Deen (band)

Deen
Origin	Japan
Genres	Pop music, classical music, folk music, album-oriented rock
Years active	1993–present
Labels	B-Gram Records (1993–1998) BMG Japan/Berg (1998–2003) BMG Japan (2003–2009) Ariola Japan/Sony Music Entertainment Japan (2009- )
Website	www.deen.gr.jp
Members
Shuichi Ikemori Koji Yamane Shinji Tagawa
Past members
Naoki Utsumoto Tatsumi Nakai Keisuke Kurasawa

Deen (ディーン Dīn) is a Japanese popular music band, formed in 1993. Members frequently changed until the release of first album, and from there Deen had 4 members, vocalist Shuichi Ikemori, keyboardist and leader Koji Yamane, guitarist Shinji Tagawa and drummer Naoki Utsumoto. In January 2000, Utsumoto left the group. The band has sold over 15 million compact discs.^[1]

History

In the "Being" agency, Show Wesugi (original vocalist with Wands) and Tetsurō Oda made song "Konomama Kimidake wo Ubaisaritai" (lit. "Now, I want to make off with only you"). The group was formed for singing this song. The band debuted by the single on March 10, 1993. The single was certified a million-seller by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).^[2] Their 1994 song "Hitomi Sorasanaide" (lit. "Don't Avert Your Eyes"), written by Izumi Sakai and Tetsurō Oda, reached number-one position on the Japanese Oricon charts.^[3] Their first album Deen was also certified a million-seller by RIAJ.^[4]

The group originally seemed to be just a project, but they began to perform live concerts in 1996. They also began to release their self-produced singles, but their sales declined. Their 1997 song "Yume de Aru Youni" (lit. "hope that it will be a dream"), written by themselves, was adopted by Tales of Destiny. It was no longer able to reach Top 10 on the Oricon charts.^[5] But for fans, this song remained most popular over a decade.^[6]

In 1998, the band partly moved to BMG Japan under the Berg label, which consisted of the "being" agency artists. Since their 1999 single "Just One", almost all singles has been produced by them, but Utsumoto left Deen in 2000. They introduced classical music into their music.^[7] In 2002, they released a cover version of Kyu Sakamoto's "Miagete Goran Yoru no Hoshi o", featuring solo violinist Diana Yukawa. They began to call their style "Neo-AOR" after album Pray.^[8]

The band completely moved from the "being" agency to BMG Japan in 2003. Their next album Utopia, released on November 5, 2003, enlisted the help of Al Schmitt. In 2006, baseball manager Bobby Valentine participated in the music video of their song "Diamond".^[9]

On June 8, 2008, they performed their first live concert at the Nippon Budokan.^[10] On December 10, 2008, they released the single "Eien no Ashita" (lit. "Eternal Tomorrow"), adopted by Tales of Hearts. The single debuted at #6 on the Oricon weekly single charts.^[11] It was their highest position after 1996.^[12]

Discography

Singles

• 'Konomama Kimidake wo Ubaisaritai' (10 March 1993)
• 'Tsubasa wo Hirogete' (17 July 1993)
• 'Memories' (22 September 1993)
• 'Eien wo Azuketekure' (28 November 1993)
• 'Hitomi Sorasanaide' (22 June 1994)
• 'Teenage dream' (27 March 1995)
• 'Mirai no Tame ni' (19 June 1995)
• 'Love Forever' (11 December 1995)
• 'Hitori ja Nai' (15 April 1996) (Dragon Ball GT's ending theme song)
• 'Sunshine on Summer Time' (1 July 1996)
• 'Sugao de Waratteitai' (5 August 1996)
• 'Kimi ga Inai Natsu' (27 August 1997) (Detective Conan's 4th Ending theme song)
• 'Yume de Aru Youni' (17 December 1997) (Tales of Destiny's theme song)
• 'Toi Sora de' (18 February 1998)
• 'Kimi Sae Ireba' (27 May 1998) (Cooking Master Boy's 3rd opening song)
• 'Tegotae no Nai Ai' (18 November 1998)
• 'Toi Toi Mirai he' (25 March 1999)
• 'Just One' (23 July 1999)
• 'My Love' (3 November 1999)
• 'Power of Love' (19 April 2000)
• 'Kanashimi no Mukogawa' (15 November 2000)
• 'Miagete Goran Yoru no Hoshi o' featuring Diana Yukawa (30 January 2002)
• 'Yume de Aetara' (22 May 2002)
• 'Birthday eve Dareyorimo Hayai Ai no Uta' (2 October 2002)
• 'Tsubasa wo Kaze ni Nosete -fly away-' (2 April 2003) - A special first print had a movie of 'Birthday eve Dareyorimo Hayai Ai no Uta' at a live performance in Shibuya Kokaido on December 29, 2002
• 'Taiyō to Hanabira' (13 August 2003) - A special first print had a promotional movie of 'Tsubasa wo Kaze ni Nosete -fly away-'
• 'Yutopia ha Miterunoni' (1 October 2003) - A special first edition had three additional movie clips
• 'Reru no Nai Sora he' (28 April 2004) - A special first edition had an 8 song DVD album of a live performance in Seoul
• 'Strong Soul' (30 June 2004) - A special first edition had a two song and movie in additional DVD.
• 'Ai no kane ga sekai ni hibikimasu youni' (22 December 2004) - Deen with Yuka Kamebuchi & The Voices of Japan
• 'Konomama Kimidake wo Ubaisaritai/Tsubasa wo Hirogete' (26 October 2005)
• 'Starting Over' (24 May 2006)
• 'Diamond' (2 August 2006)
• 'Eien no Ashita' (10 December 2008) (Tales of Hearts theme song)
• 'Celebrate' (29 April 2009)
• 'Negai' (4 November 2009)
• 'coconuts feat. kokomo' (14 July 2010)
• 'Brand New Wing' (6 April 2011)

Classics

• 'Classics One White Christmas Time' (November 25, 1999)
• 'Classics Two Sepia Aki Zakura -more & more-' (September 13, 2000)
• 'Classics Three Pastel Yume no Tsubomi' (April 25, 2007)
• 'Classics Four Blue Smile Blue' (August 22, 2007)

Albums

• Deen (14 September 1994)
• I wish (9 September 1996)
• DEEN Singles + 1 (18 March 1998)
• The Day (16 December 1998)
• 'Need Love (24 May 2000)
• Ballads in Blue : The greatest hits of DEEN (6 June 2001)
• Waon -Songs for children- (6 March 2002)
• Pray (20 November 2002)
• Utopia (5 November 2003) - A special first print with two making movies in USA
• Road Crusin' (18 August 2004) - A special first print with a 6 movie clips in a DVD
• DEEN The Best Kiseki (23 November 2005)
• Diamonds (11 October 2006)
• DEEN The Best Classics (25 December 2007)
• DEEN PERFECT SINGLES + (4 June 2008)
• DEEN at Budokan ~15th Anniversary Greatest Singles Live~ (3 September 2008)
• NEXT STAGE (25 March 2009)
• LOVERS CONCERTO (2 December 2009)
• Crawl (28 July 2010)
• ALL TIME LIVE BEST (24 November 2010)
• Another Side Memories〜Precious Best〜 (24 November 2010)
• Graduation (15 June 2011)

VHS

• Deen Live Joy Special Yokohama Arena (21 June 2000)
• on&off -tour document of 'need love- (6 June 2001)
• on&off -tour document of unplugged live & recordings- (20 November 2001)
• Greatest Clips 1993-1998 (2 April 2003)
• Greatest Clips 1998-2002 (2 April 2003)

DVD

• Deen Live Joy Special Yokohama Arena (6 June 2001)
• on&off -tour document of 'need love- (6 June 2001)
• on&off -tour document of unplugged live & recordings- (20 November 2001)
• Greatest Clips 1993-1998 (2 April 2003)
• Greatest Clips 1998-2002 (2 April 2003)

References

1. ^ (Japanese) "Deen Interview vol.1". IY Card Service Co.. 2008. http://www.iy-card.co.jp/chronicle/deen/01.html. Retrieved 2008-12-12. 
2. ^ (Japanese) "List of million sellers in 1993". Recording Industry Association of Japan. http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/million_list/1993.html. Retrieved 2008-12-15. 
3. ^ (Japanese) "瞳そらさないで". Oricon. http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/47924/1/. Retrieved 2008-12-14. 
4. ^ (Japanese) "List of million sellers in 1994". Recording Industry Association of Japan. http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/million_list/1994.html. Retrieved 2008-12-14. 
5. ^ (Japanese) "夢であるように". Oricon. http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/123588/1/. Retrieved 2008-12-14. 
6. ^ (Japanese) "ＤＥＥＮ・池森「心と心のつながり意識」…新曲「永遠の明日」１０日発売". Sports Hochi. 2008-12-09. http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/hokkaido/entertainment/news/20081209-OHT1T00109.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-14. ^{[dead link]}
7. ^ (Japanese) "DEEN biography". Barks. http://www.barks.jp/artist/?id=52000026&m=bio. Retrieved 2008-12-14. 
8. ^ (Japanese) "Interview with DEEN". Excite Music. 2003. http://ent2.excite.co.jp/music/interview/2003/deen/in01.html. Retrieved 2008-12-15. 
9. ^ (Japanese) "Special – DEEN". Biglobe. 2006-10-20. http://music.biglobe.ne.jp/special/0610/deen/index.html. Retrieved 2008-12-15. 
10. ^ (Japanese) "DEEN、武道館で感涙のオーディエンス". Barks. 2008-06-09. http://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000040737. Retrieved 2008-12-23. 
11. ^ (Japanese) "Oricon Weekly Single Charts for the fourth week of December 2008". Oricon. http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php?kbn=js&types=rnk&year=2008&month=12&week=4&submit4.x=30&submit4.y=16. Retrieved 2008-12-16. 
12. ^ (Japanese) "DEEN、12年ぶりの快挙！　新曲がオリコン６位ランクイン". goo. 2008-12-18. http://music.goo.ne.jp/contents/news/NML08-12-18-2/index.html. Retrieved 2008-12-23. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• DEEN - The official website