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Mai Kuraki

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Mai Kuraki (倉木麻衣 Kuraki Mai, b. October 10, 1982 in Funabashi, Chiba) is a Japanese pop singer.

She was influenced at an early age by Whitney Houston's singing and Michael Jackson's dancing. In her second year of junior high school, she submitted a demo tape to the GIZA recording label and won a contract. She debuted in the United States in 1999 with the song "Baby I Like," recorded under the pseudonym Mai K. Her first Japanese single, "Love, Day After Tomorrow," was released later in the year.

Kuraki's career has been somewhat overshadowed by that of her slightly younger contemporary, Utada Hikaru. They are both categorized as R&B singers and both write their own lyrics. Although Kuraki is often viewed as a better dancer (and sometimes as a better singer) than Utada, Utada's earlier Japanese debut, Japanese-American background, songwriting abilities, bilingual singing abilities, and superior promotion by Toshiba-EMI have led many fans to view Kuraki as an inferior product. Despite this, Kuraki's album Delicious Way sold more than 4 million copies in 2000, and her second album, Perfect Crime, sold more than 2 million copies in 2001.

To date, Kuraki has recorded seven albums, seventeen singles, and three DVD's. In March 2005 she graduated from Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto.

Her newest releases since "Love,needing," have been featuring more retro-sounding songs.

Discography

Singles

  • Baby I Like (1999) - #Failed to chart
  • Love, Day After Tomorrow (1999/12/08) - #2
  • Stay by my side (2000/03/15) - #1
  • Secret of my heart (2000/04/26) - #2
  • NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP (2000/06/07) - #2
  • Simply Wonderful (2000/09/27) - #2
  • Reach for the sky (2000/11/28) - #3
  • tsumetai umi/Start in my life (2001/02/07) - #2
  • Stand Up (2001/04/18) - #2
  • always (2001/06/06) - #2
  • Can't forget your love/PERFECT CRIME ~Single Edit~ (2001/08/29) - #2
  • Winter Bells (2002/01/17) - #1
  • Feel fine! (2002/04/24) - #2
  • Like a star in the night (2002/09/04) - #2
  • Make my day (2002/12/04) - #2
  • Time after time ~hanamau machi de~ (2003/03/05) - #3
  • Kiss (2003/04/30) - #3
  • kaze no la la la (2003/05/28) - #3
  • IMITATION GOLD (2003/10/08 as TAK MATSUMOTO featuring Kuraki Mai) - #1
  • ashita e kakaru hashi (2004/05/19) - #3
  • Love,needing (2005/01/19) - #5
  • DANCING (2005/03/23) - #5
  • P.S. MY SUNSHINE (2005/06/01) - #8

Albums

  • delicious way (2000/06/28) - #1
  • Perfect Crime - (2001/07/04) #1
  • FAIRY TALE (2002/10/23) - #1
  • If I Believe' (2003/07/09) - #1
  • FUSE OF LOVE (2005/08/24) - #?

Compilation Albums

  • Wish You The Best (2004/01/01) - #1

Videos

  • FIRST CUT (2000/11/08 DVD/VHS)
  • Mai Kuraki & Experience First Live 2001 in Zepp Osaka (VHS 2001/09/19)
  • Mai Kuraki & Experience First Live Tour 2001 ETERNAL MOMENT (DVD/VHS 2001/11/21)
  • Mai Kuraki "Loving You..." Tour 2002 Final 2.27 in YOKOHAMA ARENA (VHS 2002/04/03)
  • Mai Kuraki "Loving You..." Tour 2002 Complete Edition (DVD 2002/05/15)
  • My Reflection (DVD 2004/01/17)
  • Mai Kuraki 5th Anniversary Edition Grow, Step by Step (DVD 2005/01/05)
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