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[[Image:angela2009.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Angela Aki]]
[[Image:angela2009.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Angela Aki]]
 
<div align="justify">
'''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 [[wikipedia:Sarah McLachlan|Sarah McLachlan]]. She was picked by [[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)
 


==Profile==
==Profile==
Line 13: Line 10:
* '''Family:''' Angela has a sister, Kyla Aki, who is one year younger than her and also attended GWU.
* '''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.
* '''Ethnicity:''' Half Japanese from her father and half Italian-American from her mother.
* '''First CD She Bought:''' [[Miyazawa Rie|Miyazawa Rie]]'s [[Dream Rush|Dream Rush]]
* '''First CD She Bought:''' [[Miyazawa Rie]]'s [[Dream Rush]]
* '''Favourite TV Show:''' [[sakusaku|sakusaku]]
* '''Favourite TV Show:''' [[sakusaku]]
* '''Favourite Food:''' Tofu
* '''Favourite Food:''' Tofu
* '''Most Hated Thing:''' Mayonnaise
* '''Most Hated Thing:''' Mayonnaise
* '''Favourite Songs to Sing in Karaoke:''' [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_on_My_Mind Georgia on My Mind], [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/津軽海峡冬景色 Tsugaru Kaikyou Fuyu Geshiki]
* '''Favourite Songs to Sing in Karaoke:''' [[wikipedia:Georgia on My Mind|Georgia on My Mind]], [[Fuyu Geshiki]]
* '''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:''' [[wikipedia:Alanis Morissette|Alanis Morissette]], [[wikipedia:Ani Difranco|Ani DiFranco]], [[wikipedia:Ben Folds|Ben Folds]], [[wikipedia:Coldplay|Coldplay]], [[wikipedia:Fiona Apple|Fiona Apple]], [[wikipedia:Janis Ian|Janis Ian]], [[wikipedia:Joni Mitchell|Joni Mitchell]], [[wikipedia:Kanye West|Kanye West]], [[wikipedia:Macy Gray|Macy Gray]], [[wikipedia:Sarah McLachlan|Sarah McLachlan]], [[Shiina Ringo]], [[wikipedia:The Smashing Pumpkins|The Smashing Pumpkins]], [[wikipedia:TLC (music)|TLC]]


==Information==
==Information==
 
<div align="justify">
===Early Life===
===Early Life===
 
[[Image:Angela Theseword2000.jpg|thumb|230px|Angela Aki as shown on her original official site]]
[[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.


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 [[wikipedia: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 [[wikipedia:Ricky Martin|Ricky Martin]], [[wikipedia:Judy Collins|Judy Collins]] and [[wikipedia:Sixpence None the Richer|Sixpence None the Richer]]. She even performed at [[wikipedia: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 [[wikipedia:Jimmy Scott|Jimmy Scott]'s song [[New Day]] for the [[Yakult 400]] [[CM]].


===Japanese Debut===
===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]], 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]]'s attention and made him offer for her to perform the theme song for the up and coming [[wikipedia:Final Fantasy XII|Final Fantasy XII]] game. Angela's appearance as the theme song artist was announced at the [[wikipedia:Square Enix|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.
 
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 [[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.
In the last half of in 2005, Angela debuted with her first major single under [[Sony Music Entertainment|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 [[wikipedia:Final Fantasy XII|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.


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.
[[Image:Angela ThisLove.jpg|thumb|left|230px|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 [[Suteki da ne]], though not as high as [[Koda Kumi]]'s [[Real Emotion / 1000 no Kotoba|real Emotion / 1000 no Kotoba]].


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]].
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 Music Entertainment|Sony]] artists in the US, mostly featuring on Sony artists that make theme songs for [[Anime|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]] on May 27th. The day before, Angela will feature at a signing session at the [[Tower Records]] N. Clark Store in Chicago.


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]].
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+]]. 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 fourth album, [[Ultra Blue|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==
==Setlist Tracks==
[[Image:AngelaAK04.jpg|thumb|280px|Angela Aki during her ONE indies album release]]
[[Image:AngelaAK04.jpg|thumb|230px|Angela Aki during her [[One (Angela Aki)|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:


: 32 Flavors ([http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ani_DiFranco Ani DiFranco] cover)
: 32 Flavors ([[wikipedia:Ani DiFranco|Ani DiFranco]] cover)
: Ai no Hana (愛の花; ''A Flower of Love'')
: Ai no Hana (愛の花; ''A Flower of Love'')
: Angel ([http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_McLachlan Sarah McLachlan] cover)
: Angel ([[wikipedia:Sarah McLachlan|Sarah McLachlan]] cover)
: Black Bird ([http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles The Beatles] cover)
: Black Bird ([[wikipedia:The Beatles|The Beatles]] cover)
: Christmas Song
: Christmas Song
: Constantly (English; performed 2000)
: Constantly (English; performed 2000)
Line 70: Line 60:
: Ichido Dake (一度だけ; ''Only Once'')
: Ichido Dake (一度だけ; ''Only Once'')
: Let's Get Naked (English; performed 2000)
: Let's Get Naked (English; performed 2000)
: Like a Virgin ([http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_(entertainer) Madonna] cover)
: Like a Virgin ([[wikipedia:Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] cover)
: Livin' on a Prayer ([http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon_Jovi Bon Jovi] cover)
: Livin' on a Prayer ([[wikipedia:Bon Jovi|Bon Jovi]] cover)
: Louisiana 1927 ([http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Newman Randy Newman] cover)
: Louisiana 1927 ([[wikipedia:Randy Newman|Randy Newman]] cover)
: Kirei na Uso (きれいな嘘; ''A Beautiful Lie'')
: Kirei na Uso (きれいな嘘; ''A Beautiful Lie'')
: Nakeba Ii (泣けばいい; ''It's Okay to Cry'')
: Nakeba Ii (泣けばいい; ''It's Okay to Cry'')
Line 78: Line 68:
: Not fine
: Not fine
: Ocean's Blue (English; performed 2000)
: Ocean's Blue (English; performed 2000)
: Parting Gift ([http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiona_Apple Fiona Apple] cover)
: Parting Gift ([[wikipedia:Fiona Apple|Fiona Apple]] cover)
: Perfect Day (English; performed 2000)
: Perfect Day (English; performed 2000)
: Pick Me Up (English; performed March 2002)
: Pick Me Up (English; performed March 2002)
: Poughkeepsie
: Poughkeepsie
: Say Goodbye ([http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eva_Cassidy Eva Cassidy] cover)
: Say Goodbye ([[wikipedia:Eva Cassidy|Eva Cassidy]] cover)
: Soul For Sale
: Soul For Sale
: Teach the Boy a Lesson (English; performed 2000)
: Teach the Boy a Lesson (English; performed 2000)
Line 88: Line 78:
: When the Lights are Low
: When the Lights are Low
: White Lie
: White Lie
: Yah Yah Yah ([[CHAGE&ASKA|CHAGE&ASKA]] cover)
: Yah Yah Yah ([[CHAGE & ASKA]] cover)
: You're Not Coming Back (English; performed 2000)
: You're Not Coming Back (English; performed 2000)


Line 108: Line 98:
* [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 (Angela Aki)|Sakurairo]] (サクラ色; ''[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakura Sakura] Colour'')
* [2007.03.07] [[Sakurairo (Angela Aki)|Sakurairo]] (サクラ色; ''[[wikipedia:Sakura Sakura] Colour'')
* [2007.05.23] [[Kodoku no Kakera]] (孤独のカケラ; ''Fragments of Loneliness'')
* [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'')
* [2007.07.11] [[Tashika ni]] (たしかに; ''Certainly'')
Line 119: Line 109:


===Compilation / Other===
===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'''))
* [2006.05.10] [[Yusa Mimori|Yusa Mimori]] - "[[Kyuuka Koya|Kyuuka Koya]]" (#8 ''Fuyu no Hi no W. (冬の日のW.; "Wishing "W" in the Winter Sky")'')
* [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|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))
* [2006.05.31] [[Final Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack|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|Inugami-ke no Ichizoku Original Soundtrack]] (#1-47 ''On & On (Soundtrack Version)'')
* [2006.12.13] [[Inugami-ke no Ichizoku Original Soundtrack]] (#1-47 ''On & On (Soundtrack Version)'')


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
Line 136: Line 126:
* [http://angelaaki.exblog.jp/ Angela's Exblog Blog (Current)] (Japanese)
* [http://angelaaki.exblog.jp/ Angela's Exblog Blog (Current)] (Japanese)
* [http://blog.livedoor.jp/angelaaki/ Angela's Livedoor Blog (Former)] (Japanese)
* [http://blog.livedoor.jp/angelaaki/ Angela's Livedoor Blog (Former)] (Japanese)
* [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/アンジェラ・アキ Angela Aki @ Japanese Wikipedia]
* [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/アンジェラ・アキ­ Angela Aki @ Japanese Wikipedia]
* [http://www.oricon.co.jp/artists/364306/ Oricon Profile]
* [http://www.oricon.co.jp/artists/364306/ Oricon Profile]
* [http://community.livejournal.com/angela_aki/profile Angela_Aki Livejournal Community]
* [http://community.livejournal.com/angela_aki/profile Angela_Aki Livejournal Community]

Revision as of 12:39, 23 June 2009

Angela Aki

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.

Profile

Information

Early Life

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 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 [[wikipedia:Jimmy Scott|Jimmy Scott]'s song New Day for the Yakult 400 CM.

Japanese Debut

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.

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 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 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 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:

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

Angela Aki (2006)

Albums

Mini-Albums

  • [2005.03.09] ONE (JP Indies)

Singles

DVD / VHS

Compilation / Other

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