Melody (Japanese singer)

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Melody
Melody in March 2008
Background information
Birth name	Melody Ishikawa
Also known as	Melody Ishihara
Born	(1982-02-24) February 24, 1982 (age 42)[1] Honolulu, Hawaii, US
Genres	J-pop
Occupation(s)	Singer, television host
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	2003–2008 2023–present
Labels	Toy's Factory
Spouse	Miyavi ​ (m. 2009)​

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]

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]

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.

• 2004: Sincerely
• 2006: Be as One
• 2007: Ready to Go!
• 2008: Lei Aloha

• 2008: The Best of melody.: Timeline

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melody (Japanese singer).

• Melody on Twitter