Konnichiwa everyone! Japan is gearing up for Charice’s first solo concert tour next year with a flurry of activities by our beloved princess. She’s recorded a Christmas song for her Japanese fans, will have a free mini live concert next month and interviews with her are now coming out in the Japanese press.
So here’s the nitty gritty:
Her cover of John Lennon’s “Happy Christmas War is Over” is now available for download on J-wave radio’s cellphone site. For Japan Chasters, you need to be a member of J-sounds – just register at www.j-wave-co.jp/imode for Docomo users, www.j-wave-co.jp/jskyweb for Softbank users and www.j-wave-co.jp/wap for AU users. Hurry though, because it is only available until Dec. 31st.
Unfortunately, this is only available for Japan-based cellphones so international Chasters might need to pray that they release it worldwide. Or, if you REALLY want to hear it, visit J-wave’s site here and click on “Listen now”. You need to be really patient though because there’s no telling when they will play the song.
For those of you who want to hear the song LIVE, go and register here for tickets to her mini live concert on Dec. 19th at the Tokyo City View of Roppongi Hills! 30 pairs (60 lucky winners) will be chosen in a raffle for this rare opportunity to hear her sing Happy Christmas.
She’s also been giving interviews left and right and below is the first of three translated interviews that you will be reading here at Charicemania. The interview below was featured at Josei Jishin, a weekly women’s magazine geared towards older housewives. Typical features include articles on the Japanese Imperial family and the latest showbiz news.
Interview with Charice, Asia’s Diva
Charice, 18 years old, is a diva from the Philippines. She has achieved the recognition of being the first Asian to land in America’s Billboard chart, coming in at number 8. She was also able to have a duet with Celine Dion whe she was 16. Here she is, a new big star with a powerful singing voice!
Q. Your existence is Asia’s pride. It seems like you’ve sung in front of President Obama, what was it like?
Actually, I sang in front of President Obama’s sister, not in front of him. Not quite him but I came close enough (laughs).
Q. You sang a duet for the first time at Madison Square Garden with Celine Dion when you were 16 years old right? Moreover, you sang in front of your Mom. Please tell us about that.
Celine is my heroine so I was really shaking. But she really made me feel at ease. She’s a wonderful person and she’s motherly. It was a really good experience.
Q. What was your impression of meeting Celine for the first time?
I cried. She then hugged me and told me “It’s ok.” I’ve heard that she’s a good person and when I met her I cried just like that.
Q. How was your Mom at that time? Seeing her daughter in her big moment?
She cried too (laughs). She is proud of me becoming a star. She is always with me, and at that time she kept on crying and I thought she’s really proud of me. I think she was happy.
Q. You’ve been singing Celine’s songs since you were 4 years old – is that because your Mom was listening to her that you’ve begun singing her songs?
Yes, my Mom is a big Celine fan – the first Celine song I learned was “My Heart Will Go On.”
Q. The famous song from “Titanic”.
I’ve been listening to it since I was little.
Q. Is there anything that you mother has told you when you were little that you are still following up to now?
To just be yourself. She also told me to do what I want to do. I love singing, so I am still singing up to now.
Q. You’ve mentioned that you want teenagers and young people like yourself to listen to your songs – is that because you want to increase your fan base among the youth? Do you want to reach out to them?
Well, not just teenagers and young people but I want people of all ages to listen (to my songs). This is why my genres include pop, ballads. I want to appeal to different kinds of people.
Q. Racial discrimination still runs deep in America. Have you been treated badly since you’ve debuted?
You really can’t avoid that kind of thing. Of course I’m not the only one who has experienced this, I think others have too. I think the only thing to do is to ignore it. I am proud of being Asian – as an Asian, I want to show my talent to the world. I really want to show everyone what I have, if I can express that in front of everyone, I will be proud of that. I would like to do many things that I can be proud of.
Q. I don’t think there is anyone who has listened to your voice and has not been moved. What praise has made you happy the most?
From fans?
Q. From fans, or from your family.
Well, not just my singing but when they praise my attitude I am happy. It would be nice if I could properly convey all that I do without any arrogance and just being myself.
Q. It’s wonderful that you’re already famous but you’re still humble. How do you restrain yourself because normally fame would make a person arrogant right?
Because my Mom always tells me (to be humble), and I have been blessed with a good team and a good family. I try to always have my feet on the ground. When I look back, I had a hard life so when I look back to the past I can’t help but keep my feet on the ground.
Q. Now that you’re successful, have you been asked favors from relatives you barely know or has your father contacted you? What do you do when that happens?
Hahaha! That’s part of life (laughs). Yes, there have been many (favors asked).
Q. Really? So what do you do?
Even if some relatives tell lies, if they are really having difficulties then I want to help. Whether they are relatives or not, if they are having a hard time, I would like to help if there is something that I can do.
Q. That’s great. Have you done anything recently for your Mom, your brother?
Last year I bought a house and a car for my Mom. When I was little, my Mom asked me what will I give her when I turn 18 and when I was 6, I promised to buy her a house.
Q. You promised that when you were 6?
Yes. I was able to do that, and it’s really wonderful that I was able to buy her a house and a car.
Q. Can you tell us of any episode while you were making this album wherein you arranged songs your way or if your producer David Foster told you to do this this way and this one that way?
David was not always in the recording studio but he did give me advice as my producer. He taught me how to go about styling new songs and he also told me to be great all the time which I keep firmly in mind.
Q. In the Philippines, Lea Salonga who was the original main character in the musical Miss Saigon is sort of a national treasure right?
Yes, Lea Salonga.
Q. How do you perceive her? What do people think of her in the Philippines?
She’s a very good person. She really is a national treasure. Everyone respects her, and of course I respect her as well. We have sung together a number of times – she really is a wonderful person.
Q. You sang with her?
Yes, we sang Michael Jackson’s song in a sort of memorial ceremony.
Q. Aside from singing, do you have any other interests?
Hands down, the internet! I also like taking walks and I like dancing a lot.
Q. If God told you “I will grant one more of wish of yours”, what would you write to Him? (One of Charice’s songs is entitled “Note to God”.)
Um, maybe to continue blessing me?
Q. We look forward to your solo concert next February.
Domo arigato!
Read this article in Japanese >> Source: Josei Jishin
By Mooffin, charicemania.com
Charice Covers John Lennon’s “Happy Christmas (War is Over)”
Tickets to Charice’s mini live concert will be given to 30 pairs of lucky winners. You can apply for the ticket raffle here. Charice recorded John Lennon’s “Happy Christmas (War is Over)” which will be used as the theme song for J-WAVE radio’s winter campaign entitled “Love and Peace, Wishes Come True”. >> Continue reading
Charice Solo Concert in Japan, February 2010
Two more additional dates have been officially confirmed by Marc Johnston (Charice’s manager). Tickets for this concert are bound to be in high demand due to Charice’s surging popularity in Japan. So if you haven’t reserved your tickets yet, now is the best time to do it. Good things come to those who don’t wait
>> Continue reading
“Charice” Album is Certified Gold in Japan
And reach the top, she did. Her “Charice” album is certified gold in Japan, after only two months from being released there in July. And while she was in Japan during the David Foster and Friends Japan tour, a gorgeous glass plaque was awarded to her in recognition for the strong sales of her album. >> Continue reading
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Charice was interviewed for the mag by Marie, a well known Japanese-Canadian model & TV host. She was very impressed by Charice and a translation of her blog is available on Harry’s website. Wow, Charice is getting a TON of publicity in Japan!
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OMG whats wrong here? LOL , calm down guys.
Its almost Christmas – lets give LOVE and understanding and Peace hehe
But anyway, luv the interview =) Always keep ur feet on the ground =)
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‘My Heart Will Go On’ was a huge hit in 1997 when Celine Dion included it in her second album. The single was released later along with the Titanic movie (for which it became the theme song) in December 1997. It makes sense that this would be the first Celine Dion song that Charice ever learned to sing. As far as her age… 4 or 5 yrs old… there’s not really much difference, now is there?
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@bonpo777
not exactly.
read your comments again then you will know why you got thumbs down.
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Nahhhh, naahhhhhh…..naaahhhh, she started singing at four, but her mom discovered her when she learned her first song….”MY HEART WILL GO ON”….come on guy , dont twist the story….she probably was singing already “happy birthday” when she was 4..CIAO.
Your point is , she is lying…..huh ?
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naaaahhhhh, naaaahhhhh, your comprehension is weak, just drop it….just look at your thumbsdown, your hopeless kid….you spend too much time doing research….readers are just shaking thier head LOL, and here I am still entertaining you…..LOL…SCOOBYDOO must be laughing hard right now……bye kid
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lol… you are getting out of hand. what is the point of bringing all this up and making a big fuss out of simple issue.
we are not interested with all your research. they are irrelevant and does not prove anything.
if you have hidden agenda, please leave Charice alone. back off !
@osuna
im more than lol…now im lmao !
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love Cha…
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2 usernames? please confirm?
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This are all lies, not everything is correct in the entertainment industries….per KIAN
SHE SHOULD AT LEAST APPEASE THE PEOPLE right KIAN ????
Carousel of Hope
Operation Smile
Bantay Bata
World Vision
Others please add more charities that Charice got involved in, too many of them, I bet you she is lying too on everything she does, right……..KIAN ????????
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i think you better read the interview again and try revising your facts.
so again, what is your point?
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DONT PICK ON ME KIANA !!!!……LOL
COUNT YOUR THUMBSDOWN IN 24 HRS
“CIAO”…..BAMBINO!!!!
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Scooby did not open the issue, make a guess who did ?,LOL
RELAX
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sarcastic reply?
hello…read my comments again..
@bonpo777 – stop being mean and you will get the respect you are craving for. grow up, okay?
@kian – commenting just for the sake of commenting will do you no good.
omg, im a cyber bully now !
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please refrain from posting in all caps. our policy states: “Do not post in all caps, as it’s considered Internet lingo for yelling. If a thread title or post is typed in all caps, it will be edited or deleted. dO nOt PoSt LiKe THiS, eItHEr (this is also known as sticky caps).”
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She was found on top of the table singing by her mom at age 4, it could be 4 years 11 months and 29 days, still 4 years old though , 5 years old is when you complete 4 years and 12 months,
So what is the point of your nonsense BERT ????
Do you remember when you first started to wipe your behind ? PEACE
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@mrsem you are correct. Charice would not have turned 5 y/o until May 10, 1997. The theme song to the Titanic, “My Heart Will Go On” came out in Feb 1997.
http://wdok.radio.com/2011/02/28/today-in-music-celine-dions-my-heart-will-go-on-reaches-no-1/
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For me, when my birthday will be tomorrow, I’m still 4 years today. Got my point? I hope that will satisfies your question. Cheers
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Intelligent and Matured minded.
way to go Charice !
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No wonder Charice is well-loved in Japan (gold album, sold out concert & the longest S.O.) because of the Chasters especially JustCharrie, Mooffin & Honeybee who are very much active here in CM-Worldwide not only in Japan. Salute to these lovely ladies! Cheers & God bless.
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whether cha sang happy birthday or the titanic theme song, does it matter? just like my own story. my mom told me i started wearing corrective lens at age 5 .. so i kept repeating this story to everybody. until i got hold of my official records, yellowed due to age, that i was 7 yrs old!! so my recollection of the past was correct, i remembered starting wearing eyeglasss at grade 2, not in kindergarten. dear! dear! minor flips do happen in life.
so was charice 4 or 5 or 6 when she sang the titanic song, who cares???
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