Nēnēs Explained

Nēnēs (ネーネーズ) is an Okinawan folk music group formed in 1990 by China Sadao (知名定男).[1] The group name means "sisters" in Okinawan. Nēnēs is composed of four female singers who perform traditional Okinawan folk songs in traditional costume with sanshin accompaniment; they have also performed with a backing band, Sadao China Gakudan. They toured Europe and played New York City in 1994.[2] An independent release, IKAWŪ, landed them a recording contract with Sony Records and a collaboration with Ryuichi Sakamoto.[1] They hold a resident gig at the Live House Shima-Uta club in Naha, Okinawa.[1] [3]

Members

Nēnēs Members
Original Members
1990–1997

Yasuko Yoshida
Namiko Miyazato
Yukino Hiyane
古謝 美佐子
吉田 康子
宮里 奈美子
比屋根 幸乃
1997–1999 Yasuko Yoshida
Namiko Miyazato
Yukino Hiyane
Eriko Touma
吉田 康子
宮里 奈美子
比屋根 幸乃
當眞 江里子
1999–2003 Ryōko Koyama
Erina Miyagi
Kiyoka Ikei
Keiko Hirata
小山 良子
宮城 江利奈
伊計 季代花
平田 桂子
2004–present Ayumi Yonaha [4]
Ayano Higa
Nagisa Uehara
Izumi Kinjō
與那覇 歩
比嘉 綾乃
上原 渚
金城 泉

Discography

YearTitleJapaneseLabelNotes
1991 IKAWŪ IKAWŪ (行かうー)Disc Akabana
1992 Yunta ユンタSony Records
1993 Ashibi あしびSony Records
1994 Koza Dabasa コザdabasaSony Records
1995 Nārabi なーらびSony Records selections featuring Balinese jegog ensemble "Suar Agung" [5]
1995 Natsu – Urizun 夏 ~ うりずんSony Records
1996 Koza – Nēnēs Best Collection コザ ~ ネーネーズ・ベスト・コレクションSony Records
1997 Akemodoro – Unai 明けもどろ ~ うないAntinos Records
2000 Okinawa – Memorial Nēnēs オキナワ ~ メモリアル・ネーネーズAntinos Records
2002 Chura Uta 美らうたDig Records
2002 Saudade Okinawa – Healing Selection サウダージ・オキナワ ~ ヒーリングセレクションEpic Records Japan
2002 Saudade Uchinā – Nēnēs & Friends Collection サウダージ・ウチナー ~ ネーネーズ&フレンズ・セレクションKi/oon Records
2004 Nēnēs Golden Best ネーネーズ GOLDEN☆BESTSony Records
2004 Shū Dig Records
2008 Sai Dig Records

Nēnēs also sang in the title track of Talvin Singh's Ok album.

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://nippop.com/artist/artist_id-33/artist_name-nenes/ Nippop Nenes Profile
  2. http://www.farsidemusic.com/acatalog/nenes.html NENES
  3. http://www.ne.jp/asahi/okinawa/shimauta/ Live House Shima-Uta
  4. http://www1a.biglobe.ne.jp/dig/nenes.html Nenes
  5. http://homepage2.nifty.com/ryukyuko/html/shimauta-nenes.htm ネーネーズ(初代)