Rumania Montevideo

Rumania Montevideo is a Japanese pop band under the Giza Studio label. They were active from 1998 to 2002 and reformed in 2019. The band name comes from the combination of the Latin spelling of Romania and Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay.

Rumania Montevideo
Also known asMonteVi (モンテビ)
OriginJapan
GenresJ-pop, rock, country
InstrumentsAcoustic guitar
Electronic guitar
Bass
Drums
Tambourine
Saxophone
Keyboard
Years active1998–2002, 2019–
LabelsGarage Indies Zapping Association (1998–1999)
Giza Studio (1999–2002)
Associated actsRamjet Pulley
Websitehttp://www.giza.co.jp/rumania/
MembersMami Miyoshi
Makoto Miyoshi
Past membersKazunobu Mashima
Akiko Matsuda
Satomi Makoshi

Members
  • Mami Miyoshi (三好真美): vocalist, drummer, lyricist (1998–2002, 2019–)
  • Makoto Miyoshi (三好誠): guitarist, composer, arranger (1998–2002, 2019–)
  • Akiko Matsuda (松田明子): saxophonist, keyboardist (1998–2002)
  • Satomi Makoshi (麻越さとみ): bassist (1998–2002)
  • Kazunobu Mashima (間島和伸): guitarist (1998–2002)

Supporting members
  • Naoya Shima: drummer (2019–)
  • Tom: bass (2019–)
  • Rerere: guitar (2019–)
  • Cherry: keyboard and backing vocals (2019–)

History

1998: Band formation and first demo tapes

In the autumn of 1998, the Miyoshi siblings, Mami and Makoto, sent a demo tape to Giza Studio and formed their own band, with members Akiko Matsuda, Satomi Makoshi and Kazunobu Mashima joining in later. During that time, they started recording their first mini album Jet Plane.[1]

In December they released limited two-cassette tapes Half Moon and Picnic, sold at the store Time Bomb in Shinsaibashi for one week.

1999: Success of debut single "Still for your love"

On 25 January 1999, the on-air version of their debut single, "Still for your love", aired as an ending theme for the anime television series Detective Conan.[2]

In February, the Miyoshi siblings participated in the recording of the album Eien by the Japanese group Zard. Mami provided backing vocals and Makoto composed the song "I Feel Fine, Yeah".[3]

On 5 March 1999, they released two LP records, Half Moon and Picnic. At the same time, the first mini album Jet Plane was released under indie label Garage Indies Zapping Association. On 29 March they released a second mini studio album Sunny,Cloudy,Rain.

On 14 April 1999, they made a major debut with the single "Still for your love". The single ranked #9 in its first week in the Oricon rankings.[4] On 28 April, they released their third LP record Still for your love. Side A contains the same music as the debut single and side B includes a demo tape of the song "Still for your love" and the solo song "Headphones" by Makoto Miyoshi. The LP record Still for your love was released on April 24, including an original version of the song from the single and demo-tape version, with singing in English and guitar acoustic arrangement. The LP also includes Makoto's unreleased solo track "Headphones".

On 27 May, they made an appearance on the music program Music Station as the first Giza Studio artist. During an interview with Tamori, Makoto explained the meaning behind the name of the band.[5]

On 16 June 1999, they released their studio album Rumaniamania. The album ranked #9 in its first week in the Oricon rankings.[6]

On 24 July 1999, the on-air version of "Digital Music Power" aired as an ending theme for the anime television series Monster Rancher.[7] The original release schedule was planned sometime in August, but it was postponed due to production issues.

In September they released their second single "Digital Music Power". The lyrics were completely changed from the on-air version.

On 3 November 1999, they released their third single "Picnic". The song is performed in Japanese, unlike the version of "Picnic" which was released as a cassette and the LP record Picnic which were originally performed in English. The on-air version of this single started broadcast three days after its release, on 6 November 1999. It aired as an opening theme for the anime television series Monster Rancher.[8]

2000: Sales decline and first stage performances

On January 10, they released their fourth single "Koisuru Betty". It aired as a theme song for the TBS television program Express. On January 26, they released their second studio album Girl, Girl, Boy, Girl, Boy.

In July, the Miyoshi siblings, without the other members, held an acoustic live performance "UNDOWN vol.4" as part of the live session at Shibuya Club Quattro. They performed four songs from indie albums and one song from Rumaniamania.[9][10] This was their first and last live performance.

In August, they released their fifth single "Start All Over Again". It was aired as an ending theme for the TV Asahi program Mokugeki Dokyun! It was their final single which ranked on Oricon Weekly charts.

On 18 November, three members of the band, Matsuda, Makoshi and Mashima, formed the new alternative band Ramjet Pulley and released a major single "Hello...good bye".[11][12]

2001–2002: Unannounced disband and hiatus

In April 2001, after more than half a year, they released their sixth single "Hard Rain". In the media it was promoted as an ending theme for the TBS Television program Kinniku Banzuke. The single was included in the compilation album Giza Studio Masterpiece Blend 2001.[13]

In December 2001, they released their final single "Tender Rain". In the media it was promoted as an ending theme for the TBS Television program CDTV. Both of these singles failed to debut on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart. In the same month, Mami Miyoshi and Matsuda participated in the R&B cover album Giza Studio R&B Respect Vol.1: Six Sisters Selection covering "Killing Me Softly with His Song" by Lori Lieberman and "Free" by Deniece Williams.[14][15]

In February 2002, after the release of the third studio album Mo' Better Tracks their activities stopped. It is not known whether they disbanded or took a hiatus as no public announcement was published on their official website.

2003–2007: Separate activities

In May 2003, Mami Miyoshi appeared as a guest singer at Hills Pankojou at Keiko Utoku's event "Oldies Night" performing a cover of Gazebo's "I Like Chopin".[16][17] Later, she composed the album track "Ikitakuwanai Bokura" for Japanese singer Azumi Uehara.[18] She was active until 2006.

Makoto Miyoshi continued writing songs for various Giza artists such as The Tambourines, Uura Saeka, Aiko Kitahara and U-ka Saegusa. He officially left Giza Studio in 2007.

The alternative band Ramjet Pulley also unofficially disbanded and went into indefinite hiatus in autumn 2003.

Makoshi quit public activity in January 2003 after releasing the final album of Ramjet Pulley.

Mashima represented himself in production credits as both a former Rumania Montevideo and Ramjet Pulley member. He continued writing songs for various Giza artists such as Aiko Kitahara and U-ka Saegusa in dB as composer and arranger until 2007.

In June 2003, Matsuda appeared at Hill Pankoujou's Thursday Live: Acoustic Night as a guest singer.[19] In August, she released a cover of Yumi Arai's "Ame no Machi wo", which was arranged and produced by Tak Matsumoto, the song was included as a B-side of the cover of "Ihoujin" by Zard. After September 2003, she quit public activity.

In 2006, Rina Aiuchi and Saegusa Yuuka covered "Still for your love", which appeared as a B-side to their single "100 Mono Tobira" with re-arrangement by Takeshi Hayama.

2019: Band reunion and Osaka Live

On 6 March 2019, Makoto Miyoshi launched an official Twitter account with the announcement of a return to band activities along with his sister Mami Miyoshi. Later Makototo announced that Mami would provide only vocals, not drums.[20][21]

On 7 March, Makoto shared on his YouTube channel a demo tape of the unreleased song "anytime" with Makoto as lead vocalist and Mami doing background vocals. The original upload of a demo tape is from 2011.[22]

On the same day it was announced on Twitter that Naoya Shimai from indie band Spaghetti Vabune! would support the group on drums.[23]

On 15 March, "Tom" was announced on Twitter as the new bass player to the band.[24]

On 1 April, a practice video of the song "Dare mo Shiranai Yoake" was uploaded on Makoto Miyoshi's Twitter account. The video footage shows two guitarists, one bassist, one drummer and vocalist Mami Miyoshi.

On 8 July a new keyboard and backing vocals support member, "Cherry", and a guitar support member, "Rerere", were announced through Twitter. The new band consisted of former members, the Miyoshi siblings and four new support members.[25]

On 14 July, Mami Miyoshi launched a Twitter account.[26]

On 1 December the band performed live in the Ohsaka venue Hills Pankoujou.[27][28] Former members of the sub-band Ramjet Pulley arrived as audience guests as well.

2020: New demo-tapes and canceled first Tokyo Live

In January, Makoto published three interview videos on his YouTube channel with guitarist Shimal, who answered questions about Rumania Montevideo's past.[29]

In February, Makoto started launching short demo tapes on his YouTube channel.[29]

In March, a second reunion live performance was scheduled in Tokyo in the venue Daikanyama Unit. All supporting band members planned to reprise their roles.[30][31][32] On 9 March, the event was cancelled due to the worldwide pandemic situation of the coronavirus.

Discography

During their career, the band released three studio albums, two indie albums, three LP records, two cassette tapes, and seven singles.[33]

All lyrics were written by Mami Miyoshi, and all music was composed and arranged by Makoto Miyoshi.

Singles
Release date Title Rank CD code
1st 1999/4/14 Still for your love 9[34] GZDA-1004
2nd 1999/9/15 Digital Music Power 29[35] GZDA-1011
3rd 1999/11/3 picnic 60[36] GZCA-1016
4th 2000/1/10 Koisuru Betty (恋するベティー) 83[37] GZCA-1019
5th 2000/8/23 Start All Over Again 67[38] GZCA-1025
6th 2001/4/25 Hard rain - GZCA-1070
7th 2001/12/12 Tender Rain - GZCA-2024

Studio albums
Release date Title Rank CD code
1st 1999/6/16 Rumaniamania 9[39] GZCA-1007
2nd 2000/1/26 Girl, Girl, Boy, Girl, Boy 24[40] GZCA-1017
3rd 2002/2/6 Mo' Better Tracks 49[41] GZCA-5009

Indie albums
Release date Title CD code
1st 1999/1/30

1999/3/5 (re-print)

 Jet Plane ICR-2
2nd 1999/3/29

1999/4/14 (re-print)

 Sunny,Cloudy,Rain ICR-4

Cassette tapes
Release date Title CD code
1st 1998/12/30 Picnic ICT-001
1st 1998/12/30 Half Moon ICT-002

LP records
Release date Title CD code
1st 1999/3/5 Picnic IKR-004
2nd 1999/3/5 Half Moon IKR-005
3rd 1999/4/28 Still for your love IJR-001

Demo tapes

The titles come from the official YouTube channel of Makoto Miyoshi.

  • Anytime (March 2011)
  • 0208 (August 2019)
  • Unknown (September 2019)
  • Sunset (January 2020)
  • Dance (February 2020)
  • Smile Again (February 2020)

Television performances

Live performances
  • Shibuya Club Quattro: Undown Vol.4 (14 July 2000) - stage appearance of Miyoshi siblings
  • Hills Pan Koujou: GIZA studio R&B PARTY (15 December 2001) - only Mami and Akiko
  • Hills Pan Koujou: Oldies Night (8 May 2003) - only Mami
  • Hills Pan Koujou: Acoustic Night (12 June 2003) - only Akiko
  • Hills Pan Koujou: Rumania Montevideo Live 2019: Boku wo Motsu Kimi he (1 December 2019) - Miyoshi siblings with four new support members
gollark: On Halloween.
gollark: But ratios!
gollark: Couldn't you just hire out eggsitters?
gollark: And now I clicked on but didn't get a copper because I hit my egg limit without noticing...
gollark: Saw a gold. Guess who got it? Someone else!

References
  1. "Rumania Montevideo". GizaUSA. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  2. Credits from "奇術愛好家殺人事件(事件篇)". 名探偵コナン. Season 5 (in Japanese). January 25, 1999. Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation.
  3. Zard (1999). Eien (CD Album; Booklet (credit staff). Zard. Japan: B-Gram Records. JBCJ-1021.
  4. "Still for your love (rumania montevideo)". Oricon News (in Japanese).
  5. "Music Station 出番者ラインアップ 1999/05/27" (Still for your love/ルーマニア・モンテビデオ)". TV Asahi. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  6. "Rumaniamania (rumania montevideo)". Oricon News (in Japanese).
  7. Credits from "A New Departure". Monster Rancher (in Japanese). July 24, 1999. Tokyo Broadcasting System.
  8. Credits from "Farewell, my Friend". Monster Rancher (in Japanese). November 6, 1999. Tokyo Broadcasting System.
  9. "PAST LIVE (2000.5～2002.5)" 渋谷CLUB QUATTRO「UNDOWN vol.4」". Yoidoretenshi.
  10. "２０００年　ＣＡＮＮＡＢＩＳライブ　セットリスト" 2000.7.14 UNDOWN vol.4 @ 渋谷CLUB QUATTRO". Geocities.
  11. "アーティスト情報 Rumania Montevideo". Beinggiza.com. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  12. "アーティスト情報 Ramjet Pulley". Beinggiza.com. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  13. "GIZA studio Masterpiece BLEND 2001 (V.A)". cdjapan.co.jp.
  14. "GIZA studio R&B Respect Vol.1 - six sisters selection". CDJapan. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  15. "GIZA studio R&B PARTY at the "Hills Pan Koujou" [Horie] vol.1". CDJapan. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  16. "宇徳敬子さん～ライヴグラフィティ～ (NO.008 2003.05.08 パン工場ライブ"OLDIES NIGHT")". Ameblo.
  17. "J-groove magazine8月号『THURSDAY LIVE』レポートに、三好真美が登場!!!". Rumania Montevideo Official Website (archived).
  18. "生きたくはない僕等(上原あずみ)". Oricon News.
  19. "Thursday Live (6月12日 ACOUSTIC NIGHT 松田明子さん)". Sound.jp.
  20. "Announcement of band return". Twitter.
  21. "rumania montevideoが活動再開". Natalie.mu.
  22. "こんな感じの新曲(未発表曲)もやりたいなと思ってます。聴いてみてください。(デモですけど)". Twitter.
  23. "奇跡的に三好誠さんに出会い、御縁があってルーマニアモンテビデオのドラムをサポートする事になりました！". Twitter.
  24. "縁あって再始動することになったrumania montevideo(ルーマニアモンテビデオ)のサポートベースを務めさせて頂くことになりました". Twitter.
  25. "今、rumania montevideo というバンドにギターサポートメンバーとして参加してます。". Twitter.
  26. "決まりました皆さん 来てくれるか不安です". Twitter.
  27. "お待たせしました‼️". Twitter.
  28. "『rumania montevideo LIVE 2019〜僕を待つ君へ〜』". livehillspankojyo.com (WebArchived).
  29. "Makoto Miyoshi Youtube Channel". Youtube.
  30. "rumania montevideoの東京公演が決定しました。". Twitter.
  31. "rumania montevideo、3月にワンマンライブ開催。". natalie.mu.
  32. "rumania montevideo、3月の東京公演に向けて動画を配信". okmusic.jp.
  33. "Rumania Montevideo Discography". giza.co.jp/rumania. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  34. "Still for your love (Rumania Montevideo)". Oricon News.
  35. "Digital Music Power (Rumania Montevideo)". Oricon News.
  36. "Picnic (Rumania Montevideo)". Oricon News.
  37. "恋するベティー (Rumania Montevideo)". Oricon News.
  38. "Start All Over Again (Rumania Montevideo)". Oricon News.
  39. "Rumaniamania (Rumania Montevideo)". Oricon News.
  40. "Girl,girl,boy,girl,boy (Rumania Montevideo)". Oricon News.
  41. "Mo' Better Tracks (Rumania Montevideo)". Oricon News.
  42. "CDTVゲストライブ (Rumania Montevideo)". Atwiki.jp.
  43. "POP JAM ON AIR (1月15日 Rumania Montevideo - 恋するベティー)". Music TV Program.
  • Official website
  • Official website by Being (in Japanese)
  • Official Giza USA profile (scroll down till Rumania Montevideo section)
  • Oricon profile (in Japanese)()
  • Musing profile (in Japanese) ()

Authority

Musicbrainz.org page

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