Southern All Stars Totally Explained

Everything about Southern All Stars totally explained

, also known by abbreviations or SAS, are a Japanese pop rock band formed in Kanagawa Prefecture, led by singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Keisuke Kuwata. Their lineup has consisted of Kuwata, lead vocals and electric and acoustic guitars; vocalist and keyboardist Yuko Hara (who is also Kuwata's wife); bassist Kazuyuki Sekiguchi; drummer Hiroshi Matsuda; percussionist Hideyuki Nozawa; and former guitarist Takashi Omori (who left the band in 2001).
They are ranked number one in a list of Japan's top 100 influential musicians by HMV.
The Southern All Stars have gained enormous commercial success on both Japanese albums and singles charts. Umi no Yeah!!, a double-CD compilation album released in 1998, has sold more than 3.3 million copies and became the best-selling double-album in Japan. "Tsunami", the ballad released as a single in 2000, has sold over 2.9 million copies. Total sales of their albums and singles have been estimated more than 47 million copies.

History

Early years

1975 saw a prototype of the band comprised of Aoyama Gakuin University students who belonged to the popular music club "Better Days", formed by Keisuke Kuwata. In their early days, the band changed its name frequently, such as "Onsen Anma Momohiki Band", "Piston Kuwata and the Cylinders", and "Keisuke Kuwata and the Hitchcock Gekijou". Finally, when keyboardist Yuko Hara joined the group, they chose a permanent name. Named after the "Fania All-Stars" and "Southern Rock" by Kuwata's friend.
   After several changes of members, they tried for "Yamaha EastWest '77", the contest of amateur musicians by the Yamaha Music Foundation. At this contest, Kuwata won a prize for the "best vocalist". When the band participated in this contest, Hiroshi Matsuda and Hideyuki Nozawa, two members who were not Aoyama Gakuin's students joined them, and all the members of the group were then assembled.
   On July 25, 1978, their debut single "Katte ni Sindbad" was released from Victor Entertainment. Its title was named after two hit songs in Japan in 1977, "Katte ni Shiyagare" by Kenji Sawada and "Nagisa no Sindbad" by Pink Lady In addition, the release date of their debut single was Sawada's 29th birthday. The song featured Kuwata's impressive coarse-grained vocals like a tongue twister. To promote their first single, they appeared on various TV programs. The weird costumes they dressed in and their eccentric performance made an unforgettable impact on listeners. Their single gradually climbed the charts, and peaked at number-three on the Japan's oricon singles chart in autumn of the same year.
   Because of the sales promotion of "Katte ni Sindbad" and a following single "Kibun Shidai de Semenaide", they were considered performers of novelty songs. However, "Itoshi no Ellie", their third single released on March 25, 1979, was sufficient to overturn their comedic public image. This pop-ballad was highly regarded by many Japanese music critics and artists, including Hiroshi Miyagawa and Kosetsu Minami. The song is regarded as one of the most notable songs by the Southern All Stars. In 1988, a cover version by Ray Charles was featured in a Suntory Limited TV advertisement. It was released as a single in Japan only, and reached number-three on the Oricon. The cover version by Charles became the best-selling single performed by a Western artist in 1989.
   Two months after the Southern All Stars released their debut single, their first album called Atsui Munasawagi was marketed. The band wasn't able to devote ample time to recording and songwriting for 10 Numbers Carat, their second album which featured their breakthrough ballad "Itoshi no Ellie", which was released only eight months after their debut album. Kuwata's angry look on the album cover mirrored his exhaustion. Hence, the leader of the band wasn't satisfied with the quality of the album, and has stated that the album was "trash".

The first half of the 1980s

In 1980, the band started a serial project called "Five Rock Show", and released five singles every month. Due to a lack of sales promotion, each single succeeded only moderately. However, thanks to the success of their early singles in the late '70s, they'd built up a solid fan base and high popularity on the album chart in Japan. Since Tiny Bubbles, their third album released in 1980, all of their studio albums have reached the top consecutively. That album featured two songs featuring vocals by band members, Yuko Hara's "Watashi wa Piano" and Matsuda's "Matsuda no Komoriuta". The former was covered by girl-pop singer Mizue Takada in the same year, and became a top-ten hit.
   On January 24, 1982, the band released the single "Chako no Kaigan Monogatari". Kuwata intended commercial success, and wrote this song in typical Japanese kayokyoku style. In addition, as a vocalist, he imitated the lisping vocals of Toshihiko Tahara, one of the most popular Japanese male idol singers at that time. Such popular expression generally a received favorable reaction from the public, and became the band's most successful single since Itoshi no Ellie. Following the success of the single, their fifth studio album Nude Man was bigger than ever. The album reached number-three on oricon's 1982 year-end chart, and later became that year's best-selling album. One of the highlights of Nude Man, Natsu o Akiramete was recorded by distinguished comedienne and singer Naoko Ken the same year. Her cover version sold 300,000 copies, and became one of her most successful works as a singer.
   After the hit of "Chako no Monogatari", Kuwata married Hara on his 26th birthday. They invited their fans for their wedding ceremony.
   Throughout the Southern All Stars' career, Kuwata has featured extremely erotic expressions in many of his self-written songs and the band's sales promotions. "I Love You wa Hitorigoto", Kuwata composition released as Hara's first solo single in 1981, was banned due to suggestive lyrics including the term "motel". The cover of the band's 1983 single "Body Special II" featured the breast of a topless woman. Such explicit expression from Kuwata and his band's music has continued to date.
   In 1983 and 1984, two albums Kirei and Ninkimono de Ikō were released. Both of these albums featured mainly adult-oriented rock rendition songs. With Miss Brand-New Day, a successful single and one of the highlights on Ninkimono de Ikō, the band gradually built up a definite reputation in the changeable Japanese music industry.
   In 1985, the band released double studio album Kamakura, which is now considered one of the finest albums for them. To promote this blockbuster, extensive advertisement including an impressive TV commercial starring distinguished comedian Sanma Akashiya was used. Such large-scale promotion brought about rumors that the band might break up. In fact, in the process of recording, conflict arose between the Kuwata and Sekiguchi. It is said that they devoted over 1,800 hours to the recording of this album. The process didn't always go smoothly, but the end product provided the group with great success as a result. The album was highly praised by both critics and listeners, and Kuwata was very satisfied with the favorable reception. In addition, the hara had conceived his child the same year, so he suspended the group's career temporarily. Around 1986, he began work on solo projects, including the Kuwata Band. Other band members had also begun various solo projects.

Projects with Takeshi Kobayashi

"Kanashii Kimochi (Just a Man in Love)", Keisuke Kuwata's successful solo debut single released in 1987, was produced and arranged by Takeshi Kobayashi. Kobayashi started his career in the late '70s, and collaborated with numerous Japanese musicians, including Ryuichi Sakamoto, Yosui Inoue, Taeko Onuki, Hiroshi Takano and Kenji Omori. Through the recording of the solo material, Kuwata recognized Kobayashi's abundant and practical ability, and decided to continue this strong combination for his career. In the late 1980s and the early 1990s, Kobayashi participated in many projects with the Southern All Stars. Kuwata praised Kobayashi's capability as a partner, and joked at a live performance, "Even if he's unwilling to be part of my projects, I'll force him to be involved in my career!"
On June 25, 1988, ten years after the Southern All Stars debuted, they returned to the Japanese music scene with a single "Minna no Uta" produced by Kobayashi. Their 1989 single Sayonara Baby reached to the top on the oricon's single chart, and it became the first #1 hit on that chart for the band. In same year, 4-CDs box-set compilation entitled Suika was released. Regardless of voluminous contents, the album peaked at #1 and sold more than 300,000 units.

1990s

In the 1990s, the Japanese music industry prospered more than during other decades. The Southern All Stars continued to enjoy commercial success, and remained one of the mainstream groups of Japanese popular music throughout the 1990s.
   In 1990, Kuwata directed the film called Inamura Jane. The movie wasn't well-received, but the soundtrack was very successful, reaching #1 on Japanese charts and selling over 1 million copies. Finally it became the best-selling soundtrack album in Japan. "Manatsu no Kajitsu", a song written by Kuwata was released as the lead single from the album, and climbed to the top 5 on the charts. In 1991, Hong Kong singer Jacky Cheung covered the ballad in Chinese, and enjoyed huge commercial success in several Asian countries. This romantic pop ballad is considered as one of the fan favorites. This soundtrack included another highlight, "Kibō no Wadachi". Having appeared on the album only, the song is well-known as one of the Southern All Stars' most significant songs.
   Kuwata and his band also released a self-titled studio album in 1990. Following the previous O.S.T. album, it became million-seller.
   In 1991, Kazuyuki Sekiguchi left the band temporarily to overcome health problems, returning in 1995. The next year, the remaining members released two singles "Shulaba-La-Bamba" and "Namida no Kiss" the on same day. The latter marked the top of the Oricon singles chart for 7 weeks and sold more than 1.5 million copies. It was their first million-selling single, and finally marked the top five on the Japanese Year-End singles chart for 1992. Two months from the release of those successful singles, their tenth studio album entitled Yo ni Man'yō no Hana ga Sakunari was released. At first, Kuwata planned to release it as a double album, but finally decided to omit some of the recordings, including 1991 number-one hit single "Neo Bravo!!" The album has sold nearly 1.8 million copies.
   In 1993, the remixed EP Enoshima was released under the pseudonym project named "Z-Dan". It sold more than 900,000 copies, and won the 8th Japan Gold Disc Award's "Compilation Album of the Year" prize. The same year, the band released the second million-selling single "Erotica Seven". Strong partnership between Kuwata and Kobayashi ended in the band's holiday song released as a single "Christmas Love" in the autumn of that year. However, the two have collaborated from time to time after the temporary parting, such as Kuwata and the Mr. Children's successful charity single "Kiseki no Hoshi" released in 1995.
   In entire 1994, the leader worked as a solo artist again. The band released no new materials. After the blank of a year, the band restarted their career with "Mampy no G-Spot", the obscene song released as a single only. From this single, Sekiguchi, who had left the band in 1991, appeared again. "Anatadake o -Summer Heartbreak-", the other song released in 1995 provided the group with their 3rd million-seller single. Later, Kuwata mentioned that Summer Heartbreak is one of his favorites. The next year, the band released two singles Ai no Kotodama -Spiritual Message- and Taiyō wa Tsumi na Yatsu, the former selling over million copies. Young Love, their 11th album featured successful singles including two million-sellers, has sold more than 2.5 million copies to become one of the best-selling albums of 1996. It has remained the band's most successful studio album to date.

Tsunami and Omori's independence

On January 26 2000, their 44th single, "Tsunami" was released. It was used as theme song of Mirai Nikki III, a popular part of the TBS program called Un-nan no Hontoko!, and made a strong impression on many people. The song reached number-one on the singles chart for five weeks, finally selling more than 2.9 million units. It is the third best-selling single in Japan of the last 40 years. On New Year's Eve of 2000, Tsunami won the 42nd Japan Record Award. After the enormous success of the single, the band became more conservative. They released several singles and all of them became hits.
After the concert tour in 2000, Takashi Omori announced a stop in work and he left from the band in August of 2001. Omori and his wife were well known as pious and influential Soka Gakkai adherents. This caused various rumors in the press about religious problems between himself and other members and many fans.
By the early 2000s, each member had actively pursued solo projects. Particularly, Kuwata produced three million-selling records and one album around 2001 and 2002.

Recent years

In October of 2005, their latest double-album Killer Street was released. The album debuted at number-one on both of the national and the Worldwide Charts, and already sold over million units to date.
On May 18 2008, Victor Entertainment announced that Southern All Stars will stop working as a band in 2009, with members still continuing to work individually. Victor Entertainment also says that that'll come back working as a band.

Discography

Main article: Southern All Stars discography

Number one singles

The following songs reached the top of Oricon weekly singles chart:

"Katte ni Sinbad" (勝手にシンドバッド Willfully, Sinbad) (June 25, 1978)
"Sayonara Baby" (さよならベイビー Goodbye, Baby) (June 7, 1989)
"Neo Bravo!!" (ネオ・ブラボー!!) (July 10, 1991)
"Namida no Kiss" (涙のキッス Kiss of Tears) (July 18, 1992)
"Erotica Seven" (エロティカ・セブン) (July 21, 1993)
"Anata Dake o" (あなただけを Only to You) (July 17, 1995)
"Ai no Kotodama~Spiritual Message" (愛の言霊~Spiritual Message) (May 20, 1996)
"Tsunami" (TSUNAMI) (January 26, 2000)
"Namida no Umi de Dakaretai ~Sea of Love~" (涙の海で抱かれたい ~Sea of Love~ I Want to be Held in the Sea of Tears ~Sea of Love~) (July 23, 2003)
"Aya ~ Aja" (彩 ~Aja~) (April 14, 2004)
"Kimi no Koso Star da" (君こそスターだ) (July 21, 2004)
"Ai to Yokubō no Hibi" (愛と欲望の日々 Days of Love and Desire) (November 24, 2004)
"Dirty Old Man ~Saraba Natsu Yo~" (DIRTY OLD MAN ~さらば夏よ~ Dirty Old Man ~Goodbye Summer~) (August 9, 2006)

Number one albums

The following albums reached the top of Oricon weekly albums chart:

Tiny Bubbles (1980)

(1981)

Nude Man (1982)

(compilation, 1982)

(1983)

(1984)

Kamakura (1985)

BALLADE 2 '83-'86 (compilation, 1986)

Southern All Stars Special 61 Songs (box-set compilation, 1989)

Southern All Stars (1990)

(soundtrack for the same-titled film released as Southern All Stars and All Stars, 1990)

(1992)

Happy (box-set compilation, 1995)

Young Love (1996)

(compilation, 1998)

(1998)

the album of LOVE' (compilation, 2000)

Killer Street (2005)Further Information

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