Tomoko Kawase
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Tomoko Kawase 川瀬智子 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Background information | ||
| Also known as | Tommy | |
| Born | February 6, 1975 | |
| Origin | Kyoto, Japan | |
| Genre(s) | J-pop, Rock | |
| Years active | 1997–Present | |
| Website | Official Site | |
Tomoko Kawase (川瀬智子 Kawase Tomoko?, born February 6, 1975) is a Japanese female singer and also a member of a musical group called the brilliant green, and, sometimes acting both Tommy february6 and Tommy heavenly6.
Her legal name is Tomoko Okuda (奥田智子 Okuda Tomoko) due to her marriage.
Contents |
[edit] the brilliant green
She is the lead vocalist and lyricist of the J-pop band the brilliant green. She was asked to join the band in 1995 after bassist Shunsaku Okuda and guitarist Ryo Matsui heard her sing in an amateur talent contest. As the band's lyricist (as well as in her solo career) she sings and writes songs in both Japanese and English. Although she reportedly does not speak much English, she does have an English-speaking friend who sometimes runs a quick check through her lyrics, but his input is often minimal at best.[citation needed]
Following the release of their 2002 album THE WINTER ALBUM, the brilliant green have been on hiatus, and on November 22, 2003 Kawase announced her marriage to fellow band mate, bassist Shunsaku Okuda.
[edit] Solo career
In 2001, Tomoko launched her solo career under the name of Tommy february6, a character named from a combination of her nickname and birthdate. Vastly different from the J-Rock sound of the brilliant green, Tommy february6's persona and sound are inspired by and derived from British and American 1980s synth-heavy pop. Her eponymous debut album was released on the day of her 27th birthday.
Kawase's original intention with Tommy february6 was to create a character who was far from innocent, though cute in both sound and appearance; Tommy february6 was designed to be someone who was true to her feelings despite the cutesy nature of her outward character, do as she wanted (and as such, Tommy february6 is seen repeatedly in music videos drinking alcohol from flasks, bars, etc.) Unfortunately, the original concept started to disappoint her, and Kawase began to feel that the character could no longer maintain its purity.
After a performance as Tommy february6 in 2003, Kawase took off her glasses and donned a much more alternative look to create Tommy heavenly6, a brand new character with a modern rock sound. Kawase would later explain that Tommy heavenly6 was born from a dream that Tommy february6 had, in which she extrovertly embraces all the elements of her personality she had previously been repressing. This is reflected in the promotional video for Tommy heavenly6's first single, Wait Till I Can Dream, wherein Tommy february6 drinks from a hip flask and falls asleep, only to be woken by Tommy heavenly6. Musically, she's the polar opposite of Tommy february6, and possesses an image most people would consider more dangerous, but Kawase claims that Tommy heavenly6 is far more pure and true to her heart than Tommy february6 is.
Kawase claims that the invention of Tommy heavenly6 occurred due of her disappointment in Tommy february6's character, but far from being a replacement, Kawase chose to keep the two characters' careers separate. During 2003 and 2004, Tommy heavenly6 released only two singles, whilst Tommy february6 went on to release her second full album, Tommy airline. It would be in August 2005 (nearly exactly two years after her first single) that Tommy heavenly6 would finally release her third single, which was shortly followed by her own long awaited eponymous debut album.
In addition to her own solo singing career, Kawase has produced and written songs for the idol group Tommy☆angels, as well as making a protege of former soloist Asuka Hinoi.
Kawase has also made an appearance as the voice of Pikki in the anime series Piroppo, briefly modelled for Italian fashion house Fiorucci and for a period of time hosted Break Down, an MTV show.
She also worked as a producer on the Takashi Fujii single, entitled OH MY JULIET.
[edit] Discography
(For a discography of Kawase before 2001, visit the brilliant green's page.)
[edit] Albums
- 2002-02-06 - Tommy february6
- 2004-03-17 - Tommy airline
- 2005-08-24 - Tommy heavenly6 as Tommy heavenly6
- 2007-03-07 - Heavy Starry Heavenly as Tommy heavenly6
[edit] Singles
- 2001-07-25 - EVERYDAY AT THE BUS STOP
- 2001-11-21 - ♡KISS♡ ONE MORE TIME
- 2002-01-17 - Bloomin'!
- 2003-02-06 - je t'aime ★ je t'aime
- 2003-07-16 - Love is Forever
- 2003-07-16 - Wait Till I Can Dream (as Tommy heavenly6)
- 2004-02-11 - MaGic in youR Eyes
- 2004-05-26 - Hey My Friend (as Tommy heavenly6)
- 2004-07-14 - L・O・V・E・L・Y ～夢見るLOVELY BOY～ (L・O・V・E・L・Y ~Yume Miru LOVELY BOY~)
- 2005-07-20 - Ready? (as Tommy heavenly6)
- 2005-11-30 - ♥Lonely in Gorgeous♥
- 2006-06-07 - I'm Gonna SCREAM+ (as Tommy heavenly6)
- 2006-07-05 - Pray (as Tommy heavenly6)
- 2006-10-11 - Lollipop Candy♥BAD♥girl (as Tommy heavenly6)
- 2006-12-06 - I LOVE XMAS (as Tommy heavenly6)
- 2007-02-07 - Heavy Starry Chain (as Tommy heavenly6)
[edit] Trivia
- Tommy february6's mascot characters are Little Twin Stars, by Sanrio. They appear in numerous videos.
- In October 2002, Tommy february6 released a photo and journal book titled Tommy february6 + Hawaii. It is presented in a mock travel guide format, including features such as restaurant reviews, sightseeing hotspots and cultural information. In keeping with the character's outwardly cute personality, crude outline sketches of animals and fairies litter the pages (as seen on the cover) alongside thought bubbles gracing many of the pictures, which have the distinct appearance of doodles.
- In October 2005, an exclusive Tommy february6 Blythe doll was released.
- "Lonely in Gorgeous" was used as the opening theme for the anime series Paradise Kiss.
- The music video for "Lonely in Gorgeous" is partly an homage to the famous music video of Sabotage by Beastie Boys.
- "Pray" was used as the opening theme for the anime series Gintama under Kawase's alias, Tommy Heavenly6.
- Kawase is almost equally known to her fans for her music as she is infamous for her strange obsessions.
- During her time with the brilliant green, she was rarely seen without a plush toy (or t-shirt, or bag, or hand puppet) of Elmo, the Sesame Street muppet. Kawase even went so far as to have one (if not more) accompany her on stage as the band performed on numerous occasions.
- Whilst in character as Tommy february6, Kawase seems to have a distinct pre-occupation with Pikachu from the anime/video game franchise Pokémon, so much so that her song L・O・V・E・L・Y ～夢見るLOVELY BOY～ has been dedicated to the character. The single's cover features a picture of Tommy february6 lovingly embracing a giant plush Pikachu. [1]
- Less well known, but no less prominent obsessions of Kawase's include J.K. Rowling's adolescent wizard Harry Potter, to whom she and the rest of the brilliant green members paid tribute by dressing in the Hogwarts uniform during a performance at the J-Wave 2000+2 music festival.
- In many of the pictures featured within the book Tommy february6 + Hawaii, Kawase is shown with a plush toy (most often either a red lobster or a turquoise octopus). Occasionally these photographs do not feature Kawase at all, such as a picture of the red lobster toy alone in front of a road sign.
