|
The Hit Parade (Puffy AmiYumi Album)
is a cover album by Puffy AmiYumi (stylized as PUFFY). Released by Epic Records on February 20, 2002, the album features covers of hits from the 1970s and 1980s. The album peaked at No. 10 on Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan and Western music. It started as, which was founded by Sōkō Koike in Nov ...'s weekly albums chart. Track listing Charts References External links * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hit Parade Puffy AmiYumi albums 2002 albums Covers albums Japanese-language albums Sony Music Entertainment Japan albums ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Puffy AmiYumi
is a Japanese pop rock duo formed in Tokyo in 1995, consisting of singers Ami Onuki and Yumi Yoshimura. In the United States, they adopted the name Puffy AmiYumi to avoid legal naming conflicts with Sean Combs, who also performed under the name Puffy. They sing in Japanese and English. Onuki and Yoshimura were scouted by Sony-affiliated talent agencies and put together in the mid-1990s. Most of their work was produced or co-written by Tamio Okuda and Andy Sturmer, formerly of the bands Unicorn and Jellyfish, respectively. The pair's first release "Asia no Junshin" (1996) sold a million records. They gained mainstream success in Japan during 1998, following the release of their album '' Jet CD'' and continued with several more full-length releases (totaling 15 million sales in Japan). In 2004, an animated series featuring cartoon versions of Onuki and Yoshimura, ''Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi'', premiered on the US Cartoon Network. Although their characters were voiced by actresses, the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Neko Oikawa
(born February 10, 1960) is a Japanese lyricist who has written J-pop and anime theme songs over her career. Biography Neko Oikawa was born in Wakayama, Wakayama. She made her songwriting debut in 1985 with Kanako Wada's "Passing Through", which won the Mitsubishi Minica Mascot Song Contest. During her time with Fuji Pacific Music, Oikawa wrote songs for numerous Japanese idols; most notably the duo Wink. In 1989, her song "Samishii Nettaigyo" for Wink won the Grand Prix at the 31st Japan Record Awards and the 22nd All Japan Wired Broadcasting Awards. In 1994, her song "Tokyo" for Yashiki Takajin won the Yomiuri TV Best Award and Special Award at the All Japan Cable Broadcasting Awards. Oikawa's most well-known song outside Japan is "A Cruel Angel's Thesis", recorded by Yoko Takahashi for the 1995 anime series ''Neon Genesis Evangelion''. The song has been ranked by Joysound as the most popular song on karaoke. According to Oikawa, she receives between 1 and 1.5 yen for every ti ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Takeshi Kitano
is a Japanese comedian, television presenter, actor, filmmaker, and author. While he is known primarily as a comedian and TV host in his native Japan, he is better known abroad for his work as a filmmaker and actor as well as TV host. With the exception of his works as a film director, he is commonly known by the stage name . Kitano rose to prominence in the 1970s as one half of the comedy duo ''Two Beat'', before going solo and becoming one of the three biggest comedians in the country. After several small acting roles, he made his directorial debut with 1989's '' Violent Cop'' and garnered international acclaim for '' Sonatine'' (1993). He was not widely accepted as an accomplished director in Japan until ''Hana-bi'' won the Golden Lion in 1997. In October 2017, Kitano completed his ''Outrage'' crime trilogy with the release of ''Outrage Coda''. He is also known internationally for hosting the game show ''Takeshi's Castle'' (1986–1990) and starring in the film '' Battle Ro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kōji Tamaki
is a Japanese singer-songwriter and actor. He has been well known as frontman of the rock band Anzen Chitai that debuted in 1982 and enjoyed a successful career, particularly during the 1980s. In 1993, he began his career as a solo artist, and since then he has experienced much critical acclaim. Widely regarded as one of the greatest Japanese vocalists, in 2014 he was ranked first by a panel of 200 experts for the best ever singing voice in Japan. Moreover, in June 2021 Koji was voted as the greatest active male Japanese singer, with 190 experts agreeing that he is a "living national treasure of music" and that he portrays an "unparalleled mass of expressiveness and emotion which only seems to get better with age". Biography As a vocalist and a songwriter of the band, Tamaki spawned multiple successful compositions which were mostly co-written by lyricists including Gorō Matsui and Yōsui Inoue, by the time that the group suspended their career in 1993. In 1987, Tamaki released ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Blue Hearts
was a Japanese punk rock band active from 1985 to 1995. They have been compared to such bands as the Sex Pistols, The Clash and the Ramones.The Blue Hearts Tri-M, Inc. Accessed February 7, 2008. In 2003, ranked them at number 19 on their list of 100 most important Japanese pop acts. In September 2007, '' Japan'' rated their self-titled debut album number 3 on its list of the "100 Greatest Japanese R ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hiroto Kōmoto
is a Japanese rock singer who has fronted bands such as The Blue Hearts, The High-Lows and The Cro-Magnons. Early life Kōmoto was born in 1963 in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture and graduated from the junior high school attached to the School of Education at Okayama University before graduating from the prefectural Sōzan High School. He attended Hosei University after high school, but dropped out before completing his degree. Career In 1985, Kōmoto joined with Masatoshi Mashima to form The Blue Hearts and released their first single (''Hito ni Yasashiku'') and their major debut (''Linda Linda'') in 1987. After The Blue Hearts took a break from studio work and touring in 1994, Kōmoto started working on a solo album which was never released. In 1995, Kōmoto and Mashima joined together to form Happy Song Co., Ltd. When the band officially broke up on June 1 of that year, they also formed a new band, The High-Lows. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Toshihiko Tahara
is a Japanese idol singer, and solo vocalist, affiliated with Johnny & Associates. In the 1980s he had a number of number 1 singles in Japan. He was awarded a Japan Music Award in 1983 for the song . He was part of the Tanokin Trio. Biography Tahara is from Kofu, the capital city of Yamanashi Prefecture. He started acting in 1978, and officially debuted in June 1980, aged 19, with his first single 哀愁でいと(NEW YORK CITY NIGHTS), which made it to no. 2 in the Oricon Chart. Tahara was noted for his dancing skills, which he showed during songs like (1988) and (1988). In 1983 at the age of 22, he was featured in a 40" minute dance show and music documentary ''Love Forever'' directed by Umetsugu Inoue. Tahara was invited to perform in the prestigious NHK year-end programme Kōhaku Uta Gassen from 1980 to 1986. He made a comeback, 33 years after his debut, in June 2012 with the release of his 68th single, titled "Mr. Big". On June 19, 2013, he released his first ori ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Masahiko Kondō
or Matchy is a Japanese singer, lyricist, actor, racing car manager and former semi-professional racing driver. He was a member of the Tanokin Trio. Kondō is also a semi-professional racing driver and a racing team owner. He founded the racing team ''Kondo Racing'' in 2000, which currently competes in both Super Formula and Super GT. Biography 1980–1987: Early recording career Kondō was born in Yokohama. Working for the agency Johnny & Associates, Kondō was signed to the record label RVC. His debut single "Sneaker Blues" debuted at number-one on the Oricon weekly single charts in December 1980. With the single he became the first artist to have a debut single to go straight in at number one on Oricon at release. As of 2008, he is the only solo male singer to have a debut single to debut at number one in his teens in Oricon history. The single topped the Oricon charts for five consecutive weeks, and eventually sold over one million copies. On March 5, 1981, Kondō releas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tatsuro Yamashita
, occasionally credited as Tatsu Yamashita or Tats Yamashita, is a Japanese singer-songwriter and record producer, who is known for pioneering the style of Japanese adult-oriented rock/soft rock music. His most well-known song is "Christmas Eve", the best-selling single song released in Japan in the 1980s, appearing on the Japanese singles chart for over 35 consecutive years. He is known for his collaborations with his wife, singer Mariya Takeuchi, on many songs including "Plastic Love" as well as with American songwriter Alan O'Day with whom he wrote hit songs "Your Eyes," "Magic Ways," "Love Can Go the Distance," and "Fragile." Active since the 1970s, Yamashita is considered an important contributor to Japanese music, ranked by HMV Japan as sixth in the Top 100 Japanese Artists. Career Yamashita was a member of the band Sugar Babe with musicians Taeko Onuki and Kunio Muramatsu, who released their only album ''Songs'' in 1975. After the group disbanded in 1976, Yamashit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Takashi Matsumoto (lyricist)
is a Japanese lyricist and former musician. After several years playing the drums in the rock bands Apryl Fool and Happy End during the late 1960s and early 1970s, Matsumoto decided to focus on writing lyrics for others in 1974. As of 2015, he had written over 2,100 songs, 130 of which entered the top 10 on the Oricon chart. Total sales of the singles he has written exceed 49.8 million copies, making him the third best-selling lyricist in Japan. In 2017, he was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon from the Japanese government for his work in music. Life and career In elementary school, Matsumoto listened to Igor Stravinsky and read poetry by Jean Cocteau. However, he bought a drum kit and became obsessed with rock music because of the Beatles. Matsumoto is a Keio University graduate. Matsumoto's first band was , which covered songs like Them's " Gloria and Sam & Dave's "Hold On, I'm Comin'". In 1968 he joined the psychedelic rock band Apryl Fool, going by the alias Rei Matsumo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spitz (band)
are a Japanese rock band. The group was originally formed in 1987 by four art school students in Tokyo – it consists of Masamune Kusano (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Tetsuya Miwa (lead guitar), Akihiro Tamura (bass guitar), and Tatsuo Sakiyama (drums). In March 1991, Spitz released their first single "Hibari no Kokoro" and the self-titled debut album simultaneously on Polydor Records. Although their early efforts failed to attract public attention until around 1994, the band eventually came into prominence with a single "Robinson", released in April 1995 and sold in excess of 1.6 million copies in their homeland. It was followed by their 6th studio album ''Hachimitsu'', which was released in the same year and achieved mainstream success, immediately topping the Japanese Oricon chart and selling approximately 1.7 million copies to date. It earned the Best Album category in the 37th Japan Record Awards by the Japanese Composers Association on New Year's Eve of 199 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wink (duo)
was a Japanese idol duo in the late 1980s and early-to-mid-1990s composed of and . They released their first single on April 27, 1988, and their final release was on March 31, 1996. Many of their singles topped the Oricon charts in Japan, including their biggest hit, "Samishii Nettaigyo". History In 1987, Sachiko Suzuki and Shoko Aida both entered a beauty contest given by the magazine ''Up to bBoy''. Suzuki won 7th place and formed Wink with 9th place winner Aida the next year, and in April they debuted with the single "Sugar Baby Love", a cover of an English song by The Rubettes. From that point on, many of Wink's early songs were covers of Western songs, but with Japanese lyrics; while many of their later songs were original works written by Japanese composers. "Sugar Baby Love" and their next single, " Amaryllis", did decently, but it wasn't until the release of their third single "Ai ga Tomaranai (Turn It into Love)" (a cover of Kylie Minogue's "Turn It Into Love") the n ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
