magic
This feeling is definitely out of the ordinary.
Got a strange magic
I am experiencing a mysterious and enchanting sensation.
You're walking
You're moving forward step by step.
Meadows in my mind
A peaceful state of mind, like wandering through fields.
Making waves
Your actions are causing ripples or changes.
Across my tide
Affecting me emotionally or personally.
Oh no, oh no
Uh oh, there may be consequences to your actions.
I get a strange magic
Once again, that inexplicable feeling returns.
Oh, what a strange magic
It's just so different from anything else I've felt before.
Oh, it's a strange magic
There's no mistaking its unique quality.
Got a strange magic
I'm still feeling that captivating sensation.
Oh, I'm never gonna
I'll never be able to go back to how it was before.
Be the same again
Things are forever changed by my experience.
Now I've seen the way
I understand something significant that I didn't before.
It's got to end
This realization brings about a conclusion or resolution.
Sweet dream, sweet dream
A reminder of something pleasant and comforting.
It's magic, it's magic
What I am feeling or experiencing is truly magical.
Strange magic
This feeling is still so mysterious and fascinating.
Got a strange magic
I still can't shake that captivating sensation.
(Strange magic)
Repeating the idea that there's something inexplicable going on.
(Strange magic)
Emphasizing that same idea again.
You know, I got a strange magic
Just in case you forgot, I'm still feeling that captivating sensation.
Yeah, I got a strange magic
I can't explain it, but there's definitely something magical happening here.
Ooh, strange magic
Ending on the same note that they began - emphasizing the mysterious and enchanting feeling that has no explanation.
Contributed by Penelope F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Brian char-bow
Yellow Magic Orchestra – second album “Solid State Survivor“.
Released September 25, 1979 (Japan) Alfa Records
Produced by Haruomi Hosono All songs Arrangement & Performed by YMO
Lyrics by Chris Mosdell
00:00~1. Technopolis （Sakamoto）
04:15~2. Absolute Ego Dance （Hosono）
08:52~3. Rydeen （Takahashi）
13:19~4. Castalia （Sakamoto/ Takahashi）
16:50~5. Behind the Mask （Sakamoto）
20:27~6. Day Tripper (Lennon /McCartney)
23:09~7. Insomnia （Hosono）
28:07~8. Solid State Survivor（Takahashi）
※22nd (1980) Japan Record Awards, Album of the Year Award
YMO was Formed in 1978.
Ryuichi Sakamoto keyboard
Yukihiro Takahashi Drums (ex-Sadistic Mika Band)
Haruomi Hosono bass, keyboards (ex-Happy End)
たわけたしろ
technopolisとRYDEENという超名曲に挟まれながらも、その双璧に見劣りすることなく、むしろその双璧を飲み込むほどの存在感を放つabusolute ego danceはまさに日本近代音楽の結晶
Linguini Bros | Jin
This album is a masterpiece. Just about every song is really good. This group got me addicted.
石川佳子
このセカンドアルバム程最高の一枚はないと思う、ライディーン
TECHNOPOLIS
代表的な曲
40年立っても色あせない素晴らしい音源
いつまでも失いたくないものだと思う
イサムちゃん
多分何年経っても残る音楽ですね バッハやシューベルト等のクラシックのように
ブラッドロッシ
やはり、この3人は天才！！時代さえもついはいけない。先駆者。
蒲生秀隆
高橋さんのドラムはホント痺れちゃうくらい好き
Hayden Kinman
"Behind the Mask gets all the credit, but the whole album is fantastic!"
"It is criminally overlooked!"
Jon Darnbrough
These 3 guys and also Isao Tomita were pioneering in the music industry and did not realise it at the time. They influenced bands such as Ultravox, John Foxx, Gary Numan, Depeche Mode OMD, The Human League, Visage, Art Of Noise, Duran Duran and even Micahael Jackson and countless others. They were to music as Steve Hobbs was to Apple !! Amazing Things Come Out Of Japan.
Faris Abou-Saleh
@しのぴ一 (I think it is Steve *Jobs*, not Hobbs) The meaning is: Steve Jobs is the pioneer who brought us Apple computers.... and these guys are the pioneers of electronic music 🙃
しのぴ一
下から3行と4行の意味わからんかった 誰か教えて