Naoki Maeda

Naoki Maeda (前田尚紀 "Maeda Naoki") (born April 28 in Toyonaka, Osaka), more commonly called simply Naoki, is a Japanese music composer and producer who works for Konami. Naoki's official title is Konami AM Internal Sound Team.

Though Naoki worked on many different video game titles like "Salamander", his most known contribution is to the Bemani series as the main composer for the "Dance Dance Revolution" games. Most of his songs are signed with a pseudonym. Little information on Naoki is revealed officially: for example, on an interview with several music producers released in the "DDRMAX Dance Dance Revolution" booklet, Naoki's profile was the least complete, not revealing his age or how much time he's been working for Konami.

Pseudonyms

"See also List of Bemani musicians"

Naoki uses over three dozen pseudonyms in attributing his work. Many of these names are simply the speed of the songs he wrote.

*Ω (pronounced Omega, only used in "Max 300")
*100-200-400 (only used in "Fascination Maxx")
*1479
*180 (only used in "Paranoia")
*190 (only used in "Paranoia Max (Dirty Mix)")
*190' (only used in "Paranoia Rebirth")
*200 (only used in "Paranoia Evolution")
*270 (only used in "Paranoia Survivor")
*290 (only used in "Paranoia Survivor Max")
*8 Bit (only used in "Afronova Primeval")
*B3-Project (only used in "Theme from Enter the Dragon")
*BeForU (sound producer)
*Big-O (only used in "Gradiusic Cyber (AMD G5 Mix)")
*Black∞Hole (only used in "Pluto")
*Blue Destroyers (only used in "Hypnotic Crisis")
*Crystal Aliens (used for the "Sexy Planet" series and "Another Planet" for "Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 4")
*D&G Music Factory (credited as in official soundtracks)
*Dandy Mineiero
*D-Complex (only used for the "Ecstasy" series)
*De-Sire/De-Strad/De-Sire Retunes/De-Sire Alterative
*Divas (member of)
*DJ Kazu
*D.J. Rich
*Dr. Vibe (only used in "Don't Stop (AMD 2nd Mix)")
*Evo-X (only used for "Double Tornard")
*Factor-X (only used for the "Wild Rush" series)
*Fixx (only used for "Vanity Angel")
*J-Ravers
*KTz (member)
*Luv Unlimited (only used for the "Candy☆" series)
*mitsu-O!
*Mr. Dog (used only for "Gentle Stress (AMD Sexual/Sensual Mix)")
*Mustache Men (only used for "Do Me (H.I.G.E.O. Mix)")
*N&S (only used for "Dead End")
*N.M.R.
*Naoki (primary pseudonym)
*Naoki 190 (only used for the "Hysteria" series)
*Naoki in the Mercure (only used for "L'amour et la liberté (Darwin & DJ Silver remix)")
*Naoki J-Style (only used for "Kiss Me All Night Long")
*Naoki Underground (used for trance songs: "Insertion", "Tears", "L'amour et la liberté", "Prelude", "Poseidon")
*NM
*NM Sequence Unlimited (credited as in official soundtracks)
*No.9 (only used for "End of the Century")
*NW260 (only used for the "Drop Out" series)
*Platonix (once used by Naoki on "Beatmania IIDX 10th Style", but now being used by Tatsh since "Beatmania IIDX 11 IIDXRED")
*RE-VENGE/RevenG
*Reven-G改/Reven-G Alterative (used only for "Arrabbiata" and "Trip Machine Phoenix")
*Rice C. (Used only for "Jam Jam Reggae (AMD Swing Mix)")
*Stone Bros. (only used for the "Let the Beat Hit Em!" series)
*TailBros. (only used for the "Superstar" series)
*Terra (partnered with Jun)
*The Final Band (only used for "Crash!" with Mr. Brian)
*The Surrenders
*Uzi-Lay (only used for the "Put Your Faith in Me" series)
*White Wall (only used for "Pluto the First")
*Z (only used in "Maxx Unlimited")
*ΖZ (only used in "The Legend of Max")

However, he is sometimes confused with other artists. Some pseudonyms attributed to Naoki which are not his are:

* .3k - Konami staff composer Sota Fujimori, the composer of "Paranoia (Respect)".
* 2MB – Konami artist Yuichi Asami, composer of "Paranoia KCET (Clean Mix)", "Orion.78 (Civilization Mix)", "Trip Machine (Luv Mix)", "La Senorita Virtual", "Max.(Period)", "Healing Vision (Angelic Mix)", "Fascination (Eternal Love Mix)", and "Pluto Relinquish".
* STM200 – Takeshi Matsumoto, composer of "Paranoia Eternal" and winner of the "Dance Dance Revolution 5thMix" Musicianship Trial Contest.
*Scotty D. - Scott Dolph, singer/rapper of the "Drop the Bomb" and "Flow" series.
*DJ Taka - Takayuki Ishikawa, popular composer of trance and classical songs from "Beatmania IIDX".
*αType-300/Jun - Junko Karashima, also known as Jun, composer of "Paranoia (Hades)" and "Super Samurai".

Music partners

Though he writes many instrumental songs alone, several of Naoki's songs feature vocals, which are performed by others. Commonly featured singers include Aaron G. and Paula Terry.

He's also worked together with many other artists: Naoki is the composer and producer for the group BeForU, and with Jun (Junko Karashima and remixes with Sota Fujimori) he makes some songs under the name Terra; along with DJ Taka he worked on "Kakumei", a remix of Chopin's "Revolutionary Etude".

In the more recent releases of "Beatmania IIDX" he has collaborated together with Tatsh.

ongs produced

Dance Dance Revolution

"Dance Dance Revolution":
*"Make It Better"
*"Paranoia"
*"Trip Machine"

"Dance Dance Revolution 2ndMix":
*"20,November (DDR Version)"
*"AM-3P"
*"Brilliant 2U"
*"Brilliant 2U (Orchestra Groove)"
*"Keep on Movin'"
*"Let Them Move"
*"Paranoia Max (Dirty Mix)"
*"Put Your Faith in Me"
*"Put Your Faith in Me (Jazzy Groove)"
*"SP-Trip Machine (Jungle Mix)"

"Dance Dance Revolution 3rdMix":
*"Afronova"
*"Dead End"
*"Dynamite Rave"
*"End of the Century"
*"La Senorita" (vocals by Thomas Howard Lichtenstein)
*"Paranoia Rebirth"
*"Silent Hill" (vocals by Thomas Howard Lichtenstein)
*"Gentle Stress (AMD Sexual/Sensual Mix)"
*"Jam Jam Reggae (AMD Swing Mix)"
*"Gradiusic Cyber (AMD G5 Mix)"
*"Luv to Me (AMD Mix)"

"Dance Dance Revolution 4thMix" & 4thMix Plus:
*"Theme from Enter the Dragon (Revival 2001/Notorious Mix)"
*"Hypnotic Crisis"
*"B4U"
*"Burnin' the Floor"
*"Do Me (H. I. G. E. O Mix)"
*"Love Again Tonight (For Melissa Mix)"
*"Higher"
*"Orion.78 (AMEuro-Mix)"
*"My Summer Love"
*"Baby Baby Gimme Your Love"
*"Trip Machine Climax"
*"Don't Stop (AMD 2nd Mix)"
*"Get Me in Your Sight (AMD Cancun Mix)"

"Dance Dance Revolution Extra Mix":
*"Let the Beat Hit 'Em! (Classic R&B style)"

"Dance Dance Revolution Solo 2000":
*"Paranoia Evolution"
*"Can't Stop Fallin' in Love"
*"Superstar"
*"Hysteria"
*"Drop Out"
*"Let the Beat Hit 'Em!"

"Dance Dance Revolution 5thMix":
*"Dive"
*"Ecstasy"
*"Healing Vision"
*"B4U (Glorious Style)"
*"Can't Stop Fallin' in Love (Speed Mix)"
*"Dynamite Rave (Long ver.)"
*"Matsuri Japan"
*"Remember You"
*"Still in My Heart"
*"Insertion"

"DDRMAX Dance Dance Revolution 6thMix":
*"Candy☆"
*"Dive (More Deep & Deeper Style)"
*"Exotic Ethnic"
*"Firefly"
*"Max 300"
*"True... (Radio Edit)"
*"True... (Trance Sunrise Mix)"

"DDRMAX2 Dance Dance Revolution 7thMix":
*"AM-3P (AM East Mix)"
*"Burnin' the Floor (Blue Fire Mix)"
*"Candy♥"
*"Celebrate Nite (Euro Trance Style)"
*"D2R"
*"Destiny"
*"Dive to the Night"
*"Ecstasy (Midnight Blue Mix)"
*"Ever Snow"
*"Higher (Next Morning Mix)"
*"Maxx Unlimited"
*"My Summer Love (Tommy's Smile Mix)"
*"革命" (Kakumei, Revolutionary) (co-produced with Takayuki Ishikawa)
*"Secret Rendez-vous"
*"Silent Hill (3rd Christmas Mix) (vocals by Thomas Howard Lichtenstein)
*"Tsugaru"
*"Tsugaru (Apple Mix)"

"Dancing Stage EuroMix 2":
*"Crash"
*"Memories"
*"Vanity Angel"

"Dance Dance Revolution Extreme":
*"1998"
*"Bag"
*"蒼い衝動 (Aoi Shoudou, Blue Impulse)(For Extreme)"
*"Dance Dance Revolution"
*"Hyper Eurobeat"
*"Graduation (それぞれの明日)"
*"L'amour et la Liberte (DDR Ver.)"
*"Love ♥ Shine"
*"Paranoia Survivor"
*"Paranoia Survivor Max"
*"Tears" (performed by Noria Shiraishi)
*"The Legend of Max"
*"Trip Machine Survivor"

"Dancing Stage featuring True Kiss Destination":
*"Celebrate Nite"
*"Sexy Planet"

"Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 3":
*"Brilliant R•E•D"

"Dance Dance Revolution SuperNova":
*"Chaos"
*"Fascination Maxx"
*"Healing D-Vision"
*"My Only Shining Star"
*"Peace(^^)v" (with BeForU)
*"Morning Glory" (with BeForU)
*"華爛漫 (Flowers)" (with Junko Karashima as Terra)

"Dance Dance Revolution SuperNova 2":
*"Switch" (with Junko Karashima as Terra, co-produced with Daisuke Asakura)
*"Every Day, Every Night (NM Style)" (with Lea Drop and Ant Johnston)
*"Trip Machine Phoenix"
*"Poseidon"
*"Pluto"

"Dance Dance Revolution Party Collection":
*"Stars☆☆☆ (Naoki's 2nd Style)" (with Junko Karashima as Terra)
*"Freedom"

"DDR Festival Dance Dance Revolution":
*"Ki・Se・Ki (DDR ver.)"

"Dance Dance Revolution Extreme 2":
*"Passion of Love"

"Dance Dance Revolution SuperNova" for North America:
*"Come Clean"

"Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party":
*"B4U (Rising Sun Mix)"
*"Beautiful Inside (Cube::Hard Mix)"
*"Break Down! (World Version)"
*"Candy (UFO Mix)"
*"Confession"
*"Double Tornard"
*"Heavens and the Earth"
*"Here I Go Again"
*"I'm Flying Away"
*"Let it Out"
*"Little Steps"
*"Mess with My Emotions"
*"Moving On"
*"Pluto the First"
*"TokyoEvolved"
*"Touchin'"
*"We Will Live Together"
*"Will"

Beatmania

"Beatmania 6thMix":
*"Hysteria 2001"

"Beatmania 7thMix":
*"Baby Baby Gimme Your Love 2002"

"Beatmania The Final":
*"Birdman"
*"Calling for Destiny"

Beatmania IIDX

"Beatmania IIDX 6th Style":
*"BALLAD FOR YOU" (vocals by Thomas Howard Lichtenstein)
*"DIVE ~Into your heart~" (vocals by Paula Terry)
*"L'amour et la liberte"

"Beatmania IIDX 8th Style":
*"蒼い衝動"
*"Drivin'"
*"桜"

"Beatmania IIDX 9th Style":
*"Be Rock U (1998 Burst Style)"
*"HYPER EUROBEAT (IIDX Style)"
*"MARIA (I believe...)"
*"Prelude"

"Beatmania IIDX 10th Style":
*"DoLL" (with jun as Terra)
*"一途な恋" (HYPER J-EURO MIX)

"Beatmania IIDX 11 IIDX RED":
*"太陽～T・A・I・Y・O～"(feat.星野奏子)
*"KI・SE・KI (IIDX RED EDIT)"
*"RED ZONE" (with Tatsh)
*"ULTIMATE" (with jun as Terra)

"Beatmania IIDX 12 HAPPY SKY":
*"EDEN "(with jun as Terra)
*"I am" (with Miharu Arisawa of BeForU)

"Beatmania IIDX 13 DistorteD":
*"DEEP ROAR" (with Tatsh)
*"ALFARSHEAR ~双神威に廻る夢~" (with jun as Terra)
*"PARASITE WORLD" (with jun as 'Terra underground')

"Beatmania IIDX 14 Gold":
*"Red Rocket Rising"
*"STARS☆☆☆ (Re-tuned by HΛL) -IIDX EDITION-" (with jun as Terra)
*"零 -ZERO-" (with jun as Terra)
*"TREASURE×STAR (with Ryu☆ fw.さちまゆ, CS version song)

"Beatmania IIDX 15 DJ TROOPERS":
*"PROMISE FOR LIFE" (with jun as Terra Works)

DanceManiax

"DanceManiax 1stMix":
*"AFRONOVA PRIMEVAL"
*"BAILA! BAILA!"
*"BROKEN MY HEART"
*"GORGEOUS 2012"
*"PUT YOUR FAITH IN ME (Saturday Night Mix)"
*"KEEP ON MOVIN' (DMX Mix)"

"DanceManiax 2ndMix":
*"KISS KISS KISS"
*"Kiss me all night long"
*"ENTER THE DRAGON (G'z Island Mix)"
*"MATSURI JAPAN (J-SUMMER MIX)"

GuitarFreaks & DrumMania

"GuitarFreaks":
*"HYPNOTICA"

"GuitarFreaks 6thMix" & "DrumMania 5thMix":
*"Hypnotheque"

"GuitarFreaks 8thMix" & "DrumMania 7thMix":
*"BREAK DOWN! (GF&DM style) (with BeForU)

"GuitarFreaks 9thMix" & "DrumMania 8thMix":
*"チカラ" (with BeForU)

"GuitarFreaks 10thMix" & "DrumMania 9thMix":
*"Termination"
*"ヒマワリ" (with Riyu Kosaka from BeForU)

"GuitarFreaks 11thMix" & "DrumMania 10thMix":
*"WE ARE" (with jun as TËЯRA)
*"☆Shining☆ (GF&dm Style)" (with Riyu Kosaka & Noria from BeForU)

"GuitarFreaks V" & "DrumMania V":
*"ESCAPE TO THE SKY★彡" (with jun as Terra)
*"シナリオ" (with BeForU NEXT)

"GuitarFreaks V2" & "DrumMania V2":
*"GLIDE" (with jun as Terra)

"GuitarFreaks V3" & "DrumMania V3":
*"ZËNITH" (with jun as Terra)

"GuitarFreaks V4" & "DrumMania V4":
*"RËVOLUTIФN" (with jun as Terra)

Pop'n Music

"Pop'n Music 8":
*"Stars☆☆☆" (with jun as Terra)

"Pop'n Music 9":
*"North Wind" (with jun as Terra)
*"☆shining☆" (with Riyu Kosaka & Noria from BeForU)

"Pop'n Music ee'mall":
*"1/6 billionth" (with jun as Terra)

"Pop'n Music 10":
*"Arrabbiata"
*"DDR MEGAMIX"

"Pop'n Music ee'mall 2nd Avenue":
*"Brave!" (with jun as Terra)

"Pop'n Music 12 いろは":
*"夢幻ノ光" (with jun as Terra)

"Pop'n Music 13 Carnival":
*"GET WILD" (Cover of a popular Japanese song, Naoki also sings in this song)

"Pop'n Music 15 Adventure":
*"桃花恋情" (with jun as Terra)

ParaParaParadise

*"LOVE AGAIN TONIGHT -high speed mix-"
*"CAN'T STOP FALLIN IN LOVE - Super Euro Mix -"

Other Work

*"Tangerine Stream (The Catastrophe)" (from the Remix Side of DJ Taka's first album "Milestone")

Trivia

*Sometime in 2006, it was announced that Naoki is 45 years old.
*Enjoys the city of Los Angeles, California, Spring & Summer, producing music, and personal freedom.
*Dislikes Fall & Winter, jealousy, selfishness, and quietness.
*Started playing piano at age 4.
*Attended the Osaka University of Arts.Source, http://beatrevolution.i-revo.jp

ee also

Games he worked on:
*Beatmania
*Beatmania IIDX
*Dance Dance Revolution
*DrumMania
*GuitarFreaks
*Pop'n Music
*Salamander
*Twinbee

References

External links

* [http://www.ocremix.org/composer/id/222/naoki-maeda/ Composer profile] at OverClocked ReMix