Jasmine (Japanese singer)
Encyclopedia
(born May 19, 1989), is a Japanese singer, songwriter and producer whose real given name
is . She is represented by Sony Music Japan, and is a DJ
for the Japanese radio station J-Wave
. In June 2009, she released her debut single "Sad to Say". Described as "the next Hikaru Utada", Jasmine cites Utada as her influence.
. It was here that her interest in gospel music
began. Jasmine soon joined the American Expedition Choir. She decided to become a professional singer at the age of seventeen, and began writing her own lyrics and music. She soon signed a contract with Sony Music
in Japan.
chart, were it debuted at number one. With this, Jasmine became the first singer to debut at number one with their debut song on the chart. Soon after the release of "Sad to Say", critics began calling Jasmine "the reincarnation of Hikaru Utada" and compared the two's choice of promoting only through radio appearances. After debuting at number thirteen on the Oricon
singles chart, the single later peaked at number ten in its second week. The single has since become her most successful, peaking at number one on the digital charts and selling in excess of 30,000 physical copies in Japan.
On October 25, 2009, Jasmine had her debut live performance at the Saitama Super Arena
, as a special guest for American singer Ne-Yo
. Her performance coincided with the release of her second single "No More" on October 28. The song became her second top five entry on the digital charts when it debuted at the fifth position. It was also a top twenty single on the Oricon chart, debuting at number fifteen.
Jasmine returned in 2010 with set of three singles, each released within a month of each other. The first of the three, "This is Not a Game", was released on March 3 and was limited to 10,000 copies. The song was used the opening theme for NTV
's Music Fighter that month. A cover of "My Life, My Love, My All" by Kirk Franklin
was featured as the single's b-side, a reference to Jasmine's gospel roots. The single debuted at twenty-three on the Oricon charts and charted for four weeks. Follow up single "Jealous" was released on April 7 and was again limited to 10,000 copies. The single featured a second gospel cover. This time it was "I Need You to Survive" by Hezekiah Walker
. The single became Jasmine's third top twenty single on the Oricon chart. Jasmine's fifth single "Dreamin'" was then released on May 12. This single was produced by Jeff Miyahara
, much like Jasmine's four previous A-sides, and became a top forty single on the Oricon chart.
Over a year since her debut, Jasmine's debut album Gold was released throughout Japan on July 21, 2010.
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
is . She is represented by Sony Music Japan, and is a DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
for the Japanese radio station J-Wave
J-Wave
J-Wave is a commercial radio station based in Tokyo, Japan, broadcasting on 81.3 FM from the Tokyo Tower to the Tokyo area. J-Wave airs mostly music covering a wide range of formats. The station is considered the most popular among FM broadcasts in Tokyo, and has surprised the radio broadcast...
. In June 2009, she released her debut single "Sad to Say". Described as "the next Hikaru Utada", Jasmine cites Utada as her influence.
Background information
Jasmine first experienced singing at thirteen years old, in a gospel choir at Yokota Air BaseYokota Air Base
, is a United States Air Force base in the city of Fussa, one of 26 cities in the Tama Area, or Western Tokyo.The base houses 14,000 personnel. The base occupies a total area of and has a runway...
. It was here that her interest in gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
began. Jasmine soon joined the American Expedition Choir. She decided to become a professional singer at the age of seventeen, and began writing her own lyrics and music. She soon signed a contract with Sony Music
Sony Music Entertainment Japan
is Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry....
in Japan.
2009–present: Debut and first album
Jasmine released her debut single "Sad to Say" on June 24, 2009. Previous to this date the song was released as a ringtone on the Chaku-Uta FullKDDI
is a Japanese telecommunications operator formed in October 2000 through the merger of DDI Corp., KDD Corp., and IDO Corp. It has its headquarters in the Garden Air Tower in Iidabashi, Chiyoda, Tokyo....
chart, were it debuted at number one. With this, Jasmine became the first singer to debut at number one with their debut song on the chart. Soon after the release of "Sad to Say", critics began calling Jasmine "the reincarnation of Hikaru Utada" and compared the two's choice of promoting only through radio appearances. After debuting at number thirteen on the Oricon
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
singles chart, the single later peaked at number ten in its second week. The single has since become her most successful, peaking at number one on the digital charts and selling in excess of 30,000 physical copies in Japan.
On October 25, 2009, Jasmine had her debut live performance at the Saitama Super Arena
Saitama Super Arena
is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Chūō-ku, Saitama City, Saitama, Japan. Its spectator capacity is 37,000 at maximum settings.This main arena capacity is between 19,000-22,500 when events such as basketball, volleyball, tennis, ice hockey, gymnastics, boxing, mixed martial arts and...
, as a special guest for American singer Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
. Her performance coincided with the release of her second single "No More" on October 28. The song became her second top five entry on the digital charts when it debuted at the fifth position. It was also a top twenty single on the Oricon chart, debuting at number fifteen.
Jasmine returned in 2010 with set of three singles, each released within a month of each other. The first of the three, "This is Not a Game", was released on March 3 and was limited to 10,000 copies. The song was used the opening theme for NTV
Nippon Television
is a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
's Music Fighter that month. A cover of "My Life, My Love, My All" by Kirk Franklin
Kirk Franklin
Kirk Dwayne Franklin is an American Gospel music musician, choir director, and author, and is most notably known for leading urban contemporary gospel choirs such as The Family, God's Property and One Nation Crew .- Early years :...
was featured as the single's b-side, a reference to Jasmine's gospel roots. The single debuted at twenty-three on the Oricon charts and charted for four weeks. Follow up single "Jealous" was released on April 7 and was again limited to 10,000 copies. The single featured a second gospel cover. This time it was "I Need You to Survive" by Hezekiah Walker
Hezekiah Walker
Bishop Hezekiah Xzavier Walker, Jr. is a Grammy Award-winning gospel music artist, founder and leader of the Love Fellowship Choir , and Pastor and Bishop of the Love Fellowship Tabernacle, with locations in Brooklyn, New York, and Bensalem, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
. The single became Jasmine's third top twenty single on the Oricon chart. Jasmine's fifth single "Dreamin'" was then released on May 12. This single was produced by Jeff Miyahara
Jeff Miyahara
Jeff Miyahara is a Japanese-Korean record producer and song-writer raised in Los Angeles, today based in Tokyo, Japan.Since moving to Japan in 1999 to begin his career in the music industry, he has worked with many Japanese artists such as Spontania, JUJU, Miliyah Kato, Namie Amuro as well as...
, much like Jasmine's four previous A-sides, and became a top forty single on the Oricon chart.
Over a year since her debut, Jasmine's debut album Gold was released throughout Japan on July 21, 2010.
Album
| Year | Album information | Chart positions |
Total sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Gold
|
3 | 50,000 |
Singles
| Release | Title | Notes | Chart positions | Oricon sales |
Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oricon Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... singles charts |
Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Japan Hot 100 Japan Hot 100 The Japan Hot 100 is a music singles chart in Japan. It is compiled by Billboard and Hanshin Contents Link ever since February 2008. The chart is updated every Wednesday at billboard-japan.com and every Thursday at billboard.com .... |
RIAJ digital tracks RIAJ Digital Track Chart The is chart ranks the best selling digital singles in Japan, provided by the Recording Industry Association of Japan since April 2009. The chart measures cellphone downloads .... |
|||||
| 2009 | "Sad to Say" | Certified platinum for full-length cellphone downloads | 10 | 6 | 1 | 31,200 | Gold |
| "No More" | Certified gold for full-length cellphone downloads | 15 | 8 | 5 | 9,200 | ||
| 2010 | "This Is Not a Game" | Limited production run of 10,000 copies | 23 | 55 | 16 | 4,600 | |
| "Jealous" | 20 | 55 | 9 | 3,800 | |||
| "Dreamin'" | 38 | 50 | 13 | 5,500 | |||
| 2011 | "One" | Stargate (production team) Stargate (production team) This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"... |
32 | 38 | 27 | 3,600 | |
| "Only You" | 59 | — | 19 | 2,300 | |||