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No.245 "Polyrhythm" by Perfume
Hi. We wish you have a happy new year.
The song we would like to introduce to you in the beginning of the New year is, "Polyrhythm" by "Perfume".
"Polyrhythm" is a very bright, powerful, auspicious, and stylish electro (Techno) pop released in 2007 by a popular 3-piece female techno pop unit "Perfume".
The song has a unique, irresistible, and addictive type of charm, particularly in the polyrhythmic part. Then we sometimes listen to this song in heavy rotation.
If you like, please listen to.
Now a days, the name of techno-pop group "Perfume" is known even in overseas, but before this song, they were just one of the many idol pop groups trying to rise.
"Polyrhythm" is a song helped them to take off, after a long preparatory period.
Even in this sense, this is a lucky kind of song. So, we would like to introduce to you.
Links to the music shops, offering song samples, are located on the bottom of this page.
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Cover art today
Song data
| Title | Polyrhythm |
|---|---|
| Artist | Perfume |
| Album Title | GAME |
| Catalog Number | TKCA-73325 |
| Track No. | 1 |
| Duration | 4:09 |
| Released | 2008 |
| Publisher | Japan Record |
| Lyricist | Yasutaka Nakata |
| Composer | Yasutaka Nakata |
| Arranger | Yasutaka Nakata |
About the creators
Yasutaka Nakata Songwriter & Arranger
The Lyricist, composer, and arranger of today's song is "Yasutaka Nakata", who is known as a DJ, songwriter, arranger, music producer, and a member of pop duo "CAPSULE" active since 1997.
He is particularly well know as a producer of pop group, "Perfume", or pop artist "Kyary Pamyu Pamyu" (きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ) who both represent modern J-pop, and surrounding cultures of it.
References
For more details on "Yasutaka Nakata", please have a look at the references linked below.
-
(Ref: yasutaka-nakata.com,
biography)🇯🇵
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Some notes on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Light & Stylish
This song seems to be a stylish and edgy techno-pop (Electro) pop featuring an impressive passage in polyrhythm in the song.
On this song, the sound is basically created by using a Midi sequencer & DAW(Digital audio workstation) software called "Cubase".
Then, there is no sound of instrument played by human.
Addictive charm
The hi-hat, snare, bass drum, phased white noise, and the effected chorus of the vocalists begin a leading part of the song, then main part starts.
In the main part, the drums, bass, electronic piano, and string synthesizer also join, and create comfortably repeating melody.
And in chorus (or interlude) part, an impressive passage in polyrhythm appears, and deliver a bit of addictive charm.
Polyrhythm
Many of you might agree that the unique feature of this song is a passage in polyrhythm.
As long as we hear, the basic rhythm of the song is common time (4/4).
But when it comes to polyrhythmic part, at least 4 different rhythm appears, namely the vocal is in 8/8, but switch from 5 beats to 3 beats.
While the Bass drum keeps in 4/4 (then 3/2), the bass plays in quarter note triplet.
And the twinkling high-pitch sequence is sextuplet in 4/4.
The idea is simple, but the sound becomes very complicated and stylish.
Interestingly, they say that this song initially experienced a resistance or refusal from the management of the record company and the entertainment agency.
More precisely, the song received the opinions like, "This part sounds like a broken record(EP), and we might get tons of complaint from customers", or "This part might not suit for performing on music varieties on TV or live stages, due to its complication", from them.
The most of the management in Japanese companies are older gentlemen, and perhaps by instinct, they automatically begin to search for a seed of worry, and, almost always do well not to accept things they are not familiar with.
So. it seems it is a normal reaction.
In case of this song, the creator "Nakata" went straight to their office, and persuaded them.
That is why we can listen to this song today.
So, we think we need to thank him.
Interesting, but a bit sad episode, if it is a true story.
Right, legit feeling
One more curious thing we always feel from this song is a right, legit, fair, sound, upstanding, or green signal kind of feeling. And because of that, listening to this song is refreshing, and encouraging.
We do not not know exactly where it is coming from. But as long as we guess, its Baroque music like decent melody line, and fashionable but sunny chord progression might be the cause.
We would like to hear the commentary of professional musician one day.
About the artist
Perfume Stellar Local idol
"Perfume" is a three-woman electro-pop (Techno-pop), or idol-pop unit active since around the year 2000.
They are one of the most well known idol pop group in the modern Japanese popular music scene. And thanks to the internet, they have fans not only in Japan but also in overseas.
The inalterable members of the long surviving group are "Kashiyuka", "Ah-chan", and "Nocchi". They come from the same town (Hiroshima), and they have been friends more than 20 years.
Perfume debuted in 2002 with a single, "OMAJINAI★Perori" (A charm to relief tension). Since then, 51 singles, and 7 original, 19(dvd) live, and 2 best albums have been released until now.
Early times
According to some references on the internet, the members of "Perfume", namely "Ah-chan", "Kashiyuka", and "Nocchi" were all in the first batch of students at an actors school in Hiroshima newly opened in 1999.
The members were late elementary grades students, or just 10 years old when joined.
But because of their high potential and hard training, the three of them gradually became visible among the members of the class.
Until 2001, not all of them were in the same group, "Nocchi" was in the different team in other word.
But in the summer of that year, a member of "Ah-chan" & "Kashiyuka"'s team decided to leave actors school for preparatory studies.
After consideration, (because "Nocchi" was already a bit of star in the school), "Ah-chan" asked "Nocchi" if she could join in her group.
It was a bit of surprise though, "Nocchi" readily agreed to become a member of "Ah-chan"'s group.
And that was the start of the pop group "Perfume".
By the way, the name of the band, namely "Perfume", came from the first names of the original members according to some interview article.
Coincidently, the first names of the members commonly contained the letter "香" (means perfumery, aroma, fragrance, or incense) which is a typical letter for girl though.
That was why they name their group "Perfume".
However, responding to the join of "Nocchi" whose name does not have that letter, the group has changed the explanation about the band name.
Saying, "Because, the fragrance of perfume can relax, or make people happy. We aspire to be a group like such."
From Hiroshima to Tokyo
The members of "Perfume" continued to practice dancing & singing very hard, and it certainly helped them to remain as one of the top groups in the school.
And finally in March 2002, when the members were the 2nd grade students of Middle school, or thirteen years old, "Perfume" released their first single CD "OMAJINAI★Perori" (Do a spell to ease the tension of oneself - Write the kanji letter of "man" 2-3 times with finger on the palm of one's hand, then swallow them.), though it was sold only in Hiroshima, under an indies label.
The response for the debut single was good enough. The initially pressed 2000 copies were sold out.
In the early 2000s, there was a movement called "Local idol boom", which the people lives in the medium sized cities other than Tokyo, support and cheer locally formed idol groups which perform almost exclusively in their towns.
Naturally, "Perfume" also absorbed into this category, and performed well as a familiar local idol for Hiroshima people.
In 2002, their second single, "Kare-shi Boshū-chū" (Be between boyfriends) was released also as Hiroshima local.
At about this point, "Perfume" had been suggested to come to Tokyo, from the head of the mother company of the actors school they belonged to.
And in spring 2003, when the members became the senior of middle school, "Perfume" decided to move to Tokyo to seek for success in the capital city.
In Tokyo, the members lived in a women's dormitories where the newbie singers, or actors of that talent agency lived together.
At the same time, "Perfume" was automatically incorporated into a mother group "Bee-hive" which the all of resident singers were requested to be members.
Then, the team began to perform not just as "Perfume", but also a member of "Bee-hive".
In terms of music, "Perfume" and team welcomed a talented DJ, composer, and arranger "Yasutaka Nakata" as their new sound producer.
And changed their basic style of music from a typical idol-pop to a nostalgic, but mildly modernized '80s Techno-Pop which later become a sound signature of "Perfume" after fully refined.
From 2003 to 2004, "Perfume" released three singles from an indies label "Bee-hive".
But when they released a song titled, "Vitamin drop", which was an excellent integration of cute idol-pop and stylish techno-pop, as their 5th single CD, the scenery was changed.
At this point, "Perfume" was still one of the minor idol pop groups in broad view.
But some insightful early fans, and staff were convinced of the notable high potential of "Perfume", by listening there song, and watching the dancing.
Those fans began to recommend, push, introduce, or talk about "Perfume" to the others. Because the fans wanted to blow their discovery of the bud of a beautiful flower.
In fact, those of their small actions were no small matter at all.
Because the pile up of those finally provided a major boost to "Perfume" to be a top-rank pop group, a couple of years later.
A long preparatory period
In September 2005, "Perfume" eventually released their first single (6th in career), namely "Linear motor girl", from "Tokuma Japan" a major label.
From this song, the mood of the song became more futuristic and electro-like, and good or bad, it reduced an adorable type of atmosphere.
Perhaps because, the arranger considered the age of the members, since they were seventeen.
"Perfume" launched two more singles of this line, namely "Computer City" (Jan 2006) and "Electro World" (June 2006) by 2006.
And these initial three singles are often called "Futuristic trilogy".
Despite the high quality songs, and high level performances of the "Perfume" members, their series of single records could not have achieved satisfactory results.
(Indeed, we suppose the poor promotion support for them need to be blamed though.)
And in fact, "Perfume" seemed to be on the blink of contract cancellation in the late 2006.
But on the other hand, the recognition and popularity of "Perfume" were slowly, but very steadily increasing particularly in the rising SNS society on the internet.
The management body of "Perfume" also seemed to be aware of the situation, and possibly therefore, it gave one more chance to the "Perfume" team.
On the St. Valentine's day (14.FEB) in 2007, "Perfume" launched 4th single "Fan Service [sweet]" which contained a bright, coquettish, and funky electro-pop "Chocolate Disco" singing a sentiment of girls on the St. Valentine's day.
Unexpectedly, the song was well accepted by music fans, and achieved the highest position in their history of singles.
Quite luckily, and by chance, a much influential pop singer & radio personality "Kaera Kimura" watched a promotion video of "Chocolate Disco".
She loved it so much, and became a fan of "Perfume".
"Kimura" began to air the songs of "Perfume" heavily in a radio program she hosted.
Coincidently, a CM (TV advertising) director "A. Tomotsugi", who was about to create an advertising of ECO campaign by AC, was listening this radio program, and interested in "Perfume".
Then the director decided to ask "Perfume" to perform.
And this led the "Perfume"'s signature hit "Polyrhythm" to have been born.
Break
Sometime in mid 2007, "Perfume" received an offer to appear and perform on the TV CF for said joint campaign by NHK & AC (Advertising Council Japan) to promote recycling of waste materials, like plastics or papers.
"Perfume" was happy to accept the offer. And a new advertising was filmed by using brand-new song, dance performance, and costume of "Perfume".
And finally on the 01.July.2007, the new TV advertising featuring "Perfume" began to be aired from NHK and all private TV stations.
This caused a phenomenon. The combination of surprisingly stylish & thrilling techno-pop, and a cute but advanced dance performance by "Perfume", strongly attracted the audience in the living room.
And the recognition and popularity of jumped up right after from broadcasting.
This was a dramatic moment of their break after 6 years preparatory period, which was exceptionary long as an idol pop group.
In August 2007, "Perfume" made a historic appearance on a popular, mainly foreign, rock festival "SUMMER SONIC" as the first ever idol pop group in its history.
The fact is telling the impact on the music scene made by of "Perfume" sound.
And around this timing, the members of "Perfume" became increasingly busy, since they began to appear on TV a lot more frequently.
"Perfume" began to hold solo concert more frequently, and often filled up the venues of 1-3000 capacity with audience.
In April 2008, after six years from the first indies debut in Hiroshima, "Perfume" finally released their debut album "GAME" from Tokuma Japan
This album contained "Polyrhythm", "Chocolate Disco" like their famous hit songs. And surprisingly (or could be naturally), the album made its debut at the top of the album chart.
Extremely promptly in November 2008, "Perfume" successfully held a 2-days solo concert at a symbolic concert venue "Nippon Budō-kan".
The hall has a capacity of 10000 people, and had been a largest concert hall in Japan until recently, then it had been an ultimate goal for musicians in Japan.
"Budō-kan" is still a dream for the vast majority of musicians, then it explains what "Perfume" achieved was miraculous.
"Kohaku Uta-gassen"
In the night of New Years eve, Japan's national broadcaster NHK airs an annual special music program called "Kōhaku Uta-gassen" on TV.
About 50 numbers of most visible singers, or bands in that year are usually selected by the program, then they will receive offers to perform.
So, it is a bit of an honour for singers to be chosen as a performer for
Very swiftly in 2008, our idol pop group "Perfume" was selected as a performer of "Kohaku", for the first time in the history of the band.
And obviously, they performed "Polyrhythm" in the program
Since then, "Perfume" is appearing on "Kohaku" very frequently, as if they have become a regular performer.
In fact, they have been continuously performing on "Kohaku" for 16 straight years, namely from 2008 to 2023.
We think this is a record in the female pop group category.
International
In the borderless world of the internet, the sound & charm of the pop-group "Perfume" seemed to spread into the countries in overseas very much naturally even without promotions.
In November 2010, "Perfume" was invited to a music award presenting ceremony held in Korea, and performed a song on the stage.
And this became their first live performance in overseas.
At last in October 2012, "Perfume" took on a concert tour in overseas titled "Perfume WORLD TOUR 1st", for the first time in their career. And showed live performance in Taiwan, Hong kong, Korea, and Singapore.
Then in June 2013, "Perfume" received an invitation from "Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity" as a guest for the first time as a music artist from Japan, and showed their live performance supported by an advanced visual reinforcement.
And in July the next month, "Perfume" launched another overseas tour as "Perfume WORLD TOUR 2nd", and held concerts in Germany, UK, and France.
And in the end in April 2019, "Perfume" was chosen as a performer at "Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival" in the US, for the first time as a women pop group from Japan.
Like this way, "Perfume" steadily has become a rare Japanese music artist who is able to hold a concert in overseas.
Music & Dancing
They often say that "Perfume" is nice because their music, provided by a talented creator "Yasutaka Nakata", are excellent.
Or some also say "Yeah, but the dancing arrangement done by a leading choreographer "MIKIKO" is stunning too, "Perfume" is superb."
With no doubt, they are true.
But obviously, the creativity and excellence of those talented creators only takes shape when they are performed by the performers.
And the quality and taste of outputs will hugely vary depending on the competency and personalities of the performers.
So, in this context, the excellence of "Perfume" is a result of a combination of a lot of talents, gathered to support "Perfume".
But the key factor for the success of "Perfume" is the exceptional competency, and the personalities of the members of "Perfume", we suppose.
Recent
Even in the recent days, the pop group "Perfume" seems to be going along in high gear.
In 2020, "Perfume" celebrated the 20 years anniversary of the group, and the 15 years anniversary of their major debut.
In 2022, the group launched their seventh album "Plasma", after 4 years interval from the 6th album "Future pop".
Like that way, they are having busy days as a pop group.
References
For more details about "Perfume", please have a look at the references linked below.
There are plenty of excellent articles regarding to the pop group "Perfume".
Please also check them in addition to the ones listed below.
-
(Ref: www.perfume-web.jp,
profile)🇯🇵
Video clip
Lastly, we would like to introduce a music clip of today's song "Polyrhythm" by "Perfume".
Fortunately, a music video seems has been uploaded on Youtube by "Perfume", a rightful poster.
So, if you like, please listen to.
As referred, "Polyrhythm" was originally written as a campaign song for promoting recycling. So, it might be worth watching the campaign video to feel the true power of this song.
Please search for words like "perfume 2007 AC" on Youtube, then you might come across to the right ones.
There are many good music video of Perfume on Youtube, so, we wish you give them a try, if you have a time.
However, we picked up one from those, since we thought the song might be of interest to you.
The link is available below as "Youtube 2"
If you like, please also listen to.
Music Samples
1
(試聴する)
AD: Listening samples (Free)
Amazon JP(en)
recochoku.jp
music.apple.com (Track No.1)
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | ポリリズム(Polyrhythm) |
|---|---|
| Artist | Perfume |
| Album Title | Game |
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