[YMO] Revisiting the classic songs of YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA!

Lotus LoveYellow Magic Orchestra

Lotus Love – YMO

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.

chance encounterYellow Magic Orchestra

Yellow Magic Orchestra – Kai-Koh

Among the tracks on the 1983 album “Uwakina Bokura,” this piece stands out for its distinctly introspective beauty.

Ryuichi Sakamoto wrote and composed it, with Yukihiro Takahashi on vocals.

The shimmering, bell-like timbre of the synthesizer is striking, and its sound—radiant yet tinged with melancholy—resonates deeply.

The lyrics depict the protagonist, who can no longer sing of ideal love, expressing both determination and anxiety as they bid farewell to their former self and take a new step forward.

Although it isn’t a flashy single, it remains a perennial favorite among fans.

massYellow Magic Orchestra

[HD] MASS (ONE MORE YMO Shinjuku Koma Theater 1981 Live 2005 Remaster) - YMO

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.

Cosmic SurfingYellow Magic Orchestra

YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA “COSMIC SURFIN” LIVE AT THE GREEK THEATRE 1979 (Official Video)

A piece by bassist Haruomi Hosono.

This track, said to be a fusion of the Ventures and techno, is a fun one with its twangy “teke-teke” guitar tone.

As it unfolds, the melody shifts dramatically, making those changes part of the enjoyment—one of the greats.

Yukihiro Takahashi’s tight drumming really stands out in this masterpiece.

The End of AsiaYellow Magic Orchestra

[Complete Version] YMO - THE END OF ASIA 1979 LIVE at The Venue, 24th Oct — Full Version

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!

Radical ladyYellow Magic Orchestra

[HD] Radical Lady (2003 Remaster) - YMO

Among YMO’s works, this piece is renowned as a masterpiece of techno kayō.

There’s also a well-known anecdote that the melody was originally composed as a song to be offered to Akina Nakamori.

The mysterious urban woman portrayed by Takashi Matsumoto intertwines with refined electronic sounds, exuding a bewitching allure.

Released as a single in July 1983, it was also included on the soundtrack for the film A Y.M.O.

Film Propaganda.

Its balance of mechanical beats and human, emotive lyrics is exquisite, making it the perfect number when you want to soak in the glittering atmosphere of the ’80s.

Thousand KnivesYellow Magic Orchestra

1000 Knives – Yellow 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.