:::::: I must have included this paragraph in December 2000:
Just back from SMAP 2000 Live concerts in Japan !!!!
What can I say except that it was historic for SMAP !! Takuya's announcement of his wedding, the news coverage, the behaviour of SMAP just before the announcement, and afterwards... Phew! I attended Saitama concerts on 22 and 23 Nov 2000, and Finale concert on 27 Nov 2000. Aw, man... it was great.... !!!
This link is updated and working 02 March 2002
Hi-Jinkz- some snippets with Tsuyoshi and Shingo, micro-videos.
This link is no longer fully working, but it was in September 2000:
"GatchaMan" comics starring SMAP.
(It was an animated, 3d-rendered, live-action integrated, interactive supersite)
Chokakku writes the most wonderful songs for SMAP.
Updated 02 March 2002
...And so does my friend Joey Carbone.
SMAP's 10th anniversary album released in 2001, entitled SMAC, contains two of Joey's songs. Joey's "Shake You Up" was performed during SMAP's 1996 Live Concert hot numbers set, and is also remixed on SMAP B00 HardCore Idol Machine album. Joey's "If You Give Your Heart" was recorded by SMAP's Goro Inagaki as a solo number for a film he starred in some years ago. Also, Joey's song, of title roughly translatable as "Goodbye of Lovers", of 1992 vintage by SMAP. Joey works partly in Hollywood and partly in Japan.
:::::: Link checked, updated and working 02 March 2002
:
Official SMAP releases list from JVC-Victor of Japan.
Where SMAP works - sometimes: a map, courtesy of Sannie.
SMAP Musical Portraits
Original SoundScapes by Juniper Chew (c) August 2000
describing SMAP and individual SMAP members
MADE USING A SYNTHESIZED COMPUTER VOICE, thanks to AnalogX.
Did you know you can order SMAP music scores from Kinokuniya bookshop? Just go to their Information Counter and make enquiries. You can get full band scores, or piano-guitar-vocal scores.
SMAP014
VICL-60667
My review of this album appears on a separate SMAP webpage I made specially for it, HERE
Note the matching applet, which reflects the packaging style of the album!
James Brown appears on this album.
LionHeart
VICL-35185
It's a bit of an R&B-hip-hop crossover, with a rhythm groove very much like Misia's Unforgettable Days. It has a quiet and low-key sophisticated feeling and styling. The guitar part
adds a crisp and almost intellectual touch to the work. It signals a mellowing of the group's musical works?
The coupling song - is that Shingo opening the song? It's a medium-slow ballad. Takuya has a solo that leads up to the chorus. Tsuyoshi opens the second verse. I think SMAP's harmony singing is well carried out on this piece.
ShingoMama O-Ha Rock
VICL-35173
Cross-dressing and getting away with it big-time! I like the Readymade Cliche 524 mix version (track 2). Also includes steps on how to do the O-Ha Rock. For those who still haven't got a clue, please check out Fuji TV's website on ShingoMama. Sold in excess of 1 million copies in September 2000. NOTE: 2001 update: Shingo MaMa has released a second block-buster hit single - look for it on the Shingo MaMa website.
Link checked, updated and working 02 March 2002:
If you can't read Japanese or don't have a Japanese-enabled web browser, CD Japan has brief descriptions of the new releases. More information here.
VICL-35072
Let It Be
Released 09 February 2000
International like anything, Mon.
It's got an R&B jazzy feel with a good tune, fine instrumentation... This maxi single sure doesn't qualify as bubble-gum pop, for one thing. Probably deserves air time on USA and European airwaves. Its size makes it fit into my car's multi-CD rack, so I can finally listen to a SMAP single while I speed!!
UPDATE 13 SEPTEMBER 2000
PokeSMAP -- !!?! Celebrating the Pokemon craze. Five Squirtles in dark glasses - just like the five Birdmen !!
::::::1999 Japan Live Concert Series
I survived the 1999 September concerts!!
::::::Link checked, updated and working 02 March 2002:
SMAP Videograms
UPDATED 02 January 2000!!
For those of us less fortunates who cannot attend the SMAP live concerts, here are some clips from previous concerts.
::::::Link checked, updated and working 02 March 2002:
Extreme SMAP
From their 1997 Live Concert
Black leather, bare bodies, tatoos, and screaming guitars -- just do it, man.
::::::Link checked, updated and working 02 March 2002:
SMAP live concert 1998 music clips !!
In RealMedia format, these are songs which are not available on any of their audio CD releases !!! I made a special webpage background for this webpage, as well. Please check it out. Don't forget to use your web browser BACK button to return here after reviewing the page.
