Shota Shimizu
| Shōta Shimizu 清水翔太 |
|
|---|---|
 Shōta Shimizu performing at Japan Day 2008 in Central Park. |
|
| Background information | |
| Born | 27 February 1989 Yao, Osaka, Japan |
| Genres | J-pop, R&B |
| Occupations | Musician, singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels | Mastersix Foundation |
| Website | www.shimizushota.com |
Shōta Shimizu (清水 翔太 Shimizu Shōta, born 27 February 1989) is a Japanese musician and singer-songwriter from Yao, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, who made his debut in 2008.[1] On June 1, 2008, Shimizu performed at Central Park during the annual Japan Day Festival. Shota Shimizu went to a local Christian school in Osaka where he learned how to sing gospel music. He became captivated with soul music, which is how his music career started. He was inspired by Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, and Ray Charles.[2]
Before his debut, in November 2007, Shota sang in English on amateur night at the Apollo Theater. He was called a one in a million soul singer by a local newspaper in New York. The second time he performed at the Apollo Theater was November 19, 2008. He sang the song "Sukiyaki" by Kyu Sakamoto in Japanese, where he was given a standing ovation from an audience of fifteen hundred people. He said he sang it because he wanted to show his Japanese pride and demonstrate the beauty of the Japanese language.[3]
Contents |
[edit] Career
[edit] Umbrella (2008)
Shimizu's first single, entitled "Home", was released on February 20, 2008, and he appeared on Music Station two days after the single's release to promote it. "Home" peaked at ranked at #5 and sold 27,820 units in its first week. After 17 weeks, it had sold 125,735 copies. His second single, "Aishiteru" (アイシテル I Love You), was released on June 4, 2008 in Japan. It ranked at #4 and sold 22,778 units in its first week. After 12 weeks, it had sold 47,114 copies. Shota released his 3rd single "My Treasure" on October 22, 2008. It ranked at #15 and sold 9,540 units in its first week. After 5 weeks, it had sold 15,365 copies.
He released his debut album titled Umbrella, on November 26, 2008 in Japan. The album ranked at #2 and sold 56,442 units in its first week. After 8 weeks, it has sold an impressive 115,863 copies. In March 2009, Shota Shimizu began his first headlining tour, Umbrella Tour 2009. The tickets sold out in one day.[2]
[edit] After Umbrella (2009)
Shota released his 4th single titled "Utsukushii Hibi yo" / "Sayonara wa Itsumo Sobani" on July 15, 2009 in Japan. It debuted at #14 & sold 8,576 copies in the first week. The track "Kaze no Youni" from this single was inspired by the song "Kaze no Dōkei" from the Chrono Trigger Soundtrack.
The single sold a total of 11,144 copies so far.
[edit] Collaborations
Shimizu worked with Dohzi-T on the single "One Love", which was released on July 18, 2007. He also collaborated with Miliyah Kato on the song "I'm Your Angel" on the album Tribute to Celine Dion, which was released on September 26, 2007. Shimizu collaborated with Miliyah Kato again in 2009 on her "Love Forever" single (which was also released onto Miliyah Kato's album, Ring), which was released on May 13, 2009. "Love Forever" has been a huge hit in Japan, and its ringtone has sold over two million downloads.[2] These Japanese singers/songwriters are both twenty years old and love soul music, but still maintain very different music styles.[4] On September 16, 2009, M-flo released a tribute album named Tribute: Maison de M-Flo and Shimizu covered the song "let go".He then released a song,Loving You,in a compilation album named [BEAT CONNECTION] with Crystal Kay,Seamo,Mummy-D and Dohzi-T on October 27, 2010.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
| # | Information | Weekly Singles Charts |
Sales (Japan) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debut Single | Home
|
5 | 128,000 | Umbrella |
| 2nd Single | Aishiteru
|
4 | 47,000 | |
| 3rd Single | My Treasure
|
15 | 15,000 | |
| 4th Single | Utsukushii Hibi yo / Sayonara wa Itsumo Sobani
|
14 | 13,000 | Journey |
| 5th Single | Kimi ga suki
|
8 | 19,000 | |
| 6th Single | Goodbye
|
10 | 14,000 | Colors |
| 7th Single | Kimi ga Kurasu Machi
|
12 | 9,000 | |
| 8th Single | You & I
|
14 | 11,000 | |
| 9th Single | Love
|
16 | 7,000 |
[edit] Albums
| # | Information | Weekly Albums Charts |
Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Album | Umbrella
|
2 | 124,000 |
| 2nd Album | Journey
|
1[5] | 117,000 |
| 3rd Album | Colors
|
7 | 69,000 |
[edit] Collaborations
| # | Information | Weekly Single Charts |
Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | Love Forever
|
5 | 90,000 |
| おやすみのキスを～Good Night My Love～
(Oyasumi no Kisu Wo～Good Night my love～)
|
19 | 14,000 | |
Forever Love
|
4 | 60,000 | |
Believe
|
9 | 16,000 |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Shōta Shimizu |
- (Japanese) Shota Shimizu Official Web Site
- (Japanese) Shota Shimizu Sony Music Online Japan Official Web Site
- (Japanese) Shota Shimizu Fansite
