A J! - E N T F E AT U R E A R T I C L E Kiyokiba Shunsuke B Y W Y N N E I P I M A G E S C O U R T E S Y O F AV E X E N T E R TA I N M E N T, I N C. Photos courtesy of Avex Entertainment, Inc.
J!-ENT SPOTLIGHTS KIYOKIBA SHUNSUKE Truthful, unpretentious, gifted, and passionate: these are four words that can be used to describe a rising Japanese music artist, Kiyokiba Shunsuke. Aside from being a singer, a songwriter, a lyricist, and a calligraphy artist, Kiyokiba has recently made his way into the silver screen, starring in the new movie Tengoku wa mattekureru (2007), alongside fellow singer Inohara Yoshihiko from V6 and actress Okamoto Aya, to be released on February 10 in Japanese theaters nationwide. Kiyokiba Shunsuke might not yet be a household name among Japanese music lovers in America, but he was once better known as SHUN, the former vocalist of Japan s top vocal & dance group, EXILE, who made their debut in September 2001. Before he began his career as a professional musician, Kiyokiba used to perform with his guitar on the streets of his hometown in Ube-shi, Yamaguchi. After following his dream and having the talent to win a singing competition organized by the local TV station, Kiyokiba was signed by AVEX to begin a flourishing career with EXILE. While EXILE s music was mainly pop and R&B, Kiyokiba Shunsuke s root was rock. For four-and-a-half years, EXILE was at the top of the Japanese music world, but in March 2006, vocalist SHUN gave up his coveted position in the group, and proceeded to restart his solo career from ground zero, to focus on showing the real him through his favorite rock music in full Kiyokiba style. Kiyokiba s idol was the one-time rebel prince of Japanese rock, the late Ozaki Yutaka, and so it was no surprise back in 2004 when Kiyokiba was most eager to participate in Ozaki s tribute album and concert, during which he officially began his solo career under his real name, Kiyokiba Shunsuke. As an artist of multiple dimensions, Kiyokiba has also held two exhibitions, which attracted tens of thousands of visitors across five different Japanese cities in 2004 and 2005, where he expressed his words and his personal views of this world through poetry, calligraphy, music, and photography. PHOTO: The cover of Kiyokiba Shunsukeʼs self-titled album with DVD. If EXILE s stage was a flamboyant production about the sex appeal of men, showing off powerful dances of its performers and beautifying broken relationships in the lyrics sung by its skilled vocalists, then Kiyokiba Shunsuke s music was quite the exact opposite. In January 2005, Kiyokiba released his solo debut CD single, Itsuka, which reached No. 3 on the Oricon singles chart. The single featured two heart-rending rock ballads he had composed and written the lyrics for, titled Itsuka and Nani mo dekinai, with a bonus 30- minute mini-movie also included on the CD+DVD version. He was not afraid to reveal the weak side of an everyday man, to cry the pain of heartbreak and the powerless of simply being a man having lost his loved one, and he even played the blues harp in one of the songs to give the sorrowful feeling an extra touch. In August 2005, he released his second single, the passionate rock tune called Sayonara itoshii hito yo, and in October of the same year, his 12-track debut album titled Kiyokiba Shunsuke, both recorded in Los Angeles, CA, where he made new songs as well as re-recorded and rearranged all his previously released tracks, including those from his first single and two other solo pieces that were found on EXILE s singles and albums. His debut album reached No. 5 on the Oricon albums chart, and it contained a great variety of rock music, such as the upbeat rock n roll opening number Cap Up, the medium rock tune with a touch of blues harp called Gusetsu, the emotional ballads rerecorded from his first single, and the smooth love songs such as Kimi ga suki dakara, Tatoeba boku ga, and Imi no nai I LOVE YOU. Other tracks included Susume, an acoustic rock ensemble in which Kiyokiba wrote about overcoming obstacles and moving forward, Sore!, a slow rock song which described the young 2 FEBRUARY 07 J!-ENT
My joy, my sadness, my anger, and even my frustration, I put them all into this song. from Ningen jarou ga!
J!-ENT SPOTLIGHTS KIYOKIBA SHUNSUKE PHOTO: The photo jacket cover of Kiyokiba Shunsuke s album Kiyokiba Shunsuke LIVE Matsuri. Photo courtesy of Avex Entertainment, Inc. days when he was bullied but had since learned to embrace himself for the future ahead, Arigatou, a song of thanks dedicated to his mother, and a rock n roll number titled Utaibito, which was a simply celebration of his passion about singing. Between September and December of 2005, while mainly performing as SHUN in EXILE s arena tour, Kiyokiba also demonstrated the powerful rock stage he was able to create amongst pop and R&B fans during the solo segments. It was not yet public knowledge during the EXILE tour in 2005, but by the final show, Kiyokiba had apparently already made the decision and notified his fellow members about leaving the group. It was a choice between whether to create a new path where he could truly be himself, or to continue on a journey that was already laid out for him. It was certainly a risky move, but an official announcement was eventually made on March 27, 2006 regarding his withdrawal from EXILE that shocked many fans of Japanese music. It also became evident when the last day of the concert was released on DVD two days later, in which he was speechless and had to hold back tears in more 4 FEBRUARY 07 J!-ENT
J!-ENT SPOTLIGHTS KIYOKIBA SHUNSUKE than one occasion, when thanking all the fans that had been supporting him throughout the years. Released on the same date was EXILE s 4th album ASIA, in which he participated as SHUN for the final time, and Kiyokiba Shunsuke s 3rd solo single, titled Ningen jarou ga! / Sayonara no uta With the timing of everything, all three releases debuted at No. 1 on their respective Oricon charts on March 29, 2006. For Kiyokiba, the hardships and emotions that he faced when making the decision was described in Ningen jarou ga!, a medium rock number in which he sang about being just a human being, and that everyone had one s own troubles and worries to overcome. His sentiment came through in his lyrics: My joy, my sadness, my anger, and even my frustration, I put them all into this song. In Sayonara no uta he expressed the uncertainty of his future, the gratitude towards his fans, as well as his passion of simply continuing to sing for those who support him. After taking a small break to recharge by going fishing (his favorite hobby) in Mexico, Los Angeles, and various parts of Japan, Kiyokiba Shunsuke released a 4th single called believe / Boku no mainichi in August, 2006. believe was the soccer rooters theme song for A3 Champions Cup, and Kiyokiba was recalled saying in interviews and magazines that it was the first time he was requested to write a song in order to suit a particular theme. It was unfamiliar territory for him, because up until now he was able to express his ideas and thoughts freely, so this challenge actually put him in a slump a writer s block. But a professional musician that he is, believe was completed in a muchsatisfied manner, placing itself in the top 10 of the Oricon singles chart during the week of its release. Many fans wanted to hear what Kiyokiba could offer as a solo artist in terms of new songs, but the singer himself had a different plan. Kiyokiba realized that not many people had actually heard him sing as a solo artist, so between September and December of 2006, he put on his guitars, T-shirts, and denim jeans, and together with his Kiyokiba band members, he performed 8 fanclub-only shows plus 22 public lives across 15 different club venues, in order to show Japan what he is truly made of. The final fanclub-only show on September 29 in Tokyo had been made into a 2-CD live album called Kiyokiba Shunsuke LIVE Matsuri, showcasing Kiyokiba s powerful vocal ability and music talent in a set list of 17 songs, including 80 s-style rock n roll tunes, passionate and tear-jerking rock ballads, moving piano accompaniment, and lively acoustic ensembles. Year 2007 is looking to be a fruitful year so far for Kiyokiba Shunsuke, with the release of his 5th single Tengoku wa mattekureru on Feb 7 as the theme song of his debut movie of the same title. A Live Tour documentary book is in the making, and so is his second anthology; a live DVD has also been announced with a March 28, 2007 release date, containing the final day of his 2006 public live tour, Sore yuke! Ossan Shonen no Tabi. WYNNE IP is an entertainment writer-atlarge for J!-ENT. For more information on Kiyokiba Shunsuke, please visit: www.kiyokiba.net 6 FEBRUARY 07 J!-ENT
KIYOKIBA SHUNSUKE MUSIC REVIEW BY WYNNE IP 1st single: Itsuka Release date: 01/19/2005 Catalog No.: RZCD-45170/B (CD+DVD), RZCD-45171 (CD) 1. Itsuka 2. Nani mo dekinai 3. Itsuka (karaoke) 4. Nani mo dekinai (karaoke) [DVD/Short film] Itsuka Kiyokiba Shunsuke s debut single came with 4 audio tracks with 2 different packaging: a CD+DVD version and a CD-only version. The title song Itsuka was a rock ballad used as the theme song of MBS/ TBS Drama 30 Memory of Love. Its coupling song was also used in the drama series as an insert song. Both rock ballads were furthered featured in the bonus 33-min DVD short film, where Kiyokiba, as a musician, displayed his singing, his guitar-playing, and his blues harp skills. Kiyokiba s character in the short film had various supernatural powers, and he met a young girl who had her fair share of problems in life. Together, they developed a delightful yet dramatic love story, with plenty of adventures in the short time they spent with each other. The plot was a bit on the crazy side but entertaining. J!-ENT highly recommends the CD+DVD version of this single. 2nd single: Sayonara itoshii hito yo Release date: 08/03/2005 Catalog No.: RZCD-45261/B & RZCD- 45262/B (CD+DVD), RZCD-45263 & RZCD-45264 (CD) 1. Sayonara itoshii hito yo 2. Jirai ~10 nen go no bokuto~ 3. Sayonara itoshii hito yo (karaoke) [DVD] Sayonara itoshii hito yo (music video) As with his debut single, the second single again was released under multiple formats: 2 CD+DVD versions and 2 CD-only versions, each with a different CD cover art. All tracks, including the music video, were recorded and filmed in Los Angeles, CA. The title song was fast-paced emotional rock number. Its music video was shot in heavy rain and every bit of dramatic acting from Kiyokiba. It even involved an angry Kiyokiba smashing a trailer home. The coupling track was in contrast lively and mainly acoustic, with guest vocal appearance by Kawane Raine, co-writer of the 2nd track of this single and many other songs in Kiyokiba s discography. 3rd single: Ningen jarou ga! / Sayonara no uta... Release date: 03/29/2006 Catalog No.: RZCD-45383/B (CD+DVD), RZCD-45384 (CD) 1. Ningen jarou ga! 2. Sayonara no uta [DVD] SETSTOCK 05 July 22, 2005 rehearsal, backstage, fishing & July 23, 2005 pre-concert, 1. Cap up 2. Sore! 3. Itsuka 4. Kappagi Rock n Roll 5. Sayonara itoshii hito yo 6. Utaibito, post-concert Released two days after the announcement of his withdrawal from EX- ILE, Kiyokiba told the true feelings and hardships that he faced when coming to such a conclusion in this double A-side single. While describing the fact that human beings all have their own problems, he sang that he has grown during this whole time and he has put forth all his happiness, sadness, anger, and frustration into the intense Ningen jarou ga! In comparison, Sayonara no uta was a more uncertain and yet revealing song of his situation at the time, as he needed to find a way to convey his doubt and decision to those who had supported him throughout these years. Continued on page 8 J!-ENT FEBRUARY 07 7
KIYOKIBA SHUNSUKE MUSIC REVIEW BY WYNNE IP Continued from Page 7 He was simply happy and grateful that he could continue to sing the songs he liked. This CD single signified his decision of restarting his solo career from ground zero, and the message was further enforced from the images of the CD cover and booklet, which were taken from his birthplace in Ube-shi, Yamaguchi. J!-ENT highly recommends the bonus DVD version, which was 38 minutes long, featuring a lot of preparation footage and the actual uncut performance of a total of 6 songs from the SET- STOCK 05 live held on July 23, 2005. The recording quality of the uncut audio and video were not the highest, but it clearly displayed the talent of Kiyokiba and the enthusiasm and professionalism that he possessed on stage. 4th single: believe / Boku no mainichi Release date: 08/02/2006 Catalog No.: RZCD-45420/B (CD+DVD), RZCD-45421 (CD) 1. believe 2. Boku no mainichi [DVD] 1. believe (music video) Following the tradition of multipleversion releases, Kiyokiba s 4th single once again contained a CD+DVD format and a CD-only format. believe is the theme song of the soccer competition, A3 Champions Cup 2006. Unlike most sports related theme songs which tend to glorify success, this rooters song reminded the athletes of their hardships, but it also reminded them to turn their frustration into hope and courage for tomorrow. The 2nd song of the single took the audience back to Kiyokiba of 2004 when the track was actually recorded. It is a peaceful love song that once again showed us the soft side of his work. The DVD contained the music video of believe, where Kiyokiba and his band members were playing in the middle of the sea on top of a vessel. Let s hope nobody got sea sick from the filming of this video. 5th single: Tengoku wa mattekureru Release date: 02/07/2007 Catalog No.: RZCD-45513/B (CD+DVD), RZCD-45514 (CD) 1. Tengoku wa mattekureru 2. Tengoku wa mattekureru (karaoke) *3. Tengoku wa mattekureru (live version / 2006.12.10 at ZEPP TOKYO) *Track 3 is a bonus track found in first press only [DVD] 1. Tengoku wa mattekureru (live footage / 2006.12.11 at ZEPP TO- KYO) A sad, gentle ballad, that is at the same time, warm and sweet, Tengoku wa mattekureru was the theme song for the movie of the same title, starring Kiyokiba Shunsuke, Inohara Yoshihiko, and Okamoto Aya. It was not merely a love song but it described the special relationship and memories shared by the 3 characters of the movie from the point of view of Kiyokiba s character in the movie. Kiyokiba s tender voice in this song was a big contrast to the previous passionate singles released. It was certainly a pleasant change for those who would like to experience the gentle side of the artist. The bonus track from the live at ZEPP TOKYO on Dec 10, 2006 was a real treat, as one could almost feel the serenity that was created during the live performance. The DVD track further displayed the kindness and the peacefulness of the song by capturing Kiyokiba s smile and intense expression on film at ZEPP TOKYO on Dec 11, 2006. The images of the cherry blossoms in both the CD and CD+DVD jackets greatly complement the emotion that the song tried to convey. Highly recommended for those who likes soft love songs but not necessarily those over-romantic sappy ones. The CD-only version could be a better buy, because the same DVD track of this single will also be available in the Live DVD to be released on March 28, 2007. 1st album: Kiyokiba Shunsuke Release date: 10/19/2005 Catalog No.: RZCD-45285/B (CD+DVD), RZCD-45286 (CD) 8 FEBRUARY 07 J!-ENT
KIYOKIBA SHUNSUKE MUSIC REVIEW BY WYNNE IP 1. Cap Up 2. Gusetsu 3. Nani mo dekinai 4. Kimi ga suki dakara 5. Susume 6. Itsuka 7. Tatoeba boku ga. 8. Imi no nai I LOVE YOU 9. Sayonara itoshii hito yo 10. Sore!! 11. Utaibito 12. Arigatou [DVD] Utaiya Kiyokiba Shunsuke This debut album was a great step towards removing his image of SHUN of EXILE and becoming a true rock artist. Great rock numbers included Cap Up, Gusetsu, the re-recorded more emotional version of Itsuka, and the very popular Utaibito. The DVD was a gem in this release as it contained 29 minutes of makingof footage of the CD jacket and music video shooting, the recording of the album, artist interview, the music video of Sayonara itoshii hito yo (TV on-air version), and various TV commercials of previously released singles. In the recording portion of the DVD footage, it showed the song creation process, the lyrics writing process, and the most memorable for me was the part where Kiyokiba had to ask the lights be dimmed as he concentrated to record Arigatou, a song he dedicated to his mother. When the song was over, one could see the emotional tears from his eyes. This release is definitely a nice pickup for those who would like to get to know Kiyokiba s music. 1st live album: Kiyokiba Shunsuke LIVE Matsuri Release date: 12/20/2006 Catalog No.: RZCD-45494 (CD) [Disc 1] 1. believe 2. Cap Up 3. Gusetsu 4. Sore!! 5. Imi no nai I LOVE YOU 6. Itsuka 7. Kimi ga suki dakara 8. Tsuki 9. Boku no mainichi [Disc 2] 1. Runners High 2. Susume 3. Jirai ~10 nen go no bokuto~ 4. Sayonara itoshii hito yo 5. Utaibito 6. Ningen jarou ga! 7. Kappagi Rock n Roll 8. Sayonara no uta A good balance of songs ranging from intense rock to acoustic rock, from gentle love songs to powerful rock ballads, LIVE Matsuri was an album that truly showcased the talent of Kiyokiba Shunsuke as a live performer who has great vocal ability. Aside from the artist himself, the crowd participation and the extended jamming from the band members, the energy on and off stage all contributed to making this lively album. People say that you have to be at a live to enjoy the live. While I couldn t disagree more, I do think the LIVE Matsuri album delivered the joy, the enthusiasm, and the passion shared by everyone there on that day. The feeling of being part of the live without actually being there was something this live album managed to bring to the listeners. The only pity was for the fact that they cut out most of the dialog in between each song. The two-disc CD set included 17 tracks, with 3 songs not previously released on singles of albums. A song to note is track no. 8 Tsuki -- a song created around the time when Kiyokiba was choosing his career path, and the doubts and uncertainty came through quite expressively in the melody and lyrics of this song. ALTERNATE COVERS [NORMAL CD SINGLE 1-4 VERSION] J!-ENT FEBRUARY 07 9
ARE YOU READY FOR THE Random Ninjas A J!-ENT INTERVIEW BY EDWIN MACARAEG & DENNIS A. AMITH FEBRUARY 2007 www.j-entonline.com