Sweet Velvet

Sweet Velvet
OriginJapan
GenresJapanese pop
Years active1998–2001
LabelsGarage Indies Zipping Association (1999)
Giza Studio (1998-2001)
Past membersMizuki Akimoto (vocals)
Shinichi Inoue (Guitar)
Ryosuke Shimizu (Drums)
Naoyuki Tsukada (Bass)
Websitehttp://www.giza.co.jp/sweetvelvet/

Sweet Velvet was a Japanese pop band under Giza Studio label, formed in 1998 and disbanded in 2001.

Biography

[edit]

In 1998, the band formation began.[1] As inspiration for music production they used French pop from the '60s. The band title Sweet Velvet came from the idea of their vocalist Mizuki having velvety voice.[2]

In 1999, along with bands New Cinema Tokage and Grass Arcade they debuted on 10 February as "Number One Artists" (第1号アーティスト) on newly created Giza Studio label by distributors Being Inc. Their debut major single, I Just Feel So Love Again ~Soba ni Iru Dake de~ was released in double formats: 8 cm and 12 cm maxi single.[3] The song was used as ending theme for the anime television series Mamotte Shugogetten. Later, the original composer of the song, Aika Ohno, self-covered it in her English cover album Shadows of Dreams.[4]

In 1999 June, they released their mini album Sweet Velvet under indie label Garage Indies Zipping Association and single Flame of Love, which was used as ending theme for Anime television series. The ON AIR version differs from single release by key tuning and changed lyrics. With "Flame of Love" in July they made their only TV appearance on the Tokyo Broadcasting System Television music program CDTV. "Flame of Love" was included in 2011 in the compilation album Giza Studio Presents: Girls.[5]

Two months later on August, they released their final single "Lazy Drive", which was used as opening theme for TV Asahi morning news program Yajiuma Wide.[6] On-air version of this song started broadcast since April until December.[7]

In February 2000, they released their first and only studio album I Just Feel So "Sweet" which ranked #100 in Oricon Weekly Charts.

In 2001, they entered into indefinite hiatus without no announcement. Their official website was removed as well.

Members

[edit]

The band consisted of four members:

  • Mizuki Akimoto (秋本 瑞月, Akimoto Mizuki) - vocalist and lyricist
  • Shinichi Inoue (井上 慎一, Inoue Shinichi) - guitarist
  • Ryōsuke Shimizu (清水 亮祐, Shimizu Ryōsuke) - drummer
  • Naoyuki Tsukada (塚田 直幸, Tsukada Naoyuki) - keyboardist, bassist, backing vocals, synthesizer

Discography

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During their career they've released 1 studio, 1 indies album and 3 singles.[8]

Singles

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Release Day Title Peak
1st February 10, 1999 I Just Feel So Love Again ~Soba ni Iru Dake de~ (~そばにいるだけで~) 25[9]
2nd June 23, 1999 Flame Of Love 46[10]
3rd August 23, 1999 Lazy Drive 79[11]

Albums

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Release Day Title Peak
1st February 26, 2000 I Just Feel So "Sweet" 100[12]

Mini albums

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Release Day Title Code
1st June 12, 1999 Sweet Velvet ICR-003

Analogue

[edit]
Release Day Title Code
1st February 16, 1999 SWEETER BABY/SO GOOD IKR-003

Television appearance

[edit]

Magazine appearances

[edit]

From J-Rock Magazine:

From Music Freak Magazine:

  • 1999/February Vol.51[16]
  • 1999/May Vol.54[17]
  • 1999/June Vol.55[18]
  • 1999/August Vol.57[19]
  • 2000/February Vol.63[20]

References

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  1. ^ "Sweet Velvet Profile". Sweet Velvet Official Website (archived) (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2004-04-17.
  2. ^ "Sweet Velvet オンエア・雑誌掲載情報". Being Music Fantasy. Archived from the original on 2001-04-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ^ The same double formats applied for New Cinema Tokage's and Grass Arcade debut single as well.
  4. ^ "I JUST FEEL SO LOVE AGAIN (sweet velvet)". Amazon.
  5. ^ "Giza Studio Presents: Girls (V.A)". Oricon News (in Japanese).
  6. ^ "やじうまワイド オープニングテーマ Sweet Velvet - Lazy Drive (1999/04-1999/12)". やじうまワイド Fansite (in Japanese).
  7. ^ Credits from (in Japanese). April 5, 1999. TV Asahi. {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help)
  8. ^ "Sweet Velvet Discography". Sweet Velvet Official Website (archived) (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2007-01-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ "I JUST FEEL SO LOVE AGAIN (sweet velvet)". Oricon News (in Japanese).
  10. ^ "Flame Of Love (sweet velvet)". Oricon News (in Japanese).
  11. ^ "Lazy Drive (sweet velvet)". Oricon News (in Japanese).
  12. ^ "I JUST FEEL SO"sweet"(sweet velvet)". Oricon News (in Japanese).
  13. ^ "CDTVゲストライブ Sweet Velvet - Flame of love (1999/07/03)". atwiki.jp (in Japanese). 11 July 2017.
  14. ^ "Nack Number 1999 JRM". Official Website of J-Rock Magazine (Archived) (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2002-01-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. ^ "Nack Number 1999 JRM". Official Website of J-Rock Magazine (Archived) (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2001-11-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  16. ^ "Back Number 1992 February". Official Website of Music Freak Magazine (in Japanese).
  17. ^ "Back Number 1999 May". Official Website of Music Freak Magazine (in Japanese).
  18. ^ "Back Number 1999 June". Official Website of Music Freak Magazine (in Japanese).
  19. ^ "Back Number 1999 August". Official Website of Music Freak Magazine (in Japanese).
  20. ^ "Back Number 2000 February". Official Website of Music Freak Magazine (in Japanese).
[edit]

Official website (WebArchive) [1] Oricon profile [2]