February 5, 2020 Playlist

YASUTAKA NAKATA'S 40th BIRTHDAY
Yasutaka Nakata & Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
"Pika Pika Fantajin" by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu (2014)
   
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu "Pika Pika Fantajin"  2014 (Japan)
Yasutaka Nakata will be 40 years old on February 6. He might be the most important figure on the 21st century Japanese music scene. Though he doesn't exclusively work with female artists, his greatest success has been writing and producing records for ladies. He began his musical career at age 17 by founding the duo Capsule with singer Toshiko Koshijima; Capsule's music was created electronically (the DJ + vocalist format) but was rooted in the neo-sixties pop sounds of the 90's "Shibuya-kei" scene led by Les Pizzicato Five, which is still a distinct influence on his style - his tunes and arrangements are "groovy baby"! Capsule has continued to record albums sporadically, but in 2003 he also began to produce and write for an idol trio from Hiroshima called Perfume. By 2008 he had turned them into an electronic pop group to rival the mighty Kraftwerk, and they have been the most popular group in the country for over a decade, with every album going to #1 on the charts. Things got even groovier still in 2011 when he met a weird teen "charisma model" who called herself Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. Kyary became his greatest muse and has unleashed the best tunes and productions of his career (so far). This week's CAOTW is the third of Kyary's four albums released to date, all of which are classics in my book! As Kyary became Japan's "it-girl" of the 2010's decade, Nakata has become the most in-demand producer and songwriter in Japan as well as one of that country's most internationally famous musicians.
 
Here's are the videos for the recent Nakata hits played on the show this week (most have English translation of the lyrics available through closed captioning - he doesn't just write great melodies, his lyrics also memorably capture the current technology-dominated zeitgeist):
(N) = New Release
* = songs written and produced by Yasutaka Nakata
   
Artist Song Album Year Country
S-KenAh-Koibito / Oh Yure Tokyo!Tokyo Rockers (various artists compilation)1979Japan
Sonic YouthPipeline / KilltimeSister1987USA
Lee RanaldoTomorrow Never ComesBetween The Times And Tides2012USA
Richard Dawson Black Triangle2020 (N)2019 (Weird World)UK
(Sandy) Alex G GretelHouse Of Sugar (N)2019 (Domino)USA
 
 
Tricot OverflowMakkuro (N)2020 (Bakuretsu)Japan
OOIOO Walk for "345" Minutes, While Saying "Ah Yeah!" with a "Mountain Book" in One Hand, Until a Shower of Light Pours DownNijimusi (N)  ("Bleeding")2020 (Thrill Jockey)Japan
Otoboke Beaver 6 Day Working Week Is A Pain
   / Binge Eating Binge Drinking Bulimia		Itekoma Hits (N)
("And The Top Hits")		2019 (Damnably)Japan
BABYMETAL Elevator Girl (English Version)Metal Galaxy (N)2019 (Babymetal Records/Toy's Factory)Japan
DeerhoofParadise GirlsLa Isla Bonita2014USA/Japan
   
 
Kyary Pamyu PamyuDo Do Pi Do (Capsule) *Pika Pika Fantajin ("Sparkly Fantasy People")
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		2014Japan
Kyary Pamyu PamyuTokyo Highway *Pika Pika Fantajin ("Sparkly Fantasy People")
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		2014Japan
Yasutaka Nakata (with Charli XCX and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu)Crazy Crazy *Digital Native2018Japan/UK
PerfumeOne Room Disco *Triangle2009Japan
PerfumeFuture Pop *Future Pop2018Japan
DAOKOBokura No Network *
("Our Network")		Shiteki Ryoko ("Private Trip")2018Japan
Kyary Pamyu PamyuKimiga Iine Kuretara *
("If You Give Me A Like")		single2019Japan
   
 
CY8ER Renai Reality-Sho *
("Love Reality Syndrome")		Tokyo (N)2020 (Victor)Japan
Kizuna AI AIAIAI *single2019Japan
CapsuleGo! Go! Fine Day *S.F. Sound Furniture2004Japan
Les Pizzicato Five It's A Beautiful DayThe Band Of 20th Century: Nippon Columbia Years 1991-2001 (N - compilation)rec. 1997 (2019 Readymade)Japan
FEMMUp Up And AwayDollhouse EP2018Japan/USA
Dempagumi.incLemon Iro
("Lemon Color")		WWDD2015Japan
Wednesday CampanellaShakushain
(name of a rebel chieftan from Hokkaido)		Zipangu2015Japan
Kyary Pamyu PamyuRing A Bell *Pika Pika Fantajin ("Sparkly Fantasy People")
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		2014Japan
PoppyMy MicrophonePOPPY.COMPUTER2017USA
Poppy Nothing I NeedI Disagree (N)2020 (Sumerian)USA
   
 
Bo NingenOgosokano Ao
("Awesome Blue")		III2014Japan
Yoko OnoYouFly1971Japan
Green Milk From The Planet OrangeConcrete City BreakdownCity Calls Revolution2005Japan
   
 
CapsuleTic Tac *L.D.K. Lounge Designer Killers2005Japan
PerfumeTwinkle Snow Powdery Snow *GAME2008Japan
             
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