Sweetbox

Last updated

Sweetbox
Origin Germany [1] [2]
Genres
Years active1995–present
Labels Avex Trax (present)
Sony Music
Warner Music Group
Paramusic Corporation
Members Jade Villalon (2000–2007, 2017, 2020)
Roberto "Geo" Rosan (1995–2007, 2017, 2020)
Saint Viv (2020)
Past membersKimberley Kearney (1995)
Dacia Bridges (1995–1996)
Tina Harris (1997–1999)
Jamie Pineda (2007–2012)
Miho Fukuhara (2013–2017)
LogiQ Pryce (2013–2017)
Website www.sweetbox.com

Sweetbox is a German-based pop music project formed in 1995 by executive producer Heiko Schmidt and music producer Roberto "Geo" Rosan. [1] [2] Throughout the years Sweetbox has had several lead singers including Kimberly Kearney, Dacia Bridges, Tina Harris, Jade Villalon, Jamie Pineda and most recently and currently, Miho Fukuhara and LogiQ Pryce.

Contents

Although the project released four singles in the mid-1990s, with initial singers Kimberley Kearney and Dacia Bridges, worldwide success came with third vocalist, Tina Harris. "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" was released in 1997, which topped charts around the world and started a musical theme, sampling classical music, which the project would later become known for.

Tina Harris left after two years, with Jade Villalon replacing her as the fourth vocalist with five original albums, all reaching Gold or Platinum in South Korea. Villalon, along with "Geo" left the project after seven years to go on and do other projects.

Vocalist Jamie Pineda took the role as new vocalist shortly after in late 2007 and released her first studio album The Next Generation in 2009, which was produced by Derek Bramble. Pineda released one more album, Diamond Veil , in 2011 and it was released in Japan and South Korea, as the 8th studio album from Sweetbox.

In 2013, Japanese singer Miho Fukuhara became the new frontwoman and for the first time in the project's history, male vocalist/rapper LogiQ Pryce would co-front the project with her. The studio album, titled #Z21 was released on July 3, 2013.

In 2020, GEO and Jade came back to Sweetbox, joined by new member Saint Viv. They released a new album, Da Capo, and a new compilation, Happy Wedding Complete Best on February 26, 2020.

History

Beginnings

In 1995, Sweetbox was founded as a music project from executive producer Heiko Schmidt and music producer, songwriter, and classical arranger, Roberto "Geo" Rosan. The first vocalist featured in the project was Atlanta-based rapper and singer, Kimberley Kearney, also known as Tempest. Her first single with the project, "Booyah (Here We Go)", was a Eurodance track which created initial success for Sweetbox in Germany, where the single achieved #8 in position, and in France, where it achieved #15. Kearney left the project soon thereafter to pursue other ventures in the entertainment industry including a number of hosting gigs.

After Kearney's short-lived position at front woman, Dacia Bridges replaced her. Bridges, a native of Michigan, released her first single as the project's frontwoman – the 1995 single "Shakalaka", which peaked at #1 on the New York City Club Charts for 3 weeks. She released Sweetbox's third single titled "Wot", but the single failed to see success. Bridges departed and later started a band titled Dacia And The WMD. In 1996, Kimberly Kearney started working with Geo once again to release an additional single, "Never Alone", although this would end the partnership permanently.

Tina Harris

In 1997, Geo met Maryland-based rapper and singer, Tina Harris, who became the new face of Sweetbox. With Tina's arrival to the project, the group saw a change in genre from Eurodance to hip hop and pop-meets-classical. Tina's first single, "I'll Die For You", was released in 1997, achieving most of its airplay in Europe. The next single, "Everything's Gonna Be Alright", became an international hit.

The hip hop song sampled Air on the G string from Suite No. 3 by Johann Sebastian Bach, and became a worldwide hit. It reached Top 10 positions in the charts of Austria, Belgium, the UK, Colombia, Finland, France, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. The composition also reached Top 20 positions in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands, and reached to the Top 40 in the United States. It stayed #1 on the Worldwide Airplay Chart for 10 weeks.

Following the success, Harris went on to release four additional singles and released the first full-length self titled album, in 1998, which reached #1 on charts in Japan, and was awarded two Japanese Grammies for Best Song and the Best Newcomer. Sweetbox toured the US, opening and playing with various American pop groups. At the end of 1998, feeling burnt out as a team, Harris left the project forcing Schmidt and Rosan to find a new replacement. Harris released an album after her departure, under her own name, and began writing for several acts.

Jade Villalon

Classified and Jade

In 1999, the Sweetbox team Heiko Schmidt and Roberto "Geo" Rosan discovered and hired Jade Villalon, an aspiring singer/songwriter and actress to front the project.

In autumn of 2000, Villalon's first single with the project, entitled "Trying To Be Me", was released. The song featured back-up vocalist Mucky and was primarily promoted in Europe, although the single was also released in South Korea. The first album with Villalon, titled Classified , was released in 2000, and featured diverse genres of pop, dance and rock, each song also incorporating classical pieces by Beethoven, Ennio Morricone and others. The release received platinum certification in Japan. The second album with Villalon as vocalist, Jade , was released in Asia in 2002, and featured two singles. The first single "Lighter Shade of Blue" remained #1 on Europe's various charts for four consecutive weeks. An acoustic version of the Villalon album was released under the name Jade (Silver Edition) , featuring the version of "Lighter Shade of Blue" that had topped the European charts.

Adagio and After The Lights

Villalon's third album with Sweetbox, Adagio, was released in 2004. The nature of the album was much darker than things from the singer's past albums. The album featured a theme of sampling world music as opposed to primarily European classical, and saw a lyrically and musically darker aspect to the group's sound. The Japanese Edition of the album featured bonus tracks real "Emotion" and "1,000 Words", compositions that Villalon had vocalized for the video game Final Fantasy X-2 . The album's featured a single, "Life Is Cool", becoming known for featuring Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D .

Between the release of Villalon's fourth and fifth albums, Sweetbox released a compilation, 13 Chapters , in 2004, which contained a number of songs from Adagio and from their upcoming album, which was released shortly after. The album After the Lights was released in 2005, and was released again as a version entitled Sweetbox Presents A Very Sweet X-Mas, featuring Christmas Carols as bonus tracks. The singles from the album were After The Lights, "Killing Me DJ", "More Than Love", and "This Christmas". The first single, "Killing Me DJ", featured vocalist Toby Breitenbach.

Addicted and Villalon's Departure

Through 2005 and 2006, Sweetbox held a live tour titled The 10th Anniversary Tour, in Japan, and The Bold & Delicious Tour in South Korea. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Sweetbox, a compilation album titled Best of Sweetbox was released in 2005, achieving a double platinum status, also reaching #1 on Oricon's International Charts in Japan. It became the 73rd best selling album of 2005 in Asia. Later that same year, the music magazine Fono awarded Sweetbox the No. 1 Cross-Border Artist title. A new compilation album titled Raw Treasures Volume 1 was released the same year. The album featured demo versions of Sweetbox songs, and unreleased songs from Villalon.

Sweetbox's next full-length studio album, Addicted , was released in the beginning of 2006. The album received moderate success in Japan, but was highly successful in South Korea, becoming the Asia's 111th best-selling album of the year. The album featured a number of songs that Villalon and Geo had initially written for Ayumi Hamasaki, who by this time had released Japanese-language versions with her own written lyrics, and the album also achieved Gold in status, with the highest sales for a Sweetbox album. Following Villalon's fifth studio album, a live album containing a DVD and CD of a Villalon's latest tour was released. After this, a number of compilations, including two remix albums, were distributed.

In late 2006, Villalon left the Sweetbox project. In 2007, Roberto "Geo" Rosan also decided to quit his work for the project and sold his part of ownership to executive producer Heiko Schmidt.

Jamie Pineda

The Next Generation and Diamond Veil

After Villalon and Rosan's departure, Heiko Schmidt started working closely with music executive Hayden Bell, who discovered The Veronicas, and Andre Recke – the longtime manager of Hilary Duff. After 3,000 auditions, then 18-year-old Jamie Pineda became the projects fifth front woman and was marketed as 'The Next Generation' of Sweetbox. [3] Pineda started writing and recording for her first studio album in September 2007, the same month she turned 19. Unlike the previous singers of the project, Pineda co-wrote around the globe with several writers for her debut album including Georgie Dennis, Toby Gad and Derek Bramble, who would go on to produce Pineda's first Sweetbox album.

After almost two years in the works, the album's lead single "We Can Work It Out" was released to Japan in April 2009. [3] The song sampled "Spring" from The Four Seasons by Vivaldi, confirming that the project would continue on with the trend of fusing classical music with pop beats. The single had great success in South Korea and Japan, hitting #4 on iTunes Pop Charts in Japan and even reaching the country's Billboard Hot 100 at #27. [4] The album, titled The Next Generation , was released in Japan under the Warner Music Japan label in June 2009 and in South Korea under the Sony BMG label in November 2009. [5] [6] The Next Generation was well received in Japan, where two singles were released and had greater success in South Korea, where three singles were released. In Japan the album hit #4 on the Oricon International Charts and in Korea it hit several charts including a 4-week stay on Bugs and 5 other #1's on Soribada, Mnet, Daum, Naver and SKT NATE RT. [4] [7]

In January 2010, Schmidt announced that Pineda had finished writing for the album and that the second release from Pineda would be recorded in the coming months and would be released in the second quarter of 2010. He stated that the new album would feature "more uptempo and high energetic songs" then the projects previous release. [8] In February 2010, Pineda traveled to Sweden and began work on the album. [9] That May it was announced via Pineda's Twitter that the album would be released in September 2010. [10] The album release was subsequently postponed. On February 23, 2011, Pineda announced via her Facebook page that her new album, Diamond Veil , will be released physically on April 27, 2011, in Japan. [11] The album received mainly positive reviews but failed to chart well. Pineda left Sweetbox quietly in 2012.

Miho Fukuhara and LogiQ Pryce

Auditions, Reveal and #Z21

In the Fall of 2012, the Sweetbox website reported with a message that there would be an open casting call to find a Japanese female artist to front the project. [12] The project called upon fans to create their own music video – the winning contestant then was flown out in April to be a part of a music video shoot. It was announced in May 2013 that Japanese singer-songwriter Miho Fukuhara would join Antiguan vocalist/hip hop artist-songwriter LogiQ Pryce, making it the first time that two individuals would lead Sweetbox and also the first time that a male vocalist would be included.

Along with the reveal, the title of the album #Zeitgeist21 respective #Z21 was revealed.

On July 3, 2013, Sweetbox's 9th studio album #Z21 was released in Japan as well as digitally worldwide. The album was the lowest selling album in Sweetbox history.

Jade Villalon and Saint Viv

Da Capo

Discography

Awards

Related Research Articles

<i>Classified</i> (Sweetbox album) 2001 studio album by Sweetbox

Classified is the second Sweetbox album and the first album to feature Jade Villalon as the frontwoman and songwriter. Released in 2001, the album was made in three different editions. Sounds on the album include pop, dance and rock, with all of the songs based on various classical pieces, many borrowed from famous film themes. With Jade Villalon's songwriting style, this album saw Sweetbox's sound change from the R&B influences of its past. Three additional songs were written for the album; "In the Corner" and "Heartbreaker", which were released on two Sweetbox demo compilations, and "Happy Tears", which was released on Jade's final album under Sweetbox, Addicted.

<i>Jade</i> (Sweetbox album) 2002 studio album by Sweetbox

Jade is the third album of Sweetbox and the second with Jade Villalon as a frontwoman. It was released in 2002 in Japan and Europe, 2003 in Taiwan, and 2004 in Korea. Although similar to Classified, the album saw new influences emerging, and showcased a number of tracks, such as "Lighter Shade of Blue", that had not sampled famous classical pieces.

<i>Adagio</i> (Sweetbox album) 2004 studio album by Sweetbox

Adagio is the fourth album of Sweetbox and the third album with Jade Villalon as frontwoman. It was released in 2004, in two different versions. One was released in Japan, debuting at #3, and the other was released in Europe, South Korea and Taiwan. The album was heavily inspired by world music, with songs sampling music originating from around the globe. The album also saw a hip-hop influence, furthered by guest vocalist RJ. Many of the songs showcased a far more personal approach from Jade's songwriting, dealing with topics such as spirituality and accepting the death of loved ones.

<i>Best of Sweetbox</i> 2005 greatest hits album by Sweetbox

Best of Sweetbox 1995-2005 is a compilation album of Sweetbox with Jade Villalon as frontwoman. It was released in 2005 in three different editions. It contains the previously unreleased tracks Crown of Thorns and Don't Wanna Kill You, along with several remixes, demo versions, new versions of songs and Jade's brand-new, changed-lyric version of Everything's Gonna Be Alright, which was a song made famous by Sweetbox' previous vocalist Tina Harris.

<i>Sweetbox</i> (album) 1998 studio album by Sweetbox

Sweetbox is the debut album of Sweetbox. It was the first and only album to have Tina Harris on vocals, and the last to have a R&B urban main influence, as Jade Villalon took over on vocals on Classified and changed the sound of Sweetbox to classical infused pop. The album, Sweetbox, was first released in January 1998 in Germany and released throughout the year in continental Europe and Asia. In North America, the album was released in September 1998 and titled Everything's Gonna Be Alright, adding newly recorded songs. In Japan, the album was reissued in that same year including two new songs which were released as singles: "Sometimes" and a Tears For Fears cover of their hit "Shout. The album reached double platinum and triple gold status in Japan and sold well in Asia but was not a big seller in Europe and America, despite having a worldwide hit single.

<i>Super Star</i> (S.H.E album) 2003 studio album by S.H.E

Super Star is the fourth studio album by Taiwanese girl group S.H.E. It was released on 22 August 2003. Ella suffered a back injury during the shooting of a television show one month before the album was released. Because of this, Ella is absent from some of the music videos. As of 2006, the single "Super Star" from this album has been S.H.E's biggest hit. German producer Roberto "Geo" Rosan and vocalist Jade Villalon, as Sweetbox, composed "Super Star" for S.H.E during the sessions for Sweetbox's Adagio, and they also released their own English version as a single at the time. In 2004, Canadian singer Skye Sweetnam re-recorded "Super Star" as "Superstar".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come with Me (Koda Kumi song)</span> 2003 single by Kumi Koda

"Come With Me" is R&B-turned-pop singer-songwriter Kumi Koda's eighth domestic solo single. The single charted at No. 14 on Oricon and stayed on the charts for nine weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Real Emotion / 1000 no Kotoba</span> 2003 single by Koda Kumi

"Real Emotion" / "1000 no Kotoba" is a double A-side single by Japanese singer Koda Kumi. The single contains the songs "Real Emotion" and "1000 no Kotoba ", which were featured in the video game Final Fantasy X-2.

<i>Addicted</i> (Sweetbox album) 2006 studio album by Sweetbox

Addicted is the sixth studio album of Sweetbox. It was released on March 1, 2006, in Japan. The first press edition included a cardboard slipcase. In Japan the album sold over 100,000 copies and reached the Gold Status. The Korean version of the album includes a bonus DVD featuring five live performances. The album saw a return to the upbeat, dance sounds of the Jade album, while incorporating newer musical trends. The album also saw a return to sampling famous classical pieces, heard on 'Addicted' and 'Here Comes The Sun'.

Tina Harris, is an American singer best known for being a member of Sweetbox.

<i>Bittersweet Symphony</i> (album) 2008 studio album by Jade Valerie

Bittersweet Symphony is the seventh album by Jade Valerie formerly of the band Sweetbox, and the second under her new stage name, Jade Valerie. It was released March 5, 2008 by Universal (Japan).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Here on My Own (Lighter Shade of Blue)</span> 2002 single by Sweetbox

"Here on My Own (Lighter Shade Of Blue)" is the second single by Sweetbox from the album Jade with Jade Villalon as a frontwoman. On the album the song is titled "Lighter Shade of Blue". The song peaked at 90 on the German singles chart. It spent 1 week at this position and 4 weeks on the chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Pineda</span> Musical artist

Jamie Irene Pineda is an American pop singer-songwriter and former model. In late 2007, Pineda signed on to be the front woman of the international pop music project Sweetbox staying with the group until 2012. In 2013, she took part in third season of the American music competition series The X Factor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miho Fukuhara</span> Japanese singer

Miho Fukuhara is a Japanese pop singer who made an independent label debut in 2006, releasing a single titled "The Roots" and mini-album titled Step Out. In early 2008, she made her major-label debut under Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Her single, "Change", was the number ninety-two song on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 Singles year-end charts for 2008. With her single, "Let It Out", she had her first major anime tie-in with Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

The discography of the German pop music project Sweetbox includes 10 studio albums, one live album, 13 compilation albums, and 29 singles.

<i>The Next Generation</i> (album) 2009 studio album by Sweetbox

The Next Generation is the seventh studio album by international pop music project, Sweetbox. Released in 2009 after almost two years in the making, it is the first album to have Jamie Pineda as front woman after Jade Villalon departed for her solo career. It is also the first album to have Derek Bramble as the producer after longtime producer of the project Geo left.

In 2007, Jade Villalon, along with her music partner, Geo, left the project name Sweetbox behind, because of ownership issues, to start work on Jade's new music project, titled under her own name "Jade Valerie".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everything Is Nothing</span> 2010 single by Sweetbox

"Everything is Nothing" is the third overall single from pop music project Sweetbox on the album The Next Generation, featuring Jamie Pineda as frontwoman. It is the second single in Korea, but the third overall single from the album. The song is also the first single from the album to not be co-wrote by Pineda. Hanne Sorvaag, Harry Sommerdahl & Jade McRae wrote the song.

Jade Valerie Villalon, also known by her project and stage name Jade Valerie, is an American pop singer, songwriter, and actress. From 1999 to 2007, she was the vocalist and lyricist of Sweetbox, releasing five original albums and a number of compilations. During this time, each major release achieved either a gold or platinum status in Japan and Korea, also earning various awards and chart positions around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trying To Be Me</span> 2000 single by Sweetbox

"Trying To Be Me" is the first single by Sweetbox from the album Classified, with Jade Villalon as a frontwoman. The song is based on "Solveig's Song" from Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite. The song features Mucky as a guest vocalist, who also featured as a background vocalist in some of the other songs from the Classified album.

References

  1. 1 2 "Sweetbox Aims for Top 40 Sweet Spot With The Back-Backed Hit "Everything"". Billboard. Billboard Magazine. October 8, 1998. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "RCA in Germany: French Affair Japanese Units". Billboard. Billboard Magazine. May 12, 2001. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "ニュース | Sweetbox / スウィートボックス | ワーナーミュージック・ジャパン – Warner Music Japan". Wmg.jp. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  4. 1 2 Sweetbox on (June 23, 2009). "Sweetboxの最新アルバムは、６位から４位に上昇！The new Sweetbox album has jumped from #6 to #4! – Sweetbox". Sweetbox.ning.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Sweetbox / スウィートボックス｜ニュース – Warner Music Japan". Wmg.jp. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  6. ↑ Archived November 24, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ Sweetbox on (December 3, 2009). "Sweetbox Has Hit Korea! – Sweetbox". Sweetbox.ning.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  8. ↑ "updates. the website has showed no change since the charts were first shown. – Sweetbox". Sweetbox.ning.com. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Twitter / jamie from sweetbox: off to my first day of rec". Twitter.com. February 2, 2010. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Twitter / jamie from sweetbox: hey guys! just to answer s". Twitter.com. May 26, 2010. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Facebook - Log In or Sign Up". Facebook.
  12. ↑ "Sweetbox Audition". October 31, 2012. Archived from the original on October 31, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ↑ "第13回日本ゴールドディスク大賞" [13th Japan Gold Disc Award]. The Japan Gold Disc Award (in Japanese). Retrieved February 26, 2021.
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