ZOO was a
J-pop
J-pop (often stylized in all caps; an abbreviated form of "Japanese popular music"), natively known simply as , is the name for a form of popular music that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in trad ...
dance and vocal group formed in 1989.
They debuted with the single "Careless Dance" on 5 May 1990. ZOO had one major hit with the 1991 song "Choo Choo Train" and disbanded in 1995.
In 1993, the British dance music duo Band of Gypsies and singer
Miriam Stockley
Miriam Arlene Stockley (born 15 April 1962) is a South African singer. She was born in Johannesburg, and her work is influenced by the Music of Africa, African music of her home country. Her distinctive ''vocal warm up#Vocalise, vocalise'' style ...
released an album of ZOO covers, titled ''Song of ZOO Meets House Style''. In 1999, a former member,
Hiroyuki Igarashi
is a Japanese dancer and producer. He is the leader of Exile and the creative leader of LDH World.
Igarashi grew up in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. His wife is actress Aya Ueto. Igarashi retired from performing with Exile in 2013, and has co ...
,
formed the group
J Soul Brothers
, formerly simply J Soul Brothers and also known as Sandaime J Soul Brothers from Exile Tribe, are a J-pop vocal and dance group formed by Exile ex-leader and producer Hiroyuki Igarashi in Japan in 1991. Sandaime J Soul Brothers are managed by Hi ...
, which was renamed
Exile
Exile or banishment is primarily penal expulsion from one's native country, and secondarily expatriation or prolonged absence from one's homeland under either the compulsion of circumstance or the rigors of some high purpose. Usually persons ...
in 2001. They rerecorded the song "Choo Choo Train" in 2003, and it went on to be one of their biggest hits.
Band members
Final lineup
* TACO (Chiaki Nojima) – bandleader, dancer
* SATSUKI (Satsuki Miki) – lead singer
* SAE (Saeko Ebisawa) – dancer
* HIRO (
Hiroyuki Igarashi
is a Japanese dancer and producer. He is the leader of Exile and the creative leader of LDH World.
Igarashi grew up in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. His wife is actress Aya Ueto. Igarashi retired from performing with Exile in 2013, and has co ...
) – dancer
* CAP (Sakai Toshihiro) – dancer
* LUKE (Saito Norifumi) – dancer
* MARK (Sumihisa Okayama) – dancer
Other members
* HISAMI (Kumi Takemura)
* NAOYA (Naoya Setani)
* MAMI (Mami Murao)
* YU-KI (Yuuki Kitamura): singer; current lead vocalist for
TRF
* HISAMI (Hisami Takemura)
Discography
Albums
* ''Native'' (1991)
* ''Present Pleasure'' (1991)
* ''Gorgeous'' (1992)
* ''Jungle'' (1992)
* ''Can I Dance?'' (1993)
* ''ZOO Palast'' (1994)
EPs
* ''Choo Choo Train'' (1991)
Compilations
* ''ZOO for Sale'' (1993)
* ''ZOO Last Dance'' (1995)
* ''ZOO Pure Best'' (2001)
* ''ZOO Golden Best: Special Works'' (2003)
* ''Real ZOO Best – DJ Taro Selection (2013)
Remix albums
* ''ZOO Remix'' (1995)
* ''Dance Paradise Hyper Euro ZOO'' (2000)
Live albums
* ''ZOO the Final ~Last Dance Live~'' (1996)
Singles
* "Careless Dance" (1990)
* "Given" (1991)
* "Native" (1991)
* "Choo Choo Train" (1991)
* "Gorgeous" (1992)
* "Ya-Ya-Ya" (1992)
* "Shy-Shy-Shine" (1993)
* "Ding Dong Express" (1993)
* "On Time" (1994)
* "Angelic Dream" (1994)
* "Adam" (1995)
References
{{Authority control
J-pop
Japanese pop music groups
Musical groups established in 1989