Shazna
Encyclopedia
Shazna was a Japanese visual kei
rock band originally active from 1993 to 2000. The band started on the relatively harder side of rock
, but upon signing to a major label switched to a softer more pop
sound. They became one of the most popular visual kei bands of the 1990s, together with Malice Mizer
, La'cryma Christi
and Fanatic Crisis
. In 2006 Shazna reunited, they disbanded once again in 2009.
, leaving the trio. Perhaps the band's most notable feature was vocalist Izam and his choice of fashion; taking the cross-dressing feminine look to an extreme. Izam was largely influenced by Boy George
and Culture Club
, whom he later did a cover album of in 1998.
With the release of their major debut single "Melty Love" on August 27, 1997, Shazna gained immense popularity and many awards. It reached number two on the Oricon
chart, earned them the "Best Newcomer" award from the Nippon Yusen Awards and helped their album Gold Sun and Silver Moon, which was named "Rock Album of the Year" by Japan Gold Disc Award
s, be certified Million by the RIAJ
.
In 1999, Izam married famous idol
Hinano Yoshikawa
, only to file for separation two months later and divorce two months after that. Both the marriage and divorce caused a scandal.
In October they released a cover of Ippu-Do's "Violet September Love" as a single. In 1999 Shazna signed to Toshiba EMI and released the album Pure Hearts in June. Their last single (and their second Christmas single) "Winter's Review" was released in December. In January 2000, a singles collection was released, however in October Shazna went on an activity pause.
The members all went in different musical directions. Izam, with a much less feminine look, became a solo singer and turned to acting, appearing in several films such as Chinese Dinner, G@me
and Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: Act Zero, a special episode of the live-action series based on the popular Sailor Moon
manga
. Back in 1998 Izam also had a cameo appearance in the Crayon Shin-chan
movie Crayon Shin-chan: Blitzkrieg! Pig's Hoof's Secret Mission
, which used Shazna's song "Pureness" as its theme song. Aoi performs as an acoustic guitarist and singer, and became a filmmaker. Niy performs with the band Fanble.
In June 2006, after 6 years Shazna announced that they were reuniting. They held their first concert on September 5, 2006 and released the single "Heart" on April 25. They released the album 10th Melty Life on August 8, 2007, 10 years after the release of their major single debut "Melty Love". On November 3, 2008, Shazna announced that they would disband and played their last concert on March 22, 2009 at Shibuya O-East.
Shazna's song "Melty Love" was covered by BugLug on the compilation Crush! -90's V-Rock Best Hit Cover Songs-. The album was released on January 26, 2011 and features current visual kei
bands covering songs from bands that were important to the '90s visual kei movement.
Visual Kei
is a movement among Japanese musicians, that is characterized by the use of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics. Some sources state that visual kei refers to a music genre, or to a sub-genre of Japanese rock, with its...
rock band originally active from 1993 to 2000. The band started on the relatively harder side of rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, but upon signing to a major label switched to a softer more pop
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...
sound. They became one of the most popular visual kei bands of the 1990s, together with Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer was a visual kei rock band from Japan. They were active from August 1992 to December 2001. Formed by Mana and Közi, the band's name stands for "malice and misery", extracted from "nothing but a being of malice and misery" — their reply to the question "what is human?"...
, La'cryma Christi
La'cryma Christi
La'cryma Christi was a Japanese visual kei rock band, which formed in 1993 and disbanded in January 2007. They reunited for a concert in 2009 at the "V-Rock Festival", and for their short reunion tour in 2010.- History :...
and Fanatic Crisis
Fanatic Crisis
Fanatic Crisis was a Japanese Nagoya kei rock band active from 1992–2005.-History:Formed by guitarist Kazuya and bassist Ryuji in 1992, they came into the Nagoya kei scene, with other bands such as Kuroyume, Laputa and Rouage, among others. In December 1993, Shun joined on guitar...
. In 2006 Shazna reunited, they disbanded once again in 2009.
History
Formed in 1993 with Izam on vocals, Aoi (originally written A・O・I) on guitar, Kiy on bass and Katsura on drums. Katsura left in 1996 and joined BaiserBaiser
Baiser was a Japanese visual kei rock band formed in 1990 by vocalist Yukari. They played concerts in the Tokyo area before debuting on an independent label in 1994.-History:...
, leaving the trio. Perhaps the band's most notable feature was vocalist Izam and his choice of fashion; taking the cross-dressing feminine look to an extreme. Izam was largely influenced by Boy George
Boy George
Boy George is a British singer-songwriter who was part of the English New Romantic movement which emerged in the early 1980s. He helped give androgyny an international stage with the success of Culture Club during the 1980s. His music is often classified as blue-eyed soul, which is influenced by...
and Culture Club
Culture Club
Culture Club are a British rock band who were part of the 1980s New Romantic movement. The original band consisted of Boy George , Mikey Craig , Roy Hay and Jon Moss...
, whom he later did a cover album of in 1998.
With the release of their major debut single "Melty Love" on August 27, 1997, Shazna gained immense popularity and many awards. It reached number two 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...
chart, earned them the "Best Newcomer" award from the Nippon Yusen Awards and helped their album Gold Sun and Silver Moon, which was named "Rock Album of the Year" by Japan Gold Disc Award
Japan Gold Disc Award
The Japan Gold Disc Awards for Music sales in the Recording Industry Association of Japan, is major music awards held annually in Japan also released as a CD.- List of the Artists of the Year :************...
s, be certified Million by the RIAJ
Recording Industry Association of Japan
The Recording Industry Association of Japan is an industry trade group composed of Japanese corporations involved the music industry...
.
In 1999, Izam married famous idol
Japanese idol
In Japanese culture, are media personalities in their teens and early twenties who are considered particularly attractive or cute and who will, for a period ranging from several months to a few years, regularly appear in the mass media, e.g...
Hinano Yoshikawa
Hinano Yoshikawa
Hinano Yoshikawa is a Japanese actress, fashion model and singer.- Life and career :Yoshikawa was born on December 21, 1979, in Higashikurume, Tokyo, Japan. She started her fashion model career at the age of 14 and still is a model.She made her acting debut in 1997 in Moonlight Serenade...
, only to file for separation two months later and divorce two months after that. Both the marriage and divorce caused a scandal.
In October they released a cover of Ippu-Do's "Violet September Love" as a single. In 1999 Shazna signed to Toshiba EMI and released the album Pure Hearts in June. Their last single (and their second Christmas single) "Winter's Review" was released in December. In January 2000, a singles collection was released, however in October Shazna went on an activity pause.
The members all went in different musical directions. Izam, with a much less feminine look, became a solo singer and turned to acting, appearing in several films such as Chinese Dinner, G@me
G@me
G@me is a 2003 Japanese thriller film, based on a novel by Keigo Higashino.- Plot :Advertising executive Shunsuke Sakuma is at the top of his game. Winning numerous advertising awards, the cool Shunsuke lives a life most men only dream of. He luckily lands a new massive product campaign for Mikado...
and Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: Act Zero, a special episode of the live-action series based on the popular Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon, known as , is a media franchise created by manga artist Naoko Takeuchi. Fred Patten credits Takeuchi with popularizing the concept of a team of magical girls, and Paul Gravett credits the series with "revitalizing" the magical-girl genre itself...
manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
. Back in 1998 Izam also had a cameo appearance in the Crayon Shin-chan
Crayon Shin-chan
is a Japanese manga and anime series written by Yoshito Usui.Crayon Shin-chan follows the adventures of five-year-old Shinnosuke "Shin" Nohara and his parents, baby sister, neighbors, and friends and is set in Kasukabe, Saitama Prefecture, Japan....
movie Crayon Shin-chan: Blitzkrieg! Pig's Hoof's Secret Mission
Crayon Shin-chan: Blitzkrieg! Pig's Hoof's Secret Mission
is a 1998 anime film. It is the 6th film based on the popular comedy manga and anime series Crayon Shin-chan. The film was released to theatres on April 18, 1998 in Japan.The film was produced by Shin-Ei Animation, the studio behind the TV anime....
, which used Shazna's song "Pureness" as its theme song. Aoi performs as an acoustic guitarist and singer, and became a filmmaker. Niy performs with the band Fanble.
In June 2006, after 6 years Shazna announced that they were reuniting. They held their first concert on September 5, 2006 and released the single "Heart" on April 25. They released the album 10th Melty Life on August 8, 2007, 10 years after the release of their major single debut "Melty Love". On November 3, 2008, Shazna announced that they would disband and played their last concert on March 22, 2009 at Shibuya O-East.
Shazna's song "Melty Love" was covered by BugLug on the compilation Crush! -90's V-Rock Best Hit Cover Songs-. The album was released on January 26, 2011 and features current visual kei
Visual Kei
is a movement among Japanese musicians, that is characterized by the use of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics. Some sources state that visual kei refers to a music genre, or to a sub-genre of Japanese rock, with its...
bands covering songs from bands that were important to the '90s visual kei movement.
Albums
- Sophia (November 30, 1994)
- Melty Case (March 14, 1996)
- Rasberry Time (August 1, 1996), OriconOricon, 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...
Albums Chart Peak Position: #43 - Promise Eve (January 22, 1997) #16
- Gold Sun and Silver Moon (January 22, 1998) #2
- Pure Hearts (June 30, 1999) #15
- 10th Melty Life (August 8, 2007)
Compilation albums
- Best Album 1993–2000: Oldies (January 1, 2000) #24
- Single Best Shazna & Izam (September 5, 2007, singles collection & Izam's solo)
Singles
- "Stillness for Dear" (April 17, 1994, limited to 330 copies)
- "Dizziness" (December 8, 1995, limited to 500 copies)
- "Dizziness" (January 5, 1996, re-release with a B-side track, limited to 1000 copies)
- "Melty Love" (August 27, 1997), Oricon Singles Chart Peak Position: #2
- Ending theme of 所さんのこれアリなんじゃないの!?
- "Violet September Love" (すみれ September Love, October 8, 1997) #2
- Ending theme of Beat Takeshi's TV Tackle (ビートたけしのTVタックル)
- "White Silent Night" (December 3, 1997) #1
- Ending theme of King's Brunch (王様のブランチ)
- "Sweet Heart Memory" (January 7, 1998) #2
- Ending theme of Tonight 2 (トゥナイト2)
- "Pureness" (April 22, 1998) #4
- Theme song of Crayon Shin-chan: Blitzkrieg! Pig's Hoof's Secret MissionCrayon Shin-chan: Blitzkrieg! Pig's Hoof's Secret Missionis a 1998 anime film. It is the 6th film based on the popular comedy manga and anime series Crayon Shin-chan. The film was released to theatres on April 18, 1998 in Japan.The film was produced by Shin-Ei Animation, the studio behind the TV anime....
- Theme song of Crayon Shin-chan: Blitzkrieg! Pig's Hoof's Secret Mission
- "Love is Alive/Dear Love" (April 29, 1998) #6
- "Lover/Virgin" (恋人/Virgin, October 14, 1998) #6
- "Lover" - Ending theme of ZZZ 所的蛇足講座
- "Virgin" - Ending theme of Sunday Jungle (サンデージャングル)
- "Pink" (January 27, 1999) #15
- Ending theme of ZZZ 所的蛇足講座
- "Piece of Love" (March 31, 1999) #17
- Theme song of Kamikaze Kaito JeanneKamikaze Kaito Jeanneis a fantasy shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Arina Tanemura. The story is about the adventures of a high school girl, Maron Kusakabe, who is the reincarnation of Jeanne D'Arc and transforms into a magical girl kaito—phantom thief—to collect the scattered pieces of God's power which...
- Theme song of Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne
- "Tokyo Ballet Reprise/Kiss on Shelley" (Tokyo Ballet Reprise/シェリーに口づけ, June 9, 1999) #20
- "Aqua" (September 22, 1999) #45
- Ending theme of Tonight 2 (トゥナイト2)
- "Winter's Review" (December 8, 1999) #44
- Ending theme of the Japanese version of The Rugrats MovieThe Rugrats MovieThe Rugrats Movie is a 1998 American animated film, produced by Klasky Csupo and Nickelodeon Movies. The film was distributed by Paramount Pictures and first released in theaters in the United States on November 20, 1998....
- Ending theme of the Japanese version of The Rugrats Movie
- "Heart" (心, April 25, 2007)
Videos
- Lavender Color Shazna Feeling (Lavender Color シャズナノキモチ, June 4, 1997)
- Melty Love (October 8, 1997)
- Silent Beauty (January 1, 1998)
- Pure Hearts (April 28, 1999)
- Dear September Lovers Shazna Live at Budokan '98 (December 26, 1998)
- Complete. -Last Live- (完結。-LAST LIVE-, July 15, 2009)