Tag Archives: Kim Hyun-Joong
The B’z Songs Written for Other Artists
Feature 
With a career spanning three decades as of next year and nearly 350 of their own songs released to date, B’z have had a long career in music by any measure. Their long-term success has led to its vocalist Koshi Inaba and guitarist Tak Matsumoto to occasionally be propositioned to create songs for other artists—many of whom were beginning their careers.
Kodoku no Runaway
The first of these collaborations was “Kodoku no RUNAWAY” (Lonely Runaway, 孤独のRUNAWAY). The artist in question was female guitarist Ataka Miharu who would soon be best known as the guitarist of girl rock duo KIX-S. Although not explicitly advertised as much, this version of the song actually features B’z outright. For the sessions, Tak wrote all-new music and Koshi provides chorus vocals that are now familiar to any long-time B’z fan.
One year later, B’z would do a self-cover of the song and develop it into the one that would become an early live staple for the band: “Kodoku no Runaway” from their third mini album MARS. Many of the same guitar licks and vocal hooks are present, but it is expanded into a vocal showcase for Koshi. The most prominent showing for the song was in a featured slot for B’z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2008 -GLORY DAYS-, when it was played more in its revised, hard rock “Mixture style” reversion from B’z The “Mixture”.
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Kim Hyun-joong To Release Collaboration Single With B’z On July 4th
News 
May 1st’s morning papers are reporting a very interesting bit of news: K-Pop singer Kim Hyun-joong is going to collaborate with B’z on his new single “HEAT”. Said single is going to be released on July 4th, 2012. Kim Hyun-joong became known as leader of the Korean boyband SS501 and has started a career as a solo artist last year, releasing his debut solo mini album Break Down on June 8, 2011.
As for the song itself, Tak provided the guitar work for the piece and Koshi provided the lyrics for the song. The two can even be heard on the track itself: Tak is supporting on guitar and Koshi is doing the vocals for the chorus!
This news has angered a considerable amount of Japanese B’z fans as they are disappointed by the band. If B’z was collaborate with another band, it should be a high profile one. B’z has played with Aerosmith, Linkin Park and Steve Vai in the past. Now a K-Pop singer? We’ll see what else this year has in store for us!
Stay tuned!
UPDATE 5/1:
Apparently I have made a huge mistake here. I didn’t think there would be a Kim Hyun-joong and a Kim Hyung Jun in the same boyband. And that there would be a difference. haha I apologize for the confusion this has caused.
