It would be released a year later with US and the rest of the world with a slightly different track-listing and the shortened title of 'Playboy & Playgirl'.ġ999 came and Pizzicato Five released the 'JBL Maxisonic' series of EPs, followed by their self-titled album 'Pizzicato Five'. In 1998, the band released 'The International Playboy & Playgirl Record' in Japan. Another compilation, 'The Sound of Music' was released in October 1995, again featuring various tracks from the Maki-era albums.Īfter the 1996 release of the album 'Romantique 96' and several singles including the hit 'Baby Portable Rock', in 1997 the band signed with a new label, *********(Readymade) Records, Tokyo, and released the commercially successful album 'Happy End of the World' - the only album to be released unchanged in both Japan and the rest of the world. In February 1995 the two set off on a successful 14-stop tour of Europe and America. Shortly before the release of the next album 'Overdose' in the same year, Keitarō Takanami quit the band, leaving Konishi and Nomiya as the only remaining members. This was quickly followed by a full-length album, 'Made in USA', a compilation of tracks from their last three Japanese albums which sold 200,000 copies worldwide. 'Five By Pizzicato Five' on Matador Records. The band's American debut came in 1994 with the release of the E.P. In December, the single Nihongo|'7pm in Tokyo'|東京は夜の七時|tōkyō wa yoru no shichiji (later known as 'The Night Is Still Young' when released outside of Japan) became another smash hit after it was used as the opening theme of the children's television programme Ugo Ugo Lhuga. Produced by fellow Shibuya-scenester Cornelius, it reached number seven on the charts. In June of the same year, Pizzicato Five released the album 'Bossa Nova 2001'. 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 with the 1993 single 'Sweet Soul Revue', which was featured in a major spring advertising campaign for Kanebo Cosmetics. The album would spawn two of their most loved songs: 'Twiggy Twiggy' and 'Baby Love Child'.ġ992 saw a change in direction as the clubby 'Sweet Pizzicato Five' was released. 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. Takao Tajima left to start his own band 'Original Love.'įollowing 3 EPs showcasing Nomiya's vocals, Pizzicato Five released 'This Year's Girl'. In 1990, Maki Nomiya, who had previously released one solo album, joined as the third lead vocalist.] In 1991, Pizzicato Five signed with Nippon Columbia/Seven Gods (later Triad Records). The next two albums, 1989's 'On Her Majesty's Request' and 1990's 'Soft Landing On The Moon' were also commercial failures. With Takao Tajima as the new vocalist, the band released its second album, 'Belissima!' in 1988. It was a commercial failure, and the record company began pressuring the band to find a new lead singer. In 1987, Pizzicato Five released their first all-new album, 'Couples'. The band soon signed with CBS Sony (now Sony Music Entertainment). The band released its first single, a 12-inch called 'Audrey Hepburn Complex' in 1985. Miyata left the group almost immediately but the four remaining members kept the name Pizzicato Five. ], Ryō Kamomiya, Mamiko Sasaki, and Shigeo Miyata. The group was formed in 1985 by Konishi and fellow founding bandmates Keitarō Takanami. Pizzicato Five was a hugely prolific group during its 16-year-long existence, usually releasing at least an album each year in addition to various EPs and remix albums. The catchphrase 'A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular' captured the group's ironic stance and eager attitude.

The group, widely credited (along with Flipper's Guitar) with spearheading the shibuya-kei movement of Tokyo in the 1990s, is known for eclectic and energetic compositions that often sound like 'new' releases from the late 1960s hipster scene. Pizzicato Five (often known simply by the initials P5) Yang Jeff, Dina Can, Terry Hong, (1997) 'Eastern Standard Time' pg 277 New York: Mariner Books ISBN 1-X] is a Japanese pop group best known to audiences in the West in their later incarnation as a duo of Maki Nomiya and Yasuharu Konishi. Past_members = Yasuharu Konishi Maki Nomiya Keitarō Takanami Ryō Kamomiya Mamiko Sasaki Shigeo Miyata Takao Tajima Label = Sony Music, Matador Records, Columbia Music EntertainmentĪssociated_acts = Fantasic Plastic Machine

Pizzicato five katamary