Hiroaki Masukawa, of Bump of Chicken
Happy belated birthday to Hiroaki Masukawa, the guitarist of the Jrock band Bump of Chicken, who turned 28 on the 20th!!!
Bump of Chicken is composed of four members: Motoo Fujiawara, the vocalist and guitarist; Hiroaki Masukawa, the guitarist; Yoshifumi Naoi, the bassist; and Hideo Masu, the drummer. Fujiwara, Masukawa, and Naoi were all friends in kindergarten, though Masu did not know the others at this time. While Naoi and Masukawa attended the same elementary school and Fujiwara did not, Fujiwara remained good friends with Naoi. In middle school, all four ended up in the same class, and they remembered each other. It was then that they decided to form a band and "change the history of rock." They began saving up their money to buy instruments.
In high school the band began when they performed mostly Beatles covers at their school festivals and wrote their own songs that were mostly in English. They entered and won many competitions during their high school years. In 1996 they won an award for their song "DANNY," written in English, and won further awards with "Glass no Blues." In 1997, at a live performance, a demo tape that they released was sold out in 10 minutes.
The band was then put on hiatus after that while the members attended college. In 1998 they returned, and a year later they released their first album, Flame Vein, under the indie label HIGH-LINE RECORDS. During their time on this indie label they released a second album and one single. After their second album was released in March 2000, they performed a live concert.
Later in 2000 they switched to the major label TOY’S FACTORY. The released a single under this label in September, but it was only in 2001, with the release of their third single, Tentai Kansoku, their popularity really began to climb, since the single appeared on the Oricon charts.
Their first album under the new label was released in February 2002, to great success: it hit the #1 spot on the Oricon charts. The rest of that year and all of 2003 saw one single and promotional activity. In 2004 they re-released a song from one of their indie album as singles, “Arue”, as well as both of their indie albums, themselves. In July, their single Only Lonely Glory was released, and hit the #1 spot on the Oricon charts. The next month their next album, Yggdrasil, was released, and also hit the #1 spot on the charts.
The groups next two singles did not achieve considerable success, but their single Namida no Furusato was their second single to hit #1. Their next two singles, Mayday and Hana no Uta also hat the charts, both peaking at #2. They have recently released their album orbital period.
Debut Date: November, 1995
Label: TOY’S FACTOR
Members:
Vocals & Guitars: Motoo Fujiwara
Guitar: Hiroaki Masukawa
Bass: Yoshifumi Naoi
Drums: Hideo Masu
Discography
Singles
11/25/1999 - Lamp
09/20/2000 - Diamond
03/24/2001 - Tentai Kansoku
10/17/2001 - Harujion
12/18/2002 - Snow Smile
03/12/2003 - Lost Man / sailing day
03/03/2004 - Arue
07/07/2004 - Only Lonely Glory
12/01/2004 - Sharin no Uta
07/21/2005 - Planetarium
11/23/2005 - supernova / Karma
11/22/2006 - Namida no Furusato
10/24/2007 - Hana no Na
10/24/2007 - Mayday
Albums
03/18/1999 - FLAME VEIN
03/25/2000 - THE LIVING DEAD
02/20/2002 - jupiter
04/28/2004 - FLAME VEIN+1
04/28/2004 - THE LIVING DEAD (Re-release)
08/25/2004 - Yggdrassil
03/22/2006 - Song for Tales of the Abyss
12/19/2007 - orbital period
Credits: Wikipedia, Wiki.theppn
Bump of Chicken is one of the most awesomest bands ever! They have a great light rock sound and each song is just filled with goodness. The vocalist has a great voice that really matches the music well, and the light rock produced by the musicians is wonderful. Eveyrhting is great about Bump of Chicken!!
Mayday
Ahhhh another great song by Bump of Chicken. They never cease to make me proud. This song is a great light rock-almost alternative tupe song, with the usual awesome vocals and great music. I love it! And the video is interesting, although I began to space out a lot while watching it. (no pun intended....xD: ) Enjoy!!
Lyrics | Translation
Download
Bump of Chicken - Mayday
Bump of Chicken is composed of four members: Motoo Fujiawara, the vocalist and guitarist; Hiroaki Masukawa, the guitarist; Yoshifumi Naoi, the bassist; and Hideo Masu, the drummer. Fujiwara, Masukawa, and Naoi were all friends in kindergarten, though Masu did not know the others at this time. While Naoi and Masukawa attended the same elementary school and Fujiwara did not, Fujiwara remained good friends with Naoi. In middle school, all four ended up in the same class, and they remembered each other. It was then that they decided to form a band and "change the history of rock." They began saving up their money to buy instruments.
In high school the band began when they performed mostly Beatles covers at their school festivals and wrote their own songs that were mostly in English. They entered and won many competitions during their high school years. In 1996 they won an award for their song "DANNY," written in English, and won further awards with "Glass no Blues." In 1997, at a live performance, a demo tape that they released was sold out in 10 minutes.
The band was then put on hiatus after that while the members attended college. In 1998 they returned, and a year later they released their first album, Flame Vein, under the indie label HIGH-LINE RECORDS. During their time on this indie label they released a second album and one single. After their second album was released in March 2000, they performed a live concert.
Later in 2000 they switched to the major label TOY’S FACTORY. The released a single under this label in September, but it was only in 2001, with the release of their third single, Tentai Kansoku, their popularity really began to climb, since the single appeared on the Oricon charts.
Their first album under the new label was released in February 2002, to great success: it hit the #1 spot on the Oricon charts. The rest of that year and all of 2003 saw one single and promotional activity. In 2004 they re-released a song from one of their indie album as singles, “Arue”, as well as both of their indie albums, themselves. In July, their single Only Lonely Glory was released, and hit the #1 spot on the Oricon charts. The next month their next album, Yggdrasil, was released, and also hit the #1 spot on the charts.
The groups next two singles did not achieve considerable success, but their single Namida no Furusato was their second single to hit #1. Their next two singles, Mayday and Hana no Uta also hat the charts, both peaking at #2. They have recently released their album orbital period.
Debut Date: November, 1995
Label: TOY’S FACTOR
Members:
Vocals & Guitars: Motoo Fujiwara
Guitar: Hiroaki Masukawa
Bass: Yoshifumi Naoi
Drums: Hideo Masu
Discography
Singles
11/25/1999 - Lamp
09/20/2000 - Diamond
03/24/2001 - Tentai Kansoku
10/17/2001 - Harujion
12/18/2002 - Snow Smile
03/12/2003 - Lost Man / sailing day
03/03/2004 - Arue
07/07/2004 - Only Lonely Glory
12/01/2004 - Sharin no Uta
07/21/2005 - Planetarium
11/23/2005 - supernova / Karma
11/22/2006 - Namida no Furusato
10/24/2007 - Hana no Na
10/24/2007 - Mayday
Albums
03/18/1999 - FLAME VEIN
03/25/2000 - THE LIVING DEAD
02/20/2002 - jupiter
04/28/2004 - FLAME VEIN+1
04/28/2004 - THE LIVING DEAD (Re-release)
08/25/2004 - Yggdrassil
03/22/2006 - Song for Tales of the Abyss
12/19/2007 - orbital period
Credits: Wikipedia, Wiki.theppn
Bump of Chicken is one of the most awesomest bands ever! They have a great light rock sound and each song is just filled with goodness. The vocalist has a great voice that really matches the music well, and the light rock produced by the musicians is wonderful. Eveyrhting is great about Bump of Chicken!!
Mayday
Ahhhh another great song by Bump of Chicken. They never cease to make me proud. This song is a great light rock-almost alternative tupe song, with the usual awesome vocals and great music. I love it! And the video is interesting, although I began to space out a lot while watching it. (no pun intended....xD: ) Enjoy!!
Lyrics | Translation
Click to viewDownload
Bump of Chicken - Mayday