Yu Takahashi

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Yu Takahashi
Born (1983-12-26) December 26, 1983
Origin Yokote, Akita, Japan
Genres Pop, folk[1]
Occupations Singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 2002–present
Labels Amuse (2008–2010)
Warner Music Japan (2010–present)
Website takahashiyu.com

Yu Takahashi (高橋 優 Takahashi Yū, born December 26, 1983) is a Japanese singer-songwriter. He debuted on a major label in 2010, with his singles "Subarashiki Nichijō" and "Honto no Kimochi".

Biography

Takahashi grew up in Yokote, Akita, in the Tōhoku region of Japan.[2] He started to learn the electric guitar in his final year of middle school, and in high school became the vocalist of a hardcore copy band for two years, performing such songs as Hide with Spread Beaver's "Pink Spider".[3] During high school, he bought a cheap acoustic guitar, and began writing songs.[2][3] His band broke up as the members went their separate ways, and Takahashi moved to Sapporo to attend a university.[1][2] He performed in a band in Sapporo as well, however, due to the band dissolution (one member's love life took priority) Takahashi decided to become a solo musician.[2]

In February 2002, Takahashi released his debut album, the self-produced Sepia, of which only 200 copies were produced.[2] Over the next five years, Takahashi performed concerts and released albums based in Sapporo, such as in January 2004, when he performed street lives five times per week.[2] In May 2007, he released his second album, Mugon no Bōryoku, limited to 500 copies. The album was relatively popular in Sapporo, charting at number 1 for three weeks at the Sapporo Stellar Place HMV's in-store independent releases charts.[2] This lead him to hold his first solo concert, to 200 people at the Sapporo Colony.[2] In September 2007, Takahashi began performing monthly live concerts titled Agura (あぐら, "Sit Cross Legged"), in which he would rent a CD shop and only allow 30 people to come inside for the concert.[2][4]

Takahashi moved to Tokyo in January 2008, to further his music career there.[2] He performed many different concerts, and released a third self-released album, Agura, which was sold only at concert venues.[2] He was scouted by Amuse, an artist management firm especially known for their management of musicians, and came to the notice of Michihiko Yanai, creator of Tower Records' No Music, No Life and Kaze to Rock campaigns.[1] This led to Takahashi releasing his first independent single, the Tower Records exclusive "Kodomo no Uta" in May 2009, followed by his first wide-release album in July, the extended play Bokura no Heisei Rock 'n' Roll, which was produced by Yanai.[1] The extended play reached number 262 on Oricon's national album charts.[5]

A year later, Takahashi made his major label debut under Warner, with the single "Subarashiki Nichijō". The song received heavy radio play,[6] causing it to reach number 5 on Billboard's Japan Hot 100 chart,[7] despite only reaching number 57 on Oricon's physical single sales chart.[8] His second single, "Honto no Kimochi", was used as the theme song for the Takeru Satoh and Atsuko Maeda (AKB48) starring drama Q10, giving Takahashi his first top 30 single and his first performance on music show Music Station.[9][10]

Discography

Albums

Year Album information Chart positions
[11]		 Total sales
[12]
2002 Sepia

  • Released: February, 2002
  • 200 copies produced[2]

 — —
2007 Mugon no Bōryoku (無言の暴力, "The Violence of Silence")

  • Released: May 16, 2007[13]
  • 500 copies produced[2]
  • Label: Takotako Label (TKTK-001)

 — —
2008 Agura (胡座～agura～, "Crossed Legged")

  • Released: 2008
  • Sold only at concerts[2]
  • Label: Amuse (GTCG-0613)

 — —
2011 Real Time Singer Songwriter (リアルタイム・シンガーソングライター Riaru Taimu Shingā Songuraitā)

  • Released: April 20, 2011
  • Debut major label album
  • Label: Warner (WPZL-30267/8, WPCL-10938)

 8 33,000
2012 Kono Koe (この声, "This Voice")

  • Released: March 14, 2012
  • Label: Warner (WPZL-30360/1, WPCL-11049)

 9 14,000

Extended play

Year Album information Chart positions
[11]		 Total sales
[12]
2009 Bokura no Heisei Rock 'n' Roll (僕らの平成ロックンロール, "Our Heisei era Rock 'n' Roll")

  • Released: July 8, 2009
  • Label: Amuse (GTCG-0615)

 242 1,700

Singles

Release Title Notes Chart positions Oricon
sales
[12]		 Album
Oricon singles charts
[11]		 Billboard Japan Hot 100
[7]		 RIAJ digital tracks
[14]
2009 "Kodomo no Uta" (こどものうた, "Song for Youth") Independent, Tower Records exclusive — — — — Bokura no Heisei Rock 'n' Roll
2010 "Subarashiki Nichijō" (素晴らしき日常, "The Amazing Everyday") 57 5 74 4,700 Real Time Singer Songwriter
"Honto no Kimochi" (ほんとのきもち, "Real Feelings") 24 10 12 9,400
2011 "Fukuwarai / Genjitsu to Iu Na no Kaibutsu to Tatakau Monotachi" (福笑い/現実という名の怪物と戦う者たち, "Lucky Laugh / Those Who Fight the Monster Known as Reality") 15 4 44
84		 14,000
"Shōnen de Are" (少年であれ, "As a Boy") Digital single — 59 — —
"Ta ga Tame ni Kane wa Naru" (誰がために鐘は鳴る, "The Bell Rings for Someone") 20 9 — 7,800 Kono Koe
"Dare mo Inai Daidokoro" (誰もいない台所, "A Kitchen with No One In") 14 3 57 8,400
2012 "Sotsugyō" (卒業, "Graduation") 9 3 — 12,000

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "歪んだ時代を生きる子供へ向けた高橋優「こどものうた」". Barks (in Japanese). July 14, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2010. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 "高橋 優 – アミューズ オフィシャル ウェブサイト". Amuse (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 22, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2010. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "高橋優『7月度『oricon power next』の高橋優が奏でる、"素晴らしき日常"！』". Oricon (in Japanese). July 7, 2010. Retrieved November 30, 2010. 
  4. ↑ "高橋優、『Q10』とのコラボ弾き語り教室ライヴを発表！". CDJournal (in Japanese). October 21, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2010. 
  5. ↑ "僕らの平成ロックンロール". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved November 30, 2010. 
  6. ↑ "高橋優、CMナレーションは三宅裕司が起用！". CDJournal (in Japanese). July 20, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2010. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. August 2, 2010. Archived from the original on November 29, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2010. 
  8. ↑ "素晴らしき日常". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved November 30, 2010. 
  9. ↑ "ほんとのきもち". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved November 30, 2010. 
  10. ↑ "高橋優、『Q10』教室で弾き語り". Barks (in Japanese). November 9, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2010. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "アーティスト： 高橋優". Oricon. Retrieved November 29, 2010. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved November 29, 2010.  (subscription only)
  13. ↑ "無言の暴力 – TOWER RECORDS ONLINE". Tower Records (in Japanese). Retrieved November 29, 2010. 
  14. ↑ "有料音楽配信チャート" (in Japanese). RIAJ. 

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