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 | |
---|---|
Origin | Japan |
Genres | Rock, beat music, rhythm & blues |
Years active | 2004–Present |
Labels | Seez Records Getting Better (2009-present) |
Members | Roy Taxman Jim Marcy |
Website | thebawdies |
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]
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oricon Albums Chart [10] |
Billboard Japan Top Albums | |||
Yesterday and Today |
|
– | – | |
Awaking of Rhythm and Blues |
|
146 | – | |
This Is My Story |
|
30 | 27[11] | |
There's No Turning Back |
|
6 | 8[12] | |
Live the Life I Love |
|
6 | 6[13] | |
1-2-3 |
|
– | – | |
Section #11 |
|
25 | – |
|
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] | - |