Mr. Roboto

This article is about a pop song from the 1980s. For other uses, see Mr. Roboto (disambiguation).

"Mr. Roboto" is a song written by Dennis DeYoung and performed by the band Styx on their 1983 concept album Kilroy Was Here. The chorus featured the line, "Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto", which has become an unlikely catch phrase. Domo arigato is one of several Japanese phrases that translate to English as "thank you".

Meaning of the song

The purpose of the song is to tell part of the fictitious story of Robert Orin Charles Kilroy (ROCK), and in fact the song is supposedly sung by Kilroy himself. Kilroy is a rock and roll performer who was placed in jail by the anti-rock-and-roll Dr. Righteous (the entire rock musical Kilroy Was Here is in fact an indictment of the moral panic which is often seen to surround rock music). Near the beginning of the story, Kilroy escapes the prison by hiding inside the emptied-out metal shell of one of the ubiquitous "Mr. Roboto"-model robots who do menial jobs in the prison, and this song is Kilroy's dedication to the robot that he (in essence) killed in order to effect his escape. Viewed in this context, the lyrics (which deal with the "modern man" being a melding of machine and flesh) make much more sense.

However, another (suggested) interpretation of the song is said to describe the increasing amounts of factory automation in Japan by robots. DeYoung sings: "The problem's plain to see, too much technology. Machines to save our lives, machines de-humanize" (it is also often argued that the first line is actually "machines to save are lies"). This may be interpreted as the replacement of human workers with automation and computers, not just in factories, but throughout many businesses during a time of downsizing in the United States in the 1980s. The catch phrase of the song are the sarcastic words of a disgruntled factory worker whose job has been replaced by a robot.[1]

The song in popular culture

• The line "Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto" was included in the Barenaked Ladies song "The King of Bedside Manor" on their 1992 CD, Gordon and on the single 'The Ballade of MC Sucka DJ' by The Wildbunch / Electric Six, which also appeared on their live album 'Don't Be Afraid of the Robot'.
• The song was featured in a 1999 Volkswagen commercial starring Tony Hale. In the Arrested Development episode "The Ocean Walker", Tony Hale, playing the character Buster, is seen dancing and miming to the song, in a reference to his prior role in the Volkswagen commercial.
• The song was referenced and used as a character's name in the 2002 film, Austin Powers in Goldmember.
• "Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto" was employed in an episode of Futurama ("The 30% Iron Chef").
• "Domo Arigoto, Mr. Roboto" by the Japanese band Polysics employs the line as a chorus.
• In the fifth episode of the second season ("My New Coat") of the TV show Scrubs J.D. walks up to another doctor and says, "Domo arigato, Dr. Amato."
• It was also referenced in the 2004 film Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.
• It is featured at the beginning of the first episode of the 2005 Japanese TV series Densha Otoko.
• The song's dance moves were mimicked by Seth Green in the 1998 teen comedy film Can't Hardly Wait and also in a Spartan Cheerleaders skit from Saturday Night Live.
• In his film Big Daddy, Adam Sandler lies to Joey Lauren Adams about once being invited up on stage to perform the voice of the robot at a concert.
• The song is also featured in the 2005 Jim Carrey film Fun with Dick and Jane when Dick performs the song during a hold-up.
• Pinocchio croons 'Mr. Roboto' on the new Shrek 2 (2004) DVD. One of the bonus features on the 'Shrek 2' DVD includes an American Idol spoof, complete with Simon, Fione, Shrek, and the cast who watch Pinocchio sing "Mr. Roboto".
• Internet phenom, Fredryk Phox mimes a section of the song on one of his videos.
• Homer Simpson has used the line "Domo arigato Mr. Roboto" in a chant when he cheered on Otto in his bowling team to hit a strike.
• In General Protection Fault's "Sashimi and Teriyaki Steak" series in early Year 5, Nick and Ki go to a Japanese restaurant, and when Ki says "Domo Arigato," Nick chimes in with "Mr. Roboto," something that, according to a waitress, happens quite often.
• In a Matrix Reloaded spoof created for the 2003 MTV Music Awards, featuring Justin Timberlake and Sean William Scott (Stiffler in American Pie), the Oracle uses the line "Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto" whilst Justin does 'The Robot'.
• Was used as background music for one of the awards in the FIRST robotics competition.
• A parody of the song, Bender Roboto, was recorded by The Great Luke Ski in 2002 for his album Uber Geek. The song is sung from the point of view of Futurama's Bender.
• Whitey Duvall does the Robot dance in Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights.

External links

• Lyrics at STYXworld.com
• Mr. Roboto information and Lyrics
• StyxCollector.com: Center For Roboto Research And Preservation
• Lyrics and japanese lyric translations
• Music video by Styx (YouTube)