Soul Tree Toshinobu Kubota Rar Files

• Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan

Soul Tree: A Musical Tribute to Toshinobu Kubota. Soul Tree: A Musical Tribute to Toshinobu Kubota is a tribute album by various artists, released on February 25, 2004. The album was a tribute to Japanese singer-songwriter and musician Toshinobu Kubota. The album features performances by BoA, Soul'd Out, The Gospellers, Naniwa Express, Mika.

Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan

definition - toshinobu kubota

definition of Wikipedia

Wikipedia

Toshinobu 'Toshi' Kubota(久保田 利伸Kubota Toshinobu^?, born 24 July 1962) is a Japanese singer, songwriter, musician, and music producer.^[1][2] Toshinobu Kubota has produced six million-seller albums and thirty-three Top 40 singles during his career. He is currently part of Sony Music Japan. In addition, Kubota has composed and written songs for many singers including Iwasaki Hiromi, Misia, Toshinori Yonekura, Koizumi Kyoko, and many other recording artists.^[3]

Kubota's musical genre has varied throughout his career including R&B, Go-go, soul, funk, blues, reggae, old skool, psychedelia, jazz, and pop. His artistic influences include Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, and Sly Stone.^[4] Kubota has pioneered in the sound 'Japanese hip hop' and 'Japanese soul', an amalgam of funk, pop, R&B and go go that has influenced many other musicians.

Kubota has a tenor and falsetto vocal range and is known for his signature songs 'Dance If You Want It', 'Missing', 'Love Rain (Rain of Love)', 'You Were Mine', 'Give You My Love', and 'La La La Love Song', which was the theme song of the television drama Long Vacation. Kubota has a total of sixteen studio albums and ten compilation albums. He has sold over twelve million records worldwide to date.^[4][5]

Early life

Toshinobu Kubota was born in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. At a young age, he came in possession of Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life album. In high school, Kubota formed a high school band. After high school, he went to Tokyo to study economics. During that time, he began performing music at night clubs.^[6]

Musical career

1981-1982: Beginnings

Kubota got his start in 1981 when he met Haneda Ichiro at Komazawa University where they started the band Hottentots. A year later, he entered the Eastwest'82 contest and won the Best Vocalist award. By winning the contest, Kubota earned a record deal for his band to release their own music. He also started to appear as a guest vocalist for various albums for artists like Matsuoka Naoya. By the mid-1980s, Kubota began to compose for various artists like Iwasaki Hiromi, Koizumi Kyoko, and Tahara Toshihiko.

1986-1989: Shake it Paradise and subsequent releases

In June 1986, he finally debuted as a singer with the single 'Shitsui no Downtown'. The single charted at number 53 on the Oricon Singles chart. In September 1986, Kubota released his first album, Shake It Paradise. The album reached number 22 on the Oricon charts. The album's second single, 'Time', was released and charted at number 35 on the Oricon Singles chart.

In February 1987, Kubota released a single 'Goddess', which charted at number 21 on the Oricon Singles chart. In April 1987, Kubota released his sophomore album, Groovin', which spawned the single 'Diamond Dogs'. In October 1987, Kubota released a single 'Cry On Your Smile', which reached number 8 on the Oricon Singles chart.

In February 1988, Kubota released the single 'You Were Mine', which reached number 3 on the Oricon Singles chart. In September 1988, Kubota released his third album, Such A Funky Thang!, which sold over a million copies. The album reached number 1 on the Oricon charts and sold over a millon copies. The album spawned the single 'Dance If You Want It', which charted at number 2 on the Oricon Singles chart. In May 1988, he released his video-DVD Super Duper Vol. 1. In July 1988, he released his concert DVD Keep On Dancing. In January 1989, the second single, 'Indigo Waltz', was released. The album's third single, 'High Roller', charted at number 11 on the Oricon Singles chart.

In October 1989, Kubota released his first best-of album, The Baddest. The album charted at number 1 on the Oricon chart and sold a million copies. The album's lead single, 'Give You My Love', reached number 3 on the Oricon Singles chart.

1990-1995: Various albums and career breakthrough

In July 1990, he released his fourth studio album, Bonga Wonga. In October 1990, he released the single 'Be Wanabee', which reached number 16 on the Oricon Singles chart. In December 1990, Kubota released a single, 'Our Song'. In March 1991, Kubota released a duet single, 'Forever Yours', with Alyson Williams. The song was Kubota's first English language single. In December 1990, he released his second DVD Prince of persia 2008 xbox iso emulator. Super Duper Vol. 2.

In September 1991, Kubota released his fifth album, Kubojah: Parallel World, which peaked at number 1 on the Oricon charts. The album spawned the singles 'Honey B' and 'Keep on Jammin', which charted at number 15 on the Oricon Singles chart. The album's third single, 'Sound of Rain', charted at number 33 on the Oricon Singles chart. In July 1991, he released his concert DVD, Bonga Wonga Tour 91.

In March 1992, Kubota released his fifth video album, Super Duper Vol. 3. In July 1992, he released his sixth album, Neptune. The album charted at number 3 on the Oricon Albums chart. The album featured the singles 'Yume with You' and 'Futari no Oruke Star'.

In 1993, Kubota went to New York to work on his music. In May 1993, Kubota released the single 'Dreams with You', which charted at number 5 on the Oricon Singles chart. On the same day, he released another single, 'Orquesta of Two', which charted at number 13 on the Oricon Singles chart. In September 1993, Kubota released his second best-of album, The Baddest II. The album peaked at number 1 on the Oricon charts.

In November 1994, Kubota released the lead single 'A Night in Afro Blue' from his upcoming seventh album. The song charted at number 5 on the Oricon Singles chart. In December 1994, he released the singles 'Za-Ku-Za-Ku Digame' and 'Sunshine, Moonlight'. The single 'Za-Ku-Za-Ku Digame charted at number 17 on the Oricon Singles chart. In January 1995, he released his seventh album, Bumpin' Voyage and his video album Super Duper Vol. 4. The album reached number 1 on the Oricon Albums chart. In July 1995, he released the single 'Grand Slam of the Rainbow', which charted at number 11 on the Oricon Singles chart.

1995-1998: Transition to American music and subsequent releases

In September 1995, Kubota released his eighth album, Sunshine, Moonlight, which was his first English album. The album reached number 1 on the Oricon Albums chart and sold over a half of million copies worldwide.^[4] The album's lead single, 'Funk It Up', was released along with the song 'Nice & EZ' in the United States. The singles charted at number 91 on the Oricon Singles chart. The follow-up single, 'Just the Two of Us', a duet with Caron Wheeler, was also released in the United States. The single reached number 30 on the Oricon Singles chart.

In May 1996, he released the single 'La La La Love Song', a duet with model Naomi Campbell, which became his best selling single and sold over a million copies. The song also charted at number 1 on the Oricon Singles chart. In October 1996, he released the second single, 'Body-Cation', from his upcoming album. The single charted at number 12 on the Oricon Singles chart. In December 1996, he released his concert DVD, Super Duper Vol. 5 from New York and his ninth album, La La La Love Thang. He also went on the 'Oyeees Tour'. The album reached number 2 on the Oricon Albums chart.

In February 1997, Kubota released the single 'Cymbals', which charted at number 19 on the Oricon Singles chart. In March 1997, he released the concert DVD Toshinobu Kubota Concert Tour 96: Oyeees!. In 1998, he released another single, 'Ahhhhh!', which charted at number 5 on the Oricon Singles chart.

1999-2000: Nothing But Your Love and As One

In July 1999, Kubota released the singles 'Soul Bangin' and 'The Sound of Carnival'. 'Soul Bangin' charted at number 25 on the Oricon Singles chart, while 'The Sound of Carnival' reached number 15. In September 1999, he released another single, 'Messengers' Rhyme: Rakushow, it's your Show!', which featured guest vocals from Naomi Shimizu. The single reached number 9 on the Oricon Singles chart.

On 21 June 2000, Kubota released the single 'Nothing But Your Love' which charted at number 97. On 28 June 2000, he released his tenth album, Nothing But Your Love, which was his second English album. The album reached number 7 on the Oricon Albums chart. Later that year, Kubota released the second single, 'Masquerade'.

In September 2000, he released his eleventh album, As One and began the 'Nothing But As One Tour'. The album reached number 5 on the Oricon Albums chart. In November 2000, he released the single 'Always Remain' from the album As One. The single reached number 66 on the Oricon Singles chart. The album's second single, 'Polyrhythm', charted at number 22 on the Oricon Singles chart. In October 2000, he released his ninth video album, Super Duper Vol. 6.

2001-2003: United Flow

In November 2001, Kubota released the lead single 'Candy Rain' from his upcoming album. The single peaked at number 19 on the Oricon Singles chart. In February 2002, Kubota released the second single, 'Respect (This & That)', which charted at number 49 on the Oricon Singles chart. In April 2002, he released the album United Flow, which charted at number 9 on the Oricon Albums chart. In July 2002, he released his third compilation album, The Baddest: Only for Lovers in the Mood?. In December 2002, he released his fourth compilation album, The Baddest III, which charted at number 2 on the Oricon Albums chart.

In May 2003, he released his tenth video album, Super Duper Vol. 7 The Baddest III on Films. On 10 December 2003, Kubota released his Christmas maxi-single 'Our Christmas'. The single charted at number 10 on the Oricon Singles chart.

2004-2007: Time to Share and For Real?

In September 2004, Kubota released his thirteenth album, Time to Share, which charted at number 25 on the Oricon Albums chart. This was Kubota's third English album. The album featured the singles 'Breaking Through', 'Living for Today', 'Hold Me Down', and 'Shadows of Your Love'. In the same year, Kubota appeared on the American television show Soul Train, becoming the first Japanese singer to appear on the show.

In April 2005, Kubota released the lead single 'A Love Story' from his album 'For Real?', which charted at number 43 on the Oricon Singles chart. In August 2005, he released the second single, 'Club Happiness', which charted at number 40 on the Oricon Singles chart. In November 2005, he released the third single, 'Beside You', which charted at number 25 on the Oricon Singles chart. In March 2006, he released his fourteenth album, For Real?, which charted at number 13 on the Oricon Albums chart.

In July 2006, he released a duet single with SunMin called 'Keep Holding U'. In August 2007, Kubota released the concert DVD Live 2006 We For Real.

2007-2010: Timeless Fly and Love & Rain: Love Songs

In 2007, Kubota began working on his fifteenth album. In August 2007, he released a single called 'Magic', which featured rapper Kreva. In March 2008, Kubota released another single, 'Flying Easy Loving Crazy', a duet song with Misia. 'Flying Easy Loving Crazy' was the second in a series of collaborative singles released by Kubota.^[7] The song, featuring Japanese R&B singer Misia, with whom Kubota had worked in the past, was written and composed by Kubota. It served as image song for the Japanese promotional campaign of the Cirque du Soleil production Dralion, Daihatsu Dralion in Japan.^[7] The B-side of the single features the song 'Babylon Lovers,' which is performed by Kubota alone. 'Flying Easy Loving Crazy' debuted on the Oricon Daily Singles chart at number 10 and peaked at number 18 on the Oricon Weekly Singles chart, with 6,071 copies sold in its first week.^[8][9] The single charted for six weeks and sold a total of 10,505 copies.^[10][11] In January 2010, Kubota released the singles 'Tomorrow Waltz' and 'Star Light'. In February 2010, he released his fifteenth album, Timeless Fly. The album peaked at number nine on the Oricon Albums chart. Shortly after the release of the album, Kubota began the 'Timeless Fly Tour' in Japan.

In June 2010, he released the single 'Love Rain (Rain of Love)', which charted at number three on the Oricon Singles chart. In November 2010, he released his fifth compilation album, Love & Rain: Love Songs. The album peaked at number eleven on the Oricon Albums chart.

2011: Gold Skool and present

In July 2011, Kubota released the single 'Rain of love with shooting star'. In August 2011, he released his sixteenth album, Gold Skool. The album charted at number three on the Oricon Albums chart. In September 2011, he released the second single from the album, 'I'm Missing You', which peaked at number 20 on the Oricon Singles chart. In October 2011, Kubota began the 'Gold Skool Tour' for twenty-dates. The final show of the tour was on 25 December 2011, where he performed at Fukuoka City Hall for the second time during the tour.

In January 2012, Kubota began his 'Party Ain't A Party! Toshinobu Kubota 25th Anniversary! Tour', which celebrated his twenty-five years in the music industry. In May 2012, Kubota released the concert DVD Party Ain't A Party!.^[12]

Artistry

Kubota incorporates guitar, piano, percussion, into a majority of his song and often writes about love, heartbreak, and the celebration and humor of life. He has cited several musicians as his inspirations, including Stevie Wonder, Sly Stone, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, and Donny Hathaway. Kubota's style is rooted in vintage soul music. He heavily incorporates classical piano and drums with R&B, soul, and pop music. He began experimenting with other genres, including reggae, go-go, psychedelic soul, funk, and rock music, in his latter albums, Kubojah: Parallel Word I, Bonga Wonga, Bumpin' Voyage, and Nothing But Your Love. Karen Hunter of New York Daily News stated 'He speaks with an accent, but sings in pure funk. Toshi Kubota, the Japanese soul sensation, blends the old sounds of Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder and even Luther Vandross with an up-to-date smoothed-out funk a la D'Angelo.'^[13]Time magazine states 'Kubota's favored '70s retro-glam ward-robe emphasizes the mood of the music he loves'.^[14]

Kubota has vocal range of a tenor and falsetto, which spans three octaves. Often referred to as 'Funky Kubota', Kubota has been commended as having a strong, raw and impassioned voice; others feel that his voice is a 'sake-voiced rhythm' at time and that he pushes his voice out of its natural range.^[14]

Kubota is listed as one Japan's best-selling artists, having sold over 12 million records worldwide.^[6]

Personal life

In 1989, Kubota left Japan to move to New York, where, as of 2004, he resides.^[15] In October 2004, Kubota married a 31-year-old woman from Norway.^[16] Their first son was born on 24 December 2004.^[15]

Discography

Studio albums

• 1986: Shake It Paradise
• 1987: Groovin'
• 1988: Such A Funky Thang!
• 1990: Bonga Wonga
• 1991: Kubojah: Parallel World
• 1992: Neptune
• 1995: Bumpin' Voyage
• 1995: Sunshine, Moonlight
• 1996: La La La Love Thang
• 2000: Nothing But Your Love
• 2000: As One
• 2002: United Flow
• 2004: Time to Share
• 2006: For Real?
• 2010: Timeless Fly
• 2011: Gold Skool

Tours

• 1986: Shake It Paradise Tour
• 1987: Groovin' Tour
• 1988: Keep On Dancing Tour
• 1989: I Need Your Funky Thang! Tour
• 1991: Bonga Wonga Tour
• 1992: Funkin' On Neptune Tour
• 1993: Evry'ting Cook An Curie! Tour
• 1996: Oyeees! Tour
• 2001: Nothing But As One Tour
• 2003: Mo'Bounce To The Ounce: Soul Party Tour
• 2005: Toshi Kubota & Angie Stone Tour (with Angie Stone)
• 2006: We For Real? Tour
• 2010: Timeless Fly Tour
• 2011: Gold Skool Tour
• 2012: 25th Anniversary Toshinobu Kubota Concert Tour 2012: Party Ain't A Party

TV appearances

• 1993: Chance (Fuji TV, Episode 12) ^[17]
• 2010: No Tomorrow (Episode Kyūyū) as the street musician

Awards and nominations

• MTV Video Music Awards Japan (2006) - Best Video from a Film - Toshinobu Kubota - 'Kimino No Soba Ni' ^[18]
• MTV Video Music Awards Japan (2008) - Best Collaboration Video - Toshinobu Kubota meets Kreva - 'Magic' ^[19]

References

1. ^Lee, Chris (25 July 2010). 'America, meet Yoshiki'. WPMT. http://www.fox43.com/entertainment/la-ca-yoshiki-20100725,0,544894.story. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
2. ^'久保田利伸がユーミン、陽水をカバー' (in Japanese). Natalie. 25 October 2010. http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/entertainment/news/20101026-OHT1T00016.htm. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
3. ^Toshinobu Kubota Songwriting and Producing Credits. Funkyjams. Retrieved on 19 May 2012
4. ^ ^abcToshi Kubota Interview. Hip Online. Retrieved on 19 May 2012
5. ^http://cooljapanmusic.com/toshi-kubota-bio/
6. ^ ^abToshi Kubota (Amazon.com). Amazon.com. Retrieved on 20 May 2012
7. ^ ^ab'久保田利伸によるコラボレート企画第2弾！ MISIAとの新曲が完成' (in Japanese). CDJournal (OngakuShuppansha). 13 February 2008. http://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/misia/18066. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
8. ^'20th Centuryがデイリー首位発進☆3/25付　シングルデイリー' (in Japanese). 26 March 2008. http://blog.oricon.co.jp/earo/archive/2137/0. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
9. ^'2008年4月第1週の邦楽シングルランキング情報' (in Japanese). Oricon. http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php?kbn=js&types=rnk&year=2008&month=4&week=1&submit4.x=36&submit4.y=18. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
10. ^'オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」' (in Japanese). Oricon. Oricon Research. http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_contents/search/ranking_list.asp?itemcd=746760&samecd=1&chart_kbn=111&linkcd=40455648. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
11. ^'【周榜单】2008/05/12付oricon周榜单（单曲top200）' (in Chinese). 10 May 2008. http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=374216786. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
12. ^Toshinobu Kubota - 25th Anniversary Toshinobu Kubota Concert Tour 2012 'Party ain't A Party!' DVD. Amazon.com. Retrieved on 29 April 2012
13. ^Soul Man From Japan Now Toshi's Mix Of House And Harmony Is Hitting Big In The U.S. New York Daily News. Retrieved on 3 August 2012.
14. ^ ^abHe Likes It Like That. Time Magazine. Retrieved on 3 August 2012.
15. ^ ^ab'久保田利伸“クリスマスイブ・ベイビー”誕生 [Christmas Eve baby for Toshinobu Kubota]' (in Japanese). Yahoo News. Japan: Yahoo Japan Corporation. 25 December 2004. Archived from the original on 25 December 2004. http://web.archive.org/web/20041225150024/http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20041225-00000020-sph-ent. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
16. ^Japan Entertainment News - 16 October 2004. Japan Entertainment News. Retrieved on 11 August 2012
17. ^http://jdorama.com/drama.52.htm
18. ^MTV Japan.com:Event:MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2006. MTVJapan.com. Retrieved on 10 August 2012
19. ^MTV JAPAN ANNOUNCE NOMINEES FOR MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2008. Viacom Asia. Retrieved on 10 August 2012

External links

• Toshinobu Kubota on Twitter
• Toshinobu Kubota on Twitter
• Toshinobu Kubota at the Internet Movie Database
• Toshinobu Kubota's channel on YouTube
• Toshinobu Kubota at Sony Music Japan
• Toshinobu Kubota at Discogs
• Toshinobu Kubota at Allmusic
• Toshi Kubota at Allmusic

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

For Real? is the 14th studio album of Japanese singer Toshinobu Kubota, released on March 1, 2006. The album charted at number 13 on the Oricon Albums chart and remained on the charts for total of 9 weeks.^[1] The album sold over 33,000 units in Japan.

Track listing

1. Vibe For Real (Foreplay)
2. Dr.Party
3. Riding to the Sight
4. U Drive Me Crazy
5. A Love Story (TV Mix)
6. It's Time to Smile
7. Kimi Ni Au Made Ha
8. Slow Jam Lovin'
9. Vibe For Real (The Play)
10. Kimi No Soba Ni
11. Sign of Love (Soul Response Version)
12. Club Happiness (Brothahood Version)
13. Sukima

References

1. ↑'Toshinobu KubotaのCDアルバムランキング' (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2012-08-05. <templatestyles src='Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css'></templatestyles>