ClariS

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ClariS

An official illustration of ClariS by Hiro Kanzaki depicting Clara (left) and Alice (right).
Background information
Origin Hokkaido, Japan
Genres J-pop, synthpop, pop rock
Years active 2009–present
Labels SME Records
Website www.clarismusic.jp
Members
  • Clara
  • Alice

ClariS (クラリス Kurarisu) is a Japanese pop music duo and idol unit consisting of high school girls Clara and Alice from Hokkaido. Originally known as "Alice Clara", ClariS began singing covers of mainly songs featured in anime and songs originally sung by Vocaloids, and submitting them to the Nico Nico Douga video sharing website between October 2009 and June 2010. In September 2010, ClariS was signed to SME Records and released their debut single "Irony" in October 2010, which was used as the opening theme to the 2010 anime Oreimo. ClariS released six more singles between 2011 and 2013, and their debut album Birthday was released in April 2012.

History

ClariS formed in late 2009 as "Alice Clara" when, as first-year junior high school students, Clara and Alice submitted a cover of the Vocaloid song "Step to You" onto the Nico Nico Douga video sharing website on October 10, 2009.[1] ClariS released seven more covers in 2009.[1] On April 24, 2010, the publisher Sony Magazines under Sony Music Entertainment Japan launched the anime music magazine LisAni! with an attached CD containing the original song "Drop" composed by Kz of Livetune and sung by ClariS.[2][3] ClariS released five more covers in 2010, ending with the song "Listen!!" from the anime K-On!! as their 13th cover submitted on June 5, 2010.[1] On July 24, 2010, the second issue of LisAni! was released with another attached CD containing the original song "Kimi no Yume o Miyō" (君の夢を見よう), again composed by Kz and sung by ClariS.[4] A single containing both songs was released exclusively at Comiket 78 on August 13, 2010.[5]

In September 2010, ClariS was signed to SME Records and released their major debut single "Irony" on October 20, 2010.[6] "Irony" debuted at No. 7 on Oricon's weekly singles chart.[7] "Irony" was composed by Kz,[7] and was used as the opening theme of the 2010 anime TV series Oreimo.[8] Good Smile Company released a Nendoroid Petit set of ClariS in January 2012 based on the illustrations of Clara and Alice by Hiro Kanzaki for "Irony".[9] ClariS released their second single "Connect" (コネクト) on February 2, 2011.[10] "Connect" debuted at No. 5 on Oricon's weekly singles chart,[11] and was used as the opening theme of the 2011 anime TV series Puella Magi Madoka Magica.[12] "Connect" was later awarded the Gold Disc by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) in January 2012 for having exceeded 100,000 copies shipped in a single year.[13] ClariS contributed the song "True Blue" on the Zone tribute album Zone Tribute: Kimi ga Kureta Mono (ZONEトリビュート～君がくれたもの～) released on August 10, 2011;[14] "True Blue" is a cover of Zone's 2003 single.

ClariS released their third single "Nexus" on September 14, 2011, and it debuted at No. 5 on Oricon's weekly singles chart.[15] "Nexus" was composed by Kz, and is used as the opening theme of the Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai Portable ga Tsuzuku Wake ga Nai video game,[16] as well as the theme song for the ninth volume of the Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai light novels; ClariS make a cameo appearance in the same volume.[17] The song "Don't Cry" on the "Nexus" single is used as the theme song for volume 0.5 of Shueisha's Aoharu magazine.[18] ClariS released their fourth single "Naisho no Hanashi" (ナイショの話, "Secret Conversation") on February 1, 2012, and it debuted at No. 2 on Oricon's weekly singles chart.[19] "Naisho no Hanashi" was composed by Ryo of Supercell, and is used as the ending theme of the 2012 anime TV series Nisemonogatari.[20]

ClariS released their debut studio album Birthday on April 11, 2012.[21] The album was released in three editions: a regular edition of just the CD,[22] a limited edition bundled with a DVD,[23] and another limited edition bundled with two Nendoroid Petit figures of ClariS based on the illustrations of Clara and Alice by Ume Aoki for "Connect", and a bonus CD with two Nendoroid theme songs.[24] Birthday was awarded a Gold Disc by the RIAJ in May 2012.[25] ClariS released their fifth single "Wake Up" on August 15, 2012;[26] the title song is used as the opening theme to the 2012 anime TV series Moyashimon Returns.[27] Their sixth single "Luminous" (ルミナス) was released on October 10, 2012;[28] the title song is used as the opening theme to the first two Puella Magi Madoka Magica anime films. Their seventh single "Reunion", composed by Kz, was released on April 17, 2013; the title song is used as the opening theme to the 2013 anime TV series Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai., the series' second season.[29] ClariS released their second studio album Second Story on June 26, 2013.[30] Their eighth single "Colorful" (カラフル) was released on October 30, 2013; the title song is used as the opening theme to the film Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Rebellion.[31][32] Their ninth single "Click", composed by Kz, was released on January 29, 2014; the title song is used as the opening theme to the 2014 anime TV series Nisekoi.[33]

Members

ClariS consists of two high school girls from Hokkaido known as Clara and Alice (both pseudonyms, done so to preserve their anonymity).[34][35] ClariS is a portmanteau of the singers' names and was picked as an homage to the character Clarisse from the anime film The Castle of Cagliostro.[36] As listed on their website, "ClariS" can also carry the meaning of "clear" and "bright" in Latin (though it is actually spelled "clarus").[37][38] Both Clara and Alice have been singing since they were in kindergarten, when they started taking lessons at the same music school where they met as classmates.[39] Clara can play the piano.[40]

In order to put a priority on their schoolwork, ClariS have not released photos of themselves to the public and employ illustrators to draw their likenesses.[41] When drawn, Clara is depicted wearing pink items, and Alice is shown wearing blue items.[42] Images of the crescent moon are used as a motif to represent Clara, and the sun is used to represent Alice, which comes from their personal preferences.[43] Clara is shown with slightly wavy hair and no bangs, while Alice is drawn with straight hair with bangs. To further preserve their anonymity, Clara and Alice have not told anyone they know (aside from their families) that they debuted as music artists.[44] Both admit that they are otaku, and have taken an interest in anime and anime music. Clara says that she keeps her otaku interests a secret from others at school, and Alice has called herself a Disney otaku.[45]

Discography

Albums

Year Album details Peak Oricon
chart positions		 Certifications
(sales thresholds)
2012 Birthday
  • Released: April 11, 2012
  • Label: SME (SECL-1111–1113, SECL-1114, SECL-1115–1116)
  • Format: CD, CD+DVD, CD+CD+Figures
 2[21] JP: Gold[25]
2013 Second Story
  • Released: June 26, 2013
  • Label: SME (SECL-1331–1333 SECL-1334–1335, SECL-1336)
  • Format: CD, CD+DVD
 6[30]

Singles

Year Song Peak Oricon
chart positions		 Certifications Album
2010 "Drop / Kimi no Yume o Miyō" —
"Irony" 7[7] Birthday
2011 "Connect" 5[11] JP: Gold[13]
"Nexus" 5[15]
2012 "Naisho no Hanashi" 2[19]
"Wake Up" 12[26] Second Story
"Luminous" 4[28]
2013 "Reunion" 2[46]
"Colorful" 3[31]
2014 "Click" 7[47]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Music videos

Year Song Director
2010 "Irony"
2011 "Connect"
"Nexus"
2012 "Naisho no Hanashi"
"Wake Up"
"Luminous"
2013 "Reunion"
"Colorful"
2014 "Click"

Other album appearances

Year Song Album Notes Ref.
2011 "Irony" Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai Original Soundtrack TV-size version theme song to Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai TV anime. [48]
"True Blue" Zone Tribute: Kima ga Kureta Mono Tribute album for the band Zone. "True Blue" is a cover of Zone's 2003 single and the first opening theme of the 2003 Astro Boy TV anime. [49]
"Irony" Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai Complete Collection+ TV-size version theme song to Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai TV anime. [50]
2012 "Wake Up" Moyashimon Returns Original Soundtrack TV-size version theme song to Moyashimon Returns TV anime. [51]

Nico Nico Douga cover songs

# Upload date[1] Song Original artist(s) Notes
01 October 10, 2009 "Step to You" 40meter-P Vocaloid songs originally sung by Hatsune Miku.
02 October 17, 2009 "Black Rock Shooter (2M Mix)" (ブラック★ロックシューター) Supercell
03 November 3, 2009 "Scrap & Build" 40meter-P
04 November 14, 2009 "Watashi ga Kami o Kitta Riyū" (私が髪を切った理由)
05 November 29, 2009 "Only My Railgun" fripSide TV anime A Certain Scientific Railgun first opening theme.
06 December 12, 2009 "Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari" (君の知らない物語) Supercell TV anime Bakemonogatari ending theme.
07 December 26, 2009 "Amefuri" (アメフリ) Koko Composed by Kz of Livetune.
08 December 31, 2009 "Lion" (ライオン) May'n, Megumi Nakajima TV anime Macross Frontier second opening theme. A full cover version was uploaded on January 16, 2010.
09 February 6, 2010 "Finder" (ファインダー) Kz of Livetune Vocaloid song originally sung by Hatsune Miku.
10 March 5, 2010 "Level 5 (Judgelight)" fripSide TV anime A Certain Scientific Railgun second opening theme.
11 April 3, 2010 "Polyrhythm" (ポリリズム) Perfume Composed by Yasutaka Nakata.
12 May 8, 2010 "Don't Say 'Lazy'" Yōko Hikasa, Aki Toyosaki, Satomi Satō and Minako Kotobuki TV anime K-On! ending theme.
13 June 5, 2010 "Listen!!" Yōko Hikasa, Aki Toyosaki, Satomi Satō, Minako Kotobuki and Ayana Taketatsu TV anime [[K-On!|K-On!!]] first ending theme.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "ｱﾘｽ★ｸﾗﾗ さんの公開マイリスト" [Alice Clara's Public My List] (in Japanese). Nico Nico Douga. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2012. 
  2. ↑ "中学2年の女性ユニット「アリス☆クララ」が「リスアニ!」に登場" [Second-year Junior High School Girl Unit "Alice Clara" Appear in LisAni!] (in Japanese). Su-gomori. April 26, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  3. ↑ "リスアニ!vol.1" [Liz Ani! vol. 1] (in Japanese). Sony Magazines. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  4. ↑ "リスアニ!　Vol.02" [Liz Ani! Vol. 02] (in Japanese). Sony Magazines. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  5. ↑ "コミックマーケット78にてオリジナルＴシャツ & ｢アリス☆クララ｣CD 販売!" [Original T-shirts & an "Alice Clara" CD Will be Sold at Comic Market 78!] (in Japanese). Aniplex. August 6, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  6. ↑ "irony(通常盤)【初回限定仕様】" [Irony (regular edition) (first printing)] (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Irony" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  8. ↑ "音楽 | 「俺の妹がこんなに可愛いわけがない」アニメ公式サイト" [Music | Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai Anime Official Website] (in Japanese). Aniplex. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  9. ↑ "Nendoroid Petite: ClariS Set – irony Ver.". Good Smile Company. Retrieved March 12, 2012. 
  10. ↑ "コネクト　(通常盤)【初回限定仕様】" [Connect (regular edition) (first printing)] (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "コネクト" [Connect] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  12. ↑ "OP & ED|魔法少女まどか☆マギカ" [OP & ED|Puella Magi Madoka Magica] (in Japanese). Aniplex. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2012年1月" [Gold etc. Certified Works Summary January 2012] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved March 13, 2012. 
  14. ↑ "Shokotan, Scandal, Sphere Make Zone Tribute Album". Anime News Network. June 15, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2011. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Nexus" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 27, 2011. 
  16. ↑ "2nd Oreimo PSP Game's 3rd Promo Streamed". Anime News Network. May 2, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2012. 
  17. ↑ "Musical Duo ClariS to Make Cameo in Oreimo Novel". Anime News Network. July 5, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2011. 
  18. ↑ "Young Jump's Aoharu #0.5 Issue Gets ClariS Theme Song". Anime News Network. July 21, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2011. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "ナイショの話" [Naisho no Hanashi] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 28, 2012. 
  20. ↑ "Nisemonogatari Anime's Ad with ClariS/Ryo Theme Posted". Anime News Network. November 26, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2011. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Birthday" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 16, 2012. 
  22. ↑ "Birthday (Regular Edition)". CD Japan. Retrieved April 16, 2012. 
  23. ↑ "Birthday (w/ DVD, Limited Pressing)". CD Japan. Retrieved April 16, 2012. 
  24. ↑ "Birthday (w/ Figure + 8cm CD, Limited Edition)". CD Japan. Retrieved April 16, 2012. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2012年5月" [Gold etc. Certified Works Summary May 2012] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved July 9, 2012. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Wake Up" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 5, 2012. 
  27. ↑ "ClariS, Hiiragi Sing Moyashimon Returns Anime Themes". Anime News Network. June 26, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2012. 
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 "ルミナス" [Luminous] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 24, 2012. 
  29. ↑ "ClariS to Perform Oreimo's 2nd Season Opening". Anime News Network. January 25, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2013. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Second Story" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 20, 2013. 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "カラフル" [Colorful]. Oricon. Retrieved August 28, 2013. 
  32. ↑ "ClariS, Kalafina to Sing 3rd Madoka Magica Film's Theme Songs". Anime News Network. July 5, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2013. 
  33. ↑ "Musical Duo Claris to Perform Nisekoi Anime's Opening Theme". Anime News Network. December 4, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2013. 
  34. ↑ "ClariS、着うた（R）でいきなり1位の大金星" [ClariS Have a Spectacular Victory When Suddenly They Have a No. 1 Ranked Ringtone]. Barks (in Japanese). IT Media. October 9, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  35. ↑ "ClariSの2人が中学校を卒業、これからは現役高校生ユニットに" [ClariS' Two Members Graduate Junior-high School, and Will Be an Active Duty High School Student Unit from Now On] (in Japanese). Ota Suke. March 15, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2012. 
  36. ↑ "現役女子中学生ユニットが週間TOP10入り" [Current Junior High School Girl Unit Appears in the Weekly Top 10] (in Japanese). Oricon. October 27, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  37. ↑ "ClariS | Biography" (in Japanese). SME Records. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  38. ↑ "Clarus". University of Notre Dame. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  39. ↑ "ClariS 『irony』インタビュー" [ClariS "Irony" Interview]. Hotexpress Music Magazine (in Japanese). Plantech. p. 1. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  40. ↑ "プロフィール" [Profile]. ClariS (in Japanese). @peps!. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  41. ↑ Arimoto, Kazuki (September 10, 2010). "異例づくめ!現役女子中学生2人組「ClariS（クラリス）」が『俺の妹が…』OP曲でデビュー" [Unprecedented Without Exception! Two Current Junior High School Girls Known as ClariS Debut with the OP Song to Ore no Imōto ga...] (in Japanese). NEC Biglobe. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  42. ↑ "ClariS" (in Japanese). RunTime Music Entertainment. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  43. ↑ "ClariS 『コネクト』インタビュー" [ClariS "Connect" Interview]. Hotexpress Music Magazine (in Japanese). Plantech. p. 2. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  44. ↑ "ClariS 『コネクト』インタビュー" [ClariS "Connect" Interview]. Hotexpress Music Magazine (in Japanese). Plantech. p. 1. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  45. ↑ "ClariS 『irony』インタビュー" [ClariS "Irony" Interview]. Hotexpress Music Magazine (in Japanese). Plantech. p. 2. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  46. ↑ "Reunion" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 25, 2013. 
  47. ↑ "Click" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 25, 2014. 
  48. ↑ "俺の妹がこんなに可愛いわけがない オリジナルサウンドトラック" [Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai Original Soundtrack] (in Japanese). Neowing. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
  49. ↑ "ZONEトリビュート～君がくれたもの～" [Zone Tribute: Kima ga Kureta Mono] (in Japanese). Neowing. Retrieved June 15, 2011. 
  50. ↑ "俺の妹がこんなに可愛いわけがない Complete Collection+" [Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai Complete Collection+] (in Japanese). Neowing. Retrieved November 27, 2011. 
  51. ↑ "もやしもんリターンズ オリジナルサウンドトラック" [Moyashimon Returns Original Soundtrack] (in Japanese). Neowing. Retrieved October 9, 2012. 

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