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Yellow Magic Orchestra

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Yellow Magic Orchestra, YMO for short, was a Japanese electronic band from Tokyo. Haruomi Hosono (bass, keyboards, vocals), Yukihiro Takahashi (drums, vocals) and Ryuichi Sakamoto (keyboards) founded the group in 1978. All three already had experience in the music world. Hosono came from the band Happy End, Takahashi from the Sadistic Mika Band, and Sakamoto experimented with synthesizers as a student. The programmer Hideki Matsutake, who had previously worked for Isao Tomita, was regarded as a fourth member. Hosono conceived an instrumental disco band that could succeed outside Japan.

Music and breakthrough

The self-titled debut was released in 1978. It included Firecracker, which became a success in the United States and Europe as Computer Game. The second album, Solid State Survivor (1979), won an award for best album in Japan and contained Behind the Mask and a mechanical version of The Beatles' Day Tripper. X∞Multiplies (1980), BGM (1981), Technodelic (1981), Naughty Boys (1983) and Service (1983) followed. After a break in 1984, Technodon appeared in 1993. In 1980 YMO was the most popular band in Japan.

Influence

The sound consisted of synthesizers, samplers, sequencers, drum machines and digital recording, blended with funk, disco, Japanese folk music and video game sounds. The lyrics were mostly in English and often science-fictional. In this way YMO applied a Western instrument in a distinctly Asian manner. In Japan the group set technopop in motion, and it is regarded as a pioneer of synth-pop, electro and techno. Even young hip hop in the Bronx took notice: Afrika Bambaataa used Firecracker in his Death Mix.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Computer Game, the adaptation of Firecracker. Notice the tinny, game-like synthesizer sounds and how tight and mechanical the rhythm is.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Mentioned in other articles

See also

Categories: ArtistsJapanese New Wave and arthouse