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Bon-Bon Blanco

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Bon-Bon Blanco (sometimes BON-BON BLANCO, B3 or B3) is a Japanese popular music group. The origin of the name is Spanish. The group used to belong to Columbia Music Entertainment, but has moved to Bouncy Records in 2006.

Members

Its members are:

  • Anna Santos (サントス・アンナ) - Main Vocals
  • Izumi (中台泉美 Izumi Nakadai) - Conga
  • Mako (桜井真子 Mako Sakurai) - Maracas, ex-leader
  • Ruri (水谷光里 Ruri Mizutani) - Bongo
  • Tomoyo (松本知世 Tomoyo Matsumoto) - Timbales, current leader

History

Forming of the group

The group formed in 2002 with 4 members of a group named Nansho Kids: Mako Sakurai, Izumi Nakadai, Tomoyo Matsumoto, and Ruri Mizutani (sister of a famous actress, Yuri Mizutani) and added Santos Anna (who appeared in a Japanese version of Annie) as a vocalist and debuted at Bandai display corner at Tokyo Omocha Show[1] in May of the same year. Their unique style, 4 percussionists and 1 vocalist, attracted a lot of attention from media in Japan even before they debuted. With an average age of 14 at the time of debut, they were also gracing the cover of music magazines. In June of the same year, their official Web site “B3 TV” opened.

First single

On July 17, 2002, they released their first single “Ai want you!!”. During July 24 to August 28, they performed weekly concerts at a live house named Harajuku Ruido. The low cost of the cover (500 yen including drinks, roughly 5 dollars USD), the completeness of the performance, as well as the word of mouth helped to fill the house consistently.

The quality of their music had been assured because one of Japanese major record labels, Being, has been supporting them since their debut. And as the members started to improve in terms of their percussion skills, their popularity also shot up. On December 26, they had a concert at Harajuku Ruido again, and this time the live house was sold out within the same day. The door of the live house wouldn't close due to the amount of audience.

During this period of time, a selection of songs were performed without instruments and was called "Dance Version". This was met with a decent amount of critics approval, labeling them as a dance unit. With the improved abilities of the members, the frequency of the "Dance Versions" of the songs decreased, and there have been fans that wish to bring some of the dancing back.

Smashing Hit

The turning point had come in 2004. Their 6th single, 'Bon Voyage' was used as a theme of a famous animation program, 'One Piece', and it became #8 at hit charts in Japan. And Bon-Bon Blanco's name finally was recognized by a lot of people. And with 7th single, 'Tenohira wo Taiyo ni', they visited a lot of elementary schools, including the school Anna graduated. This song is the 4th cover song of the group after 'Conga' from Miami Sound Machine and 'Come to me' from Bobby Caldwell, And 'Ureshii Tanoshii Daisuki' from Dreams Come True, all of which are included in their 2nd album, 'B3 masterpieces 2002-2004'.

Rise and Fall

However, after the hit of 'Bon Voyage', the gap between the group aiming at and what fans require was widened graduately, and the sales of copies of each single descended along with that. And after they released 'Ai ga ippai' in 2005, although the group was sometimes guested to some concerts including a musical named 'Angel Gate', they had to take a factual leave continued for one and half years.

Revival

On July 25, 2006, they had a concert at Shibuya Bpxx, and it was the beginning of their return. On August 30, they released 'Yura Yura Yureru', from a new record label set up by the producer of Bon-Bon Blanco, Bouncy Records.[1] This is the song they performed in Angel Gate. In this song, and they renewed the group's image changing their costumes from jeans and t-shirts to sexy bikinis. Anna challenged to rapping first time.

In 2007, the group started its activity from the concert held at Shibuya O-EAST on January 27. This concert featured the 'individuality' of each member. Tomoyo played the drums for the first time at concerts, and Ruri, Anna Izumi showed hip-hop dancing with Britney Spears' songs. Mako also sang 'Ice Candy' from her solo career as a voice actress. Anna covered 'I'll be there' with a black singer. These new challenges impressed all the audience. On February 21, they released their 11th single, '∞Changing∞.

Discography

Singles

  • 'Ai Want You!!' (7/17/2002)
  • 'Datte, Onna no Ko Nandamon!' (9/11/2002)
  • 'Ai no Nurse Carnival' (2/19/2003)
  • 'Namida no Hurricane' (2/19/2003) (2nd ED song for the anime series Get Backers).
  • 'Vacance no Koi' (6/4/2003)
  • 'Bon Voyage!' (1/14/2004)(4th theme song for the anime series One Piece)
  • 'Te no Hira wo Taiyou ni' (7/14/2004)
  • 'La La Kuchibue Fuite Ikou' (9/1/2004)
  • 'Ai ga Ippai' (2/23/2005)
  • 'Yura Yura Yureru' (8/30/2006)
  • '∞Changing∞' (2/21/2007) (2nd ED song for the anime series Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge, also known as the Wallflower)

Albums

  • BEAT GOES ON (3/26/2003)
  • B3 Master Pieces 2002-2004 (3/24/2004)
  • Winter Greetings (12/15/2004)

DVD

  • B3 Master Clips 2002-2004 (3/24/2004)

Notes

  1. ^ Omocha is Japanese for Toy, thus, Tokyo Toy Show
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