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Difference between revisions of "Hirahara Ayaka"

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'''Hirahara Ayaka''' (平原綾香) is a Japanese musician signed to [[Dreamusic]]. In late 2003 she shot to fame with her debut single [[Jupiter (Hirahara Ayaka)|Jupiter]], which was a cover of [[Wikipedia:Gustav Holst|Gustav Holst]]'s 1916 orchestral suite [[Wikipedia:The_Planets The Planets]]' "Jupiter" movement. Hirahara is also known for her songs [[Ashita (Hirahara Ayaka)|Ashita]] (drama [[Yasashii Jikan]]'s theme song) and [[Chikai (Hirahara Ayaka)|Chikai]] (the NHK broadcast of the [[Wikipedia:2006 Winter Olympics}Torino Winter Olympics]]' theme song). Her older sister [[aika]] debuted under [[Toshiba EMI]] in 2006.
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'''Hirahara Ayaka''' (平原綾香) is a Japanese musician signed to [[Dreamusic]]. In late 2003 she shot to fame with her debut single [[Jupiter (Hirahara Ayaka)|Jupiter]], which was a cover of [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Holst Gustav Holst]'s 1916 orchestral suite [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Planets The Planets]' "Jupiter" movement. Hirahara is also known for her songs [[Ashita (Hirahara Ayaka)|Ashita]] (drama [[index.php?title=Yasashii Jikan|Yasashii Jikan]]'s theme song) and [[Chikai (Hirahara Ayaka)|Chikai]] (the NHK broadcast of the [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Winter_Olympics Torino Winter Olympics]' theme song). Her older sister [[index.php?title=aika|aika]] debuted under [[Toshiba EMI]] in 2006.
 
  
 
===From Wiki.theppn===
 
===From Wiki.theppn===
 +
==Profile==
 +
* '''Name''': Hirahara Ayaka (平原綾香)
 +
* '''Nickname'''>: A-ya (あーや)
 +
* '''Birthdate''': 1984.05.09
 +
* '''Birthplace''': [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]
 +
* '''[[Blood Type]]''': A
 +
* '''Likes''': Talking with interesting people, spa, black tea
 +
* '''Special Skills''': Dog breeding, Swimming butterfly-style
 +
* '''Favorite Movies''': Forrest Gump, Howl's Moving Castle, Monsters Inc., other Studio Ghibli works
 +
* '''Favorite Countries to Visit'': Egypt, France
 +
* '''Dislikes''': Pakuchii, Pineapple
  
 +
==Information==
  
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==<span class="mw-headline">Profile</span>==
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[[Image:Hirahara Jupitprom.jpg|thumb|200px|Hirahara Ayaka promoting Jupiter (2003)]]
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Hirahara Ayaka comes from a background rooted in jazz. Her father, [[Hirahara Makoto|Hirahara Makoto]] (平原まこと), is a saxophone player who has performed and recorded with artists such as [[B'z]], [[Spitz]], [[Sada Masashi]], and her grandfather [[Hirahara Tsutomu|Hirahara Tsutomu]] (平原勉) is a trumpet player. Hirahara started ballet when she was six, and also started learning alt sax when she was 13. During her middle-school days at the [[Senzoku Gakuen]] school in [[Wikipedia:Kawasaki, Kanagawa|Kawasaki, Kanagawa]], she was elected as the President of the Student Council.
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* '''Name'''<nowiki>: Hirahara Ayaka (平原綾香) </nowiki>
 
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* '''Nickname'''<nowiki>: A-ya (あーや) </nowiki>
 
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* '''Birthdate'''<nowiki>: 1984.05.09 </nowiki>
 
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* '''Birthplace'''<nowiki>: </nowiki>[[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]
 
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* '''[[Blood Type]]'''<nowiki>: A </nowiki>
 
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* '''Likes'''<nowiki>: Talking with interesting people, spa, black tea </nowiki>
 
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* '''Special Skills'''<nowiki>: Dog breeding, Swimming butterfly-style </nowiki>
 
−
* '''Favorite Movies'''<nowiki>: Forrest Gump, Howl's Moving Castle, Monsters Inc., other Studio Ghibli works </nowiki>
 
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* '''Favorite Countries to Visit'''<nowiki>: Egypt, France </nowiki>
 
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* '''Dislikes'''<nowiki>: Pakuchii, Pineapple </nowiki>
 
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==<span class="mw-headline">Information</span>==
 
−
 
 
−
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 202px">[[Image:Hirahara Jupitprom.jpg|[[Image:200px-Hirahara_Jupitprom.jpg|200px|Hirahara Ayaka promoting Jupiter (2003)]]]]<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify">[[Image:Hirahara Jupitprom.jpg|[[Image:magnify-clip.png]]]]</div>Hirahara Ayaka promoting [[Jupiter (Hirahara Ayaka)|Jupiter]] (2003)</div></div></div><div align="justify">
 
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Hirahara Ayaka comes from a background rooted in jazz. Her father, [[index.php?title=Hirahara Makoto|Hirahara Makoto]] (平原まこと), is a saxophone player who has performed and recorded with artists such as [[B'z]], [[Spitz]], [[Sada Masashi]], and her grandfather [[index.php?title=Hirahara Tsutomu|Hirahara Tsutomu]] (平原勉) is a trumpet player. Hirahara started ballet when she was six, and also started learning alt sax when she was 13. During her middle-school days at the [[index.php?title=Senzoku Gakuen|Senzoku Gakuen]] school in [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawasaki,_Kanagawa Kawasaki, Kanagawa], she was elected as the President of the Student Council.
 
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In December 2003, Hirahara would debut with the long-selling major hit single [[Jupiter (Hirahara Ayaka)|Jupiter]]. Jupiter was a cover of the Jupiter movement in [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Holst Gustav Holst]'s 1916 orchestral suite [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Planets The Planets], which was set to Japanese lyrics. The single debuted at #19 in its first week, however the song would gain in popularity immensely as it was used as the CM song for the public service announcement urging help for donations to help the residents of Niigata after they had been struck by the [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Chuetsu_earthquake 2004 Chuetsu earthquake], as well as Hirahara appearing at that year's New Years [[Kouhaku]] variety concert. In its second week it would jump to #8, and in its third would jump even higher to #3. At its peak, the single would sell 82,190 copies in one week and would reach the #2 position. In fact, the single would spend an impressive 17 weeks in the top 10 (three in 2005 after being chosen as an insert song for the 7th series of the drama [[index.php?title=3-Nen B-Gumi Kinpachi Sensei|3-Nen B-Gumi Kinpachi Sensei]]). The single would become the #3 single of 2004 after selling 675,807 copies in that year. Also, interestingly, it would be the #42 single of 2005 after selling 214,098 copies in that year as well (bringing the grand total to 889,905).
 
−
 
 
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<div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px">[[Image:Hirahara Yottsupromo.jpg|[[Image:180px-Hirahara_Yottsupromo.jpg|180px|Hirahara Ayaka promoting 4tsu no L (2006)]]]]<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify">[[Image:Hirahara Yottsupromo.jpg|[[Image:magnify-clip.png]]]]</div>Hirahara Ayaka promoting [[4tsu no L]] (2006)</div></div></div>
 
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Three months after Jupiter's initial release, Hirahara would release her debut album [[Odyssey|ODYSSEY]]. It would experience similar popularity to Jupiter, debuting at #2 on the charts. On the same day, Hirahara's second single [[Ashita (Hirahara Ayaka)|Ashita]] would be released (though only a limited edition release). While reasonably popular, Ashita would not experience the mega-popularity of her debut single (only reaching #19 on Oricon). The following year would see four more single releases; [[Kimi to Iru Jikan no Naka de]] ([[Toyota]] [[Wish]] CM), [[Niji no Yokan]] ([[index.php?title=NTT Docomo|NTT Docomo]] cellphone, [[Blessing Shukufuku|BLESSING Shukufuku]] (also the [[Toyota]] [[Wish]] CM) and [[Hello Again, JoJo]] ([[Minna no Uta]] animation song). These singles would fare even less well than Ashita, with the highest being [[Blessing Shukufuku|BLESSING Shukufuku]] at #14 and the lowest being [[Hello Again, JoJo]] at #161 (all others debuted within the top #30). Hello Again, JoJo's unpopularity was mostly stemmed from it being released on the same day as Hirahara's second album, [[The Voice]]. At the 2004 [[index.php?title=Japan Record Awards|Japan Record Awards]], Hirahara won the newcomer award (alongside such artists as [[Otsuka Ai]]).
 
−
 
 
−
In 2005, interestingly [[Ashita (Hirahara Ayaka)|Ashita]] would be re-released and used as the theme song to the drama [[index.php?title=Yasashii Jikan|Yasashii Jikan]] (and would fare better on the charts than the original release, reaching #16). In between then and during the release of her next single ([[Eternally (Hirahara Ayaka)|Eternally]] (movie [[index.php?title=Yokka Kan no Kiseki|Yokka Kan no Kiseki]] theme song)), Hirahara would hold her first tour, a massive 35-date tour across the entire country.
 
  
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<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 202px">[[Image:Hirahara Ayaka.jpg|[[Image:200px-Hirahara_Ayaka.jpg|200px|Hirahara Ayaka promoting Chikai (2006)]]]]<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify">[[Image:Hirahara Ayaka.jpg|[[Image:magnify-clip.png]]]]</div>Hirahara Ayaka promoting [[Chikai]] (2006)</div></div></div>
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In December 2003, Hirahara would debut with the long-selling major hit single [[Jupiter (Hirahara Ayaka)|Jupiter]]. Jupiter was a cover of the Jupiter movement in [[Wikipedia:Gustav Holst|Gustav Holst]]'s 1916 orchestral suite [[Wikipedia:The Planets|The Planets]], which was set to Japanese lyrics. The single debuted at #19 in its first week, however the song would gain in popularity immensely as it was used as the CM song for the public service announcement urging help for donations to help the residents of Niigata after they had been struck by the [[Wikipedia:2004 Chuetsu earthquake 2004|Chuetsu earthquake], as well as Hirahara appearing at that year's New Years [[Kouhaku]] variety concert. In its second week it would jump to #8, and in its third would jump even higher to #3. At its peak, the single would sell 82,190 copies in one week and would reach the #2 position. In fact, the single would spend an impressive 17 weeks in the top 10 (three in 2005 after being chosen as an insert song for the 7th series of the drama [[3-Nen B-Gumi Kinpachi Sensei]]). The single would become the #3 single of 2004 after selling 675,807 copies in that year. Also, interestingly, it would be the #42 single of 2005 after selling 214,098 copies in that year as well (bringing the grand total to 889,905).
  
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Hirahara's next step would to be to release an album of covers songs, lead by the single [[Banka (Hitori no Kisetsu) / Inochi no Namae]]. Inochi no Namae was in fact a cover of [[index.php?title=Kimura Yumi|Kimura Yumi]]'s insert song for the internationally successful movie [[index.php?title=Spirited Away|Spirited Away]]. This album would see Hirahara covering such artists as [[Fukuyama Masaharu]] and [[Southern All Stars]].
+
[[Image:Hirahara_Yottsupromo.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Hirahara Ayaka promoting 4tsu no L (2006)]]
  
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In preparation for a fourth album's release, Hirahara released a 9th single, [[Chikai (Hirahara Ayaka)|Chikai]] (used as the NHK broadcast of the [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Winter_Olympics Torino Winter Olympics]' theme song) which would experience some long-term popularity (outselling most of her other singles but peaking at #14) until the release of the album, [[4tsu no L]]. The rest of 2006 saw sporadic releases, with a 10th single in September ([[Voyagers / Kokoro]], with Kokoro being a self-cover of the song [[index.php?title=Will (Hirahara Ayaka)|WILL]] from 4tsu no L) and in November her 11th, the ballad [[Christmas List|CHRISTMAS LIST]].
+
Three months after Jupiter's initial release, Hirahara would release her debut album [[Odyssey|ODYSSEY]]. It would experience similar popularity to Jupiter, debuting at #2 on the charts. On the same day, Hirahara's second single [[Ashita (Hirahara Ayaka)|Ashita]] would be released (though only a limited edition release). While reasonably popular, Ashita would not experience the mega-popularity of her debut single (only reaching #19 on Oricon). The following year would see four more single releases; [[Kimi to Iru Jikan no Naka de]] ([[Toyota]] [[Wish]] CM), [[Niji no Yokan]] ([[NTT Docomo]] cellphone, [[Blessing Shukufuku|BLESSING Shukufuku]] (also the [[Toyota]] [[Wish]] CM) and [[Hello Again, JoJo]] ([[Minna no Uta]] animation song). These singles would fare even less well than Ashita, with the highest being [[Blessing Shukufuku|BLESSING Shukufuku]] at #14 and the lowest being [[Hello Again, JoJo]] at #161 (all others debuted within the top #30). Hello Again, JoJo's unpopularity was mostly stemmed from it being released on the same day as Hirahara's second album, [[The Voice]]. At the 2004 [[Japan Record Awards]], Hirahara won the newcomer award (alongside such artists as [[Otsuka Ai]]).
  
−
At the start of 2007, Hirahara released her fifth album, [[Sora (Hirahara Ayaka)|Sora]]. The album had the theme of a global sense (by having composers from six different countries from around the world). Also the album tries to connect back with Hirahara's debut, by having not only a classical piece covered (Siciliana by Italian composer [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottorino_Respighi Ottorino Respighi]) and a song composed by the same people who wrote Ashita.
+
In 2005, interestingly [[Ashita (Hirahara Ayaka)|Ashita]] would be re-released and used as the theme song to the drama [[Yasashii Jikan]] (and would fare better on the charts than the original release, reaching #16). In between then and during the release of her next single ([[Eternally (Hirahara Ayaka)|Eternally]] (movie [[Yokka Kan no Kiseki]] theme song)), Hirahara would hold her first tour, a massive 35-date tour across the entire country.
  
−
</div>
+
[[Image:Hirahara_Ayaka.jpg|thumb|200px|Hirahara Ayaka promoting Chikai (2006)]]
  
−
==<span class="mw-headline">Discography</span>==
+
Hirahara's next step would to be to release an album of covers songs, lead by the single [[Banka (Hitori no Kisetsu) / Inochi no Namae]]. Inochi no Namae was in fact a cover of [[Kimura Yumi|Kimura Yumi]]'s insert song for the internationally successful movie [[Spirited Away|Spirited Away]]. This album would see Hirahara covering such artists as [[Fukuyama Masaharu]] and [[Southern All Stars]].
  
−
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 252px">[[Image:Hira Soraprom.jpg|[[Image:250px-Hira_Soraprom.jpg|250px|Hirahara promoting Sora (2007)]]]]<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify">[[Image:Hira Soraprom.jpg|[[Image:magnify-clip.png]]]]</div>Hirahara promoting [[Sora (Hirahara Ayaka)|Sora]] (2007)</div></div></div><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 252px">[[Image:KodokunoMukoupromo.jpg|[[Image:250px-KodokunoMukoupromo.jpg|250px|Hirahara promoting Kodoku no Mukou (2008)]]]]<div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify">[[Image:KodokunoMukoupromo.jpg|[[Image:magnify-clip.png]]]]</div>Hirahara promoting [[Kodoku no Mukou]] (2008)</div></div></div>
+
In preparation for a fourth album's release, Hirahara released a 9th single, [[Chikai (Hirahara Ayaka)|Chikai]] (used as the NHK broadcast of the [[Wikipedia:2006 Winter Olympics|Torino Winter Olympics]]' theme song) which would experience some long-term popularity (outselling most of her other singles but peaking at #14) until the release of the album, [[4tsu no L]]. The rest of 2006 saw sporadic releases, with a 10th single in September ([[Voyagers / Kokoro]], with Kokoro being a self-cover of the song [[Will (Hirahara Ayaka)|WILL]] from 4tsu no L) and in November her 11th, the ballad [[Christmas List|CHRISTMAS LIST]].
  
−
===<span class="mw-headline">Studio Albums</span>===
+
At the start of 2007, Hirahara released her fifth album, [[Sora (Hirahara Ayaka)|Sora]]. The album had the theme of a global sense (by having composers from six different countries from around the world). Also the album tries to connect back with Hirahara's debut, by having not only a classical piece covered (Siciliana by Italian composer [[Wikipedia:Ottorino Respighi|Ottorino Respighi]]) and a song composed by the same people who wrote Ashita.
  
 +
==Discography==
 +
[[Image:Hira Soraprom.jpg|thumb|250px|Hirahara promoting Sora (2007)]]
 +
[[Image:KodokunoMukoupromo.jpg|thumb|250px|Hirahara promoting Kodoku no Mukou (2008)]]
 +
===Studio Albums===
 
* [2004.02.18] [[Odyssey|ODYSSEY]]
 
* [2004.02.18] [[Odyssey|ODYSSEY]]
 
* [2004.11.25] [[The Voice (Hirahara Ayaka)|The Voice]]
 
* [2004.11.25] [[The Voice (Hirahara Ayaka)|The Voice]]
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* [2008.12.03] [[Path of Independence]]
 
* [2008.12.03] [[Path of Independence]]
  
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===<span class="mw-headline">Other Albums</span>===
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===Other Albums===
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* [2005.11.02] [[From to|From To]] (Cover Album)
 
* [2005.11.02] [[From to|From To]] (Cover Album)
 
* [2008.02.13] [[Jupiter ~Hirahara Ayaka Best~]] (Jupiter～平原綾香ベスト～) (Best Album)
 
* [2008.02.13] [[Jupiter ~Hirahara Ayaka Best~]] (Jupiter～平原綾香ベスト～) (Best Album)
  
−
===<span class="mw-headline">Singles</span>===
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===Singles===
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* [2003.12.17] [[Jupiter (Hirahara Ayaka)|Jupiter]]
 
* [2003.12.17] [[Jupiter (Hirahara Ayaka)|Jupiter]]
 
* [2004.02.18] [[Ashita (Hirahara Ayaka)|Ashita]] (明日; ''Tomorrow'')
 
* [2004.02.18] [[Ashita (Hirahara Ayaka)|Ashita]] (明日; ''Tomorrow'')
Line 81: Line 70:
 
* [2009.05.27] [[Shinsekai]] (新世界; ''New World'')
 
* [2009.05.27] [[Shinsekai]] (新世界; ''New World'')
  
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===<span class="mw-headline">DVDs</span>===
+
===DVDs===
 +
* [2005.02.23] [[Dreamovies Ayaka Hirahara Music Video Collection Vol.1|DREAMOVIES ayaka hirahara music video collection Vol.1]]
 +
* [2006.11.15] [[Live Tour 2006 "Yottsu no L" at Nippon Budokan]] (LIVE TOUR 2006 "4つのL"at日本武道館)
 +
* [2007.01.31] [[Dreamovies 2 Ayaka Hirahara Music Video Collection Vol.2|DREAMOVIES 2 ayaka hirahara music video collection Vol.2]]
 +
* [2007.07.18] [[Phoenix Fireworks 2006|PHOENIX fireworks 2006]]
 +
* [2008.02.13] [[Concert Tour 2007: Sora At Kokusai Forum]] (そら At 国際フォーラム; '''Sky' at International Forum'')
  
−
* [2005.02.23] [[index.php?title=Dreamovies Ayaka Hirahara Music Video Collection Vol.1|DREAMOVIES ayaka hirahara music video collection Vol.1]]
+
===Compilations / Other===
−
* [2006.11.15] [[index.php?title=Live Tour 2006 "Yottsu no L" at Nippon Budokan|Live Tour 2006 "Yottsu no L" at Nippon Budokan]] (LIVE TOUR 2006 "4つのL"at日本武道館)
+
* [2004.11.10] [[Yosui Tribute|YOSUI TRIBUTE]] (#3 ''Kokoro Moyou'') (心もよう)
−
* [2007.01.31] [[index.php?title=Dreamovies 2 Ayaka Hirahara Music Video Collection Vol.2|DREAMOVIES 2 ayaka hirahara music video collection Vol.2]]
+
* [2006.01.01] [[Muse' ~Dreamusic Female Vocal Collection~|MUSE' ~DREAMUSIC Female Vocal Collection~]] (#1 ''Jupiter''; #8 ''Ano Michi de'')
−
* [2007.07.18] [[index.php?title=Phoenix Fireworks 2006|PHOENIX fireworks 2006]]
+
* [2006.05.31] [[Okami Original Soundtrack]] (Disc 4 #31 ''Reset'')
−
* [2008.02.13] [[index.php?title=Concert Tour 2007: Sora at Kokusai Forum|Concert Tour 2007: Sora At Kokusai Forum]] (そら At 国際フォーラム; '''Sky' at International Forum'')
+
* [2006.08.04] [[Saiunkoku Monogatari Original Soundtrack 1]] (#1 ''Hajimari no Kaze (On Air Ver.)'')  
−
 
+
* [2006.10.18] [[Best! Sesame Street]] (#25 ''I will be with you ~Ending Theme~ (Full Version)'')
−
===<span class="mw-headline">Compilations / Other</span>===
+
* [2006.10.25] [[Sad Songs]] (#15 ''The Voice ~ "Jupiter"'')
−
 
+
* [2006.11.22] [[Shimaken Super Sessions]] (#3 ''BLACK COFFEE featuring AYAKA HIRAHARA'')
−
* [2004.11.10] [[index.php?title=Yosui Tribute|YOSUI TRIBUTE]] (#3 ''Kokoro Moyou'') (心もよう)
 
−
* [2006.01.01] [[index.php?title=Muse' ~Dreamusic Female Vocal Collection~|MUSE' ~DREAMUSIC Female Vocal Collection~]] (#1 ''Jupiter''<nowiki>; #8 </nowiki>''Ano Michi de'') (あの道で)
 
−
* [2006.05.31] [[index.php?title=Okami Original Soundtrack|Okami Original Soundtrack]] (Disc 4 #31 ''Reset'')
 
−
* [2006.08.04] [[index.php?title=Saiunkoku Monogatari Original Soundtrack 1|Saiunkoku Monogatari Original Soundtrack 1]] (#1 ''Hajimari no Kaze (On Air Ver.)'') (はじまりの風)
 
−
* [2006.10.18] [[index.php?title=Best! Sesame Street|Best! Sesame Street]] (#25 ''I will be with you ~Ending Theme~ (Full Version)'')
 
−
* [2006.10.25] [[index.php?title=Sad Songs|Sad Songs]] (#15 ''The Voice ~ "Jupiter"'')
 
−
* [2006.11.22] [[index.php?title=Shimaken Super Sessions|Shimaken Super Sessions]] (#3 ''BLACK COFFEE featuring AYAKA HIRAHARA'')
 
 
* [2007.09.26] [[Tribute to Celine Dion|TRIBUTE TO CELINE DION]] (#10 ''The Prayer'')
 
* [2007.09.26] [[Tribute to Celine Dion|TRIBUTE TO CELINE DION]] (#10 ''The Prayer'')
−
* [2007.12.05] [[index.php?title=Mari to Koinu no Monogatari Original Soundtrack|Mari to Koinu no Monogatari Original Soundtrack]] (#24 ''Ima, Kaze no Naka de (Movie Version)'') (今、風の中で(映画バージョン))
+
* [2007.12.05] [[Mari to Koinu no Monogatari Original Soundtrack]] (#24 ''Ima, Kaze no Naka de (Movie Version)'')
−
* [2008.06.25] [[index.php?title=BAND FOR "SANKA"|BAND FOR "SANKA"]] - [[index.php?title=Waratte Misetekure|Waratte Misetekure]] (笑ってみせてくれ)
+
* [2008.06.25] [[Band For "Sanka"|BAND FOR "SANKA"]] - [[index.php?title=Waratte Misetekure|Waratte Misetekure]]
−
* [2008.10.22] [[index.php?title=Sada Masashi Tribute Sada no Uta|Sada Masashi Tribute Sada no Uta]] (#8 ''Himawari'') (ひまわり)
+
* [2008.10.22] [[Sada Masashi Tribute Sada no Uta]] (#8 ''Himawari'')
−
 
 
−
==<span class="mw-headline">External Links</span>==
 
  
 +
==External Links==
 
* [http://www.ayaka-hirahara.com/ Official Website]
 
* [http://www.ayaka-hirahara.com/ Official Website]
 
* [http://www.oricon.co.jp/artists/329515/ Oricon Profile]
 
* [http://www.oricon.co.jp/artists/329515/ Oricon Profile]

Revision as of 15:35, 23 April 2009

Hirahara Ayaka (平原綾香) is a Japanese musician signed to Dreamusic. In late 2003 she shot to fame with her debut single Jupiter, which was a cover of Gustav Holst's 1916 orchestral suite Wikipedia:The_Planets The Planets' "Jupiter" movement. Hirahara is also known for her songs Ashita (drama Yasashii Jikan's theme song) and Chikai (the NHK broadcast of the [[Wikipedia:2006 Winter Olympics}Torino Winter Olympics]]' theme song). Her older sister aika debuted under Toshiba EMI in 2006.

From Wiki.theppn

Profile

  • Name: Hirahara Ayaka (平原綾香)
  • Nickname>: A-ya (あーや)
  • Birthdate: 1984.05.09
  • Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
  • Blood Type: A
  • Likes: Talking with interesting people, spa, black tea
  • Special Skills: Dog breeding, Swimming butterfly-style
  • Favorite Movies: Forrest Gump, Howl's Moving Castle, Monsters Inc., other Studio Ghibli works
  • 'Favorite Countries to Visit: Egypt, France
  • Dislikes: Pakuchii, Pineapple

Information

File:Hirahara Jupitprom.jpg
Hirahara Ayaka promoting Jupiter (2003)

Hirahara Ayaka comes from a background rooted in jazz. Her father, Hirahara Makoto (平原まこと), is a saxophone player who has performed and recorded with artists such as B'z, Spitz, Sada Masashi, and her grandfather Hirahara Tsutomu (平原勉) is a trumpet player. Hirahara started ballet when she was six, and also started learning alt sax when she was 13. During her middle-school days at the Senzoku Gakuen school in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, she was elected as the President of the Student Council.

In December 2003, Hirahara would debut with the long-selling major hit single Jupiter. Jupiter was a cover of the Jupiter movement in Gustav Holst's 1916 orchestral suite The Planets, which was set to Japanese lyrics. The single debuted at #19 in its first week, however the song would gain in popularity immensely as it was used as the CM song for the public service announcement urging help for donations to help the residents of Niigata after they had been struck by the [[Wikipedia:2004 Chuetsu earthquake 2004|Chuetsu earthquake], as well as Hirahara appearing at that year's New Years Kouhaku variety concert. In its second week it would jump to #8, and in its third would jump even higher to #3. At its peak, the single would sell 82,190 copies in one week and would reach the #2 position. In fact, the single would spend an impressive 17 weeks in the top 10 (three in 2005 after being chosen as an insert song for the 7th series of the drama 3-Nen B-Gumi Kinpachi Sensei). The single would become the #3 single of 2004 after selling 675,807 copies in that year. Also, interestingly, it would be the #42 single of 2005 after selling 214,098 copies in that year as well (bringing the grand total to 889,905).

File:Hirahara Yottsupromo.jpg
Hirahara Ayaka promoting 4tsu no L (2006)

Three months after Jupiter's initial release, Hirahara would release her debut album ODYSSEY. It would experience similar popularity to Jupiter, debuting at #2 on the charts. On the same day, Hirahara's second single Ashita would be released (though only a limited edition release). While reasonably popular, Ashita would not experience the mega-popularity of her debut single (only reaching #19 on Oricon). The following year would see four more single releases; Kimi to Iru Jikan no Naka de (Toyota Wish CM), Niji no Yokan (NTT Docomo cellphone, BLESSING Shukufuku (also the Toyota Wish CM) and Hello Again, JoJo (Minna no Uta animation song). These singles would fare even less well than Ashita, with the highest being BLESSING Shukufuku at #14 and the lowest being Hello Again, JoJo at #161 (all others debuted within the top #30). Hello Again, JoJo's unpopularity was mostly stemmed from it being released on the same day as Hirahara's second album, The Voice. At the 2004 Japan Record Awards, Hirahara won the newcomer award (alongside such artists as Otsuka Ai).

In 2005, interestingly Ashita would be re-released and used as the theme song to the drama Yasashii Jikan (and would fare better on the charts than the original release, reaching #16). In between then and during the release of her next single (Eternally (movie Yokka Kan no Kiseki theme song)), Hirahara would hold her first tour, a massive 35-date tour across the entire country.

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Hirahara Ayaka promoting Chikai (2006)

Hirahara's next step would to be to release an album of covers songs, lead by the single Banka (Hitori no Kisetsu) / Inochi no Namae. Inochi no Namae was in fact a cover of Kimura Yumi's insert song for the internationally successful movie Spirited Away. This album would see Hirahara covering such artists as Fukuyama Masaharu and Southern All Stars.

In preparation for a fourth album's release, Hirahara released a 9th single, Chikai (used as the NHK broadcast of the Torino Winter Olympics' theme song) which would experience some long-term popularity (outselling most of her other singles but peaking at #14) until the release of the album, 4tsu no L. The rest of 2006 saw sporadic releases, with a 10th single in September (Voyagers / Kokoro, with Kokoro being a self-cover of the song WILL from 4tsu no L) and in November her 11th, the ballad CHRISTMAS LIST.

At the start of 2007, Hirahara released her fifth album, Sora. The album had the theme of a global sense (by having composers from six different countries from around the world). Also the album tries to connect back with Hirahara's debut, by having not only a classical piece covered (Siciliana by Italian composer Ottorino Respighi) and a song composed by the same people who wrote Ashita.

Discography

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Hirahara promoting Sora (2007)
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Hirahara promoting Kodoku no Mukou (2008)

Studio Albums

Other Albums

Singles

DVDs

Compilations / Other

External Links

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