Love is a Japanese pop/R&B vocal duo, produced by Hiro of Exile's production agency, LDH. They debuted in 2009 with the single "First Love: Love Letter." Their song "Tada Hitotsu no Negai Sae" was certified gold by the RIAJ for 100,000 full-length cellphone downloads.
The band's name comes from the first word in their production company (LDH)'s non-acronym name (Love Dream Happiness).
Biography
The band was formed in 2008 by former Paradise Go!! Go!! member Misaki Matsumoto, and quarter Italian Stephanie. The pair met through production agency LDH, when they were given the roles of the two vocalists in a dance performance group called Real Force. When the plans for this unit fell through, the duo formed Love. Both members had been in the entertainment industry for over ten years.
The group's first activity together was releasing a cover of Zone's "Secret Base (Kimi ga Kureta Mono)" as a ringtone (as well as releasing the full version in a special CD attached to the August issue of Gekkan Exile magazine). A year later, the group released their debut single, "First Love: Love Letter," with this cover as a B-side.
The group's songs have been popular through digital markets, with all lead tracks from their singles reaching the top 5 on the RIAJ Digital Track Chart (including "Taisetsu na Kimochi" from their debut album Taisetsu na Kimochi which was not released as a physical single).
The duo have had two collaborations with Exile twice: once before their debut on the song "Love, Dream & Happiness" on Exile's compilation album Exile Ballad Best in 2008, and in 2009 Misaki recorded background vocals for Exile's song "If (I Know)" on their album Aisubeki Mirai e. Last edited by whitedove on 17-12-2012 08:21 PM
MISAKI (real name: Matsumoto Misaki), born 6 February 1991 (age 20) STEPHANIE, born 28 September 1989 (age 21)
Discography
Albums
[2010.04.14] Taisetsu na Kimochi (大切なキモチ; Important Feelings)
[2011.06.29] Tsunagaru Kimochi (つながるキモチ)
Singles
[2009.08.26] First Love ~Love Letter~ (First Love ～ラブレター～)
[2009.11.25] Second Love ~Tada Hitotsu no Negai Sae~ (Second Love ～ただ一つの願いさえ～)
[2010.03.10] Watashi Aumono (わたしあうもの)
[2010.09.08] Kataomoi (片思い)
[2010.10.27] Aishiteru no One Word (“愛してる”のOne Word)
[2011.05.11] Someday Again ~Mata Au Hi Made~ (Someday Again～また会う日まで～ )
Compilations / Others
[2008.12.03] EXILE - EXILE BALLAD BEST (#14 Love Dream & Happiness)
[2009.12.02] EXILE - Ai Subeki Mirai e (#5 If ~I know~)
Dream is a Japanese pop girl group signed to the Avex Trax since 2000 and Rhythm Zone since 2009.
In 1999 Avex Trax organized a huge talent contest, called "Avex Dream 2000", with the aim of finding the right and talented girls for a new group. The result was dream, a three-piece group consisting of Mai Matsumuro, Kana Tachibana, and Yu Hasebe. Since the group's debut in 2000 under the Avex Trax label, it has undergone many changes. The original trio member has sold 950,700 record labels. In all, the trio has sold over 1,100,000 records over the span of 10 years.
On July 7, 2002, the main lyricist Mai Matsumuro left the group to pursue a solo career. After Matsumuro's departure, Avex held another audition to replaced Matsumuro. Instead of one, six new members had won the audition. The result is eight-member (Dream) group with the debut single "Music is My Thing". On March 2004, Ai Risa left to pursue a solo career. During this time, the band's name changed from dream to DRM.
In August 2008, Yu Hasebe left the group to pursue a solo career, leaving Kana Tachibana behind as the only original member dream. Afterward, DRM became Dream again.
In August 2010, Dream released their official major re-debut single, "My Way: Ulala" under the Rhythm Zone label.
On November 24, 2010, Dream released their first album as a six-member group, titled Hands Up! under the Rhythm Zone label.
On November 23, 2010, Tachibana announced that she would leave the group. This marked the departure of the last member of the original three-member group. She officially left the group on February 19, 2011.
Members
3-member Dream (1999 - 2002)
Mai Matsumuro (left July 2002)
Kana Tachibana
Yu Hasebe
8-member Dream/DRM (2002 - 2008)
Dream 02 - Risa Ai (left March 2004)
Dream 03 - Erie Abe
Dream 04 - Aya Takamoto
Dream 05 - Ami Nakashima
Dream 06 - Shizuka Nishida
Dream 07 - Kana Tachibana
Dream 08 - Yu Hasebe (left July 2008)
Dream 09 - Sayaka Yamamoto
Dream (2008 - Present)
Kana Tachibana (graduated February 2011), born 20 October 1985 (age 25) Sayaka Yamamoto, born 19 September 1987 (age 23) Erie Abe, born 3 September 1987 (age 23) Aya Takamoto, born 16 July 1987 (age 23) Ami Nakashima, born 11 May 1988 (age 23) Shizuka Nishida, born 6 March 1988 (age 23)
In 1999, the Avex label organized a talent contest, called "Avex Dream 2000", looking for the next big hit idol group. Over 120,000 hopefuls auditioned in front of a panel of judges, notably including Kaori Mochida of the popular band, Every Little Thing. Another of the entrants was Kumi Koda, who placed second and is now a popular singer.
The final winners of the competition were Mai Matsumuro, Kana Tachibana, and Yu Hasebe. They formed Avex's idol group Dream.
Debut as 3-member Dream
On January 1, 2000, Dream debuted with the single "Movin' On", which charted within the top 15 on the Oricon charts. Their next few singles all charted in similar territory, failing to break the top 10 until their sixth single, "My will", made it to number 6 at the end of 2000. "My will" was the song that gave Dream new found fame as it was the first ending theme to the popular anime Inuyasha. The group's next single peaked at number 36.
On February 28, 2001, Dream released their debut album, Dear.... The album reached number 5 on the Oricon charts.
On November 28, 2001, Dream released "Get Over", the first opening theme to the anime Hikaru no Go. It reached number 12 on the Oricon charts.
On February 14, 2002, Dream released their second album, Process, which reached number 8 on the charts.
Following the release of Process, Matsumuro, who wrote most of the group's lyrics, announced that she was to leave in pursuit of a solo career. Dream then released their final single as a 3-member group, "Sincerely: Ever Dream".
On June 26, 2002, Dream released their final release as a three-member group and their first best album, Eternal Dream. On July 7, 2002, Matsumuro left Dream.
8-member Dream
Following Matsumuro's departure, Avex held more auditions for a replacement, and ended up with six new girls. They were Risa Ai, Erie Abe, Aya Takamoto, Ami Nakashima, Shizuka Nishida, and Sayaka Yamamoto.
The new eight-girl group "re-debuted" in 2003 with the single "Music is My Thing".
In February 2003, the group released their third album, Dream World. The album reached number 23 on the Oricon charts.
Following Dream World, Dream's popularity once again peaked. They participated in the first a-nation summer concert festival held by Avex. They appeared on popular singer Hamasaki Ayumi's TV show, Ayuready. Subsequently, Dream's next single, "I Love Dream World", became their first single to chart within the Oricon top 10 since "My Will" in 2000.
In 2004, following the release of Dream's fourth album ID, Ai left Dream to pursue a solo career, bringing the group's member count down to seven.
7-member Dream/DRM
From 2004-2005, Dream released the singles "Pure", "Love Generation", and "Soyokaze no Shirabe / Story". They also released two mini albums, Natsuiro and Boy meets Girl. In addition, Dream released a best album (777: Best of Dreams), an Avex cover album (Dream Meets Best Hits Avex), and a self cover album (777: Another Side Story).
After a long period without much activity, Dream released 7th Anniversary Best (a best of album featuring songs from the groups debut as a three-member unit up till their latest single) and Greatest Live Hits (an album featuring recordings of their live performances) on January 1, 2007 (the group's 7th anniversary).
DRM
On June 27, 2007, Dream was "reborn" as the dance/chorus group DRM in an attempt to shed their image as idols. The group debuted with the mini album DRM.
In 2008, DRM released four digital singles, the first being released in January and the last, in April. The singles were released on the 7th of each month (January 7, February 7, and so on). Like their mini album, the singles were not met with much success.
LDH and re-debut as Dream
On August 1, 2008, Yu Hasebe left DRM in pursuit of a solo career, leaving Kana Tachibana behind as the only member of the original Dream. The group changed its name back to Dream and their official fanclub (Live Your Dreams) closed down. Also, the group changed management from Avex to LDH (Love Dream Happiness).
On September 9, 2009, the group released its first single as Dream and its first physical single since 2005's "Soyokaze no Shirabe / Story". The new single was titled "Perfect Girls / To The Top" and was sold exclusively at a series of free shows Dream performed throughout Japan as well as on mu-mo (an online store). As a special release, it did not chart on Oricon. To promote their comeback, Dream embarked on a nationwide tour of Japan, performing at free live appearances in numerous cities.
Dream appeared on their first TV live on December 31, 2009 on CDTV Premium Live 2009>>2010, performing Perfect Girls.
On March 1, 2010, Dream released their second single as a six member group, titled "Breakout", another mu-mo exclusive.
In May 2010, having completed their nationwide free performance campaign, Dream held a 3-date live tour titled Dream Live Tour 2010: Road to Dream. Dream also toured as a special guest on labelmate Exile's "Exile Live Tour 2010 Fantasy" alongside fellow LDH artists Happiness and Flower.
On August 18, 2010, Dream released their major label debut single, "My Way: Ulala" under the Rhythm Zone label. On October 6, 2010, Dream released their second major label single, "Ev'rybody Alright!".
On November 24, 2010, Dream released their debut album as a six-member group and fifth studio album overall, Hands Up!. To promote the album, Dream went on the tour, titled Dream Live Tour 2010-2011 "Hands Up!!".
On November 23, 2010, Kana Tachibana announced that she would leave the group on the group's official website.
The 5 member Dream will provide the theme song to the drama Meitantei Conan. The new song, titled "To you..." is expected to air April 15, 2011.
Happiness is a Japanese pop vocal and dance unit under the agency LDH and the label Universal Sigma. They group formed in 2009 and released their first single, entitled "Happy Talk", under an indies label. They are considered to be EXILE's sister group and have been backup dancers for EXILE. They made their major debut with the single "Kiss Me" in 2011.
Members
KAEDE (real name: Dobashi Kaede), born 11 January 1996 (age 15) MIMU (real name: Hioki Mimu), born 30 December 1995 (age 15) SAYAKA (real name: Nagatomo Sayaka), born 20 September 1995 (age 15) KAREN (real name: Fujii Karen), born 16 July 1996 (age 14) MIYUU (real name: Ariiso Miyuu), born 16 August 1996 (age 14) YURINO (real name: Suzuki Yurino), born 6 February 1996 (age 15) MAYU (real name: Sugieda Mayu), born 2 January 1996 (age 15)
- Currently backdancing for EXILE.
- The group hasn't debuted.
- The currently ongoing EXILE Vocal Battle Audition 3 is looking for the group's vocalists, besides finding vocalists for another new unit, as well as solo recording artists.
EXILE’s sister group FLOWER to debut with five new members
Posted on July 26, 2011 by tokyograph
FLOWER, one of EXILE’s “sister groups,” is ready for a CD debut. The group held a press conference on Tuesday to announce their first single and to unveil five new members, bringing their total size to 9.
The five new members consist of three vocalists – Washio Reina (17), Muto Chiharu (16), and Ichiki Kyoka (14) – and two performers – Bando Nozomi (13) and Sato Harumi (16). All of them were selected from more than 30,000 girls in the “EXILE Presents VOCAL BATTLE AUDITION 3 ~For Girls~” that started in February.
FLOWER will release their first single, “still,” on October 12.
The group has also been added to the lineup for Avex’s a-nation tour. They will perform in Ehime on July 30, Aichi on August 13, Osaka on August 21, and Tokyo on August 27.
Post time 17-6-2011 05:40 PM
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