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

Heart-throbbing for you. — A Fickle Vacation —Yellow Magic Orchestra

YMO “Kimi ni, Mune Kyun. (Music Video · HD Remaster)” Official Music Video

YMO, pioneers of techno bands in Japan.

As a group that represents the country, they have a broad fan base, and many people were saddened by the news of the members’ passing.

Their cute summer song “Kimi ni, Mune Kyun” was released in 1983 as their seventh single.

It marked a complete shift from YMO’s earlier vibe and shocked the public as a summer number.

Even people from generations unfamiliar with YMO have likely heard the chorus.

The song also became widely known at home as a Kanebo cosmetics commercial tune.

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FirecrackerYellow Magic Orchestra

Yellow Magic Orchestra – Firecracker (1978)

While employing a scale and tonal palette reminiscent of Chinese-style music, it incorporates chiptune-like synthesizer bleeps to create complex developments.

The tempo isn’t particularly fast, but the layering of these timbres gives the track an intense feel, making it an engaging piece that doesn’t get boring.

TechnopolisYellow Magic Orchestra

YMO – Technopolis Official Video

It’s a signature song by YMO, pioneers of Japanese technopop.

As it was structured after studying the body of work by Pink Lady, an idol group that was hugely popular at the time, it’s extremely pop.

At the same time, their masterful use of then-cutting-edge technology—such as prominent analog synthesizers and a vocoder—is nothing short of remarkable.

RYDEENYellow Magic Orchestra

Yellow Magic Orchestra – “Rydeen“ (Official Music Video)

Yellow Magic Orchestra, commonly known as YMO, is a band consisting of Yukihiro Takahashi, Haruomi Hosono, and Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Even at the time, they were noted as an exceptional group of artists whose scale exceeded the boundaries of Japan.

Many musicians have been influenced by them, and one of the most representative today is Perfume.

There was even a concert where Perfume danced while video of YMO performing Rydeen in the 1980s played in the background.

Rap PhenomenaYellow Magic Orchestra

Rap Phenomena – Yellow Magic Orchestra

In Japan’s hip-hop scene, Yellow Magic Orchestra can be considered pioneers.

Their historically significant track “Rap Phenomena,” included on the 1981 album BGM, can be said to embody hip-hop not only as music but as a culture.

The track “Sakisaka to Momonai no Gokigen Ikaga 1-2-3,” released the same year, is also cited as an early example of Japanese rap, but many say it was YMO who first captured and demonstrated the essence of hip-hop.

As an introduction to hip-hop, listening to their music offers a valuable experience that connects you with the roots of the genre.

Yellow Magic OrchestraYellow Magic Orchestra

Yellow Magic Orchestra – Yellow Magic Orchestra (Full Album)

Yellow Magic Orchestra’s debut album is a masterpiece that stands at the pinnacle of Japanese music.

They truly are like the Beatles; it’s impossible to discuss J-pop without knowing their work.

I can unequivocally say that people of all ages should absolutely listen to it.