According to Wikipedia: "The optigan (a portmanteau of optical organ) is an electronic keyboard instrument designed for the consumer market. The name stems from the instrument's reliance on pre-recorded optical soundtracks to reproduce sound. Later versions (built under license and aimed at the professional market) were sold under the name Orchestron."
That is indeed news to me. I have heard of the pianica/melodica and a celesta but had never heard of an optigan before. Thankfully, the ancient commercial above set me straight.
Why I even mention this instrument that got its debut in 1971 is the title of this song, "Dancing Cat On The Optigan" from the 2004 compilation album "BGM Vol. 1 for Modernica". I've referred to this unusual compilation album because I had featured one of the other tracks, "How To Cook Macaroni & Cheese" by singer and sound creator Takeshi Nakatsuka（中塚武）early last year.
As with the Nakatsuka track devoted to the popular quick dinner for any college student, there's plenty of whimsy in "Dancing Cat On The Optigan". And listening to this one, all I can say is that cat must be a genius. But all joking aside, the track is by the duo Les gibis (The Game) consisting of Tomoko Kataoka（片岡知子）and graphic designer Takashi Okada（岡田崇）. Although it hasn't been definitively stated, I believe that the two were married since Kataoka was the maiden name for Tomoko Okada（岡田崇）.
Kataoka was also a member of another musical unit, instant cytron（インスタントシトロン）which had its time between 1992 and 2006, and it specialized in lounge music, AOR and J-Pop. I'm assuming that Les gibis was similar in its choice of music. The Okayama Prefecture-born vocalist and musician was into a number of instruments such as accordion, toy piano and regular piano.
"Dancing Cat On The Optigan" definitely has some of that 1960s spacy lounge but it also reminds me of background music from an old-time variety show or game show, thanks to that optigan, even though the instrument is from the 1970s. Plus, it is also rather inviting for tap dancing. In any case, you can shake up a few martinis to this.🍸
In late 2020, Kataoka succumbed to cancer. She was only 51 but left her imprint on TV shows, commercials and games.
This is some interesting BGM I do not think I have heard anything like this in my life. I guess if could also be used for a Christmas type CM, maybe.
ReplyDeleteIt was certainly something new to me since I'd never heard an optigan before.
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