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Genki Rockets

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Genki Rockets

Genki Rockets (元気ロケッツ) is a hybrid band made up of unnamed musical artists. The face of the group is a fictional character named Lumi, an 18-year old girl who was born in space on September 11, 2037 and has never been to Earth. Lumi's voice is synthesized by taking samples from several different female singers.[1]

Biography

Most of the people behind Genki Rockets remain a mystery, but two known producers behind the band are Tetsuya Mizuguchi of Q Entertainment and musician Kenji Tamai of Agehasprings Corporation, who has produced other musicians and groups such as YUKI, Yuna Ito, Base Ball Bear, and TRF.

Tetsuya Mizuguchi co-produced and wrote the lyrics for the first song, Heavenly Star, and directed the music video, which debuted in the video game Lumines II and later appeared in the game No More Heroes. An AAC version of the song began selling on the iTunes Store in December of 2006[2] and was eventually accompanied by several different remixes of the song from various artists such as metalmouse, Headwaters, TECHRIDERS, and DJ Sodeyama (the Count Down, Glorious, Love, Space Walk, Sunrise, Aurora, Floating, and LnM Projekt remixes). The original song, seven remixes, and the second song, Breeze, saw release as a maxi single on July 4, 2007. The single peaked at #24 on the Oricon charts and stayed on the charts for 15 weeks.[3] In September of 2007, Breeze received its own standalone single and video and was later remixed into several incarnations. In October of 2007 a "Heavenly Star" Trance Remix single was released on 12" vinyl by Avex Trax's sublabel Rhythm Republic featuring remixes by Overhead Champion, Delaction and DJ Ten.[4]

Starting off a period of new activity for 2008, the group released two new songs. The medium-tempo song "Smile" was released for download on March 23, 2008, and the rock-influenced song "Star Line" became downloadable on May 14, 2008. A music video for "Star Line" was also released. "Smile" was used as a commercial song for the Menard Facial Salon and "Star Line" was used as promotion for the annual 4-day sale held by PARCO. It was later announced that the two songs, along with three remixes, would be featured on Genki Rockets' second maxi single through avex trax, set to release on June 11, 2008. The single would be followed next month on July 2, 2008 by the group's debut album, "Genki Rockets I -Heavenly Star-".[5]

Uniqueness

Genki Rockets is unique in that it is a band composed entirely of unnamed musicians and that their music videos are entirely computer-generated [citation needed], including the band's lead character, Lumi. The visuals are created by Japan's Glamoove, Inc.[6] They are also unique in solely using holograms for live performances, such as their performance at Live Earth.[7]

However, Genki Rockets is similar to the virtual band Gorillaz, in the fact that while none of the virtual band members represent actual people, the real musicians in the band have become well known.

Charity

The Heavenly Star pack was available for purchase for Lumines Live! on the Xbox Live Marketplace from June 27, 2007 to July 17, 2007. A remix of the song was available in the SOS Campaign Charity Pack. A portion of the proceeds were donated to Live Earth.[8]

Recognition

Heavenly Star was nominated for the Best Song category at the 2006 Spike TV Video Game Awards.[2]

Appearances in other cultures

Heavenly Star can be heard as a background song for a number of cutscenes and shop sections in the Wii game No More Heroes. It is the opening theme of the fictional anime Pure White Lover Bizarre Jelly that exists in the No More Heroes universe. The music video can also be viewed on Travis' television in the Japanese and European versions of the game.

Discography

Albums

Singles

References

  1. ^ "Lumines II's title song unveiled".
  2. ^ a b "Genki Rockets Invade iTunes".
  3. ^ ""Heavenly Star/Breeze" on the Oricon Weekly Charts".
  4. ^ Cisco Records Profile (japanese)
  5. ^ Genki Rockets Information Page on Avex (Japanese)
  6. ^ "Live Earth Artist: Genki Rockets".
  7. ^ "Genki Rockets Headlines Live Earth".
  8. ^ "Genki Rockets Combats Global Warming with Downloadable Content".
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