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

JamYellow Magic Orchestra

Pure Jam – YMO

With a sound that evokes the beginning of something, it’s a track truly worthy of opening the album Technodelic.

The occasional “Jam desho” voice heard in the song is by Peter Barakan, and it was reportedly recorded using a walkie-talkie.

BALLETYellow Magic Orchestra

YMO – Ballet HD

It was included on the album BGM, released on March 21, 1981, with lyrics by Yukihiro Takahashi and Peter Barakan.

The gently drifting synth sounds and the vocal effects, as if plugged in to respond to them, somehow seem to transport the listener to an elegant world.

InsomniaYellow Magic Orchestra

Insomnia – YMO

That chaotic sound is exactly what the title suggests.

This track was composed by Haruomi Hosono, who was actually suffering from insomnia at the time.

The tantalizing sonic image makes you feel dizzy… On sleepless nights, why not immerse yourself fully in the world of this piece?

SEOUL MUSICYellow Magic Orchestra

Seoul Music – YMO

A piece with the exotic timbre of gamelan and striking vocal percussion.

It evokes Seoul during the period of Japanese rule over Korea.

The somewhat wistful sound seems to depict the circumstances of Korea under military governance… it really makes you think.

Day TripperYellow Magic Orchestra

yellow magic orchestra – day tripper

This work boldly reconstructs the Beatles’ 1965 classic as reimagined by YMO.

Included on the 1979 masterpiece Solid State Survivor, it features a groundbreaking fusion of Makoto Ayukawa’s guest guitar and an austere, mechanical synthesizer sound.

While preserving the raw energy of the original riff, Yukihiro Takahashi’s cool vocals lend an urban sheen, elevating it into a distinctly YMO technopop.

It also appears on the live album Public Pressure, underscoring its status as a key repertoire piece that captures the fervor of the time.

It’s a track I can recommend to a wide range of listeners, from rock fans to electronic music enthusiasts.

EpilogueYellow Magic Orchestra

Epilogue – YMO

The album Technodelic astonished the world with its innovative sampling techniques.

Closing out the record, this piece is a beautiful instrumental that fuses industrial noise with serene synthesizers.

As the finale to an album released in 1981, it leaves a bittersweet aftertaste, as if the city nightscape were slowly receding into the distance.

The delicate melody crafted by Ryuichi Sakamoto conveys a palpable warmth amid its stark minimalism, and many listeners may feel a tightening in their chest each time they hear it.

There’s even an anecdote that its working title was “Good Night Music,” a testament to the soothing, restful quality of its sound.

OPENED MY EYESYellow Magic Orchestra

【HR】OPENED MY EYES – YMO

This is an English-lyric track included on the album “Naughty Boys,” released in May 1983.

In a departure from the experimental sound of their previous work, this album brings a distinctly pop, kayōkyoku-like flavor to the forefront.

The lyrics depict a protagonist who has been shut away in darkness meeting “you,” after which their vision opens up vividly—listening to it gives you a positive, forward-looking feeling.

Bill Nelson’s guest guitar work also adds a nice touch.

Try listening to it when your mind feels foggy or when you want to take a new step forward, and reset your mood.