generasia:Featured article for 2018 week 25
Fairies
Fairies (フェアリーズ) is a Japanese pop idol group under the Vision Factory agency and the SONIC GROOVE sub-label under avex. They formed in 2011 with hopes of becoming big like Amuro Namie and SPEED who share the same agency. Their concept was "a world class talented group that is able to compete overseas." Members were chosen from 100 candidates who were attending dance schools affiliated with Vision Factory, coming from 13 regions of Japan. The group name was open for suggestions from the public through a special corner in Nippon TV program Sukkiri!!, and "Fairies" was chosen with the explanation that their dancing form resembled a group of fairies fluttering. Later that year, they made their musical debut with the single "More Kiss / Song for You".
At the 53rd Japan Record Awards on December 30, 2011, Fairies were named the best newcomer of the year, receiving the "Best New Artist" award. Among other nominees, they beat 2NE1 and Super Girls. At the time of receiving the award, Fairies' average age of 13.6 was the lowest for this award, a record shared with the 2007 winner of the award, °C-ute.
Their second studio album JUKEBOX is released this week on June 20th.
