Deen (band)

Deen
Origin Japan
Genres Pop, pop rock, classical, folk, album-oriented rock
Years active 1992–present
Labels B-Gram Records (1993–1998)
BMG Japan/Berg (1998–2003)
BMG Japan (2003–2009)
Ariola Japan/Sony Music Entertainment Japan (2009- )
Website www.deen.gr.jp
Members Shuichi Ikemori
Koji Yamane
Shinji Tagawa
Past members Naoki Utsumoto
Tatsumi Nakai
Keisuke Kurasawa

Deen (ディーン Dīn) is a Japanese popular music band, formed in 1993. Members frequently changed until the release of the first album, and from there Deen has had four members: vocalist Shuichi Ikemori, keyboardist and leader Koji Yamane, guitarist Shinji Tagawa and drummer Naoki Utsumoto. In January 2000, Utsumoto left the group. The band has sold over 15 million compact discs.[1]

History

In the "Being" agency, Show Wesugi (original vocalist with Wands) and Tetsurō Oda made song "Konomama Kimidake wo Ubaisaritai" (lit. "Now, I want to make off with only you"). The group was formed for singing this song. The band debuted by the single on March 10, 1993. The single was certified a million-seller by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).[2] Their 1994 song "Hitomi Sorasanaide" (lit. "Don't Avert Your Eyes"), written by Izumi Sakai and Tetsurō Oda, reached number-one position on the Japanese Oricon charts.[3] Their first album Deen was also certified a million-seller by RIAJ.[4]

The group originally seemed to be just a project, but they began to perform live concerts in 1996. They also began to release their self-produced singles, but their sales declined. Their 1997 song "Yume de Aru Youni" (lit. "hope that it will be a dream"), written by themselves, was adopted by Tales of Destiny. It was no longer able to reach Top 10 on the Oricon charts.[5] But for fans, this song remained most popular over a decade.[6]

In 1998, the band partly moved to BMG Japan under the Berg label, which consisted of the "being" agency artists. Since their 1999 single "Just One", almost all singles has been produced by them, but Utsumoto left Deen in 2000. They introduced classical music into their music.[7] In 2002, they released a cover version of Kyu Sakamoto's "Miagete Goran Yoru no Hoshi o", featuring solo violinist Diana Yukawa. They began to call their style "Neo-AOR" after album Pray.[8]

The band completely moved from the "being" agency to BMG Japan in 2003. Their next album Utopia, released on November 5, 2003, enlisted the help of Al Schmitt. In 2006, baseball manager Bobby Valentine participated in the music video of their song "Diamond".[9]

On June 8, 2008, they performed their first live concert at the Nippon Budokan.[10] On December 10, 2008, they released the single "Eien no Ashita" (lit. "Eternal Tomorrow"), adopted by Tales of Hearts. The single debuted at #6 on the Oricon weekly single charts.[11] It was their highest position after 1996.[12]

Discography

Singles

Classics

Albums

VHS

DVD

References

  1. ↑ "Deen Interview vol.1" (in Japanese). IY Card Service Co. 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-12.
  2. ↑ "List of million sellers in 1993" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  3. ↑ 瞳そらさないで (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2008-12-14.
  4. ↑ "List of million sellers in 1994" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 2008-12-14.
  5. ↑ 夢であるように (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2008-12-14.
  6. ↑ ＤＥＥＮ・池森「心と心のつながり意識」…新曲「永遠の明日」１０日発売 (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. 2008-12-09. Retrieved 2008-12-14.
  7. ↑ "DEEN biography" (in Japanese). Barks. Retrieved 2008-12-14.
  8. ↑ "Interview with DEEN" (in Japanese). Excite Music. 2003. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  9. ↑ "Special – DEEN" (in Japanese). Biglobe. 2006-10-20. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  10. ↑ "DEEN、武道館で感涙のオーディエンス" (in Japanese). Barks. 2008-06-09. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
  11. ↑ "Oricon Weekly Single Charts for the fourth week of December 2008" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2008-12-16.
  12. ↑ "DEEN、12年ぶりの快挙！　新曲がオリコン６位ランクイン" (in Japanese). goo. 2008-12-18. Retrieved 2008-12-23.

External links