Q. What is 12 Girls Band?A: 12 Girls Band is Units of those who are Beautiful and intelligent 12 girls who have learnt Chinese tradition musical instruments in specialties. Musical instruments of a peculiar tone and the contemporary music of the tradition musical instruments are combined, and it aims at new music that exceeds the genre like classics and jazz and pop, etc. Many of members major in music in Chinese Academy of Music . There are a lot of people who have winning such as contests of the folkloric music.Q: Which instruments are using by them?A: Each member is conservatory trained and a veteran of top orchestras, including the China Academy of Music, the Chinese National Orchestra and the Central Conservatory of Music. All members are multi-instrumentalists, and perform with classic instruments such as the gu zheng (ancient zither with movable bridges and 16-25 strings) pipa (four-stringed lute with pear shaped body) yang qin (Chinese hammered dulcimer with a near-square soundboard), erhu (two stringed Chinese fiddle) and dizi (bamboo flute) along with other traditional instruments.Q: which is their distinctive?A: Their influences range far and wide, weaving jazz and pop styles into classical Chinese music. The group’s appeal is equally as broad, with children, teens, adults and even grandparents filling arenas to see the Twelve Girls Band perform. The group presents a strong new voice for global music culture.

Cui Jian, the Grandfather of Chinese Rock’n’roll FAQ
By Qinkun

Q: When did Chinese rock'n'oll begin?A: Chinese Rock had its origins in the xibeifeng (Œ˜±±Á, Northwest Wind) style which emerged on the popular music scene in Mainland China. The new style was triggered by two new songs, "Xintianyou" and "I Have Nothing", both of which drew heavily on the folk song traditions of northern Shanxi Province in the northwest Beginning about1986, the Northwest Wind (xibeifeng) style of rock began to enter the burgeoning youth culture in China. The first Chinese rock song may be "I Have Nothing" by Cui Jian, now the widely-admired godfather of the Chinese rock scene. By 1990, Chinese rock had begun to enter the mainstream.Q: Which features are Chinese rock’n’roll?A: Chinese rock is oftenly and inaccurately described as a style of music which combines Chinese musical instruments with techniques of Western-style rock and roll , But the essential nature of rock and roll music is that of attitude and lifestyle, which sees no borders or ethnic identity; therefore, "Chinese rock music" is in simplest terms, Chinese music with modern orchestration (with or without traditional Chinese musical instruments), exemplfied by attitude and lifestyle not compliant to mainstream market and state-approved entertainment. Chinese rock music as one recognizes it from the sound that has been developed in the United States, from the earliest 20th century incarnations in traveling bluesmen (ie: Robert Johnson, Howling Wolf, etc.), to the distorted sounds of metal-rock (ie: Ozzy Osbourne, Rage Against the Machine, etc.) rose in popularity in Mainland China from the Northwest Wind music movement in the mid-1980s.Q: Which song and singer is typical of Chinese rock’n’roll ?A: Three of China's famous rock bands were established: Breathing (Huxi, åƒãz), Cobra (—€æµ…fl), and Zang Tianshuo's (‰hìVçÒ) 1989. Earlier rock music groups include "Infallible" (Budaoweng ïsì|â•), formed by Zang Tianshuo and Tang Dynasty (Tang Chao, ìÇí©) lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Ding Wu ÅiíöïêÅj, and probably the most famous of all Chinese rock bands: "Black Panther" (Hei Bao _ï^), originally fronted by China's alternative music pioneer Dou Wei (ÒºŒ®).Q: Who is a pioneer of Chinese Rock’n’roll?A: Cui Jian, is considered to be a pioneer in Chinese rock music and the first Chinese artist to break away from conventional Chinese popular forms and incorporate Western rock style into his songs. Cui Jian first shot to stardom in 1985, when he performed "I have nothing " (àÍùŸèäóL) on a television talent show. His first real album, Rock and Roll on the New Long March was released in 1987. In the late 80s and early 90s, along with artists such as He Yong, Cui created a hybrid and experimental music mix that cut across divisions between pop music genres. Cui's songs drew on folk and traditional music types, such as the peasant songs of the Loess Plateau of Shaanxi. At times they knowingly parodied old Communist Party sayings and proverbs. His earliest and best known works were spiced with Western popular music typles, such as punk, dance and jazz. Cui's advocation of a new internationalism and political awareness connected with many university students of the time.Q: What is Jian Cui’Å@masterÅ@pieces?A: Discographyl Vagabond's Return (1986) l Nothing to My Name (1989)l Solution (1991) l Balls Under the Red Flag (1994)l The Village Attacks The City (2004) l The Power of the Powerless (1998)

Hi-Standard FAQ
by Yuta I.

Welcome to one of the fan site of Hi-Standard. This site tells you
the brief history of the band. I think most of kids who love punk
music know Hi-Standard as the most influential band to Japanese
punk scene in the 90`s. I hope you guys will listen to their songs after
reading this site. Here I put some frequently asked questions.

Q : When did they started playing music as a band?
A : Hi-Standard was grouped in 1991. They hold a lot of live
in small live houses and got more and more popular.
Q : Why are they so popular among kids?
A : In 90`s, singing songs in English was really fresh for kids to listen.
In addition to this, their play style called three piece was so cool that
it caught the heart of kids. Moreover, their songs are really catchy and
melodious, lyrics were straight and energetic that kids sympathized
with them.
Q : Which song is the most popular?
A : “Stay Gold”, a song of breaking up, “ My First Kiss”, a cover song from
a famous Japanese animation, “ Dear my Friend”, a song of friendship
the most popular songs of them.
Q : Are they going to release new songs? I have heard that they have stopped
working as a band.
A : They are saying that they have started playing together again and may
make some new songs. Nobody knows, however, that when they will.

Yuzu FAQ
by Satoko M.

Welcome to Yuzu FAQ. Many people have written to me many times asking these
questions. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Yuzu.
Please read this FAQ before you email me with your question.

Q: Who were the members of Yuzu?
A: Yujin Kitagawa and Koji Iwasawa is the member of Yuzu. Even Yuzu is a group
of two, they have a leader and a vice-leader. Mr. Kitagawa is a leader and Mr.
Iwasawa.

Q: When Yuzu was formed?
A: They are formed in 1997. Before they released their first CD, they lived street
performance.
Q: Why they are called Yuzu?
A: Yuzu is named of fruit. When Mr. Kitawaga ate sherbet of Yuzu in a restaurant,
he was stirred on it. So he decided their name.
Q: What kind of music they sing are singing?
A: They sing folk songs, and J-pops.
Q: Tell me the newest CD they released?
A: In June 8, they released best selection CDs, titled "Going" and "Home".
These are really nice and they ranked top for this week. If you have never listened
to their sounds, I prefer to listen to these CDs. Then if you liked it, then try
others, but I'm sure you love them.
Q: What are some masterpieces?
A: One is their coming out song, called "Natsuiro" (color of summer), and other
one is a formal supporter's song for the Athens Olympic, called "Eko eno
Kakehashi" (the bridge for glory).
Q: Are there anybody who made influence on them and their music?
A: Mr. Kitagawa's favorite artist is John Lennon. And Mr. Iwasawa respects
Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi.
Q: When they met and made a group?
A: Both of them from Yokohama, and the same city. They graduated the same
junior high school. At the time, they did not know each other well. They closed
together when Mr. Iwasawa started the live street performance. They were in
different band before, but they could not find their music there. So they sang
as a solo for one or two years. Then they met together.
FAQ.

 Q:Who are Kinki Kids?
A:There are two members in Kinki Kids.
Their names are Tsuyosi Domoto and Koichi Domoto.
Both of them are from Kinki area.
So, they are named Kinki Kids.
Tsuyoshi is from Nara and Koichi is from Hyogo.

 Q: How old are they?
A: They were born in same year.
But now, Tsuyosi is 26 years old and Koichi is 25 years old because Tsuyosi's birthday is April 10th.

 Q: When are they formed?
A: Kinki Kids formed in 1993.
But they belonged to Johnny's company before it.
They were singing and dancing at the back of famous groups, such as Hikarugenji or SMAP etc.

 Q: When they released their first CD?
A: "Garasu no syonen", which was their first single CD, released in 1997.
Their fans were looking forward to Kinki Kids's CD because 4 years passed from their debut.
All their CDs got first prize when they released.

 Q: Are Kinki Kids only singer?
A: No.
They are also actor.
They appeared as not only unit, but also single.
They broadcasted a lot of popular dramas and did an emcee of some TV programs.
Their first debut of TV drama was "Ningen Sikkaku" in 1994.

 Q: How do we know about Kinki kids?
A: Please access the site of below.
Heaven to Heaven

Mr.children
by Nanayo N.

  Q: When did Mr.children start?
   A: Mr.children was organized in 1989. Q: How many members are there in Mr.children?
   A: There are four members in the band, vocal & guitar, guitar, bass and dram.
     They were classmates at high school.

  Q: What is the first single CD? A: "Kimi ga Ita Natsu" is the first single CD.
     It has sold almost 20,000 CDs.

      Q: What is the single CD which sold most? A: "Tomorrow never knows" is.
      It was the theme song of a video drama.
      They sing hearts of young people.
This song touches a chord with young people.

     MR.CHILDREN OFFICIAL WES SITE

 FAQ about SPEED
by Muraguchi Sadashige

 Q: What is SPEED?
A: SPEED is a popular band consisted of four young girls: Aragaki Hitoe, Uehara Takako, Imai Eriko and Shimabukuro Hiroko.

 Q: When did SPEED come out and disband?
A: They came out by releasing Body and Soul in 1996 and disbanded in 2000.

 Q: How was the name decided?
A: They appeared on a TV program The Yoru mo Hippare regularly, but they did not have the group name.
They asked the viewers to propose it and one of the names was SPEED.

 Q: Why were you impressed in SPEED?
A: When they came out by releasing Body and Soul, the youngest member Hiroko was just 11 years old while the oldest member Hitoe was even 14 years old.
At that time, the young girl pop singers whom many teenagers liked were around 20 years old such as Amuro Namie and Kahara Tomomi; so SPEED were much younger.
Their appearance surprised people and their activities encouraged people, especially teenagers.
Recently many around-12-year-old girls, represented by Morning Musume, are active as singers.
I think SPEED was the preface to them.

 Q: What are their recent activities?
A: In 2003, they once reunited as a part of the project to save suffering children in Asia.
Now they act individually; such as an actress, a singer, studying painting in US.

 Q: If you had to pick 3 songs which you would prefer, which would they be and why?
A: White Love, My Graduation, and Alive may be three of the most famous songs of all of their songs.
They express our love and many teenager-girls are in sympathy with the lyrics.
Plus, Body And Soul and Go! Go! Heavengive us power especially when we are depressed.

 Q: Who do you like best of SPEED?
A: I like (almost I love) Imai Eriko. She is as old as I and the difference between our birthdays is just 7 days.
Her activities give me power very much.
What's more, she sings and dances well. Frankly, she is REALLY cute and my type!

  Q: Who belongs to Yuzu?
   A: Yujin Kitagawa and Koji Iwasawa are the members of Yuzu.
They have known each other since they were elementary school students.

   Q: Tell me about the member of Yuzu.
   A: Yujin Kitagawa is the leader of Yuzu.
      He was born in 1977 January 14.
Koji Iwasawa is the sub-leader of Yuzu.
      He was born in 1976 October 14.
      They were classmates when they were third grade in junior high school.

  Q: Tell me about the history of Yuzu.
   A: Yujin Kitagawa and Koji Iwasawa organized a band in 1996.
But at first, they named the band "Light's" because the name of their
Cigarette was "Light's"
Then they changed "Light's" into "Yuzu", for they thought that "Light" was
not cool.
In 1998, they came out and produced the song "Yuzuman".

 Q: Which song do you like best?
   A: I like "seisyun no hibi" the best. Because I would often listen to the song
again and again when I was a high school student.

       YUZU OFFICIAL WEB SITE

aiko
by Yuka T.

Q: Where is aiko from and how old is she?
   A: aiko is from Osaka and she was born on 22nd of November in 1975.
So she is 30 years old now.

Q: How tall is aiko?
   A: Her height is 152.

Q: When did aiko come out?
   A: aiko came out in 1998 with a single CD "Ashita." This CD was used for a
     a movie called "Toire no Hanako San."

Q: How many CDs has aiko produce so far?
   A: aiko has produced 17 MAXI single CDs and 6albums so far. She writes every
      songs and makes every music. Her songs are almost about love and it just
      expresses the girls' feeling to love. Aiko's songs are supported and loved by
      many young girls including me. Please search aikofor more information.

B’z
by Tomoya K.

Q: What is B’z?
A: B’z is a most famous Japanese band. There are two members in the band.
One is Koshi Inaba, who is vocalist of B’z. The other is
Takahiro Matsumoto, who is guitarlist. They are pioneers of Japanese
rock.

Q: When B’z are organized?
A: They organized B’z in 1988.Then Matsumoto was a guitarlist of the first
rank. Inaba sent his demo-tape to Matsumoto’s office. Matumoto was
attracted by his voice and decided to organized the band with him.

Q: What is origin of B’z?
A: This origin has two beliefs. One is pun. They like “B” and “Z”
because these alphabets have male image. They decided to combine
them. Another is to borrow initials of their favorite bands. “B” is The
Beatles and “Z” is Lad Zeppelin. Q: What do prizes go to B’z?
A: They get many prizes. The greatest prize was “artist of the year” in
1998. In this year, they challenged solo activities and these activities
were a success. After received this prize, they got a high popularity from
young to old more and more.Q: What is a masterpiece of B’z?
A: They have many masterpieces, for example “ALONE” “LOVE PHANTOM”
“ultra soul”. They released many songs and a lot of people love them.
I think they keep making a lot of impressive songs in the future. B’z