D&D (band)

D&D was a Japanese eurobeat idol group, featuring vocalist Olivia, and dancers Chikano and Aya.[1][2] They debuted in 1996 with the single "In Your Eyes," and disbanded in 1999. Vocalist Olivia debuted as a solo musician in 1999, and sung several theme songs for the anime Nana in 2006.

D&D
D&D on the cover of their album Love Is a Melody (1998)From left: Chika, Olivia, Aya
D&D on the cover of their album Love Is a Melody (1998)
From left: Chika, Olivia, Aya
Background information
OriginJapan
GenresDance music, eurobeat, pop music
Years active1996-1999
Past membersOlivia Lufkin
Chikano Higa
Aya Uehara

Biography

The three members of D&D attended the Okinawa Actors School,[3] and were scouted by Rising Production for record company Avex Trax, debuting in 1996. Their first two singles, "In Your Eyes" and "Love Is a Melody" were used as background music for commercials for Yuri Takano Beauty Clinic that featured Namie Amuro as their spokesperson.[1] As vocalist Olivia was not very confident in Japanese at the time of the group's debut, most songs were sung in English. Their third single, "Sunshine Hero," was used in a commercial for Morinaga's Piknik confectionery, which featured D&D themselves.

In March 1998, the group released their debut album Love Is a Melody: D&D Memorial 1st. It was commercially successful, debuting at number 5 on Oricon's albums chart, and was certified gold by the RIAJ for more than 250,000 copies shipped to stores.[4][5] After Olivia participated in a collaboration song with Jean Michel Jarre and Tetsuya Komuro written for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, "Together Now," she began releasing material as a soloist. Chikano and Aya continued to release music together, as Aya & Chika from D&D. They released the single "Kiss in the Sun" in September 1998, followed by the opening theme song for the anime Power Stone, "Rise in My Heart," in April 1999. The group intended to release a third single in September 1999, however this was cancelled.[6]

In July 2000, Aya and Chikano joined the girl group Hipp's, who performed in the television show The Night of Hit Parade, although Aya left the group several months later. The group, featuring Chika using her real name Chikano Higa (比嘉千賀乃), made their CD debut in 2001 with the song "Go! Go! Girl!" However, after only one single the band disbanded.[7] In February 2009, Japanese magician Tatsuya Naka posted in his personal blog about attending Chika's wedding in Kyoto, to one of his childhood friends.[8]

Discography

Album
List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak positions Sales[9] Certifications
JPN
[4]
Love Is a Melody: D&D Memorial 1st 5 277,000

Singles
List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Sales[9] Album
Oricon Singles Charts
[4]
"In Your Eyes" 1996 25 76,000 Love Is a Melody
"Love Is a Melody" 30 39,000
"Sunshine Hero" 1997 24 69,000
"Shape Up Love" 25 65,000
"Brand New Love" 1998 29 44,000
"Kiss in the Sun"[upper-alpha 1] 35 13,000 Non-album singles
"Rise in My Heart"[upper-alpha 2] 1999 55 8,000

Other appearances
List of non-studio album or guest appearances that feature D&D.
Title Year Album Notes
"Watashi no Aoi Tori" (わたしの青い鳥, "My Blue Bird") 1998 Velfarre J-Pop Night presents Dance with You Junko Sakurada cover.
"Cinderella Honeymoon" (シンデレラ・ハネムーン, Shinderera Hanemūn) Hiromi Iwasaki cover.
"Rise in My Heart (TV Edit)" 1999 Power Stone Original Soundtrack: Round 1
"D&D Megamix" 2004 Super Eurobeat Vol. 150

Notes
  1. As Aya & Chika from D&D.
  2. As Aya & Chika from D&D.

References
  1. "D&D" (in Japanese). Avex Trax. 1999. Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  2. "サンクスLIVE'97ユニセフチャリティーコンサート D&D" [Sunkus Live '97 UNICEF Charity Concert: D&D] (in Japanese). Avex Trax. 1997. Archived from the original on October 25, 2000. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  3. Magoari Yamazato (1999). 沖縄アクターズスクール [Okinawa Actors School] (in Japanese). Naha City Office. Archived from the original on February 12, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  4. "D&Dのリリース一覧" [A Look at D&D's Releases]. Oricon. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  5. "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1998年4月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. April 1998 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan. 463: 9. June 10, 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 28, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  6. 未定 [Undecided] (in Japanese). Honya Club. 1999. Archived from the original on February 4, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  7. "Hipp's" (in Japanese). Avex Trax. 2001. Archived from the original on November 17, 2001. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  8. 親友の結婚式 [My Friend's Wedding] (in Japanese). Tatsuya Naka. February 25, 2009. Archived from the original on April 26, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  9. "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree']. Oricon. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
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