Pizzicato Five (often nicknamed "P5") is a legendary Japanese group that fo… Read Full Bio ↴Pizzicato Five (often nicknamed "P5") is a legendary Japanese group that formed in 1984. Arguably the first group to popularize shibuya-kei from underground circles, they also later on began experimenting with the style, with what some called an innovative genre all their own, blending traditional Japanese pop, alternative, soul, funk, jazz, ye-ye, acoustic folk, and early electronic music, among others. They are also perhaps best known to audiences in the west in their later incarnation as a duo of Nomiya Maki (野宮真貴) and Konishi Yasuharu (小西康陽).

They are widely credited to have spearheaded the "Shibuya-kei" movement of Tokyo in the 90s, along with Flipper's Guitar.

They are known for their eclectic and energetic compositions, which often sound like "new" releases from the late 1960s hipster scene. Their catchphrase--"A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular"--captured the group's ironic stance but eager attitude. The group broke up in March 2001.

A hugely prolific group, Pizzicato Five would release at least an album-per-year along with various EPs and remix albums during their 16 year-career.

Both Nomiya Maki (野宮真貴) and Konishi Yasuharu(小西康陽) currently enjoy solo careers - with Konishi Yasuharu(小西康陽) producing other artists ranging from Puffy and SMAP to Cornelius and kahimi karie(カヒミ・カリィ) - alongside collaborative remix compilations - from Ella Fitzgerald and The Supremes to classic Disney and Thunderbirds (as in Super-Marionated) music on his Shibuya-based Readymade Records label.

On Thursday March 31st, 2011, exactly 10 years after Pizzicato Five disbanded, Konishi Yasuharu announced a new solo project called Pizzicato One. The first release, titled One and Ten Very Sad Songs, consists of covers of English songs, each featuring vocals by various internationally-known artists from around the world.

私の人生、人生の夏 ma vie l'ete de vie
Pizzicato Five Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

when the sun
is high
I get up
from
my bed
I play
my favourite record
the volume turned down

drink
a glass of fresh water
and give
the cat
some milk
turn off the sound
of the news on telly
which I hate

some day
eventually
summer will come to an end
and if
we part
even so
I will survive
to see another autumn
I will survive
on my own
I will survive

god
is testing
me
this is a period
I have to go through I guess
my favourite
record
always
ends too fast

some day
eventually
summer will come to an end
I'll put on
a new shirt
and I will live
my
new life
I will live
all by myself
I will live

god
is testing
me
it is a period
I have to go through I guess
I won't be listening
to my favourite
record
for quite a while
until

another summer
comes

Overall Meaning

The song "Ma vie l'ete de vie" by Pizzicato Five is about the singer going through a difficult time and finding a sense of comfort and solace in his daily routine. The song begins with the singer getting up from bed when the sun is high, playing his favorite record with the volume turned down while drinking a glass of fresh water and giving milk to his cat. The singer finds comfort in his daily routine and turns off the sound of the news on telly, which he hates. The song then goes on to say that some day eventually summer will come to an end and if they part even so he will survive to see another autumn on his own.

The song reflects on the singer's perseverance during a testing time in his life. The lyrics "God is testing me," suggest that the singer is being challenged by a higher power and that he has faith in his ability to overcome it. The repetition of "I will survive" reinforces this message of resilience and determination. Moreover, the lyrics about his favorite record always ending too fast and that he won't be listening to it for quite a while until another summer comes reflect a sense of longing, reminding us about the ephemeral nature of happiness.

Overall, "Ma vie l'ete de vie" is a song about finding comfort in routine and perseverance in difficult times. The singer finds solace in the simple pleasures of life and remains optimistic about the future despite the challenges he faces.

Line by Line Meaning

when the sun
At the moment when the sun is shining

is high
When it is at its peak in the sky

I get up
I arise from sleep

from
Departing

my bed
The place where I sleep

I play
I put on my favorite

my favourite record
The vinyl disc with my preferred music

the volume turned down
The sound is not too loud

drink
I consume

a glass of fresh water
Water that is cool and refreshing

and give
I offer to

the cat
My feline pet

some milk
Fluid secreted by cows, used as a drink or in cooking

turn off the sound
I stop the audio from playing

of the news on telly
The television broadcast with current events

which I hate
I do not enjoy it

some day
At some point in time in the future

eventually
It will happen, though the timing is uncertain

summer will come to an end
The season known as summer will conclude

and if
Even in the scenario that

we part
Our relationship is dissolved

even so
Despite that

I will survive
I will persist

to see another autumn
I will witness the season known as fall

I will survive
I will persist

on my own
Without the assistance of others

I will survive
I will persist

god
A higher power

is testing
Is trying me, putting me through an experience

me
The person singing the song

this is a period
A time duration

I have to go through I guess
I suppose it is something I must endure

my favourite
The one I most enjoy

record
A vinyl disc with music on it

always
Every time

ends too fast
Finishes before I'm ready for it to be over

some day
At some point in time in the future

eventually
It will happen, though the timing is uncertain

summer will come to an end
The season known as summer will conclude

I'll put on
I'll wear

a new shirt
A piece of clothing I haven't worn before

and I will live
I will exist

my
Belonging to me

new life
A way of being that is different from before

I will live
I will exist

all by myself
Without companionship

I will live
I will exist

god
A higher power

is testing
Is trying me, putting me through an experience

me
The person singing the song

it is a period
A time duration

I have to go through I guess
I suppose it is something I must endure

I won't be listening
I will not hear

to my favourite
The one I most enjoy

record
A vinyl disc with music on it

for quite a while
A significant amount of time

until
Up until

another summer
The season known as summer, once again

comes
Arrives

Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: YASHUHARU KONISHI

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Johannes Pong

on ポプリ

Holy $#it what a masterpiece. It might even be my favourite P5 album (so hard to choose)! Wow sounds even better than 1996. Konishi sensei is a genius. Timeless. No. It sounds like the future as well as disarmingly nostalgic. All Feelz.