The Official Sowelu Thread
 

I thought I would make one of her,there isn't one yet. Info from wiki.theppn.
http://wiki.theppn.org/images/e/e4/Hikari_Promo.jpg



Name: Sowelu
Other Aliases: Harada Aki (原田亜希) (Used for modeling career)
Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
Blood type: O
Birthday: 1982.11.06
Hobbies: Watching Movies, Dancing
Eyes: Dark Brown
Hair: Brown

Albums

[2003.06.25] Geofu
[2005.01.07] SWEET BRIDGE
[2005.07.20] Heads or Tails?
[2006.07.12] 24 -twenty four-

Singles

[2002.04.17] beautiful dreamer
[2002.10.23] Part of me
[2003.02.26] Rainbow / breath ~Omoi no Youryou~ (想いの容量)
[2003.05.28] Fortune
[2003.10.08] Glisten
[2004.04.21] No Limit
[2004.09.01] I Will
[2004.11.17] Last Forever
[2005.02.02] Do You Remember That?
[2005.06.22] Let's go faraway
[2005.11.16] Get Over
[2006.02.01] to YOU
[2006.05.10] Dear friend
[2007.01.24] Shiawase no Chikara (幸せのちから)
[2007.06.20] Dare Yori Suki na no ni (誰より好きなのに)
[2007.12.19] Hikari (光)



Latest release from Sowelu is the single "Hikari" (光).

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/9...ricdsb6.th.jpg
CD
01. Hikari
02. Still lovin' you
03. Hikari (Instrumental)


http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/3...ddvdur4.th.jpg
DVD

01. Hikari (PV)
02. Making of
03. 5th Anniversary Tokubetsu Kikaku Eizou Part III



You can download it from here.
http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showth...29#post1275629


also here is a discography of her I posted on JPopsuki Tracker without the Hikari single.
http://mullemeck.serveftp.org/jps_be...tails&id=36580

I got 2 of her albums. I love her with hair longer.

i didnt like so much this song i hope her next one will be more catchy

I have a lot of Sowelu songs. I'm a big fan of her. I haven't had the chance to listen to her new single yet but I believe it'll sound good. I just hope she returns to R&B soon. That's I luved her in the beginning! heehehehee Go, lulu!


(Btw, I thought there was a Sowelu thread already?)

Well if their then post the link here. I got into her around the time of her second album. After she released the remix album I stopped listening to her. Lol

OMFG! Why is the Sowelu thread...so dead. We gotta show more luv for the girl.

Sowelu News Sweethearts!

Credits to Utadayumi!


I'm looking forward to this single since Hikari was absolutely wonderful.

Yeah Wish is a great song. I love it.

I saw on wiki.theppn that she is going to have a new album out the same day that Yui and ayaka's new albums come out and it is called "Naked".

^Really? I didn't know that! No one said anything about it! :weep Okay, I'll wait for the HK version on YA which shouldn't that long. I haven't heard Wish yet. Do you have a dl link for the single on here?

Well, the Wish single isn't out just yet but the pv is on jpopsuki. here is the link.


http://mullemeck.serveftp.org/jps_be...tails&id=42435

Would you like me to make a audio rip of it for you?

^YES, IF YOU WOULD SO KINDLY DO PLEASE?! :luv2 I'm in the Sowelu mood! lol

ok, give me a min.

do she even get albums released in HK? I've tried her, but she's a bit on the generic side for me. :shrug

Heres the rip. Let me know if you need a different mirror.
http://www.mediafire.com/?gz02a0tzzvn

Omg Hoshi~Hana deleted her account?! :< Thank you for the rip ayulove~

me loves Sowelu. Glisten is my favorite song
and I can't wait for the new single but I'll wait for the full single

http://i30.tinypic.com/21cxgg2.gif

I may sound spoilt, seeing as I got a comment from the real Aki, but really - I leave her a big comment asking her how she was, how I really enjoyed Naked and that I couldn't wait for new releases and all I get back is two letters and an explanation mark. :grumpy

I always thought she was fluent? But maybe not, she has a bad Engrish accent sometimes. Anyway yay me! At least she replied unlike some people *cough* MAY J.*cough*

Artists like to boast that they're fluent in English even when they're not. Sometimes it's their fault, sometimes it's their management's fault. I'm guessing if Sowelu has an Engrish accent, she probably isn't that fluent.

^ I think she is fluent/very well off in English, but still has the accent as she's never left Asia (she's only been to Korean and Indonesia) so she may not be used to the typical way of pronouncing English, or something.

Or you could be right, and it's just an image.

CD JAPAN is doing a clearance sale again!
- Shiawase no Chikara [w/ DVD, Limited Edition] is 40% off!
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=DFCL-1324

NEW SINGLE "MATERIAL WORLD" 25.02.2009 OUT !!!
http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arc...8/jacket_m.jpg

01. MATERIAL WORLD
02. Time After Time
03. MATERIAL WORLD -Remix-
04. MATERIAL WORLD (instrumental)

(large cover/preview --> official website

Omg! The cover is absolute love. She looks so beautiful. Sowelu needs to keep this style. Go Sowelu. :heart

oh wow, that cover is awesome. much better than most of her other ones

lol at least she did comment :laugh

and may j. didn't even approve my comment :grumpy

I'm glad she will release a new album, I forgot to download that single XD.

Larger Cover:
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f7...owelucover.png

Sowleu looks amazing. I can't wait to hear this new song.

Thanks for the bigger cover. She really is pretty. :yes

Don't you mean release a new single?

Omg! Thank you so much! I've been looking for a larger size. JPM was ignoring my plea for a larger cover. >_> So mean of them.

MW needs to leak soon. lol I wanna hear Sowelu's new sound. :yes

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=BBf2X6yfHEo&translated=1

making of the music video? if so it looks amazing, not quite sure though <3 Sowelu personally ive been a big fan since 2005 :p anyone know the song in the background.

Abit of fun facts did you guys know shes part Irish ._.!

EDIT: found the song apparently it was september by her

Lol yes, I knew she was part Irish. That explains her look. :yes

beautiful cover...i almost didn't recognize her!!

Though I have to say that the comparisons to Ayu are indeed coming. Mirrorcle World~Material World...^_^'

Anyway, to that I say that Sowelu did not and is not copying Ayu.

She just did the opposite of her. Whereas Ayu used improper grammer, Sowelu does not. And while Ayu used butterflies to signify "mirrors & miracles" (Or rather, just because Ayu or someone on her team happens to like butterflies...O.o) Sowelu actually used props that were OBIVIOUSLY relevent to the title of the song...^_^

I just hope she finds the same, or at least half the amount of success Ayu got with her MW-single. :)

Damn, if that's Material World playing on her website I really don't like it. D:

^lol man i swear thats wat i said about 光 i liked the preview, but when i heard the whole thing i actually didnt like it, who knows! you might like material world in the full Vers.

Whoa! She looks so cool & beautiful!!
I'm gonna order it with Ayu's Rule/Sparkle (just got an e-mail from CD Japan that it's available for pre-order). Too bad it's without DVD...
Man and I wanna poster!!
Such song name and cover, I'm so exited. I wonder if she's trying to move in the new music direction?
MATERIAL WORLD - WTF EDIT -. loool

She looks so different. o_O.....

The pv and pv rip is up in the asian download section

youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sd11uxIPzI


EFFIN EPIC! GO SOWELU! OMG! I'M GETTING EMOTIONAL FOR NO REASON. LOL I THINK I'M ABOUT TO CRY. THE SONG IS SO LOVE!

It's a pretty good song.

By the way, that video can't be embedded. :/ I had to go to the youtube page to see it. ^^

^Ah thanks for telling me. Now I have to go edit the dl thread page again.

I'm already addicted to MW. I'm on my 7th listen already and I just downloaded the song not too long along. Like 30 minutes ago. Ah this chic needs more love and attention. She deserves it so much. :yes

The PV is really good. And she looks so different too! <3

I wish we could also embed veoh and dailymotion videos. I think that would really help somehow I guess, I dunno...

I did put up a suggestion in the Suggestions sub-forum about it. ^^

I like the song a lot! But the strained vocals in the chorus almost ruin the song for me...

^I glad u both liked it. Strained vocals u say austin? Hmm, I really don't hear it but I guess since I'm use to Sowelu's voice that I don't hear.

@rookies: I was surprised that someone uploaded the pv so fast on youtube. Usually it take s a good minute for someone to upload her stuff.

Wow, so the trinity of Taku prevails....Rie fu's "Romantic", Ami Suzuki's "Reincarnation", and now Sowelu's "MATERIAL WORLD" gosh this year is kicking off really well in the J-tek world/dance scene AMAZING TRACK

^Wuuut? Taku from m-flo produced this song? If so, he is a fantastic producer. This song is definitely good. I wasn't go to dl her song but since u said taku produced, I'm gonna go dl Ami's Recarnation song. :D

omg, material world is :luv2
haha the song is so addicting, i only know about sowelu as i'm working on luv's GIFs <3
and i really love her look in the PV!

^Girl, I'm so happy that I could unknowingly recommend you a Sowelu song. You definitely should hear some of her earlier stuff. I think you'll like it too.

But yea, I had to stop myself from listening to it for now. I don't wanna overplay it. Gonna listen to it when I wake up in the morning. :)

i haven't listened to Sowelu in a while (more like...a year or 2, LOL), but i really like this song! it's really good. Taku of m-flo did a great job. :)

and Sowelu looks gorgeous! she can really rock the blonde hair.

According to multi-lemonia, Sowelu will release an album on 3/18. livedoor says it's a best album (CD+DVD).
credits to rokit


I gotta buy her best album. After waiting and waiting and waiting, she's finally releasing one. :heart So happy for all the Sowelu news that's coming in. :)

OMG, I hope it really is a BEST album!!! Thank God she's finally releasing one.

I will definitely buy it!! It feels like it's been so many singles, and she's long overdue for a BEST album. :yes

i was interested in her a long time ago, dont know what happened but i lost interest somehow.

I really love that Material World song. It's great. I kinda wish she had another background counter melody track during the chorus, because it's a little too raw for me...but it's really awesome. And she looks great in the video too...

gonna go get all her stuff now lol

Man, to be honest, I always tried Sowelu really wanting to get into her, but just never could. (Although "Naked" is a good album once in a while). But her new look + single = WOW. Just wow. I REALLY hope she sticks with both the sound and the look for a long while.

loves it. she's much better off with this style, not too big on her older one tbh :(

can't wait for the best though, hope there's new songs.

Yea, I think that's the reason why people couldn't get into her. Her music was just something you could prolly hear from other artists who were more popular then her and do it better than her. I really Sowelu for her voice. She can really sing and her music is bad at all to me. I like her R&B/ dance stuff more than her poppy songs. She just needs more publicity and love. lol I hope she hits it big with this song and best album. *crosses fingers*

I agree. I really love this style on her. Maybe she gets more tv performances and sport that style, she'll get more people into her and her music.

I vaguely remember listening to Sowelu years back, PROBABLY in connection with some anime. But I sort of forgot about her after I had to delete her to make room on my hard drive.

MATERIAL WORLD is so inexplicably good. To be honest, I'm not a real big fan of her voice, and I think the song is a little noisy. And yet, it' SO GOOD <3 And I really think she's the first girl I've ever seen pull off that haircut so well, it looks really good on her

^^^^I'm trying to remember that anime too....I keep coming up with FMA but I'm probably wrong, but I swore I've head some of her stuff prior to MATERIAL WORLD

actually, she did sing for full metal alchemist, with "i will". and "wish" was for d.gray-man last year. :P

anyway, i haven't heard her music at all, but i do know of her. so i watched the PV for "MATERIAL WORLD" and while the video is good, i think the song itself needs to grow on me a bit more. it's not bad, though.

I'm still wondering why "Get Over" was not included on her studio album, as that song was a hit for her.

Hopefully, it will be on the BEST album. ^^

in the video she kinda looks like the asian version of pink lol.

^She kept reminding me of Anna Tsuchiya. They both pull off the shortcut blonde hairstyle so well.


Here's Info on Sowelu's best album:

Name: Sowelu The Best 2002 - 20009
Format: 2 CD and 2CD + DVD
Release Date: 3/18/09

First greatest hits album release from Sowelu includes previous single tracks "across my heart," "beautiful dreamer," "Material World," covers "Pearl Color ni Yurete (Momoe Yamaguchi)," "September (Earth Wind & Fire)," and new song "AINOTE" on two discs. Limited edition includes bonus DVD with music videos. *Unless otherwise indicated, DVDs are region-2 encoded (Japan, Europe, and Middle East), and carry no subtitles.

Tracklist:

disc 1:
1 across my heart
2 beautiful dreamer
3 Part of me
4 Rainbow (original mix)
5 breath ～ 想いの容量 ～
6 Fortune
7 Glisten
8 No Limit
9 I Will
10 Last Forever
11 Do You Remember That ?
12 Let's go far away
13 Get Over
14 to YOU
15 Dear friend
16 幸せのちから

disc 2:
1 誰より好きなのに
2 24karats - type S -　
3 光
4 Wish
5 Can't take my eyes off of you
6 Candy Rain
7 パールカラーにゆれて
8 The Rose
9 Play That Funky Music feat.urb
10 ″LOVE IS STRONGER THAN PRIDE″
11 Morning Train（9 to 5）
12 ピアノ・マン
13 SEPTEMBER
14 Time After Time
15 MATERIAL WORLD
16 AINOTE

Pre-order from CDjapan Now


I gotta get the cd now. All of my fave songs from her are on the album plus her pvs too. Hell yes. I will be broke but oh well. lol

More info and stuff on Sowelu The Best 2002 - 2009:

COVERS:

-2CD+DVD- (LARGE HQ)

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/3077/...0169bd0ha3.jpg

-CD-

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/4333/...9795a0fjh3.jpg

More information posted concerning the new Best Album. There will be two versions, CD+DVD & CD only. The contents of the DVD will be 26 music videos:

-DVD-
1.across my heart
2.beautiful dreamer
3.Part of me
4.Rainbow
5.breath ～ 想いの容量 ～
6.Fortune
7.Glisten
8.No Limit
9.I Will
10.Last Forever
11.Do You Remember That ?
12.Let's go faraway
13.Uh with HI-D and JUN 4 SHOT from FIRE BALL
14.Get Ready- Nite 2 Remember- JHETT feat. Sowelu & BIG-O
15.暁ニ想フ Miss Monday feat.Sowelu
16.Get Over
17.to YOU
18.Dear friend
19.守るべきもの
20.幸せのちから
21.I Wonder
22.誰より好きなのに
23.24karats - type S -　Sowelu,EXILE,DOBERMAN INC
24.光
25.Wish
26.MATERIAL WORLD

Concerning the new song "AINOTE" :

Quote:

この「AINOTE」は、現在の日本語R&Bシーンのトレンドを生み出し続けているクリエイター、nao' ymtが詞曲を手掛けた軽やかなポップチューン。 「苦しくても立ち止まっても手を繋いでいこうよ」と歌われる、スウィートながらも愛の深さや強さを訴えた１ 曲に仕上がっている。 nao'ymtは2004年から音楽プロデューサーとして本格的に活動を始め、CHEMISTRYやCry stal KayなどのR&B系アーティストと仕事を重ね、作詞・作曲、トラックメイキング、Vo.（ヴォーカ ル）/Cho.（コーラス）アレンジメントは元より、自らも歌い手として参加するなどしている。 2005年からは安室奈美恵の作品のプロデュースを手掛けるなど、今最も注目のサウンドクリエイターだ 。

Quote:

Originally Posted by Google Translation This "AINOTE", the Japanese creator of the current R & B has produced a trend of the scene, nao'ymt POPPUCHUN light hand song lyrics. "I'll also connect the hand to stop the plague" is sung with strength and depth of his love but a sweet finish to the song. nao'ymt of 2004 began in earnest as a music producer from, CHEMISTRY, such as Crystal Kay and R & B artists over a working system, songwriting, TORAKKUMEIKINGU, Vo. (vocals) / Cho. (chorus) from the original arrangement, and has participated as a singer himself. From 2005 to produce works such as Namie Amuro work, but most of SAUNDOKURIEITA.

SOURCE: BIGLOBE Music

Yay! BEST album!! I'm gonna get Limited Edition + MATERIAL WORLD!!
That's so awesome!! I've just got an e-mail from CD Japan!! Whoa 26 MV!! Fantastic thnx for the covers she looks adorable!!

OMG, I have been waiting for something like to for so long. I want that DVD so bad.


I think that the cover nice but it would have been better if it was a picture of her when she first debuted on one side and one of her now on the other. With how the concept is would of made more since.

I hope there will be PV for a new song!
And I wonder how MATERIAL WORLD debuted on charts...

^I don't see it in the top 30. =(

Awww.... This song is so underrated...
I hope BEST will perform better.

On the flipside though, Ami's new single debuted in the top 20, and it's also produced by Taku and has a really similar sound. It's probably more Sowelu just being more obscure now than the song itself. =\

Btw, does anybody have a nice, really large *larger than what was on her site* scan of the MW cover? I want to make an LJ header with it but the version we have is too small to work with like I want.

Does anyone know if she will be performing on one of the music shows?

Oh WOW, I just saw the covers for the BEST album, and they both look good.

And the tracklisting, I LOVE IT! :luv2

I wish Sowelu was in TOP20 as well... T_T
And from what I have read not everybody really likes MW. So I doubt that she will continue with this style, also with such performance on charts. I wonder what's next? She was cute-pop, R&B/Hip-Hop now electro... PLEASE NO ENKA!!!

I do not have it. I haven't ordered single yet and album as well. I will post it here if find scan.

She's not performing lately, I've searched for MW lives, but looks like there wasn't any... That is really sad. :(

^Don't worry, I found one anyway. =P

Sowelu really is outdated. Someone on JPM said that the single didn't even chart in the top 100 which is pretty sad because she usually charts in the top 40. Sony prolly didn't really promote this single and by the looks of it, I don't think they are going to put too much effort into promoting the best album either.

As for performances, Sowelu is suppose to be performing at some festival on March 5 I believe. Her site didn't say what song she was going to perform tho. I don't know why they didn't set up a performance on Music Fighter especially since they did it for her songs Lie and Wish. =/ So much for giving this girl major popularity. :cry

Yes, it is! I have just listened it and 100% I agree with you! It's sounds really similar!
Still I prefer MW over Amis song.
@Luv ~Venus~
Yeah, Sowelu is so underrated! Sony need to give her some more promo!! She deserved it!
I hope so! I really wanna to see her performance! I'll cross my finger for her BEST to reach at least TOP10 and perform on March 5th! ^_^

I never bothered to listen to her prior to Material World, but the single blew me away lol. Absolutely love the PV too.

Material World: #106 || 909 copies sold

Well, I guess it's to be expected since she didn't preform it on any music show plus her best album is right around the corner. I hope her album sells loads better than MW and that Sony freakin' promotes it for peak sake.

^oooh, no... that is sad. Not even in TOP100. :( And the most horrible thing that she didn't even reached 1000.
WAKE UP SONY AND GIVE GIRL SOME LOVE & PROMO!!! >_<

Does anybody knows BEST first day sales and chart position?

#13 on the first day.

I dunno the sales, since on Oricon's website, they don't list the sales for Dailies outside of the Top 3. -___- I don't think they do, but maybe there are sales for dailies on some other site like 2ch or livedoor perhaps?

Thanx!! At least it is close to #10. I was afraid that it's gonna be out of #50.

Lady Lovegame has uploaded the BEST of album in the downloads section:

http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87793

^thnx. ^_^ But I will wait for my copy to arrive. I have ordered CD+DVD today. I wish there was poster with it.

BTW does anybody knows album sales, or it is a little bit early?

^ Here you go: *1 10,426

Thanks. Sales are very bad. But it's no surprise 'cause of lacking of any promo... :grumpy
Looks like sales will be close to her Naked album. Around 30k total. It is really sad. Girls is so underrated. Damn sony...:irked
She need a smash HIT in order to return her popularity. I hope she'll release an AWESOME track later and hope sony won't drop her.:no

Could anybody please tell me Sowelu's BEST album total sales and monthly position? I do not where to find it on Oricon. So I will highly appreciate info. :D

Also I do not know why but MATERIAL WORLD PV on the BEST DVD is a short ver. There is no 2nd Verse and 2nd Chorus. Just 1st verse, Chorus, Bridge and Chorus. O_o Why the hell did they cut it? I don't get it...

^ I found some info on her wikipedia page, I dunno how accurate it is.

Peak Position: #18 ( I think this was the position in its first week )

Sales: 10,426

This is first week sales, if I'm not mistaken as well as position. Looks like nobody has total sales and monthly peak. Sowelu is "very" popular here. :D
Still thnx~

^ I was looking through some charts, and the BEST album didn't appear at all in its second week (out of the Top 100).

During the second week, the album that was at #96 sold 1,302 copies. So, you can figure out that the BEST album sold less than 1,302 copies in its second week on the chart.

Third week and fourth week are unknown, it most likely sold less and less as each week progressed (I'm assuming).

I personally don't think it has passed 15,000 yet, maybe close to? I don't really know.

I appreciate your help rookies. :) Thank you!

Poor Sowelu... That is very sad. I hope Sony won't drop her and she'll release new single at the end of this year. I'll cross my finger for her. ^_^

^ No problem, Alucard. :)

Anyways, just wanted to let people know that Sowelu's Best 2002 - 2009 (2 CD) is getting an Overseas version release!

It's being released on the last day of May this month, and so far, HMV HK has it listed for pre-order.
YesAsia currently doesn't have it listed yet (they are so slow, lol).

Here's the link to pre-order on HMV HK: http://www.hmv.com.hk/product/japanese.asp?sku=478422

^

Thanks for letting me know about the overseas version. Now I can buy this album for cheaper.

^ No problem.

I'll keep people updated when YesAsia adds it on their website. :)

News about Sowelu's contract with her record label has ended! From Tokyograph:

^

Whoa. So which label is Sowelu going to join?

^ No idea, nobody knows at this point I guess.

OMG, Sowelu joins avex! Congrats to her, she'll do fine on avex, hopefully. :D

i hope she turns out like may j.

OMG I'm so happy for her. I hope we get to hear more good music from her.

That's wonderful that she's signing with avex...I think her music is going to take a very interesting turn now.

*SHOCKED* Now 4 from my TOP5 favorite artist ever are under avex! O_O I wouldn't be surprised if Natalia Oreiro CD's were released under avex in Japan!

It's great news or... I hope they'll give her MORE promo! Girl deserved that!!
But I hope her popularity won't be the same as Ami Suzuki or even poor LISA. She need to continue with songs like Get Over. I don't mind even having another 24-twenty four- album. So far it was her best selling album. I just want her to continue making music!
Another Material World would be great too, but I do not want her to continue with this style, 'cause it's quite unpopular in Japan...

Overall I hope it will rise her popularity and she won't be releasing one album in two years and two singles per year.

I totally LOVE her new look! :luv2
http://i43.tinypic.com/71le00.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/24y33b9.jpg

^ Woah! Awesome pics! She really has changed since she joined avex. I hope this time she'll get the proper promotion she deserves. Btw: any news on a new release?

^Not, yet. At least there is no news on her site. However she's posting in her blog there already.
I hope she'll release something COOL very soon!

that's cool to hear she joined avex! they will give her some cool music I bet =)

but frankly, I liked her blond the most =)

I love the new pics of her. :love

Nope, there's no news on anything related to a new release yet.

:smitten loving those pics! she looks great :love