Cute (Japanese group)
Cute |
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 | This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. (December 2009) |
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°C-ute (キュート, Kyūto, stylized as ℃-ute) is an all-female Japanese pop group within Hello! Project, consisting of five teenage girls. The lead singers for the group are leader Maimi Yajima and Airi Suzuki.
The character "℃" (degree Celsius) is substituted for "C" in notation for the purpose of expressing ardor—the hyphen bares no special meaning. The proper pronunciation for this group in Japanese is kyūto (キュート) with pitch accents on both "ū" and "o".
History
2005-2006: Formation of C-ute
°C-ute was formed in the year 2005, consisting of seven girls from Hello! Project Kids who were not chosen to form the group Berryz Kobo. The group was officially announced on June 11, 2005, though its formation had been rumored for several months prior. Later, in January 2006, Kanna Arihara, a Hello Pro Egg, was added at the start of the Hello! Project Winter 2006 tour, as part of the Wonderful Hearts team. On October 31, 2006, Megumi Murakami left the group to pursue her studies further in school.
Prior to the band's formation, some members worked with members of Morning Musume in such side projects as Aa! and ZYX, as well as the Mini Moni movie Okashi na Daibōken.
2007-2008: Major label debut
On February 21, 2007, C-ute's first official single "Sakura Chirari" was released. On the first day it ranked third on the Oricon charts, a feat not even accomplished by Morning Musume (who had ranked 6th on their debut single).[2] With their debut single, they became the youngest group (with the average age of 13) to rank in the top 10.[3]
On December 30, 2007, C-ute was chosen as the Best New Artist Award with Japan Record Award.
2009: Line-up changes
On February 26, 2009, Hello! Project announced that Arihara was having difficulty performing onstage due to having hallux valgus, or bunion deformity, and would not be able to attend Hello! Project's 10th Anniversary Fanclub event that week. She would also be absent from Hello! Project activities, including activities in C-ute, while receiving treatment.[4][5] Hello! Project then announced in July 2009 that Arihara had left Hello! Project and °C-ute and would not return.[6]
On August 1, 2009, Hello! Project announced Umeda's departure from C-ute and Hello! Project to pursue her dream of becoming a fashion model.[7] Her graduation was held on October 25, 2009, in Osaka, at the end of their 2009 fall concert tour.
Discography
The following CDs and DVD are released on the Zetima label.
Singles
| # | Title | Information |
|---|---|---|
| Indies[fn 1] | ||
| 1 | "Massara Blue Jeans" (まっさらブルージーンズ) |
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| 2 | "Soku Dakishimete" (即 抱きしめて) |
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| 3 | "Ōkina Ai de Motenashite" (大きな愛でもてなして) |
Note: This song was used as an ending theme song for the anime Kirarin Revolution |
| 4 | "Wakkyanai (Z)" (わっきゃない（Ｚ）)[fn 2] |
|
| Major | ||
| 1 | "Sakura Chirari" (桜チラリ) |
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| 2 | "Meguru Koi no Kisetsu" (めぐる恋の季節) |
|
| 3 | "Tokaikko Junjō" (都会っ子 純情) |
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| 4 | "Lalala Shiawase no Uta" (LALALA 幸せの歌) |
|
| – | "Koero! Rakuten Eagles" (越えろ!楽天イーグルス)[8] |
|
| 5 | "Namida no Iro" (涙の色) |
|
| 6 | "Edo no Temari Uta II" (江戸の手毬唄Ⅱ)[fn 3] |
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| 7 | "Forever Love"[9] |
|
| 8 | "Bye Bye Bye!"[10] |
|
| 9 | "Shochū Omimai Mōshiagemasu" (暑中お見舞い申し上げます)[11] |
|
| 10 | "Everyday Zekkōchō!" (ＥＶＥＲＹＤＡＹ絶好調！！)[12] |
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| 11 | "SHOCK!"[13] |
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| 12 | "Campus Life (Umarete Kite Yokatta)" (キャンパスライフ～生まれて来てよかった～)[14] |
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| 13 | "Dance de Bakoon!" (Danceでバコーン！) [15] |
|
Albums
| # | Title | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cutie Queen Vol.1 (キューティークイーン VOL.1) | October 25, 2006 |
| 2 | 2 Mini Ikiru to Iu Chikara[fn 4] (②mini～生きるという力～) | April 17, 2007 |
| 3 | 3rd: Love Escalation (3rd～LOVEエスカレーション!～) | March 12, 2008 |
| 4 | 4 Akogare My Star (④ 憧れ My STAR) | January 28, 2009 |
| S | C-ute Nandesu! Zen Single Atsumechaimashita! 1 (℃-ｕｔｅなんです！全シングル集めちゃいましたっ！①) | November 18, 2009 |
| 5 | Shocking 5 (ショッキング5) | February 24, 2010 |
DVDs
| # | Title | Release date | Contents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concerts | |||
| 1 | error: {{nihongo}}: Japanese or romaji text required (help) | December 6, 2006 | Performance on September 10, 2006 in Yomiuri Land East |
| 2 | error: {{nihongo}}: Japanese or romaji text required (help) | April 18, 2007 | First concert series on February 25, 2007 at Nihon Seinenkan |
| 3 | error: {{nihongo}}: Japanese or romaji text required (help) | July 18, 2007 | Performance in April 2007 at Tokyo Kōsei Nenkin Kaikan |
| 4 | error: {{nihongo}}: Japanese or romaji text required (help) | November 21, 2007 | Performance on September 10, 2007 |
| 5 | error: {{nihongo}}: Japanese or romaji text required (help) | December 19, 2007 | |
| 6 | error: {{nihongo}}: Japanese or romaji text required (help) | April 24, 2008 | |
| 7 | error: {{nihongo}}: Japanese or romaji text required (help) | July 9, 2008 | |
| 8 | error: {{nihongo}}: Japanese or romaji text required (help) | November 12, 2008 | |
| 9 | error: {{nihongo}}: Japanese or romaji text required (help) | December 17, 2008 | |
| 10 | error: {{nihongo}}: Japanese or romaji text required (help) | July 22, 2009 | |
| 11 | error: {{nihongo}}: Japanese or romaji text required (help) | November 25, 2009 | |
| 12 | error: {{nihongo}}: Japanese or romaji text required (help) | January 27, 2010 | |
| 13 | error: {{nihongo}}: Japanese or romaji text required (help) | February 17, 2010 | |
| 14 | °C-ute Concert Tour 2010 Haru ~Shocking LIVE~ (℃-uteコンサートツアー2010春～ショッキングLIVE～) |
July 7, 2010 | |
| Music video compilations | |||
| 1 | Music V Tokushuu 1 ~Cutie Visual~ (ミュージックＶ特集①～キューティービジュアル～) |
September 6, 2006 | PVs, a live performance, an interview, and "making of" videos |
| 2 | Music V Tokushuu 2 ~Cutie Visual~ (ミュージックV特集②〜キューティービジュアル〜) |
June 24, 2009 | |
| Theatre | |||
| 1 | Geidan Geki Hello Dai 2 Kai Kouen "Neru Ko wa °C-ute" (劇団ゲキハロ第２回公演「寝る子は℃－ｕｔｅ」) |
September 5, 2007 | Recorded on June 15, 2007 |
| 2 | Geidan Geki Hello Dai 4 Kai Kouen "Keitai Shosetsuka" (劇団ゲキハロ第4回公演『携帯小説家』) |
January 21, 2009 | |
| 3 | Geidan Geki Hello Dai 6 Kai Kouen "Atarumo Hakke!?" (劇団ゲキハロ第6回公演 「あたるも八卦！？」) |
September 23, 2009 | |
| Television shows | |||
| — | Berikyuu! Vol. 1 (ベリキュー！Vol.1) | May 27, 2009 | Berryz Kobo, °C-ute |
| — | Berikyuu! Vol. 2 (ベリキュー！Vol.2) | May 27, 2009 | Berryz Kobo, °C-ute |
| — | Berikyuu! Vol. 3 (ベリキュー！Vol.3) | June 24, 2009 | Berryz Kobo, °C-ute |
| — | Berikyuu! Vol. 4 (ベリキュー！Vol.4) | June 24, 2009 | Berryz Kobo, °C-ute |
| — | Berikyuu! Vol. 5 (ベリキュー！Vol.5) | July 22, 2009 | Berryz Kobo, °C-ute |
| — | Berikyuu! Vol. 6 (ベリキュー！Vol.6) | July 22, 2009 | Berryz Kobo, °C-ute |
| — | Berikyuu! Vol. 7 (ベリキュー！Vol.7) | August 26, 2009 | Berryz Kobo, °C-ute |
| — | Berikyuu! Vol. 8 (ベリキュー！Vol.8) | August 26, 2009 | Berryz Kobo, °C-ute |
| Other | |||
| — | °C-ute Suzuki Airi in Okinawa AIRI'S CLASSIC | June 25, 2008 | |
| — | Maimi Yajima - 17's | April 29, 2009 | |
| — | Airi Suzuki - Pure Blue | July 1, 2009 | |
| — | Hagiwara Mai in Hachijo-jima | October 21, 2009 | |
| — | Alo-Hello! °C-ute DVD | October 28, 2009 | |
| — | Maimi Yajima - Fix no E | June 23, 2010 | |
Others
Many DVDs were released to the official fan club and are only obtainable by mail order for a limited time.
Photobooks
- Berryz Kobo & °C-ute in Hello! Project 2006 Summer (Released September 21, 2006)
- So cute! – °C-ute first photobook (February 21, 2007)
- Hajimattayo! Cutie Show – °C-ute debut solo concert live photobook (April 11, 2007)
- Moving down through Japan! Travel Diary of °C-ute in 2007 Summer – photobook of Cutie Circuit 2007 ～MAGICAL CUTIE TOUR～ (October 4, 2007)
Radio programs
- Cutie Party – FM-FUJI, Saturdays 23:00-23:30 JST (Yajima, Suzuki & Okai, since October 7, 2006 to September 27, 2008) as the opening portion of Hello! Project Night
- °C-ute Cutie Paradise °C-ute キューティー☆パラダイス °C-ute Cutie Paradise – Radio Nihon, Tuesdays 21:30-22:00 JST (Umeda & Suzuki, since November 5, 2008)
Awards and recognitions
- 49th Japan Record Awards: Newcomer Artist Award 2007
- 50th Japan Record Awards: Best Works of the Year Award 2008
See also
Footnotes
- ^ These singles were not released on a major record label. They were only sold at concerts, fan club events and at the Hello! Project Official Shop. These singles have no coupling tunes.
- ^ (Z) is pronounced as zetto (ゼット).
- ^ This single is a version of "Edo No Temari Uta I", released by Enka singer Hiroshi Itsuki, who is also an Up-Front Works artist.
- ^ Actually a mini album, but was considered as their second album.
References
- ^ Information for C-ute Nandesu! Zen Single Atsumechaimashita! ① Pony Canyon Korea
- ^ "Oricon Style" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2007-01-22.
- ^ "MTV Chinese article" (in Chinese). Retrieved 2007-03-09.
- ^ "『°C-ute 有原栞菜』に関するお知らせ" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2009-02-26. Archived from the original on 2009-04-25.
- ^ "°C-ute" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. Archived from the original on 2009-04-30. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
有原栞菜: ※現在休養中
- ^ "『°C-ute 有原栞菜』に関する大事なお知らせ" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2009-07-11.
- ^ ""°C-ute Erika Umeda" Important Information" (in Japanese). Hello! Project. 2009-08-01.
- ^ "Koero! Rakuten Eagles" (in Japanese). Hello! Project.
- ^ "Forever Love" (in Japanese). Hello! Project.
- ^ "Bye Bye Bye!" (in Japanese). Hello! Project.
- ^ "Shochū Omimai Mōshiagemasu" (in Japanese). Hello! Project.
- ^ "≪発売延期≫ＥＶＥＲＹＤＡＹ絶好調！" (in Japanese). e-hon.
- ^ "SHOCK!" (in Japanese). Hello! Project.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ "Campus Life ~Umarete Kite Yokatta~" (in Japanese). Hello! Project.
- ^ http://www.helloproject.com/discography/cute/s_018.html