Michie Nakatani
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese musician, singer, and songwriter and was one of the founding members of the rock group Shonen Knife
.
, Japan
. She was an only child. Her father was an accountant and her mother was a housewife.
She met future bandmate Naoko Yamano
in college.
In 1995, Nakatani collaborated with Big Dipper
's Gary Waleik on a project called The Japanese Beetles. They recorded one single.
In 1997, just as Shonen Knife were about to embark on a tour of Australia
and New Zealand
, Michie came down with a bout of appendicitis. She was able to recover in time to join the band in Australia. During the New Zealand dates bass duties were handled by Atsushi Shibata.
She stayed with Shonen Knife from December 1981 until December 1999. In early 1999, when she decided to leave the band, Naoko and Atsuko tried to talk her out of it, but she was firm on her decision to leave so in the end they reluctantly had to let her go.
In 2002, the book "Hokkaido Popsicle"http://www.amazon.com/dp/0380812924 written by Isaac Adamson
, used (by permission) a lyric from the song "Catnip Dream", written by Michie.
don't like frogs."
"We've always enjoyed writing songs about everyday things. Besides, there are already
enough bands out there singing about pollution
, war
and poverty
. While we all care very
much about those things, we also feel that music should be fun."
"I really love good pop music. The Beatles, Beach Boys, The Jam
, Redd Kross
, Cheap Trick
."
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese musician, singer, and songwriter and was one of the founding members of the rock group Shonen Knife
Shonen Knife
Shonen Knife, written in Japanese characters as 少年ナイフ, which transliterates as Shōnen Naifu, literally "Boy Knife," is an all-female Japanese pop-punk band formed in Osaka, Japan, in 1981...
.
Early years
Michie was born October 8, 1961 in OsakaOsaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. She was an only child. Her father was an accountant and her mother was a housewife.
She met future bandmate Naoko Yamano
Naoko Yamano
is a member and founder of the Japanese rock trio Shonen Knife.-Biography:Naoko formed Shonen Knife in the December of 1981 in Osaka, Japan with her sister Atsuko Yamano and her friend Michie Nakatani. Naoko and Michie had developed a friendship while attending college together...
in college.
Career
Before joining Shonen Knife, Michie spent some time working as a cartoonist's assistant.In 1995, Nakatani collaborated with Big Dipper
Big Dipper
The Plough, also known as the Big Dipper or the Saptarishi , is an asterism of seven stars that has been recognized as a distinct grouping in many cultures from time immemorial...
's Gary Waleik on a project called The Japanese Beetles. They recorded one single.
In 1997, just as Shonen Knife were about to embark on a tour of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Michie came down with a bout of appendicitis. She was able to recover in time to join the band in Australia. During the New Zealand dates bass duties were handled by Atsushi Shibata.
She stayed with Shonen Knife from December 1981 until December 1999. In early 1999, when she decided to leave the band, Naoko and Atsuko tried to talk her out of it, but she was firm on her decision to leave so in the end they reluctantly had to let her go.
In 2002, the book "Hokkaido Popsicle"http://www.amazon.com/dp/0380812924 written by Isaac Adamson
Isaac Adamson
Isaac Adamson, born in Fort Collins, Colorado in 1971, is the American author of a series of mystery novels set in Japan and featuring journalist and amateur detective Billy Chaka. Adamson currently lives in Chicago, Illinois...
, used (by permission) a lyric from the song "Catnip Dream", written by Michie.
Quotes
"I have frogphobia. I just don't like frogs. There's just something... I reallydon't like frogs."
"We've always enjoyed writing songs about everyday things. Besides, there are already
enough bands out there singing about pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
, war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
and poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
. While we all care very
much about those things, we also feel that music should be fun."
"I really love good pop music. The Beatles, Beach Boys, The Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
, Redd Kross
Redd Kross
Redd Kross, a rock band from Hawthorne, California had their roots in 1978 in a band called The Tourists begun by Jeff and Steve McDonald while the brothers were still in middle school...
, Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
."
External links
- Official Shonen Knife website http://www.shonenknife.net
- Fan site http://www.shonenknife.com