In 1993, they recorded “Winter Song” for the opening theme of the TriStar Pictures film Sleepless in Seattle and the following year recorded the song “Eternity” for the animated film The Swan Princess by New Line Cinema. In Japan, they recorded theme songs for TBS television shows, and it wasn’t long before they caught the attention of the Walt Disney company, and were hired to create musical-tunes for their television shows, and attractions at the Tokyo Disney Resort. In 2001, they composed the theme song for the Japanese release on the Disney film Atlantis, and Miwa was hired to be the voice actor for the character Audrey Rocio Ramirez in the Japanese version. Miwa Yoshida started a solo music career in 1995, and the following year appeared on the cover of Time Magazine. She has also appeared in advertisements for Sony, Visa, Honda, Shiseido, Lotte, Vodafone, and Coca Cola. Meanwhile Masato was hired to compose the music for television commercials, and around the same time compiled various “Dreams Come True” songs for Konami to be used in their game series Dance Dance Revolution. He had previously been hired to compose the music for the Sonic the Hedgehog video games on the Sega Mega Drive. On April 1, 1996, they released Love Unlimited, which would be their final album for Sony Music. News of their departure would cause Sony Music shares to drop severely on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. They later signed with Virgin Music America and Toshiba-EMI in Japan, due to that label’s promises to break the group into the American market—something Sony was unwilling to do. Their first album under the new contract, Sing Or Die (a title that half-jokingly described the band’s relationship with their former label, according to Nakamura), was released in an English-language version, but received very little promotion and even less airplay. It would be the band’s final album as a trio, and Takahiro Nishikawa would depart the band shortly after its release. Sing or Die was Virgin’s only attempt to penetrate the American market, and its failure would taint the band’s future relationship with that label. Part of the failure of the Virgin-DCT relationship can be laid at the label’s attempt to renovate the band into something the American audiences could relate to. Miwa dropped her last name, Nakamura became “King Masa,” but Nishikawa remained the same, and only received a passing mention on Sing or Die’s liner notes. Musically, the album veered away from the classic DCT formula and deeper into the hip-hop dance theme begun on Delicious and Love Unlimited. The combination was not well-received by American audiences, nor DCT’s legion of loyal Japanese fans. There are conflicting accounts concerning Nishikawa’s departure. Nishikawa himself states both he and longtime DCT producer Mike Pela were forced out by Virgin because they didn’t fit into the label’s makeover for the band. However, he also adds that prior to that, he hadn’t been touring with DCT for some time, which supports the official account. At present, there seems to be little chance of Nishikawa playing with his former bandmates ever again. Following 2001’s monkey girl odyssey, DCT severed all ties with Virgin and Toshiba-EMI, and set up shop with Universal Music Japan. More recent albums such as The Love Rocks and And I Love You have returned to the classic DCT sound, and have been received more warmly. They have also been involved in charity events. Including a collaboration with Ryuichi Sakamoto in 2001 to help raise funds for land mine removal agencies, and taking part in the Live 8 benefit concert in 2005. In 2008, their single “Tsuretette Tsuretette” debuted a top on the Oricon weekly chart, nine years since their last number-one single “Asa ga Mata Kuru”. The song also appears on the band’s album Do You Dreams Come True?. The album is available in three versions: A single disc version, containing the main album; a second that adds Greatest Hits: The Soul 2, a sequel to their 2000 greatest-hits package; and a third that adds a live DVD, “Winter Fantasia 2008.” In 2010, they released their download only single “Godspeed”, where the title is meant to be an even stronger wish of “Good Luck” for everyone to listen to it. In November of that same year, they released their 23rd album, Love Central, their second on Universal Music Japan’s Nayutawave label. In 2011, another Best-Of compilation, titled ”THE SOUL FOR THE PEOPLE~Higashi-Nihon Daishinsai Shien Best Album~ . The profits from this album’s sales go completely towards the Japanese Red Cross’ Tohoku earthquake relief efforts. DCT’s latest single, “MY TIME TO SHINE”, is set to be released on May 16th, 2012. |
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