Mari Iijima
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese singer-songwriter
who has released over 20 original albums to date. She writes and produces most of her own music, is a multi-instrumentalist, and is an accomplished piano player. After being signed to JVC Victor in 1982, Mari first became known for her voice-acting role as Lynn Minmay in the anime
Macross
. Her debut original album Rosé was released in 1983, which was produced by composer Ryuichi Sakamoto
. She also later collaborated with other world-renowned musicians, such as Van Dyke Parks
. She currently lives in Los Angeles
, California
, United States
.
. Soon afterward, she was asked to audition for the role of Lynn Minmay
in The Super Dimension Fortress Macross
by the label and the producers chose her to play the role. The series quickly became a mega hit and brought Mari to stardom. Her debut album Rosé, containing no Macross tracks, had lyrics and music written by Mari. It debuted at #10 on the charts in September 1983 and she started her career as a singer & songwriter with success.
Mari eventually moved to Los Angeles
in 1989 to expand her music career. After releasing her first independent (and the first English language) album No Limit, she was nominated for the 2000 Los Angeles Music Awards' Best Pop Artist for the particular album and she was in the final 4 for the award.
She won the best asian song for her track Unspoken Love from the album Wonderful People at the Just Plain Folks
Awards in 2006 and performed as a guest performer.
She entered the 50th Grammy Awards
with Swim, a track from her 2006 album Uncompromising Innocence. Her listed entries are for the "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" category (entry#55) and the "Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)" category (entry#175).
In 2006, she reprised her role as Lynn Minmay in ADV Films' English-language release of Macross. which made her the first actor to play the original role in both Japanese and English languages for an entire anime series.
Iijima released her twenty-first studio album, called Echo, in August 2009. The title was taken from the nymph character Echo
that appears in Echo and Narcissus
. The album's theme is unrequited love.
She most recently released her new EP, 2 Seconds of Infinity at the end of July 2011, and she performed her 2 live concerts, Hello and Goodbye on July 30, 2011 in Tokyo, Japan.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
who has released over 20 original albums to date. She writes and produces most of her own music, is a multi-instrumentalist, and is an accomplished piano player. After being signed to JVC Victor in 1982, Mari first became known for her voice-acting role as Lynn Minmay in the anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
Macross
Macross
is a series of science fiction mecha anime, directed by Shōji Kawamori of Studio Nue in 1982. The franchise features a fictional history of Earth/Humanity after the year 1999. It consists of three TV series, four movies, six OVAs, one light novel and five manga series, all sponsored by Big West...
. Her debut original album Rosé was released in 1983, which was produced by composer Ryuichi Sakamoto
Ryuichi Sakamoto
After working as a session musician with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in 1977, the trio formed the internationally successful electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1978. Known for their seminal influence on electronic music, the group helped pioneer electronic genres such as...
. She also later collaborated with other world-renowned musicians, such as Van Dyke Parks
Van Dyke Parks
Van Dyke Parks is an American composer, arranger, producer, musician, singer, author and actor. Parks is perhaps best known for his contributions as a lyricist on the Beach Boys album Smile....
. She currently lives in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Biography
Mari's original demo tape was picked up by JVC Victor in 1982 and she was signed to the record company as a singer-songwriterSinger-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. Soon afterward, she was asked to audition for the role of Lynn Minmay
Lynn Minmay
Lynn Minmay, also spelled Ling Mingmei is a fictional anime character from Super Dimension Fortress Macross television series and Macross: Do You Remember Love? movie. She is also in Macross: Flash Back 2012 music video collection...
in The Super Dimension Fortress Macross
The Super Dimension Fortress Macross
is an anime television series. According to story creator Shoji Kawamori, it depicts "a love triangle against the backdrop of great battles" during the first Human-alien war....
by the label and the producers chose her to play the role. The series quickly became a mega hit and brought Mari to stardom. Her debut album Rosé, containing no Macross tracks, had lyrics and music written by Mari. It debuted at #10 on the charts in September 1983 and she started her career as a singer & songwriter with success.
Mari eventually moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1989 to expand her music career. After releasing her first independent (and the first English language) album No Limit, she was nominated for the 2000 Los Angeles Music Awards' Best Pop Artist for the particular album and she was in the final 4 for the award.
She won the best asian song for her track Unspoken Love from the album Wonderful People at the Just Plain Folks
Just Plain Folks Music Organization
Just Plain Folks Music Organization is a website and community founded by Brian Austin Whitney with the intent of helping anyone involved in the music industry to network, share their experiences, build relationships, and grow...
Awards in 2006 and performed as a guest performer.
She entered the 50th Grammy Awards
50th Grammy Awards
The 50th Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2008. Kanye West received the most nominations, with eight. Amy Winehouse was the big winner, winning a total of five awards. Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters won Album of the Year,...
with Swim, a track from her 2006 album Uncompromising Innocence. Her listed entries are for the "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" category (entry#55) and the "Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)" category (entry#175).
In 2006, she reprised her role as Lynn Minmay in ADV Films' English-language release of Macross. which made her the first actor to play the original role in both Japanese and English languages for an entire anime series.
Iijima released her twenty-first studio album, called Echo, in August 2009. The title was taken from the nymph character Echo
Echo (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Ekho , "echo", itself from ἦχος , "sound") was an Oread who loved her own voice. Zeus loved consorting with beautiful nymphs and visited them on Earth often. Eventually, Zeus's wife, Hera, became suspicious, and came from Mt...
that appears in Echo and Narcissus
Echo and Narcissus
Echo and Narcissus is an episode from Ovid's Metamorphoses, a Latin mythological epic from the Augustan period. The introduction of the myth of the mountain nymph Echo into the story of Narcissus, the beautiful youth who rejected sexuality and falls in love with his own reflection, appears to have...
. The album's theme is unrequited love.
She most recently released her new EP, 2 Seconds of Infinity at the end of July 2011, and she performed her 2 live concerts, Hello and Goodbye on July 30, 2011 in Tokyo, Japan.
Original Albums
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1983 | Rosé |
| 1984 | Blanche |
| 1985 | Midori |
| 1985 | Kimono Stereo |
| 1987 | Coquettish Blue |
| 1988 | Miss Lemon |
| 1989 | My Heart in Red |
| 1990 | It's a Love Thing |
| 1991 | Believe |
| 1993 | Different Worlds |
| 1994 | Love Season |
| 1995 | Sonic Boom |
| 1996 | Good Medicine |
| 1997 | Europe |
| 1998 | Rain & Shine |
| 1999 | No Limit No Limit (Mari Iijima) No Limit is a pop album by Japanese singer and songwriter Mari Iijima. It was both her first English language album and first independent release. Iijima’s former recording label, Warner Music Japan, distributed the album as an independent album in Japan... |
| 2001 | Right Now |
| 2003 | Silent Love |
| 2004 | Wonderful People |
| 2006 | Uncompromising Innocence |
| 2009 | Echo |
Best Of Albums
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1984 | Variée |
| 1993 | The Classics |
| 1995 | Best of the Best |
| 2005 | Mari picks "The Ultimate Collection" (1983-1985) |
| 2005 | Mari picks "The Ultimate Collection" (1987-1999) |
| 2004 | Gems |
| 2007 | palette |
Singles
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1983 | Yumeiro no Spoon |
| Kitto Ieru | |
| 1984 | Ai Oboete Imasu ka |
| 1 gram no Shiawase | |
| 1985 | Cecile no Amagasa |
| 1986 | Harukana Hohoemi -Kodou Kougen- |
| 1987 | People! People! People! |
| 1988 | Kagami yo! Kagami (I wanna marry you) |
| Blue Christmas | |
| 1989 | Still |
| Secret | |
| 1990 | Nichiyoubi Date |
| Sayonara Ienai | |
| Bokura wa Tenshi ja Nai | |
| 1991 | Love is a miracle |
| 1992 | Ki・ra・i |
| 1993 | Ai Oboete Imasu ka (re-release) |
| 1994 | Don't fade out! |
| 1995 | Is There Anybody Out There? |
| 1996 | Forever Young |
| 1997 | Mikazuki no Canoe |
| Friends | |
| 2002 | Eternal love ~Hikari no Tenshi~ |
| 2003 | Eternal love 2003 |
| 2009 | Iki wo Shiteru Kanjiteiru |
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | The Super Dimension Fortress Macross The Super Dimension Fortress Macross is an anime television series. According to story creator Shoji Kawamori, it depicts "a love triangle against the backdrop of great battles" during the first Human-alien war.... |
Lynn Minmay | Voice actress and singer |
| 1984 | Macross: Do You Remember Love? | Lynn Minmay | Voice actress, singer, and songwriter for "Tenshi no Enogu" |
| 1999 | Pacific Blue Pacific Blue (TV series) Pacific Blue is an American crime drama series about a team of police officers with the Santa Monica Police Department who patrolled its beaches on bicycles. The show ran for five seasons on the USA Network, from March 2, 1996 to April 9, 2000, with a total of one hundred and one episodes... |
Kiko | Season 5 - episode 12 "God's Gift" |
| 2001 | Spyder Games Spyder Games Spyder Games is a television series that was broadcast on MTV from June 18, 2001 through September 20, 2001. MTV's second foray into the soap opera format following the run of the anthology series Undressed, the series was originally called Spyder Web in development.Originally intended for a 3 pm... |
Soraya | Episodes 1&2 |
| 2001 | Lorna Doone Lorna Doone (1922 film) Lorna Doone is a 1922 film version of Richard Doddridge Blackmore's novel of the same name.Directed by French director Maurice Tourneur in the United States, the film starred Madge Bellamy and John Bowers. In 2001, a digital restoration of the film was financed by Georgia cinephile Jesse Sharp,... |
Composer | (2001 re-release of 1922 film) |
| 2004 | Green Tea-r | Yoko | Lead actress and songwriter |
| 2006 | The Super Dimension Fortress Macross The Super Dimension Fortress Macross is an anime television series. According to story creator Shoji Kawamori, it depicts "a love triangle against the backdrop of great battles" during the first Human-alien war.... |
Lynn Minmay | ADV Films' 2006 English Dub |
Video Games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Galaxy Angel | Theme song performance | "Eternal love ~Hikari no Tenshi~", "Tenshi-tachi no Kyuusoku" |
| 2003 | Galaxy Angel: Moonlight Lovers | Theme song performance | "Eternal love 2003", "Tenshi-tachi no Kyuusoku" |
| 2004 | Cy-Girls | Aska (voice) |