The Bawdies is a Japanese rock band signed to the Seez Records label and the Getting Better sub-label of Victor Entertainment. The band is heavily influenced by 1950s-1960s beat music and early rhythm & blues styles of music.[1][2]

The Bawdies
The Bawdies in July 2015
The Bawdies in July 2015
Background information
OriginJapan
GenresRock, beat music, rhythm & blues
Years active2004–Present
LabelsSeez Records
Getting Better (2009-present)
MembersRoy
Taxman
Jim
Marcy
Websitethebawdies.com
The Bawdies 1 @ Red Cloth, 2007-03-31

Background edit

Band members Roy Watanabe, Jim Kimura, and Marcy Yamaguchi became friends as children, and met fourth member Taku "Taxman" Funayama while in high school. Watanabe discovered The Sonics, a 1960s American garage band, which influenced his musical tastes. The band was formed on New Year's Day in 2004.[1] Starting in 2006, as of September 2011 the band has released five full-length albums. The band has been compared to The Beatles is some news stories.[1]

English "modfather" Paul Weller reportedly was impressed with the band's third album This Is My Story, released in April 2009. The album reached # 1 on the iTunes Store rock chart and # 4 on the J-Pop album chart soon after its release.[3] The album was their first album release with Victor Entertainment, and Naoki Sato of Love Psychedelico oversaw production.[4]

In January 2010, the band received the favorite Japanese act award at the CD Shop Awards.[5] Also in 2010, the band's single "Just Be Cool" reached #8 on the Oricon chart, and #5 on the Japan Hot 100. The "Hot Dog" single made it to #7 and #3, respectively.

In April 2011, the band's single "Love You Need You" peaked at #3 on the Japan Hot 100.[6] For the single's title track, the band collaborated with singer and rapper Ai.

The band played at the Budokan in November 2011, and a live CD of the performance is to be released in March 2012.[7]

In February 2012, the band's single "Rock Me Baby" rose to number 6 on the Japan Hot 100 chart. The song was also selected to be the theme song of the new Japanese television drama "Hungry!" (ハングリー!).[8][9]

Members edit

  • Roy - Lead vocals, bass guitar
  • Taxman - Guitar, backing vocals
  • Jim - Guitar, backing vocals
  • Marcy - Drums

Discography edit

Albums edit

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
Oricon Albums Chart
[10]
Billboard Japan Top Albums
Yesterday and Today
Awaking of Rhythm and Blues
  • Released: February 6, 2008
  • Label: Seez
  • Format: CD, digital download
146
This Is My Story
  • Released: April 22, 2009
  • Label: Getting Better
  • Format: CD, digital download
30 27[11]
There's No Turning Back
  • Released: April 21, 2010
  • Label: Getting Better
  • Format: CD, digital download
6 8[12]
Live the Life I Love
  • Released: June 8, 2011
  • Label: Getting Better
  • Format: CD, digital download
6 6[13]
1-2-3
  • Released: January 16, 2013
  • Label: Getting Better
  • Format: CD, digital download
Section #11 25

Singles edit

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
Oricon Singles Chart
[15]
RIAJ Digital Track Chart Billboard Japan Hot 100
"I Beg You" 2007 147 Awaking of Rhythm and Blues
"It's Too Late" 2009 21 4[16] There's No Turning Back
"Hot Dog" 2010 21 3[17]
"Just Be Cool" 97 5[18] Live the Life I Love
"Love You Need You"
(featuring Ai)
2011 3 3[19]
"Red Rocket Ship" 12 8[20] 1-2-3
"Rock Me Baby" 2012 6 10[21] 6[22]
"Lemonade" 6 3[23]
"The Seven Seas" 2013 - - 5[24] -

Vinyl releases edit

  • "I Beg You" (2007)
  • Awaking of Rhythm and Blues (2008)
  • "Emotion Potion" (2009)
  • This Is My Story (2009)
  • "It's Too Late" (2009)
  • "Hot Dog / The Whip" – The Bawdies and Locksley (2010)
  • There's No Turning Back (2010)
  • "Keep You Happy / Sweet & Still" – The Bawdies and Riddim Saunter (2010)
  • "Just Be Cool" (2010)
  • "Love You Need You" featuring Ai (2011)
  • Live the Life I Love (2011)
  • "Red Rocket Ship" (2011)
  • "Rock Me Baby" (2012)
  • "Lemonade" (2012)

Video albums edit

  • Live at AX20101011 (2010)
  • Keep On Movie (2011)
  • Live at Budokan 20111127 (2012)
  • Space Shower TV Presents The Bawdies a Go-Go!! 2010 (2012)

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Despres, Shawn (15 September 2011). "The Bawdies get ready for their Beatles moment". The Japan Times. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  2. ^ Last FM The Bawdies.
  3. ^ (1 May 2009). THE BAWDIESメジャー1stアルバムにポールも太鼓判, ナタリー (Natalie) (In Japanese)
  4. ^ Shay (5 March 2009). "The Bawdies' potion of emotion". Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  5. ^ Lee, Jae (29 January 2010). Bawdies, Lady Gaga win CD Shop Award, The Japan Times
  6. ^ Japan Hot 100 - Week of April 16, 2011, Billboard, Retrieved February 22, 2012
  7. ^ (13 February 2012). THE BAWDIES Mステ初出演!日本武道館公演DVDジャケットも公開, mynavi.jp (マイナビ )(in Japanese)
  8. ^ (10 February 2012). THE BAWDIES、チャートでも絶好調, MSN (in Japanese)
  9. ^ (10 January 2010). THE BAWDIES、新曲「ROCK ME BABY」がいよいよ解禁, Barks
  10. ^ "THE BAWDIESのCDアルバムランキング、THE BAWDIESのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  11. ^ "Japan Top Albums 2009/05/04 付け". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  12. ^ "Japan Top Albums 2010/05/03 付け". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  13. ^ "Japan Top Albums 2011/06/20 付け". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  14. ^ 週間 CDアルバムランキング 2019年12月09日付 [Weekly CD Album Ranking on December 9, 2019] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  15. ^ "THE BAWDIESのCDシングルランキング、THE BAWDIESのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  16. ^ "Japan Hot 100 2009/11/16 付け". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  17. ^ "Japan Hot 100 2010/03/29 付け". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  18. ^ "Japan Hot 100 2010/09/27 付け". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  19. ^ "Japan Hot 100 2011/04/11 付け". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  20. ^ "Japan Hot 100 2011/10/31 付け". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  21. ^ レコード協会調べ 2012年02月15日~2012年02月21日 (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Archived from the original on June 12, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  22. ^ "Japan Hot 100 2012/02/20 付け". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  23. ^ "Japan Hot 100 2012/11/12 付け". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  24. ^ "Japan Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.

External links edit