Sometime Samurai

"Sometime Samurai" is a song written and performed by Japanese music producer Towa Tei and Australian singer Kylie Minogue for Tei's album Flash (2005). It was originally recorded as a demo alongside "GBI (German Bold Italic)" in 1996, but remained unreleased for eight years until Minogue had the opportunity to re-record her vocals in 2003. Before its inclusion on Flash, the song has been mentioned on Minogue's book Kylie: La La La. The song, written about Minogue's then boyfriend, photographer Stéphane Sednaoui.

"Sometime Samurai"
Promotional single by Towa Tei featuring Kylie Minogue
from the album Flash
ReleasedFebruary 2005
Format
Recorded1996 (Sangenjaya, Setagaya, Japan) (demo);
2003 (London) (vocal re-recording)
Genre
Length3:39
Label
  • Voltage Unlimited
  • V2
Songwriter(s)
  • Kylie Minogue
  • Towa Tei
Producer(s)
  • Kylie Minogue
  • Towa Tei

It was released in Japan as a radio promotional single to promote the release of Flash. A music video was also made for the song, but did not feature Minogue because she was busy touring her Showgirl: The Greatest Hits Tour.

Background and composition

In 1996, coming back to a studio in Sangenjaya, Setagaya, Japan after going for drinks, Towa Tei received a hand-written fax that had "a picture of some sort" on it that said: "Music with you! Kylie. Call Me".[2][3] She then came to perform in Japan and met Tei, they tried to make some songs for her album at Sangenjaya.[4] The outputs from the session were "GBI (German Bold Italic)" and a demo of "Sometime Samurai" with Chisato Moritaka's drums part was already being included.[3][5] "GBI" was later released as a single in 1997, while the other had been left without completion.[5]

Minogue especially liked "Sometime Samurai", but her record company didn't get it, and it was ignored. By the time Tei was working on his fifth studio album Flash in late 2003, Minogue contacted Tei for the first time in years, she said: "I can't get over that song either. I should be able to sing it better now, so I'd like to re-record it. Can you come to London?" The song was finally completed in London and was later included on Tei's album.[4][3]

Dan Grunebaum from Japanese English-language magazine Metropolis described the track: "[It] is about as kitschy as they come, with the lithesome Minogue burbling over a four-to-the-floor house beat and elastic, sampled sitars."[1]

Release and reception

The song was used for a commercial celebrating the 80th Anniversary of Kewpie, the most popular brand of Japanese mayonnaise, in 2005.[6][1]

Visuals

The music video for the song was directed by Daniel Gorrel and edited by Evan Andrews.[7]

"Sometime Samurai" is featured as a backdrop interlude video on Minogue's KylieX2008 concert tour.

Formats and track listings
  • Japanese promotional radio CD single[8]
  1. "Sometime Samurai" (Radio edit) – 3:39
  • Japanese limited released Melody / Sometime Samurai 12" EP[9]
  1. "Melody" – 6:13
  2. "Melodypella" – 2:24
  3. "Risk Some Soul" – 4:33
  4. "Sometime Samurai" – 3:58
  5. "Red Card Jumbo" – 0:44

Credits and personnel

References
  1. Grunebaum, Dan. "Towa Tei". Metropolis. Japan Partnership Inc. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  2. Yamada, Masaki. "Towa Tei interview". Vibe.net. Vibe Inc. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  3. "Towa Tei ロングインタビュー（後編）" (in Japanese). Warner Music Japan Inc. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  4. Hiroshi, Ota (3 May 2005). "第12回 ─ ゲスト：テイ・トウワ(2)". Tower Records Japan (in Japanese). Tower Records Japan Inc. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  5. "Towa Tei interview". Tokio Hot 100. J-Wave Inc. 10 May 2005. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  6. Itoh, Makiko (22 March 2013). "Why not just add a dollop of mayonnaise?". Japan Times. The Japan Times Ltd. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  7. "Evan Andrews' music video works". Cargo Collective, Inc. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  8. "Towa Tei – Sometime Samurai (Japanese CD)". discogs. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  9. "Towa Tei – Melody / Sometime Samurai". discogs. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
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