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Queen & Elizabeth is a sub-unit of the Japanese pop band AKB48 consisting of members Tomomi Itano and Tomomi Kasai. The unit is named after the fictional characters the girls portray in the Kamen Rider W television series and films. Their only single to date, "Love♡Wars", reached the top 4 of the Oricon.

History

As fictional characters in Kamen Rider W, Queen (Itano) and Elizabeth (Kasai) made their debut in episode 7 of the television series, acting as informants to the lead characters Shotaro Hidari (Renn Kiriyama) and Philip (Masaki Suda) whenever they ares investigating crimes in a high school setting. In January 2010, it was announced that their characters would be releasing an original song for the television series titled "Love♡Wars". A music video for the song was recorded shortly afterwards.

In episode 23 of the television series, the characters of Queen and Elizabeth performed in a Pop Idol styled contest called "Fuuuuuutic Idol" for which they performed "Love♡Wars" to an audience to win a record deal. When they are eliminated from the competition in favor of a much worse musician, they approach Shotaro to investigate why they have lost, discovering that the rumored Radio Tower Clown is to blame. Soon after the case is closed, Queen and Elizabeth manage get their record deal after making another appearance on Fuuuuuutic Idol. At the same time, Kasai and Itano (in character) began hosting an Internet radio show connected with Double on the fictional Wind Wave radio station titled Queen & Elizabeth's White Heart Mark (QueenとElizabethの白抜きハートマーク！, Kuīn to Erisabesu no Shironuki Hāto Māku).

Their single "Love♡Wars" was released on March 31, 2010, as four different variants: a standard CD single with no bonus tracks, a CD+DVD single featuring a solo rendition of the title track by Itano as a bonus track, a CD+DVD single featuring a solo rendition by Kasai as a bonus track, and a CD+DVD single containing the fictional song Queen & Elizabeth "lost" to from the television series. While each different version of the CD has its own cover, a fifth variant cover exists for the standard CD+DVD release. The DVDs featured in each release include the music video as well as a making-of documentary for the music video.

Discography

Singles

• "Love♡Wars" - March 31, 2010

Albums

• Kamen Rider Double: Special CD-Box - September 22, 2010
  • "Love♡Wars" and its variations are included as tracks on the box set

References

1. "ナタリー - AKB48板野友美&河西智美、仮面ライダーWと超高次元コラボ". January 22, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
2. "ナタリー - 板野友美＆河西智美"晴れ女"コンビが晴海でPV撮影". January 26, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
3. "ナタリー - クイーン＆エリザベス、架空のラジオ番組で話題曲披露". February 4, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
4. "AKB48板野友美＆河西智美 仮面ライダーWの役でシングルリリース！(hotexpress) - livedoor ニュース". January 27, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2010.

External links

• Queen & Elizabeth's page at Avex Group
• Queen & Elizabeth's White Heart Mark at Wind Wave

• AKB48
• AKB48 and Avex Group
• Fictional musical groups
• Japanese pop music groups
• Japanese idol groups
• Japanese girl groups
• Kamen Rider characters
• Musical groups from Tokyo