“Walking in the Rhythm” (Live dub mix, 1998)

In late 1997 / early 1998, the Japanese band Fishmans recorded no less than 6 different versions of “Walking in the Rhythm.” This live dub version from February 1998 is the most ambitious and arguably the most successful of them all.

Dream-Dub

This dub mix harkens back to the band’s sound in the early 1990s. Here, they fused the dub and dream-pop elements of their early years with the neo-psychedelia that they had perfected on the superb and surreal epic “Long Season.”

Hypno-Funk

In doing so, Fishmans created another unique and unorthodox masterpiece. “Walking in the Rhythm” is rhythmic, hypnotic, and ultra funky, with weird organ and violin backing. It’s eminently listenable, and even danceable.

(Music starts at 1:25 mark) _{(Image source)}

Fishmans

Fishmans was a Japanese band that gained both a cult following and a pop following in the 1990s.

In their early years, Fishmans created mostly dream pop music – simple and accessible melodies of what has sometimes been called “sunshine pop.” But like all great bands, they refused to be constrained by any characterizations.

More of the Same, but Different and Greater

At first, the band experimented with ska-punk, dub reggae, and the like. However, they soon moved onwards, to neo-psychedelia and avant-garde rock, pushing their creativity beyond the limits of genre and style.

They often reworked their own songs, creating 2, 3, or more variations of the same song. The different versions took different approaches and emphasized different elements, meaning they always had something new to offer.

In the case of “Walking in the Rhythm,” the band’s 5 reinterpretations (for a total of 6, counting the original album version) culminated in this magnificent dub version. After their sublime work “Long Season,” this was the band’s second masterwork within a little over a year.

Upon the death of frontman Shinji Sato, in March 1999, Fishmans disbanded. _{(Image source)}

歩くスピード落として
– [Aruku supiido otoshite]
いくつかの願いを信じて
– [Ikutsuka no negai wo shinjite]
冷たいこの道の上を
– [Tsumetai kono michi no ue o ]
歌うように, 歌うように歩きたい
– [Utau yo ni, utau yo ni arukitai]

楽しいことだけ知りたいね
– [Tanoshii koto dake shiritai ne]
いつかの君を呼び出して
– [Itsuka no kimi wo yobidashite]
冷たいこの道の上を
– [Tsumetai kono michi no ue o ]
まわるように, まわるように歩きたい
– [Mawaru yo ni, mawaru yo, ni arukitai]

Hey!
Walking in the rhythm

この胸のリズムを信じて
– [Kono mune no rizumu wo shinjite]

Walking in the rhythm

歌うように, 歌うように歩きたい
– [Utau yo ni, utau yo ni arukitai]

Walking in the rhythm   [2x]
Walk
Walking in the rhythm    [4x]
Walking in the rhythm
Walk in the rhythm, walk in the rhythm    [4x]   _{(Image source)} _{[English translation]

– [I walk along slower]

– [Believing in several favors]

– [It’s cold, on this road]

– [I want to walk along as if I’m singing, singing]
– [All I want to know is fun]

– [Calling out to the you of a certain time]

– [It’s cold, on this road]

– [I want to walk as if I’m spinning around, spinning around]
Yeah!

Walking in the rhythm

– [I want to believe the rhythm of this heart of mine]

– Walking in the rhythm–

– [I want to walk along as if I’m singing, singing]

_{(note – The English translation is by @majes.tytyty. In some places, it might be over-literal. In others, it may very well be mistaken. But I hope it gives you a general idea of what the original Japanese says.)}

Lyrics by Shinji Sato, courtesy of – Genius.com

Reference – Wikipedia

Reference – JapanTImes.co.jp

Into your ears … through 5 channels
The various posts are categorized into 5 channels _{(Right-Click to see details)}

         1 – “Music to Your Ears” (MTYE)

         2 – “Cover Versions”

         3 – “Honor Roll”

         4 – “Documentaries”

         5 – “Mock’n’Roll”

More “Music to Your Ears” ...
          Previous posts in this series – "MTYE posts 1–20"

          Previous posts in this series – "MTYE posts 21–40"

Links to my other series ...

          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"

          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"

          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part One – My Lyrics Posts 3~30”

          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part Two – My Lyrics Posts 31~60”

          Vocab-Ability – "Introduction to Vocab-Ability"

          Vocab-Ability – "Index" to all Chapters and Sections

          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part One – Notes 1~50"

          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part Two – Notes 51~87"}