Southern All Stars (サザンオールスターズ, Southern All Stars?), also known by abbreviations Southern (サザン, Sazan?) or SAS, is a Japanese pop rock band formed in Kanagawa, led by...

Southern All Stars (サザンオールスターズ, Southern All Stars?), also known by abbreviations Southern (サザン, Sazan?) or SAS, is a Japanese pop rock band formed in Kanagawa, led by singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Keisuke Kuwata[1]. Their lineup has consisted of Kuwata, lead vocals and electric and acoustic guitars, vocalist and keyboardist Yuko Hara (who is also Kuwata's wife), bassist Kazuyuki Sekiguchi, drummer Hiroshi Matsuda, percussionist Hideyuki Nozawa, and former guitarist Takashi Omori (who has left the band in 2001)[1].

They are ranked number 1, in a list of Japans top 100 influential musicians by HMV. [2]

The Southern All Stars have gained enormous commercial success on both Japanese albums and singles charts. Umi no Yeah!!, the double CD compilation album released in 1998, has sold more than 3.3 million copies[3] and became the best-selling double-album in Japan[4][5]. "Tsunami", the ballad released as a single in 2000, has sold over 2.9 million copies. They have produced 12 million albums (7 albums and 5 singles) in Japan alone. Total sales of their albums and singles have been estimated more than 47 million copies.


HISTORY
Early years
1975 saw a prototype of the band comprised of Aoyama Gakuin University students who belonged to the popular music club "Better Days", formed by Keisuke Kuwata. In their early days, the band changed its name frequently, such as "Onsen Anma Momohiki Band", "Piston Kuwata and the Cylinders", and "Keisuke Kuwata and the Hitchcock Gekijou". Finally, when keyboardist Yuko Hara joined the group, they chose a permanent name. Named after the "Fania All-Stars" and "Southern Rock" by Kuwata's friend.

The first half of 1980s
In 1980, they started a serial project called "Five Rock Show", and released five singles every month. Due to a lack of sales promotion, each single succeeded only moderately. However, thanks to the success of their early singles in the late '70s, they had built up a solid fan base and high popularity on the album chart in Japan. Since Tiny Bubbles, their third album released in 1980, all their studio albums have reached #1. That album featured two songs vocalized by instrumentalists, Yuko Hara's "Watashi wa Piano" and Matsuda's "Matsuda no Komoriuta". The former was covered by girl-pop singer Mizue Takada in same year, and became a top-ten hit.

On January 24, 1982, they released a single "Chako no Kaigan Monogatari". Kuwata intended commercial success, and wrote this song in typical Japanese "Kayokyoku" style. In addition, as a vocalist, he imitated the lisping vocals of Toshihiko Tahara, one of the most popular Japanese male idol singers at that time. Such popular expression received generally favorable reaction from the public, and became the band's most successful single since "Itoshi no Ellie". Following the success of a single, their fifth studio album Nude Man was bigger than ever. The album reached #3 on oricon Year-End chart of 1982, and later became that year's best-selling album. One of the highlights of Nude Man, "Natsu o Akiramete" was recorded by distinguished comedienne and singer Naoko Ken in same year. Her cover version was sold 300,000 copies, and became one of her most successful works as a singer.

After the hit of "Chako no Monogatari", Kuwata was married to Hara on his 26th birthday. They invited their fans for their wedding ceremony.

Throughout the Southern All Stars' career, Kuwata has featured extremely erotic expressions in many of his self-written songs and the band's sales promotions. "I Love You wa Hitorigoto", Kuwata composition released as Hara's first solo single in 1981, was banned due to nasty lyrics including the term "motel". The cover of the band's 1983 single "Body Special II" featured the breast of a topless woman. Such frank expression from Kuwata and his band's music has continued to date.

In 1983 and 1984, two albums Kirei and Ninkimono de Ikou were released. Both of these albums featured mainly adult-oriented rock rendition songs. On account of "Miss Brand-New Day", a successful single and one of the highlights on Ninkimono de Ikou, the band gradually built up a definite reputation in the changeable Japanese music industry.

In 1985, the band released double studio album Kamakura, which is now considered one of the Southern All Stars' finest albums. To promote this blockbuster material, extensive advertisement including an impressive TV commercial starred by distinguished comedian Sanma Akashiya was enforced. Such large-scale promotion brought about rumour that the band might break up. In fact, in the process of recording, conflict came about between the Kuwata and Sekiguchi. It is said that they devoted over 1,800 hours to the recording of this album. The process did not always go smoothly, but the product provided the group with great success as a result. The album was highly praised by both critics and listeners, and Kuwata was very satisfied with such a favorable reception. In addition, the keyboardist had conceived his child in same year, so he suspended the group's career temporarily. Around 1986, he began work on solo projects including "Kuwata Band", and the other members had also begun their own various projects.
After several changes of members, they tried for "Yamaha EastWest '77", the contest of amateur musicians by the Yamaha Music Foundation. At this contest, Kuwata won a prize for the "best vocalist". When the band participated in this contest, Hiroshi Matsuda and Hideyuki Nozawa, two members who were not Aoyama Gakuin's students joined them, and all the members of the group were then assembled.

On July 25, 1978, their debut single "Katte ni Sindbad" was released from Victor Entertainment. Its title was named after two hit songs in Japan in 1977, "Katte ni Shiyagare" by Kenji Sawada and "Nagisa no Sindbad" by Pink Lady In addition, the released date of their debut single was Sawada's 29th birthday. The song featured Kuwata's impressive coarse-grained vocals like a tongue twister. To promote their first single, they appeared on lots of TV programs. The weird costumes they dressed in and their eccentric performance made an unforgettable impact on the listeners. Their single gradually climbed the hit parade, and it peaked at #3 on the Japan's oricon singles chart in autumn of same year.

Because of sales promotion of "Katte ni Sindbad" and a next single "Kibun Shidai de Semenaide", they were considered performers of novelty songs. However, "Itoshi no Ellie", their third single released on March 25, 1979, was sufficient to overturn their comedic public image. This pop-ballad was evaluated highly by many Japanese music critics and artists, including Hiroshi Miyagawa and Kosetsu Minami. "Itoshi no Ellie" is regarded as one of the most notable songs by the Southern All Stars. In 1988, a cover version by Ray Charles was featured in a Suntory Limited TV advertisement. It was released as a single in Japan only, and reached #3 on Oricon. [6]The cover version by Charles became the best-selling single performed by a Western artist in 1989.

Two months after the Southern All Stars released their debut single, their first album called Atsui Munasawagi was marketed. The band was not able to devote ample time to recording and songwriting for 10 Numbers Carat, their second album which featured their breakthrough ballad "Itoshi no Ellie" and which was released only eight months after their debut album. Kuwata's angry look on the album cover indicated his exhausted feelings. Hence, the leader of the band wasn't satisfied with quality of the album, and has stated that the album was "trash".

Works with Takeshi Kobayashi
"Kanashii Kimochi (Just a Man in Love)", Keisuke Kuwata's successful solo debut single released in 1987 was produced and arranged by Takeshi Kobayashi. Kobayashi started his career in the late '70s, and appeared in works of numerous Japanese musicians, including Ryuichi Sakamoto, Yosui Inoue, Taeko Onuki, Hiroshi Takano and Kenji Omori. Through the recording of solo materials, Kuwata recognized Kobayashi's abundant and practical ability, and decided to continue this strong combination for his career. In the late 1980s and the early 1990s, Kobayashi participated in many materials around the Southern All Stars. Kuwata highly appraised Kobayashi's capability as a partner. He joked on his band's live performance, "Even if he is unwilling to join my project, I'll force him to involve my career!".

On June 25, 1988, ten years after the Southern All Stars debuted, they returned to Japanese music industry, with a single "Minna no Uta" produced by Kobayashi. Their 1989 single "Sayonara Baby" reached to the top on the oricon's single chart, and it became the first #1 hit on that chart for the band. In same year, 4-CDs box-set compilation entitled Suika was released. Regardless of voluminous contains, the album peaked at #1 and sold more than 300,000 units.

1990s
In the 1990s, Japanese music industries prospered than any other decades. Southern All Stars continued commercial success, and remained as one of the middle-of-the-road groups of Japanese popular music in the entire of '90s.

In 1990, Kuwata directed the film called Inamura Jane. The movie was not able to receive positive reaction, but its music was highly succeeded. Its soundtrack album, performer was credited to "Southern All Stars and All Stars", reached #1 on Japanese chart and sold over million copies. Finally it became the best-selling soundtrack album in Japan. "Manatsu no Kajitsu", a song written by Kuwata for his own film was released as a lead single from the album, and climbed top-five on the chart. In 1991, Hong Kong singer Jacky Cheung covered this song in Chinese, and fulfilled huge commercial success in several Asian countries. Now, this romantic pop ballad is considered as one of their fan favorites. This soundtrack have included another highlight "Kibou no Wadachi". Regardless of appeared in the album only, the song is well-known as one of the Southern All Stars' significant songs.

Kuwata and his band also released self-titled studio album in 1990. Following the previous O.S.T. album, it became million-seller.

In 1991, Kazuyuki Sekiguchi left the band temporarily to overcome his health problem until 1995. In nexxt year, the remainders released two singles "Shulaba-La-Bamba" and "Namida no Kiss" on same day. The latter marked the top of the Oricon singles chart for 7 weeks and sold more than 1.5 million copies. It was their first million-selling single, and finally reached #5 on the Japanese Year-End singles chart of 1992. Two months later from the release of those successful singles, their tenth studio album entitled Yo ni Man'yō no Hana ga Sakunari was released. At first, Kuwata planned to release it as double album, but finally decided to omit some of the recordings, including 1991 #1 hit single "Neo Bravo!!". The album has also succeeded as ever, and sold nearly 1,800,000 copies.

In 1993, the remixed EP Enoshima was released under the credit of pseudonym project named "Z-Dan". It sold more than 900,000 copies, and won the 8th The Japan Gold Disc Award's "Compilation Album of the Year" prize. In same year, the band released the second million-selling single "Erotica Seven". Strong partnership between Kuwata and Kobayashi was ended in the band's holiday song released as a single "Christmas Love" in autumn of that year. However, the two have collaborated from time to time after the temporary parting, such as Kuwata and the Mr. Children's successful charity single "Kiseki no Hoshi" released in 1995.

In entire 1994, the leader worked as a solo artist again. Hence, the band released no brand-new materials. After the blank of a year, Southern All Stars restarted their career with "Mampy no G-Spot", the obscene song released as a single only. From this single, Sekiguchi who had left the band since 1991 appeared again. "Anatadake o -Summer Heartbreak-", the other song released in 1995 provided the group with their 3rd million-seller single. In later, Kuwata mentioned that "Summer Heartbreak" is one of his favorites. In next year, the Southern All Stars released two singles "Ai no Kotodama -Spiritual Message-" and "Taiyo wa Tsumi na Yatsu", and the former sold over million copies. Young Love, their 11th album featured successful singles including two million-sellers, was sold more than 2.5 million copies and became one of the best-selling albums of 1996. It have remained as the band's most successful studio album to date.

Enormous hit "Tsunami" and Omori's independence
On January 26, 2000, their 44th single, "Tsunami" was released. It was used as theme song of "Mirai Nikki III"; a popular part of the TBS program called Un-nan no Hontoko!, and made a strong impression on many people.[7] Including another issue, this single sold about 2,930,000 copies. It is the third best-selling single in Japan of all time. On New Year's Eve of 2000, "Tsunami" won the 42nd Japan Record Award. After the enormous success of the single, the works of the band became more conservative. They released several singles and all of them became hits.

After the concert tour in 2000, Takashi Omori announced a stop in work and he left from the band in August of 2001. Omori and his wife were well known as pious and influential Soka Gakkai adherents.[8] Therefore, this caused various rumors about religious problems between himself and other members among mass media and many fans[9].

In early 2000s, each member had played an active part in their own works. Particularly, Kuwata produced three million-selling records and one album around 2001 and 2002.

Recent years
In October of 2005, their latest double-album Killer Street was released. This album has already sold over million sets.

: Chouchou |