Mink (singer)
Encyclopedia
mink is a female Korean pop
singer active in Japan. Upon traveling to Japan in her early teens to continue her education, she was discovered after she submitted a demo
to Avex Trax
, one of Japan’s leading J-pop
labels. Her initial success occurred in Japan with the release of her first two albums. mink was born and raised in Korea, however she does not sing in Korean. She also had not shown her face on her albums, instead replacing her pictures with an anime-like
character until 2008's mink II ～endless love～ album.http://www.mink.cc/discography.html She had previously shown herself in her music videos, however.
In 2005, her song "Beautiful" was used for the film Initial D: The Movie
and featured on her debut album.
In 2006 her song "Glory of Life" was released and licensed to Rhythm Zone/King Street Records and remix
ed by Chris Cox
, John Creamer and Stephane K. "Glory of Life" hit the number one position on the U.S. Billboard
Hot Dance Club Play
chart. A second single "4 Love" was scheduled to be released to the U.S. in April 2006, but was later canceled (although it was still released in Japan). Mink is one of the first Asian Artists to have any sort of number one single in the US, some others being Kumi Koda
(with "Trust Your Love") and Utada Hikaru
(with "Devil Inside").
In April 2006, mink's "Eternal Love (Remix Version)" was used for the film Chisaki Yusha Tachi Gamera
. In December 2006, mink's "Here by my side (Original Version)" was used as the theme song for the 3D animated short Joe and Marilyn, part of the omnibus film Amazing Nuts! produced by Studio 4°C
.
On January 1, 2007, mink's "Innocent Blue -Chi Hate Umi Tsukiru Made-" was released. The song is the theme song for the Japan-Mongol epic film Aoki Ookami
, based on the life of Genghis Khan.
Mink also performed an English version of 'Together Again' that featured in the 2007 CGI anime 'Vexille.'
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer active in Japan. Upon traveling to Japan in her early teens to continue her education, she was discovered after she submitted a demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
to Avex Trax
Avex Trax
, listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange as 7860 and abbreviated as AGHD, is the holding company for a group of entertainment-related subsidiaries based in Japan...
, one of Japan’s leading J-pop
J-pop
, an abbreviation for Japanese pop, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in 1960s music, such as The Beatles, and replaced kayōkyoku in the Japanese music scene...
labels. Her initial success occurred in Japan with the release of her first two albums. mink was born and raised in Korea, however she does not sing in Korean. She also had not shown her face on her albums, instead replacing her pictures with an anime-like
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
character until 2008's mink II ～endless love～ album.http://www.mink.cc/discography.html She had previously shown herself in her music videos, however.
In 2005, her song "Beautiful" was used for the film Initial D: The Movie
Initial D (film)
Initial D is a 2005 Hong Kong film directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak. It is a film adaptation of the Japanese Initial D manga and anime series.-Plot:...
and featured on her debut album.
In 2006 her song "Glory of Life" was released and licensed to Rhythm Zone/King Street Records and remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed by Chris Cox
Chris Cox (DJ)
Chris Cox is a dance music producer, remixer, and DJ from USA and has worked on over 400 records. He has had a total of 40 Billboard dance chart number ones as part of the hitmaking remix team Thunderpuss, and others with Pusaka and as a solo artist. He was nominated for a Grammy in 2004 for his...
, John Creamer and Stephane K. "Glory of Life" hit the number one position on the U.S. 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...
Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart. A second single "4 Love" was scheduled to be released to the U.S. in April 2006, but was later canceled (although it was still released in Japan). Mink is one of the first Asian Artists to have any sort of number one single in the US, some others being Kumi Koda
Kumi Koda
, better known by her stage name , is a Japanese singer and songwriter from Kyoto, known for her urban and R&B songs. Having debuted in 2000 with the single "Take Back", Koda gained fame for her seventh single, "Real Emotion/1000 no Kotoba", the songs of which were used as themes for the video game...
(with "Trust Your Love") and Utada Hikaru
Utada Hikaru
, known by her stage name Utada in America and Europe, is a Japanese-American singer, song writer, arranger, and producer. Since the release of her Japanese debut album First Love, which went on to become the best-selling album in Oricon history, Utada has had three of her Japanese studio albums...
(with "Devil Inside").
In April 2006, mink's "Eternal Love (Remix Version)" was used for the film Chisaki Yusha Tachi Gamera
Gamera the Brave
Gamera the Brave, released in Japan as , is a kaiju film released in 2006, produced by Kadokawa Pictures. This is the 12th and final Gamera film and the first produced by Kadokawa Pictures after they purchased a percentage of the remaining assets of Daiei Motion Picture Company, the original...
. In December 2006, mink's "Here by my side (Original Version)" was used as the theme song for the 3D animated short Joe and Marilyn, part of the omnibus film Amazing Nuts! produced by Studio 4°C
Studio 4°C
is a Japanese animation studio founded by Eiko Tanaka in 1986. The name comes from the temperature at which water is most dense.-History:STUDIO4°C has produced numerous feature films, OVAs, and shorts. Early film titles include; Memories , Spriggan and Princess Arete...
.
On January 1, 2007, mink's "Innocent Blue -Chi Hate Umi Tsukiru Made-" was released. The song is the theme song for the Japan-Mongol epic film Aoki Ookami
Genghis Khan: To the Ends of the Earth and Sea
is a 2007 Japanese - Mongolian historical drama film depicting the life of Genghis Khan.-Cast:*Takashi Sorimachi as Temüjin/Genghis Khan*Rei Kikukawa as Börte*Mayumi Wakamura as Hoelun*Kenichi Matsuyama as Jochi*Yoshihiko Hakamada as Hasar*Go Ara as Khulan...
, based on the life of Genghis Khan.
Japanese Albums
- mink (RZCD-45228, Released on August 3, 2005 - Featuring "Beautiful" from INITIAL D THE MOVIE and covers of Eagles "I Can't Tell You Why," Steve Wonder's "Don't Worry 'Bout a Thing," DREAMS COME TRUE "Suki" and Extreme's "More than Words")
- e+motion (RZCD-45314, Released on December 7, 2005)
- Shalom (RZCD-45516, February 28, 2007)
- mink II ～endless love～ (RZCD-45754, April 23, 2008)
- Best of My Love (RZCD-46081, December 10, 2008)
Special Album Releases
- minkREMIX (RR12-88477, released on January 20, 2006, 12' ANALOG RELEASE by Rhythm REPUBLIC)
Japanese Singles
- 栄光の花 ("Glory of Life")
- おまじない ("Good-luck Charm")
- Rescue Me
- Beautiful / One Suitcase (Maxi-single) (RZCD-45267, October 5, 2005)
- 4 Love (RZCD-45342, April 19, 2006 - "Eternal Love" used as theme song for "Chisaki Yusha Tachi GAMERA")
- Hold on to a Dream (RZCD-45425, August 23, 2006)
- Innocent Blue ~Chi Hate Umi Tsukiru Made~ (RCZD-45483/B, January 1, 2007 - Theme song for the film "Aoki Ookami")
- Together Again (RZCD-45647, August 8, 2007)
- Sense (RZCD-45680, October 31, 2007)
Mink also performed an English version of 'Together Again' that featured in the 2007 CGI anime 'Vexille.'
See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart