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Pizzicato Five

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Pizzicato Five (often P5), a Japanese pop group best known to audiences in the west in their later incarnation as a duo of Nomiya Maki (野宮真貴) and Konishi Yasuharu (小西康陽). They are widely credited to have spearheaded the shibuya-kei movement of Tokyo in the 90s, along with Flipper's Guitar. They are known for their eclectic and energetic compositions, which often sound like "new" releases from the late 1960s hipster scene. Their catchphrase--"A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular"--captured the group's ironic stance but eager attitude. The group broke up in March 2002.

A hugely prolific group, Pizzicato Five would release at least an album-per-year along with various EPs and remix albums during their 16 year-career.

1980s

The group was formed in 1984 by Konishi along with Takanami Keitarō (高浪慶太郎), Kamonomiya Akira (鴨宮諒), Sasaki Mamiko (佐々木麻美子), and Miyata Shigeo (宮田繁男). Miyata left the group almost immediately but the four remaining members kept the name Pizzicato Five. The band released its first single, a 12-inch called "Audrey Hepburn Complex" (オードリィ・ヘプバーン・コンプレックス) in 1985. The band soon signed with CBS Sony (now Sony Music Entertainment)

In 1987, Pizzicato Five released their first album, "Couples." It was a commercial failure, and the record company began pressuring the band to find a new lead singer. Miyata and Sasaki decided to quit. With Tajima Takao (田島貴男) as the new vocalist, the band released its second album, titled "Belissima!" in 1988.

The next two albums, 1989's "Jō’ō Heika no Pizzicato Five" (女王陛下のピチカート・ファイヴ, "On Her Majesty's Request") and 1990's "Getsumen Nanchakuriku" (月面軟着陸, "Soft Landing on the Moon") were also commercial failures.

1990s

In 1991, Pizzicato Five signed with Japan Columbia/Seven Gods (now Triad Records). Tajima Takao left the band to work on his band (Original Love), and Nomiya Maki joined as the band's third lead vocalist.

Following 3 EPs showcasing Nomiya Maki's vocals, Pizzicato Five released "This Year's Girl". Inspired by the advent of sampling (De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising is said to have been a major influence), the group put together a sound which would help start the burgeoning Shibuya-kei scene. The album would spawn two of Pizzicato Five's most loved songs: "Twiggy Twiggy" and "Baby Love Child".

1992 saw a change in direction as the clubby "Sweet Pizzicato Five" was released.

The band began to get increasing exposure via the theme songs it recorded for television dramas (a common practice for pop bands in Japan), achieving wide-spread fame in Japan with its 1993 release "Sweet Soul Revue," which was featured in a major advertising campaign for Kanebō Cosmetic's spring campaign. The single became a smash hit.

In June of the same year, Pizzicato Five released the album "Bossa Nova 2001." Produced by fellow Shibuya-scenester Cornelius, it which reached number seven on the charts. In December, the single "Tokyo wa yoru no shichiji (東京は夜の7時, "7pm in Tokyo") became another smash hit after it was used as the opening hit on a children's television programme.

The band's American debut came in 1994 with the release of the "mini album" "5X5" (Five by Five) on Matador Records. This was quickly followed by "Made in USA," a compilation of tracks from their previous three Japanese albums, which sold 200,000 copies worldwide.

Shortly before the release of a third album -- "Overdose" -- in the same year, Takanami Keitarō quit the band, leaving Konishi and Nomiya as the only remaining members. In February 1995 the two set off on a successful fourteen-stop tour of Europe and America. Another compilation, "The Sound Of Music" was released in October 1995, this time featuring various tracks from the Maki-era albums.

After the 1996 release of the single "Baby Portable Rock" (ベイビィ・ポータブル・ロック), in 1997 the band signed with a new label, *********(Readymade) Records, Tokyo, and released the commercially successful album "Happy End Of The World." This was also their first album to be released in both Japan and Stateside.

In 1998, the band released "The International Playboy & Playgirl Record" in Japan. It would be released a year later with extra tracks in the US under the shortened title "Playboy Playgirl".

1999 came and Pizzicato Five released their self-titled "Pizzicato Five [TM]."

2000 and beyond

In 2000, Matador Records released "Pizzicato Five [TM]" with a couple of extra tracks under the name "The Fifth Release From Matador." It would also be Pizzicato Five's last American release.

2001 saw the release of the album "Sa E Ra Japon (さ・え・ら ジャポン, "Ca et la du Japon") and the announcement that the band was to break up, followed by a series of live events featuring guest performances by old members.

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 (1991 - Re-issued in 2000)
  • Sweet Pizzicato Five (1992)
  • Bossanova 2001 (2000)
  • Instant Replay (live album, 1993)
  • Expo 2001 (1993)
  • Made in USA (compilation, 1994 (US))
  • Overdose (1994)
  • Romantique 96 (1995)
  • A Quiet Couple (1995)
  • The Sound of Music by Pizzicato Five (compilation, 1995 (US))
  • Big Hits & Jetlags 1991-1995 (compilation, 1995)
  • By Her Majesty's Request (re-release, 1995)
  • Great White Wonder (1996)
  • Antique 96 (1996)
  • Combination Spaciale (1997 (also US))
  • Sister Freedom Tapes (1997 (also US))
  • Happy End of the World (1997 (also US))
  • Remix Album: Happy End of You (1998 (also US))
  • The International Playboy and Playgirl Record (aka "Playboy & Playgirl") ( 1998/1999 (US))
  • Pizzicato Five (TM) (1999)
  • Big Hits & Jetlags: 1994-1997 (compilation, 1999)
  • The Fifth Release From Matador (2000 (US))
  • In The Bag [Vinyl boxset] (compilation, 2000)
  • Remixes 2000 (2000)
  • Ca Et La Du Japon (2001)
  • Pizzicato Five R.I.P.: Big Hits & Jetlags 1998-2000 (compilation, 2001)
  • In the Mix (2002)
  • Band of the 20th Century: Sony Years, 1988-1990 (compilation, 2004)

Members

  • Konishi Yasuharu (小西康陽). Only founding member to stay with the group until the end. Songwriter, bass, keyboards, vocals.
  • Takanami Keitarō (高浪慶太郎 later changed his name to 高浪敬太郎 Takanami Keitarō). Guitar and vocals.
  • Sasaki Mamiko (佐々木麻美子）. Lead vocalist until 1987.
  • Kamonomiya Akira (鴨宮諒). Keyboards.
  • Tajima Takao (田島貴男）. Lead vocalist 1987-1990.
  • Nomiya Maki (野宮真貴）. Lead vocalist from 1990.

Trivia

  • The song "Baby Love Child" is a backing track in the montage sequence at the end of the Futurama episode "Leela's Homeworld".
  • The song "Sweet Soul Revue" is the ending theme in the Pauly Shore movie Jury Duty.
  • The song "Á Tokyo" is used in the movie Goldmember, part of the Austin Powers series.
  • The song "Happy Sad" is used in the credits of the Isaac Mizrahi biopic Unzipped.
  • The song "Nata Di Marzo" is featured in the soundtrack of The Kids in the Hall feature film Brain Candy.
  • The song "Twiggy vs. James Bond" is part of the soundtrack of the documentary Pret a Porter and also in Charlie's Angels, in the scene of the party at Corwin's apartment (although it's credited as "Twiggy Twiggy").
  • Nomiya Maki sings "Baby Universe" in the video game We ♥ Katamari
  • Konishi produced a Videogame called "Beatmania - The Sound of Tokyo" for KONAMI´s long running Bemani-Game-Series.
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