"GBI (German Bold Italic)" is a song by Japanese
music producer
A record producer or music producer is a music creating project's overall supervisor whose responsibilities can involve a range of creative and technical leadership roles. Typically the job involves hands-on oversight of recording sessions; ensu ...
Towa Tei
is a Japanese artist, record producer, and DJ. Born in Yokohama, Japan, Towa was a member of Deee-Lite, from the US label Elektra Records in 1990 and shot to fame via their international hit single, "Groove Is In the Heart". He made his solo ...
from his second studio album ''
Sound Museum
''Sound Museum'' is the second studio album by Japanese music producer Towa Tei, released on May 25, 1997, by East West Records. Collaborators on the album include Kylie Minogue, Biz Markie, and Bebel Gilberto.
''Sound Museum'' peaked at number ...
'' (1997). The song features vocals by Australian singer
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue (; born 28 May 1968) is an Australian singer, songwriter, and actress. Frequently referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Princess of Pop", she has achieved recognition in both the music industry and fas ...
and Japanese musician
Haruomi Hosono
, sometimes credited as Harry Hosono, is a Japanese musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is considered to be one of the most influential musicians in Japanese pop music history, credited with shaping the sound of Japanese pop f ...
. Tei produced the song and co-wrote it with Minogue. It was released as a single in Japan by
Elektra, Akashic, and
East West Records
East West Records (stylized as east''west'') is a record label formed in 1955, distributed and owned by Warner Music Group, headquartered in New York City.
History
After its creation in 1955 by Atlantic Records, the label had its first hit wit ...
on September 10, 1997, featuring several remixes and an original typeface designed by Hiro Sugiyama and the design team Enlightenment. A year later,
Arthrob and East West Records distributed the single in Australia and the United Kingdom.
The
minimal house
A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air c ...
,
techno-pop
Synth-pop (short for synthesizer pop; also called techno-pop; ) is a music genre that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s b ...
and
club
Club may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Club'' (magazine)
* Club, a ''Yie Ar Kung-Fu'' character
* Clubs (suit), a suit of playing cards
* Club music
* "Club", by Kelsea Ballerini from the album ''kelsea''
Brands and enterprises
* ...
song contains an uncredited
sample
Sample or samples may refer to:
* Sample (graphics), an intersection of a color channel and a pixel
* Sample (material), a specimen or small quantity of something
* Sample (signal), a digital discrete sample of a continuous analog signal
* Sample ...
from the introduction track of ''The Art of Belly Dancing'', a 1969
belly dancing instructional record. It portrays Minogue as a newly invented typeface titled "German Bold Italic".
Music critics
Music journalism (or music criticism) is media criticism and reporting about music topics, including popular music, classical music, and traditional music. Journalists began writing about music in the eighteenth century, providing commentary on ...
lauded the
tongue-in-cheek
Tongue-in-cheek is an idiom that describes a humorous or sarcastic statement expressed in a serious manner.
History
The phrase originally expressed contempt, but by 1842 had acquired its modern meaning. Early users of the phrase include Sir Walte ...
song for its distinctiveness in Minogue's repertoire, regarding it as a highlight of ''Sound Museum'' and a defining moment in her career. "GBI (German Bold Italic)" had little success on the singles charts, peaking within the top 60 in Australia, Scotland, and the UK.
Minogue's then-boyfriend, French director
Stéphane Sednaoui
Stéphane Sednaoui () is a French music video director, photographer, film producer and actor. He has worked in various forms of media, including music videos, photojournalism, portrait photography, fashion and pop culture.
Sednaoui's career ...
, directed the song's accompanying
music video
A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...
. The video features Minogue dressed in a kimono and Tei walking through the streets of New York City and Tokyo. Minogue incorporated the track in her
KylieFever2002
KylieFever2002 was the seventh concert tour by Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue, in-support of her eighth studio album, ''Fever'' (2001). The tour began on 26 April 2002 with four consecutive dates at the Cardiff International Arena in Wales ...
tour and made several live performances where she wore traditional Japanese costumes. Tei re-produced the track in 2017 and released another song with Minogue, titled "
Sometime Samurai
"Sometime Samurai" is a song by Japanese music producer Towa Tei featuring vocals by Australian singer Kylie Minogue for Tei's fifth studio album, ''Flash (Towa Tei album), Flash'' (2005). The song was originally recorded as an Demo (music), ins ...
", in 2005.
Background and production
Japanese record producer
Towa Tei
is a Japanese artist, record producer, and DJ. Born in Yokohama, Japan, Towa was a member of Deee-Lite, from the US label Elektra Records in 1990 and shot to fame via their international hit single, "Groove Is In the Heart". He made his solo ...
left the New York-based music group
Deee-Lite
Deee-Lite was an American House music, house and Dance music, dance music group formed in New York City. The group's Single (music), single "Groove Is in the Heart", which was released in 1990 from their debut studio album, ''World Clique'' (19 ...
in 1994 after suffering an injury on stage.
He returned to Tokyo and did production work for various artists, including music groups
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest was an American Hip hop music, hip hop group formed in Queens, New York City, in 1985,[Q-Tip< ...](_blank)
and
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Yellow Magic Orchestra (abbreviated to YMO) was a Japanese electronic music band formed in Tokyo in 1978 by Haruomi Hosono (bass, keyboards, vocals), Yukihiro Takahashi (drums, lead vocals, occasional keyboards) and Ryuichi Sakamoto (keyboards, ...
. He released his debut solo studio album, ''
Future Listening!
''Future Listening!'' is the debut studio album by Japanese music producer Towa Tei, released on October 21, 1994 by For Life Music. It is Tei's first release after his departure from Deee-Lite. The album was released in the United States on Apri ...
'' (1994), under
.
[; ] A mix of
bossa nova and
electronica
Electronica is both a broad group of electronic-based music styles intended for listening rather than strictly for dancing and a music scene that came to prominence in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the term is mos ...
tunes, the album was well-received and aided Tei's rise to fame in Japan.
That year, Australian singer
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue (; born 28 May 1968) is an Australian singer, songwriter, and actress. Frequently referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Princess of Pop", she has achieved recognition in both the music industry and fas ...
released her
self-titled album to moderate commercial success. The
R&B-influenced album was her first offering with the independent label
Deconstruction Records
Deconstruction Records is a British record label founded in 1987 by Pete Hadfield and Keith Blackhurst, together with Mike Pickering of M People. According to '' DJ Magazine'' it is "best remembered for marrying underground credibility and div ...
, following her split with
PWL two years earlier.
Shortly after releasing the album, Minogue began a romantic relationship with French photographer
Stéphane Sednaoui
Stéphane Sednaoui () is a French music video director, photographer, film producer and actor. He has worked in various forms of media, including music videos, photojournalism, portrait photography, fashion and pop culture.
Sednaoui's career ...
and went on a series of worldwide trips with him, including many trips to Japan, to gain inspiration for her upcoming record. Tei, who was into
lounge music
Lounge music is a type of easy listening music popular in the 1950s and 1960s. It may be meant to evoke in the listeners the feeling of being in a place, usually with a tranquil theme, such as a jungle, an island paradise or outer space. The ra ...
after finishing ''Future Listening!'', wanted to return to his
dance
Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
roots on his next record.
In 1996, Tei received a hand-written
fax
Fax (short for facsimile), sometimes called telecopying or telefax (short for telefacsimile), is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material (both text and images), normally to a telephone number connected to a printer or other out ...
from Minogue at his
home studio
Home recording is the practice of recording sound in a private home instead of a professional recording studio. A studio set up for home recording is called a home studio or project studio. Home recording is widely practiced by voice actors, narra ...
in
Sangenjaya
is a district of Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan. It is also known as Sancha (三茶) for short.
It is home to many bars, cafes and restaurants. Some major streets include National Route 246, Setagaya-dori and Chazawara-dori.
Description
Sangenjaya, l ...
. He recalled the fax had a picture on it, with a message: "Music with you! Kylie. Call Me". The producer was interested in working with her, whom he called "the ideal icon that appeals to both Japanese and
Western people
The ''Western People'' is a weekly local newspaper published in Ballina, County Mayo in Ireland. It was first published in 1883.
The newspaper was part of the Thomas Crosbie Holdings group. Thomas Crosbie Holdings went into receivership in Ma ...
."
He was aware of Minogue's intention to break away from the previous
Eurobeat
Eurobeat refers to two styles of dance music that originated in Europe: one is a British variant of Italian Eurodisco-influencedAng, Ien & Morley, David (2005). "Cultural Studies: Volume 3, Issue 2". ''Routledge''. pgs. 171, 173, 170. . "Eurorec ...
material with PWL and her impact on the
club scene
A nightclub or dance club is a club that is open at night, usually for drinking, dancing and other entertainment. Nightclubs often have a Bar (establishment), bar and discotheque (usually simply known as disco) with a dance floor, laser lighti ...
, particularly among the gay community.
Minogue came to Tei's project studio in Sangenjaya and wrote the lyrics to his
instrumental demos. "She could instantly understand my ideas and direction," Tei recalled. During their sessions, Minogue recorded two songs for her album with Tei: "GBI (German Bold Italic)" and "
Sometime Samurai
"Sometime Samurai" is a song by Japanese music producer Towa Tei featuring vocals by Australian singer Kylie Minogue for Tei's fifth studio album, ''Flash (Towa Tei album), Flash'' (2005). The song was originally recorded as an Demo (music), ins ...
". The producer felt that although the collaboration was smooth, their staff was not supportive. Those tracks were ultimately left out of ''
Impossible Princess
''Impossible Princess'' (briefly retitled ''Kylie Minogue'' in Europe) is the sixth studio album by Australian singer Kylie Minogue, released on 22 October 1997, by Deconstruction Records, Deconstruction, Bertelsmann Music Group, BMG and ...
'' (1997), Minogue's sixth studio album. Tei then saved "GBI (German Bold Italic)" for his second studio album ''
Sound Museum
''Sound Museum'' is the second studio album by Japanese music producer Towa Tei, released on May 25, 1997, by East West Records. Collaborators on the album include Kylie Minogue, Biz Markie, and Bebel Gilberto.
''Sound Museum'' peaked at number ...
'' (1997). Fernando Aponte
mixed the audio at
Chung King Studios
Chung King Studios was a recording studio that operated in New York City under that name from 1986 to 2015. It was founded by producer John King and engineer Steve Ett with financial backing from the Etches brothers, occupying three different loca ...
, New York.
Japanese producers
Hideki Matsutake
Hideki Matsutake (born August 12, 1951 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese composer, arranger, and computer programmer. He is known for his pioneering work in electronic music and particularly music programming, as the assist ...
and Takeshi Fujii conducted additional
synthesizer
A synthesizer (also synthesiser or synth) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis a ...
control.
Composition
"GBI (German Bold Italic)" is a
house
A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air c ...
,
techno-pop
Synth-pop (short for synthesizer pop; also called techno-pop; ) is a music genre that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s b ...
and
club
Club may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Club'' (magazine)
* Club, a ''Yie Ar Kung-Fu'' character
* Clubs (suit), a suit of playing cards
* Club music
* "Club", by Kelsea Ballerini from the album ''kelsea''
Brands and enterprises
* ...
track with
minimal production. The song is written in the key of
B♭ minor
B-flat minor is a minor scale based on B, consisting of the pitches B, C, D, E, F, G, and A. Its key signature has five flats. Its relative major is D-flat major and its parallel major is B-flat major. Its enharmonic equivalent, A-sharp min ...
and has a
tempo
In musical terminology, tempo (Italian for 'time'; plural 'tempos', or from the Italian plural), measured in beats per minute, is the speed or pace of a given musical composition, composition, and is often also an indication of the composition ...
of 127 beats per minute. Its production draws influence from
supermarket muzak and
J-pop
J-pop (often stylized in all caps; an abbreviated form of "Japanese popular music"), natively known simply as , is the name for a form of popular music that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in trad ...
, featuring retro
drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument that creates percussion sounds, drum beats, and patterns. Drum machines may imitate drum kits or other percussion instruments, or produce unique sounds, such as synthesized electronic tones. A d ...
s, quirky
riff
A riff is a short, repeated motif or figure in the melody or accompaniment of a musical composition. Riffs are most often found in rock music, punk, heavy metal music, Latin, funk, and jazz, although classical music is also sometimes based ...
s,
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
beats, bouncy
synths
A synthesizer (also synthesiser or synth) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis an ...
, and
drone
Drone or The Drones may refer to:
Science and technology Vehicle
* Drone, a type of uncrewed vehicle, a class of robot
** Unmanned aerial vehicle or aerial drone
*** Unmanned combat aerial vehicle
** Unmanned ground vehicle or ground drone
** Unma ...
sound effect. Building around the
four-on-the-floor
Four-on-the-floor (or four-to-the-floor) is a rhythm used primarily in dance genres such as disco and electronic dance music. It is a steady, uniformly accented beat in time in which the bass drum is hit on every beat (1, 2, 3, 4)."The Dance ...
rhythm, the track was compared to the work of German band
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk (, ) is a Germany, German Electronic music, electronic band formed in Düsseldorf in 1970 by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider. Widely considered innovators and pioneers of electronic music, Kraftwerk was among the first successful a ...
and Japanese band
Pizzicato Five
Pizzicato Five (formerly typeset as Pizzicato V and sometimes abbreviated to P5)Yang Jeff, Dina Can, Terry Hong, (1997) ''Eastern Standard Time'' pg 277 New York: Mariner Books was a Japanese pop band formed in Tokyo in 1984 by multi-instrum ...
by
music critics
Music journalism (or music criticism) is media criticism and reporting about music topics, including popular music, classical music, and traditional music. Journalists began writing about music in the eighteenth century, providing commentary on ...
. Simon Sheridan, the author of ''The Complete Kylie'' (2009), wrote the track is filled with random "blips, bumps, and scratches" and referred to it as an aural cartoon.
In ''
Words and Music: A History of Pop in the Shape of a City'' (2003), English journalist
Paul Morley
Paul Robert Morley (born 26 March 1957) is a British music journalist. He wrote for the ''New Musical Express'' from 1977 to 1983, and has since written for a wide range of publications and written his own books. He was a co-founder of the reco ...
called it a hybrid of "hip-happy techno and post-fashionable experimental
absurdism
Absurdism is the philosophical theory that the universe is irrationality, irrational and meaningless. It states that trying to find meaning leads people into conflict with a seemingly meaningless world. This conflict can be between Rationality ...
".
"GBI (German Bold Italic)" opens with an uncredited
sample
Sample or samples may refer to:
* Sample (graphics), an intersection of a color channel and a pixel
* Sample (material), a specimen or small quantity of something
* Sample (signal), a digital discrete sample of a continuous analog signal
* Sample ...
from the introduction track of ''The Art of Belly Dancing'', a 1969
belly dancing instructional record by Bel-Sha-Zaar, Tommy Genapopoluis, and The Grecian Knights.
[; ; ; ] The same sample was used on Deee-Lite's 1990 hit single "
Groove Is in the Heart
"Groove Is in the Heart" is a song by American dance band Deee-Lite, released in August 1990 by Elektra Records as their debut and lead single from their first album, ''World Clique'' (1990). Written and produced by the band, it was a hit in man ...
", co-produced by Tei.
Lyrically, the
tongue-in-cheek
Tongue-in-cheek is an idiom that describes a humorous or sarcastic statement expressed in a serious manner.
History
The phrase originally expressed contempt, but by 1842 had acquired its modern meaning. Early users of the phrase include Sir Walte ...
song sees Minogue playing the part of a newly invented
typeface
A typeface (or font family) is a design of Letter (alphabet), letters, Numerical digit, numbers and other symbols, to be used in printing or for electronic display. Most typefaces include variations in size (e.g., 24 point), weight (e.g., light, ...
named "German Bold Italic". She introduces the font's attributes: it fits well and looks good with a variety of colors, including
red, green, and blue. She offers to assist the listener in crafting their own bold design, assuring them that they will appreciate her sense of style. At one point, Minogue repeats the German words "Gut ja!" ("Yeah good!").
Music critics deemed "GBI (German Bold Italic)" to be the first ode to a specific typeface. Morley compared the bizarre premise to
Alvin Lucier
Alvin Augustus Lucier Jr. (May 14, 1931 – December 1, 2021) was an American experimental composer and sound artist. A long-time music professor at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, Lucier was a member of the influential Sonic Ar ...
's 1969
sound art
Sound art is an artistic activity in which sound is utilized as a primary Time-based media, time-based Artistic medium, medium or material. Like many genres of contemporary art, sound art may be interdisciplinary in nature, or be used in Cross-genr ...
piece ''
I Am Sitting in a Room''.
According to Yoko Kawaguchi, the author of ''Butterfly's Sisters: The Geisha in Western Culture'' (2010), the decorative font effects are analogous to a woman's allure.
Minogue seductively talks and giggles throughout the song. Tei described her performance as an "expressive
poetry reading
A poetry reading is a public oral recitation or performance of poetry. Reading poetry aloud allows the reader to express their own experience through poetry, changing the poem according to their sensibilities. The reader uses pitch and stress, a ...
" and cited it as one of the things he liked best about ''Sound Museum''. John Rowley, writing for ''
Junkee
Junkee.com is an Australian popular culture and news website run by new media company Junkee Media. It covers various topics including film, university, food, TV, politics, travel, career, health, and Internet culture. Its target demographic is ...
'', defined her delivery as "flirtatious, giggly, and self-assured".
Besides Minogue, Japanese producer
Haruomi Hosono
, sometimes credited as Harry Hosono, is a Japanese musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is considered to be one of the most influential musicians in Japanese pop music history, credited with shaping the sound of Japanese pop f ...
is also credited as a featured artist, contributing his vocals to the track. In contrast to Minogue's eloquent performance, Hosono performed a softer background vocal delivery, as requested by Tei.
Release and remixes
"GBI (German Bold Italic)" was released in Japan as a
CD maxi single on 10 September 1997 under
Elektra, Akashic, and
East West Records
East West Records (stylized as east''west'') is a record label formed in 1955, distributed and owned by Warner Music Group, headquartered in New York City.
History
After its creation in 1955 by Atlantic Records, the label had its first hit wit ...
. The cover art depicts a mini
pixel art portrait of Minogue.
The single features bonus
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM (, compact disc read-only memory) is a type of read-only memory consisting of a pre-pressed optical compact disc that contains computer data storage, data computers can read, but not write or erase. Some CDs, called enhanced CDs, hold b ...
programming including a
screensaver
A screensaver (or screen saver) is a computer program that blanks the display screen or fills it with moving images or patterns when the computer has been idle for a designated time. The original purpose of screensavers was to prevent phosphor s ...
, the original German Bold Italic font, and
sound bite
A sound bite or soundbite is a short clip of speech or music extracted from a longer piece of audio, often used to promote or exemplify the full-length piece. In the context of journalism, a sound bite is characterized by a short phrase or sentence ...
s from the song. Hiro Sugiyama and his design group Enlightenment designed the font, which was made available for download on both Tei's and Minogue's official websites. The single includes a brief intro produced by American band
The Gentle People, as well as remixes by English DJs
Krust
Kirk Thompson (born 26 July 1968), better known by his stage name Krust, is an English drum and bass producer, DJ and co-owner of the Full Cycle record label. Beyond his roles in the music industry, Thompson is also responsible for two busines ...
(credited as Rekut) and
Shy FX
Andre Williams, better known as Shy FX, is a British DJ and producer from London. He specialises in drum and bass and jungle music.
Biography
Shy FX's debut record was "Jungle Love", released in 1992 on the Permission to Dance label. Soon after ...
(the Ebony Boogie Down Mix).
A remix of "BMT", an original track featuring American rappers
Biz Markie
Marcel Theo Hall (April 8, 1964 – July 16, 2021), known professionally as Biz Markie, was an American rapper, singer, songwriter, DJ, and record producer who gained prominence during hip hop's golden age. He was particularly recognized for ...
and
Mos Def
Yasiin Bey ( ; born Dante Terrell Smith; December 11, 1973), formerly known as Mos Def ( ), is an American rapper, singer, and actor. A prominent figure in conscious hip hop, he is recognized for his use of wordplay and commentary on social an ...
, was also included.
The Japanese
double 12-inch single, released in October, displays the song title and Tei's website in the original German Bold Italic font on the front cover, with a specimen of the font on the back cover.
[; ] The vinyl also includes an original song penned by Tei named "Boldline".
In October and November 1998, one year after its initial release in Japan, "GBI (German Bold Italic)" was issued in Australia and the United Kingdom.
[; ; ; ; ] In both regions, a sticker was added to the cover featuring Minogue as the featured artist.
The cover art for these 1998 releases was similar to that of the Japanese 12-inch single, featuring the title and Tei's website printed against different colored backgrounds.
In the UK, the song was initially scheduled to be released on October 5 by Coalition Records.
A
cassette single
A cassette single (CS), also known by the trademark cassingle, or capitalised as the trademark Cassette Single, is a music single (music), single supplied in the form of a Compact Cassette. The cassette single was introduced in 1980 in music, 1 ...
and two CD versions were eventually issued on October 26 under the EastWest and
Arthrob labels.
The track appeared in Tei's 1997 album ''Sound Museum'', where the font was included for installation on the enhanced CD version. Two remixes of the track made their appearances on Tei's Japanese
remix album
A remix album is an album consisting of remixes or rerecorded versions of an artist's earlier released material. The first act who employed the format was American singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson ('' Aerial Pandemonium Ballet'', 1971). As of 200 ...
''Stupid Fresh'' (1997): the Krust remix and a Latin Narrow Light mix by German producer
Uwe Schmidt
Uwe H. Schmidt (born 27 August 1968), also known as Atom™, Atom Heart, or Señor Coconut, is a German composer, musician and producer of electronic music. He was active in the development of electrolatino, electrogospel, and aciton music. ...
(credited under his alias "Lisa Carbon"). A year later, the remix album was released as the second disc to ''Sound Museum'' in Europe. The track was subsequently included in Tei's first compilation album, titled ''Best'', in 2001. 20 years after its initial release, Tei re-produced the track for his 2017 studio album, ''EMO''.
[; ; ; ] The updated version, re-titled as "GBI", stripped off the four-on-the-floor rhythm, which Tei admitted was one of his big pillars when he recorded the original version but has since distanced from it.
The producer kept most of Minogue's original vocals, increased Hosono's vocals volume and added the guitar performance by suGar Yoshinaga, the guitarist from the Japanese rock band
Buffalo Daughter
Buffalo Daughter is a Japanese rock band formed in 1993. The three main members are suGar Yoshinaga (ex-Havana Exotica) on guitar, Yumiko Ohno (ex-Havana Exotica) on bass, and Moog (later changed to MoOog) Yamamoto on turntables and graphic desi ...
.
He felt revisiting the track was exciting and emotional.
A remix of "GBI" by Japanese DJ
Takkyu Ishino
, better known by his stage name , is a Japanese musician, DJ, record producer, and singer from Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture. He is a member of Denki Groove
is a Japanese music group founded in 1989. It consists of Takkyu Ishino and Pierre Ta ...
was made available as a bonus CD-R with the purchase of ''EMO'' through
Amazon
Amazon most often refers to:
* Amazon River, in South America
* Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin
* Amazon (company), an American multinational technology company
* Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek myth ...
.
Ishino included the remix in his 2018 complication album ''Takkyu Ishino Works 1983-2017''.
Reception
Music critics remarked on the distinctive nature of "GBI (German Bold Italic)". ''
The Independent
''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
'' Fiona Sturges thought the track has a "significantly more exotic flavour" than Tei's typical club tracks.
Sheridan described it as "a witches' brew of hypnotic Japanese madness, but fabulous fun nonetheless."
Several critics picked the track as a highlight of ''Sound Museum''. John Everson of ''
Southtown Star
The ''Daily Southtown'' (formerly ''SouthtownStar'') is a newspaper of the Chicago, Illinois, United States, metropolitan area that covers the south suburbs and the South Side neighborhoods of the city – a wide region known as the Chica ...
'' called it the album's "only real catchy moment", while Howard Cohen, writing for ''
Miami Herald
The ''Miami Herald'' is an American daily newspaper owned by McClatchy, The McClatchy Company and headquartered in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Founded in 1903, it is the fifth-largest newspaper in Florida, serving Miami-Dade, Broward County, Fl ...
'', found that Tei's rhythmic texture and Minogue's vocals keep the album danceable. of ''
The Tulsa World
The ''Tulsa World'' is an American daily newspaper. It serves the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and is the primary newspaper for the northeastern and eastern portions of Oklahoma. The printed edition is the second-most circulated newspaper in the sta ...
'' and Aidin Vaziri of ''
San Francisco Examiner
The ''San Francisco Examiner'' is a newspaper distributed in and around San Francisco, California, and has been published since 1863.
Once self-dubbed the "Monarch of the Dailies" by then-owner William Randolph Hearst and the flagship of the He ...
'' viewed the track as a demonstration of ''Sound Museum''s unique and captivating blend of different cultures. In ''Kylie Song by Song'' (2022), Marc Andrews commented that the Shy FX and Krust remixes showcased Minogue's most stylish set of remixes, and the Sharp Boys Dub extended the connection with the original track even further.
In their retrospective reviews, music critics considered the track to be one of Minogue's career-defining moments. Cameron Adams from ''
Herald Sun
The ''Herald Sun'' is a Conservatism, conservative daily tabloid newspaper based in Melbourne, Australia, published by The Herald and Weekly Times, a subsidiary of News Corp Australia, itself a subsidiary of the American Rupert Murdoch, Murd ...
'' and Priya Elan from ''
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...
'' listed it among her oddest and most fascinating collaborations. Adams ranked "GBI (German Bold Italic)" among her best tracks, praising its hysterical yet charming production. Sheridan believed the unconventional track signaled the conclusion of Minogue's bold phase of experimenting with various musical styles, which was followed by a string of more mainstream projects throughout the rest of 1998. Sean Smith, the writer of ''Kylie'' (2014), pointed out that by the time of the single's release, Minogue had already moved on artistically.
Writing in his book ''Playlisted: Everything You Need to Know About Australian Music Right Now'' (2012), Australian journalist
Craig Mathieson
Craig Mathieson (born 1971) is an Australian music journalist and writer. His books include, ''Hi Fi Days'' (1996), '' The Sell-In'' in (2000) and the '' 100 Best Australian Albums'' in 2010, with Toby Creswell and John O'Donnell
Biography
...
claimed that the track was a captivating precursor that provided a glimpse into the direction her music was about to take.
Sharing the same sentiment, Rowley considered "GBI (German Bold Italic)" to be one of Minogue's most innovative dance tracks, as it established a sonic foundation for what would eventually become her unique style of house-pop.
Due to lack of promotion, "GBI (German Bold Italic)" had little success on the single charts worldwide. In 1998, it peaked at number 50 in
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
,
number 67 in
Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
,
and number 63 in the
UK.
The Sharp Boys Deee-Liteful Dub peaked at number 18 on the UK ''
Music Week
''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future.
History
Founded in 1959 as ''Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music We ...
''s Club Chart, while the original track reached number 35 on the Pop Chart in October.
Despite being one of Minogue's most obscure singles, the track continues to be a favorite among fans. Scottish DJ
Calvin Harris
Adam Richard Wiles (born 17 January 1984), known professionally as Calvin Harris (and sometimes under the stage name Love Regenerator), is a Scottish DJ, record producer, singer, and songwriter. His debut studio album, ''I Created Disco'' (2007 ...
chose it as his favorite track from Minogue, while Irish singer
Róisín Murphy
Róisín Marie Murphy ( , ; born 5 July 1973) is an Irish singer, songwriter and record producer who first became known in the 1990s as one half of the Pop music, pop duo Moloko alongside the English musician Mark Brydon. After the breakup of M ...
ranked it among her favourite dance music collaborations.
Music video
Production and synopsis
The music video for "GBI (German Bold Italic)" was directed by Sednaoui, who was Minogue's boyfriend at the time.
The couple often traveled to Japan and were heavily interested in
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
and Japanese culture. Minogue was drawn into the erotic and feminine work of Japanese photographer
Nobuyoshi Araki
, professionally known by the mononym , is a Japanese photographer and contemporary artist. Known primarily for photography that blends eroticism and bondage in a fine art context, he has published over 500 books.
Early life and education
Araki ...
, which influenced her promotional photographs taken by Sednaoui for her album ''Impossible Princess''.
Their fascination with
geisha
{{Culture of Japan, Traditions, Geisha
{{nihongo, Geisha{{efn, {{IPAc-en, lang, ˈ, ɡ, eɪ, ., ʃ, ə, {{IPA, ja, ɡei.ɕa, ɡeː-, lang{{cite book, script-title=ja:NHK日本語発音アクセント新辞典, publisher=NHK Publishing, editor= ...
imagery was further fueled by
Arthur Golden's 1997 popular novel ''
Memoirs of a Geisha
''Memoirs of a Geisha'' is a historical fiction novel by American author Arthur Golden, published in 1997. The novel, told in first person perspective, tells the story of Nitta Sayuri and the many trials she faces on the path to becoming and w ...
''.
Sednaoui previously directed the 1994 music video for English group
Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English trip hop collective formed in 1988 in Bristol, England, by Robert Del Naja, Robert "3D" Del Naja, Daddy G, Grant "Daddy G" Marshall, Tricky (musician), Adrian "Tricky" Thaws and Andrew Vowles, Andrew "Mushroom" ...
's "
Sly", in which Scottish singer-songwriter
Nicolette walking down the streets in a
kimono
The is a traditional Japanese garment and the national dress of Japan. The kimono is a wrapped-front garment with square sleeves and a rectangular body, and is worn Garment collars in hanfu#Youren (right lapel), left side wrapped over ri ...
costume.
The low-budget video was partly shot in
Wall Street
Wall Street is a street in the Financial District, Manhattan, Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It runs eight city blocks between Broadway (Manhattan), Broadway in the west and South Street (Manhattan), South Str ...
,
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
, during the winter, using a handheld
digital camera
A digital camera, also called a digicam, is a camera that captures photographs in Digital data storage, digital memory. Most cameras produced today are digital, largely replacing those that capture images on photographic film or film stock. Dig ...
.
[; ; ] Minogue and fashion designer
William Baker selected an authentic kimono and ''
obi'' at a small store in
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, or simply the Village, is a neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City, bounded by 14th Street (Manhattan), 14th Street to the north, Broadway (Manhattan), Broadway to the east, Houston Street to the s ...
, as well as a pink rubber whip from a
sex shop
A sex shop is a retailer that sells products related to adult sexual or erotic entertainment, such as sex toys, lingerie, pornography, and other related products.
An early precursor of the modern sex shop was a chain of stores set up in Par ...
.
The singer also wore lacquered green Japanese
platform shoe
Platform shoes are shoes, boots, or Sandal (footwear), sandals with a thick sole, usually in the range of . Platform shoes may also be high heels, in which case the heel is raised significantly higher than the ball of the foot. Extreme heights ...
s gifted by Sednaoui.
Minogue felt the video was authentic but the costume and heavy wig were quite a challenge for her to wear.
Her garish make-up was handled by artist Paul Starr.
The video opens with Minogue in a bubble bath, wearing a red bikini and singing the refrain: "You will like my sense of style."
[; ; ] She dons a large silver-hued wig, adorned with sparkling spangles and pins topped with figures of flying
cranes.
In the following scene, she is seen exploring the streets of New York, dressed in a vibrant kimono with flowing ''
furisode
A is a style of kimono distinguishable by its long sleeves, which range in length from for a , to for an . are the most formal style of kimono worn by young unmarried women in Japan.
The sleeves, like all women's kimono, are attached to th ...
'' sleeves and a meticulously tied ''obi''.
She occasionally pauses to strike angular Japanese poses with her hands, and bows respectfully to random strangers.
[; ] The video then alternates with scenes of Tei wandering through the crowded streets of
Tokyo
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
, wearing a pair of sunglasses and large headphones.
He participated in various activities such as eating noodles, visiting a fish market, and buying a drink from a vending machine.
The camera subsequently shifts its focus to Minogue and Tei's feet as they navigate the subways in their respective cities.
Minogue can be seen striking poses, lounging on luxurious red silk bed sheets, and delivering her lines in front of a stylized pine tree painting.
As the video reaches its climax, Minogue is depicted being led on a leash by a Japanese man dressed in a business suit.
Meanwhile, Tei is shown sitting primly on a hotel bed accompanied by two young Japanese women who gradually undress, lean on his shoulders, and whisper in his ears.
Tei breaks into laughter as the video concludes.
Reception and analysis
The music video has never been commercially released.
In August 2014, Tei uploaded the video on his
YouTube
YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...
account as part of his ''94-14'' releases. Journalists and authors recognized the video as one of Minogue's most unconventional endeavors. In his essay ''Integrated and Intersected: Kylie Minogue, Baz Luhrmann and the use of popular song material in Moulin Rouge!'' (2013), Philip Hayward described it as the "most extreme audio-visual distance" from her role in ''
Neighbours
''Neighbours'' is an Australian television soap opera that has aired since 18 March 1985. It was created by television executive Reg Watson. The Seven Network commissioned the show following the success of Watson's earlier soap '' Sons and ...
'' in the 1980s and her earlier music output. Andrews called it a "mind-boggling Japanese surrealist live anime fest," while Sheridan described Minogue's character as "hyper-unreal". Mathieson praised her performance as the pinnacle of her acting career, and Sturges appreciated her charming presence.
In the photobook ''
Kylie: La La La'' (2002), Baker characterized Minogue's role as a deranged cyber creature that blends elements of traditional geisha and
New Romantic
New Romantic was an underground subculture movement that originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The movement emerged from the nightclub scene in London and Birmingham at venues such as Billy's and The Blitz. The New Romantic mo ...
style.
The video is based on Sednaoui's perception of Minogue as a blend of geisha and manga superheroine, representing two contrasting Japanese portrayals of femininity.
However, she is masked and confined by the invisible constraints of her celebrity life.
Scholars have offered several interpretations of the music video.
[; ; ] Kawaguchi and Keaveney viewed Minogue's character as a depersonalized
sex doll
A sex doll (also, joy toy, love doll, fuck doll or blowup doll) is an anthropomorphic sex toy in the size and shape of a sexual partner. The sex doll may consist of an entire body, or just a head, pelvis, or other body part (vagina, anus, mo ...
in a kimono, which exaggerates
the sexualized Western stereotype of the geisha, confines them within the realm of the
male imagination, and symbolizes the
sexual objectification
Sexual objectification is the act of treating a person solely as an object of sexual desire (a sex object). Objectification more broadly means treating a person as a commodity or an object without regard to their personality or dignity. Obje ...
of Minogue as a pop star.
Kawaguchi also noted a reversal of Western sexual stereotypes: a Western woman embodies the fantasy of being an Eastern sexual object, while the young Japanese woman takes on the role of an alluring office siren.
Tony Mitchell, writing in ''Alter/Asians : Asian-Australian Identities in Art, Media and Popular Culture'' (2000), viewed the fictional font as a metaphor for the unique hybrid of the
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany, the country of the Germans and German things
**Germania (Roman era)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
and Caucasian
Japanese-Australian persona which Minogue had adopted in the video.
Scholars have commented on Minogue's appearance in the video. Kawaguchi observed that her attire did not adhere to the typical style associated with real geishas, and her extravagant wig created a resemblance to a fusion of two theatre characters: Madame Butterfly, a young Japanese woman from
a 1904 opera by
Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Puccini (22 December 1858 29 November 1924) was an Italian composer known primarily for List of compositions by Giacomo Puccini#Operas, his operas. Regarded as the greatest and most successful proponent of Italian opera after Verdi, he ...
, and the sexual Marschallin in
Richard Strauss
Richard Georg Strauss (; ; 11 June 1864 – 8 September 1949) was a German composer and conductor best known for his Tone poems (Strauss), tone poems and List of operas by Richard Strauss, operas. Considered a leading composer of the late Roman ...
' 1911 opera ''
Der Rosenkavalier
(''The Knight of the Rose'' or ''The Rose-Bearer''), Op. 59, is a comic opera in three acts by Richard Strauss to an original German libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. It is loosely adapted from Louvet de Couvrai's novel ''Les amours du cheva ...
''.
Mitchell pointed out that even though Minogue portrayed a geisha, her use of rouge makeup and a blonde wig still accentuated her Western features.
He also drew a comparison between her appearance and that of ''
onnagata
, also , are male actors who play female roles in kabuki theatre. It originated in 1629 after women were banned from performing in kabuki performances. There are many specific techniques that actors must learn to master the role of ''onnagata'' ...
'', male actors who traditionally take on female roles in theater.
He suggested that Minogue relinquishes her status as a
gay icon
A gay icon is a public figure who is regarded as a cultural icon by members of the LGBTQ community. Such figures usually have a devoted LGBTQ fanbase and act as allies to the LGBTQ community, often through their work, or they have been "openly app ...
by adopting "transvestite-like representation which crosses borders of both race and gender."
Authors have drawn comparisons between the video's depiction of Japanese culture and the work of other artists.
Kawaguchi and Keaveney compared the video to American singer
Madonna
Madonna Louise Ciccone ( ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Referred to as the "Queen of Pop", she has been recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, ...
's "
Nothing Really Matters
"Nothing Really Matters" is a song by American singer Madonna for her seventh studio album, ''Ray of Light'' (1998). It was written by Madonna and Patrick Leonard, and was produced by the singer with William Orbit and Marius De Vries. The song ...
" (1999), in which she also dressed in a kimono.
Both of the authors suggested that Minogue and Madonna's choice to adopt geisha attire and mannerisms raised delicate questions about
Asian representation in entertainment and
cultural appropriation
Cultural appropriation is the adoption of an element or elements of one culture or cultural identity, identity by members of another culture or identity in a manner perceived as inappropriate or unacknowledged. Such a controversy typically ari ...
.
They also noted that by the end of each video, Madonna and Tei are seen having a laugh to the camera, suggesting that the geisha depiction is presented as a form of playacting and
satire
Satire is a genre of the visual, literary, and performing arts, usually in the form of fiction and less frequently non-fiction, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, often with the intent of exposin ...
.
Keaveney opined that their portrayal is "emancipated and empowered at the expense of the Asian woman who remains silent, bound, and deranged." Mitchell pointed out that the use of the Tokyo subway and Japanese iconography in the music video of "GBI (German Bold Italic)" have influenced the visual work of American hip-hop group
Beastie Boys
The Beastie Boys were an American Hip-hop, hip hop and Rap rock, rap rock group formed in New York City in 1979. They were composed of Ad-Rock, Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz (vocals, guitar), Adam Yauch, Adam "MCA" Yauch (vocals, bass), and Mike D, ...
' "
Intergalactic" (1998) and Australian electronic duo
B(if)tek's "Japanese Game Show" (2000). Smith perceived the video as a catalyst for future artists like
Lady Gaga
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known for her image reinventions and versatility across the entertainment industry, she is an influ ...
and a testament to Minogue's trailblazing contributions.
Aftermath
Following the release of "GBI (German Bold Italic)", Minogue has made several live performances in Australia where she wore traditional Japanese costumes.
She wore a blue and white silk kimono, and a geisha-inspired brown wig designed by hairdresser Kevin Murphy, while performing a medley performance at the 25th Anniversary of
Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records was an Australian flagship record label, founded in 1972 in Melbourne. It published and distributed many successful Australian artists and expanded internationally, until it was merged with Festival Records in 1998. Festival ...
concert at the
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as the 'G, is a sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere, the Lis ...
on November 14, 1998. The performance later appeared on a live album titled ''
Mushroom 25 Live
''Mushroom 25 Live'' is a live album, video and DVD by various Australian musicians and was recorded at the Mushroom 25 Concert held on Saturday 14 November 1998, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. From the early afternoon until late at night for t ...
'' (1998). Minogue filmed an interlude for her
KylieX2008
KylieX2008 was the tenth concert tour by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue, in support of her tenth studio album, '' X'' (2007). The tour began on 6 May 2008 in Paris, France, at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy and concluded on 22 ...
tour wearing a bright pink kimono designed by
Jean Paul Gaultier
Jean Paul Gaultier (; born 24 June 1952) is a French haute couture and Ready-to-wear, prêt-à-porter fashion designer.
He is described as an "enfant terrible" of the fashion industry and is known for his unconventional designs with motifs in ...
, with a large blonde wig and porcelain makeup.
[; ; ; ] The interlude was part of the Japanese-inspired segment called "Naughty Manga Girl" in KylieX2008, during which Minogue performed in a kimono-style short dress, accompanied by dancers brandishing swords and a nude Japanese woman appearing on the screen.
Minogue incorporated "GBI (German Bold Italic)" into her
KylieFever2002
KylieFever2002 was the seventh concert tour by Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue, in-support of her eighth studio album, ''Fever'' (2001). The tour began on 26 April 2002 with four consecutive dates at the Cardiff International Arena in Wales ...
tour as a video interlude, playing while she temporarily left the stage and dancers took the forefront.
Tei was pleased with her decision to include the track in the tour, and ''Blu-ray.com'' praised it as one of the most impressive segments. A show in
Manchester
Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...
was filmed on May 4, 2002, and released on DVD titled ''
KylieFever2002: Live in Manchester''.
[; ] In 2005, Tei released "Sometime Samurai" as a promotional radio single from his 2005 studio album, ''
Flash
Flash, flashes, or FLASH may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Fictional aliases
* The Flash, several DC Comics superheroes with super speed:
** Flash (Jay Garrick)
** Barry Allen
** Wally West, the first Kid Flash and third adult Flash ...
''.
The track was initially recorded as a demo alongside "GBI (German Bold Italic)" in 1996 but remained unfinished for eight years until Minogue had the opportunity to re-record her vocals in 2004.
[; ; ; ; ] In 2015, American artist
Cory Arcangel
Cory Arcangel (born May 25, 1978) is an American post-conceptual artist who makes work in many different media, including drawing, music, video, performance art, and video game modifications, for which he is best known.
Arcangel often uses th ...
utilized the original German Bold Italic font for a merchandising sweatshirt of the American indie pop group
Wet.
In an interview with ''
The Fader
''The Fader'' is a magazine established in 1999 as an outlet for Cornerstone Agency, a marketing and public relations firm established by Rob Stone and Jon Cohen. The magazine covers music, style and culture.
History and work
It is owned by T ...
'', Arcangel described the font as a "sick classic vector techno font" that had become quite rare over the years.
He had a fondness for the font since its release in 1997 and had previously incorporated it into his artworks, including drawings showcased at his 2011 exhibition at the
Whitney Museum of American Art
The Whitney Museum of American Art, known informally as "The Whitney", is a Modern art, modern and Contemporary art, contemporary American art museum located in the Meatpacking District, Manhattan, Meatpacking District and West Village neighbor ...
.
Sugiyama and his design group Enlightenment, who designed the font for the 1997 single cover, released a
lyric video
A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to promote the sale of m ...
of the track in 2013.
The footage was screened at the Media Ambition Tokyo exhibition on February 15 at
Roppongi Hills
is a development project in Tokyo and one of Japan's largest integrated property developments, located in the Roppongi district of Minato, Tokyo.
Constructed by building tycoon Minoru Mori, the mega-complex incorporates office space, apartm ...
.
[; ]
Formats and track listings
*UK CD single #1
#"GBI" (Radio Edit) 3:31
#"GBI" (The Sharp Boys Deee-Liteful Dub) 8:58
#"Boldline" 2:40
*UK CD single #2
#"GBI" (Radio Edit) 3:31
#"GBI" (
Rekut) 8:15
#"GBI" (
Ebony Boogie Down Mix) 5:14
*UK cassette single
#"GBI" (Radio Edit) – 3:31
#"GBI" – 6:58
*UK 12-inch promotional single #1
#"GBI" (The Sharp Boys' Deee-Liteful Dub) 8:58
#"GBI" 6:57
#"GBI" (Kylie-Pella) 1:40
*UK 12-inch promotional single #2
#"GBI" (Rekut) 8:18
#"GBI" (Ebony Boogie Down Mix) 5:14
#"Bold Line" 2:40
*Australian and Japanese CD single
#"Intro" – 0:26
#"GBI" (Radio Edit) 4:17
#"GBI" (Ebony Boogie Down Mix) 5:14
#"BMT" (SP-1200 Remix) 4:23
#"GBI" (Rekut) 8:15
#"GBI" (German Bold Light Mix) 2:49
* Japanese double 12-inch single
#"GBI" (Radio Edit) 4:17
#"GBI" (Kylie-pella) 1:40
#"BMT" (SP-1200 Remix) 4:23
#"Boldline" 2:40
#"GBI" (Ebony Boogie Down Mix) 5:14
#"GBI" (Rekut) 8:15
*Japanese Takkyu Ishino Remix
#"GBI" (Takkyu Ishino Remix Dub) 6:53
#"GBI" (Takkyu Ishino Remix Instrumental) 6:53
Personnel
Personnel are adapted from the 1998 CD single liner notes.
*
Towa Tei
is a Japanese artist, record producer, and DJ. Born in Yokohama, Japan, Towa was a member of Deee-Lite, from the US label Elektra Records in 1990 and shot to fame via their international hit single, "Groove Is In the Heart". He made his solo ...
songwriting,
production
Production may refer to:
Economics and business
* Production (economics)
* Production, the act of manufacturing goods
* Production, in the outline of industrial organization, the act of making products (goods and services)
* Production as a stat ...
,
arrangement
In music, an arrangement is a musical adaptation of an existing composition. Differences from the original composition may include reharmonization, melodic paraphrasing, orchestration, or formal development. Arranging differs from orchestr ...
,
editor
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, or cinematic material used by a person or an entity to convey a message or information. The editing process can involve correction, condensation, organization, a ...
,
drum and keyboard programing,
art director
Art director is a title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, live-action and animated film and television, the Internet, and video games.
It is the charge of a sole art director to supe ...
*
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue (; born 28 May 1968) is an Australian singer, songwriter, and actress. Frequently referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Princess of Pop", she has achieved recognition in both the music industry and fas ...
vocals, songwriting
*
Haruomi Hosono
, sometimes credited as Harry Hosono, is a Japanese musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is considered to be one of the most influential musicians in Japanese pop music history, credited with shaping the sound of Japanese pop f ...
vocals
*
Hideki Matsutake
Hideki Matsutake (born August 12, 1951 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese composer, arranger, and computer programmer. He is known for his pioneering work in electronic music and particularly music programming, as the assist ...
additional synthesizer manipulations
* Takeshi Fujii additional synthesizer manipulations
* Fernando Aponte
mixing engineer
A mixing engineer (or simply mix engineer) is responsible for combining ("mixing") different sonic elements of an auditory piece into a complete rendition (also known as "final mix" or "mixdown"), whether in music, film, or any other content of a ...
* Bobby Hata
mastering engineer
Mastering is a form of audio post production which is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the Audio mixing (recorded music), final mix to a data storage device called a master recording, the source ...
* Tycoon Graphics for Graphickers art director, designer
* Hiro Sugiyama (Enlightenment)
icon illustrator
Additional credits are taken from Tei's 2017 studio album ''EMO'', where the track is re-titled as "GBI":
* suGar Yoshinaga guitar
* Towa Tei songwriting, keyboards, drum programming
* Yoshinori Sunahara additional programming
Charts
Release history
Notes
See also
*
Jokerman (typeface)
Jokerman is a decorative typeface created in 1995 by British designer Andrew K. Smith. It employs dots, spirals and straight lines that can be either attached or placed near each letter or integrated into the character to create negative space. ...
, a typeface named after a song
References
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{{Authority control
1997 singles
1997 songs
Display typefaces
Kylie Minogue songs
Music videos directed by Stéphane Sednaoui
Songs written by Kylie Minogue
Songs written by Towa Tei
Towa Tei songs