Mayumi Kojima
Mayumi Kojima (小島麻由美, Kojima Mayumi, born September 30, 1972) is a Japanese Shibuya-kei musician. As of 2015, she has released 10 studio albums, 3 extended plays and several singles. Her music has been featured in multiple movies and television commercials. In the west, she is best known for her songs "Hatsukoi" (はつ恋), which was featured in a Nintendo commercial for the video game Super Mario Advance 4,[1][2] and "Poltergeist" (ポルターガイスト, Porutāgaisuto), which was used as the opening theme song of the anime Ghost Hound.[3]
Mayumi Kojima 小島麻由美 | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Mayumi Kojima |
| Born | September 30, 1972 Nakano, Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | Shibuya-Kei, Jazz, Blues, Bossa nova |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels |
|
| Associated acts | Asa-Chang, Boom Pam, Hideki Kaji |
| Website | kojimamayumi |
Life and career
Mayumi Kojima was born in Tokyo. When she was in high school, she heard some music by Rosemary Clooney and suddenly became captivated by American 50s music. But English lyrics were troublesome, so she decided to make her own music.[4] In childhood, influenced by her brother, she enjoyed listening to classical music, but with the new influence of 50s and 60s pop, she wanted to cross jazzy rhythms with different musical genres like the old pop artists did.[5] At the age of 18, she wrote her first song, "Manatsu no Umi" (真夏の海), and the demo tape was noticed by a record company. From then on, her life as a musician started.[4] She made her debut release on July 21, 1995 with the single "Kekkonsōdanjo" (結婚相談所),[6] and in 1998, having released 3 albums and 6 singles since her debut, she went on her first national tour.[7]
Kojima's music was licensed by companies for use in commercials, the first of which were Calbee. This was followed by other commercials and use in other television media. In 1999, Kojima provided the song "Fūsen" (ふうせん) for the NHK TV program Minna no Uta. In addition, she was also in charge of animation for the song using her characteristic illustration style often seen on her album covers.[2] In 2001, Nintendo aired a commercial in the United States for the video game Super Mario Advance 4, in which Kojima's song, "Hatsukoi" (はつ恋), was featured. The commercial was on air from 2001 to 2002 and was one of the first times non-Japanese people were exposed to her music.[1][2] In 2005, Kojima's song "Poltergeist" (ポルターガイスト, Porutāgaisuto) was used as the opening theme song of Production I.G.'s 20th anniversary project, the anime Ghost Hound.[3]
In 2015, as part of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of her debut, she collaborated with Israeli surf rock band Boom Pam to create the album With Boom Pam, which consists of new interpretations of some of her earlier songs in a new style influenced by Mediterranean surf rock. The album was released on July 22, 2015.[8] On the same day, the limited edition commemorative album compilation La saison de Cécile 1995–1999 (セシルの季節, Seshiru no Kisetsu) was also released. It includes her three first albums, also called the Cécile trilogy, in new remastered UHQCD format with previously unreleased demos, instrumentals and alternate takes/mixes. Furthermore, the unfinished album Ai no Mirage (愛のミラージュ, Ai no Mirāju) is included.[9]
Discography
Albums
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN [10] | ||
| Blues de Cécile (セシルのブルース, Seshiru no Burūsu) |
|
— |
| Hatachi no Koi (二十歳の恋, Hatachi no Koi) (L'Amour à 20ans) |
|
90 |
| Sayonara Cécile (さよならセシル, Sayonara Seshiru) (Adieu, la saison de Cécile) |
|
19 |
| My Name Is Blue |
|
14 |
| Ai no Poltergeist (愛のポルターガイスト, Ai no Porutāgaisuto) (Ai no Poltergeist: Sounds of Kojima Mayumi) |
|
17 |
| Sweetheart of Pablo (パブロの恋人, Paburo no Koibito) |
|
47 |
| Swingin' Caravan! (スウィンギン・キャラバン, Suwingin Kyaraban) |
|
77 |
| Blue Rondo (ブルーロンド, Burū Rondo) |
|
42 |
| On the Road (路上, Rojō) |
|
86 |
| With Boom Pam |
|
138 |
| Cover Songs |
|
118 |
| Alternative titles in parentheses | ||
Extended plays
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN [10] | ||
| Omokage (面おもかげ影, Omo Omokage Kage) |
|
84 |
| Kojima Mayumi's Paperback |
|
— |
| On the Beach (渚にて, Nagisa ni te) |
|
71 |
Singles
| Title | Single details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN [10] | ||
| "Kekkonsōdanjo" (結婚相談所) |
|
— |
| "Koi no Kokuraku Tokkyū" (恋の極楽特急) |
|
— |
| "Sensei no Okiniiri" (先生のお気に入り) |
|
— |
| "Manatsu no Umi" (真夏の海) |
|
— |
| Hatsukoi/Oshaberi! Oshaberi! (はつ恋／おしゃべり！おしゃべり！) |
|
95 |
| "Cécile Cat Blues" (セシルカットブルース, Seshiru Katto Burūsu) |
|
— |
| "Mayonaka no Party" (真夜中のパーティー, Mayonaka no Pātii) |
|
94 |
| "Fūsen" (ふうせん) ("Ballon à Jouer") |
|
92 |
| "Rokudenashi" (ろくでなし) |
|
— |
| "Waiwaiwai" (わいわいわい) |
|
48 |
| "Amai Koi" (甘い恋) |
|
73 |
| "Rocksteady Girl" (ロック ステディ ガール, Rakku Sutedi Gāru) |
|
40 |
| "Itoshi no Kids" (愛しのキッズ, Itoshi no Kizzu) |
|
73 |
| "Blue Melody" (ブルーメロディ, Burū Merodi) |
|
94 |
| "Merry! Go! Round!" (メリーゴーランド, Merii Gō Rando) |
|
71 |
| "Arabesque" (アラベスク, Arabesuku) |
|
83 |
| Awa ni Natta Koi/Tsukikage no Napoli (泡になった恋／月影のナポリ(Tintarella di luna)) |
|
— |
| "Yūhi ga Naiteiru" (夕陽が泣いている) | — | |
| Alternative titles in parentheses | ||
Live albums
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN | ||
| Songs for Gentlemen |
|
44 |
Compilations
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN [10] | ||
| Me and My Monkey on the Moon |
|
44 |
| A Musical Biography 2001-2007 |
|
87 |
| La saison de Cécile 1995-1999 (セシルの季節, Seshiru no Kisetsu) |
|
109 |
DVDs
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Blues de la Cécile (セシル座のブルース, Seshiru Za no Burūsu) |
|
| GALACTiKA 07 |
|
| Blue Rondo Live! |
|
References
- "Hatsukoi – The Best Licensed Songs Used in Video Game Commercials | Complex". complex.com. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- "小島麻由美(Mayumi Kojima) | SPACE SHOWER MUSIC". spaceshowermusic.com (in Japanese). Retrieved July 28, 2015.
- "神霊狩／GHOST HOUND｜スタッフ＆キャスト（ゴーストハウンド）". goo.ne.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 21, 2013. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- "小島麻由美オフィシャルサイト ~1994年". kojimamayumi.com (in Japanese). Retrieved July 26, 2015.
- "Interview : Mayumi Kojima –". kochipan.org (in French). Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
- "小島麻由美オフィシャルサイト 1995年". kojimamayumi.com (in Japanese). Retrieved July 26, 2015.
- "小島麻由美オフィシャルサイト 1998年". kojimamayumi.com (in Japanese). Retrieved July 30, 2015.
- "小島麻由美の代表曲の数々が地中海を経由してテルアビブ・サーフロック・サウンドとしてリボーン！ | SPACE SHOWER MUSIC". spaceshowermusic.com (in Japanese). Retrieved July 26, 2015.
- "小島麻由美 セシルの季節ーLa saison de cecile 1995～1999｜UHQCD｜ポニーキャニオン". ponycanyon.co.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 16, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
- "小島麻由美 | ORICON STYLE". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved July 26, 2015.
- "小島麻由美 ／ 夕陽が泣いている | HMV record shop". hmv.co.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 13, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
External links
- Official website
- Mayumi Kojima at Space Shower Music
- Mayumi Kojima Discography
- Mayumi Kojima Discography at Pony Canyon
- Mayumi Kojima on IMDb
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