[YMO] Revisiting the classic songs of YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA!
YMO, Yellow Magic Orchestra, laid the foundation for Japan’s techno and electro scene.
In this article, we introduce their classic tracks that helped establish technopop.
The three members were influential musicians leading the music scene even before forming YMO.
They loved trying new things, viewing live performances as a place to present finished works and studio recording as a place for new challenges, pouring the most love into recording.
Now, enjoy YMO’s songs that were ahead of their time and became a social phenomenon.
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[YMO] Looking Back on Yellow Magic Orchestra’s Masterpieces! (1–10)
Chinese womanYellow Magic Orchestra
A track from the B-side of the 1978 album “Yellow Magic Orchestra.” I feel the essence of techno in its sound, which is reminiscent of China yet carries a hint of Europe.
It’s one of their masterpieces, where the driving rhythm pairs perfectly with Yukihiro Takahashi’s tight vocals.
ABUSOLUTE EGO DANCEYellow Magic Orchestra
A track from YMO’s second album, “SOLID STATE SURVIVOR.” It experiments with a fusion of Okinawan and Indian music, creating an exotic atmosphere that’s absolutely captivating.
The rhythm bounces with exquisite timing and feels so good, doesn’t it? The mysterious melody really hits home, too!
massYellow Magic Orchestra
A track whose heavy, cold-blooded beat and the curious interplay of English and Russian linger in the ear.
Released in September of the same year as a single cut from the acclaimed album BGM, which came out in March 1981, it stands as a song that symbolizes the band’s decisive shift away from their earlier bright, pop image toward a darker, more experimental new wave direction.
Many fans at the time were likely bewildered by the sudden change, yet found themselves captivated by its avant-garde stance.
[YMO] Looking Back on YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA’s Masterpieces! (11–20)
Lotus LoveYellow Magic Orchestra
A track included on the album “Uwakina Bokura,” released on May 24, 1983.
The lyrics and composition were handled by vocalist Haruomi Hosono.
With its grand lyrical worldview and unforgettable melody that sticks with you after a single listen, it captured the hearts of many.
You could truly call it the ultimate love song.
The End of AsiaYellow Magic Orchestra
This piece by Ryuichi Sakamoto was composed with images of The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō and Utagawa Hiroshige’s ukiyo-e in mind.
The steady, unhurried rhythm evokes the feeling of marching along an Edo-period highway.
Be prepared—the track is cut abruptly in places, so don’t be startled!
Thousand KnivesYellow Magic Orchestra
A track from their fifth album, BGM, released in 1981.
The sharp synthesizer performance seems to express the knife-like edge suggested by the title, making it a very pleasant listen.
Yukihiro Takahashi’s tight drum sound is another highlight.
Mad PierrotYellow Magic Orchestra
A classic song that borrows its title from the French masterpiece Pierrot le Fou, showcasing the members’ love of cinema.
It appears on Yellow Magic Orchestra’s self-titled debut album, released in November 1978.
Crafted by Haruomi Hosono, the piece is notable for its vocoder-processed, mechanical vocals and synthesizer tones that are sprightly yet unsettling, evoking a circus.
The voice functions as one of the instruments, stirring the listener’s imagination.
It’s a track brimming with the exotic atmosphere and playful spirit characteristic of their early period.