Yapoos – Page 5 – BOSHI / JUSEI

YAPOOS – GILGAMESH (1991)

lyrics by JUN TOGAWA | music by YOSHIRO YOSHIKAWA

Another standout track off the seminal Turn the Y Dial! (Daiyaru Y wo Mawase!). This has become a staple of her live shows as of late. Most likely, it’s about an abusive relationship that neither party wants to leave, even though they both understand it’s mutually destructive.

Translation and notes under the cut:

YAPOOS – LABOR COMFORT SONG [ROUDOU IAN SHOUKA] (1987)

lyrics by JUN TOGAWA | music by NOBUO NAKAHARA

“A song rooting for all those laboring in Asia.“ – Togawa Jun

“A song for countries in the East.“ – Nakahara Nobuo

Perhaps influenced by Togawa’s earlier work on Far Eastern Comfort Songs?

Translation and notes under the cut:

YAPOOS – DADDY THE HEAVEN (1987)

lyrics by OSAMU TAKAHASHI | music by TAKAO HIGAE

I was surprised to find no one had translated this one off Yapoos Project, so it was a fun time. The writer of the song had this to say about it: “love like a pebble caught in a bottomless swamp,” which should give you a good push towards the song’s meaning.

Translation and notes are under the cut:

YAPOOS – GO! LOLITA IN CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER [SORE IKE! LOLITA KIKI IPPATSU] (1995)

lyrics by JUN TOGAWA | music by YUICHI KONO

Togawa really likes the whole secret agent thing, as it makes another appearance here on HYS. The trumpets on the studio version really make the whole thing for me.

Translation and notes under the cut:

YAPOOS – UNDERNEATH RED FLOWERS IN FULL BLOOM [AKAI HANA NO MANKAI NO SHITA] (1995)

lyrics by JUN TOGAWA | music by NOBUO NAKAHARA

Uncharacteristically happy for a Yapoos (or Togawa in general?) song, I think, this is probably my favorite song of HYS and a really good way to end the album.

Translation and notes under the cut:

YAPOOS – MEN’S SUFFERING [MEN’S JUNAN] (1991)

lyrics by JUN TOGAWA | music by NOBUO NAKAHARA

One of the few singles released by Yapoos during their time together, this song has Jun Togawa playing the role of a stalker, following her lover around everywhere. Togawa’s lyrics are generally straightforward here compared to some other songs, but she really can’t seem to get through a single song without using some sort of classical Japanese, which is a bit of a pain.

Translation and notes are under the cut:

YAPOOS – SHEER LOVERS (2003)

lyrics by JUN TOGAWA | music by TODA SEIJI

The first track of Yapoos’ final (to this point) release, CD-Y is a relatively marked departure from Yapoos’ previous work. It coincides with a darker period in Togawa’s own life, marked by another suicide attempt. It’s a good song both in and out of its context, however, and it features classic Togawa metaphors about color. In fact, you could say that’s pretty much all it is.

Translation and notes under the cut: