Cornelius (musician)
Encyclopedia
Cornelius is a Japanese
recording artist and producer.
, one of the key groups of the Tokyo Shibuya-kei
scene. Following the disbandment of Flipper's Guitar in 1991, Oyamada donned the "Cornelius" moniker and embarked on a successful solo career.
American music journalists often describe Cornelius's musical style as being similar to Beck Hansen's, whom he acknowledges as an influence along with The Beach Boys
, The Jesus and Mary Chain
, Primal Scream
and the Brazilian band Kassin + 2
, among others.
The music of Cornelius could be described as experimental and exploratory, and often incorporates dissonant elements alongside more familiar harmonically "pleasing" sounds. This tension, plus his practice of bringing in sounds and samples from mass culture, pure electronic tones, and sounds from nature (such as on his Point album), lead him to being sometimes categorized as an "acquired taste."
He chose his pseudonym in tribute to the character of the same name from the movie Planet of the Apes
. He commissioned a song, about himself, on Momus' 1999 album Stars Forever
.
Oyamada married fellow musician and collaborator Takako Minekawa
in 2000 and they have one child, Milo, named after the son of Cornelius in Planet of the Apes. He is a second cousin of Joi Ito
.
His song Wataridori 2 is available for download via the Creative Commons CD
In 2005, the Spinto Band referenced him in their song "Japan Is An Island" on their album Nice And Nicely Done
.
As of September 2006, he was no longer signed to Matador Records
.
In 2006 and 2007 respectively, the song "The Micro Disneycal World Tour" from the Fantasma
album, was used for Nick Parks' "Creature Comforts" and Sky television's "See, Surf, Speak" advertisements in the UK. It had also been used several years earlier in an ironic NFL (US football) television commercial in the USA, which juxtaposed the song's relaxing qualities with video clips showing rapid, aggressive football playmaking.
In 2010 he contributed the song "Katayanagi Twins Battle Song" to the film Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
recording artist and producer.
Career
Oyamada's first claim to fame was as a member of the pop duo Flipper's GuitarFlipper's Guitar
Flipper's Guitar were a Tokyo-based Japanese pop band led and later duo by Keigo Oyamada and Kenji Ozawa. The band were influenced by the chirpy sound of British 80s pop groups like Haircut One Hundred, Exhibit B, The Style Council and Aztec Camera, as well as the fashionably eclectic sounds of...
, one of the key groups of the Tokyo Shibuya-kei
Shibuya-kei
is a sub-genre of Japanese pop music which originated in the Shibuya district of Tokyo. It is best described as a mix between jazz, pop, and electropop.- Overview :...
scene. Following the disbandment of Flipper's Guitar in 1991, Oyamada donned the "Cornelius" moniker and embarked on a successful solo career.
American music journalists often describe Cornelius's musical style as being similar to Beck Hansen's, whom he acknowledges as an influence along with The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride, Glasgow in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid...
, Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
and the Brazilian band Kassin + 2
Kassin + 2
The +2’s is a Brazilian band from Rio that composes samba but, at the same time, incorporates the sounds of funk and Psychedelia into their music. The music group consists of Moreno Veloso, Domenico Lancelotti, and Alexandre Kassin...
, among others.
The music of Cornelius could be described as experimental and exploratory, and often incorporates dissonant elements alongside more familiar harmonically "pleasing" sounds. This tension, plus his practice of bringing in sounds and samples from mass culture, pure electronic tones, and sounds from nature (such as on his Point album), lead him to being sometimes categorized as an "acquired taste."
He chose his pseudonym in tribute to the character of the same name from the movie Planet of the Apes
Planet of the Apes (1968 film)
Planet of the Apes is a 1968 American science fiction film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, based on the 1963 French novel La Planète des singes by Pierre Boulle. The film stars Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, James Whitmore, James Daly and Linda Harrison...
. He commissioned a song, about himself, on Momus' 1999 album Stars Forever
Stars Forever
Stars Forever is an album for which the artist Momus wrote thirty songs, one about every person or group who commissioned a song at the price of $1,000. "Patrons" include artist Jeff Koons and two year old animator/superhero Noah Brill...
.
Oyamada married fellow musician and collaborator Takako Minekawa
Takako Minekawa
is a Japanese musician, composer and writer.-Background:As an accomplished all-around musician, Minekawa's musical skills set her firmly outside of the J-Pop "idol" tradition: she writes and composes most of her material, singing quirky lyrics about subjects such as clouds, cats, and the color...
in 2000 and they have one child, Milo, named after the son of Cornelius in Planet of the Apes. He is a second cousin of Joi Ito
Joi Ito
is a Japanese activist, entrepreneur, venture capitalist and Director of the MIT Media Lab.Ito has received recognition for his role as an entrepreneur focused on Internet and technology companies and has founded, among other companies, PSINet Japan, Digital Garage and Infoseek Japan. He maintains...
.
His song Wataridori 2 is available for download via the Creative Commons CD
In 2005, the Spinto Band referenced him in their song "Japan Is An Island" on their album Nice And Nicely Done
Nice and Nicely Done
Nice and Nicely Done is the fifth studio album by The Spinto Band, released on June 7, 2005 in North America and April 7, 2006 worldwide.-Track listing:#"Did I Tell You" – 3:10#"Brown Boxes" – 2:28#"Oh Mandy" – 3:35#"Trust vs. Mistrust" – 2:50#"Spy vs...
.
As of September 2006, he was no longer signed to Matador Records
Matador Records
Matador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of indie rock artists and bands.-History:Matador was started by Chris Lombardi in 1989 in his New York City apartment. The following year, Lombardi was joined by former Homestead Records manager Gerard Cosloy, and the two of them have...
.
In 2006 and 2007 respectively, the song "The Micro Disneycal World Tour" from the Fantasma
Fantasma
Fantasma is a 1997 album by Japanese musician Cornelius.The track "Star Fruits Surf Rider" was released as a single on November 2, 1998 and was covered by Mitsuki Aira for her 2008 double A-side single, "Darling Wondering Staring"/"Star Fruits Surf Rider"...
album, was used for Nick Parks' "Creature Comforts" and Sky television's "See, Surf, Speak" advertisements in the UK. It had also been used several years earlier in an ironic NFL (US football) television commercial in the USA, which juxtaposed the song's relaxing qualities with video clips showing rapid, aggressive football playmaking.
In 2010 he contributed the song "Katayanagi Twins Battle Song" to the film Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a 2010 comedy film directed by Edgar Wright, based on the graphic novel series Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O'Malley. The film is about Scott Pilgrim , a young Canadian musician, meeting the girl of his dreams, Ramona Flowers , an American delivery girl...
Albums
- The First Question AwardThe First Question AwardThe First Question Award is a 1994 album by Cornelius.-Track listing:# "The Sun Is My Enemy" - 5:47# " What You Want" - 4:00# "Silent Snow Stream" - 6:32# "Perfect Rainbow" - 4:21# "Bad Moon Rising" - 5:28...
(1994) - 69/96 (1995)
- FantasmaFantasmaFantasma is a 1997 album by Japanese musician Cornelius.The track "Star Fruits Surf Rider" was released as a single on November 2, 1998 and was covered by Mitsuki Aira for her 2008 double A-side single, "Darling Wondering Staring"/"Star Fruits Surf Rider"...
(1997) - PointPoint (album)Point is a 2001 album by Cornelius. The album contains innovative rhythmic use of sound, and is notable for its use of sounds from nature, such as water sounds and bird sounds, into its mix.-Track listing:...
(2001) - SensuousSensuousSensuous is the 2006-2007 release by Japanese musician Cornelius. It was released in the United States by Everloving Records.-Track listing:#"Sensuous" — 4:21#"Fit Song" — 3:59#"Breezin'" — 3:50#"Toner" — 1:32#"Wataridori" — 6:56...
(2006)
Remix Albums
- 96/6996/6996/69 is a remix album by Cornelius, released in 1996.-Track listing:...
(1996), remix LP of 69/96 - FM (1998), various artists' remixes of Fantasma
- CM (1998), Cornelius' remixes of artists contributing to FM (UnkleUNKLEUnkle are a British musical outfit founded in 1994 by school friends James Lavelle and Tim Goldsworthy. Originally categorized as trip-hop, the group once included producer DJ Shadow and have employed a variety of guest artists and producers.-First incarnation :Lavelle and Goldsworthy were joined...
, Money MarkMoney MarkMark Ramos-Nishita aka Money Mark is a producer and musician who has collaborated with the Beastie Boys many times. He also appears on the first Banyan album in 1997 as the "Freeway Keyboardist".-Career:...
, Buffalo DaughterBuffalo DaughterBuffalo Daughter is a Japanese rock group formed in 1993. The three main members are suGar Yoshinaga on guitar, Yumiko Ohno on bass, and Moog Yamamoto on turntables and graphic design...
, ColdcutColdcutColdcut are an English dance music duo, comprising Matt Black and Jonathan More. Their signature style is electronic dance music, featuring cut up samples of hip hop, breaks, jazz, spoken word and various other types of music, as well as video and multimedia.-1980s:In 1986, computer programmer Matt...
, The PastelsThe PastelsThe Pastels are a group from Glasgow, Scotland, UK.Their early records for labels like Whaam!, Creation, Rough Trade, and Glass Records, had a raw and immediate sound, melodic and amateur, which seemed at odds with the time...
, The High LlamasThe High LlamasThe High Llamas are a London-based musical group, formed by the Irish guitarist and songwriter Sean O'Hagan after the demise of his group Microdisney. O'Hagan writes and arranges the music and the rest of the group consists of drummer Rob Allum, keyboardist/cellist Marcus Holdaway, and...
) - CM2 (2003), a Cornelius remix collection (BlurBlur (band)Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...
, k.d. langK.D. LangKathryn Dawn Lang, OC , known by her stage name k.d. lang, is a Canadian pop and country singer-songwriter and occasional actress...
, BeckBeckBeck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
, GerlingGerlingGerling were an alternative guitar and electronic act from Australia. They formed in 1993, and are based in Sydney.-History:The band formed in 1993 with the line-up of Darren Cross , Presser and Brad Herdson...
, The AvalanchesThe AvalanchesThe Avalanches are an Australian electronic music group formed in 1997 with mainstays Robbie Chater on keyboards, Tony Diblasi on keyboards, bass and backing vocals, and Darren Seltmann on vocals and keyboards. They are known for their live DJ sets and their debut album Since I Left You , which was...
, MobyMobyRichard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
, Manic Street PreachersManic Street PreachersManic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
, Sting, Tahiti 80Tahiti 80Tahiti 80 are a French indie pop band from Rouen and Paris. The group was founded in 1993 by Xavier Boyer, Pedro Resende, Médéric Gontier and Sylvain Marchand....
and more) - PM (2003), various artist's' remixes of Point
- CM3 (2009), a Cornelius remix collection (Kings of ConvenienceKings of ConvenienceKings of Convenience are an indie folk-pop duo from Bergen, Norway. Consisting of Erlend Øye and Eirik Glambek Bøe, the musical group is known for their delicate tunes, calming voices, and intricate and subtle guitar melodies...
, Bloc PartyBloc PartyBloc Party are a British Indie rock band, composed of Kele Okereke , Russell Lissack , Gordon Moakes , and Matt Tong...
, The Go! TeamThe Go! TeamThe Go! Team are a six-piece band from Brighton, England. They combine indie rock and garage rock with a mixture of blaxploitation and Bollywood soundtracks, double dutch chants, old school hip hop and distorted guitars similar to the style of Sonic Youth. Their songs are a mix of live...
, James BrownJames BrownJames Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
, Sting, Ryuichi SakamotoRyuichi SakamotoAfter working as a session musician with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in 1977, the trio formed the internationally successful electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1978. Known for their seminal influence on electronic music, the group helped pioneer electronic genres such as...
and more)
EPs
- Holidays in the Sun EPHolidays in the Sun EPHolidays in the Sun EP was the Cornelius's first solo release.-Track listing:# "Raise Your Hand Together " – 5:50# "Raise Your Hand Together " – 6:46# "Diamond Bossa " – 3:20...
(1993) - Cornelius Works 1999 (1999), rare CD-R promo from 3-D Corporation Ltd. (Japan)
- Gum EP (2008)
Singles
- The Sun Is My Enemy (1993)
- Perfect Rainbow (1993)
- (you can't always get) what you want (1994)
- Moon Light Story (1994)
- Moon Walk (1995), cassette only
- Star Fruits Surf Rider (1997)
- Freefall (1997), UK only
- Chapter 8 (1997), UK only
- Point of View Point (2001)
- Drop (2001)
- Music (August 23, 2006)
- Breezin (September 27, 2006)
DVD/VHS
- Promotions! (1994),music videos
- Love Heavy Metal Style Music Vision (1994), live performances
- EUS (2000), live performances
- Five Point One (2003), a DVD package of music videos and PM
- from Nakameguro to Everywhere tour '02-'04 (2008), live performances
- Sensurround (2008), a DVD version of Sensuous with accompanying videos and 5.1 surround sound
- Sensuous Synchronized Show (2009),live performances
Compilations
- Tribute SpiritsTribute SpiritsTribute Spirits is a hide tribute album released on May 1, 1999. It collects cover versions by various artists, among them most members of hide's former band X Japan....
(May 1, 1999) - DJ-Kicks: Erlend ØyeDJ-Kicks: Erlend ØyeDJ-Kicks: Erlend Øye is a DJ mix album, mixed by Erlend Øye. It was released on 19 April 2004 on the Studio !K7 independent record label as part of the DJ-Kicks series...
(April 19, 2004) - Matador at FifteenMatador at FifteenMatador at Fifteen, a packaged release consisting of a CD of greatest hits, a CD of unreleased/rare tracks, and a DVD of its artists' music videos, was released by Matador Records on October 12, 2004, to celebrate the "15th Anniversary of contemporary rock's most self-congratulatory record label."...
(October 12, 2004)
Other works
- Coloris (2006), a Nintendo bit GenerationsBit Generationsbit Generations is a video game franchise for the Game Boy Advance, published by Nintendo. It was first announced under the name Digitylish at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in 2005. Each of the games in the series feature simple controls, gameplay and graphics...
game for Game Boy AdvanceGame Boy AdvanceThe is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China... - Cornelius appeared on the TV show Yo Gabba Gabba!Yo Gabba Gabba!Yo Gabba Gabba! is an American children's television show currently airing on the Nick Jr. cable network in the United States and the Nick Jr. networks in the United Kingdom & Ireland, Italy, France and Australia as well as Treehouse TV network in Canada and RTE2 on RTEjr see Raidió Teilifís...
performing a version of his song "Count Five or Six" as a way to teach kids how to count (at least up to six). This can be seen on the episode titled "Share". - Composed music played by the Katayanagi Twins characters in the film Scott Pilgrim vs. the WorldScott Pilgrim vs. the WorldScott Pilgrim vs. the World is a 2010 comedy film directed by Edgar Wright, based on the graphic novel series Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O'Malley. The film is about Scott Pilgrim , a young Canadian musician, meeting the girl of his dreams, Ramona Flowers , an American delivery girl...
.
External links
- SEEN: Download Cornelius
- cornelius-sound.com - official website (in Japanese and English)
- corneliusjapan.com - semi-official website (English)
- Nippop Profile | Cornelius
- Matador Records' Cornelius page
- Cornelius rocks — Jaime Holguin from the Associated Press explores the allure of Japan's Keigo Oyamada. A May 2007 Associated Press/asap written and video piece about Cornelius.
- Cornelius at Shepherd Bush Empire - Dominic Haley from Spoonfed Media writes about the intrigue of the unexpected in Cornelius' music.
- Interview with Oyamada Keigo - Manny Santiago goes to the 3D Studio in Nakameguro, Tokyo for Heso magazineHeso magazineHESO Magazine is a quarterly, culture magazine based in Tōkyō . Every issue has a theme, and features the work of famous photographers, interviews, music, art, poetry and articles of social and cultural interest.- History :...
.