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Rating: Formed in 1980 and active in the recording industry starting from the mid-'80s, Pizzicato Five became a phenomenon of Japanese pop of the era, despite never leaving the shores of their homeland.
Only in 1994, with the release of the album under review, which serves as an anthology of tracks previously released exclusively for the Japanese market, did the group attempt to make themselves known to the international audience. The attempt, it must be acknowledged, was remarkably successful, and the album sold well, especially in Europe. However, the group's name was never associated with the mainstream or widely-consumed pop music, as it had been in Japan for over a decade. Less satisfactory was the success among the public in those USA to which the album was virtually dedicated, as they were less receptive to the music produced by the group, even though overseas critics showed appreciation for the product.
In fact, the style of Pizzicato Five is more suited to the ears and taste of Europeans, being music seemingly easy and catchy, capable of revealing unforeseen plots and rhythmic patterns, refined arrangements, and high-class citationism as listening increases.
In summary, it can be observed that in Pizzicato Five's music, moments of pure jazz (the opening “I”), more elaborate blends between pop, jazz, and soul (precisely in “Sweet Soul” and “Magic Carpet Ride”), pranks and revisitations—also through the use of samples—of soundtracks from vintage films (à la Lalo Schifrin, as evident in “Twiggy/Twiggy”), traits of disco music and funk not far from the mid-'80s Talking Heads (“Go Go Dancer”), genuinely pop moments (“Peace Music”, “Baby Love Child”), and others of minimal electronics (“This Years Girl # 2”) coexist with delicate balance.
Almost all the mentioned tracks are sung in Japanese, charmingly so, on one hand, disorienting the listener but contributing to the effective overall success of the individual songs, thanks to the undeniable musicality of the language.
The overall sensation from listening to the album is that of a self-ironic and cartoonish music, with ample references to the pop melodism of the '60s, the sonic immediacy of some advertising jingles, in an enchanting sound patchwork. Some criticize Pizzicato Five for a lack of originality and not always consistent inspiration, although such limits are, in the end, part of the game and are related to the very nature of the group.
As for me, I can only recommend listening to the work.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
04 Readymade FM (00:13)
(konishi)
Translators: andrei cunha
Bonjour
Bonsoir
Bonne nuit
Vous etes bien
A l'ecoute de
Quatre-vingt quatorze
Point neuf
Readymade fm
Restez avec nous
Pour un moment
De plaisir et
De detente
Toujours assuree
Avant tout
La meteo de ce week-end
Pour la region
De tokyo
On prevoit donc
Du beau temps
En debut de ce week-end
Printanier
Mais...
Mais mauvaises nouvelles
Pour la suite
Car il se mettra a pleuvoir
A pleuvoir
Tres tres fort
Mais pas de soucis
Pour ceux qui nous ecoutent
Car sur readymade fm
On garde le sourire
Et la bonne humeur
Allors installez-vous
Confortablement
Car apres le bip sonore
Un group pop japonais
Les pizzicato five
Va vous offrir
De nouveaux horizons
Avec leur dernier album
Intitule
Overdose
Dont nous avons fait
Une selection
Restez donc
En notre compagnie
Sur readymade fm
C'etait ce soir
Agnes qui vous divertissait
A bientot
Ciao
Vous etes
Sur la station
Quatre-vingt quatorze
Point neuf
Readymade fm
-----------------------
Good day
Good evening
Good night
You are
Listening to
Ninety-four
Point nine
Readymade fm
Stay with us
For a moment
Of pleasure
And relaxation
Always guaranteed
First of all
The weekend weather forecast
For the greater
Tokyo area
The weather
Will be fine
At the beginning of this
Spring weekend
But...
After that
Bad news
It will rain
It will pour
A lot of water
But for all our listeners
On readymade fm
There's no reason to worry
We're always happy
The sun is always shining
So relax and sit down
Comfortably
Because after the beep
A japanese pop band
Les pizzicato five
Will open
New dimensions for you
With their new album
Entitled
Overdose
Of which we've compiled
A selection of songs
Please stay
With us
On readymade fm
Your host on air tonight
My name is agnes
A bientot
Ciao
You are
Listening to
Ninety-four
Point nine
Readymade fm
11 Peace Music (03:51)
tengoku made no
rasen kaidan
aoi tori wa ai wo utau
jikan wo koete
ni sen konen
koibitotachi wa chikau no
hinagiku no hana wo
kami ni kazaro
futari no love eien ni
hoshizora no shita de
negai wo kaketa
ano hoshi wa aquarius
itsu made mo love and peace
tengoku yuki no escalator
aoi tori wo oikakeru no
yubi-kiri shiyo ni sen nenbun
koibitotachi wa chikau no
beads no kubikazari
kakete kureta ne
futari no love eien ni
mizuumi no naka de
hadaka ni natte
dakishimete aquarius
itsu made mo love and peace
eien no kodomotachi
yume wo miru mushroom
eien no koibitotachi
chu ni ukabu bedroom
la la la la
sakasama ni mawaru
merry-go-round
futari no love eien ni
fushigi na kaori ni
tsutsumareteru
ano hito wa aquarius
itsu made mo love and peace
yume kara samete
nakitakunaru no
aoi tori wa kiete shimau
jikan wo koete
ni sen konen
koibitotachi wa chikau no
hinagiku no hana wo
kami ni kazaro
futari no love eien ni
hoshizora no shita de
negai wo kaketa
ano hoshi wa aquarius
itsu made mo love and peace
eien no kodomotachi
yume wo miru mushroom
eien no koibitotachi
chu ni ukabu bedroom
la la la la
futari no love eien ni
ano hoshi wa aquarius
futari no love eien ni
dakishimete aquarius
futari no love eien ni
ano hito wa aquarius
futari no love eien ni
ano hoshi wa aquarius
futari no love eien ni
dakishimete aquarius
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