FROM JAPAN, POWERFUL PUFFY GIRLS SPEAK.Byline: Theo Douglas Staff Writer IF TWO OF Cartoon Network's three Powerpuff Girls suddenly came to life - say, Blossom, the redhead, and Buttercup buttercup or crowfoot, common name for the Ranunculaceae, a family of chiefly annual or perennial herbs of cool regions of the Northern Hemisphere. , the brunette - and picked up microphones to sing, they'd probably sound a lot like Japan's Puffy AmiYumi  This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject.Please help recruit one or [ improve this article] yourself. See the talk page for details. . A girl duo that sings as though made of sugar and spice sugar and spice “what little girls are made of.” [Nurs. Rhyme: Mother Goose, 108] See : Children and plenty of mystery Chemical X - the unknown that gave the preschool age Powerpuffs the power to fight evildoers everywhere - Puffy AmiYumi blends '90s grrl-power with melodic '60s Beatles and Beach Boys harmonies and just a touch of '80s punk rock. Tonight they'll perform at the Roxy Theatre in Hollywood. For those keeping score, Puffy AmiYumi (AH-me YOU-me) joins a short but pungent list of acts that originated in Japan and became cult favorites here. That litany also includes woman-fronted band Cibo Matto (CHEE-bo MAH-to), known for its songs about the delights of eating food; their ancestors of the late '80s, Shonen Knife The all-female musical band Shonen Knife (少年ナイフ, Shōnen Naifu; lit. "Boy knife") is a Japanese pop punk/garage rock band. Among their fans are Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Redd Kross, and Sultans of Ping. (another band of apparently disgruntled dis·grun·tle tr.v. dis·grun·tled, dis·grun·tling, dis·grun·tles To make discontented. [dis- + gruntle, to grumble (from Middle English gruntelen; see gourmets); and the metal-tinged boy band Guitar Wolf. Puffy AmiYumi also features the guitar talents of former Jellyfish jellyfish, common name for the free-swimming stage (see polyp and medusa), of certain invertebrate animals of the phylum Cnidaria (the coelenterates). The body of a jellyfish is shaped like a bell or umbrella, with a clear, jellylike material filling most of the drummer Andy Sturmer Andy Sturmer is an American-born musical artist, writer and producer. He was a member of the band Jellyfish from 1990-1994. Prior to that, he was a member of Beatnik Beatch (1987-88). and Japanese rocker Tamio Okuda Tamio Okuda (奥田 民生 Okuda Tamio; b. May 12, 1965 in Hiroshima) is a male J-Pop artist. He started his career in 1986 as a member of the successful band Unicorn. - but the eye candy Images and animated graphics added to Web sites and interactive software that makes the information exciting. In other words, glitz, sizzle and pizzazz. See cornea gumbo. and the band's driving force are without question singers Ami Onuki Ami "Jane" Onuki (大貫 亜美 Ōnuki Ami and Yumi Yoshimura, both 27. Avid pop-culture sponges and toy collectors who also are music junkies, they were serendipitously teamed following an audition seven years ago. Virtually the only rough spot was changing their name from simply Puffy to Puffy AmiYumi. (It seems lawyers working for Sean Combs, the artist formerly known as Puffy, objected to their original name.) The rest - including a hit TV series in Japan and their own toy line - is pure pop magic. It's also the Cinderella tale of a couple of fashion plates who seem to be nice kids, by all appearances. The lead-off song on their latest disc, ``An Illustrated History of ...'' is titled ``Love So Pure,'' and it showcases harmonies so dead-on they'll make your teeth hurt. Cursed with a 16-hour time difference between Japan and California, Puffy AmiYumi could do only an e-mail interview. Yet, surprisingly, Onuki and Yoshimura turned the type-a-thon into something closely resembling a live dishing session. Hmmm, maybe they are superheroes Superheroes are fictional heroes who possess abilities beyond those of normal human beings. Superheroes may also refer to:
Q: How did you meet? AMI: I auditioned for Sony Music, and Yumi joined later through another audition. Initially, we were going to debut as solo artists, but Yumi and I became good friends, so I suggested the idea to a record company to see if I could pair up with Yumi. That was the start of Puffy. Q: What's it like collaborating? AMI: Yumi to me is somebody who I cannot live without now. Without Yumi I cannot continue what I do, and it won't be fun anymore. YUMI: Ami is really special and means a lot to me ... not like my family or not like my friends. It's hard to describe, but she's an essential part of my life. Q: What are some of the themes that you write about, or themes that are heard frequently in your music? AMI: Recently, I've had an opportunity to spend wonderful time surrounded by beautiful scenery, so next time (I write) I want to write a song that creates beautiful scenery in your mind. Puffy's music is about a variety of things, but come to think of it, we don't have very many love songs. YUMI: Basically, I tend to write about something which happens around me or something close to me, and try to incorporate some power of imagination at the same time. With Puffy's songs, we don't really sing about songs which make you feel painful or distressed. Q: What music are you two listening to lately? AMI: I have been listening to Queen lately. Queen, Tamio Okuda, Hi Standard, the Blue Hearts, Puffy, Willie Nelson, Brian Setzer Orchestra are in my CD player right now. YUMI:I listen to all sorts of things right now. Can't wait for the Red Hot Chili Peppers Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1983. For most of its career, the group has consisted of vocalist Anthony Kiedis, guitarist John Frusciante, bassist Michael "Flea" Balzary, and drummer Chad Smith. album. I have the soundtrack to ``Spider-Man'' in my car stereo right now. Q: Tell me about your line of collectible toys. Are the toys actually based on all the band members? AMI: No, it is just Yumi and I. I didn't even dream about having my own doll made, so I was over the moon when I first had this offer. YUMI: When we first got this offer, I thought of it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so we were totally excited. Q: Do you collect toys? AMI: I collect Bambi and Thumper, Chip and Dale, Snoopy Snoopy world’s most famous beagle. [Comics: “Peanuts” in Horn, 542] See : Dogs Snoopy imaginative dog. [Comics: “Peanuts” in Horn, 542–543] See : Illusion (toys) and so many others. But I probably own a lot of toys which are related to bunnies. I love bunnies! YUMI: I collect small glasswork items and (miniature) cars. Q: What collectibles are you keeping an eye open for as you tour America? AMI: Old classic Thumper stuff. YUMI: I can't think of any right now, but I will definitely buy something, no doubt. PUFFY AMIYUMI Where: The Roxy Theatre, 9009 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. When: 8 tonight. Tickets: $15. Call (213) 480-3232 or www.ticketmaster.com. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Yumi Yoshimura, left, and Ami Onuki of the band Puffy AmiYumi combine 1960s-style harmonies with a 1980s punk-rock attitude. |
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