Last+Alliance+SY



__//**(1) Who are Last Alliance?**//__

Last Alliance is an indie band with four members: Ryusuke Anzai(vocal and guitar), Takahiko Matsumara(vocal and bass), Shingo Sano(guitar) and Hiroshi Ozawa(drums). This team was formed in 2002 and they usually perform around Tokyo. Unlike other indie rock bands, Last Alliance is famous for singing several songs for some Japanese animes. In Korea, anime musics are usually sang by unknown singers or dubbing artists. However, in Japan, singing a song for popular animes proves that the band is quite popular or guarantees that the band will soon get popular because of the anime. Last Alliance's new album is about to get released on June 2011. This album, 'for staying real BLUE', is special because Last Alliance worked with Takeshi Fujii, a famous producer, for the first time as a band. Also, the album cover relates to the previous album 'Keep on smashing blue'. Last Alliance wanted to continue the same atmosphere of the previous album with some new styles added. The previous album and the recent album connects as 'Keep on smashing blue for staying real BLUE'.

__//**(2) Music**//__

Last Alliance plays post punk music as an indie band. Most of their music appeal to the general audience who enjoy rock. Since Last Alliance is a full band with two guitars, drum, and bass, their music sounds more full than other bands with less members.

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'Hekireki' is well-known to the Japanese because this music was used in the anime, Hajime no Ippo New Challenger. As well as the Japanese, foreigners love this music because of the popularity of the anime.

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'Greens Sunlight' is one of the most loved music of Last Alliance. People love this music because the lyrics and melody have bright atmosphere. Especially, people in the Western countries enjoy this music since it sounds different from regular rock music they usually listen to.

__//**(3) Popularity**//__

Since Japan has a large market of anime, Last Alliance became famous for their song 'Shissou' which was used as the ending music of the popular anime 'Ouran High School Host Club'. Variety of people around the world also recognize Last Alliance because of the Japanese animes. On YouTube, lots of foreigners upload videos of themselves performing Last Alliance's music after watching the Japanese animes. However, since Last Alliance gained popularity by animes, I hope they became more famous with other music in the album, not the Japanese anime opening or ending songs.