Perfume (Japanese band)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 83.242.73.126 (talk) at 14:53, 8 May 2010. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about the Japanese group. For the British indie band, see Perfume (band).
Perfume

Perfume (パフューム, Pafyūmu) is a female technopop group from Hiroshima, Japan, consisting of Ayano Ōmoto, Yuka Kashino and Ayaka Nishiwaki. They debuted locally in 2001 and made their transition to a major label in 2005. As of June 2009, the group has released nine major label singles to great success.[1]

Since 2003, Perfume has been produced by Yasutaka Nakata, founder of the group capsule and the contemode label.[2] The group's original post-Shibuya-kei sound made a sharp transition to Electropop and Electro upon their signing to a major label.[3]

The group has often been compared to Yellow Magic Orchestra, Capsule and Aira Mitsuki.

History

The Beginning: Formation and Indie labels

Perfume was formed in 2000 and consisted originally of Ayaka "A~chan" Nishiwaki, Yuka "Kashiyuka" Kashino, and Yuuka "Kawayuka" Kawashima. Shortly after the band's formation, Kawashima left the group to concentrate on her studies and was replaced by Ayano "Nocchi" Ōmoto. The group's name came from the kanji 香, meaning "fragrance", in the three original members' given names. On early singles, the name Perfume was written in hiragana as "ぱふゅーむ". It was around this time they met choreographer MIKIKO, who has worked with the group ever since.

In 2002, Perfume released two limited edition singles, "Omajinai Perori" and "Kareshi Boshūchū", sold only in Hiroshima on Momiji Label. The band moved to Tokyo in 2003 to be produced by capsule's Yasutaka Nakata, and by 2004 had released three more singles: "Sweet Donuts", "Monochrome Effect", and "Vitamin Drop", all of which were released on Bee-Hive Records. The group's first three live performances were given around this time, gaining fans with their energetic performances.

Major label debut: Complete Best

Perfume transitioned to a major label in 2005, releasing "Linear Motor Girl" through Tokuma Japan Communications on September 21st of that year. Two further singles, "Computer City" and "Electro World", saw the group christening themselves as a "near future technopop unit". Their debut album, Perfume ~Complete Best~, compiled their six most recent singles and charted as high as #33 on the Oricon charts when it was first released. The album re-entered the charts after the release of their second album, reaching #25.

Success: Game and Triangle

Perfume's first major commercial success came from their single "Polyrhythm", which was used by NHK for their Kankyō Recycle Campaign. On the day of its release, "Polyrhythm" debuted at number #4 on the Oricon charts, settling at #7 for the weekly ranking; the single sold over 60,000 copies. Shortly after, Perfume released their sixth single, "Baby Cruising Love/Macaroni", which achieved greater success than "Polyrhythm" by achieving #3 on the daily and weekly charts. Their second album, Game, became the second technopop album in history to debut at #1, behind Yellow Magic Orchestra's Naughty Boys in 1983.[4] Game was certified double-platinum by RIAJ for shipment of 500,000 copies.[5] Perfume engaged on their first major tour of Japan from April 27 to June 1st of 2008. The tour, Perfume First Tour "GAME", was released on DVD on October 15, 2008.

On July 9, 2008, Perfume's seventh major label single, "Love the World", debuted on the Oricon sales chart at #1, becoming the first technopop song ever to do so, breaking Yellow Magic Orchestra's record of "Kimi ni, Mune Kyun." debuting at #2 in 1983.[6][7] Two follow-up singles, "Dream Fighter" and "One Room Disco", would perform just as well (the latter also reaching #1 on Oricon.)

During this time, Perfume began limited engagement live shows at famous venues. The first concert, Budoukaaaaaaaaaan!!!!!, took place at the famous Nippon Budokan on November 6th and 7th, 2008 and was filmed for broadcast on NHK and was released on DVD on April 22, 2009. The second, Disco!Disco!Disco!, took place at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium on May 9th and 10th, 2009. Perfume began broadcast of a comedy sketch program titled Perfume's Chandelier House in April of 2009, shortly after the release of "One Room Disco".

Perfume released their third album, Triangle[8] on July 8th, 2009, with a second tour of Japan which began in August. Triangle was certified platinum by RIAJ for selling over 250,000 copies.[9] In 2010, "Monochrome Effect" received exposure in North America when it was featured on an episode of American Dad!, May the Best Stan Win.[10][11]

Perfume announced their first single of 2010 would be released on 14 April. The PV for Natural ni Koishite was uploaded on YouTube by the Tokuma Japan channel. Natural ni Koishite is a tie-up with Japanese apparel brand NATURAL BEAUTY BASIC. It was further announced that it was to be a double A-side single, "Fushizen na Girl/Natural ni Koishite".

Members

Perfume members use their nicknames on stage or TV rather than their real names. Kashino was called "Yuka-chan" in the group's early activity, but was later named "Kashiyuka" in order to distinguish her from Yuuka, who was then named "Kawayuka". Although there is no leader, Nishiwaki is regarded as the "head" of the group, and the program of the songs in live performances are mainly determined by her.

Current

  • Nocchi (のっち) – Real name: Ayano Ōmoto (大本 彩乃)
  • Kashiyuka (かしゆか) – Real name: Yuka Kashino (樫野 有香)
  • A~chan (あ～ちゃん) – Real name: Ayaka Nishiwaki (西脇 綾香)

Former

  • Kawayuka – Real name: Yuuka Kawashima (河島佑香)

Producer

Discography

Main article: Perfume discography

Studio albums

Photobooks

  • 2008.12.17: Perfume Portfolio
  • 2009.12.17: Perfume Livefolio

Live performances

Date(s) Title of Performance Venue(s)
January 3, 2004 BEE-HIVE New Year Live '04 〜Perfume day〜 SHIBUYA-BOXX
April 11, 2004 Perfume Record Release！Sing Ravure SPECIAL！！ SHIBUYA O-Crest
December 16, 2004 〜Play a trick on YOU!!〜 Dreamy☆World SHIBUYA O-Crest
July 7, 2005 Play a trick on YOU!! 〜Electrical ♪girls〜 SHIBUYA O-West
December 21, 2006 Perfume's POPpokePiiiii- Night Harajuku ASTRO HALL
December 21, 2006 Perfume presents 〜Perfume Gaippoi Center Yonjaimashita♪〜 Harajuku ASTRO HALL
July 5, 2007
-
July 6, 2007 		Perfume Hikoboshi☆Boshuu Chuu Daikanyama UNIT
October 31, 2007
-
November 3, 2007 		Thankful!Grateful!Poly-invasion! 〜We're Perfume〜 Nagoya Electric Lady Land/OSAKA MUSE/Shin-Hiroshima Telecasting Shinkan Ninth Storey Studio
November 8, 2007 Perfume 〜SEVENTH HEAVEN pleasant feeling♪〜 LIQUIDROOM
December 31, 2007 Perfume Masaka no Countdown!? 〜Ride Room- That Night Once Again, in Zepp Tokyo〜 Zepp Tokyo
February 12, 2008 Perfume 〜Socks, Fix, Max〜 SHIBUYA-AX
February 13, 2008 Eve of P.T.A. Launch 「Patto Fun Playing Gathering」 LIQUIDROOM
April 27, 2008
-
June 1, 2008 		Perfume First Tour「GAME」 Zepp Osaka/Takamatsu Olive Hall/Hiroshima CLUB QUATTRO/Fukuoka DRUM LOGOS/Zepp Tokyo/Zepp Nagoya/NIIGATA LOTS/Sendai FORUS/Sendai CLUB JUNK BOX/Sapporo PENNY LANE 24/Yokohama BLITZ
June 21, 2008 Hot Stuff 30th Anniversary『BLACK AND BLUE』 Zepp Tokyo
November 6, 2008
-
November 7, 2008 		BUDOUKaaaaaaaaaaN!!!!! Nippon Budokan
May 9, 2009
-
May 10, 2009 		Disco！Disco！Disco！ Yoyogi National Gymnasium
August 7, 2009
-
October 30, 2009 		Chokkaku Nitouhen Sankakkei Perfume 2nd Tour Toda City Culture Kaikan/Fukuoka Sun Palace Hotel and Hall/Hiroshima Kouseinenkin Kaikan/Himegin Hall/Ishikawa Kouseinenkin Kaikan/Niigata People's Kaikan/Sapporo City People's Hall/Sendai Sun Plaza Hall/Nagoya Nippon Gaishi Hall/Osaka City Hall/Yokohama Arena
March 7, 2010
-
April 3, 2010 		P.T.A. Spring 2010 Tour Yokohama BLITZ/Zepp Nagoya/Zepp Osaka/Zepp Tokyo/Zepp Sendai/Niigata LOTS/Zepp Sapporo/Zepp Fukuoka/Hiroshima CLUB QUATTRO/Kochi BAY5 SQUARE

See also

References

  1. ^ Template:Ja icon "Perfume - トップページ - TJC artists pages - Profile". Tokuma Japan Communications. Retrieved November 3, 2008.
  2. ^ "Perfume at Rock in Japan". The Japan Times. June 19, 2008. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
  3. ^ Template:Ja icon "Perfume Interview". bounce.com. 2008-02-07. Retrieved 2009-06-02.
  4. ^ "Perfume becomes first technopop group at #1 since YMO". tokyograph.com. April 23, 2008. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
  5. ^ Template:Ja icon "ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2009年3月". RIAJ. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  6. ^ Template:Ja icon "テクノ史上初！Perfumeオリコン1位". Sankei Sports. 2008-07-15. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  7. ^ "Perfume achieves technopop's first #1 single". Tokyograph.com. 2008-07-16. Retrieved 2008-11-21.
  8. ^ Template:Ja icon "Perfume、タイトル読み方正解発表＆収録曲ついに判明". natalie. 2009-06-05. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
  9. ^ Template:Ja icon "ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2009年7月". RIAJ. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
  10. ^ "Perfume makes a cameo in 'American Dad!'". CNN Go. Cable news Network. 18 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  11. ^ Bentz, Zac (15 February 2010). "American Dad plays 'Japanese funk' group Perfume". Japanator. Modern Method. Retrieved 2010-04-21.

External links

Template:Contains Japanese text

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Perfume_(Japanese_band)&oldid=360908849"