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Article written by Sheila B. for the music magazine Cha Cha Charming I was flipping through a Japanese pop magazine and saw a photo of this cute girl with bright pink hair. The ad mentioned that she had a new album out called Evil and Flowers. My friend Jason had seen the same ad (we were discovering J-pop together) and decided to shell out the $40 to give this girl a try. On the subway ride home, he tore open the plastic and stuck Evil and Flowers in his CD walkman. By the look on his face, I could tell that this was a big disappointment. It sounded more Alanis Morrisette than it did a young Japanese girl. We tossed the CD aside and quickly rationalized that not all the stuff we would buy blind would be good.
For those hearing Bonnie Pink's music for the first time, you'll notice all the usual ingredients; guitar, piano, bass, horns, and drums make up the straightforward pop-rock on Bonnie Pink's albums. But before you judge too quickly (as I so shamefully did!), listen again... and again.........and again. It's those songs that don't grab you immediately that you end up loving the most. What you will soon begin to notice is Bonnie Pink's undeniable knack for songwriting! She is all music and no frills, simple lyrics, unique melodies, a distinct sound, and a true pleasure to listen to.
Evil and Flowers was released in May of 1998 to applauding reviews all around. Bonnie explains that writing Evil and Flowers was a very difficult and strenuous task. She took off to the Swedish countryside hoping to find inspiration in isolation, but being isolated only made her depressed and fustrated with songwriting. However, this depression helped her tap into her inner feelings, and while she felt she wasn't able to write songs, a whole collection of songs poured out. This collection became Evil and Flowers. As an artist, Bonnie Pink has the most potential for success in the U.S. Though she sings in Japanese, her sound is not distinctively Japanese. I wouldn't even compare her with a Western artist though, she is uniquely her own. Too special for words.
An interesting side anecdote... My friend Jason, my boyfriend Tetsuaki, and I attended a Kahimi Karie concert in October 1998. This horribly embarissing French crooner opened the set, so we just gulped down glass after glass of wine. Surely being drunk would get us through the night! After Mr. Pretentious finished his last set, the equally pretentious Momus took the stage. I was contemplating leaving at that moment, until I saw a pink head of hair entering the club. Jason, Tetsuaki, and I looked at each other and nodded our heads in disbelief. It couldn't be true! How could our favorite singer from a country fourteen hours away be in New York City in this club??!! Was I dreaming?? No siree!! It was Bonnie Pink! I don't think I've been this excited since I discovered Ozzy Ozzbourne was staying in the same hotel as me back in 1987. Jason and I froze. I was too excited to move! We planned to speak to her after Kahimi Karie's set. By the time her set ended, I was drunk and extremely nervous. Soon enough I forced myself out of my chair and over to Bonnie Pink. Her first reaction was complete shock that two American kids knew of her music. I just kept telling her how much I loved her music and how much it meant to me. We were gushing, and my face was bright red with excitement. I think we frightened her a little since we were overly happy. I asked her if I could interview her, but I don't think she believed that I had a magazine since I didn't have a business card. Oh well. She was very nice and seemed psyched that we were so interested in her. I just couldn't believe I had met her! What began as a tedious night out ended in sheer bliss. Hopefully when she returns to New York, it will be for her own concert. - Sheila B
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As
it turned out, the Bonnie Pink that we so willingly dismissed turned
out to be one of our best discoveries. Describing her as a Japanese
pop singer doesn't do her any justice; the only thing she has in common
with her J-pop counterparts is that she is Japanese. Bonnie Pink sings
in both Japanese and English or "Japlish" (a mix of the two), she plays
piano and guitar, and she is undoubtedly Japan's brightest hope.
Bonnie
Pink was quickly becoming my favorite singer/songwriter and I immediately
went out and brought all three of her albums. Her first album Blue Jam
was released in '95 and features Bonnie Pink before the pink hair. The
songwriting credits go to Kaori Asada, which is Bonnie Pink under her
real name. Bonnie Pink describes Blue Jam as a "mixture of bitter honey,
blues music, momentary silence, irresistible madness, teardrops, sourgrapes,
hopeful bombs, big big love, and a few green apples." It is nothing
you would expect from a 22 year-old Japanese girl. From the Jimi Hendrix-esque
guitar line of "Scarecrow" to the soothing melodies on "Orenji" (my
personal favorite), the songs on Blue Jam are completely random, complex
and well-written.
In
1996, Bonnie Pink met Swedish producer Tore Johansson, the man responsible
for all the Cardigans releases and the last Saint Etienne album. Tore
soon became an essential part of the Bonnie Pink creative process; he
built her simple compositions into something much grander. Unfortunately
many people assumed that Bonnie Pink's second album Heaven's Kitchen,
was all Tore. This was far from the truth. Without her exceptional songwriting
ability, there would have been no Heaven's Kitchen, nor would the single
for "Heaven's Kitchen" have become such a huge hit. People all over
Japan admired her musical and lyrical talents. On "Get In My Hair" Bonnie
achingly sings over a soft piano "Whenever I hear someone playing guitar,
I just can't help but think of you/ Wherever I am, a cup of morning
coffee will suffice for me to miss you all day long/ You said 'love
what you are' but I can't love anything without you"/ It doesn't come
any more beautiful than this.
