Shonen Knife is an all-female alternative rock trio that was formed in December 1981, in Osaka, Japan, with sisters Naoko Yamano (vocals and guitar) and Atsuko Yamano (drums) and their friend Michie Nakatani (vocals and bass).
Unlike many female pop singers, they don’t sing love songs over a bland background of synthetic strings; they’re a full forced, guitar driven, rock band. Their music is diverse, borrowing elements from many different sources, such as 1960’s bands like The Beatles, The Kinks, Cream, early Pink Floyd, and even Captain Beefheart. However, just when you think you know what to expect, don’t be surprised if the next song owes more to the Ramones or Black Sabbath. Spaceships, bison, jelly beans, barbie dolls, public baths, mythological creatures, choco-bars, neon zebras, robots, pot scrubbers, and most of all food, all mix freely and unexpectedly in their lyrics. Lighthearted and full of humor, the songs express a boundless joy, wild imagination, and unexpected insight.
Many alternative rock groups, such as Sonic Youth, Nirvana, and Redd Kross, have cited Shonen Knife as a favorite of theirs, and the exposure gained significant following for the band.
Here is the Shonen Knife video for “Riding on a Rocket“:
1994 saw the trio perform as part of the traveling alternative rock festival Lollapalooza. A Shonen Knife cover of the Carpenters‘ hit “Top of the World” was used in the 1998 remake of “The Parent Trap“, a US television commercial and as the ending song for the movie “The Last Supper.” Here is the video for a song they did for the Powerpuff Girls, called “Buttercup (I’m a Supergirl):
Although their records were only available in the U.S. via import, Shonen Knife struck a chord with the underground with a track of theirs appearing on the Sub Pop 100 compilation in 1986. Also, in 1989, a variety of alternative bands recorded renditions of their favorite Shonen Knife songs for the tribute album Every Band Has a Shonen Knife Who Loves Them.
In November of 1991, Shonen Knife released a 7” album, “Space Christmas” which naturally features Santa riding on a bison sleigh, space food consisting of marshmallows and ice cream, and the wish of a space ship for a gift. The album made the NME and the Melody Maker charts.
LISTEN TO SONG:
DOWNLOAD MP3:
Shonen_Knife-_Space_Christmas.mp3
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