[Song Review #202] "Madonna 49" by Akito Katayose
Hello everyone. Today's song is "MADONNA 49" by "Akito Katayose".
Hi. We are just back. And hoping you all are well.
Now, the song for today is a well made & soothing ballad rock, "Madonna 49" (forty nine...maybe) by Akito Katayose, who is also a vocalist of a rock & alternative rock band "Great3".
It's a mellow, relaxing, and straight forward ballad rock.
If you like, please listen to.
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Cover art today
Song data
| Title | MADONNA 49 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Akito Katayose |
| Album Title | |
| Catalog Number | TOCT-24363 |
| Track No. | 3 |
| Duration | 5:43 |
| Released | 2000 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
Akito Katayose Lyricist & Composer
The Lyricist & Composer, "Akito Katayose" is also a singer of this song.
So, We would like to come back to him in "About the artist" section later.
John McEntireArranger
The arranger of the song is an American musician, John McEntire.
John McEntire is a drummer, recording engineer, and music producer active since 1988.
He is also known as a member of an American 5-piece "Post-rock" group "Tortoise, and an indie rock band, "The Sea and Cake".
Bio.
According to Wikipedia, John McEntire started his music career by joining an indie rock group, "My Dad Is Dead" Cleveland in 1988.
After worked with them briefly, he moved to a next 3-piece "Post-hardcore" rock band "Bastro" as a drummer in 1989.
In the early '90s, John McEntire & other 4 members newly formed another "Post-rock" group in Chicago, and named it "Tortoise".
"Tortoise" released their first album "Tortoise" in 1994, and gained unanticipated praise for their new music style.
And now, the band "Tortoise" is understood as one of the pioneers of the post-rock movement. ,
At the same time, John McEntire also formed another post-rock group, but more Jazz-inclined 3-piece unit, "The Sea and Cake" in 1994 with 2 other members.
"The Sea and Cake" also soon became popular, and was accepted as a unique experimental Post-rock band. They are again regarded as a leading group in the category today.
"Soma" studio
In 1993, John McEntire opened his own recording studio "Soma Electronic Music Studios" in Chicago.
Since then, quite a few groups or musicians, including "The Sea and Cake" or "Tortoise" have recorded their albums in this studio.
The studio was moved to California in 2018.
Collaboration with A. Katayose
We are not sure about the background, but in the year 2000, a Japanese musician "Akito Katayose" visited John McEntire's famous "Soma" studio in Chicago for recording "Katayose"'s first solo album "HEY MISTER GIRL!", which John McEntire participated in as a producer & arranger.
Since then, John McEntire & "Akito Katayose" is keeping good relations ship, and whenever "Akito Katayose", or his groups, namely "Great3" or "Chocolat & Akito" are planning to release new records, John McEntire is almost always participating in as music producer, or recording engineer.
Very good.
Video clip
Lastly, here is a nice music clip titled "Harps".
The performer is an American Post-rock group "The Sea and Cake" which John McEntire belongs to.
This is just nice. If you are a fan of light, breezy, and relaxing type music, this would be a perfect choice.
If you like, please listen to.
✩ Flashy ✩
In the opening part of this video, flashy, fast switching pictures will appear. (from 0:00 to 0:15 sec.)
We wonder if it could affect to the people sensitive for such flashy movies. So, if you think it is not suit for you, please skip the initial 15 seconds of the clip, or a whole part, possibly.
Thank you.
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Soothing Ballad rock
This seems to be a cool, stylish & soothing ballad rock in a slow 8-beat rhythm.
Wild & gentle
The drums keep slow 8-beat rhythm, and the simple & straight bass, and the electric guitar in wild over drive tone play stylish melody lines. Then, the strings also join and the introduction begins.
In the main part, synth horn and another characteristic side guitar(?) take part in, and is contribute to make the sound richer.
Akito Katayose's young, & urban vocal, and neatly added natural & harmonic chorus create a soothing, but somewhat lonely, or wistful atmosphere.
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
Akito KatayoseRock & AC(AOR)
"Akito Katayose" is a Japanese singer, songwriter, music producer, and a member of a rock group, "Great3", and a Pop-rock duo "Chocolat & Akito".
Akito Katayose first debuted in 1991 as the vocalist of his rock group "ROTTEN HATS", with their first album, "ROTTEN HATS". Then, as a solo artist, he released his first & only album "Hey Mister Girl!" in 2000, and since then, he is concentrating on releasing group albums rather than solo's.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Akito Katayose)
(The man wearing a pink long sleeve T-Shirt is Akito Katayose.)
Early days
In a sense, "Akito Katayose" was a little bit unique as a Japanese popular musician musician, since he didn't have any particular special music education in his childhood, nor he didn't voluntarily start playing any type of music instruments, like the guitar, piano, or trumpet when he was young.
But on the other hand, he was an ardent music lover, and was keen to dig a wide range of old and new popular music from various countries.
Rotten hats
Thanks to his outstanding knowledge of Pop music & the ability for writing songs, "Akito Katayose" was sometimes asked to join by a few of amateur band.
In 1989, "Katayose" formed an acoustic Pop duo with one of his music friends "Kogure".
Soon, 4 other members also joined, and finally they formed a new rock band, "Rotten hats". For "Katayose", this was the first ever group.
Since then, "Rotten hats" began to release Tijano, Tex-Mex, or country leaning style rock, featuring the mandolin & Banjo, which was rare in Japanese rock. And therefore, the group was a little unique, and distinctive in the scene.
And in 1991, Rotten hats" was debuted with their first album, "ROTTEN HATS"
"Great3"
Because of the difference in the direction of music, "Akito Katayose"'s first band "Rotten Hats" broke up in 1994, and split into two groups. The one was "Hicksville" and the other one was "Great3" which "Akito Katayose" finally belonged to as a vocalist.
"Great3" began to reduce "Tijano" rock style from their sound, and add more straight rock & Adult contemporary (AC or AOR in Japan) type character.
"Great3" then released their first album "Richmondo High" in 1995, and got off to a hopeful new start.
Since then,"Great3" has released 9 original albums so far, and still active.
"Chocolat & Akito"
In 1997, a popular photo model "Chocolat" also debuted as a Pop singer at age 19.
"Chocolat" & "Akito Katayose" happened to meet each other at a working place, and quickly fell in love.
And in 1998, "Chocolat" & "Akito Katayose" surprised people with their "electric marriage".
Since then, "Akito Katayose" is supporting album productions of "Chocolat" as one of the songwriters.
In 2005, "Chocolat" & "Akito Katayose" formed an acoustic Pop duo, "Chocolat & Akito".
After that, the duo has released 3 original albums until now.
As a music producer
Katayose is also showing excellent performances as a music producer.
In 2004, Katayose produced the debut album of now famous rock band "Fujifabric", and led them to a successful major debut.
Or in 2014, "Katayose" was asked to be a sound producer to a major debut album of "DAOKO", who was a rapidly rising rapper & electro pop singer with high potential.
"Katayose" again did a great job, and DAOKO's first major album, "DAOKO" became an excellent one.
Now, "DAOKO" has been one of the leading performers in women's hip hop, or electro pop scene.
Solo album
According to some interviews with "Katayose", he prefers to play music with others rather than alone, because he can almost always experience a sort of "chemical reaction" when creating music with other musicians, and it is a great fun for him.
That might be the reason why "Katayose" is not planning to release his next solo album for a long time, after he released the first one in 2000, which we have introduced today.
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(Ref: http://www.great3.com
profile)🇯🇵
(A relationship like a love) Great3 (2014) [Digital music]
Video clip 1
A licensed music clip of today's song "Madonna 49" has been uploaded on Youtube.com under "Akito Katayose - Topic" category.
Actually, this is the handiest way to listen to the song, then we would like to post the link anyway.
If you like, please listen.
Video clip 2
We would like to introduce one more video clip today.
In 2016, "Chocolat & Akito", an acoustic pop duo teamed up by Akito Katayose & his partner "Chocolat", collaborated with an American Jazz duo "The Mattson 2", and released their 4th album, "CHOCOLAT & AKITO MEETS THE MATTSON 2".
Thank you for "Chocolat & Akito", but they have uploaded quite a few music clips on Youtube from this album.
So in this occasion, we also would like to introduce one of our favourite tracks of them, "Velvet in Room" from this album.
"Velvet in Room" is a sort of, traditional, simple & straight, and familiar touch pop-rock with beautiful harmony.
And therefore, it possibly sounds fresh to the modern ears, a bit paradoxical though.
If you like, please listen to.
Music Samples
3
(試聴する)
AD: Listening samples (Free)
Amazon JP(en)
recochoku.jp
music.apple.com (Track No.3)
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | MADONNA 49 |
|---|---|
| Artist | 片寄明人(Akito Katayose) |
| Album Title | HEY MISTER GIRL！ |
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