Every Little Thing (band)
| Every Little Thing | |
|---|---|
|
| |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | J-pop, synthpop, pop rock, soft rock |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | Avex Trax |
| Website | www.avexnet.or.jp/elt/ |
| Members |
Kaori Mochida Ichiro Ito |
| Past members | Mitsuru Igarashi |
Every Little Thing (also known as ELT) is a pop/soft rock duo from Japan who debuted in August 1996 with the release of their first single called "Feel My Heart". Their name is usually written in English, and only rarely in katakana or rōmaji. They gained massive popularity in the late 90's and early 00's. As of 2013, Every Little Thing has sold over 23 million copies of singles and albums throughout Japan. Their second studio album, Time to Destination, is the best-selling album of the band with over 3.5 million copies sold, and became the 10th best-selling album of all time in Japan.
Also known as ELT by their fans, Every Little Thing was originally a trio but became a duo in 2000 with Kaori Mochida as the singer and Ichiro Ito as the guitarist.[1] Mitsuru Igarashi left ELT following the release of their third original album, Eternity.
Biography
Early careers
Ito began playing guitar in local bands around the US Yokota Air Base in Fussa, Tokyo, performing cover versions of songs by rock acts like Van Halen to local sailors. He initially intended to play drums.[1]
Mochida made her debut as a baby in an advertisement for diapers as her mom hoped she would enter the entertainment business. In 1991, at the age of 13, she joined the eight-member girl group The Kuro Buta All-Stars. Though not successful, the experience convinced her to record a two track demo, featuring the two songs, "Mouichido" (The Kuro Buta All-Stars) and a cover song from 1970s/80s singer-songwriter Mariya Takeuchi.[1]
She sent the demo to Avex Trax, where Mitsuru Igarashi was a producer looking for a girl for a new duo with him as the keyboardist. Impressed by her strong yet sweet voice, Igarashi asked her to join as a duo, and then asked his guitarist friend Ichiro Ito, then working as a studio receptionist,[1] to help on the first single "Feel My Heart", created by Igarashi. Ito, over ten years Mochida's senior, has said that when first meeting the young Mochida wearing gyaru style thick platform boots, he didn't even know how to strike up conversation.[1]
Debut and success
The band released their debut single "Feel My Heart" on August 7, 1996. The single peaked at number 24 on the Oricon charts. Their first studio album, called Everlasting was a big success, selling nearly two million copies in Japan, and marking ELT as a popular group with a bright future. The band reached number 1 at the Oricon charts for the first time with their fourth single, "For the Moment".
The second studio album entitled Time to Destination, released in 1998, was one of the best-selling albums of that year, and the best-selling album of the band, with over 3,500,000 copies sold. Additionally, the album became the 10th best selling album of all time in Japan. This album also included their best-selling single, "Time Goes By", a ballad tune that reached sales of nearly 1,150,000.
Departure of Igarashi and change in sound
Upon the release of the third studio album, Eternity, released in March 2000, Mitsuru Igarashi suddenly decided to leave the band. Ito later said that the decision was dropped on them without warning, right before a tour, and it forced them to change their sound. The remaining duo decided to tour acoustically for the next two years in order to find their feet, but also enjoyed more creative freedom over the songs.[1] The single "Sure" was the last that Igarashi participated in and with the release of their 16th single, "Ai no Kakera" in October 2000, ELT transitioned their style from Igarashi's signature synthesized pop-rock sound to a more acoustic soft-rock sound. Their single "Fragile" released on New Year's Day 2001 became ELT's second biggest hit ever, vindicating their new direction, selling approximately 829,580 copies; its c/w song "Jirenma" was one of the ending songs for the anime movie Initial D Third Stage. their fourth album and first as a duo, 4 Force, was released on March 22, 2001. The album was their first not to top the Japanese Oricon charts, but sill managed to sell more than a million copies and was awarded as "Album of the Year" at the Japan Gold Disc Awards.
In 2003 the band released their fifth album, Many Pieces, which topped the Oricon charts. The album had five promotional singles prior to its release, including "Jump", the first attempt of Mochida in music composing, Untitled: 4 Ballads, their number one EP which got platinum status in Japan, and also "Grip!", which was used as opening theme of TV anime series InuYasha.
In November 2004 the duo released their single "Koibumi/Good Night" that was a surprise for many, because it performed comparatively well on the charts, selling more than many of their previous singles. In 2005 they released only one single, the soft rock song "Kimi no Te", and the acoustic compilation album Acoustic : Latte.
During Every Little Thing's 2004-2005 Commonplace Tour, Mochida suffered from bronchitis which further effected her singing style during the tour as well as on their 7th album, Crispy Park, released on August 9, 2006 (their 10th anniversary day). Mochida’s singing style has changed slightly on every album, going from a clear, soothing voice to a high and cuter voice. A 2006-2007 concert tour followed their tenth anniversary album release. Their 31st single, "Swimmy", theme song for the drama series Kekkon Dekinai Otoko, was released in October 2006.
Tenth anniversary and solo endeavours
For celebrating their tenth anniversary, Every Little Thing held a two-day special live at the Nippon Budokan on March 6 and 7, 2006. Their 2008 album Door released on March 5, 2008 peaked at number 2 on the Oricon charts. Mochida has said of the album, that "I used to sing without thinking. But now I convey thoughts that are hard to explain when I communicate with people in my daily life. It's harder than before; but we reap much more joy."[1]
On November 20, 2008, it was announced that Mochida would be starting a solo career in 2009, but both she and Itoh would continue as a duo. In this period both members released solo material. Mochida released her first solo album, Moka on August 12, 2009, and also participated briefly in the special unit Caocao, along with Takao Tajima, member of Original Love. On August 5, 2009, Ito released a mini-album on his own titled Diversity, which featured vocals of Idoling!!!, Ayuse Kozue, and others.
In 2009, after nine years of departed ways, Every Little Thing began working again with former band member Mitsuru Igarashi. Igarashi composed and produced several songs on the band's ninth album Change, released in March 2010, including its three promotional singles: "Dream Goes On", "Tsumetai Ame" and the album title song.
In July, 2011, the band released their 41st single "Sora/Koe". Both songs were used as theme songs of the 2011 Pokémon movie.[2][3] On September 21, 2011, the band released their tenth album, Ordinary, which debuted at number 2 on the Oricon charts.
As of 2013 they are on tour promoting their On N On single which portrays a timeline of their current performance history. Concert information and dates available at Avex trex official site, http://www.avexnet.or.jp/elt/live.html
Members
Current members
- Kaori Mochida - vocalist, songwriter
- Ichiro Ito - guitarist, composer, arranger
Former members
- Mitsuru Igarashi - keyboardist, producer, songwriter (1996-2000)
Support members
- Genya Kuwajima - keyboardist (1996-2001)
- Keiichi "K-1" Kodo - drummer (1996-2001)
- Takeshi Asada - bassist (1996-2001)
- Kaoru Kato - guitarist (1996-2007)
- Tsunehiko Yashiro - keyboardist (2000-2001)
- Masafumi "Massy" Hayashi - keyboardist (2001-current)
- Taka Yamaguchi - drummer (2001-2012)
- Tanahashi "UNA" Nobuhito - band manipulation, live arrangement (2001-2004)
- Satoshi "Anthony" Yamada - bassist (2002-2005)
- Yasunari "Nam-Nam" Nakamura - band manipulation, live arrangement (2004-2011)
- Naoki Kasahara - bassist (2005-current)
- Tomoji Sogawa - band manipulation, live arrangement (2011-current)
- Koji Matsukawa - drummer (2013-current)
Discography
Albums
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak positions | Sales[4] | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [5] | ||||
| Everlasting |
|
1 | 2,000,000 | |
| Time to Destination |
|
1 | 3,500,000 |
|
| Eternity |
|
1 | 960,000 |
|
| 4 Force |
|
2 | 850,000 |
|
| Many Pieces |
|
1 | 520,000 |
|
| Commonplace |
|
1 | 310,000 |
|
| Crispy Park |
|
1 | 200,000 |
|
| Door |
|
2 | 90,000 |
|
| Change |
|
8 | 30,000 | — |
| Ordinary |
|
2 | 40,000 | — |
| Fun-Fare |
|
7 | 10,000 | — |
Compilation albums
| Title | Album details | Peak positions | Sales[4] |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [5] | |||
| Every Best Single +3 |
|
1 | 2,500,000 |
| Every Ballad Songs |
|
2 | 500,000 |
| Every Best Single 2 |
|
1 | 700,000 |
| Acoustic : Latte |
|
4 | 130,000 |
| 14 Message: Every Ballad Songs 2 |
|
2 | 110,000 |
| Every Best Singles: Complete |
|
1 | 170,000 |
Remix albums
| Title | Album details | Peak positions | Sales[4] |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [5] | |||
| The Remixes |
|
2 | 640,000 |
| The Remixes II |
|
5 | 300,000 |
| Super Eurobeat Presents Euro Every Little Thing |
|
3 | 200,000 |
| The Remixes III: Mix Rice Plantation |
|
19 | 35,000 |
| Cyber Trance Presents ELT Trance |
|
16 | 60,000 |
Extended plays
| Year | Album | JPN [5] |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | iTunes Originals
|
— |
| 2011 | Every Little Thing Member Select Best (Mochida/Ito version)
|
— |
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oricon Singles Charts [5] |
Billboard Japan Hot 100 [9][upper-alpha 1] | ||||
| "Feel My Heart" | 1996 | 24 | — | 129,000 | Everlasting |
| "Future World" | 20 | — | 110,000 | ||
| "Dear My Friend" | 1997 | 9 | — | 488,000 | |
| "For the Moment" | 1 | — | 688,000 | Time to Destination | |
| "Deatta Koro no Yō ni" | 3 | — | 602,000 | ||
| "Shapes of Love/Never Stop!" | 3 | — | 526,000 | ||
| "Face the Change" | 1998 | 1 | — | 633,000 | |
| "Time Goes By" | 2 | — | 1,149,000 | ||
| "Forever Yours" | 1 | — | 475,000 | Every Best Single +3 | |
| "Necessary" | 2 | — | 233,000 | ||
| "Over and Over" | 1999 | 4 | — | 314,000 | |
| "Someday, Someplace" | 4 | — | 183,800 | ||
| "Pray/Get into a Groove" | 2000 | 2 | — | 407,000 | Eternity |
| "Sure" | 2 | — | 250,000 | ||
| "Rescue Me/Smile Again" | 2 | — | 99,000 | ||
| "Ai no Kakera" | 2 | — | 206,000 | 4 Force | |
| "Fragile/Jirenma" | 2001 | 1 | — | 834,000 | |
| "Graceful World" | 5 | — | 194,000 | ||
| "Jump" | 7 | — | 107,000 | Many Pieces | |
| "Kioku" | 2002 | 4 | — | 136,900 | |
| "Sasayaka na Inori" | 5 | — | 77,000 | ||
| "Untitled 4 Ballads" | 1 | — | 369,000 | ||
| "Grip!" | 2003 | 7 | — | 65,000 | |
| "Fundamental Love" | 9 | — | 55,900 | Commonplace | |
| "Mata Ashita" | 3 | — | 180,000 | ||
| "Soraai" | 2004 | 8 | — | 48,000 | |
| "Koibumi/Good Night" | 1 | — | 156,000 | Crispy Park | |
| "Kimi no Te" | 2005 | 2 | — | 74,000 | |
| "Azure Moon" | 2006 | 12 | — | 24,000 | |
| "Hi-Fi Message" | 9 | — | 23,000 | ||
| "Swimmy" | 16 | — | 21,000 | ||
| "Kirameki Hour" | 2007 | 14 | — | 20,000 | Door |
| "Koi wo Shiteiru/Fuyu ga Hajimaru yo" | 7 | — | 39,000 | ||
| "Sakurabito" | 2008 | 9 | — | 24,000 | |
| "Atarashii Hibi/Ōgon no Tsuki" | 10 | — | 30,000 | Every Best Singles: Complete | |
| "Dream Goes On" | 2009 | 6 | — | 14,000 | Change |
| "Tsumetai Ame" | 15 | — | 7,000 | ||
| "Change" | 2010 | 16 | — | 7,000 | |
| "Star" | 2011 | 6 | — | 20,000 | Ordinary |
| "Moon" | 7 | — | 20,000 | ||
| "Sora/Koe" | 12 | — | 10,000 | ||
| "Ai ga Aru" | 17 | 8 | 12,000 | ||
| "Landscape" | 30 | — | 6,000 | Fun-Fare | |
| "On And On" | 2013 | 18 | — | 5,000 | |
| "Harinezumi no Koi" | 16 | — | 3,000 | ||
- ↑ The Japan Hot 100 was established in February 2008.
Other appearances
| Title | Year | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Brave Story" | 2006 | TRF | Lif-e-Motions |
| "Thx A Lot" | 2010 | A-Nation's Party | — |
Vinyl sets
- The Remixes Analog Box Set (December 19, 1997)
- The Remixes II Analog Set (June 16, 1999)
Video albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1998 | The Video Compilation
|
Every Little Thing Concert Tour '98
| |
| 2000 | Rescue Me
|
Every Little Thing Concert Tour Spirit 2000
| |
| 2001 | Ai no Kakera
|
The Video Compilation II
| |
Fragile/Graceful World
| |
Concert Tour 2001 4 Force
| |
| 2002 | The Video Compilation I & II
|
Best Clips
| |
| 2003 | Nostalgia
|
The Video Compilation III
| |
Every Little Thing: 2003 Tour Many Pieces
| |
| 2005 | Every Little Thing Commonplace Tour 2004 - 2005
|
| 2006 | The Video Compilation IV
|
| 2007 | Every Little Thing Concert Tour 2006-2007: Crispy Park
|
10th Anniversary Special Live at Nippon Budokan
| |
| 2008 | Every Little Thing Concert Tour 2008 "Door"
|
| 2009 | Every Little Thing X'mas Concert 2008
|
| 2010 | Every Little Thing Concert tour 2009-2010 "Meet"
|
| 2012 | Every Little Thing 15th Anniversary Concert Tour 2011-2012 "Ordinary"
|
| 2013 | Every Little Thing Concert Tour 2013: On a On
|
- DVD-Audio
- Every Best Single +3 (January 28, 2004)
- Koibumi/Good Night (恋文/Good Night) (December 15, 2004)
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Robert Michael Poole (2008-08-22). "Seasoned J-pop duo ELT keep it positive". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
- ↑ "【劇場版ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ「ビクティニと黒き英雄 ゼクロム」「ビクティニと白き英雄 レシラム」】でEvery Little Thingが歌う「宙 -そら-」が主題歌として決定！！". 2011-04-13. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
- ↑ "2011年7月13日 ニューシングル発売決定！！ ※発売日が変更になりました". Retrieved 2011-06-12.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved 2010-10-05. (subscription only)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "Every Little ThingのCD・DVDリリース一覧". Oricon. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ↑ "一般社団法人 日本レコード協会". Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
- ↑ "Every Little Thing「iTunes Originals: Every Little Thing」". iTunes. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
- ↑ "Every Little Thing「Every Little Thing Member Select Best 〜春に聴きたいELT(持田香織編)〜」". iTunes. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
- ↑ "Hot 100｜JAPAN Charts｜Billboard JAPAN" (in Japanese). Billboard.
External links
- Official website
- Every Little Thing discography at MusicBrainz