Melody (Japanese singer)

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Melody
Melody in March 2008
Melody in March 2008
Background information
Birth nameMelody Ishikawa
Also known asMelody Ishihara
Born (1982-02-24) February 24, 1982 (age 42)[1]
Honolulu, Hawaii, US
GenresJ-pop
Occupation(s)Singer, television host
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active
  • 2003–2008
  • 2023-present
LabelsToy's Factory

Melody Ishikawa (born February 24, 1982),[1] known mononymously as Melody, stylized as melody., is a Japanese American J-pop singer. She debuted in February 2003 with the song "Dreamin' Away", under Toy's Factory. In October 2008, Melody announced on her blog ending her career as a music artist to focus on pursuing a career as a fashion designer.[2]

Biography[edit]

Melody was born to Japanese parents in Honolulu, Hawaii. When she was young, she would occasionally watch shows that involved J-pop, and she has also listed Celine Dion, TLC, and Destiny's Child as inspirations. She took ballet and piano, as well as vocal training. When she was 16, she worked as a Hawaiian model for Japanese commercials.[3] While she was a high school student at Punahou, she had a secret audition with record producer Tetsuya Komuro, who was forming an international unit, but when they wanted her to join the next day, she negotiated to wait until she graduated.[4] At the age of 19, she moved to Japan to pursue a singing career.[5] After some time with Komuro's company, where she was allocated to various groups in development, she eventually left and signed with Toy's Factory.[4]

Her debut song, "Dreamin' Away", was released in February 2003 where it peaked at number 33 on the Oricon weekly charts and stayed charted for eight weeks.[better source needed] In June, she released the single "Simple as That" along with a cover of "Over The Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz; the latter was used in a commercial for Mitsubishi Motors.[citation needed] The single reached number 19 on Oricon. In October, she was a featured artist along with Ryohei in m-flo's song "Miss You",[3][6] which reached number eight on Oricon.[7]

She is also known for singing the single "Realize" which was the theme song for a TV drama series called Dragon Zakura, which debuted sixth on the Oricon charts. Her single "Lovin' U" was used in a Raycious commercial in 2006. The single included "Our Journey", which was the theme song for the 2006 movie Gen Yu Den starring Rena Tanaka, who also co-wrote the lyrics to the song. Melody made an appearance in a Japanese Subaru Forester commercial in 2007, in which her single "Finding My Road", was used as promotion. In April 2007, she started hosting the English-language Japanese music show J-Melo on NHK World TV. Her single, "Love Story", written by her sister Christine (KURIS), was used in the drama series Kodoku no Kake – Itoshikihito Yo in the summer of 2007.[citation needed]

She was cast as Yumi in the Electronic Arts video game Need for Speed Carbon.[8] The song "Feel the Rush", which was remixed by Junkie XL, was also used in the game.[9]

Her fourth album Lei Aloha was released on April 9, 2008 and had one preceding single, "Haruka: Haruka". In September 2008 was announced that Melody would no longer be the host of J-Melo. Japanese singers May J. and Shanti would take her place. On October 8, 2008, Melody released her first compilation album The Best of melody. ~Timeline~. On October 22, she announced on her blog that she would be retiring as a J-pop singer in January 2009 and would be pursuing a career in fashion design.[2]

In 2012, she announced a children's music project Gold Belle, with sister Christine Saimo.[5] She found it difficult to teach her kids English while living in Japan so they put together the project to give children a fun way to learn. Saimo produced the music and they released the album Kid's Melodies in December 19, under their own record label, EverDream.[4]

Personal life[edit]

Melody (third from left) with husband Miyavi, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at the premiere of Unbroken

Melody has three sisters: Christine Saimo, who goes by KURIS in the Japanese music industry and who also resides in Tokyo; and Harmony and Rhythmy, who live in the United States.[10] On March 14, 2009, Melody married Japanese musician and actor Miyavi (Takamasa Ishihara). The couple has three children, Lovelie "Aily/Aspen" (born July 29, 2009, in Japan), Jewelie Aoi (born October 21, 2010, in Japan), and Skyler Kakeru (born February 24, 2021, in the United States).[11][12][13] From 2014 to 2021, Melody and her family were living in Los Angeles, California, having moved to the area during the release of Miyavi's film Unbroken.[14] After the birth of their son Skyler, the family returned to Japan and currently live in Tokyo.

Discography[edit]

Main article: Melody discography

Studio albums[edit]

Compilation albums[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "melody. – プロフィール" [melody. profile]. Toy's Factory (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 27, 2008. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  2. ^ a b ｍｅｌｏｄｙ．引退！デザイナーに転身. Sponichi (in Japanese). October 22, 2008. Archived from the original on February 9, 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Melody profile". Toy's Factory. February 2007. Archived from the original on August 21, 2009.
  4. ^ a b c Kamasami Kong (December 8, 2012). "The Tokyo Metpod | Great Story! She Gave Up a J-pop Career to Pursue Children's Songs". The Tokyo Metpod (Podcast). Metropolis. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  5. ^ a b "Gold Belle | Official Music, Photos, Videos & Show Dates". GoldBelle.BandPage.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  6. ^ "m-flo loves melody. & 山本領平インタビュー" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
  7. ^ "Miss you m-flo". Oricon style. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
  8. ^ "melody. sings for racing game – Tokyograph". Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  9. ^ "Need for Speed Carbon Soundtrack Burns Rubber". September 20, 2006. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  10. ^ Christine [@xKURISx] (May 14, 2013). "Yeah, Melody & I are in Tokyo, Harmony & Rhythmy are back in the states" (Tweet). Retrieved October 16, 2013 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ "Miyavi and Melody: Wed in shotgun marriage". Japan Today. March 28, 2009. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  12. ^ "Miyavi's second daughter is born!". Tokyohive. October 21, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  13. ^ "Miyavi announces the name of his second daughter". Tokyohive. October 30, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  14. ^ "Miyavi, on His Unbroken Experience". The New York Times. December 20, 2014.

External links[edit]

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