Cocco
Encyclopedia
is a female Ryukyuan folk rock singer who debuted in 1996 with a self-titled EP
titled Cocko. A track from the EP, "Sing a Song ~No Music, No Life~", was used in an advertising campaign for Tower Records Japan. In March 1997, she released her major label debut single "Kauntodaun" ("Countdown") and a full-length album followed shortly after. It was not until 1998 when she scored a big hit in Japan with "Tsuyoku Hakanaimonotachi" ("The Strong and Ephemeral"), selling more than 250,000 copies of that single.
Cocco went on to record three more albums — Kumuiuta in 1998, Rapunzel in 2000, and Sangurōzu in 2001. Before the release of Sangurōzu, Cocco announced she was retiring from the music business. Later that year, her label released a career retrospective, Best + Ura Best + Mihappyōkyokushū, which contained her singles, some b-sides and five unreleased tracks.
Her retirement did not last too long. In 2002, she published her first art book, Minami no Shima no Hoshi no Suna. In August 2003, she organized a benefit concert
to raise awareness about cleaning up beaches in Okinawa. A DVD documentary titled Heaven's Hell followed in December.
2004 saw her appearance on the Yutaka Ozaki
cover album "BLUE" and the publication of her second book, Minami no Shima no Koi no Uta, which was accompanied by a limited edition single, "Garnet/Celeste Blue". In 2005, Cocco collaborated with photographer/singer nanaco on CD/book combination titled The Bird.
In late 2004, Cocco teamed up with Shigeru Kishida of the Japanese rock group Quruli
to re-record "Sing a Song" for Tower Records' 25th Anniversary in Japan. The sessions inspired the formation of Singer Songer, a band featuring Cocco, Kishida, Quruli
bassist Masashi Sato, Cornelius
support keyboardist Hirohisa Horie
and former FEED drummer Dai Taro.
Singer Songer made its live debut as a special guest at Quruli's
year-end concert in December 2004, and in May 2005, the band released a single, "Shoka Rinrin". An album, Barairo Pop was released in June 2005. It contains a selection of country-flavored tracks that are much happier than Cocco's previous works.
On July 7, 2007, Cocco performed at the Japanese leg
of Live Earth
at the Makuhari Messe
, Chiba
. On August 8, 2010, she appeared at the World Happiness 2010 rock festival in Tokyo.
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
titled Cocko. A track from the EP, "Sing a Song ~No Music, No Life~", was used in an advertising campaign for Tower Records Japan. In March 1997, she released her major label debut single "Kauntodaun" ("Countdown") and a full-length album followed shortly after. It was not until 1998 when she scored a big hit in Japan with "Tsuyoku Hakanaimonotachi" ("The Strong and Ephemeral"), selling more than 250,000 copies of that single.
Cocco went on to record three more albums — Kumuiuta in 1998, Rapunzel in 2000, and Sangurōzu in 2001. Before the release of Sangurōzu, Cocco announced she was retiring from the music business. Later that year, her label released a career retrospective, Best + Ura Best + Mihappyōkyokushū, which contained her singles, some b-sides and five unreleased tracks.
Her retirement did not last too long. In 2002, she published her first art book, Minami no Shima no Hoshi no Suna. In August 2003, she organized a benefit concert
Benefit concert
A benefit concert or charity concert is a concert, show or gala featuring musicians, comedians, or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose, often directed at a specific and immediate humanitarian crisis. Such events raise both funds and public awareness to address the cause at...
to raise awareness about cleaning up beaches in Okinawa. A DVD documentary titled Heaven's Hell followed in December.
2004 saw her appearance on the Yutaka Ozaki
Yutaka Ozaki
was a popular Japanese musician.He is ranked at No. 23 in a list of Japan's top 100 musicians by HMV.-Biography:He was born in Tokyo Setagaya Ward SDF Central Hospital to Kinue and Kenichi Ozaki. He has one older brother, Yasushi. Early in life, he was hospitalized with intestinal torsion and...
cover album "BLUE" and the publication of her second book, Minami no Shima no Koi no Uta, which was accompanied by a limited edition single, "Garnet/Celeste Blue". In 2005, Cocco collaborated with photographer/singer nanaco on CD/book combination titled The Bird.
In late 2004, Cocco teamed up with Shigeru Kishida of the Japanese rock group Quruli
Quruli
is a popular Japanese music group formed in 1996. As of March 2007, the lineup consists of Masashi Satoh and Shigeru Kishida. Their music is produced and distributed by Victor Entertainment.- Career :...
to re-record "Sing a Song" for Tower Records' 25th Anniversary in Japan. The sessions inspired the formation of Singer Songer, a band featuring Cocco, Kishida, Quruli
Quruli
is a popular Japanese music group formed in 1996. As of March 2007, the lineup consists of Masashi Satoh and Shigeru Kishida. Their music is produced and distributed by Victor Entertainment.- Career :...
bassist Masashi Sato, Cornelius
Cornelius (musician)
Cornelius is a Japanese recording artist and producer.-Career:Oyamada's first claim to fame was as a member of the pop duo Flipper's Guitar, one of the key groups of the Tokyo Shibuya-kei scene...
support keyboardist Hirohisa Horie
Hirohisa Horie
is a Japanese musician and multi-instrumentalist. He plays primarily keyboards and guitar.Horie is one half of the Shibuya-kei duo Neil & Iraiza, and is known for his work with artists such as Kahimi Karie and Cornelius ....
and former FEED drummer Dai Taro.
Singer Songer made its live debut as a special guest at Quruli's
Quruli
is a popular Japanese music group formed in 1996. As of March 2007, the lineup consists of Masashi Satoh and Shigeru Kishida. Their music is produced and distributed by Victor Entertainment.- Career :...
year-end concert in December 2004, and in May 2005, the band released a single, "Shoka Rinrin". An album, Barairo Pop was released in June 2005. It contains a selection of country-flavored tracks that are much happier than Cocco's previous works.
On July 7, 2007, Cocco performed at the Japanese leg
Live Earth concert, Tokyo
The main Live Earth concert in Japan was held at Makuhari Messe, Tokyo on 7 July 2007.-Running order:*Genki Rockets - "Heavenly Star", "Breeze"...
of Live Earth
Live Earth
-Background:Founded by Emmy-winning producer Kevin Wall, in partnership with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, Live Earth was built upon the belief that entertainment has the power to transcend social and cultural barriers to move the world community to action...
at the Makuhari Messe
Makuhari Messe
is a Japanese convention center outside Tokyo, located in the Mihama-ku ward of Chiba city, in the northwest corner of Chiba prefecture. Designed by Fumihiko Maki, it is easily accessible by Tokyo's commuter rail system. Makuhari is the name of the area, and Messe is a German word meaning "trade...
, Chiba
Chiba Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture...
. On August 8, 2010, she appeared at the World Happiness 2010 rock festival in Tokyo.
Studio albums
| Year | Album Information | Chart positions |
Total sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 |
|
33 | 122,000 |
| 1998 |
|
1 | 878,000 |
| 2000 |
|
1 | 380,000 |
| 2001 |
|
5 | 226,000 |
| 2006 |
|
3 | 127,000 |
| 2007 |
|
6 | 91,000 |
| 2010 |
|
5 | 39,000 |
Compilation albums
| Year | Album Information | Chart positions |
Total sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 |
|
1 | 504,000 |
Singles
| Year | Title | Notes | Oricon Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... singles charts |
Oricon sales total |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 98 | 2,200 | Bougainvillea | ||
| 18 | 361,000 | Kumuiuta | |||
| 1998 | "Raining" | 17 | 128,000 | ||
| 6 | 144,000 | Rapunzel | |||
| 1999 | 3 | 182,000 | |||
| 9 | 97,000 | ||||
| 2000 | 10 | 68,000 | |||
| Re-cut single. | 10 | 37,000 | |||
| 25 | 32,000 | Sangu Rose | |||
| 2001 | 16 | 38,000 | |||
| Okinawa only VHS+8 cm single. | — | — | |||
| Released on same day as Sangu Rose. | 12 | 55,000 | |||
| 2006 | 5 | 80,000 | Zancyan | ||
| 4 | 48,000 | ||||
| 2007 | September Okinawan release, November all-Japan release. | 14 | 32,000 | — | |
| 2009 | Four season-themed EP with lead track "Kinuzure." | 6 | 18,000 | Emerald | |
| 2010 | "Nirai Kanai Nirai Kanai (Cocco song) is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Cocco, that was released as the lead single for her seventh original album, Emerald on June 9, 2010.-Writing:... " |
20 | 12,000 |
Videos
| Year | Album Information |
|---|---|
| 2001 |
|
| 2003 | Heaven's Hell
|
| 2009 |
|