Noriyuki Makihara
Encyclopedia
, nicknamed by his fans, is a Japanese pop
singer-songwriter
.
, Japan
. He attended Aoyama Gakuin University
to study English literature
. In addition to creating songs for his own music career, he has written, produced and performed songs for many other artists, the most notable being SMAP
's Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana. He is ranked at No.84, in a list of Japan's top 100 musicians, provided by HMV
.
Makihara made his debut to the J-Pop scene in the early 90's after performing on a televised song competition program. He made a name for himself with the release of songs such as Mou Koi Nante Shinai (もう恋なんてしない) and Donna Toki mo. (どんなときも。), both of which, among several others, are covered to this day by current popular artists (including English-language covers by various American artists). Some of his music has been translated into other languages, and "Donna Toki mo." specifically has been remixed by Bemani artists "Dream Line Out" for use on Konami's Beatmania game series.
Much of his music's lyrical content has revolved around the subject of romantic love
, though themes of profound joy, reminiscence, gratitude and deeper spiritual
aspects of the human condition have become predominant in recent years. In interviews on Japanese television, he has cited that his encounter with the law and subsequent probation
time due to drug possession has had an obvious effect on his work, inspiring such themes.
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-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
.
Biography
He was born on May 18, 1969 in Takatsuki, OsakaTakatsuki, Osaka
is a city located in Osaka, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 353,881 and the density of 3,360 persons per km². The total area is 105.31 km².The city was founded on January 1, 1943 and is located almost directly between Kyoto and Osaka...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He attended Aoyama Gakuin University
Aoyama Gakuin University
, abbreviated AGU, is a Japanese Christian university in Shibuya near Omotesandō, Tokyo, Japan. Aoyama Gakuin University is part of a comprehensive educational institute called Aoyama Gakuin, which includes a kindergarten, an elementary school, junior and senior high schools, and a women's junior...
to study English literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
. In addition to creating songs for his own music career, he has written, produced and performed songs for many other artists, the most notable being SMAP
SMAP
SMAP is a Japanese boy band formed by Johnny & Associates. While originally consisting of six members, the current group members are Masahiro Nakai, Takuya Kimura, Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori...
's Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana. He is ranked at No.84, in a list of Japan's top 100 musicians, provided by HMV
HMV
His Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone...
.
Makihara made his debut to the J-Pop scene in the early 90's after performing on a televised song competition program. He made a name for himself with the release of songs such as Mou Koi Nante Shinai (もう恋なんてしない) and Donna Toki mo. (どんなときも。), both of which, among several others, are covered to this day by current popular artists (including English-language covers by various American artists). Some of his music has been translated into other languages, and "Donna Toki mo." specifically has been remixed by Bemani artists "Dream Line Out" for use on Konami's Beatmania game series.
Much of his music's lyrical content has revolved around the subject of romantic love
Love
Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. Love is central to many religions, as in the Christian phrase, "God is love" or Agape in the Canonical gospels...
, though themes of profound joy, reminiscence, gratitude and deeper spiritual
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
aspects of the human condition have become predominant in recent years. In interviews on Japanese television, he has cited that his encounter with the law and subsequent probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
time due to drug possession has had an obvious effect on his work, inspiring such themes.
Singles
- 'NG' (25 October 1990)
- 'ANSWER' (25 April 1991)
- 'Donna Toki mo.' (10 June 1991)
- 'Fuyu ga Hajimaru yo' (10 November 1991)
- 'Mou Koi Nante Shinai' (25 May 1992)
- 'Kitakaze' (25 October 1992)
- 'Kanojo no Koibito' (25 April 1993)
- 'No. 1' (1 September 1993)
- 'Zuru Yasumi' (1 October 1993)
- 'Yuki ni Negai wo' (28 November 1993)
- 'Futatsu no Negai' (25 May 1994)
- 'SPY' (25 August 1994)
- 'Doushiyou mo nai Boku ni Tenshi ga Oritekita' (25 September 1996)
- 'Mada Ikiteru yo' (18 November 1996)
- 'Sunao' (30 July 1997)
- 'Montage' (29 October 1997)
- 'Ashioto' (21 January 1998)
- 'HAPPY DANCE' (23 July 1998)
- 'STRIPE!' (26 November 1998)
- 'Hungry Spider' (2 June 1999)
- 'Momo' (25 April 2001)
- 'Are You OK?' (24 October 2001)
- 'Ame ni mo Makezu' (22 May 2002)
- 'Hanabi no Yoru' (7 August 2002)
- 'Kore wa Tada no Tatoehanashi Janai' (26 September 2002)
- 'Wow' (13 February 2003)
- 'Kimi no Namae wo Yonda Ato ni' (21 May 2003)
- 'Good Morning!' (25 June 2003)
- 'Yasashii Uta ga Utaenai' (28 April 2004)
- 'Boku ga Ichiban Hoshikatta Mono' (28 July 2004)
- 'Chicken Rice' (17 November 2004) (Collaboration with Masatoshi HamadaMasatoshi Hamadais a Japanese comedian best known as the tsukkomi half of the popular owarai duo Downtown alongside Hitoshi Matsumoto. His nickname is Hama-chan , and is married to Natsumi Ogawa...
) - 'Akenai Yoru ga Kuru Koto wa Nai' (18 May 2005)
- 'Honno Sukoshi Dake' (1 February 2006) (Collaboration with Kuro of Home Made KazokuHome Made Kazokuis a Japanese hip hop trio signed to Ki/oon Records, a subsidiary of Sony Music.-Biography:Home Made Kazoku is a trio, consisting of members Micro, Kuro, and DJ U-Ichi. The band was originally formed in 1996 under a different name. The band was in a state of flux with regard to membership until...
) - 'GREEN DAYS' (15 August 2007)
- 'Akai Muffler/Ogenki de!' (12 December 2007)
- 'Firefly ~boku wa ikiteiku~' (6 February 2008) (Themesong 2008 movie "KIDS" by Tamaki Hiroshi and Koike Teppei)
- 'WE LOVE YOU.' (23 July 2008)
- 'Mugen no Kanata e ～To infinity and beyond～' (25 November 2009)
- 'Ringo no Hana' (12 March 2011)
Albums
- 'Kimi ga Warau Toki, Kimi no Mune ga Itamanai Youni' (25 October 1990, WEA JapanWarner Music GroupWarner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
.Re-released November 26, 1998) - 'Shuushoku Sensen Ijou Nashi' (25 June 1991)
- 'Kimi wa Dare to Shiawase na Akubi wo Shimasu ka.' (25 September 1991, WEA JapanWarner Music GroupWarner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
.Re-released November 26, 1998) - 'Kimi wa Boku no Takaramono' (25 June 1992, WEA JapanWarner Music GroupWarner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
.Re-released November 26, 1998) - 'SELF PORTRAIT' (31 October 1993, WEA JapanWarner Music GroupWarner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
) - 'PHARMACY' (25 October 1994, WEA JapanWarner Music GroupWarner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
) - 'UNDERWEAR' (25 October 1996, WEA JapanWarner Music GroupWarner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
/River Way) - 'SMILING~THE BEST OF NORIYUKI MAKIHARA~' (10 May 1997, WEA JapanWarner Music GroupWarner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
) - 'SMILING II~THE BEST OF NORIYUKI MAKIHARA~' (25 September 1997, WEA JapanWarner Music GroupWarner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
) - 'Such a Lovely Place' (27 November 1997, SME RecordsSony Music Entertainment Japanis 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....
) - 'SMILING III~THE BEST OF NORIYUKI MAKIHARA~' (10 May 1998, WEA JapanWarner Music GroupWarner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
) - 'Listen To The Music' (28 October 1998, SME RecordsSony Music Entertainment Japanis 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....
) - 'THE DIGITAL COWBOY~Ver. 1 OE LOVE LETTER~' (26 November 1998, WEA JapanWarner Music GroupWarner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
/River Way) - 'SMILING GOLD~THE BEST & BACKING TRACKS~' (24 February 1999, WEA JapanWarner Music GroupWarner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
) - 'Cicada' (10 July 1999, SME RecordsSony Music Entertainment Japanis 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....
) - '10 Y. O. ~THE ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION~' (24 May 2000)
- 'Taiyou' (29 November 2000, WEA JapanWarner Music GroupWarner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
) - 'NORIYUKI MAKIHARA SINGLE COLLECTION~Such a Lovely Place 1997-1999~' (6 December 2000)
- 'Home Sweet Home' (21 November 2001, WEA JapanWarner Music GroupWarner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
) - 'Song Book~Since 1997-2001~' (23 January 2002)
- 'THE CONCERT - CONCERT TOUR 2002 "Home Sweet Home" - ' (9 May 2002)
- 'Honjitsu wa Seiten Nari' (7 November 2002, WEA JapanWarner Music GroupWarner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
) - 'EXPLORER' (11 August 2004, Toshiba-EMI)
- 'Completely Recorded' (25 August 2004, WEA JapanWarner Music GroupWarner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
) - 'NORIYUKI MAKIHARA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA "CELEBRATION"' (25 November 2004)
- 'LIFE IN DOWNTOWN' (22 February 2006, Toshiba-EMI)
- 'Kanashimi Nante Nan no Yaku ni mo Tatanai to Omotteita.' (7 November 2007, J-More)
- 'Personal Soundtracks' (19 November 2008, J-More)
- 'Best LOVE' (1 January 2010, J-More)
- 'Best LIFE' (1 January 2010, J-More)
- 'Fuan no Naka ni Te o Tsukkonde' (30 June 2010, J-More)
- 'Heart to Heart' (27 July 2011, Buppu/SME RecordsSony Music Entertainment Japanis 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....
)
External links
- Buppu Records Website by Avex Group
- Noriyuki Makihara on Avex Group
- Noriyuki Makihara on EMI Music Japan
- Noriyuki Makihara on Warner Music Japan
- Noriyuki Makihara on Sony Music Japan