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21st Century's Golden Selection Songs You Wanna Keep Vol. 5 - "Bad Communication" #1 sales record for albums/singles. #1 record-breaking amount of albums/singles. #1 yearly best-selling artist, etc... Best albums released last year for the 10th year of anniversary broke many records and made headlines everywhere. But all of these are only what Matsumoto said as a 'chapter' of their career. |
In 1988, Boowy, the symbol of Japan's rock and rock band in the eighties, held their last concert in Tokyo Dome and disbanded two days after. It was the lowest point in Japan's music industry's history of sales record. Newly packaged albums overturned sales of CDs and traditional style records, showing a completely reformed new style and feature. This was exactly the period of time when B'z was formed. With one solo album released behind him, Matsumoto began a duo group and stepped into the real music making world.
| When B'z first came out, both public's reaction and sales record were mild. Over the next year, their 2nd album could be said as their early great work, but again, it did not sell well. Holding on to their faith, B'z continued to establish their own unique style. They had many unsuccessful attempts in the process. It was not until October 21 when B'z released "Bad Communication" that they began to be noticed by the music industry. |
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Wanting to do an experimental approach to the market, before releasing the 3rd full-album, B'z instead released a mini album. "Bad~" debut at no.15 on the chart. In the years later, everytime B'z came out with a new single or work, this album would again renew its position in the sales-record list. Its highest position was no.12, with total sale of 1,182,000. The sales-record had "Bad~" listed in Japan's music history as : the best-selling album that sold more than a million without even making it into the TopTen chart. Its being on the chart for a marathon-period of 163 weeks was also listed as the top three of longest best-selling album. A year after hitting the chart, "Bad~" once again rose higher. It was an obvious indication that this album did not only sell like mad for a certain short period, but it kept selling very well for a long time. This made it smooth for B'z next single "Lady Go-Round" to get on-chart for 6 weeks without much promotion done. It's highest position was No.39.
Deep red color album cover with a close-up photos of short haired two members of B'z, leaves a deep impression. It might not be strange to see an album that only had three songs nowadays. But during the year when "Bad~" was released, mini album was an innovative new idea. The song "Bad Communication" was an original new song while other two were remakes of songs in the first album. "Bad~" English version, which was released in the next mini-album, along with original version, were on radio-stations's call-in program 'most-wanted songs' for one and a half year. It was also chosen to be CM song for "FM Towns" TV ad which starred the ever-popular Rie Miyazawa.
Realizing the influence of digital dance beat in the music industry then, B'z thoroughly mixed European style dance beat with their own hard-rock music. In the live-shows during those years, Inaba complimented his live performance with a specially designed dance steps. And everytime, the audience happily plunged into doing these fixed movements with him. This song's play time being more than 7 minutes long had a shorter version which was cut right into the 2nd verse. This was the version played by TV and radio stations, also the one shot for PV. The video created a lasting impresion with B'z performing music in a white-color surroundings that was very unlike their usual style.
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Two-members only band may seem to be too small in form. But when two talented people meet and join force, the smallest form prooves to be able to create the strongest team with greatest impact. B'z who swept across the '90s music industry has produced many famous works. During a nation-wide tour last year, Matsumoto said to his audience, "B'z has had many peak periods all these years. The earliest was Bad Communication. Do you know what's the others are? In the next LiveGym we'll proove it with Giri Giri Chop and Brotherhood!" B'z is still strongly moving forward. They are a band that keep improving with each release of singles and albums. Their works will transcend time and live on in the 22nd century and even much longer. |
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Sept 27, 1999 | Oricon | Translated & gathered by Keen for this website ©
2. Out Of The Rain