Pizzicato Five

Pizzicato Five (often P5) was a Japanese pop group, known in the West, especially in its later formation as a duo of Maki Nomiya (野 宫 真 贵) and Konishi Yasuharu (小 西康 阳). You is often attributed together with the group Flipper's Guitar a leadership role in the Shibuya -kei movement in Tokyo 1990. They are known for their eclectic and energetic compositions, sound often like " new " releases from the late 1960s hipster scene. Your slogan "A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular " reflects the ironic but ambitious vision of the group. They released at least one album per year, plus various singles and remix albums during their 16-year existence.

History

1980

The group was founded in 1984 by Konishi and Keitaro Takanami (高 浪 庆 太郎), Kamomiya Ryo (鸭 宫 谅), Mamiko Sasaki (佐 々 木 麻美 子) and Shigeo Miyata (宫 田 繁 男) was founded. Miyata left the group shortly thereafter, the four remaining members decided, however, retain the name. The band released their first single, " Audrey Hepburn Complex " (オードリィ· ·ヘプバーンコンプレックス) in 1985 and soon after received a contract with CBS Sony.

Published in 1987 Pizzicato Five released their first album "Couples ". This was seen commercially a flop and the record company began to exert pressure band to find a new singer. Miyata and Sasaki left on the tape. With Takao Tajima (田岛 贵 男) as a new singer, the group published in 1988 the second album " Bellissima ".

The next albums, 1989 ' Jō'ō Heika no Pizzicato Five " (女王 陛下 の ピチカート·ファイヴ, On Her Majesty's behest ') and 1990 Getsumen Nanchakuriku (月 面 软着陆, Soft landing on the moon ') also flopped.

1990

1991 went to Japan Columbia Pizzicato Five / Seven Gods (now Triad Records). Tajima Takao left the band to work with his own band ( Original Love ) Nomiya Maki and joined the band as the third singer.

After three singles, where you Nomiya Maki made ​​known as a new voice, followed by the album "This Year's Girl". Inspired by the early days of sampling ( De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising is an important influence have been ), the group developed a sound that helped launch the Shibuya -kei scene. The album contained two of the most known songs by Pizzicato Five Twiggy Twiggy and Baby Love Child, which was used among others in the television series Futurama.

The year 1992 saw a change in musical direction, as " Sweet Pizzicato Five" came out. The band won by their subjects songs for television films increasingly awareness ( a common way for pop bands in Japan), in Japan they gained wide notoriety was in 1993 with " Sweet Soul Revue", which was used in an advertising campaign of the company Kanebo. This single was a hit.

In June of the same year Pizzicato Five released the album " Bossa Nova 2001 ". Produced by The Scene colleague Cornelius came to number 7 in the charts. In December, the single Tokyo wa yoru no shichiji (東京 は 夜 の7时,, 19 clock in Tokyo ') another hit after it was used as the opening song of a children's television program.

The debut of the band in America took place in 1994 with the mini-album " 5X5 " ( Five by Five ) Matador Records. This was quickly followed by "Made in USA", a compilation of tracks from their three previous albums Japanese and sold 200,000 copies worldwide.

Shortly before the release of their third album " Overdose " in the same year left Keitaro Takanami the band, it remained Konishi and Nomiya as original members. In February 1995, these two successful tour through Europe and America undertook with 14 stations. Another sampler, "The Sound Of Music" was released in October 1995, this time with different tracks of the albums from the Maki - era.

After the release of the album " Romantique 96" in 1996 and the hit single "Baby Portable Rock" (ベイビィ·ポータブル·ロック) the band went in 1997 to a new label, *** ( Readymade Records), Tokyo. They brought with him the successful album "Happy End Of The World. " Out - the only album, which was released in Japan and the rest of the world without differences.

In 1998, the album "The International Playboy & Playgirl Record" out in Japan. A year later it was released with extra tracks in the U.S. and the rest of the world as " Playboy Playgirl ".

". Pizzicato Five [ TM ] " published in 1999 Pizzicato Five EP series " JBL Maxi Sonic" and the album It contained tracks from all of these three EPs in very different versions: " Darlin ' of Discothèque " is shorter and instrumental, A Perfect World is a lounge -style rearrangement sung by guest singers Mieko Hirota, and the new song 20th Century Girl is based on the B-side room service, which was originally written by Masumi Arichika of TV Jesus.

2000 and Beyond

Published in 2000 Matador Records " Pizzicato Five [ TM ] " with some extra tracks as "The Fifth Release From Matador. " This was also Pizzicato Five 's last release in the U.S..

2001, nor the album Sa E Ra Japon (さ·え·ら ジャポン, " Ca et la du Japon ") was released and the band announced its dissolution. There followed a number of live events with guest performances of old members. The group broke up in March 2002.

Discography

  • Audrey Hepburn Complex ( 1985)
  • Pizzicato Five in Action (1986 )
  • Pizzicatomania! (1986)
  • Couples (1987 )
  • Belissima! (1988)
  • On Her Majesty's Request ( 1989)
  • Soft Landing on the Moon (1990 )
  • Hi Guys! Let Me Teach You (1991 )
  • This Year's Girl ( 2000)
  • Sweet Pizzicato Five (1992 )
  • Bossa Nova 2001 (2000)
  • Instant Replay (Live Album, 1993)
  • Expo 2001 (1993)
  • Made in USA (Compilation, 1994)
  • Overdose (1994 )
  • Romantique 96 (1995 )
  • A Quiet Couple (1995 )
  • The Sound of Music by Pizzicato Five (Compilation, 1995)
  • Big Hits & jetlag 1991-1995 (compilation, 1995)
  • By Her Majesty's Request ( re-release, 1995)
  • Great White Wonder ( 1996)
  • Antique 96 (1996 )
  • Combination spaciale (1997)
  • Sister Freedom Tapes ( 1997)
  • Happy End of the World (1997)
  • Remix Album: Happy End of You (1998)
  • The International Playboy and Playgirl Record ( aka "Playboy & Playgirl " ) (1998/ 1999)
  • Pizzicato Five (TM ) (1999 )
  • Big Hits & jet lag: 1994-1997 (Compilation, 1999)
  • The Fifth Release From Matador (2000)
  • In The Bag [Vinyl boxset ] (Compilation, 2000)
  • Remixes 2000 (2000)
  • Ca Et La Japon You (2001)
  • Pizzicato Five RIP Big Hits & jetlag 1998-2000 (Compilation, 2001)
  • In the Mix (2002)
  • Band of the 20th Century: Sony Years 1988-1990 (Compilation, 2004)

Members

  • Konishi Yasuharu (小 西康 阳). The only founding member who stayed until the end. Songwriter, bass, keyboards, vocals.
  • Keitaro Takanami (高 浪 庆太郎later changed to高浪 敬 太郎Keitaro Takanami ). Guitar and vocals.
  • Mamiko Sasaki (佐 々 木 麻美 子). Lead singer until 1987.
  • Kamonomiya Akira (鸭 宫 谅). Keyboard.
  • Takao Tajima (田岛 贵 男). Lead singer from 1987 to 1990.
  • Nomiya Maki (野 宫 真 贵). Lead singer from 1990.
Hipster (1940s subculture)
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