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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Stairs
Yellow Magic Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The stairs go on forever
They could be steel
They could be stone
They could even be paper
Are they leading up or down?
The stairs go on forever
Crowds of people in confusion
Are they moving, are they still?
The stairs go on forever
People going up stairs
People going down stairs
Ascending people
Descending people
The lyrics of Yellow Magic Orchestra's "Stairs" paint a vivid picture of an endless staircase, with crowds of people moving in and out of confusion. The choice of words here is incredibly descriptive and allows for the listener to effortlessly imagine what the scene may look like. The inclusion of "in the shadows by the wall" provides a sense of mystery and eeriness that is commonly associated with unknown spaces. The repetition of the line, "the stairs go on forever," is haunting and emphasizes the never-ending nature of the unknown. It feels like an unsettling experience, which is heightened by the use of a melodic, yet eerie synthesizer. The lyrics leave interpretation open for the audience, but put together, they paint a picture of a world of unknowns.
Line by Line Meaning
In the shadows by the wall
The singer describes the location where the stairs are situated.
The stairs go on forever
The stairs are perceived to be infinite and never-ending.
They could be steel
The material used in constructing the stairs can be steel.
They could be stone
The material used in constructing the stairs can be stone.
They could even be paper
The material used in constructing the stairs can be paper, which means that the stairs could be fragile and unstable.
Are they leading up or down?
The singer is uncertain if the stairs are ascending or descending.
Crowds of people in confusion
The singer observes the presence of many people in the area who appear to be bewildered or uncertain, suggesting a scenario of chaos.
Are they moving in or out?
The artist is unable to determine whether the people are entering or leaving the location where the stairs are located.
Are they moving, are they still?
The artist is unsure if the people are stationary or motionless.
People going up stairs
Some individuals are climbing the stairs in an ascending direction.
People going down stairs
Some individuals are descending the same stairs in a downward direction.
Ascending people
This line refers to the same individuals climbing the stairs, but emphasizes the upward direction.
Descending people
This line refers to the same individuals descending the stairs in the opposite direction of the ascending individuals.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Pete Barakan, Yukihiro Takahashi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@junkiiida4716
以下、和訳してみた。
壁際の影に
階段はいつまでも続く
彼らは鋼鉄なのかもしれない
彼らは石なのかもしれない
彼らは紙なのかもしれない
上に行くのか下に行くのか？
階段はどこまでも続く
混乱する人々の群れ
入ってくるのか、出て行くのか。
動いているのか、じっとしているのか。
階段は永遠に続く
混乱する人々の群れ
入ってくるのか、出て行くのか。
階段を上る人
階段を降りる人
上昇していく人々
下降していく人々
@avocado_sasami
細野さんのベースラインが独特な怪しさを醸し出していて、何か妖艶な感じが好き(〃ω〃)
@fockewulfta1525
下の粘り気とカチカチの上…こんなにかっこいい曲には今後出会えない気がどうしてもしてしまいます💦ノスタルジーではなくても自分のプレイリストに入れておけば死ぬまで毎日聴くことができます
@2008masayachannel
今まであまりテクノデリック収録曲聴かなかったけどWinter Liveでこの曲知ってアルバムの中でこれが一番好きになった
@ethanoreilly2002
How they can go from jazz fusion electronica to this bleak industrial style in just the space of 3 years baffles me, shows how creative they were at this time! Not to mention BGM and Technodelic were both released in 1981!!
@outrunsega
砂原さんが好きといってましたね、この曲。たしかにダークなんだけど、このカッチリした工場音のような規則的に進むリズムがハマりますね。まりんの音楽の基礎になってる気がする
@danavixen6274
Masterful geniuses at work! ❤️
@SpagettyCraft
ahhh nostalgy. my dad used to play ymo for us in the car. this was my favourite song. I just can't get enough of this simple yet catchy drum line. combined with the piano it is so good. so simple, yet so original
@junkiiida4716
以下、和訳してみた。
壁際の影に
階段はいつまでも続く
彼らは鋼鉄なのかもしれない
彼らは石なのかもしれない
彼らは紙なのかもしれない
上に行くのか下に行くのか？
階段はどこまでも続く
混乱する人々の群れ
入ってくるのか、出て行くのか。
動いているのか、じっとしているのか。
階段は永遠に続く
混乱する人々の群れ
入ってくるのか、出て行くのか。
階段を上る人
階段を降りる人
上昇していく人々
下降していく人々
@user-pd9fo1tv2r
和訳ありがとうございます。
何か幻覚を見てる気分になります…。
@jeffreyspeice
This album is truly amazing! This song reminds me of the 1980's era of music with the likes of King Crimson (Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Tony Levin and Bill Bruford) . I also feel David Bowie as well. It also has a sound of it's own. Really Awesome!