Go Alone
TOGETHER
merry-go-round
Wings of words
This Night
Life goes on
Shawty
Period
Independence
Keep your Love
R&B is a fickle genre. For the past few decades it’s been a chimera of all things popular music needs to be: technical skill, voice, good looks, attitude, and just plain luck.
Now the kings of Japanese R&B are about to show convention-goers at Otakon how they not only rule the charts, but bring their own flavor to this tricky style of music.
CHEMISTRY sat down with me in Tokyo for a conversation on the genre that exploded them to stardom.
pSKY: In English, the word ‘chemistry’ has two meanings: chemistry the science and some kind of relationship. Which one does it mean to you?
Kaname Kawabata: Chemistry the science. Our producer wanted it to be “a voice to voice chemical reaction.”
pSKY: Americans have a TV show called American Idol. Americans generally understand the audition process you went through with the TV show Asayan, but can you tell us a little about it? How was your audition different from the American Idol auditions?
Kaname Kawabata: There are a lot of seasons of American Idol, right? Our audition didn’t really have that time frame. One difference is that our audition only had male singers. First we had to sing solo. Then the audition changed to duo performances. The whole process took about a year. Our audition wasn’t like American Idol in the sense that everything was so exciting and quick. Rather, ours was like, “Let’s start the men’s audition!” and from there it gradually built up. It was a big audition for all of Japan.
pSKY: What do you think of American Idol?
Kaname Kawabata: Compared to us, the talent level is higher. It’s the American dream. Like Ruben Studdard, there’s no one else quite like him.
pSKY: Ruben Studdard isn’t really that famous nowadays. People who win American Idol aren’t necessarily guaranteed to become popular, you know? There are people like Kelly Clarkson, but then Jennifer Hudson, who didn’t even win, is more successful than those who did win.
Baltimore, MD (April 14, 2011) – CHEMISTRY, with an amazing six #1 albums on the Oricon National Charts, along with 4 person dance group Synergy are making their U.S. debut this summer at Otakon 2011 July 29-31 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore MD. Recent anime songs by CHEMISTRY include “Period” for Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and “merry-go-round” in the recent OVA of Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn.
CHEMISTRY is a Japanese R&B duo, composed of, Yoshikuni Dōchin and Kaname Kawabata. After winning the Asayan audition in 2000 which was organized by Sony Music Entertainment Japan, they debuted in 2001 with three #1 singles (“Pieces of Dreams,” “Point of No Return,” and “You Go Your Way”) and a #1 album (The Way We Are).
In June 2002, CHEMISTRY participated in “Voices of KOREA/JAPAN,” a Korean/Japanese collaboration vocal unit that sang the official theme song of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. They co-recorded the first Korean/Japanese collaboration song entitled “Let’s Get Together Now.” The song, performed at the pre-opening festival of the World Cup held in Korea, was hailed as the first national broadcast of a Japanese language song in Korea since WWII. Their performance at the World Cup opening ceremony was broadcast in 160 countries worldwide. Not ones to rest on their laurels, CHEMISTRY went on to produce #1 album after #1 album. Hits include songs “Your Name Never Gone” and “Tōkage feat. John Legend.” In August 2010, CHEMISTRY recorded “a better tomorrow,” the world wide theme song for a Korean remake of the Hong Kong film “A Better Tomorrow” starring Song Seung- Heon.
The year saw the duo building on their successful career within Japan as well as highlights of increasing their presence in the rest of Asia including their endeavor to sing in Korean for the first time and in November, performing at the M-net Asian Music Awards held in Macao, receiving the Best Asian Male Artist award. Also in 2010, CHEMISTRY worked together with the 4-person dance group Synergy to release “Shawty.” Another joint work of the two groups was released November 3, 2010, titled “Keep Your Love.”
This March, CHEMISTRY released their best of album, “CHEMISTRY 2001-2011,” which commemorates their first decade together as a duo. To preview some music from CHEMISTRY, go to CHEMISTRY’s official site at:
http://www.chemistryclub.net
Official Otakon 2011 website – http://www.otakon.com/
Japanese Pop Star Furuuchi to play special PURPLE In New York performance Tuesday Sept. 21st at Joe’s Pub.
She will also be doing a special signing for her CD PURPLE and short performance at Kinokuniya BookStore on Sunday Sept. 19th.
Japanese pop star Toko Furuuchi is back again. After her performance last year to celebrate her 15th anniversary as a performer and her album In Love Again, she has been continuously working with top artists in Japan both as a singer and songwriter, which includes collaborations with KREVA and CHEMISTRY.
Her latest album PURPLE was released in Japan on Avex. PURPLE features colorful and groovy love songs, illustrating the sad, painful but beautiful feelings within ones heart. PURPLE In New York will be her only New York and US performance.
Toko picked up music while listening to Billy Joel, Hall & Oates, and Elton John records while in junior high school. After graduating high school in Connecticut, Toko moved to back to Japan to embark on a recording career. She saw her first release “Hayaku Isoide” followed by an album SLOW DOWN in 1993. Her turning point as an artists came when she released the 4th album Strength in 1995. The album was a huge success feat. renowned artists like David Sanborn. In 1996, her single “Dareyori Sukinanoni” and its album Hourglass dominated the Japanese CD charts. Her follow up album Koi in 1997 became a double platinum hit in Japan. Recently, Toko has been performing many shows throughout Japan.
Joe’s Pub
7:30 PM – September 21, 2010
Ticket Price: $20
Buy Tix: http://tickets.publictheater.org/index.php?id=13416
425 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10003 (between East 4th and Astor Place)
Joe’s Pub is part of The Public Theater.
www.joespub.com
www.tokofuruuchi.net
Kinokuniya BookStore – NY Mainstore
CD Signing and Short Performance 3:00 PM – September 19, 2010
1073 Ave of the Americas, New York, NY 10018 (6 Ave/bet 40 and 41 ST)
www.kinokuniya.com
www.tokofuruuchi.net
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