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Puffy AmiYumi | |
|---|---|
 Yoshimura (left) and Ōnuki (right) performing as PUFFY at the 2009Japan Expo at theParis-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Puffy |
| Origin | Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | Pop rock |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | |
| Members |
|
| Website | puffy |
Puffy (sometimes stylized in all-caps), also known asPuffy AmiYumi in the US, are a Japanesepop rock duo formed in Tokyo in 1995, consisting of singers Ami Ōnuki and Yumi Yoshimura. In the United States, they adopted the namePuffy AmiYumi to avoid legal naming conflicts withSean Combs, who also performed under the name Puffy. The duo sings in Japanese, English, and Mandarin Chinese.
Both Ami and Yumi were scouted by Sony-affiliated talent agencies and put together in the mid-1990s. Most of their work was produced or co-written byOkuda Tamio andAndy Sturmer, formerly of the bandsUnicorn andJellyfish, respectively.[1][2]
The duo's first single,Asia no Junshin (1996), sold one million records. They gained mainstream success in Japan in 1998 following the release of their album,Jet and continued with several more full-length releases (totaling 15 million sales in Japan).[3]
In 2004, an animated series featuring animated versions of themselves,Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, premiered on the US'sCartoon Network. Although their characters were voiced by different voice actresses, the singers portrayed themselves for short live-action segments taped in Japan.
When Ōnuki was in high school, she sang for a band called Hanoi Sex that participated in a Sony SD Audition and passed, becoming employees of Sony Music Entertainment. She later took vocal lessons and attended a professional school to learn how to become a better performer. The band eventually disbanded, leaving only her under Sony's employment. Ōnuki was encouraged to stay despite lacking a band and a clear musical direction.[4]
Yoshimura had learned of the Chotto Sokomade talent search underway by Sony Music Artists at the age of 18. After passing the company's audition, she moved on her own from Osaka to Tokyo, where she eventually met Ōnuki by chance in the Sony Music offices. Both felt alone within the large Sony organization and were not confident in their abilities as solo artists. Although Ōnuki had recorded a solo CD under the guidance of former Unicorn frontmanTamio Okuda, which later become half of solosolo, she and Yumi requested Sony pair them as a duo.[5]
Producer and American pop musicianAndy Sturmer christened them as "Puffy" and is considered by Ōnuki and Yoshimura as "the godfather of Puffy". Ami had previously met Tamio at a Sparks Gogo concert, and he had produced her then-unreleased solo CD. He was eventually signed on to produce the duo's first studio album, titledAmiYumi. Their debut single, "Asia no Junshin", launched a big craze known to some as "Puffy-mania". Asked if they were surprised by the attention after its success, Yumi told an interviewer "... everything that was put together for that song all came together and made it happen, but we didn't expect it. It was luck."[6]
On July 13, 2005, their song Song of Origin (はじまりのうた,Hajimari no Uta) was used as the ending theme of the eighthPokémon film:Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.[citation needed]
Puffy AmiYumi made its first appearance in the United States as part of Music Japan's "An Evening with Japan's All-Stars" showcase at the 2000South by Southwest festival inAustin, Texas.[7] Soon after their SXSW performance, attorneys for Sean "Puffy" Combs sent the band a cease and desist letter asking them to change their name. After adopting the new name "Puffy AmiYumi", they toldEntertainment Weekly:[8]
Yoshimura: It doesn't bother us at all. We respect the fact that Puff Daddy is Puffy in the U.S.
Ami: The bottom line is that we don't know what the word "Puffy" means. We were given our name by somebody else (Andy Sturmer) six years ago, and we really don't have a clue.
AfterPa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Puffy ended production in 2002, Puffy AmiYumi focused on performing in the United States. Several of their previous Japanese albums were released for the US market and they recorded theme songs for the animated seriesTeen Titans andSD Gundam Force. They have also done a cover version withCyndi Lauper of her hit "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". They also performed their songs "Hi Hi" and "Akai Buranko"[9][better source needed] on the show. They came back to the US in 2006 for their Splurge Tour, and also toured withTally Hall for the Super-Ultimate Awesome Exploration tour the same year.[10][11] In January 2017, they announced theirNot Lazy tour to hold place in April.[12] That same month, the band made an appearance atAnime Boston for autograph signings.[13]
On November 19, 2004, an animated series featuring fictionalized versions of the members –Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi – premiered on the United States'Cartoon Network on their Friday night block,Fridays. Despite both of them being voiced by American actresses (althoughJanice Kawaye, who plays Ōnuki, is of Japanese descent), the real Puffy AmiYumi star in short live-action segments video-recorded in Japan. The series also featured some of the duo's best songs around the time.[citation needed] Yoshimura said in an interview withLiveDaily: "The Cartoon Network show has given us a great opportunity to introduce the music to a new audience. When we toured, after the Cartoon Network show started, so many little kids came to our show. We always wanted as many people as possible to listen to the music."[14] The duo made an appearance and performed in the 2005Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade where they were also represented by their ownHi Hi Puffy AmiYumi float and balloon.[15]
On January 16, 2006, Puffy AmiYumi was appointed goodwill ambassadors to the United States as part of the Japanese government's campaign to encourage tourism in Japan.[16] They also performed cameo voiceovers in episode 9 of the 2011 anime series,Bunny Drop, on July 8. They also performed the opening theme to the anime.[17]
Puffy AmiYumi has collaborated with producerTamio Okuda and American singer-songwriterAndy Sturmer. The duo's vocals have been compared to American vocal sister groupThe Roches.[18]
The following is a list of albums published under the names Puffy AmiYumi and their release dates.
| Preceded by Junko Miyama | Japan Record Award for Best New Artist 1996 | Succeeded by |
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