Pizzicato Five

Pizzicato Five (P5) is a pop group best known to audiences in the West in their later incarnation as a duo of Maki Nomiya and Yasuharu Knish. P5 were known for their eclectic and energetic compositions and upbeat 60s inspired dance music, and their sound ranged from disco, bossa nova, and Motown styles. The group was highly prolific and released at least one album each year as well as EPs and remix albums. Pizzicato Five pioneered the use of CD packaging with gifts, making the first versions more collectable. They disbanded in 2001. P5 was formed in 1984 when university students Yasuharu Konishi and Keitaro Takanami met at a music society meeting. They were soon joined by Akira Kamonomiya, Mamiko Sasaki, and Shigeo Miyata. Miyata left the group almost immediately. The band’s first single, Audrey Hepburn Complex was released in 1985 and they signed with CBS Sony shortly afterward. Two years later, they released their first all-new album, Couples. Because of its commercial failure, the record company pressurised the band to find a new vocalist. Kamonomiya and Sasaki left and Takao Tajima joined as lead singer. The band’s second album, Belissima! was released in 1988.

The following two albums didn’t meet with success and in 1991, Pizzicato Five signed with Japan Columbia/Seven Gods. Takao Tajima left to work on his own band Original Love and Maki Nomiya joined as the third lead vocalist. Nomiya Maki became highly popular owing to her many wigs and costume changes, and she was constantly featured in Japanese fashion magazines.

The advent of sampling inspired Pizzicato Five group put together a sound that helped to start the burgeoning Shibuya-kei scene. The band’s exposure increased along with the theme songs it recorded for television dramas. They finally achieved wide-spread fame with the 1993 single Sweet Soul Revue, featured in an advertising campaign for Kanebo Cosmetics.

That same year, Pizzicato Five released the album Bossa Nova 2001, which reached number seven in the charts. Their single 7pm in Tokyo became another smash hit after being used as the opening theme of the children's television programme Ugo Ugo Lhuga.

Pizzicato Five’s American debut came in 1994 when their EP Five By Five was released by Matador Records. This was followed by the compilation album, Made in USA, which sold 200,000 copies worldwide.

Shortly before the release of the next album Overdose in the same year, Keitar Takanami left the band. In February 1995, Pizzicato Five performed a successful tour of Europe and America.

After the release of the album Romantique 96 in 1997, the band signed with a new label, Readymade Records, and released Happy End of the World. They continued to release singles and albums and in 2000, Matador Records released Pizzicato Five, their last American release.

After the Japanese release of the album Çà et là du Japon in 2001, it was announced that the band was to break up. This was followed by a series of live events featuring guest performances by old members and two further albums - Pizzicato Five R.I.P. (1998-2001) and Singles (1993-2001).

Trivia

Baby Love Child was used in the Futurama episode Leela's Homeworld. à tokyo is used in the Austin Powers movie Goldmember.

Members

• Songwriter/bass/keyboards/vocals: Yasuharu Konishi
• Guitar and vocals: Keitar Takanami (K-Taro)
• Lead vocalist: Mamiko Sasaki ( (until 1987)
• Keyboards: Akira Kamonomiya
• Lead vocalist: Takao Tajima (1987-1990)
• Lead vocalist: Maki Nomiya (from 1990.

Discography

Albums

• Audrey Hepburn Complex (1985)
• Pizzicatomnia! (1987)
• Couples (1987)
• Bellissima! (1988)
• On Her Majesty’s Request (1989)
• Lover’s Rock (1990)
• Soft Landing on the Moon (1990)
• Hi Guys Let Me Teach You (1991)
• Pizzicato Free Soul (1991)
• This Year’s Girl (1991)
• Sweet Pizzicato Five (1992)
• Expo 2001 (1993)
• Bossanova 2001 (1993)
• Instant Replay (2003)
• Merry Pizzicato The Night is Still Young (1993)
• Overdose (1994)
• Pizzicatomania! (1994)
• Superstar (1994)
• Romantic 96 (1995)
• Antique 96 (1995)
• A Quiet Couple (1995)
• By Her Majesty’s Request (1995)
• CDJ (1995)
• Soft Landing on the Moon (1995)
• The Sound of Music (1995)
• Instant replay (1996)
• Sister Freedom Tapes (1996)
• Happy End of the World (1997)
• Porno 3003 (1997)
• Le Regle de Jeu (1997)
• Happy End of You (1998)
• Playboy and Playgirl (1998)
• Pizzicato Five (1999)
• International Playboy and Playgirl (1999)
• Remixes 2000 (2000)
• The Fift Release From Matador (2000)
• In the Mix (2001)

EPs

• Readymade Records (1991)
• London-Paris-Tokyo (1991)
• Sweet Soul Review (1993)
• The Night is Still Young (1993)
• A Television Workshop (1994)
• Five by Five (1994)
• On the Sunny Side of the Street (1994)
• Quickie One (1995)
• Triste (1995)
• Unzipped (1995)
• A Message Song (1996)
• Baby Portable Rock (1996)
• Sister Freedom Tapes (1997)
• Combinaison Spaciale (1997)
• Darlin' of Discotheque (1999)
• Nonstop to Tokyo (1999)
• Perfect World (1999)
• Voyage à Tokyo (2000)
• 24 Decembre (2001)
• Pizzicato Five 85 (2001)

Compilations

• Made in USA (1994)
• The Doom Generation (1995)
• The Sound of Music by Pizzicato Five (1995)
• Non Standard Years Pizzicato Five 85-86 (1995)
• Pizzicato Five Big Hits and Jet Lags 1991-5 (1995)
• Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy (1996)
• Antique 96 (1996)
• Great White Wonder: Rare Masters 1990-1996 (1996)
• Lounge a palooza (1997)
• What’s up Matador (1997)
• Musikexpress 12 - Matador [Various Artists - Magazines - Musikexpress/Sounds] (1998)
• Sushi 4004 (1998)
• Sushi 3003 (1998)
• Abductions and Reconstructions [Thievery Corporation] (1999)
• Pizzicato Five TYO. Big Hits & Jet Lags 1991-1995 (1999)
• Everything Is Nice: The Matador Records 10th Anniversary Anthology] (1999)
• Big Hits & Jet Lags 1994-1997 (1999)
• Ca et Là Japon (2001)
• Pizzicato Five R.I.P. Big Hits & Jet Lags 1998-2000 (2001)
• Singles (2001)
• Band of the 20th Century: Sony Years 1987-1990 (2004)
• I Love You (2006)
• We Love You (2006)

Singles

• Five by Five (1994)
• Happy Sad (1995)
• Go Go Dancer (1995)
• Happy Sad (1995)
• Baby Portable Rock (1996)
• Sister Freedom Tapes (1996)
• Contact (1997)
• Excerpts from Happy End of the World (1997)
• Mon Amour Tokyo (1997)
• A Symphony (1997)
• Combinasion Speciale (1997)
• Happy Ending/It’s a Beautiful Day (1997)
• History of Pizzicato Five (1997)
• I Hear a Symphomy (1997)
• It’s a Beautiful Day (1997)
• Love’s Theme (1997)
• Mon Amour Tokyo (1997)
• Trailer Music (1997)
• Koi No Rule, Atarashii Rule (1998)
• Such a Beautiful Girl Like You (1998)
• Weekend (1998)
• This Year’s Model (1999)

External Links

• VH1's biography of P5
• Nippop Profile