Pizzicato Five (formerly typeset as Pizzicato V and sometimes abbreviated to P5) was a Japanese pop band formed in Tokyo in 1984 by multi-instrumentalists Yasuharu Konishi and Keitarō Takanami. While it began as a quintet, after personnel changes in the late 1980s the band gained international fame as a duo consisting of Konishi and vocalist Maki Nomiya. With their music blending together 1960s pop, jazz and synth-pop, the group were a prominent component in the Shibuya-kei movement of the 1990s.

Pizzicato Five was a hugely prolific group during its existence, usually releasing at least a studio album each year in addition to various EPs and remix albums. Their music has appeared in numerous movies, television episodes, and video games. The English version of their 1991 song "Baby Love Child" was featured in the Futurama episode "Leela's Homeworld".

History

1980s

Pizzicato V began in 1984 when university students Yasuharu Konishi and Keitarō Takanami first met at a local music society conference. Ryō Kamomiya, Mamiko Sasaki, and Shigeo Miyata were soon recruited after a few years. Miyata left the group almost immediately but the four remaining members kept the name Pizzicato V. The band released its first single on Haruomi Hosono's Non-Standard label (Teichiku Records), a 12-inch release titled "The Audrey Hepburn Complex" which was produced by Hosono, in 1985. They followed this with the single "Action".

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 widespread fame with the 1993 single "Sweet Soul Revue", which was featured in a major spring advertising campaign for Kao Corporation (Kanebo Cosmetics) and as the theme song to the 1995 Pauly Shore film Jury Duty. In December, the single (literally, 7 p.m. in Tokyo) became another smash hit after it was used as the opening theme of the children's television programme UgoUgo Rūga Ni-gō.

The band's American debut came in 1994 with the release of the EP Five by Five on Matador Records.

In 1998, the band released The International Playboy & Playgirl Record in Japan. It would be released a year later worldwide with a slightly different track listing and the shortened title (which was also its Japanese title) of Playboy & Playgirl.

1999 came and Pizzicato Five released the JBL Maxisonic series of EPs, followed by the album Pizzicato Five. It included songs from each of the three EPs in very different forms: "Darlin' of Discothèque" is shorter and instrumental, "A Perfect World" is a lounge-style rearrangement sung by guest vocalist Mieko Hirota and the new song "20th Century Girl" is based on the B-side "Room Service", originally written by Masumi Arichika of TV Jesus.

Final years

In 2000, Matador Records released Pizzicato Five under the somewhat less confusing name of The Fifth Release from Matador. The CD version of this left out the first song "Love Again" but added three extra tracks (one from each of the JBL Maxisonic EPs), while the LP version shared the same title but deviated still further from the original track listing. It would also be Pizzicato Five's last American release.

2001 saw the Japanese release of the album Çà et là 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 and two further Big Hits and Jet Lags albums – Pizzicato Five R.I.P. (1998–2001) and Singles (1993–2001). Since their disbandment, the band's catalogue has been reissued as various compilations such as "Pizzicato Five On Demand".

Members

Members (at time of disbandment)

  • Yasuharu Konishi <small>(1984–2001)</small> – songwriter, bass guitar, guitar, keyboards, vocals.

: He was the only founding member to stay with the group until the end. He is a music producer now.

  • Maki Nomiya <small>(1990–2001)</small> – lead vocals

: Their third vocalist. She is also a solo singer, a narrator, a fashion model and a dress designer now.

Former members

  • Keitarō Takanami <small>(1984–1994)</small> – guitar, keyboards and vocals.

: One of the founding members; he is a guitarist and a music producer now. He changed the spelling of his name to 高浪敬太郎 later, and was also known as "K-taro."

  • Mamiko Sasaki <small>(1984–1987)</small> – lead vocals

: One of the original members and was the first vocalist of this group.

  • Ryō Kamomiya <small>(1984–1987)</small> – keyboards

: One of the original members; he is a composer and an arranger now.

  • Takao Tajima <small>(1987–1990)</small> – lead vocal, guitar, harmonica

: Their second vocalist. He had already come out as Original Love's vocalist at the time. He is a solo singer and is also a music producer now.

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

  • Couples (1987)
  • Bellissima! (1988)
  • On Her Majesty's Request (1989)
  • Soft Landing on the Moon (1990)
  • This Year's Girl (1991)
  • Sweet Pizzicato Five (1992)
  • Bossa Nova 2001 (1993)
  • Overdose (1994)
  • Romantique 96 (1995)
  • Happy End of the World (1997)
  • The International Playboy & Playgirl Record (1998)
  • Pizzicato Five (1999)
  • Çà et là du Japon (2001)

References

  • Official Pizzicato Five website with discography
  • Matador Record's page on Pizzicato Five
  • Comprehensive database of translated Pizzicato Five lyrics
  • Pizzicato Five Discography Song by Song Index
  • J-pop.com overview