Greeeen

GreeeeN

A silhouette of the members of Greeeen (2010).
Background information
Origin  Japan
Genres Pop rock, hip hop, breakbeat
Years active 2002–current
Labels Nayutawave Records (until 2014)
Zen Music (since 2014)
Associated acts JIN
Website greeeen.co.jp
Members Hide
Navi
92
Soh

Greeeen (stylized as GReeeeN) is a Japanese pop rock/hip hop/breakbeat vocal group from Kōriyama city in Fukushima Prefecture, comprising the all-male four members Hide, Navi, Kuni (written as "92"), and Soh. They made their debut with Universal Music in 2007. Their logo image is of a mouthful of teeth, and the four Es indicate the number of members. The sound production is handled by Hide's older brother JIN, a former guitarist of Pay money To my Pain.[1] According to their website at Universal Music Japan, their catch phrase is "Rock 'n' Breakbeats with Four Microphones".[2]

One notable characteristic is that none of the members have ever shown their faces in the public sphere as a part of GReeeeN, whether in their promotional videos, CDs, television performances, or the Internet. In their only performance on TV-U Fukushima's music show Music Bar Palo Palo (broadcast on January 19, 2007), the group even went as far as censoring their faces during the performance. GReeeeN cites keeping their professional lives in dentistry compatible with their musical ventures as the reason, but one of the members, Hide, has hinted that after all of the members pass the prefectural examination in dentistry and receive permission from the directors of the hospitals they work for, the group may consider a public appearance.

All members studied at the dentistry department at Ohu University in Fukushima Prefecture and the group debuted while still in school in 2007.

The members' identities are still unknown, as their faces have never been made public. At first, the group stated that they would wait until all of the members passed the exam before revealing their faces, but in 2009 they indicated that they will still keep their identities secret to avoid any interference with their careers as dentists.

History

Hide began his music career as a member of a Japanese hardcore band in his junior high school. Hide and Navi formed duo "GReeeN" (The name was three e's sequence at that time) in 2002. Their music was influenced under Western rock bands such as Sublime and Sugar Ray. However, the group was renamed "Greeeen" in 2004 when 92 and Soh joined the group. Soh was a fan of hip hop and reggae. 92 came from Okinawa Prefecture and had his musical roots in Okinawan music. After they released the EP Greeeen in February 2006, the Universal Music Japan recruited them in March 2006.

They debuted under the label Nayutawave Records of the Universal Music Japan in January 2007 with the single "Michi". They released their third single "Ai Uta" on May 16, 2007. The single having a peak position of 8 on the Japanese Oricon weekly single charts and 2 on the daily charts, and in its 6th week, reached number 2 on the weekly charts. "Ai Uta" was certified Two Million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan for 2,000,000 full-track ringtone digital downloads (Chaku Uta Full).[3] Their debut album, A, Domo. Hajimemashite, was released on June 28, 2007, debuting at No. 2 on the Oricon weekly album charts. The debut album was certified Double Platinum by RIAJ for shipment of 500,000 copies.[4]

Their 7th single, "Kiseki", was released on May 28, 2008. The physical single reached number 1 on the Oricon charts and sold over 500,000 copies. The song was also certified Two Million by the RIAJ for 2,000,000 full-track ringtone digital downloads (Chaku Uta Full).[5] The song was ranked at the number-one position on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 Singles Yearly Charts.[6] Their second album A, Domo. Ohisashiburi Desu. debuted at No. 1 on Oricon weekly album charts, beating out Ayaka's second album Sing to the Sky. The album was awarded Million status by RIAJ for shipment of one million copies.[7]

Greeeen and Back-On formed supergroup Bareeeeeeeeeen, which released single "Ashiato" on October 1, 2008. Their 8th single "Tobira", 9th single "Ayumi", 10th single "Setsuna" and 11th single "Haruka" were certified Gold by RIAJ for those physical shipments of 100,000 copies each.[7][8][9][10] Their song "Haruka" debuted at the number-one position on the RIAJ Digital Track Chart.[11] The song "Haruka" was certified Million by RIAJ for 1,000,000 full-track ringtone digital downloads (Chaku Uta Full).[12] Their third album Shio, Koshō was released on June 10, 2009, debuting at the number-one position on the Oricon weekly album charts with the first-week sales of over 452,000 copies. Shio, Koshō became their second album to be awarded Million status by RIAJ.[13]

On June 29, 2009, the Guinness World Records certified their song "Kiseki" as the "best selling download single in Japan" with the full-track ringtone download sales of 2,301,674 copies of May 24, 2009.[14] It was announced that Greeeen would be teaming up with Hudson Soft to create music for 2009 DS game.[15]

Greeeen released their greatest hits double album Ima Made no A Men, B Men Dest!? on November 25, 2009. On November 5, 2009, an article of Nikkan Sports suggested that GReeeeN would disband after the release of the album.[16] Hide wrote on his blog that the rumours were false. On November 5, the official statement by Universal Music Japan also said that the report was false and that GReeeeN would still be releasing music after the release of the album Imamade no A Men, B Men Desuto!?.[17]

In 2011, their song "Every" was used for an Asahi Beer advert. They also provided the theme song for the NHK documentary show Athlete no Tamashii.[18] "Every" is to be included in Greeeen's first full single release in over an year "Hana Uta".

Discography

Albums

Year Information Oricon weekly
peak position
[19]		 Oricon sales
[20]		 RIAJ certifications
(sales thresholds)
2007 A, Domo. Hajimemashite
  • Released: June 28, 2007
  • Format: CD
 2 578,000 Triple Platinum[21]
2008 A, Domo. Ohisashiburi Desu.
  • Released: June 25, 2008
  • Format: CD, CD+DVD, CD (limited edition)
 1 902,000 Million[22]
2009 Shio, Koshō
  • Released: June 10, 2009
  • Format: CD, CD+DVD
 1 1,006,000 Million[23]
2012 Utautai ga Uta Utai ni Kite Uta Utae to Iu ga Utautai ga Uta Utau dake Utaikire ba Uta Utau keredomo Utautai dake Uta Utaikirenai kara Uta Utawanu!?
  • Released: June 27, 2012
  • Format: CD, CD+DVD
 2 191,370 Platinum
2013 Iine!(´・ω・｀)☆
  • Released: June 19, 2013
  • Format: CD, CD+DVD
2014 Imakara Oyayubi ga Kieru Tejina Shimasu.
  • Released: August 6, 2014
  • Format: CD, CD+DVD

Compilation albums

Year Information Oricon weekly
peak position
[19]		 Oricon sales
[20]		 RIAJ certifications
(sales thresholds)
2009 Ima Made no A Men, B Men Dest!?
  • Released: November 25, 2009
  • Format: 2CDs regular edition, 2 CDs limited edition
 1 558,313 3× Platinum[24]
2010 AB Dest!? Tour!? 2010 Supported by Hudson x Greeeen Live!? Deeees!?
  • Fabricated live album.
  • Released: May 26, 2010
  • Format: 3CDs
 10 22,000

Singles

Release Title Notes Chart position Oricon
sales
[20]		 Album
Oricon Singles Charts
[19]		 Billboard Japan Hot 100†
[25]		 RIAJ digital tracks†
[26]
2007 "Michi" (道 Road) 39 — 27* 28,000 A, Domo. Hajimemashite
"High G.K Low (Hajikero)" (HIGH G.K LOW ～ハジケロ～ Let's Burst) 97 — — 2,000
"Ai Uta" (愛唄 Love Song) RIAJ number 1 for two months. 2 — 1* 257,000
"Hito" (人 People) 2 — 6* 40,000 A, Domo. Ohisashiburi Desu.
2008 "Be Free/Namidazora" (BE FREE/涙空 Sky of Tears) 6 1
—		 5*
8*		 47,000
"Tabidachi" (旅立ち Trip) 10 23 11* 47,000
"Kiseki" Oricon/Billboard number 1 for two weeks, RIAJ number 1 for three months. 1 1 1* 558,000
"Ashiato" (足跡 Footprints) Collaboration with Back-On as Bareeeeeeeeeen. 7 6 2* 35,000 —
"Tobira" (扉 Door) 2 3 3* 87,000 Shio, Koshō
2009 "Ayumi" (歩み Walk) 2 2 1* 124,000
"Setsuna" (刹那 Moment) 4 4 1* 97,000
"Haruka" (遥か Far Off) RIAJ number 1 for four weeks. 2 1 1 145,000
2011 "Good Lucky!!!!!" Collaboration with Becky as Goocky (グッキー Gukkī). 12 17 18 16,000 Utautai ga Uta Utai ni Kite Uta Utae to Iu ga Utautai ga Uta Utau dake Utaikire ba Uta Utau keredomo Utautai dake Uta Utaikirenai kara Uta Utawanu!?
"Hana Uta" (花唄 Flower Song) 7 5 7 22,000
"So Ra Shi Do" (ソラシド Sol La Si Do) 10 TBA 6 19,000
"Koibumi (Rabu Retaa)" (恋文〜ラブレター〜 Love Letter (Love Letter)) - 7 TBA 2 29,000
2012 "Misenai Namida wa, Kitto Itsuka" (ミセナイナマダハ、きっといつか The Tears I Can't Show, Surely Someday) 6 4 1 40,000
"Orange" (オレンジ Orenji) 8 4 1 18,000
"Oh!!!! Meiwaku!!!!" (OH!!!! 迷惑!!!! Oh!!!! Trouble!!!!) 13 17 15 8,000
"Yuki no Ne" (雪の音 Sound of Snow) Release date: December 4, 2012 6 TBA TBA TBA Iine!(´・ω・｀)☆
2013 "Sakura color" (桜color) Release date: February 27, 2013 7 TBA TBA TBA
"Icarus" (イカロス Ikarosu) Release date: April 17, 2013 8 TBA TBA TBA
"HEROES" Release date: May 15, 2013 12 TBA TBA TBA
"Itoshikimi e" (愛し君へ To my beloved) Release date: August 21, 2013 14 TBA TBA TBA Imakara Oyayubi ga Kieru Tejina Shimasu.
"Bokura no Monogatari" (僕らの物語 Our story) Release date: November 27, 2013 16 TBA TBA TBA
2014 "Aisubeki Ashita , Isshun to Isshouwo" (愛すべき明日、一瞬と一生を) Release date: March 19, 2014 8 TBA TBA TBA
2015 "SAKAMOTO" Release date: August 19, 2015 35 TBA TBA TBA TBA
2016 "Yume" (夢 Dream) Release date: February 24, 2016 TBA TBA TBA TBA
* charted on monthly Chaku-uta Reco-kyō Chart.
†Japan Hot 100 established February 2008, RIAJ Digital Track Chart established April 2009.}

Awards

Japan Gold Disc Awards

Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result
2008 Greeeen New Artist of the Year Won[27]
"Ai Uta" Chaku-Uta Song of the Year Won[27]

Japan Record Awards

Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result
2009 Shio, Koshō Best Album Won[28]
Album Award Won[29]

Student Voice Awards

Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result
2008 "Kiseki" Best Ringtone Won[30]

Yahoo! Music Awards

Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result
2008 "Ai Uta" Works category Won[31]

References

  1. ↑ ＧＲｅｅｅｅＮプロデューサーがデビュー (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 2009-06-26. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  2. ↑ "Biography" (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  3. ↑ レコード協会調べ　8月度有料音楽配信認定 (in Japanese). RIAJ. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
  4. ↑ ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2007年7月 (in Japanese). RIAJ. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
  5. ↑ レコード協会調べ　1月度有料音楽配信認定 (in Japanese). RIAJ. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
  6. ↑ "GReeeeN、ビルボード年間チャートで1位" (in Japanese). Barks. 2008-12-12. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  7. 1 2 ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2008年12月 (in Japanese). RIAJ. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  8. ↑ ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2009年1月 (in Japanese). RIAJ. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  9. ↑ ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2009年3月 (in Japanese). RIAJ. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  10. ↑ ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2009年5月 (in Japanese). RIAJ. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  11. ↑ "RIAJ Digital Track Chart between May 20, 2009 and May 26, 2009" (in Japanese). RIAJ. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  12. ↑ レコード協会調べ　10月度有料音楽配信認定 (in Japanese). RIAJ. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  13. ↑ ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2009年6月 (in Japanese). RIAJ. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  14. ↑ "GReeeeN『キセキ』ギネスブックに登録！" (in Japanese). Excite Music. 2009-07-03. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  15. ↑ "人気ボーカルグループGReeeeNと　ハドソンがコラボレーション!!" (Portable Document Format) (in Japanese). Hudson Soft. 2009-06-10. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
  16. ↑ ＧＲｅｅｅｅＮ解散報道を所属事務所とレコード会社が否定 (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. 2009-11-05. Archived from the original on November 8, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-09.
  17. ↑ ＧＲｅｅｅｅＮのＨＩＤＥ、解散報道に怒り (in Japanese). Sankei Sports. 2009-11-05. Archived from the original on November 8, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-09.
  18. ↑ "GReeeeN's new song to be theme song for NHK". Tokyofever. Retrieved 2011-04-12.
  19. 1 2 3 "GReeeeNのCD・DVDリリース情報、GReeeeNのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
  20. 1 2 3 "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved 2010-08-07. (subscription only)
  21. ↑ "RIAJ Certifications for June 2007" (in Japanese). RIAJ. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
  22. ↑ "RIAJ Certifications for July 2008" (in Japanese). RIAJ. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
  23. ↑ "RIAJ Certifications for June 2009" (in Japanese). RIAJ. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
  24. ↑ "RIAJ Certifications for November 2009" (in Japanese). RIAJ. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
  25. ↑ "Hot 100｜JAPAN Charts｜Billboard JAPAN" (in Japanese). Billboard.
  26. ↑ 有料音楽配信チャート (in Japanese). RIAJ.
  27. 1 2 "EXILE wins Gold Disc award". Tokyograph. 2008-03-04. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
  28. ↑ レコ大各賞発表　ＥＸＩＬＥなど11組が大賞候補 (in Japanese). Sponichi Annex. 2009-12-01. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
  29. ↑ "51st Japan Record Awards announced". Tokyograph. 2009-12-01. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
  30. ↑ "Student Voice Awards: Oguri wins again". Tokyograph. 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
  31. ↑ "Yahoo! Music Awards 2007". Tokyograph. 2008-02-21. Retrieved 2010-01-21.

External links

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