TM Network
Encyclopedia
TM Network is a Japanese pop/rock musical band. The members are Tetsuya Komuro
(Keyboardist
), Takashi Utsunomiya (Vocalist) and Naoto Kine (Guitarist
). When they released the single "Get Wild" in 1987, their music became popular in Japan as the "futuristic pop songs with synthesizer
."
They are regarded as a prototype of J-pop
, because Tetsuya Komuro became a famous producer of dance
-oriented J-pop singers in 1990s. However, their 2000 album Major Turn-Round was influenced by progressive rock
.
himself as early as 1984 on the show LiveG, has said that the TM stands for Time Machine.
On August 22, 1983 TM Network took part in "the Fresh Sounds Contest
" (フレッシュサウンズコンテスト) which was sponsored by Coca-Cola
. The song they performed was "1974" and it was aired on TBS
. This was their first step towards a record deal.
They made their record debut with single "Kinyoubi no lion (Friday's Lion)" and album "Rainbow Rainbow" on April 21, 1984.
They became famous first in Hokkaidō
. After a while they had more hits with the songs "Self Control", "Get Wild" and others. So they became one of the most popular rock bands in Japan
.
Several musicians have supported them at their live shows as backing bands such as Tak Matsumoto
(B'z
), Daisuke Asakura
(access), and more.
They changed their name to TMN in 1990, and broke up in 1994. They had reunited under their old name of TM Network in 1999.
They compiled with the overseas musician
s such as Julio Iglesias Jr.
, Sheila E, Leehom Wang for "Happiness×3 Loneliness×3".
Tetsuya Komuro
, also known as TK, is a Japanese keyboardist, guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer born on November 27, 1958 in Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan. He is recognized as being the most successful producer in Japanese music history and introduced dance music to the Japanese mainstream...
(Keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
), Takashi Utsunomiya (Vocalist) and Naoto Kine (Guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
). When they released the single "Get Wild" in 1987, their music became popular in Japan as the "futuristic pop songs with synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
."
They are regarded as a prototype of 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...
, because Tetsuya Komuro became a famous producer of dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
-oriented J-pop singers in 1990s. However, their 2000 album Major Turn-Round was influenced by progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
.
History
They were originally members of a band called Speedway during their school days. The three of them formed TM Network. Their name is commonly thought to stand for "Time Machine Network". However, on September 6, 2006 on an episode of Trivia no Izumi claimed that TM actually stands for 'Tama', the district from Tokyo they all came from. While Trivia no Izumi claims that TM stands for 'Tama' Tetsuya KomuroTetsuya Komuro
, also known as TK, is a Japanese keyboardist, guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer born on November 27, 1958 in Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan. He is recognized as being the most successful producer in Japanese music history and introduced dance music to the Japanese mainstream...
himself as early as 1984 on the show LiveG, has said that the TM stands for Time Machine.
On August 22, 1983 TM Network took part in "the Fresh Sounds Contest
Competition
Competition is a contest between individuals, groups, animals, etc. for territory, a niche, or a location of resources. It arises whenever two and only two strive for a goal which cannot be shared. Competition occurs naturally between living organisms which co-exist in the same environment. For...
" (フレッシュサウンズコンテスト) which was sponsored by Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
. The song they performed was "1974" and it was aired on TBS
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
. This was their first step towards a record deal.
They made their record debut with single "Kinyoubi no lion (Friday's Lion)" and album "Rainbow Rainbow" on April 21, 1984.
They became famous first in Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
. After a while they had more hits with the songs "Self Control", "Get Wild" and others. So they became one of the most popular rock bands in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Several musicians have supported them at their live shows as backing bands such as Tak Matsumoto
Tak Matsumoto
is a Grammy Award-winning Japanese guitarist, producer, arranger, composer, singer and songwriter. In addition to guitarist and lead composer for the hard rock band B'z, he has also had a successful solo career.-Background:...
(B'z
B'z
is a Japanese hard rock duo, composed of and .B'z has released 45 consecutive #1 singles, 24 #1 albums, and sold more than 79 million records in Japan alone...
), Daisuke Asakura
Daisuke Asakura
is a male Japanese pop artist.His childhood consisted of electronic organ lessons and the expectations to follow the family trade of plumbing.Asakura began his career with landing a job at Yamaha right after high school. While under Yamaha, Asakura worked on the EOS synthesizer; he was also...
(access), and more.
They changed their name to TMN in 1990, and broke up in 1994. They had reunited under their old name of TM Network in 1999.
They compiled with the overseas musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s such as Julio Iglesias Jr.
Julio José Iglesias
Julio Iglesias, Jr. is a Spanish singer. In 2008, he was declared the winner of the CMT competition Gone Country.-Early years:...
, Sheila E, Leehom Wang for "Happiness×3 Loneliness×3".
Members
- Tetsuya KomuroTetsuya Komuro, also known as TK, is a Japanese keyboardist, guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer born on November 27, 1958 in Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan. He is recognized as being the most successful producer in Japanese music history and introduced dance music to the Japanese mainstream...
(小室哲哉 Komuro Tetsuya, born November 27, 1958 in Fuchu, TokyoFuchu, Tokyois a city located in western Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 255,394 and a population density of 8,700 persons per km². The total area was 29.34 km²...
) KeyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, composition, arrangementArrangementThe American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
, lyricsLyricsLyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, chorusChoirA choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
. - Takashi Utsunomiya (宇都宮隆 Utsunomiya Takashi, born October 25, 1957) Main vocals, chorus.
- He is acting solo singer. And also, as an actorActorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, performed in the musical "RentRent (musical)Rent is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La bohème...
" in JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.- Naoto Kine (木根尚登 Kine Naoto, born September 26, 1957) GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, composition, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, chorus.
- Naoto Kine (木根尚登 Kine Naoto, born September 26, 1957) Guitar
- He is acting solo singer-songwriterSinger-songwriterSinger-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. And also, as an authorAuthorAn author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, written many novelNovelA novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s and other bookBookA book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
s.
Singles
- : Take it to the Lucky
- 1974
- Accident
- Dragon The Festival (Zoo Mix)
- Your Song ("D"Mix) (Theme of "Vampire Hunter DVampire Hunter Dis a series of Japanese novels written by Hideyuki Kikuchi and illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano since 1983.To date, twenty-two novels have been published in the main series, with some novels comprising as many as four volumes...
" 1985) - Come on Let's Dance (This is the FANKS DYNA-MIX)
- Girl
- All-Right All-Night (No Tears No blood)
- Self Control
- Get Wild (Theme of "City HunterCity Hunteris a hardboiled manga series written and illustrated by Tsukasa Hojo, published by Shueisha in the Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1985 to 1991. The manga was adapted into an animated television series by Sunrise Studios in 1987...
" animeAnimeis the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
) - Kiss You
- Resistance (Theme of "Thrilling rock n roll street" 1988 TV-Series)
- Beyond The Time (Theme of Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's CounterattackMobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattackis a 1988 anime film set in Gundam's Universal Century timeline of Gundam, specifically U.C. 0093.Making its theatrical debut on March 12, 1988, Char's Counterattack is the culmination of the original saga begun in Mobile Suit Gundam and continued through Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and Mobile Suit...
) - Seven Days War
- Come On Everybody
- Just One Victory / Still Love Her (Theme of "City Hunter 2City Hunteris a hardboiled manga series written and illustrated by Tsukasa Hojo, published by Shueisha in the Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1985 to 1991. The manga was adapted into an animated television series by Sunrise Studios in 1987...
" animeAnimeis the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
) - Come On Everybody (with Nile RodgersNile RodgersNile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
) - Kiss You (Kiss Japan)
- Get Wild '89
- Dive Into Your Body
- The Point Of Lovers' Night
- Time To Count Down
- Rhythm Red Beat Black
- Rhythm Red Beat Black (Version 2.0) / Rhythm Red Beat Black (Version 300000000000) by Denki GrooveDenki Grooveis a Japanese technopop group influenced by YMO and Kraftwerk, founded in 1989. It is a part of Sony Music Japan's Ki/oon Records sublabel. Current members are Fumitoshi Ishino and Masanori Taki...
- Love Train / We Love The Earth
- Wild Heaven
- Nights of The Knife
- Get Wild Decade Run / It's Gonna Be Alright (Verdy KawasakiTokyo Verdy 1969, is a Japanese professional football club, based in Tokyo, Japan, that plays in J. League Division 2.Founded as Yomiuri F.C. in 1969, Tokyo Verdy is one of the most decorated teams in the J. League, with honours including 7 league titles , 5 Emperor's Cups, 6 JSL Cup / J...
1st stage support song) - 10 Years After (Verdy Kawasaki 2nd stage support song)
- Happiness×3 Loneliness×3
- MESSaGE
- Ignition, Sequence, Start
- We Are Starting Over
- Castle In The Clouds
- NETWORK TM
- Welcome Back 2
Original Albums
- Rainbow Rainbow
- Childhood's End
- Twinkle Night (Mini Album)
- Gorilla
- Self Control
- Humansystem
- Carol
- Rhythm Red
- Expo
- Major Turn Round
- NETWORK TM -Easy Listening
- Speedway
Video
- Vision Festival
- "BEE" Presents TM Visions
- Fanks "Fantasy" Dyna-Mix
- Self Control and the Scenes from "the Shooting"
- Gift for Fanks Video since 1985-1988
- Fanks the Live 1 Fanks Cry-Max
- Fanks the Live 2 Kiss Japan Dancing Dyna-Mix
- Fanks the Live 3 Camp Fanks!! '89
- Fanks the Live 4 (For Not Sale)
- Carol the Live
- Rhythm Red Beat Black
- Rhythm Red Live World's End I / II
- Expo Arena Final
- Final Live Last Groove 5.18
- Final Live Last Groove 5.19
- Decade (TM Network 1984-1994)
- Live Tour Major Turn-Round 1
- Live Tour Major Turn-Round 2
- Live Tour Major Turn-Round 3 (For Not Sale)
- TM Network Tribute Live 2003
- Live In Naeba'03 -Formation Lap-
- TM Network Double-Decade Tour "Network"
- All the Clips
- Spin Off from TM -Tribute Live 2005-
- Spin Off from TM -8 songs, and more.-
- Spin Off from TM 2007 -Tribute Live III
- TM Network -Remaster- at Nippon Budokan 2007