Jibtv Official Blog - Issue No. 7

One of the most popular programs on jibtv has been J-MELO a program running for now over two years. May J and Shanti, two young and successful singers and songwriters, host the show.  The program boasts a large following of viewers from across the world.  The show's producers decided to arrange a live event as a way to give credit to the numerous fans of the show and make a special live performance episode of J-MELO.

       Held this past Saturday the 11th at one of Tokyo's most famous locations for visiting foreign dignitaries, the Foreign Correspondent's Club of Japan, the show was a huge success with the audience.  It will eventually air as an episode on NHK World/jibtv in September of this year.  The venue, the FCCJ, is a private club for foreign journalists in Tokyo.  Established just after the War, this club has been a central crossing point for culture and information since 1945.  The producers of J-MELO chose this location because its membership reflects the entire globe.  Journalists and media staff here, like the viewers of J-MELO, come from all corners of the world.

       The on stage performance was hosted by FCCJ member and writer on Japanese popular music, Steve McClure.  Mr. McClure has literally written the book on Japanese pop.  He is an expert on the world of Japanese music.  As host, he began the evening by introducing the program J-MELO with a half hour screening of a recent episode featuring guest Marty Freedman, the former guitar man for Megadeath, who now lives and works in Japan.

       After the screening of J-MELO, the audience was tense with anticipation for some live music.   The first to take the stage was Shanti, who performed some of her original songs such as "Rashiku" and "Closing Time." The crowd enjoyed the performance tremendously.  In the interludes between songs the audience got to know Shanti a bit more as she discussed the recording of her first album in Paris, France. 

       The internationality of the musicians assembled for her was an important step in creating the ambiance of her album.  Speaking backstage, Shanti explained that the internationality of the music was of core importance to her albums and songwriting.  Singing in both Japanese and English, she added that she felt more free when writing lyrically in English, but as a performer she clearly can switch effortlessly between the two and sing beautifully all the while.

       Following up Shanti's strong performance was her friend and co-host, May J. The music was energetic, with a mix of original songs and covers.  The audience was delighted by fantastic renditions of "Always Be My Baby" by Mariah Carey as well as tracks from her original albums.

       After the musical performance, MC Steve McClure hosted a brief Q&A session with May J and Shanti in which Shanti humbly admitted her recent chart success with her newest album Family making it to number four on the Oricon music charts.  But for anyone present in the audience at the FCCJ that night, it was no wonder how her music had topped the charts. Certainly, we will be hearing much more from both of these wonderful musicians.

       Back stage the performers were buzzing with excitement about a successful performance, and, of course, the added bonus of guitarist Hank Nishiyama celebrating his birthday, cake and all.  He had two of the greatest "Happy Birthday" singers one could hope for.  

Check out the J-Melo live performance when it airs in September!