Mongol800 is a Japanese three-piece punk rock band from Okinawa formed in 1998.
I’ve been listening to their second and most popular album Message, on and off for months now. Released in 2001, Message topped the Oricon charts, selling over 2.8 million copies, a first for an indie band, and became the best-selling album by a Japanese three-piece band.
From the Japanese Wikipedia:
They only use three instruments, electric guitar, bass, and drums, and their performances are very simple. On the other hand, Haruo Chikada comments that their confidence in their sound and singing is naturally expressed in their music, and even though their performances are simple, they do not bore the listeners. Their knowledge of arrangements and performance techniques have improved dramatically as they have gained experience.
Many of their songs have a love for the Ryukyus theme, such as “Ryukyu Love Song” and “Flowers Blooming on Contradiction”. Uezu has said that when he sings about his hometown, Okinawa, people may be superimposing his own hometown on the songs. Although there were many straightforward lyrics in “MESSAGE,” he said that he softened the expressions from “Momo” onwards, as the age range of his listeners has expanded with this album. Some of his songs touch on the U.S. military bases in Okinawa, but he has stated that “it’s fine to be anti-base, but singing about the important things in everyday life is closer to what I want to do.”
Listening to the Takashi Gima’s guitar on the opening song “Anata ni” I knew I would like this album.
Probably even more popular than “Anata ni” is “Chiisana koi no uta” (Little Love Song), covered by many artists and performed by high-school bands all over the country.
Inside the CD booklet are interesting photos of Okinawa.
Also interesting is that half of the songs are in English, penned by bassist/vocalist Kiyosaku Uezu, who studied English literature in Okinawa International University.
From the song “For Life”:
Father said “I’m doing this for your own good”
Kids have absolute trust in their fatherToday the father commit a crime
I can’t trust their father’s big back
It’s up to you to decide what to do
Smile your tears away
For lifeWhat would you do
If the world were to come to end tomorrow?
I hope you will always stay by my sideDon’t keep step with everyone
Which do you go to walker way or other way?It’s too late to be sorry
Smile your tears away
For life
Punk songs should be simple in words and music.
Best listened to loud.