8.Famous Japanese Musician and Producer

   There are many way to become famous concerning music. In overseas or domestic, as musician or composer or producer, for technique of playing instrument or beautiful voice or character of the person. In this article, I show famous Japanese rock musician from the point of active in foreign country and producing.

   Nowadays, Japanese musician tend to held live or performance abroad. Formerly, Japanese artist tried to advance to overseas no more often than recent days. Japanese artists who succeeded in becoming famous in foreign country are not so much before. Sakamoto Q is famous for SUKIYAKI, and he sold thirteen million CD's around the world, this record has not been broken yet. But, the number of bands or artist, whose stronghold is overseas or who often held their live abroad, are increasing these days. I show some example of rock musician who is active in foreign music scene.

     B'z is rock band which is famous in both domestic and overseas. that is made up of two members, Koushi Inaba, vocal and lyricist, and Takahiro Matsumoto, guitar and composition. They debut in 1988 with the song of " Dakara sono te wo hanashite".

They did not succeed in CD single sales at the first. 4th single CD became the number 7, then 5th single, "Taiyou no Komati", became number 1 of ranking of Oricon. After that, they have achieved many big recods in Japan. As the number one record, all sales of single CD - almost 35 million - , the number of single CDs that became number one on the oricon ranking - 45 works -, all sales of CD album - almost 46 million -, and the number of the million sales CDs - 41 works - . And, they awarded Japan gold disk grand prize, Japan yusen grand prize, and so on many times. Moreover, they  are only group that is inducted into a hall of fame of Hollywood Rockwalk.
　

Then, I show famous Japanese producer, Tetsuya Komuro.
Tetsuya Komuro is a musician and producer, and made komuro boom. He has own group of TM Network, famous for "Get Wild", and performance, while he offered many artists.

 

 

 For example, Arisa Mitsuki, Ryouko Shinohara, trf, hitomi, YUki Utida, H Jungle with t, globe, Tomomi Kahara, and Namie Amurro. They achieved big hit or million sales, thus people called the series of hit songs or artists, who were given song of komuro, "Komuro boom" or "Komuro family". 
Now, he is not popular like before, but he has been big artist yet.

   In Japan, famous musisians exists. I hope that you know them little bit in this article.

7. Hero of Japanese rock musician

    There are many famous musicians and artists who have achieved great work in Japan. They have made era of Japanese music history, and influenced many people and other young, and senior musicians. Especially, artists who create works and era now are impressed by old grate musicians. Now I show person who, I think,  influenced Japanese music's situation.

    Keisuke kuwata is a singer and composer of music. He act and perform in solo style, but he also a vocalist and leader of the band, Southern All Stars. He was born on February 26 1956, at Chigasaki, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan. He was a junior bowler, in his junior and senior high school days, but after entering  the Aoyama Gakuin University, He started his career of musician. He debuted in Jun 25, 1978 as a leader of Southern All Stars. The debut song was "Katteni Shindobatto" , becoming popular gradually.

 He likes humorous stories, and his action evoke a laugh, so the band was treated a comic band in their beginning. He often shows comic skit orimpression in his live. He have acted in the form of both as solo and band group. He does vocal mainly, but can play  guitar, moreover bass, harp, drums, keyboard, and so on, what is called, multiple player. Also, he had led to attach telop of lyrics when singer or bands play on TV because his singing was too fast to hear, so viewer could not understand what he sung.
    As a solo singer, he make songs that are different from that of songs of Southern All Stars. He has made songs not only for himself but also for others, and offered Ken Naoko, Akashiya Sanma, Tamori, and other famous persons. He have made many best hit songs,and his songs have   received many prize, for example, "Natsu o Akiramete" that was offered Ken Naoko had recived 24th Japan Record Prize part of composition, "Kodoku no taiyo" had recieved 36th Japan Record Prize part of  Arbam, tow works of "Naminori jony"and "Sshiroi Koibitotachi" had recieved 16th Japan Golden Disk Prize song of the year award, and so on.
  

Also "Naminori jony" is milion sold piece, and used for TV CM. While as band of Southern All Stars, he have recieved some award. "TSUNAMI" had recived 42th Japan Record Prize best award, "Chako no Kaigan Monogatari" have recieved 16th All Japan Wired Radio Best award part of most requested song, "manatsu no kazitsu" have recieved 32th Japan Record Prize category of rock-pops rock golden disc award, best vocalist award, composition award, as band they recieved 61th Kikuchi kan Prize, and so on.

"TSUNAMI" is the best hit song of Southern All Stars, and sold three milion.



Moreover, Kuwata has made a movie "inamura jane", it succeed in performance.



   In July 12 2010, he annaunced he has early cancer of the esophagus, and rested himself to cure it. It could cause that he would be able to sing, but he did rehabillitation and came back to Japanese music cean in the same year.

kuwata keisuke

 

   I like his songs and character. His song voice should have power. Please listen his song and feel his power.
　　　　　
　　
source
  
 http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%A1%91%E7%94%B0%E4%BD%B3%E7%A5%90

  

Nelson Mandela : Breaking News

  In 5 December 2013, Nelson Mandela died. He is a politician who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to1999, and a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, and has ｒeceived the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize.　He made effort to resolve apartheid in South Africa nevertheless being imprisoned as political criminal, so he called "unyielding soldier".

Nelson Mandela's statue : from http://eedu.jp/blog/2013/07/08/nelson-mandela-apartheid-hero-black-peace-south-africa/

   Let's see his life.
   He were born on 18 July 1918 in the village of Mvezo in Umtatu as a son of a ruler of the Thembu peolpe in the Transkeian Territories of South Africa. He graduated from the law department of the University of Witwatersrand. In his period of University student, He had entered the African National Congress (ANC), and published the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL). He worked on unti-apartheid movement, becoming a chirman of ANCYL.
     In 1952, he set up as a lawyer with Oliver Reginald Tambo in Johannesburg, and became sub-chairman of ANC. Then he published the military organization. Because of these action, he was captured in 1962. Then he had spent tewnty seven years in Robben island as a prisoner of  rebelling against nations. In this term, he had suffered from respiratory diseases like tuberculosis, and hurted his eyes by heavy labor atlimestone pit. But, he had bee continued campaign of anti-apartheid nevertheless in the prison.
     He was liberated from the island in 1990.  He became chairman of ANC in 1991, and he acheved to abolish population registration act, indigenous land law and group areas act like being base of apartheid. Then, he was awarded Nobel peace prize in 1993. Next year, he was elected as first president of black in South Africa, by first universal suffrage there too. After the election, he effored to resolve conflict between black and white under the system of apartheid, to dessolve defference and so on. In 1999, he retired from plitical stage.

    Apartheid can be called his main enemy. Apartheid  is a politics which was enforced in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. Under the this politics, black could not have suffrage, enough education, and earn maney than white, live in same area. Moreover, black could not use piblic facilities like restaurant, hotel, train, bus, park, and W.C., often it separeted for white and black, and black were limited even love.

     Mandela's most great achievement is, I think, continuing show the attitude of anti-apartheid even in the prison. This unyielding spirit may be factor of his greater accomplishments. He awarded more than 200 prize, and save so many people's dignity.


     I respect him, and hope people have strong intention of protecting dignity a little.



source
         wikipedia:
            http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%8D%E3%83%AB%E3%82%BD%E3%83%B3%E3%83%BB%E3%83%9E%E3%83%B3%E3%83%87%E3%83%A9

         tozyou enzin
:http://eedu.jp/blog/2013/07/08/nelson-mandela-apartheid-hero-black-peace-south-africa/

6.Festival!!

 

　Music Festival is a kind of live and a big event in Japan! Many singers and bands and groups participate in this event. It often longs a few days, and stage is not only one. We can enjoy many kinds of bands, sounds, categories, and also atmosphere of the place. The sites are diverse, too. In doom, live house, on outdoor, sometimes on baseball field! Many people take part, so site needs wideness and some consideration of garbage or W.C. or rest places. There are many groups, whether we know or not, so there are many how to enjoy. It is good to look own favorite singer or group, search for new cool bands, and give oneself to climax of around you. 

   I have not took part in music festival yet, so I desire to do so soon :D

   Now I show two big music festivals in Japan.

    Fuji rock festival is a so big festival in Japan. It is held at Naeba sky field, and longs three days, fore days including an eve. In most previous one of Fuji Rock Fes 2013, more than 200 artists perticipate in this event, and 100,000 of spectators visit it. There are fourteen stages, and the site is so wide,  spectators have a hard time to move especially in rany day. Staff, W.C. , rest spaces and other things are often not enough to cover all people being there. In Rainyday, the ground of the site is poaced. But people can help each other, respect nature in this special condition.
 


Green stage of Fuji Rock : from http://www.fujirockfestival.com/

 There is camping and a nap space for people who take part in this event successivelly, so we can enjoy all day of festival.


camping erea : from http://fujirockexpress.net/13/?p=1235

    Also a trial is carried in this festival. It is the campaign of improvement of mannar. People have to try to solve problems themselves, to treat gabages correctly, to discreminate behavior, and not to annoy others. Eco action is also done. We have to classify garbage according to the kind. Pet botle is used for Jacket of staff, and recycle elements is used in dish of food shop.


    Summer sonic is also big festival in Japan. This festival is held in two separated places. One is Osaka, Kansai, and another is Tokyo. It called City type Festival.
    In this event, we can enjoy not only music, but also street dance, comic backchat, an exhibition of art, and tales of supernataral. Compared Fuji rock fes, this event relatively comfortable.

summer sonic 213 :from https://www.facebook.com/summersonicfestival#!/photo.php?fbid=511379212275564&set=a.143102325769923.38093.127809730632516&type=1&theater

 

 



   In Japan, thereare man other Festivals and lives, I recommend you to take part in!



source: summer sonic official HP http://www.summersonic.com/2013/
             Fuji Rock Festival official HP http://www.fujirockfestival.com/
             wikipedia



 

5. Live and it style

  In Japan, many rock bands have held their live and concert every week, every year! It has been held to let us listen to their " live " music and watch their real performance, also to make a chance for exchange with their fans. There, we can do not only listen to real performance of rock group but also do something to enjoy music more.

   First, live means concert. Rock bands or rock musician play their music or songs in live, and it a opportunity of our listing to true, pure sounds and meeting real member. There are chance to meet or shake hands or talk with the band member directly, also the rock group can exchange their fans as musician, and show their skill of playing instruments or special performance of their songs. In live, Rock groups can decide  which music they play, how do they act and perform on the stage, cloth they put on, what talk about while MC, freely. Bands is able to create the place they like or based on their style. Spectator can enjoy world of the group. Also, fans can exchange or talk with others, and share their moving, so live is also a opportunity of finding some mates. In live site, there is shop of selling goods relating the bands or concert, so spectator can take out and remember their moving.

   There are some kind of live.　Gig is one kind of live, and it means " a play in small live house or club". The gig is easy to hold in live house, so can be seen almost everyday. Insore Ivent are held in bokkstore, CD shop, shopping store, for purpose of promotion of their piece or goods. Artists can show their music to people who do not know them or their works, so not only performance but also selling CD and sign of bandmember are carrid on there. Street Live is held on street or in front of station or park. It dose not need so  much many, so musicians, who are not known widly and do not have power and many, intend to popularize their songs. But this form of live can cause noise, and performer can not use large equipment and electric power. Music Festival is big event of live. Many artist perticipate in this event, and spectator can enjoy many kinds of music and songs. The larger it is, more luxury its contents. Some music festival long for 4 days and spectator can camp there.

 

Fuji Rock Festival

source:

"wikipedia"
 http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%B7%AF%E4%B8%8A%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A4%E3%83%96
 http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%BC%94%E5%A5%8F%E4%BC%9A
 http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%AE%E3%82%B0
 http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A4%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88%E3%82%A2%E3%82%A4%E3%83%99%E3%83%B3%E3%83%88

4.Category of J-Rock

 Japanese rock music has many categories. There were not so many kinds of rock music before, but now the kinds have been increasing. Divided category are more ramify depending on play style or structure of member or strongholds. It so hard to show all category because of the quantity, so I will show some example.

  Rock and roll is the origin of rock music. It can be called rockabilly, too. This category are influenced by rhythm and blues, and has eight beats, scale and chord progression of blues, that is to say, Rock and roll make up of the elements of black music like blues, changed into white music. Basically instruments are electric guitar ,electric bass and drums, but often added piano, acoustic guitar and brass instrument like saxophone. In Japan, Kosaka Kazuya and Hirao Akimasa are famous.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Kosaka Kazuya

    Hard rock is base on blues, and the playing style is so hard. Main defferences are following. First, bands who play the style perform with big and aggressive sound. Second, they uses Distortion, which changes sound of electric guitar, for making "warm", "dirty" and "fuzzy" sounds. Third, drumming characteristically focuses on driving rhythms, strong bass drum and a back beat on snare, sometimes using cymbals for emphasis. Their songs are often made up of heavy and low tunes. In Japan, B'z and Kegawa no mary's are famous.

Kegawa no Mary's

   Mixture rock is only exist in Japan. "Mixture rock" is the word made in Japan. It is called rap rock or rap metal overseas. The category means music that mix rock into black music-rap, hip-hop, reggae- or ethnic music. This category has developed into loud rock. Loud rock is related not only to mixture rock but also hard rock, heavy metal. In this category, vocal use wide vocal style like death voice and rap, and guitar play heavy riff with down tuning, samplar and turn table are introduced, so many unique idea are adapted. FACT, Fear, and loathing in Las Vegas are Famous.

Fact/a fact of lie

     Visual kei is a style of Japanese rock band or rock musician. Generally it mean male band or member. They has outstanding hear style and makeup, and outfit. In incunabula, they bristled own hair and made up themselves with thick cosmetic. In 1990's, they dress up like woman.  Their songs is usually heavy metal or pop rock based on J-pop hard rock. The lyric is often reflexive and aggressive, also the content are sadness love. X Japan, Luna sea and shido are famous.

luna sea/true blue

 
  

3.Influence and affair of Japanese music

   There are many affairs related with music and influence from music around the world. For good example, Elvis Presley made a difference between white and black in the U.S., and the song of "We are the world" were made to save African people from starvation and poverty by USA for Africa, a group of famous musicians, and they contributed to the earnings of the song for Africa.
On the other hand, it seems that crimes like murder or robbery happen compared with lyrics of some songs. Music has big power. I will show some example of music's influence in Japan.

     Namie Amuro is a famous example. She is a singer and dancer. She songs J-Pop, rock, rhythm and blues, dance music, and so on. She has strongly influenced society, that is to say, she makes some culture of Japan. Her style of performance, sing with hard dance, not simple choregraphy, had been created by herself, and has become popular. Moreover, her appearance were imitated many people called "amurer". Thy put on clothes like pants suits, and made up with dark or blown color and thin blow and tanned their skin because Amuro's looks were so.

Namie Amuro

  
   Also hide, a member of X Japan made strong effect on Japan. X Japan is "visual rock band", which has outstanding looks and performances heavily, sometimes their lyric are aggressive. The band were so popular in Japan, and made the word "visual band". Hide was aguitalist, and had acted solo, too. He was popular in fans of the group, but one day dead suddenly. The death was thought both suicide or accident, but it has been unknown. Some enthusiastic fans did suicide because of his death.

hide

    Japanese rock bands have been affecting not only domestic bands but also overseas. Nowadays  some groups which are affected from visual band in in Japan are appearing in Europa. The reason is that these band have looks like Japanese animation which is popular abroad. But these band will need technique of playing.

   Girls band have been influenced various element. A rock group which made up of only female member is called "girls band". Famous bands like Judy and Mary or scandal or chatmonciy make many girls form bands, or K-On!, famous Japanese animation, led people to make girls band. Now rock is not only for men.
  
  Finally, I show big affair relating to Japanese musician.  Tetsuya Komuro, who is a famous musician and producer. He has made many famous and popular songs and produced many groups and singers, and succeed in most of these. But recently he commited fraud. He sold the rights of works that he made, but the rights already had been given others because he did not have enough money. This surprised Japan. Now he change his mind, and makes songs again.

Komuro Tetsuya

source

wikipedia
"小室哲哉"　http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B0%8F%E5%AE%A4%E5%93%B2%E5%93%89
"安室奈美恵"  http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AE%89%E5%AE%A4%E5%A5%88%E7%BE%8E%E6%81%B5
"X Japan" http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AE%89%E5%AE%A4%E5%A5%88%E7%BE%8E%E6%81%B5

2.Definition and history of bath of Japanese Rock music

  Definition of Japanese rock music is very simple. It depends on members of group and stronghold. Members of band are Japanese, the rock band can be called Japanese rock group. Members are not Japanese, but they perform mainly in Japan, they can be called so. Sometimes "J-Rock"means groups that belong to a label of being, but the meaning is narrow sense. In Japan, word of "Rock" can be accepted in many ways. Sometimes it include Pop music, rhythm and blues and so on. It meaning is near to popular music. But, in this blog, I will use the word of "rock music", which means the songs composed by  the groups that are made up of Japanese or made in japan.

   In Japan, how has  the rock music born? First of all, base of Japanese rock were created by Rock'n'roll or rockabilly, which were developed in America, then brought into Japan in latter 1950's. Then, like U.S. , Rock'n'roll became old-fashioned, rockabilly changed into soft, and trancelated pops and electric instrument rock were in fashion in early 1960's. Latter 1960's, the beatles, a famous rock group and their stronghold is the U.K. built an period of "group sounds" in Japan because of their visiting in japan. "Group sounds" was made by group that consist like rock group, but the songs were near to popular songs; the forms resembled the rock band, the songs were far from those. The Spiders, the Blue Comets, the Tigers and the Tempters were famous groups.

  In 1968, fathers of Japanese rock music were born, which were the folk crusaders and the Jackas, and the year when the two groups flourished can be called the first year of Japanese rock. And, the shape of Japanese rock were built by the band of happy end. This group made  rock musics that were sung by Japanese word and " established Japanese word rock music. At this point,  a dispute that Japanese word  match rock music whether well or not. By the way, this time, the rock musics were not succeed in commerce.

  Then, in 1970's, rock music became a period of new music which was attempt to form Japanese own rock music system accepting  foreign culture of rock music. While this period, Japanese rock music was splited into two groups because of dispute of Japanese word Rock, and it is born that the group of absolute rock which insisted that the standard of rock music was that of foreign and the group of relative rock which insisted that Japanese rock should accept not only element of foreign rock but also that of Japanese and own culture and tradition. At this time, Japanese rock was diversified.

  After that, many category of Japanese rock were born, for example thecno, new wave, punk, heavy and metal. Indies developed, young people try to go to major stage throgh this energetically.

source:
"音楽のお勉強φ（．．）メモメモ" http://ongakuiroiro.doorblog.jp/archives /cat_984562.html

"日本語ロックの生き証人" http://www.linkclub.or.jp/~artmania/j_rock_evideance.html

1.Definition of Rock music and the history

What is rock music?

   Rock music has the roots in rock 'n' roll influenced strongly from rhythm and blues in 1940's and 1950's. Also the music has element of blues or folk song, besides even jazz and classical music. The form of rock music is made up of rock group typically consisting of vocal, electric guitar, bass and drums, sometimes keyboard like piano and synthesizer, wind instrument and so on. The music traditionally has lyric and built on a foundation of simple unsyncopated rhythms in a 4/4 meter. Main sound of rock music is that of electric guitar. But now the style has become diversification, so there are two beats or eight beats song, no lyric song, and the work made by computer.

   Nowadays, rock is one of a kind of popular music. Many rock groups are formed and many kinds of pieces are composed, and many concerts are held around the word. These songs and groups are rather near "pop" music and the style is relatively calm, but originally it has  some "aggressive" aspects. Sometimes rock musics deal with social affairs or political problems. The musicians make a song with their feelings charged and shout the lyric of people's scream. Rock music has been so-called "counter culture", things that oppose to mainstream or establishmentarian culture. For example, Woodstock Music and Art Festival had held in the town of Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969. Over thirty rock groups and folk music singer took part in the festival and 400,000 concert-goers came to the stages. This event is said that corpus of counter culture. Rock music is often evaluated, depending on the musician's performances whether well or not, So there are songs that emphasize on not lyric but playing.

The Woodstock Music and Art Festival

   Let's look at the simple history of rock. In 1950's, Rock'n'roll, origin of rock, was born in the U.S. The pioneer was Elvis Aron Presley, who mixed rhythm and blues, the song of black, with country music, the song of white. He also contribute dissolution of discrimination against black. Next, the beatles were formed and made UK rock in early 1960's, the United Kingdom. In latter 1960's, Phychedelic rock appeared with useing LSD. This time, musician often compose songs with drug. Rock music changed rapidly and comsiderably in 1970's. The category of rock was diversified, and this age has called the golden age of rock music. Hard rock, Progressive rock, and Punk rock were born in this time. Hard and Progressive rock were characterized by thecnic of showy guitar playing, while Punk rock had simple playing style. In 1980's, Rock had been like product, so had become popular music. Now, rock music has been mixed many category of music, and diversified more and more.

    In Japan, rock music was born by the beatles' visiting Japan, and developed along with the UK and American Rock.
Next, I'll look at Japanese rock.


source:
"wikipedia"  http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%AD%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF_%28%E9%9F%B3%E6%A5%BD%29
"洋楽入門もんっ！"  http://yougaku.daizoo.net/01beginner/04.php