Sharam Q Josei Rock Vocalist Audition (シャ乱Q女性ロックボーカリストオーディション; Sharam Q Female Rock Vocalist Audition) was an audition airing on the TV show ASAYAN from April to August 1997, featuring the band Sharam Q looking for a female vocalist for their band.
Audition Process[]
STAGE 1[]
The first round was a screening process. Applicants who went through sung a song acapella. If they advanced from here, they got to sing in the ASAYAN studio in front of a live audience (mostly composed of high school girls). The taping from the studio was then shown to Sharam Q (called a VTR check) who decided who got through to the next stage.
Fukuoka Audition (April 13, 1997)[]
800 people turned up, where 54 people moved on to sing acapella.[1] Out of the 54 people, 11 people got to sing in the ASAYAN studio in front of a live audience. Names in bold are the ones who moved on to the next stage.
| Name and Age | Number | Occupation | Acapella Song | Studio Song |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morokuma Miyuki (諸隈美幸), 20 | 136 | OL (Office Lady) | FACE by globe | |
| Aoki Akiko (青木明子), 20 | 139 | OL (Office Lady) | CAN YOU CELEBRATE? by Amuro Namie | CAN YOU CELEBRATE? by Amuro Namie |
| Tsukamoto Yuuko (塚本柘子), 18 | 583 | High school student | Troublemaker by Aikawa Nanase | |
| Matsumoto Yumie (松本弓枝), 19 | 1114 | Technical School Student | Amai Unmei by UA | |
| Yamaguchi Sachiko (山口幸子), 19 | 1511 | Technical School Student | Troublemaker by Aikawa Nanase | |
| Kaju Miyuki (梶美優貴), 23 | 1650 | Unemployed (Furiitaa) | Chance wa Agenai by VANITY | |
| Kouguchi Azusa (高口梓), 18 | 1677 | Unemployed (Furiitaa) | song | |
| Nakatomi Kazumi (中富和美), 15 | 525 | High school student | song | |
| Moriyama Hazuki (森山葉月), 13 | 1050 | Junior high school student | song | |
| Maruyama Kaori (丸山かおり), 1 | 142 | Unemployed (Furiitaa) | song | |
| Ishikawa Mie (石川美絵), 22 | 1632 | OL (Office Lady) | song |
Aoki Akiko, Morokuma Miyuki, Matsumoto Yumie, and Koguchi Azusa got to sing on stage a second time, with Aoki singing "Monku ga Aru Nara Kinasai!" by Rie ScrAmble, Morokuma "Anytime smokin' cigarette" by globe, Matsumoto "Alone" by Okamoto Mayo, and Koguchi "Monku ga Aru Nara Kinasai!" by Rie ScrAmble. Yamaguchi Sachiko and Nakatomi Kazumi received a photoshoot with styling. Sharam Q then chose Aoki Akiko, Matsumoto Yumie, Kouguchi Azusa, and Nakatomi Kazumi to go through.
Tokyo Audition (May 3, 1997)[]
5000 people turned up, where 246 people moved on to sing acapella.[2] Out of the 246 people, 19 people got to sing in the ASAYAN studio in front of a live audience. Names in bold are the ones who moved on to the next stage.
| Name and Age | Number | Occupation | Acapella Song | Studio Song | ASAYAN Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ono Youko (小野陽子), 18 | 769 | Technical School Student | Yumemiru Shoujo ja Irarenai by Aikawa Nanase | ||
| Kawamura Risa (河村理沙), 16 | 669 | High school student | a walk in the park by Amuro Namie and M by PRINCESS PRINCESS | ||
| Saitou Mayuko (斎藤麻悠子), 17 | 1731 | High school student | Chase the Chance by Amuro Namie | ||
| Sato Naomi (佐藤奈穂美), 17 | 768 | High school student | Dokidoki by JUDY AND MARY | ||
| Kabutomori Masayo (兜森雅代), 19 | 2268 | Unemployed (Furiitaa) | Troublemaker by Aikawa Nanase and Hello Again by MY LITTLE LOVER | With a weak song | |
| Fukuda Asuka (福田明日香) , 12 | 1298 | Junior high school student | BREAK OUT! by Aikawa Nanase | BODY FEELS EXIT by Amuro Namie and Gekijou by Kudo Shizuka | With the passion of Shizuka Kudo |
| Hashimoto Kyoko (橋本京子), 17 | 3383 | High school student | Monku ga Aru Nara Kinasai! by Rie ScrAmble | ||
| Yokouchi Motoko (横内素子), 19 | 3428 | University student | Sayonara by Kubo Ruriko | ||
| Osada Asami (長田麻美), 13 | 1017 | Junior high school student | a walk in the park by Amuro Namie | ||
| Ookubo Hiromi (大久保裕美), 17 | 1240 | High school student | Anytime smokin' cigarette by globe | ||
| Nakayama Kazumi (中山和美), 19 | 144 | Unemployed (Furiitaa) | Yumemiru Shoujo ja Irarenai by Aikawa Nanase | ||
| Kohama Etsuko (小濱悦子), 18 | 542 | Unemployed (Furiitaa) | SWEET 19 BLUES by Amuro Namie | FACE by globe | |
| Oosuga Ai (大菅愛), 19 | 1074 | Camera Man Assistant | Sweet Emotion by Aikawa Nanase | ||
| Kitajima Yuuko (北島裕子), 14 | 1444 | Junior high school student | STEADY by SPEED | ||
| Funakoshi Mizusaki (舟越水咲), 17 | 140 | High school student | Kono Hoshi ga Hateru Made by Kanae | ||
| Yoshinaka Makiko (吉仲摩希子), 18 | 1158 | Unemployed (Furiitaa) | FACE by globe | ||
| Matsui Natsuko (松井奈津子), 20 | 587 | Unemployed (Furiitaa) | Sobakasu by JUDY AND MARY | ||
| Iwahashi Aika (岩橋愛香), 15 | 1169 | High school student | BREAK OUT! by Aikawa Nanase and Olivia wo Kikinagara by Anri | ||
| Eigawa Ruka (永川るか), 22 | 1837 | Unemployed (Furiitaa) | Anytime smoking cigarette by globe and Call Me by Blondie | With your favorite English song |
On the June 22, 1997 episode of ASAYAN they announced that Aoki Akiko, Matsumoto Yumie, and Koguchi Azusa from the Fukuoka auditions had been kept before airing a VTR check of the Tokyo Audition.
Kawamura Risa, Kabutomori Masayo, Fukuda Asuka, Iwahashi Aika, and Eigawa Ruka got to sing on stage a second time, with Kawamura singing "M" by PRINCESS PRINCESS, Kabutomori "HELLO AGAIN ~Mukashi Kara Aru Basho~", Fukuda "Geshijyou" by Kudo Shizuka, Iwahashi "Olivia wo Kikinagara" by ANRI, and Eigawa "CALL ME" by Blondie. Sharam Q then chose Kawamura Ria, Kabutomori Masayo, and Fukuda Asuka to go through.
The June 29, 1997 episode of ASAYAN is dedicated to show the styling transformation of Nakatomi Kazumi and her singing Amuro Namie's "Sweet 19 Blues" on stage in the ASAYAN studio.
Osaka Audition (May 24, 1997)[]
3000 people turned up, where 146 people moved on to sing acapella.[3] Out of the 146 people, 14 people got to sing in the ASAYAN studio in front of a live audience. Names in bold are the ones who moved on to the next stage.
| Name and Age | Number | Occupation | Acapella Song | Studio Song | ASAYAN remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ooshiro ?? (大城厚咲), 21 | 2018 | Unemployed (Furiitaa) | Crazy For You by Madonna | ||
| Wada Jurai (和田樹来), 18 | 387 | Unemployed (Furiitaa) | Otoko by Kubou Ruriko | ||
| Miyahara Yuka (宮原由佳), 24 | 792 or 742 | Unemployed (Furiitaa) | CAN YOU CELEBRATE by Amuro Namie | Chase the Chance by Amuro Namie | |
| Kawaai Mizu (河合美鈴), 20 | 3227 or 3224 | Unemployed (Furiitaa) | Over Drive by JUDY AND MARY | ||
| Kida Shouko (喜田尚子), 17 | 1079 | High school student | BLUE TEARS by JUDY AND MARY and PRIDE by Imai Miki | a girl with a strange voice | |
| Mitsutomi Ritsuko (光富梨津子), 17 | 1385 | High school student | Don't Wanna Cry by Amuro Namie | Don't Wanna Cry by Amuro Namie | |
| Einaga Mamiko (永長まみこ), 23 | 141 | Housewife and mother | Monku ga Aru Nara Kinasai! by Rie ScrAmble | ||
| Fukumoto Rei (福本麗), 21 | 184 | Unemployed (Furiitaa) | Genki Dashite by Ohguro Maki | ||
| Nakazawa Yuuko (中澤裕子), 23 | 1661 | Office Lady (OL) | La La La by Ohguro Maki | La La La by Ohguro Maki and Mechakucha ni Naite Shimaitai by Kudo Shizuka | With a compelling ballad |
| Murono Mayumi (室野真由美), 18 | 1432 | Office Lady (OL) | Tenshi no Kyuusoku by Hisamatsu Fumina | ||
| Morita Maya (森田真矢), 15 | 1010 | High school student | Monku ga Aru Nara Kinasai! by Rie ScrAmble | ||
| Heike Michiyo (平家充代), 18 | 3098 | High school student | Anytime smokin' cigarette by globe and Monku ga Aru Nara Kinasai! by Rie ScrAmble | Change the style Up-tempo song (スタイルを変えてアップテンポの歌を) | |
| Tatsumi Matsuko (巽真和子), 17 | 2360 | High school student | BREAK OUT! by Aikawa Nanase | ||
| Kanamoto Yukiko (金本幸子), 20 | 1627 | Model | Hate tell a lie by Kahala Tomomi |
Kida Shouko, Nakazawa Yuuko, and Heike Michiyo got to sing on stage a second time, with Kida singing "PRIDE" by Imai Miki, Nakazawa "Mechakucha ni Naite Shimaitai" by Kudo Shizuka, and Heike "Monku ga Aru Nara Kinasai!" by Rie ScrAmble. Sharam Q then chose Nakazawa Yuuko and Heike Michiyo to go through.
Sapporo Audition (June 21, 1997)[]
1000 people turned up, where 83 people moved on to sing acapella.[4] Out of the 83 people, 8 people got to sing in the ASAYAN studio in front of a live audience. Names in bold are the ones who moved on to the next stage.
| Name and Age | Number | Occupation | Acapella Song | Studio Song | ASAYAN remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oyama Yuriko (尾山由里子), 16 | 630 | High school student | La Isla Bonita by Madonna | Challenge with English songs! | |
| Iida Kaori (飯田圭織), 15 | 627 | High school student | STEADY by SPEED | Sweet Emotion by Aikawa Nanase | I was a model when I was a kid |
| Ishiguro Aya (石黒彩), 19 | 36 | Junior college student | Monku ga Aru Nara Kinasai by Rie ScrAmble | Blue Velvet by Kudou Shizuka | 10kg lighter, her Second ASAYAN Challenge |
| Sasaki Seiko (佐々木誠子), 20 | 274 | Office Lady (OL) | Genki Dashite by Ohguro Maki | Challenge without being able to dream (夢をすてきれず挑戦) | |
| Furusawa Hisayo (古澤久代), 20 | 541 | Unemployed (Furiitaa) | BREAK OUT! by Aikawa Nanase | Tokyo girl participating during a trip to Hokkaido | |
| Kudou Miki (工藤美樹), 18 | 537 | High school student | Troublemaker by Aikawa Nanase | Tall | |
| Aoyama Emi (青山絵美), 16 | 641 | High school student | How to be a girl by Amuro Namie | Unbalance by Ohguro Maki | I was extremely nervous |
| Abe Natsumi (安倍なつみ), 15 | 1111 | High school student | FACE by globe | Rushed from Muroran |
When Sharam Q was doing their VTR check, Tsunku decided that Abe Natsumi went directly through to the big finale. On the August 3, 1997 episode of ASAYAN they announced that Furusawa Hisayo was taking Abe Natsumi's place singing on stage, as Abe had already went directly through.
Iida Kaori, Ishiguro Aya, and Furusawa Hisayo got to sing on stage a second time, with Iida singing "Ashita, Haru ga Kitara" by Matsu Takako, Ishiguro "Hidamari no Uta" by Le Couple, and Furusawa "LOVE LOVE LOVE" by DREAMS COME TRUE. Sharam Q then chose Iida Kaori and Ishiguro Aya to go through.
STAGE 2[]
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11 people advanced from the Fukuoka, Tokyo, Sapporo, and Osaka auditions. They were split into groups according to the cities they auditioned in, and footage of them at home with families, playing instruments, or going out with friends were played on the show.
- Aoki Akiko, Matsumoto Yumie, Kouguchi Azusa came from the Fukuoka Audition
- Kawamura Risa, Kabutomori Masayo, and Fukuda Asuka came from the Tokyo Audition
- Nakazawa Yuuko and Heike Michiyo came from the Osaka Audition
- Iida Kaori, Ishiguro Aya, Abe Natsumi came from the Sapporo Audition
On July 29, 1997, they were sent to training camp by bus, and upon arriving were handed out demo tapes. They listened to an instrumental version of GET with a female voice humming instead of singing the lyrics, and the audience is informed it will be released as the debut song. They also attend dance and voice lessons. They were also given a schedule with wake-up times, bed-times, and chores like cleaning the main hall scrubbing the floors and doing dishes.
On July 31, 1997, they performed on stage in front of an audience, dancing as a group performing the choreography they had been practicing. They were dancing to "Reach" by Deborah Cooper & Robi Rob's Clubworld.
FINAL STAGE[]
On August 3, 1997, they appeared on stage in front of an audience, while Sharam Q was watching them on VTR back stage. They were singing the song they had practiced, now with lyrics, and were interviewed one-on-one by Sharam Q after they had sung. Heike Michiyo forgot part of the lyrics when it is her turn, and Ishiguro Aya's voice broke and her disappointment in herself is noticeable as she starts crying before her interview. After the stage performance, they got to watch Sharam Q on VTR as they debate who will win. Hatake announces Heike Michiyo as the winner.
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Kawamura Risa, Kabutomori Masayo
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Aoki Akiko, Matsumoto Yumie, Kouguchi Azusa
Statements from the girls after losing[]
- Fukuda: "I've always loved singing since I was little, and I will never get bored even if I sing for hours. (...) I think I can do my favorite music even if I can't sell it
- Nakazawa: "For now, I want to get out of my life .... I will go on a life adventure from now on"
- Abe: "Because there is only ASAYAN, I will audition again. So I can participate again in ASAYAN ..."
- Iida: "I feel that it is finally over. ...... (to Heike), I am happy (for you)
- Ishiguro: "Her singing was also good, dance was also good, and Heike-san was better and was recognized (for it)[5]
Aftermath[]
After losing the audition, Ishiguro immediately began to look for dance classes, reflecting on her inability to dance at the training camp. She had also joined "Teen's Music Festival" (a music event that any teenager could participate. There was a chance of a major debut for the main contestant who has won the qualifiers held nationwide), as well as writing songs. She had been running every day because of the regret of the audition.
Abe, who returned to her hometown Muroran, had been down for some time, but shortly after losing the audition, she was contacted by an entertainment office asking her to debut with them. Abe was stopped from joining the office from the ASAYAN staff after being asked to re-join them to form an idol group.
Nakazawa received a phone call from ASAYAN when at the beach with friends from Osaka. They had taken her out to try to get her spirits up after losing the audition. She couldn't stop crying when they asked her to come down to the studio, so much that her friends were concerned. Nakazawa jumped on the Shinkansen heading for Tokyo again without knowing anything.
On the ASAYAN episode aired September 7, 1997, Sharam Q are going through the 10 finalists who lost the audition, inviting five of them back to the studio. It shows them returning to the studio on August 20, 1997, walking into a room with Sharam Q and a producer asking them if they want to debut as a group on the condition of selling 50.000 copies of a single within five days.
Morning Musume's campaign to sell 50,000 copies of Ai no Tane, which was to be done by hand, began on November 3, 1997 in Osaka and was scheduled to take place throughout the month in four other major cities, with the final day on December 7 in Tokyo. They managed to reach the sales goal in just four days on November 30.
On January 28, 1998, they debuted with their first official single, Morning Coffee.
Trivia[]
- When the members of Sharam Q watch the VTR from the live performances in studio, they ridicule the girls for anything they can think of as well as commenting on the size of their breasts.
- Abe Natsumi's audition number was #1111
- Ishiguro Aya had participated in the ASAYAN audition Komu-ro Garçons (ASAYAN Idol Group Audition 96) in June the previous year. She got as far as singing on stage. Staff recognized her and was surprised as she had lost 7 kg. No winner was chosen and the project ended. Several participants in this audition was approached afterwards and offered to make their debut as singers. One of them was Kobayashi Yumi; she auditioned for Geinoujin Shin Unit Audition (which spawned Taiyou to Ciscomoon) in 1998 and made it to the final 8.
- Abe Natsumi's father drove her from Muroran to the audition in Sapporo, which is a three hour drive. Abe sang globe's "FACE", a song she also sang in the Tokyo Studio review. She wanted to sing UA's "When the Clouds Tear Apart", because she wanted to show individuality instead of singing just another popular song but she couldn't find (or had the time to find) an instrumental so she declined singing it.
- Kawamura Risa went on to be an Okashi Gravure Idol.
- Tsunku wanted to start Morning Musume with 10 people, but with 5 people costing 5 million yen a month, it was impossible to do so without knowing whether they'd succeed or not.[6]
- Iida participated with her friends. She had slept over, but was scolded and didn't get much sleep.
- Kaju Miyuki from the Fukuoka audition had participated in the ASAYAN audition Ranpatsu Audition in 1996, going to the final stage. She got as far as the top three and even recorded the demo tape before being ditched by producer Matsuura Max (the winner made her debut using the stage name SHU:DO).
- Morokuma Miyuki from the Fukuoka audition later participated in the ASAYAN audition "Vocalist Audition Final" in 1998. She landed second place, only beaten by Suzuki Ami.
- Heike Michiyo from the Oasaka auditions is a descendant of the Taira clan.[7]
- Heike Michiyo never became a part of the band, but was given a solo career instead. Her debut single was the original song sung at the final audition.
- Five of the losers, Iida Kaori, Ishiguro Aya, Abe Natsumi, Nakazawa Yuko and Fukuda Asuka, were given a chance to debut as a group if their debut single sold over 50.000 copies. They managed to do so in four days and made their debut as Morning Musume.
- Heike Michiyo, Iida Kaori, Ishiguro Aya, Abe Natsumi, Nakazawa Yuko and Fukuda Asuka performed "GET" together with a live band for their concert Hello! FIRST LIVE AT SHIBUYA KOHKAIDO held a short year after the auditions.
- Aikawa Nanase was the artist whose songs were performed the most times at 11 time, followed by Amuro Namie with 8 times, and globe with 7 times.
- The songs performed the most times were "FACE" by globe and "TROUBLEMAKER" by Aikawa Nanase with 4 times, followed by "BREAK OUT!" by Aikawa Nanase, "Anytime smokin' cigarette" by globe, and "Monku ga Aru Nara Kinasai" by Rie ScrAmble with 3 times.
References[]
- ↑ ASAYAN (episode aired May 11, 1997)
- ↑ ASAYAN episode aired June 8, 1997
- ↑ ASAYAN episode aired July 6, 1997
- ↑ ASAYAN episode aired July 27, 1997
- ↑ http://submarinedog.livedoor.biz/archives/51799541.html
- ↑ https://matome.naver.jp/odai/2146554011971359801
- ↑ Aired on ASAYAN on July 13, 1997