Aiko (stylised as aiko, birth name: Yanai Aiko (柳井愛子?)) is a J-Pop singer-songwriter and vocalist. She studied popular music[clarification needed] vocals at the Osaka College of Music, and after graduating in 1996, she became a DJ on FM Osaka. In July 1998 she gained nationwide fame from the debut song, "Ashita" which was used in television commercials and TV dramas.
Her second album, "Sakura no Ki no Shita" sold over one million copies, and her sixth single, "Boyfriend", became her best-selling CD single, and she achieved an appearance in NHK's 2000 Kohaku Uta Gassen. Incidentally, since the song's lyrics contain the word "tetrapot", similar to "tetrapod", a registered trademark, Aiko encountered controversy and brief legal problems since NHK is a public broadcasting station. However, the episode was resolved without any restriction being placed on the lyrics.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
[edit] Albums
[edit] Other Releases
[edit] Greatest hits album
[edit] Joined Album
[edit] Performance
- "Love Like Pop" (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009) Love Like (愛好, Aiko?, love-like)
- College musical festivals (1999, 2003; 7 places in all)
- "Baby Peenats Meeting" (2001, 2004; fan club members only)
- "Baby Peenats" is the name of Aiko's official fan club managed by "ever for music". Aiko loves Snoopy (and dogs in general). Her recent live tour books feature pictures of Aiko with a variety of dogs every time.
- "Love Like Rock" (2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 (fan club members only), 2009; no-seat concerts)
- "Love Like Aloha" (Summer 2003, at Katase beech [1], Enoshima; Summer 2006 and 2008, at Southern Beach, Chigasaki)
[edit] Appearances
[edit] Shorts
- Japanese manga artist Yukari Ichijo based the character "Eiko", in Pride (2003-) on Aiko, and Aiko has several times expressed admiration for Ichijo.
Aiko has presented several regular radio programs, including local radio programmes in the Kansai area before she achieved widespread fame in July 1998.
- Count Down Kansai Top40 (FM OSAKA, April 1996 – December 2001)
- Poppun Kingdom (MBS, April 1997 – ?)
- Young Town Music Max (MBS, October 1997 – September 1999)
- Baby Peanuts (FM OSAKA, October 1998 – ?)
- Aiko's @llnightnippon.com (NBS, November 1999 – March 2003), containing the popular musical feature Sing! Aiko.
- "Aiko Bon" (2005) was the first official book about Aiko. The book contains her autobiography (in an interview style), photos, feature articles from monthly magazine GbMusicnet and liner notes by herself.[5]
[edit] Awards
| Year |
Type |
Title |
| 1996 |
Music Quest Japan Final |
Excellence Prize – Himawari ni Nattara |
| 2000 |
Teen's Music Festival Final |
Teen's Grand Prize – Aitsu wo Furimukaseru Hoho |
| Saku ya Kono Hana Award, Music (Osaka city) |
* This award is given to a person or an organisation who contributes to a promotion of Osaka culture. |
| 2002 |
Metropolitan Action on Smoking or Health |
Stop-smoking Grand Prize |
| The Japan Gold Disc Award |
Rock Album of the Year – Natsufuku |
| 2004 |
The Japan Gold Disc Award |
Rock & Pop Album of the Year – Akatsuki no Love Letter |
[edit] References
- ^ "Aiko". MTV.com. March 31, 2010. http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/aiko_japan_/artist.jhtml. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
- ^ "Biography" (in Japanese). Pony Canyon. http://aiko.can-d.com/bio.html. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
- ^ 曲制作当時はカブトムシが夏の虫と知らずに作詞して季節外れのDecember に発売してしまったというエピソードがある
- ^ "aiko、ニューアルバムがMarch 31にリリース". BARKS. 2010February 20. http://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000058525. Retrieved 2010March 2.
- ^ ISBN 4-7897-2496-4
[edit] External links
| Persondata |
| Name |
Yanai, Aiko |
| Alternative names |
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| Short description |
Japanese singer |
| Date of birth |
1975-11-22 |
| Place of birth |
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| Date of death |
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| Place of death |
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![[1]](http://pds1.exblog.jp/pds/1/200503/09/58/c0059258_13264520.jpg){kind=link}