Coconuts Musume
Encyclopedia
is a group from Hello! Project
that was formed and promoted as the "girls from Hawaii
". After nine years, the group officially disbanded when Ayaka Kimura
graduated from Hello! Project.
's fellow band-mate from Sharam Q, Makoto, had originally discovered the five girls who were to become Coconuts Musume. He had requested that Tsunku pick up the act, and in 1999, Coconuts Musume debuted on a Japanese television program, Asayan
.
The group originally consisted of Ayaka Kimura
, Mika Todd, Chelsea Ching, Danielle DeLaunay, and April Barbaran, with Chelsea taking lead vocals. After two singles, Chelsea and April left the group due to the difficulties of adjusting to life as a J-pop
idol (neither spoke any Japanese when group was formed) and to pursue other careers, such as modeling.
Lehua Sandbo
was then recruited as a member, and the group made two more singles until DeLaunay, who also had difficulties adjusting, left to pursue a career in theater. After DeLaunay left, the group switched from the Sony Music Entertainment Japan
label to the Zetima
label. Between "Watashi mo 'I Love You'" of Sony Music Entertainment Japan and "Jōnetsu Yuki Miraisen" of Zetima, sales increased by almost a quarter according to Oricon
charts.
After one more single, Sandbo, too, graduated from the group, went on to the American pageant circuit, and eventually married and gave birth to a daughter. The remaining duo, Todd and Kimura, never released anything else under the Coconuts Musume name, though they contributed to Hello! Project compilations, performed songs (including English covers) during Hello! Project concerts, and became Japanese spokespersons for Dole pineapples
. They also appeared on and hosted various radio and television shows separately.
Todd became famous as a member of Minimoni, but graduated in 2004 to study singing in California. Meanwhile, Kimura was part of Romans and Petitmoni
's third generation. At this time, Kimura was the only member left in Coconuts Musume; however, she was still referred to within Hello! Project as "Coconuts Musume Ayaka".
On April 30, 2008, it was announced on Hello! Project's official website that Kimura was graduating to pursue a career in acting, thus disbanding Coconuts Musume.
} ||align="right"| 2000-05-17 ||align="center"| 2,820 ||align="center"| –
|-
| 4 || ||align="right"| 2000-07-26 ||align="center"| 2,540 ||align="center"| –
|-
| 5 || ||align="right"| 2001-08-22 ||align="center"| 3,420 ||align="center"| –
|}
Hello! Project
is the umbrella name for all female idol Japanese pop recording artists collective that are under contract with the Up-Front Group. The "mothership" group of Hello! Project is the super-group Morning Musume. Hello! Project's current leader is Risa Niigaki, the leader of Morning Musume...
that was formed and promoted as the "girls from Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
". After nine years, the group officially disbanded when Ayaka Kimura
Ayaka Kimura
, currently known by her stage name as Ayaka Nagate , is an actress currently signed to Tristone Entertainment...
graduated from Hello! Project.
Members
- 1998–2008 –
- 1998–2004 – Mika Todd (minimoni)
- 1998–2001 – Danielle DeLaunay
- 1998–2000 – Chelsea Ching
- 1998–2000 – April Barbaran
- 2000–2002 – Lehua SandboLehua SandboLehualani Ehukai Nahina is a former singer of Norwegian, Hawaiian, Filipino, Irish, Spanish, and Chinese ancestry...
(7 nin matsuri)
History
While in Hawaii, TsunkuTsunku
, better known professionally as , is a prolific Japanese record producer, songwriter, and vocalist.He is best known for having two major roles in the Japanese music landscape: first as the lead singer of the popular rock group Sharam Q, and now as the producer, primary composer, lyricist and main...
's fellow band-mate from Sharam Q, Makoto, had originally discovered the five girls who were to become Coconuts Musume. He had requested that Tsunku pick up the act, and in 1999, Coconuts Musume debuted on a Japanese television program, Asayan
Asayan
Asayan, originally known as , was a talent search variety show that aired on TV Tokyo from 1995 to 2002. Many Hello! Project artists and groups were discovered through Asayan auditions produced by Tsunku....
.
The group originally consisted of Ayaka Kimura
Ayaka Kimura
, currently known by her stage name as Ayaka Nagate , is an actress currently signed to Tristone Entertainment...
, Mika Todd, Chelsea Ching, Danielle DeLaunay, and April Barbaran, with Chelsea taking lead vocals. After two singles, Chelsea and April left the group due to the difficulties of adjusting to life as a J-pop
J-pop
, an abbreviation for Japanese pop, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in 1960s music, such as The Beatles, and replaced kayōkyoku in the Japanese music scene...
idol (neither spoke any Japanese when group was formed) and to pursue other careers, such as modeling.
Lehua Sandbo
Lehua Sandbo
Lehualani Ehukai Nahina is a former singer of Norwegian, Hawaiian, Filipino, Irish, Spanish, and Chinese ancestry...
was then recruited as a member, and the group made two more singles until DeLaunay, who also had difficulties adjusting, left to pursue a career in theater. After DeLaunay left, the group switched from the Sony Music Entertainment Japan
Sony Music Entertainment Japan
is Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry....
label to the Zetima
Zetima
is a Japanese record label owned by Up-Front Works, a Japanese entertainment management company. The label is handled by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Outside Japan the label is most famous for releasing music by several participants in Hello! Project, the most famous...
label. Between "Watashi mo 'I Love You'" of Sony Music Entertainment Japan and "Jōnetsu Yuki Miraisen" of Zetima, sales increased by almost a quarter according to 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...
charts.
After one more single, Sandbo, too, graduated from the group, went on to the American pageant circuit, and eventually married and gave birth to a daughter. The remaining duo, Todd and Kimura, never released anything else under the Coconuts Musume name, though they contributed to Hello! Project compilations, performed songs (including English covers) during Hello! Project concerts, and became Japanese spokespersons for Dole pineapples
Dole Food Company
Dole Food Company, Inc. is an American-based agricultural multinational corporation headquartered in Westlake Village, California. The company is the largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world, operating with 74,300 full-time and seasonal employees who are responsible for over 300...
. They also appeared on and hosted various radio and television shows separately.
Todd became famous as a member of Minimoni, but graduated in 2004 to study singing in California. Meanwhile, Kimura was part of Romans and Petitmoni
Petitmoni
, also known as Pucchi Moni, was the second official subgroup of the Japanese pop idol group Morning Musume.- History :Founded November 1999, the group initially consisted of Morning Musume members Kei Yasuda, Sayaka Ichii, and Maki Goto...
's third generation. At this time, Kimura was the only member left in Coconuts Musume; however, she was still referred to within Hello! Project as "Coconuts Musume Ayaka".
On April 30, 2008, it was announced on Hello! Project's official website that Kimura was graduating to pursue a career in acting, thus disbanding Coconuts Musume.
Singles
| # | Title | Release date | First week sales | Total sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-07-23 | 6,840 | 9,730 | |
| 2 | "Dance & Chance Dance & Chance Dance & Chance is the second single of the J-pop idol group Coconuts Musume. It was released on August 8, 1999 with the catalogue number SRCL-4635 and is the last single to feature members Chelsea Ching and April Barbaran.- Track listing :# Dance & Chance... " |
1999-08-25 | 2,740 | – |
| 3 |
|-
| 4 || ||align="right"| 2000-07-26 ||align="center"| 2,540 ||align="center"| –
|-
| 5 || ||align="right"| 2001-08-22 ||align="center"| 3,420 ||align="center"| –
|}
Videos
| # | Title | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-10-21 |
Television
- Bishōjo Kyōiku (Ayaka's Surprise English Lesson)
- Bishōjo Kyōiku II (Ayaka's Surprise English Lesson)
Musicals
- Love Century -Yume wa Minna Kerya Hajimaranai-
- Ken & Merī no Meken Kon On-stage
- Sayonara no Love Song
- Fushigi Shōjo Tantei Kyara & Mel
Books
- 2002-05-01 –
- 2002-08-05 –
External links
- Official Hello! Project profile
- Coconuts Musume discography on the Up-Front Works official website
- Coconuts Musume discography on Tsunku.net
- ThePPN: Coconuts Musume