Aly & AJ
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| Aly & AJ | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Aly & A.J. |
| Origin | Torrance, California, United States |
| Genre(s) | Teen pop[1] Alternative rock[2] Dance-pop[3] |
| Years active | 2004 — present |
| Label(s) | Hollywood Records |
| Website | AlyAndAJ.com |
| Members | |
| Alyson Michalka Amanda Michalka |
|
Aly & AJ is a teen pop duo consisting of sisters Alyson Renae "Aly" Michalka and Amanda Joy "AJ" Michalka. They were born in Torrance, California, but spent part of their childhood in Seattle, Washington. They are both actresses, singer-songwriters, and guitarists.
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[edit] Early years
Aly and AJ have had an interest for music since they were very young. "I think it started when we were three and five. Just singing in church together and in school plays," Aly said.[4] That later moved onto just AJ as Aly started to act very early, when AJ was nine years old. The sisters both live in a gated community in Calabasas, California with their parents. Their mother, Carrie Michalka, used to sing in a Christian group called "J.C. Band", Alyson also had a starring role in Phil of the Future on the Disney Channel alongside Ricky Ullman.
Both girls attended Hillcrest Christian School for a couple years as children and they currently attend Calvary Community Church.
[edit] Music
[edit] 2005-2006: Into the Rush
Aly & AJ's debut album, Into the Rush, went Platinum as of May 2007. The song "No One" was featured in the Disney motion picture Ice Princess. The song "Do You Believe In Magic", written and originally recorded by The Lovin' Spoonful, added a rock edge. This cover was used in the soundtrack of the made-for-TV Disney Channel original movie, Now You See It..., in which Aj held the starring role of Allyson. Also, their cover of Katrina and the Waves' "Walking on Sunshine" was used in the Walt Disney motion picture Herbie: Fully Loaded. They have been involved in various Walt Disney Records projects, some of which are covers. These include soundtracks and compilations, and are primarily "Rush". "Rush" has been featured on the Disney Channel Original Movie, Twitches, and on many other soundtracks and compilations from Walt Disney and Hollywood Records.
The "Aly & AJ Concert" took place on July 24, 2005 at the Henry Fonda theater located in Hollywood, California. The aired concert was cut to five songs and interviews (filmed October 15 and October 16, 2005). The concert included songs from Into the Rush. Aly & AJ opened for The Cheetah Girls in December 2005 on the girls' "Cheetah-licious Christmas Tour".
The album was re-released in August 2006 with three new songs, including the hit, "Chemicals React". It was released with an all new cover and was the group's second CD to be released in the UK physically.
[edit] 2006-2007: Acoustic Hearts of Winter
On September 19, 2006, Aly & AJ were nominated for "Contemporary Inspirational Artist of the Year" (also known as Christian Artist of the Year) for the 2006 American Music Awards, which were held on November 21, 2006. They did not take home the award. Gospel R&B artist Kirk Franklin took the award for his first time instead. Besides being nominated for an award, they introduced Nelly Furtado's performance of her new song, "Say It Right", along with 2006's Dancing With the Stars runner-up Mario Lopez.
On September 26, 2006, their album, Acoustic Hearts of Winter, was released. On this album, Aly & AJ perform traditional Christmas songs, including "Joy to the World" and "Silent Night", as well as original songs, "Greatest Time of Year" and "Not This Year".
[edit] 2007-present: Insomniatic
On May 8, 2007, they released a brief clip of their new single called "Potential Breakup Song". The full song is currently available for request on Radio Disney, and available for download on iTunes as part of their new album, Insomniatic. The album was released on July 10, 2007. Time magazine named "Potential Breakup Song" one of The 10 Best Songs of 2007, ranking it at #9. Writer Josh Tyrangiel singled out the lyrics in the bridge: "This is the Potential Breakup Song/ Our album needs just one/ Oh baby please", and praised the authenticity of its having been written by the teenage sisters who sing it.[5][6]
On November 28 2007, Ami Suzuki released a new version of "Potential Breakup Song", produced by Japanese DJ and musician SUGIURUMN, featuring a collaboration with Aly & AJ. Ami, alongside the girls, performed a live version of the song on Japanese television.
In December 2007, the news was reveiled that Aly & AJ would be replacing the Jonas Brothers as the opening act for the extension of the Hannah Montana Best of Both Worlds Tour from January 11th - January 24th. In early January 2008, Aly & AJ performed a cover of KT Tunstall's "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Yahoo!'s Pepsi Smash video site.[7] The cover is also featured on the Japanese re-release of Insomniatic, recorded at Abbey Road Sessions.
On January 18, before the premiere of the Disney Channel Original Movie, Minutemen, the music video for "Like Whoa" was released. Several days later, on February 2, the official video, without movie scenes, premiered on the YouTube account of Hollywood Records.
Aly & AJ are also featured on the album Randy Jackson's Music Club, Vol. 1 that came out on March 11, 2008 singing a cover of the song "We're an American Band" produced by Randy Jackson. Though the song did not make the final cut to be included on the regular album track listing, it does serve as an exclusive bonus track on the Wal-Mart and iTunes edition of the album.
During June and July, Aly & AJ will be performing at amusement parks throughout the United States, including Wild Adventures in Georgia and various Six Flags locations, as well as opening two dates for Sheryl Crow.
[edit] Future material
Billboard also confirmed the girls are working on a third studio album, to be released sometime in 2008 or 2009, aside from the films they both are filming.[8] They mentioned, in an interview on Radio Disney on 23 April 2008, they are going for a rockier sound, and this time, want to sing separately (as in not harmonize their voices), to make fans know who is singing.[9]
[edit] Other occupations
[edit] Religion
Along with making music for the mainstream audience, Aly & AJ, who are both very open about their faith, have become significant in the Christian music rock scene. "Never Far Behind" was only released on Christian rock radio. It went to #1 on Radio & Records (R&R) Christian CHR.
Although Aly and AJ are both very open about their Christian faith, they do not want to be labeled as Christian music artists. In an interview with Blender magazine in June 2006, the girls said that their music comes from a Christian perspective. "We don't ever wanna preach or shove anything down people's throats, but we want our music to be inspiring."[10]
In an interview with Blender magazine, the two expressed their disbelief in the theory of evolution, with the interviewer asking what their thoughts were. When asked if they accepted evolution, AJ responded, "No," and Aly responded, "Are they teaching that in schools now?" When told that it had been taught for the last quarter of the century, she replied, “I think that’s kind of disrespectful, anything that has to do with anybody’s beliefs on religion, that should stay out of the classroom. I mean, I think people should be able to pray in school, if people were into that. Everybody should just do their own gig", and AJ added "Evolution is silly. Monkeys? Um, no."[10]
[edit] Licensing
Huckleberry Toys released Limited Edition Hello Kitty Aly & AJ dolls to selected Target stores. [11] Toys R Us is currently selling a line of the dolls which have been available since November 15, 2007.They wrote in their My Space that Aly & AJ books & video games will be released.[12]
[edit] Charity work
Aly and AJ are co-chairpersons for the Children's Advisory Board of the AmberWatch Foundation, and have performed at a benefit concert to raise money for the charity.[13]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Dual filmography
| Year | Title | Aly's role | AJ's role | Notes |
| 2006 | Haversham Hall | Hope Mason | Sam Tillar | Pilot was not picked up. (Disney Channel) |
| 2006 | Cow Belles | Taylor Callum | Courtney Callum | made for television (Disney Channel) |
| 2007 | Super Sweet 16: The Movie | Taylor Tiara | Sarah Conners | made for television (MTV Films) |
[edit] References
- ^ Acoustic Hearts of Winter from MTV, obtained 27 December, 2006.
- ^ Adult Alternative Pop/Rock - Insomniatic Aly & AJ / CD / 2007
- ^ allmusic ((( Into the Rush > Overview )))
- ^ Interview that was part of the aired Aly and AJ concert.
- ^ Tyrangiel, Josh; "The Best Top 10 Lists of the Year"; "The 10 Best Songs"; Time magazine; December 24, 2007; Page 39.
- ^ Time magazine's Top 10 Songs of 2007 at time.com
- ^ "Black Horse & the Cherry Tree" video at Yahoo! Music
- ^ Aly & AJ Writing New Songs, Plot Films. Billboard. 10 January 2008.
- ^ Aly & AJ On Radio Disney. Aly & AJ Reaction. 24 April 2008.
- ^ a b Tweenage Riot. Blender magazine, June 2006.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Toys"R"Us/Babies"R"Us
- ^ AmberWatch Foundation official site.
[edit] External links
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