Zelda (band)

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Zelda (ゼルダ), stylized as ZELDA, was a Japanese rock band active in the 1980s and 1990s. They played a pioneering role as one of Japan's first all-girl bands.

Led by Sachiho Kojima (小嶋さちほ), the band covered an impressive range of musical genres, from new wave, punk, pop, post-punk, and later, reggae. Zelda played a seminal role for later bands with their forays into roots music and experimental sounds.^[1]

History[]

• 1980: Sayoko Takahashi (高橋佐代子) joins as vocalist at age 15.
• 1982: The band have their major debut on 25 August with the simultaneous release of their first album ZELDA and the single Mirage Lover through (later , now absorbed by Universal Music KK). The band lineup at the time is: Kojima, Takahashi, Yōko Suzuki (鈴木洋子, guitar) and Kuniko Nozawa (野沢久仁子, drums).
• 1983: Fukie Ishihara (石原富紀江) takes over as guitarist. Ako Ozawa (小沢亜子) becomes the band's drummer.
• 1984: Kojima and Takahashi form side project Maneki-neko Kagekidan (招き猫カゲキ団), releasing the album Dai-ichi Kakyoku-shū (第一歌曲集) in September.
• 1985: Zelda moves to CBS Sony (Sony Music Entertainment).
• 1986: Zelda appears in the movie The New Dawn of Billy the Kid (ビリー・ザ・キッドの新しい夜明け).
• 1990: Ishihara leaves the band. Zelda takes a one-year break, during which time they move to the cutting edge label (avex).
• 1991: Naomi Motomura (本村直美) joins as guitarist.
• 1996: Zelda disbands.^[2]

Members[]

• Sachiho Kojima, born 26 December 1958, bass and band leader. Later married to 's vocalist Donto (deceased).
• Sayoko Takahashi, born 10 October 1964, vocals.
• Yōko Suzuki, guitar (prior to 1983).
• Fukie Ishihara, born 23 December 1960, guitar (1983–90).
• Naomi Motomura, guitar (1991–96).
• Kuniko Nozawa, nickname "Maru", drums (prior to 1983).
• Ako Ozawa, born 16 February 1963, drums (1983–96).

Discography[]

Singles[]

From Junk Connection

• ZELDA EP (10 October 1980)

From Aspirin Record

• ZELDA & Mr. $$$ (January 1981) flexi disc

From Nippon Phonogram

• Mirage Lover (ミラージュ・ラヴァー) (25 August 1982)

From CBS Sony

• Mizuumi no STEP / STEP ON THE LAKE (湖のステップ / STEP ON THE LAKE) (1985) 12" promo single
• Ōgon no toki (黄金の時間) (21 May 1986) 12" single
• Electric Sweetie (1 April 1987) one side single

From Cutting Edge (under sales arrangement with Toshiba EMI)

• MY LITTLE CRYING (1 October 1992)
• LOVE LIVE LIFE (21 April 1993)
• Tsumetaku shinaide (冷たくしないで) (21 October 1993)
• Anata dake ga subete ja nai (あなただけがすべてじゃない) (8 November 1995)
• Kanashikute (かなしくて) (27 March 1996)
• Kinmokusei (金木犀) (9 October 1996)

Albums[]

From Nippon Phonogram

• ZELDA (25 August 1982)
• CARNAVAL (5 November 1983)

From CBS Sony

• Sora-iro Bōshi no Hi (空色帽子の日) (21 October 1985)
• C-ROCK WORK (1 April 1987)
• Dancing Days (22 June 1988) live album + Ōgon no Toki
• SHOUT SISTER SHOUT (21 October 1988)
• D.R.O.P. (21 September 1989)

From Cutting Edge

• LOVE LIVE LIFE (21 October 1992)
• FULLMOON PUJAH (21 October 1993)
• Niji-iro no Awa (虹色のあわ) (2 May 1996)

From Alfa Records

• JAHPANG STYLEE - LOVE LIVE LIFE MIX (21 April 1993) remix album

From Sony Music House Inc.

• GOLDEN☆BEST / ZELDA - time spiral (19 March 2003) 2 CD compilation.^[3]

Original soundtrack[]

From CBS Sony

• TO-Y - Original Image Album (「TO―Y」オリジナル・イメージ・アルバム) (1 October 1987) with the song Tokei jikake no setsuna (時計仕掛けのせつな)

Videos[]

• Dancing Days (1988, CBS Sony)
• LOVE LIVE LIFE (10 September 1992, featuring Nissin Power Station live footage)
• FULLMOON PUJAH (1993)

Books[]

• Otome no rock dango (乙女のロックだんご) (10 January 1986, Sachiho Kojima and Miyuki Shinbo, MUSIC MAGAZINE)
• ZELDA monogatari (ZELDA物語) (10 December 1988, Eiko Fujisawa, JICC Shuppankyoku)

Notes[]