Ayaka Hirahara
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists:
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Ayaka Hirahara
- Genres: Rock
Biography
With jazz in her blood (her father, Makoto Hirahara, is a noted Japanese saxophonist, and her grandfather a trumpeter), Ayaka Hirahara seemed an unlikely candidate for pop stardom. Performing ballet and classical alto saxophone in school, her first single was indeed a pop vocal adaptation (partially in English) of Gustav Holst's suite The Planets, complete with a small string section in the background. The song climbed the Oricon charts quickly, peaking at number two and leading the way for her first full-length album, Odyssey. A sophomore album, The Voice, sold strongly, overshadowing numerous singles released during the same period by Hirahara. In conjunction with a major national tour in 2005, a cover album was released to moderate success, as was 2006's 4tsu No L. Released in 2007, Sora saw Hirahara broadening to a wider world influence with additional classical influences and the enlistment of songwriters from all populated continents. The album briefly cracked the Top Ten, but sold weakly compared to previous endeavors. With a greatest-hits compilation released in early 2008, Hirahara had returned to Top Five status on the Oricon charts and cemented her status as a household name in Japanese pop. ~ Adam Greenberg, RoviWikipedia on Answers.com:
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Ayaka Hirahara
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| Ayaka Hirahara 平原 綾香 |
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|---|---|
| Birth name | 平原 綾香 (Hirahara, Ayaka) |
| Also known as | A-ya (あーや) |
| Born | May 9, 1984 |
| Origin | Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | Japanese pop, Classical |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Saxophone |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels | Dreamusic |
| Website | ayaka-hirahara.com |
Ayaka Hirahara (平原 綾香 Hirahara Ayaka, born May 9, 1984 in Tokyo) is a Japanese pop singer affiliated with the Dreamusic label.
Hirahara comes from a musical family; her father, Makoto Hirahara, is a saxophone player, her grandfather, Tsutomu Hirahara, was a trumpet player,[1] and her older sister, Aika Hirahara, also is a singer under the EMI Music Japan label. Ayaka was a member of the Matsuyama Ballet for 11 years, beginning at age 6. She started playing saxophone when she was 13 years old, then learned classical saxophone at Senzoku Gakuen High School. Currently, she is studying in the Faculty of Jazz majoring in saxophone at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music. Her first single, "Jupiter", was released in Japan in December 2003, and went on to be one of the biggest selling singles of 2004. The melody of the song is based on the "Jupiter" movement in The Planets Suite by Gustav Holst. Similarly, the melody of her song, "Siciliana", is based on "Siciliano" by Johann Sebastian Bach.
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Contents
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Discography
Main article: Ayaka Hirahara discography
Studio albums
- 2004: Odyssey
- 2004: The Voice
- 2005: From To
- 2006: Yottsu no L
- 2007: Sora
- 2008: Path of Independence
- 2009: My Classics!
- 2010: My Classics 2
- 2011: My Classics 3
- 2012: "Doki!"
Compilation albums
- 2008: Jupiter: Ayaka Hirahara Best
Theme songs
Hirahara's song Reset, from the album Yottsu no L was used in Capcom's 2006 title, Ōkami, as the ending song. A orchestral version, "Reset – Thank You Version", also was made by Hiroshi Yamaguchi.
Also appearing in the anime Saiunkoku Monogatari was Hirahara's song, "Hajimari No Kaze" (also from Yottsu no L). The song was used as the show's opening theme song for the two seasons that were aired.
Her version of the song "Tsubasa wo Kudasai" appeared in episode 5 of the drama Orthros no Inu sung under the stage name Ray.
"Sailing My Life" (featuring label mate Norimasa Fujisawa), from the album "my Classics 2", is the official OST for the Japan release of the Disneynature film Oceans.[2]
Ayaka Hirahara has recorded a cover version of the song "The Name of Life" (いのちの名前 "Inochi no Namae") by Joe Hisaishi from the Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away.
References
- ^ Greenberg, Adam. "Biography: Ayaka Hirahara". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p872755. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
- ^ "Oceans Japanese Website". Gaga Corporation. http://oceans.gaga.ne.jp/. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
External links
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Ayaka Hirahara
(Rock Artist, 2000s)
Jupiter
(2003 Album by Ayaka Hirahara)
Ayaka
(disambiguation)
Jupiter
(disambiguation)
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