This time I'm thinking of doing something rather differently, which is to make the singer profile. So the first singer/group band that I'm going to do is SMAP. SMAP stands for Sports Music Assemble People if you're wondering.
SMAP is one of the legendary Japanese boy band that started since 1988 and still exist until now! SMAP was formed by Johnny & Associate, which is famous for producing many other successful boy band. KATTUN and Arashi are the other successful group band formed by Johnny.
Currently, SMAP has 5 members: Nakai Masahiro (leader), Kimura Takuya, Inagaki Goro, Kusanagi Tsuyoshi, and Katori Shingo. Other than doing full time band, some SMAP members are also actively involved in other entertainment industry. Kimura Takuya for example, also act in Beautiful Life series (one of the highest rating series).
During 20 over years of existence, SMAP has produced some of the best selling song. Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana was the number 9 best selling song in Japan! Other single such as Yozora no Mukou is also mentioned in some Japanese textbook.
Overall, SMAP has launched 21 albums and won fourteen Japan Gold Disc Award.
For some people, this piece might sound familiar. If you can't recall it, let me give you a hint. It is one of the soundtrack of Kill Bill. But what a lot people doesn't know is that this piece is composed by Japanese composer called Hotei Tomoyasu (布袋 寅泰 ).
Hotei Tomoyasu is one of very few Japanese who actually become well known worldwide. Last I know is that he lives in England, and has quite a strong fans base there. The link I post here is his performance life. It is quite an enjoyable life show, eventhough it is just instrumental. No lyric at all!
Another song from SMAP. This time is a song called STAY. I'm not really sure why this song is not really popular, but I like it very much. Without further ado, enjoy..
This time round, let us go back in time to the 1999 era. A relatively new Japanese idol group, Morning Musume (モーニング娘。), had made a record breaking hits by selling more than a million copies. Their 7th single, Love Machine, was sold for over 1,760,000 copies and still remain as their best selling single until now. This single also mark the debut of their then well-known Goto Maki. With typical Morning Musume dance-remix rhythm, this song might sound a bit old fashioned if you listened it 15 years after it is being launched. Nevertheless, it is still an enjoyable piece of music. Enjoy..
Another hits from year 2003. Coming from the legendary boy band SMAP, with the title Sekai ni Hitotsu dake no Hana (世界に一つだけの花) or "The One and Only Flower in the World" in English. With total number of sales reaching 2.5 million coppies, it is number 9 best selling song in Japan of all time according to Oricon. Of course it reached the top of the ladder without nothing. Just listen to it and you will know why. I've attached live version of the song with violin as background instrumental, giving unique touch to the song.
Going back to year 1995, this song was one of the hit back then. The direct translation of the title (Zurui Onna) meant cunning woman. Originally sang by SHARAN-Q, the version below is sang by Coconut Musume (ココナッツ娘), which is a group band formed by SHARAN-Q leader, Tsunku (つんく).
Coconut Musume, just like Morning Musume, is an idol girl band under Hello Project which the member mainly come from Hawaii. Yes, Hawaii! That's why it is called Coconut haha!
And Musume (娘) basically meant daughter. What a creative name..
This time round, it would be one of the masterpiece from T-BOLAN, which is extremely famous in 90s. This particular song was released quite early in the group and bring T-BOLAN to fame. I attached the live version as I found this version is better than recorded one. Enjoy!
Lyrics:
今 オマエをこの腕に 抱きたくて せつないよ
Ima omae wo kono ude ni dakitakute oh, setsunai yo
Now I want to embrace you so much it hurts
会いたい気持(とき)が どれ程つらいかと 問いかけてた Aitai toki mo dore hodo tsurai ka to toikaketeta
I ask how painful it is to miss someone
ひとりきりの夜ならば 今すぐに 会いに行くよ Hitorikiri no yoru naraba imasugu ni Oh, ai
ni iku yo oh... On a night when I’m
alone, I want go to see you right away
遠ざかる二人の距離 追いかけて 慰めてた
toozakaru futari no kyori oikakete
nagusameteta
I was comforted to chase after the great distance
between us
諦めるよりも 信じることに
akirameru yori mo
shinjiru koto ni
Rather than giving up, I want to keep holding on
賭けてみる思いを 抱きしめていたい
kakete miru omoi wo dakishimete itai
to the thought of taking a risk on believing
こんなに Everyday Everynight
konna ni Everyday
Everynight
