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Aikawa Nanase
Aikawa Nanase
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If the revival of heavy metal after the grunge revolution took place in Europe, 80s rock definitely survived in Japan, and one of those who were most prominent in keeping the flame alive is Nanase Aikawa -- of course, with millions of her compatriots who gladly bought her CDs. What's also amazing is that at the same time she managed to keep a firm hold on her privacy -- even though in Japan celebrity adoration is elevated to an art form. There's not much known about Nanase Aikawa before she started recording, although it's a fact that she was a problem teen, which is attributed to her parents' divorce and school bullying. Some rumors even have it, she was in a girl gang. At 15 Nanase, who already took part in several singing contests, decided to drop out of high school, spending the next five years in total obscurity and getting music training from the producer Tetsuro Oda. Perhaps her tough teens were what gave her interest for music with a rougher edge (rock songs dominate her back catalog), as well as understanding how to write a tune that people can relate to (she composes her own music), but, whatever the case, after these years of study Nanase made her conquest of the J-rock world neat and swift, as her debut CD, Red, sold 2 million copies in one month of 1996. She capitalized her success with performing on the New Year music event of the Japanese TV network and another release, Paradox, that was out in 1997 and sold 1,8 million copies. Her two tours also went as good as can be expected from an artist with these sales, and both discs scored Japanese national music awards.

After that Nanase was on a set path. She continued recording and regularly touring the country, recording four more successful albums between 1999 and 2004. None repeated the success of the debut disc, but they all sold well enough. These records were accompanied by two EPs, two 䀘Best Of' compilations, and then a disappointing news for many male fans of the handsome rocking lady: in 2001 Nanase Aikawa got married, with the child born later the same year, However, that didn't hinder her career for long. In 2000s she also landed a number of theme songs for anime series, including, most notably, the story of the national favorite dog demon boy Inuyasha (2000). And one of her more recent live line-ups boasted Marty Friedman, the head shredder of the number two 80s thrash band Megadeth, who was himself married to a Japanese lady and lives in Tokyo for the last several years. Her other collaborators include producer Tomoyasu Hotei and members of Hide and X-Japan -- all big names of the Japanese scene, only reinforcing Nanase Aikawa's status as Japan's leading female rock performer. Nanase Aikawa went on a hiatus in 2006, but is set to start performing again in 2008. ~ Alexey Eremenko, All Music GuideMore

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