Puffy Amiyumi

[thomas]

Japan conquered, Puffy ready for U.S

=> http://asia.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/06/japan.puffy.ap/

[thomas]

Here's an article I found at nytimes.com (http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/23/arts/music/23PUFF.html), July 23, 2002:


New Import From Japan That's Loaded With Sugar

By KELEFA SANNEH

The story of Puffy Amiyumi sounds like the story of any other pre-fab pop group. The two women were put together by music-industry executives in Tokyo; their first single, "Asia No Junshin," was a smash hit; over the next few years they conquered Japan with a television show and a blizzard of merchandise.

What's surprising about Puffy Amiyumi is the group's sound, which owes more to the Ramones than to the New Kids on the Block. On Saturday night at Irving Plaza, Puffy Amiyumi led a five-piece band through 17 songs of loud, sugary rock 'n' roll.

Ami Onuki wore ripped jeans and an oversized T-shirt, and Yumi Yoshimura took the stage in baggy pants and cheap sneakers. Their nonchalant performance only heightened the effect: they slouched and wandered around, acting as if the concert were merely a rehearsal in someone's garage.

Every once in a while, though, there were reminders that this was no ordinary garage band. What looked like casual gestures were actually synchronized dance moves; when Ms. Onuki kicked up her left foot, Ms. Yoshimura kicked up her right foot. The hard-core fans crowded near the front of the stage knew the act backward and forward: they sang along to all the songs, pumping fists and flashing peace signs at the appropriate times.

It's inevitable, perhaps, that a group like this would wear out its welcome in the course of a few years, so Puffy Amiyumi has set its sights on a new market: America. (In Japan the group is known simply as Puffy, but the group adopted a surname to make sure American listeners didn't confuse them with the hip-hop mogul.) A new CD, "An Illustrated History" (Bar/None), gathers 16 of the duo's greatest hits.

Of course American audiences generally demand that their stars speak (and sing) English, and most of Puffy Amiyumi's songs are in Japanese. Halfway through the concert, Ms. Onuki read a prepared statement. "If you don't understand what we are saying, just turn to the nearest Japanese person and ask," she said. "I bet they are exchange students and just dying to make new friends."

But even if the lyrics were mainly indecipherable, the musical references were familiar, and irresistible: the band quoted everyone from the Who to Gary Numan, and more than one song sounded like the Go-Gos. By the end of the night, when they played, "Puffy's Rule" — a charged-up confection built around a refrain that goes, "La, la, la, la, la, la" — it seemed only fair that Puffy Amiyumi be given a chance to wear out its welcome in America, too.

Copyright © NYTimes

[Twisted]

Hmm, i'm reading about them everywhere and it's all good fun of course but... ehm...

WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO COME TO EUROPE!!!!!!!??????? :mad:

Sorry, it's been a long day :bawling: and i've got this terrible cold... :atchoo:

[thomas]

Peter, the European music biz is waiting for you. Open your own agency and promote Jpop/Asian pops, perhaps a market niche.
:)

Btw, are you still on air at KinkFM?

Wish you a speedy recovery.

[Twisted]

I've been thinking about starting up my own record-label for distribution of Japanese music, but honestly though, i don't think there's actually any profit in a business like that. At least not in Holland alone. On a European scale, maybe.
But i don't really have a nose for business anyway and i certainly don't have any money to invest. Are there any potential sponsors on this forum?? :wave:

Yeah, i'm still on Kink FM, but yesterday the regular DJ was sick and there weren't any replacements available, so we had the nonstop-program running.
I'll be back on friday though... :clap:

[moyashi]

I vote with Thomas. You should go independant. Contact everybody you know and get some groups bookings.

Need staff, give Thomas a ring. I bet he's got time on his hands.

Getting contacts in Japan. Just give em a ring. You don't need [konne] (connections) in this type of situation.

When they ask who speaks Japanese you just say Thomas and Nahoko do ;)

Take a chance !!!!


hmmm ... anybody hear of Yellow Generation (song::Lost generation) ??

[thomas]

Originally posted by moyashi
When they ask who speaks Japanese you just say Thomas and Nahoko doWell, at least Nahoko has a decent command of Japanese, hehe. We'd be willing to help anytime.

[PoKenshin]

Hello! :wave: I'm new here! Nice to meet you all! :)

I would like to know where can I find some info/music videos on Puffy Amiyumi! I've searched everywhere I know but I couldn't find anyting:bawling:

[Twisted]

Welcome to the forum, PoKenshin. :wave:

You can basicly find out everything there is to know about Puffy AmiYumi on their official (English) website: http://www.puffyamiyumi.com

As for video's, i suggest you try out WinMX (http://www.winmx.com). It's excellent for finding Japanese music and video's.

Just type in Puffy as the search-query, since they're known as only Puffy in Japan. The AmiYumi-part was added for the American market, so people wouldn't confuse them for Puff Daddy.

Good luck!

[midnitestar7]

Theres also always Kazaa (I think the address is just www.kazaa.com!) which is where I've got all my dir en grey vids from!

[joshua dearing]

I saw Puffy when tey were here in Los Angeles this past summer and a frend took a few pictures.. chekc it out on my website. I got to mee them at there CD signing.. really cool girls.

Go to my site and click on photos and it should be at the bottom of the photos page.

Joshua Dearing
joshuadearing@dearingfilm.com
http://www.dearingfilm.com/

[PoKenshin]

:bow: thanks guys! :)

Nice photos :D

[necrozombie]

*motions around and giggles*

*barely making out words*

*something like....*

puffy... do... te-... titans... happy... star... girls..

(o.O;;)

[budd]

i like them, most definitely
bought all three volumes of japan for sale and several cd/singles
that parappa rapper dude has some nice artwork also

[Lopan999]

Does any one here like Puffy AmiYumi?
I know it's kind of Girly... And by my avatar image you can see I like to betray myself as "all man."
But theres something about Puffy Amiyumi that's addicting.
You don't beleive me. Listen to their songs. The first time you hear there songs you think; this is kind of lame and just sounds like pop. But the second time you listen to you think; actually this is kind of good. And by the hundrenth time you're still not bored with it.
Now I have to do something manly.

[bartbeanie]

on cartoonnetwork, there is a show called teen titans. they sing the theme show in englisn and japanese. they sing well.:)

[budd]

i buy all of their stuff when i visit cd resale shops there
they are featured on the "japan for sale" series as well

[Twisted]

They're produced by Tamio Okuda. You might want to try his solo-work as well.

[MHtrStevie]

I've enjoyed their music quite a bit, and they've been linked musically to some talented, legendary people in J-music as well. Like Twisted said, they've worked a lot with Tamio Okuda... I wanted to add that their first single (IIRC) "Asia no junshin" was written by legendary Japanese artist Yosui Inoue, who is also the artist behind "Yume no naka e", the song used as the ending theme to the KareKano anime series.

Personally, I love their songs "Mother" and "Circuit no musume"...

:cool:

[necrozombie]

i lubb teen titans!! *sings along with theme song*

they've been playing the theme song in japanese as of recently!! XDDD

[justin]

I like Puffy AmiYumi there's something about their music that I really like. Its fun and has a lot of feeling.

[Mizumi]

I like them! Something so addicting. You might wanna try Judy & Mary, too, if you like Puffy.

[okinawa]

They're good. That song for Teen Titans is kind of annoying, though. They're going to perform at the House of Blues soon... if only I had money in my wallet...

[chiquiliquis]

...The first time you hear there songs you think; this is kind of lame and just sounds like pop. But the second time you listen to you think; actually this is kind of good. And by the hundrenth time you're still not bored with it.

I don't really think of them as girlie... but I do agree with this part (above). I often think they have all the vocal abilities of a plate of beans navigating the digestive tract of a cow... but I am strangely attracted to them.

I think their music is very creative. You can tell they are borrowing sounds from everyone and their mother (namely, the beattles; "Kore ga watashi no ikiru michi", being a great example)... but I give them credit for having as diversified a sound as they do. Yasuharu Konishi (Pizzicato 5) has remixed a few of their tracks: Circuit no Musume, Your Love is a Drug, and BugiUgi No. 5--which are all awesome.

[budd]

ttp://www.jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=526&highlight=puffy
ttp://www.jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1680&highlight=puffy
ttp://www.jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=459&highlight=puffy
ttp://www.jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1430&highlight=puffy

[Flashjeff]

I have a couple of PuffyAmiYumi CD's and they sound pretty darn neat, though the Teen Titans theme sounds like two cats being strangled.

I don't know if any of you are aware of this, but I've heard that the reason the girls are called PuffyAmiYumi was to avoid confusion (or a legal hassle, I'm not sure) with Rap mogul Sean Combs, better known back in the day as Puff Daddy.

Oh, and get this, I read somewhere (I'll try to get more info) that there's going to be an animated PAY series coming soon on Cartoon Network. That might be neat!
:cool:

[bartbeanie]

on november 19, 7:30 pm est on the cartoonnetwork, puffyamiyumi is going to have their own cartoon series called hi hi puffyamiyumi. it looks cute and different. they now have a web site based on the cartoon series. i think this is a first for a japanese j-pop band to get an american cartoon series. i hope it will be a success.:)

[Flashjeff]

Yeah! I just saw advertising for the show, and it does look cute. I'm eager to see the show on the 19th! Should be lots of fun! :cool:

[Camui]

I really like Puffy Amiyumi...I knew they sang the song from Tenn Titans and was really excited to see the commercial for their show on Cartoon Networ "Hi Hi Puffy Amiyumi"...are they really gonna sing at the House of Blues??...when, when is it?? I really wanna go...^^ :D

[Nightwalker]

Argh. Don't ever get me started on them. I don't like their music at all. Bor-ring. Argh....I think all their songs sound the same to me. Just my opinion but I really don't like them all that much. I have never seen a good PV from them at all nor liked a song from them. Gahhh! *goes crazy*

[Camui]

there songs do seem sorta similar...and their show wasn't that great in my opinion...I dunno what I think... :?

[aitsu]

:-) HI all Puffy lover,
I'm from myanmar and i'm one of the hungry one who for a nice music ever.From the
time i started listen their song from today,their songs always cheering me up.So,thanks
you for your music ,Puffy and let the show go on.I love them very much and i can't
listen enough their songs.Anyway ,i'm also the big listener of other Japanese songs.
My another favourite rocker is Eikichi Yazawa.
kyaw zin

[budd]

"Just my opinion but I really don't like them all that much."
but is a fan of gackt? okay

[JPOPRAPPER]

I just heard a great news about puffy touring on west coast so just telling yall the info!

4/22 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom (9pm)
4/23 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox (8pm)
4/24 - Vancouver, BC - Vogue Theatre (9:15pm)
4/26 - San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theatre (8pm)
4/29 - Los Angeles, CA - Wiltern Theatre (9pm)
4/30 - San Diego, CA - SOMA (9pm)
5/2 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre (8pm)

most of the tickets are available on ticketmaster and I think for Soma you need to get it through them or sumthin...

or i guess you can just check puffys site.

[Horizon]

-shudders- Why'd it have to be THEM?!?!?

[PaulB]

I'd love to get to some of the US dates. Maybe the girls will play the UK one day!

[Tamer Brad]

How on Earth did these girls get so popular?

[pinkkillerkisou]

*vomits*

What idoit decided it would be good to let them come here... BRING KYO HERE... BRING DIRU DAMN IT!!!

[forkagentsmith]

i like puffy
lol
their music is kinda childish though....

[m477]

That's funny, I'm like 3 blocks away from the place in Seattle... although I wasn't planning on going.

[-Rudel-]

They will be live on the Cartoon Network Channel; if I remember correctly from the commercial.

[Mycernius]

I know it is a relatively old thread, but I have just bought two of their albums, 'Nice' and 'Illustrated History' and find them quite good. I like the fact that it doesn't all sound like modern pop music. Some of it reminds me of music from the 70's and 80's. They seem to have a very wide reportoire in music styles.

[BraklyBum111]

:dance:OOohhh~, i remember i went to their concert the performance before this one, 2002.07.19~! our washington post had a similar article the next day about them. at first when i read that "oh no, are they going to completley bash puffy?" came across, but it was a well round article. thanks for sharing~. i heard that they`re coming to the 9:30 club again in D.C. right after Otakon!:bravo: aiyAaaAAaa, so much to do. :bow:thanks again~!! -bu

[yuuto]

Hi there,
I'm watching the video of the Japanese band PUFFY.
no like PUFFY from New York (alias Puff Daddy).
To listening the J-POP TOP 40 ... I discovered a great web site :
www.videouncovered.com
but MayBe you knew it??

[yuuto]

take a look ... 2 pix 4 u
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b275/kamui_/manga%20J-Pop/PuffyAmiyumi2.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b275/kamui_/manga%20J-Pop/puffyAmiyumi1.jpg

[Yoko_Kisaragi]

Wow, how come there aren't many fans of Puffy??? :clueless: I didn't even know there was a Puffy thread!!! XD

[Tailsop]

I remember Hyde and ken from L'arc en ciel were visiters on there show puffy 98 or somthing like that.

[Yoko_Kisaragi]

Yeah!! I wish that there was some way us people in US could get shows from Japan!

[hideto_matsumoto_RIP]

How on Earth did these girls get so popular?

becouse people like theyr music....

[Yoko_Kisaragi]

I like their music. It's very upbeat and happy!

[hideto_matsumoto_RIP]

yeah i like their music too....

[Tailsop]

Yeah!! I wish that there was some way us people in US could get shows from Japan!

they was is if you have channle AZN then you can watch shows from japan or just get Tvjapan i dont have that one just azn if you have it it may be on channle 240 and Tv japan is on channle 245

[Yoko_Kisaragi]

they was is if you have channle AZN then you can watch shows from japan or just get Tvjapan i dont have that one just azn if you have it it may be on channle 240 and Tv japan is on channle 245

Is that through DirecTV or Dish Network? I have not heard of these :bawling:

[Tailsop]

well DirecTV i suppose. i use Comcast.

[Yoko_Kisaragi]

well DirecTV i suppose. i use Comcast.
Hmm... I'll have to call them up and see!! :blush:

[Tailsop]

But it depends on what city your in just to watch it.

[Yoko_Kisaragi]

But it depends on what city your in just to watch it.
I guess I live somewhat close to Minneapolis.