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Difference between revisions of "Angela Aki"
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[[Image:angela2009.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Angela Aki]] | [[Image:angela2009.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Angela Aki]] | ||
| − | Angela Aki debuted mid-2005 with the single [[Home (Angela Aki single)|HOME]], despite releasing two indies albums prior to this. Her music is laid back and acoustic, much like [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_McLachlan Sarah McLachlan]. She was picked by [[Uematsu Nobuo|Uematsu Nobuo]] to perform the Final Fantasy XII theme song, entitled [[Kiss Me Good-Bye]]. | + | '''Angela Aki''' debuted mid-2005 with the single [[Home (Angela Aki single)|HOME]], despite releasing two indies albums prior to this. Her music is laid back and acoustic, much like [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_McLachlan Sarah McLachlan]. She was picked by [[Uematsu Nobuo|Uematsu Nobuo]] to perform the Final Fantasy XII theme song, entitled [[Kiss Me Good-Bye]]. |
Click [[:Category:Angela Aki Songs|here]] for information on individual Angela Aki songs (includes lyrics, a translation and PV shots if applicable) | Click [[:Category:Angela Aki Songs|here]] for information on individual Angela Aki songs (includes lyrics, a translation and PV shots if applicable) | ||
| − | == | + | ==Profile== |
| − | |||
* '''Name:''' Angela K. Aki (アンジェラ・アキ) | * '''Name:''' Angela K. Aki (アンジェラ・アキ) | ||
* '''Official Japanese Name:''' Aki Angela (安芸アンジェラ) | * '''Official Japanese Name:''' Aki Angela (安芸アンジェラ) | ||
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* '''Favourite Artists:''' [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alanis_Morissette Alanis Morissette], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ani_Difranco Ani DiFranco], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Folds Ben Folds], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coldplay Coldplay], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiona_Apple Fiona Apple], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janis_Ian Janis Ian], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joni_Mitchell Joni Mitchell], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanye_West Kanye West], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macy_Gray Macy Gray], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_McLachlan Sarah McLachlan], [[Shiina Ringo]], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Smashing_Pumpkins The Smashing Pumpkins], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/TLC_(music) TLC] | * '''Favourite Artists:''' [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alanis_Morissette Alanis Morissette], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ani_Difranco Ani DiFranco], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Folds Ben Folds], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coldplay Coldplay], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiona_Apple Fiona Apple], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janis_Ian Janis Ian], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joni_Mitchell Joni Mitchell], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanye_West Kanye West], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macy_Gray Macy Gray], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_McLachlan Sarah McLachlan], [[Shiina Ringo]], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Smashing_Pumpkins The Smashing Pumpkins], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/TLC_(music) TLC] | ||
| − | == | + | ==Information== |
| − | === | + | ===Early Life=== |
| − | + | [[Image:Angela Theseword2000.jpg|thumb|280px|Angela Aki as shown on her original official site]] | |
Angela Aki's heritage is extremely mixed, as her father is Japanese and her mother is half Italian and half American. To add to her already multi-cultural heritage, she was born in Japan and raised in Hawaii, and was a very musical child. She is reported to have shocked her mother when she was very young by humming a tune that her mother had just sung in perfect tune. She began by learning classical piano at three years old, but also learned how to play the violin, guitar later and drums later on. In late 1992 when Angela was 15, she moved away from Japan and set up residence in Hawaii, where she went to high school. Angela won a $2,500US scholarship from her high school (Iolani School) in 1996. | Angela Aki's heritage is extremely mixed, as her father is Japanese and her mother is half Italian and half American. To add to her already multi-cultural heritage, she was born in Japan and raised in Hawaii, and was a very musical child. She is reported to have shocked her mother when she was very young by humming a tune that her mother had just sung in perfect tune. She began by learning classical piano at three years old, but also learned how to play the violin, guitar later and drums later on. In late 1992 when Angela was 15, she moved away from Japan and set up residence in Hawaii, where she went to high school. Angela won a $2,500US scholarship from her high school (Iolani School) in 1996. | ||
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Angela went on to study at [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington_University George Washington University], Washington, D.C., and combined International Affairs and Jazz Studies as some of her subjects. While studying there, she remained musically active, even being the opening acts for artists such as [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Martin Ricky Martin], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Collins Judy Collins] and [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixpence_None_the_Richer Sixpence None the Richer]. She even performed at [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Gore Al Gore]'s Christmas party once. In January 2000, while still there, Angela released an American indies album entitled [[These Words]], which was sung entirely in English. Though this album has become increasingly rare to find, it would most likely to be found in Virginia or Hawaii. She later graduated in May 2000. | Angela went on to study at [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington_University George Washington University], Washington, D.C., and combined International Affairs and Jazz Studies as some of her subjects. While studying there, she remained musically active, even being the opening acts for artists such as [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Martin Ricky Martin], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Collins Judy Collins] and [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixpence_None_the_Richer Sixpence None the Richer]. She even performed at [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Gore Al Gore]'s Christmas party once. In January 2000, while still there, Angela released an American indies album entitled [[These Words]], which was sung entirely in English. Though this album has become increasingly rare to find, it would most likely to be found in Virginia or Hawaii. She later graduated in May 2000. | ||
| − | Angela held her showcase live at the Luna Park Grille in Arlington, Virginia, on 29 November 2001; and was credited as 'Angela Aki and her band'. Later on in 2001, she also held a live in Washington D.C., and was overheard by a Japanese CM producer called [[K (CM Producer)|K]], who asked her if she were able to sing for a commercial. She accepted, and in early 2002 a cover of [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Scott Jimmy Scott]'s song [[New Day|New Day]] for the [[Yakult 400|Yakult 400]] CM. | + | Angela held her showcase live at the Luna Park Grille in Arlington, Virginia, on 29 November 2001; and was credited as 'Angela Aki and her band'. Later on in 2001, she also held a live in Washington D.C., and was overheard by a Japanese [[CM]] producer called [[K (CM Producer)|K]], who asked her if she were able to sing for a commercial. She accepted, and in early 2002 a cover of [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Scott Jimmy Scott]'s song [[New Day|New Day]] for the [[Yakult 400|Yakult 400]] CM. |
| − | === | + | ===Japanese Debut=== |
| − | + | [[Image:Angelasquareenix.jpg|thumb|280px|Angela Aki performing 'Kiss Me Good-Bye' (July 2005)]] | |
| − | |||
In 2005, Angela started to release music again. She re-debuted in Japan under the indies label [[Virgo Music|Virgo Music]], with an indies mini-album entitled [[One (Angela Aki)|ONE]]. This time, however, it was sung mostly in Japanese and released in the Japanese market. The album reached #2 on the HMV Indies Chart. It is said that this album is what caught [[Uematsu Nobuo|Uematsu Nobuo]]'s attention and made him offer for her to perform the theme song for the up and coming Final Fantasy XII game. Angela's appearance as the theme song artist was announced at the Square Enix 2005 Stage Show in late July, 2005. The title was announced as [[Kiss Me Good-Bye]], and was performed solo by Angela at the Stage Show. She was shown singing and playing the piano solo on stage. Angela wrote the lyrics for both versions of this song; the Japanese version for the regional release as well as the English version for the international release. However, Uematsu Nobuo composed the song. | In 2005, Angela started to release music again. She re-debuted in Japan under the indies label [[Virgo Music|Virgo Music]], with an indies mini-album entitled [[One (Angela Aki)|ONE]]. This time, however, it was sung mostly in Japanese and released in the Japanese market. The album reached #2 on the HMV Indies Chart. It is said that this album is what caught [[Uematsu Nobuo|Uematsu Nobuo]]'s attention and made him offer for her to perform the theme song for the up and coming Final Fantasy XII game. Angela's appearance as the theme song artist was announced at the Square Enix 2005 Stage Show in late July, 2005. The title was announced as [[Kiss Me Good-Bye]], and was performed solo by Angela at the Stage Show. She was shown singing and playing the piano solo on stage. Angela wrote the lyrics for both versions of this song; the Japanese version for the regional release as well as the English version for the international release. However, Uematsu Nobuo composed the song. | ||
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In the last half of in 2005, Angela debuted with her first major single under [[Sony]], entitled [[Home (Angela Aki single)|HOME]] (and released one day before her birthday). Despite the single reaching a low position at #38, it charted for a surprisingly long 13 weeks. After the release of this single, nothing was heard from her until late November in which her next single, [[Kokoro no Senshi]], was announced and would be released in late January. Kokoro no Senshi was released as in two pressings; a first press limited edition which came with an exclusive DVD that contained the music video for Kokoro no Senshi as well as the premiere showcase for Final Fantasy XII (backed by Angela Aki singing the English version of Kiss Me Good-Bye). This second single faired much better on Oricon charts; reaching an exceedingly higher position of #13. | In the last half of in 2005, Angela debuted with her first major single under [[Sony]], entitled [[Home (Angela Aki single)|HOME]] (and released one day before her birthday). Despite the single reaching a low position at #38, it charted for a surprisingly long 13 weeks. After the release of this single, nothing was heard from her until late November in which her next single, [[Kokoro no Senshi]], was announced and would be released in late January. Kokoro no Senshi was released as in two pressings; a first press limited edition which came with an exclusive DVD that contained the music video for Kokoro no Senshi as well as the premiere showcase for Final Fantasy XII (backed by Angela Aki singing the English version of Kiss Me Good-Bye). This second single faired much better on Oricon charts; reaching an exceedingly higher position of #13. | ||
| − | + | [[Image:Angela ThisLove.jpg|thumb|left|280px|Angela during This Love promotion]] | |
| − | Her third single, [[Kiss Me Good-Bye]], was released on March 15, 2006. The single, due to the extreme hype from its Final Fantasy tie-up, debuted at #6 on Oricon charts. This position is higher than previous theme songs', such as [[Faye Wong]]'s [[Eyes on Me (Faye Wong)|Eyes on Me]] and [[Rikki]]'s [[ | + | Her third single, [[Kiss Me Good-Bye]], was released on March 15, 2006. The single, due to the extreme hype from its Final Fantasy tie-up, debuted at #6 on Oricon charts. This position is higher than previous theme songs', such as [[Faye Wong]]'s [[Eyes on Me (Faye Wong)|Eyes on Me]] and [[Rikki]]'s [[Suteki da ne]], though not as high as [[Koda Kumi]]'s [[Real Emotion / 1000 no Kotoba|real Emotion / 1000 no Kotoba]]. |
It was announced on the first of May, 2006 that Angela would be signed to [[Tofu Records]] in the US (a firm to expose Japanese [[Sony]] artists in the US, mostly featuring on Sony artists that make theme songs for [[anime]]). Her first Tofu records release was a modified version of her [[Kiss Me Good-Bye]] single released on the 16th of May (it featured [[Eyes on Me (Angela Aki)|Eyes On Me]] instead of [[Aoi Kage]]. This release is to tie in with Angela's feature at the Chicago concert of [[PLAY! A Video Game Symphony|PLAY! A Video Game Symphony]] on May the 27th. The day before, Angela will feature at a signing session at the [[Tower Records|Tower Records]] N. Clark Store in Chicago. | It was announced on the first of May, 2006 that Angela would be signed to [[Tofu Records]] in the US (a firm to expose Japanese [[Sony]] artists in the US, mostly featuring on Sony artists that make theme songs for [[anime]]). Her first Tofu records release was a modified version of her [[Kiss Me Good-Bye]] single released on the 16th of May (it featured [[Eyes on Me (Angela Aki)|Eyes On Me]] instead of [[Aoi Kage]]. This release is to tie in with Angela's feature at the Chicago concert of [[PLAY! A Video Game Symphony|PLAY! A Video Game Symphony]] on May the 27th. The day before, Angela will feature at a signing session at the [[Tower Records|Tower Records]] N. Clark Store in Chicago. | ||
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Despite rumours that Angela's debut album would be released after [[Kiss Me Good-Bye]], it was announced that Angela would release her fourth single, [[This Love]]. It replaced [[Nakashima Mika]]'s single [[Cry No More|CRY NO MORE]] as the third ending theme to the anime [[Blood Plus|BLOOD+]]. The single reached the same level of success as her former single, [[Kiss Me Good-Bye]], by reaching #6 on the charts. When both singles stopped charting, their totals were less than 6,500 difference. | Despite rumours that Angela's debut album would be released after [[Kiss Me Good-Bye]], it was announced that Angela would release her fourth single, [[This Love]]. It replaced [[Nakashima Mika]]'s single [[Cry No More|CRY NO MORE]] as the third ending theme to the anime [[Blood Plus|BLOOD+]]. The single reached the same level of success as her former single, [[Kiss Me Good-Bye]], by reaching #6 on the charts. When both singles stopped charting, their totals were less than 6,500 difference. | ||
| − | Two weeks after the release of the [[This Love]] single, Angela's debut album [[Home (Angela Aki album)|Home]] was released. The album's recording finished on the 19th of April, and was released on July the 14th. The album reached an astounding #2 on Oricon charts, selling 120,000 units in it's first week. Interestingly, if the album had been released a week or two before, it would have debuted at #1, this is because of [[Utada Hikaru]]'s release of her long awaited | + | Two weeks after the release of the [[This Love]] single, Angela's debut album [[Home (Angela Aki album)|Home]] was released. The album's recording finished on the 19th of April, and was released on July the 14th. The album reached an astounding #2 on Oricon charts, selling 120,000 units in it's first week. Interestingly, if the album had been released a week or two before, it would have debuted at #1, this is because of [[Utada Hikaru]]'s release of her long awaited fourth album, [[Ultra Blue|ULTRA BLUE]]. |
| − | Angela | + | Angela's next single, [[Sakurairo]], released on March 7th, 2007, is a single commemorating her first Budoukan live (a goal that she had set for herself). Featured on this single is [[On & On]], which was used as the theme song to the 2006 remake of the movie [[Inugami-ke no Ichizoku|Inugami-ke no Ichizoku]]. |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | == | + | ==Setlist Tracks== |
| − | + | [[Image:AngelaAK04.jpg|thumb|280px|Angela Aki during her ONE indies album release]] | |
| − | |||
Angela Aki has held a great number of concerts; though many of the songs that she has played during these concerts have been tracks that do not appear yet on any release of hers. These tracks are: | Angela Aki has held a great number of concerts; though many of the songs that she has played during these concerts have been tracks that do not appear yet on any release of hers. These tracks are: | ||
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: You're Not Coming Back (English; performed 2000) | : You're Not Coming Back (English; performed 2000) | ||
| − | == | + | ==Discography== |
| − | + | [[Image:Angela Beach.jpg|thumb|280px|Angela Aki (2006)]] | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| + | ===Albums=== | ||
* [2000.01.04] [[These Words]] (US Indies) | * [2000.01.04] [[These Words]] (US Indies) | ||
* [2006.06.14] [[Home (Angela Aki album)|Home]] | * [2006.06.14] [[Home (Angela Aki album)|Home]] | ||
| + | * [2007.09.19] [[Today (Angela Aki)|TODAY]] | ||
| + | * [2009.02.25] [[Answer (Angela Aki)|ANSWER]] | ||
| − | === | + | ===Mini-Albums=== |
| − | |||
* [2005.03.09] [[One (Angela Aki)|ONE]] (JP Indies) | * [2005.03.09] [[One (Angela Aki)|ONE]] (JP Indies) | ||
| − | === | + | ===Singles=== |
| − | |||
* [2005.09.14] [[Home (Angela Aki single)|HOME]] | * [2005.09.14] [[Home (Angela Aki single)|HOME]] | ||
* [2006.01.18] [[Kokoro no Senshi]] (心の戦士; ''The Warrior Within'') | * [2006.01.18] [[Kokoro no Senshi]] (心の戦士; ''The Warrior Within'') | ||
* [2006.03.15] [[Kiss Me Good-Bye]] | * [2006.03.15] [[Kiss Me Good-Bye]] | ||
* [2006.05.31] [[This Love]] | * [2006.05.31] [[This Love]] | ||
| − | * [2007.03.07] [[Sakurairo]] (サクラ色; ''[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakura Sakura] Colour'') | + | * [2007.03.07] [[Sakurairo (Angela Aki)|Sakurairo]] (サクラ色; ''[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakura Sakura] Colour'') |
| − | + | * [2007.05.23] [[Kodoku no Kakera]] (孤独のカケラ; ''Fragments of Loneliness'') | |
| − | + | * [2007.07.11] [[Tashika ni]] (たしかに; ''Certainly'') | |
| + | * [2008.09.17] [[Tegami ~Haikei Juugo no Kimi he~]] (手紙 ～拝啓 十五の君へ～; ''Letter ~To 15-year-old You~'') | ||
| + | ===DVD / VHS=== | ||
* [2006.06.21] [[Voices Music from Final Fantasy: Final Fantasy Premium Orchestra Concert|Voices Music from Final Fantasy: Final Fantasy Premium Orchestra Concert]] (Eyes On Me, Kiss Me Good-Bye) | * [2006.06.21] [[Voices Music from Final Fantasy: Final Fantasy Premium Orchestra Concert|Voices Music from Final Fantasy: Final Fantasy Premium Orchestra Concert]] (Eyes On Me, Kiss Me Good-Bye) | ||
| − | * [2007.03.28] [[Angela Aki My Keys 2006 in | + | * [2007.03.28] [[Angela Aki My Keys 2006 in Budoukan|Angela Aki MY KEYS 2006 in Budoukan]] |
| − | + | * [2008.10.01] [[Angela Aki Concert Tour 2007-2008 "Today"|Angela Aki Concert Tour 2007-2008 "TODAY"]] | |
| − | |||
| + | ===Compilation / Other=== | ||
* [2003.06.18] [[SOB-A-MBIENT Music for your favorite soba shop|SOB-A-MBIENT Music for your favorite soba shop]] (Oshinagaki ~Konishi no Osobayasan~ (Konishi Kouyou feat. Angela Aki)) | * [2003.06.18] [[SOB-A-MBIENT Music for your favorite soba shop|SOB-A-MBIENT Music for your favorite soba shop]] (Oshinagaki ~Konishi no Osobayasan~ (Konishi Kouyou feat. Angela Aki)) | ||
* [2003.11.19] [[SOB-A-MBIENT SUPER DELUXE|SOB-A-MBIENT SUPER DELUXE]] (Oshinagaki ~Konishi no Osobayasan~ (Konishi Kouyou feat. Angela Aki)) | * [2003.11.19] [[SOB-A-MBIENT SUPER DELUXE|SOB-A-MBIENT SUPER DELUXE]] (Oshinagaki ~Konishi no Osobayasan~ (Konishi Kouyou feat. Angela Aki)) | ||
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* [2006.12.13] [[Inugami-ke no Ichizoku Original Soundtrack|Inugami-ke no Ichizoku Original Soundtrack]] (#1-47 ''On & On (Soundtrack Version)'') | * [2006.12.13] [[Inugami-ke no Ichizoku Original Soundtrack|Inugami-ke no Ichizoku Original Soundtrack]] (#1-47 ''On & On (Soundtrack Version)'') | ||
| − | == | + | ==Trivia== |
| − | |||
* Angela appeared as an extra in a documentary entitled, ''Doubles: Japan and America's Intercultural Children'' in 1995. | * Angela appeared as an extra in a documentary entitled, ''Doubles: Japan and America's Intercultural Children'' in 1995. | ||
* Angela went to the same high school in Hawaii as [[Shen|Shen]] of [[Def Tech]] did. | * Angela went to the same high school in Hawaii as [[Shen|Shen]] of [[Def Tech]] did. | ||
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* Angela and [[Ito Yuna]] attended the same Japanese language school. | * Angela and [[Ito Yuna]] attended the same Japanese language school. | ||
| − | == | + | ==External Links== |
| − | |||
* [http://www.angela-aki.com Official Website] (Japanese) | * [http://www.angela-aki.com Official Website] (Japanese) | ||
* [http://www.tofurecords.com/artists.php?artistid=angelaaki Official Tofu Records Website] (English) | * [http://www.tofurecords.com/artists.php?artistid=angelaaki Official Tofu Records Website] (English) | ||
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* [http://blog.livedoor.jp/crazy_about_angela/ Crazy About Angela] (Japanese fan blog) | * [http://blog.livedoor.jp/crazy_about_angela/ Crazy About Angela] (Japanese fan blog) | ||
| − | [[Category:Artists]] [[Category:J-Pop]] [[Category:Tofu Records Artists]] [[Category:1977 Births]] [[Category:English Fluent]] | + | [[Category:Artists]] |
| + | [[Category:J-Pop]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Tofu Records Artists]] | ||
| + | [[Category:1977 Births]] | ||
| + | [[Category:English Fluent]] | ||
Revision as of 23:53, 22 April 2009
Angela Aki debuted mid-2005 with the single HOME, despite releasing two indies albums prior to this. Her music is laid back and acoustic, much like Sarah McLachlan. She was picked by Uematsu Nobuo to perform the Final Fantasy XII theme song, entitled Kiss Me Good-Bye.
Click here for information on individual Angela Aki songs (includes lyrics, a translation and PV shots if applicable)
Contents
Profile
- Name: Angela K. Aki (アンジェラ・アキ)
- Official Japanese Name: Aki Angela (安芸アンジェラ)
- Birthday: 1977.09.15
- Birth Place: Tokushima, Shikoku
- Family: Angela has a sister, Kyla Aki, who is one year younger than her and also attended GWU.
- Ethnicity: Half Japanese from her father and half Italian-American from her mother.
- First CD She Bought: Miyazawa Rie's Dream Rush
- Favourite TV Show: sakusaku
- Favourite Food: Tofu
- Most Hated Thing: Mayonnaise
- Favourite Songs to Sing in Karaoke: Georgia on My Mind, Tsugaru Kaikyou Fuyu Geshiki
- Favourite Artists: Alanis Morissette, Ani DiFranco, Ben Folds, Coldplay, Fiona Apple, Janis Ian, Joni Mitchell, Kanye West, Macy Gray, Sarah McLachlan, Shiina Ringo, The Smashing Pumpkins, TLC
Information
Early Life
Angela Aki's heritage is extremely mixed, as her father is Japanese and her mother is half Italian and half American. To add to her already multi-cultural heritage, she was born in Japan and raised in Hawaii, and was a very musical child. She is reported to have shocked her mother when she was very young by humming a tune that her mother had just sung in perfect tune. She began by learning classical piano at three years old, but also learned how to play the violin, guitar later and drums later on. In late 1992 when Angela was 15, she moved away from Japan and set up residence in Hawaii, where she went to high school. Angela won a $2,500US scholarship from her high school (Iolani School) in 1996.
Angela went on to study at George Washington University, Washington, D.C., and combined International Affairs and Jazz Studies as some of her subjects. While studying there, she remained musically active, even being the opening acts for artists such as Ricky Martin, Judy Collins and Sixpence None the Richer. She even performed at Al Gore's Christmas party once. In January 2000, while still there, Angela released an American indies album entitled These Words, which was sung entirely in English. Though this album has become increasingly rare to find, it would most likely to be found in Virginia or Hawaii. She later graduated in May 2000.
Angela held her showcase live at the Luna Park Grille in Arlington, Virginia, on 29 November 2001; and was credited as 'Angela Aki and her band'. Later on in 2001, she also held a live in Washington D.C., and was overheard by a Japanese CM producer called K, who asked her if she were able to sing for a commercial. She accepted, and in early 2002 a cover of Jimmy Scott's song New Day for the Yakult 400 CM.
Japanese Debut
File:Angelasquareenix.jpg
Angela Aki performing 'Kiss Me Good-Bye' (July 2005)
In 2005, Angela started to release music again. She re-debuted in Japan under the indies label Virgo Music, with an indies mini-album entitled ONE. This time, however, it was sung mostly in Japanese and released in the Japanese market. The album reached #2 on the HMV Indies Chart. It is said that this album is what caught Uematsu Nobuo's attention and made him offer for her to perform the theme song for the up and coming Final Fantasy XII game. Angela's appearance as the theme song artist was announced at the Square Enix 2005 Stage Show in late July, 2005. The title was announced as Kiss Me Good-Bye, and was performed solo by Angela at the Stage Show. She was shown singing and playing the piano solo on stage. Angela wrote the lyrics for both versions of this song; the Japanese version for the regional release as well as the English version for the international release. However, Uematsu Nobuo composed the song.
In the last half of in 2005, Angela debuted with her first major single under Sony, entitled HOME (and released one day before her birthday). Despite the single reaching a low position at #38, it charted for a surprisingly long 13 weeks. After the release of this single, nothing was heard from her until late November in which her next single, Kokoro no Senshi, was announced and would be released in late January. Kokoro no Senshi was released as in two pressings; a first press limited edition which came with an exclusive DVD that contained the music video for Kokoro no Senshi as well as the premiere showcase for Final Fantasy XII (backed by Angela Aki singing the English version of Kiss Me Good-Bye). This second single faired much better on Oricon charts; reaching an exceedingly higher position of #13.
Her third single, Kiss Me Good-Bye, was released on March 15, 2006. The single, due to the extreme hype from its Final Fantasy tie-up, debuted at #6 on Oricon charts. This position is higher than previous theme songs', such as Faye Wong's Eyes on Me and Rikki's Suteki da ne, though not as high as Koda Kumi's real Emotion / 1000 no Kotoba.
It was announced on the first of May, 2006 that Angela would be signed to Tofu Records in the US (a firm to expose Japanese Sony artists in the US, mostly featuring on Sony artists that make theme songs for anime). Her first Tofu records release was a modified version of her Kiss Me Good-Bye single released on the 16th of May (it featured Eyes On Me instead of Aoi Kage. This release is to tie in with Angela's feature at the Chicago concert of PLAY! A Video Game Symphony on May the 27th. The day before, Angela will feature at a signing session at the Tower Records N. Clark Store in Chicago.
Despite rumours that Angela's debut album would be released after Kiss Me Good-Bye, it was announced that Angela would release her fourth single, This Love. It replaced Nakashima Mika's single CRY NO MORE as the third ending theme to the anime BLOOD+. The single reached the same level of success as her former single, Kiss Me Good-Bye, by reaching #6 on the charts. When both singles stopped charting, their totals were less than 6,500 difference.
Two weeks after the release of the This Love single, Angela's debut album Home was released. The album's recording finished on the 19th of April, and was released on July the 14th. The album reached an astounding #2 on Oricon charts, selling 120,000 units in it's first week. Interestingly, if the album had been released a week or two before, it would have debuted at #1, this is because of Utada Hikaru's release of her long awaited fourth album, ULTRA BLUE.
Angela's next single, Sakurairo, released on March 7th, 2007, is a single commemorating her first Budoukan live (a goal that she had set for herself). Featured on this single is On & On, which was used as the theme song to the 2006 remake of the movie Inugami-ke no Ichizoku.
Setlist Tracks
Angela Aki has held a great number of concerts; though many of the songs that she has played during these concerts have been tracks that do not appear yet on any release of hers. These tracks are:
- 32 Flavors (Ani DiFranco cover)
- Ai no Hana (愛の花; A Flower of Love)
- Angel (Sarah McLachlan cover)
- Black Bird (The Beatles cover)
- Christmas Song
- Constantly (English; performed 2000)
- Dragonflies (English; performed 2000)
- Dream
- Feels Like Angels (English; performed 2000)
- Higher (English; performed 2000)
- Ichido Dake (一度だけ; Only Once)
- Let's Get Naked (English; performed 2000)
- Like a Virgin (Madonna cover)
- Livin' on a Prayer (Bon Jovi cover)
- Louisiana 1927 (Randy Newman cover)
- Kirei na Uso (きれいな嘘; A Beautiful Lie)
- Nakeba Ii (泣けばいい; It's Okay to Cry)
- New Day (2002 CM song)
- Not fine
- Ocean's Blue (English; performed 2000)
- Parting Gift (Fiona Apple cover)
- Perfect Day (English; performed 2000)
- Pick Me Up (English; performed March 2002)
- Poughkeepsie
- Say Goodbye (Eva Cassidy cover)
- Soul For Sale
- Teach the Boy a Lesson (English; performed 2000)
- Train-Train (The Blue Hearts cover)
- When the Lights are Low
- White Lie
- Yah Yah Yah (CHAGE&ASKA cover)
- You're Not Coming Back (English; performed 2000)
Discography
Albums
- [2000.01.04] These Words (US Indies)
- [2006.06.14] Home
- [2007.09.19] TODAY
- [2009.02.25] ANSWER
Mini-Albums
- [2005.03.09] ONE (JP Indies)
Singles
- [2005.09.14] HOME
- [2006.01.18] Kokoro no Senshi (心の戦士; The Warrior Within)
- [2006.03.15] Kiss Me Good-Bye
- [2006.05.31] This Love
- [2007.03.07] Sakurairo (サクラ色; Sakura Colour)
- [2007.05.23] Kodoku no Kakera (孤独のカケラ; Fragments of Loneliness)
- [2007.07.11] Tashika ni (たしかに; Certainly)
- [2008.09.17] Tegami ~Haikei Juugo no Kimi he~ (手紙 ～拝啓 十五の君へ～; Letter ~To 15-year-old You~)
DVD / VHS
- [2006.06.21] Voices Music from Final Fantasy: Final Fantasy Premium Orchestra Concert (Eyes On Me, Kiss Me Good-Bye)
- [2007.03.28] Angela Aki MY KEYS 2006 in Budoukan
- [2008.10.01] Angela Aki Concert Tour 2007-2008 "TODAY"
Compilation / Other
- [2003.06.18] SOB-A-MBIENT Music for your favorite soba shop (Oshinagaki ~Konishi no Osobayasan~ (Konishi Kouyou feat. Angela Aki))
- [2003.11.19] SOB-A-MBIENT SUPER DELUXE (Oshinagaki ~Konishi no Osobayasan~ (Konishi Kouyou feat. Angela Aki))
- [2006.05.10] Yusa Mimori - "Kyuuka Koya" (#8 Fuyu no Hi no W. (冬の日のＷ.; "Wishing "W" in the Winter Sky"))
- [2006.05.31] FINAL FANTASY XII Original Soundtrack (ファイナルファンタジーXII オリジナル・サウンドトラック) (Kiss Me Good-Bye (featured in FINAL FANTASY XII))
- [2006.12.13] Inugami-ke no Ichizoku Original Soundtrack (#1-47 On & On (Soundtrack Version))
Trivia
- Angela appeared as an extra in a documentary entitled, Doubles: Japan and America's Intercultural Children in 1995.
- Angela went to the same high school in Hawaii as Shen of Def Tech did.
- Angela's sister Kyla is also a good pianist, and also was in the same a cappella group as her.
- Angela and Ito Yuna attended the same Japanese language school.
External Links
- Official Website (Japanese)
- Official Tofu Records Website (English)
- Angela's Exblog Blog (Current) (Japanese)
- Angela's Livedoor Blog (Former) (Japanese)
- Angela Aki @ Japanese Wikipedia
- Oricon Profile
- Angela_Aki Livejournal Community
- Mista Bone JP (Japanese fansite)
- Connection (Japanese fansite)
- Crazy About Angela (Japanese fan blog)
