Yellow Magic Orchestra

For their self-titled album, see Yellow Magic Orchestra (album).

Yellow Magic Orchestra
YMO after playing a 2008 concert in London. From left to right: Ryuichi Sakamoto, Yukihiro Takahashi, Haruomi Hosono
YMO after playing a 2008 concert in London. From left to right: Ryuichi Sakamoto, Yukihiro Takahashi, Haruomi Hosono
Background information
Also known as
  • YMO
  • YMO
  • Not YMO
  • Human Audio Sponge
  • HAS
  • HASYMO
OriginTokyo, Japan
Genres
DiscographyYellow Magic Orchestra discography
Years active
  • 1978–1984
  • 1992–1993
  • 2002–2004
  • 2007–2012
Labels
Past members
Websiteymo.org

Yellow Magic Orchestra (abbreviated to YMO) was a Japanese electronic music band formed in Tokyo in 1978 by Haruomi Hosono (bass, keyboards, vocals), Yukihiro Takahashi (drums, lead vocals, occasional keyboards) and Ryuichi Sakamoto (keyboards, vocals).[4] The group is considered influential and innovative in the field of popular electronic music.[4][5] They were pioneers in their use of synthesizers, samplers, sequencers, drum machines, computers, and digital recording technology,[4][6][7] and effectively anticipated the "electropop boom" of the 1980s.[8] They are credited with playing a key role in the development of several electronic genres, including synthpop, J-pop, electro, and techno, while exploring subversive sociopolitical themes throughout their career.[9]

The three members were veterans of the music industry before coming together as YMO, and were inspired by eclectic sources, including the electronic music of Isao Tomita and Kraftwerk, Japanese traditional music, arcade games, funk music, and the disco productions of Giorgio Moroder. They released the surprise global hit "Computer Game" in 1978, reaching the UK Top 20 and selling 400,000 copies in the U.S. For their early recordings and performances, the band was often accompanied by programmer Hideki Matsutake.[10] The group released several albums before pausing their activity in 1984. They briefly reunited several times in subsequent decades before Takahashi and Sakamoto's deaths in 2023.

  1. ^ Buckley, P. (2003), The Rough Guide to Rock, Rough Guides, London (pp. 1200–1201).
  2. ^ Simpson, Paul. "Bamboo - Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference wire_1996 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c Yellow Magic Orchestra at AllMusic. Retrieved June 3, 2009.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference fidelity_1993 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference sarasota was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference clashmusic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ J. D. Considine (March 23, 2000). "Sakamoto hears music's sounds, not its styles". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on February 10, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  9. ^ Jones, Mikey IQ (January 22, 2015). "The Essential… Yellow Magic Orchestra". Factmag. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference sound_147 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).