There there is Misia (Japanese R&B-J-pop singer).. This girl can blow (she can sing quite well for those not hip to the hip talk).
She has been big for about 4 years, but last year she had a huge song, "You're Everything" they played in nonstop for months (got on my damn nerves, I liked the song the first 10,000X I heard it).
<img src='http://metropolis.japantoday.com/biginjapanarchive/240/pics/misia.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
There were some rumors in the J-tabloids that she was getting freaky with a black American in Tokyo, I heard rumors too that Misia used to sneak to this Live Music Hall in Roppongi, and meet this brother who was a musician...my boy said the brother was seeing "chilin' with Misia, but that's it..." the gaijin community is real real small, especially the black North American (just a few hundred folks) in Tokyo..anyway enough dirt, I sound like an old woman. :D I used to chill with some low level gaijin (foreign) entertainers overthere, but I've been out of the loop too long. :( :(
Misia rocks the dredlocks, and she is not much to look at but she can sing...I wanted to see her in concert, but it sold out too quick. :pissed: :angry:
Misia
On July 7, Misia turned twenty, officially becoming an adult in Japan. And how did this Kyushu-native celebrate? By selling out the Budokan in thirty minutes and becoming the youngest, and only, Japanese female R 'n' B singer in history to do so. Having hit the music scene merely eight months ago on February 21 with the release of her debut single "Tsutsumi Komu You Ni," what could possibly account for Misia's meteoric rise from small-town obscurity to become, as several music critics have put it, "the 21st Century Diva"? In a word, talent. Serious talent that only comes along a few times in any given decade - or century for that matter.
In elementary school Misia knew she wanted to sing. After seeing a commercial for the gospel musical Mama, I Want to Sing she was hooked on the idea of singing gospel and R 'n' B. Misia played trumpet in her junior high school band, sang with her high school choir and eventually sought serious vocal training outside of what the Japanese public schools could offer her, finally finding two black vocal teachers who taught her gospel and R 'n' B singing techniques.
The president of Rhythmedia - an artist management office that develops hip hop dance acts and music - heard her at an amateur contest in May '97 and made her a recording offer on the spot. In September '97 Misia came to Tokyo with her parent's blessings and began a work schedule that would break even the most veteran professionals, much less a 19-year-old country girl fresh off the plane.
Enthusiastic and professional, Misia garnered serious respect by writing her own music and lyrics and staying involved in the arrangement process in spite of a grueling promotion, recording and training schedule. Everyone was in awe of her vocal power and five-octave range.
In early February, the Tokyo club scene buzz centered on Misia's funky debut single "Tsutsumi Komu You Ni" remix by popular house DJs Watarai and Muro. The following maxi-single, whose B-side featured her second hit "Never Gonna Cry" remixed by New York house DJ Junior Vasquez sold out in two days. In March Misia made her live debut at Tokyo's Harlem, packing the 600-capacity club with 1200 fans. Every concert from Hokkaido to Kyushu has produced the same reaction. Misia's singles and her album Mother Father Brother Sister have remained at the top of the charts for weeks even though Misia has made no appearances on TV music shows. The album is still on back order at record stores across Japan, having sold over 1.2 million copies in a matter of days.
In October Misia began her first national tour of clubs and college festivals. All venues were sold out months ago, some in just five minutes. The only chance of seeing Misia live is in Hyogo Prefecture at Kansai Gakuin Daigaku's school free open-air concert. Or you could buy a ticket from a scalper outside the Budokan - but JY5250 tickets are now going for JY20,000. Combining a hometown girl personality and a great voice, Misia is a real talent to watch. Check out Misia's website.