Bird, stylized as bird (born December 9, 1975, as Yuki Kitayama (北山有紀)), is a Japanese singer.
History
Kitayama graduated from the Notre Dame Academy, a girls-only high school in the Kansai region. She then attended Kansai University and graduated with a degree in sociology. While she was in university, she was a member of the school's light music club.
After graduating, she spent a year in New York City. Returning to Osaka in the late 1990s, she started her singing career by performing at various jazz clubs. After achieving fame in the locality, she was discovered by record producer Shinichi Osawa, better known as Mondo Grosso.
In 1998, Kitayama was featured in Zeebra's Mirai e no Kagi (Osawa's Realized Mix) released in the mini-album The Rhyme Animal Remix EP.1. She came up with the alias bird around this time, because her head resembled a bird's nest during her debut. Moreover, she expressed that she wanted her music to echo the song of small birds.
On March 20, 1999, she released her first single Souls on Osawa's label RealEyes. In July of the same year, bird released her first eponymously titled album on the Sony Music Japan label, which sold over 700,000 copies and won her the award of Japan Gold Record for Newcomers.
After RealEyes became independent from Sony Records, bird was able to become the lyricist and producer for her own music.
She is married to illustrator Jun Miura.
Discography
Singles Release date Title Chartposition1stMarch 20, 1999 SOULS 442ndJune 30, 1999 BEATS 273rdAugust 25, 1999 君の音が聴こえる場所へ 764thOctober 6, 1999 空の瞳 145thDecember 1, 1999 満ちてゆく唇 706thJanuary 21, 2000 SOULS （Peach Bossa Mix） 7thApril 1, 2000 GAME 25May 1, 2000 LIFE MONDO GROSSO feat bird8thSeptember 27, 2000 オアシス 249thNovember 22, 2000 マインドトラベル 7310thJanuary 31, 2001 マーメイド3000 8211th7 March 2001 桜 12thAugust 22, 2001 flow 4213thDecember 5, 2001 ZERO 7314thFebruary 6, 2002 私的パートナー 8015thApril 24, 2002 散歩しよう 16thAugust 21, 2002 フラッシュ 17thSeptember 10, 2003 チャンス 14418thJuly 22, 2004 ハイビスカス 15519thSeptember 1, 2004 髪をほどいて 20thAugust 24, 2005 童神 14021stJune 28, 2006 ファーストブレス 22ndOctober 4, 2006 SPARKLES 19929 November 2006 君が笑う方へ Taiji All Stars feat bird23rdJuly 11, 2007 BATUCADA 4424thJuly 23, 2008 サマーヌード/ダンシング・シスター March 13, 2010 Soul Shine Baker Brothers feat birdDecember 3, 2022Sea of LoveJune 7, 2023夏のクラクションJuly 24, 2024MONDO GROSSO「LIFE feat. bird (2024 re-edit)」
Albums Release date Title Chart position1stJuly 23, 1999 bird 8November 10, 1999bird －LIMITED SILVER EDITION 82ndNovember 22, 2000 MINDTRAVEL 53rdMarch 6, 2002 極上ハイブリッド 114thOctober 8, 2003 DOUBLE CHANCE 225thSeptember 23, 2004 vacation 466thOctober 4, 2006 BREATH 507thMay 25, 2011 NEW BASIC 8thMarch 20, 2013 Home 9thSeptember 25, 2013 9 10thNovember 4, 2015 Lush 11thMarch 20, 2019 波形 June 19, 2024bird e.p. (12inch vinyl Release)
Other albums Release date Title ChartpositionLiveMay 23, 2001 LIVE! tour 2000+1 21 Best OfSeptember 28, 2005 bird's nest 27Cover AlbumNovember 28, 2007 BIRDSONG EP -cover BEATS for the party- 66Cover AlbumAugust 6, 2008 MY LOVE 69Best OfSeptember 24, 2008 Free Soul Collection 246Best OfApril 29, 2009 covers Best OfMarch 20, 2013 bird's nest 2013 Best OfJune 12, 2013 bird's best 2013 Best OfJuly 7, 2019 bird 20th Anniversary Best Best OfSeptember 18, 2024bird 25th anniv. re-edit best + SOULS 2024
VHS・DVD Release date TitleVHS、DVDMarch 23, 2000 tour 1999 live!VHS、DVDMay 23, 2001 bird tour 2000+1 liveVHS、DVDSeptember 19, 2001 bird clips! #1DVDOctober 9, 2005 bird LIVE! '04-'05
References
External links bird-watch - Official Site bird - Sony Music Japan - bird's page at Sony Music Japan bird - Universal J - bird's page at Universal Music J