Azu
{{short description|Japanese R&B singer|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{about|the Japanese singer||AZU (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| image =
| name = Azu
| birth_name =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|12|08}}
| birth_place = Tsu, Mie, Japan
| death_date =
| origin =
| instrument =
| occupation = Singer
| years_active = 1997–present
| label = BMG Japan (2006–2009) Ariola Japan (2009–present)
| associated_acts = Karutetto, Kuro (Home Made Kazoku), Limelight, Makai, Seamo, Shuriken Jet, Spontania
| website = {{URL|http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/azu/}}
}}
Azu (born December 8, 1981{{cite web|url=https://tower.jp/artist/484926/AZU|title=Azu|website=Tower Records Online|accessdate=July 3, 2020|language=Japanese}}) is a Japanese R&B singer. She is well known for her collaborations with rapper Seamo, such as her first major release, the leading track from Seamo's second album Live Goes On, "Kokoro no Koe".
Biography
Azu first began working in the Tokyo club scene at the age of 16.{{cite web | url=http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/azu/profile.html | title=AZUプロフィール | publisher=Sony Music | language=Japanese | accessdate=2010-02-22}} She explains the meaning behind her stage name as "Putting memories to all the words from A to Z and conveying them to you (U)." She began work with rapper Seamo in 2005, and worked as a background vocalist for a few of his tracks. In 2006, she featured as a fully fledged billed artist in the lead radio single from his second album, Live Goes On. The song, "Kokoro no Koe", was certified by the RIAJ for 100,000 cellphone downloads.{{cite web | url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w071120_3.html | script-title=ja:レコード協会調べ 10月度有料音楽配信認定 | publisher=RIAJ | language=Japanese | accessdate=2010-02-22}}
She debuted as an artist in her own right in 2007, with the single "Cherish". "Cherish" is used as the ending theme in the xxxHolic Shunmuki original video animation series. She continued to work with Seamo (for example, her first top 30 hit, "Jikan yo Tomare", featured him). To date, the pair have worked together on six songs together. "Jikan yo Tomare" is used as the second ending in the Itazura na Kiss anime series.
Her songs generally do better in the digital market (her biggest single in physical sales only sold 11,000 copies{{cite web | title=オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 | url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp | work=Oricon | accessdate=2010-02-22| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100204194524/http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/| archivedate= 4 February 2010 | url-status= live}} (subscription only)). Since November 2009, five of her songs have been certified gold by the RIAJ for cellphone downloads.{{cite web | url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/index.html | script-title=ja:有料音楽配信認定 | publisher=RIAJ | language=Japanese | accessdate=2010-02-22}}
Azu released her second album in March 2010, Two of Us.{{cite web | title=Two of Us / AZU - 音楽 - livedoor ニュース | url=http://music.news.livedoor.com/cd/detail-4109121795.html | work=Livedoor | accessdate=2010-02-22 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323101044/http://music.news.livedoor.com/cd/detail-4109121795.html | archivedate=23 March 2010 | url-status=dead }} Azu's single "For You" is used as the 12th ending theme for Naruto Shippuden. Azu's single "In My Life" is used as the third ending theme for Yorinuki Gintama-san. Azu composed the song "Akatsuki no Hana" for Akatsuki no Yona.
Azu announced her marriage to a man outside the music industry in May 2017, and she gave birth to a daughter on August 6, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://beauty.oricon.co.jp/news/2117478/full/|title=AZU、第1子女児出産を報告「言葉に出来ない程の感動」|publisher=Oricon|date=August 13, 2018|accessdate=August 15, 2019|language=Japanese}}
Discography
=Albums=
| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="1"| Year ! rowspan="1"| Album Information ! colspan="1"| Chart positions ! colspan="1"| Total sales |
| align="center"|2008
|As One
|align="center"|35 |align="center"|18,036 |
align="center"|2010
|align="center"|13 |align="center"|22,427 |
| align="center"|2011
|AZyoU
|align="center"|15 |align="center"|9,743 |
align="center"|2012
|align="center"|22 |align="center"|8,137 |
| align="center"|2012
|Best
|align="center"|14 |align="center"|8,201 |
| align="center"| 2014
| 4seasons
|align="center"|43 |align="center"| |
=Singles=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! rowspan="2"| Release ! rowspan="2"| Title ! colspan="3"| Chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Oricon ! rowspan="2"| Album |
| style="font-size:smaller;"
!width="35"|Oricon Singles Charts !width="35"|Billboard Japan Hot 100* !width="35"|RIAJ Digital Track Chart* |
| rowspan="2"|2007
| align="left"|"Cherish" | 49 | – | – | 5,135 |align="left" rowspan="4"|As One |
| align="left"|"Jewel Sky"
| 84 | – | – | 1,525 |
| rowspan="2"|2008
| align="left"|{{nihongo|"Koi Iro"|コイイロ|Color of Love}} | 118 | 18 | – | 1,055 |
| align="left"|{{nihongo|"Jikan yo Tomare feat. Seamo"|時間よ止まれ|Stop Time}}
| 27 | – | – | 11,157 |
| rowspan="3"|2009
| align="left"|{{nihongo|"Imasugu ni..."|いますぐに...|Right Now}} | 23 | – | – | 11,270 |align="left" rowspan="2"|Two of Us |
| align="left"|"I Will"
| 23 | – | 11 | 6,284 |
| align="left"|{{nihongo|"Onaji Sora Mitsumeteru Anata ni"|同じ空みつめてるあなたに|To You, Staring at the Same Sky}} (Spontania feat. Azu) | 31 | — | 4 | 5,326 |align="left" rowspan="1"|Collaborations Best!! |
| rowspan="4"|2010
| align="left"|"You & I" feat. Love Love Love | 55 | 38 | 3 | 3,247 |align="left" rowspan="2"|Two of Us |
| align="left"|"For You"
| 38 | 53 | 9 | 2,933 |
| align="left"|{{nihongo|"Tashika na Koto"|たしかなこと|Important Things}}
| 67 | — | — | 2,061 |align="left" rowspan="3"|AZyoU |
| align="left"|"In My Life / To You..."
| 62 | — | — | 3,324 |
| rowspan="3"|2011
| align="left"|"Broken Heart" | 79 | — | — | — |
| align="left"|{{nihongo|"Tomodachi☆★"|トモダチ☆★|Friend☆★}}
| 100 | — | — | 796 |align="left" rowspan="2"|Love Letter |
| align="left"|"Woman"
| 130 | — | — | 620 |
| rowspan="2"| 2013
| align="left"|"Promise" | 99 | — | — | — | align="left" rowspan="2"| 4seasons |
| align="left"|"Circles of Life / Summer Time!!!"
| 143 | — | — | — |
=Other appearances=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! rowspan="1"| Release ! rowspan="1"| Artist ! rowspan="1"| Title ! rowspan="1"| Notes ! rowspan="1"| Album |
| rowspan="2"|2005
| rowspan="2" align="left"|Seamo | align="left"|Honey Honey | rowspan="2" align="left"|Background vocals. |align="left" rowspan="1"|Drive (single) |
| align="left"|"Intro: Here Comes the Seamo"
| align="left" rowspan="1"|Get Back on Stage |
| rowspan="1"|2006
| rowspan="1" align="left"|Seamo feat. Azu | align="left"|{{nihongo|"Kokoro no Koe"|心の声|Voice of the Heart}} | rowspan="1" align="left"|Lead track from album. PV filmed. |align="left" rowspan="1"|Live Goes On |
| rowspan="3"|2008
| rowspan="1" align="left"|Karutetto feat. Azu | align="left"|{{nihongo|"Itsumademo"|いつまでも|Forever}} | rowspan="1" align="left"| |align="left" rowspan="1"|Haikei, Boku no Mirai e. (single) |
| rowspan="1" align="left"|Makai feat. Azu & L-Vokal
| align="left"|"Baby Star" | rowspan="1" align="left"| |align="left" rowspan="1"|Stars |
| rowspan="1" align="left"|Seamo feat. Azu & Yukako
| align="left"|"Kiss Kiss Kiss" | rowspan="1" align="left"| |align="left" rowspan="1"|Scrap & Build |
| rowspan="1"|2010
| rowspan="1" align="left"|Makai feat. Azu | align="left"|{{nihongo|"Mata Aitakute"|また会いたくて|I Still Miss You}} | rowspan="1" align="left"|Lead track from album. #40 RIAJ. |align="left" rowspan="1"|Love Lite |
| rowspan="1"|2010
| rowspan="1" align="left"|S'capade feat. Azu | align="left"|"Every 4 U" | rowspan="1" align="left"| |align="left" rowspan="1"| |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/azu/ Azu's official website] {{in lang|ja}}
- [http://ameblo.jp/divazu/ Azu's Ameblo blog] {{in lang|ja}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Japanese pop musicians
Category:Singers from Mie Prefecture
Category:21st-century Japanese singers
Category:21st-century Japanese women singers
{{japan-singer-stub}}