Dream (Japanese band)

Dream
Origin	Japan
Genres	J-pop, Electro pop
Years active	2000–present
Labels	1999-2009 Avex Trax 2009 - present Rhythm Zone
Website	Official Site
Members
Aya Takamoto Shizuka Nishida Ami Nakashima Sayaka Yamamoto Erie Abe
Past members
Mai Matsumuro Yu Hasebe Kana Tachibana Ai Risa

Dream is a Japanese pop girl group signed to the Avex Trax since 2000 and Rhythm Zone since 2009.

In 1999 Avex Trax organized a huge talent contest, called "Avex Dream 2000", with the aim of finding the right and talented girls for a new group. The result was dream, a three-piece group consisting of Mai Matsumuro, Kana Tachibana, and Yu Hasebe. Since the group's debut in 2000 under the Avex Trax label, it has undergone many changes. The original trio member has sold 950,700 record labels. In all, the trio has sold over 1,100,000 records over the span of 10 years.^{[citation needed]}

On July 7, 2002, the main lyricist Mai Matsumuro left the group to pursue a solo career. After Matsumuro's departure, Avex held another audition to replaced Matsumuro. Instead of one, six new members had won the audition, The result is eight-member (Dream) group with the debut single "Music is My Thing". On March 2004, Ai Risa left to pursue a solo career. They became a 7 member group as performed this way until 2007. During this time, the band's name changed from dream to DRM.

In August 2008, Yu Hasebe left the group to pursue a solo career, leaving Kana Tachibana behind as the only original member of dream. Afterward, DRM became Dream again.

In August 2010, Dream released their official major re-debut single, "My Way: Ulala" under the Rhythm Zone label.

On November 24, 2010, Dream released their first album as a six-member group, titled Hands Up! under the Rhythm Zone label.

On November 23, 2010, Tachibana announced that she would leave the group. This marked the departure of the last member of the original three-member group. She officially left the group on February 19, 2011.

Members

Original Dream (1999 - 2002)

• Mai Matsumuro
• Kana Tachibana
• Yu Hasebe

8-member dream (2002 - March 2004)

• Dream 02 - Risa Ai
• Dream 03 - Erie Abe
• Dream 04 - Aya Takamoto
• Dream 05 - Ami Nakashima
• Dream 06 - Shizuka Nishida
• Dream 07 - Kana Tachibana
• Dream 08 - Yu Hasebe
• Dream 09 - Sayaka Yamamoto

7-member dream/ (March 2004 - June 2007)

• Dream 03 - Erie Abe
• Dream 04 - Aya Takamoto
• Dream 05 - Ami Nakashima
• Dream 06 - Shizuka Nishida
• Dream 07 - Kana Tachibana
• Dream 08 - Yu Hasebe
• Dream 09 - Sayaka Yamamoto

7-member DRM (June 2007 - July 2008)

• Dream 03 - Erie Abe
• Dream 04 - Aya Takamoto
• Dream 05 - Ami Nakashima
• Dream 06 - Shizuka Nishida
• Dream 07 - Kana Tachibana
• Dream 08 - Yu Hasebe
• Dream 09 - Sayaka Yamamoto

Dream (August 2008 - 2011)

• Kana Tachibana
• Sayaka Yamamoto
• Erie Abe
• Aya Takamoto
• Ami Nakashima
• Shizuka Nishida

Dream (February 2011 - Present)

• Sayaka Yamamoto
• Erie Abe
• Aya Takamoto
• Ami Nakashima
• Shizuka Nishida

History

Avex Dream 2000

In 1999, the Avex label organized a talent contest, called "Avex Dream 2000", looking for the next big hit idol group. Over 120,000 hopefuls auditioned in front of a panel of judges, notably including Kaori Mochida of the popular band, Every Little Thing.^{[citation needed]} Another of the entrants was Kumi Koda,^{[citation needed]} who placed second and is now a popular singer.

The final winners of the competition were Mai Matsumuro, Kana Tachibana, and Yu Hasebe. They formed Avex's idol group Dream.

Debut as 3-member Dream

On January 1, 2000, Dream debuted with the single "Movin' On", which charted within the top 15 on the Oricon charts. Their next few singles all charted in similar territory, failing to break the top 10 until their sixth single, "My will", made it to number 6 at the end of 2000. "My will" was the song that gave dream new found fame as it was the first ending theme to the popular anime Inuyasha. The group's next single peaked at number 36.

On February 28, 2001, Dream released their debut album, |Dear.... The album reached number 5 on the Oricon charts.

On November 28, 2001, Dream released "Get Over", the first opening theme to the anime Hikaru no Go. It reached number 12 on the Oricon charts.

On February 14, 2002, dream released their second album, Process, which reached number 8 on the charts.

Following the release of Process, Matsumuro, who wrote most of the group's lyrics, announced that she was to leave in pursuit of a solo career. Dream then released their final single as a 3-member group, "Sincerely: Ever Dream".

On June 26, 2002, Dream released their final release as a three-member group and their first best album, Eternal Dream. On July 7, 2002, Matsumuro left Dream.

8-member Dream

Following Matsumuro's departure, Avex held more auditions for a replacement, and ended up with six new girls. They were Risa Ai, Erie Abe, Aya Takamoto, Ami Nakashima, Shizuka Nishida, and Sayaka Yamamoto.

The new eight-girl group "re-debuted" in 2003 with the single "Music is My Thing".

In February 2003, the group released their third album, Dream World. The album reached number 23 on the Oricon charts.

Following Dream World, Dream's popularity once again peaked. They participated in the first a-nation summer concert festival held by Avex. They appeared on popular singer Hamasaki Ayumi's TV show, Ayuready. Subsequently, dream's next single, "I Love Dream World", became their first single to chart within the Oricon top 10 since "My Will" in 2000.

In 2004, following the release of Dream's fourth album ID, Ai left Dream to pursue a solo career, bringing the group's member count down to seven.

7-member Dream/DRM

From 2004-2005, Dream released the singles "Pure", "Love Generation", and "Soyokaze no Shirabe / Story". They also released two mini albums, Natsuiro and Boy meets Girl. In addition, Dream released a best album (777: Best of Dreams), an Avex cover album (Dream Meets Best Hits Avex), and a self cover album (777: Another Side Story).

After a long period without much activity, Dream released 7th Anniversary Best (a best of album featuring songs from the groups debut as a three-member unit up till their latest single) and Greatest Live Hits (an album featuring recordings of their live performances) on January 1, 2007 (the group's 7th anniversary).

DRM

On June 27, 2007, Dream was "reborn" as the dance/chorus group DRM in an attempt to shed their image as idols. The group debuted with the mini album DRM.

In 2008, DRM released four digital singles, the first being released in January and the last, in April. The singles were released on the 7th of each month (January 7, February 7, and so on). Like their mini album, the singles were not met with much success.

LDH and re-debut as Dream

On August 1, 2008, Yu Hasebe left DRM in pursuit of a solo career, leaving Kana Tachibana behind as the only member of the original Dream. The group changed its name back to Dream and their official fanclub (Live Your Dreams) closed down. Also, the group changed management from Avex to LDH (Love Dream Happiness).

On September 9, 2009, the group released its first single as Dream and its first physical single since 2005's "Soyokaze no Shirabe / Story". The new single was titled "Perfect Girls / To The Top" and was sold exclusively at a series of free shows Dream performed throughout Japan as well as on mu-mo (an online store). As a special release, it did not chart on Oricon. To promote their comeback, Dream embarked on a nationwide tour of Japan, performing at free live appearances in numerous cities.

Dream appeared on their first TV live on December 31, 2009 on CDTV Premium Live 2009>>2010, performing Perfect Girls.

On March 1, 2010, Dream released their second single as a six member group, titled "Breakout", another mu-mo exclusive.

In May 2010, having completed their nationwide free performance campaign, Dream held a 3-date live tour titled Dream Live Tour 2010: Road to Dream. Dream also toured as a special guest on labelmate Exile's "Exile Live Tour 2010 Fantasy" alongside fellow LDH artists Happiness and Flower.

On August 18, 2010, Dream released their major label debut single, "My Way: Ulala" under the Rhythm Zone label. On October 6, 2010, Dream released their second major label single, "Ev'rybody Alright!".

On November 24, 2010, Dream released their debut album as a six-member group and fifth studio album overall, Hands Up!. To promote the album, Dream went on the tour, titled Dream Live Tour 2010-2011 "Hands Up!!".

On November 23, 2010, Kana Tachibana announced that she would leave the group on the group's official website.

The 5 member Dream will provide the theme song to the drama Meitantei Conan. The new song, titled "To you..." is expected to air April 15, 2011.

Now a part of LDH's collaborative Exile sister girl supergroup E-Girls with Happiness and Flower. ^[1]

Discography

Albums

• [2001.02.28] Dear...
• [2002.02.14] Process
• [2003.02.25] Dream World
• [2004.03.10] ID
• [2010.11.24] Hands Up! (as Dream)

Other albums

• [2000.09.20] Super Eurobeat Presents Euro "Dream" Land (remix album)
• [2002.06.26] Eternal Dream (best-of album)
• [2004.09.28] 777: Best of Dreams (best album)
• [2004.12.08] Dream Meets Best Hits Avex (cover album)
• [2005.03.09] 777: Another Side Story (self-cover album)
• [2007.01.01] 7th Anniversary Best (best album)
• [2007.01.01] Greatest Live Hits (best live album)

Mini-albums

• [2005.07.27] Natsuiro (ナツイロ)
• [2005.12.21] Boy meets Girl
• [2007.06.27] DRM

Singles

• [2000.01.01] "Movin 'On"
• [2000.03.08] "Heart on Wave"
• [2000.05.03] "Private Wars"
• [2000.08.09] "Reality"
• [2000.09.20] "Night of Fire"
• [2000.11.29] "My Will"
• [2001.02.28] "Believe in You"
• [2001.05.23] "Solve"
• [2001.08.08] "Our Time"
• [2001.10.31] "Stay: Now I'm Here"
• [2001.11.28] "Get Over"
• [2002.01.01] "Yourself
• [2002.06.10] "Sincerely: Ever Dream"
• [2003.02.13] "Music Is My Thing"
• [2003.09.10] "I Love Dream World"
• [2004.02.25] "Identity: Prologue"
• [2004.08.04] "Pure"
• [2004.08.11] "Love Generation"
• [2005.03.02] "Soyokaze no Shirabe"
• [2010.08.18] "My Way: Ulala" (as Dream)
• [2010.10.06] "Ev'rybody Alright!" (as Dream)
• [2011.11.30] "Dreaming Girls" (as Dream)
• [2011.12.28] "Celebration/Dreaming Girls" (as E-Girls)

mu-mo exclusive singles

• [2009.09.09] "Perfect Girls / To the Top" (as Dream)
• [2010.03.01] "Breakout" (as Dream')

Digital singles

• [2008.01.07] "Touchy Touchy"] (DRM)
• [2008.02.07] "Electric" (DRM)
• [2008.03.07] "Tasty" (DRM)
• [2008.04.07] "To You" (DRM)
• [2011.04.15] "to you" (Dream)

Shared releases

• [2003.12.10] "1st X'mas" (Dream + Fruit Punch + SweetS)
• [2004.12.01] "2nd X'mas" (Dream + SweetS + Kayo Aiko)
• [2005.11.16] "3rd X'mas" (Dream + Nagasawa Nao + SweetS + Hoshii Nanase + Kayo Aiko + Paradise Go!! Go!! + Michi Saito)
• [2006.12.06] Best X'mas

Various artists albums

• [2000.12.23] Countdown J-Pop 2000
• [2001.01.11] J-Euro Best
• [2001.10.19] J-Euro non-stop Best
• [2003.07.13] Avex 15th Anniversary Compilation J-POP Vol.2
• [2003.07.24] A+nation Vol.1 - Summer Power
• [2003.07.24] A+nation Vol.2 - Summer Lover
• [2003.07.24] A+nation Vol.3 - Summer Remixmix
• [2004.07.28] A-nation 04 Best Hit Summer
• [2004.12.18] Countdown J-Pop 2005
• [2005.03.16] Girl's BOX ~Best Hits Compilation~
• [2005.07.14] Girl's BOX ~Best Hits Compilation Summer~
• [2005.11.30] Girl's BOX ~Best Hits Compilation Winter~

Anime soundtracks

• [2004.09.08] Best of Inu Yasha Seifu Meigetsu - Inu Yasha Theme Zenshu 2
• [2006.03.23] Ichigo 100% Music 100% (『いちご100%』ミュージック100%)

DVD

• [2001.03.07] Daydream
• [2001.08.08] Dream Live 2001
• [2002.03.20] Daydream2
• [2002.12.11] Dream Clip Selection
• [2002.12.26] Dream Live 2002 "Process"
• [2003.03.19] Dream Party
• [2003.08.06] Dream Live 2003: Dream World
• [2004.05.26] ID (Musical)
• [2004.09.29] Dream Party 2
• [2005.03.09] Dream Christmas Party 2004
• [2006.02.15] Boy Meets Girl: A Little More
• [2006.06.14] Dream Party 2006: Love & Dream
• [2007.04.11] Dream Party 2006 X'mas

Vinyl

• [2001.02.28] Euro "dream" Land EP

References

1. ^ http://e-girls-ldh.jp

External links

• Official website
• Official blog