(the) Road to the Deep East

According to yahoo news, a famous music producer widely known as Beyonce's father, Mathew Knowles, admired Japanese R&B singer who made his major debut with last February, Shimizu Shota.
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20080605-00000048-spn-ent

According to the article, Mathew Knowles usually receives a lot of promotional samples sent from Japan every month, and he listened to his debut single, 'Home', and liked it.

Then, he thought of starring Shota with Lyfe Jennings, and produced the collaboration work from Lyfe and Shota. This song 'Midnight Train' will be included in Japanese edition of Lyfe's latest album, Lyfe Change.


Shota visited America and appeared on a show to introduce Japanese culture 'Japan Day' held at Apollo Theater last Sunday. Then Shota met Mathew in person for the first time, and Mathew admired him: "He has a wonderful voice, or should I say, I was amazed. He has a characteristic voice, and when I listened him first, I couldn't believe he is a Japanese. He is gifted."

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When a foreigner admires Japanese, especially, when Japanese media report it, we should think it includes 80% of lie. As Marty Friedman wisely says, when a foreign famous star says 'I like sushi.' Japanese media reports the person LOVES Japanese culture. And we should notice at the fact , this album from Lyfe Jennings is released from SONY MUSIC, where Shota also belongs to.

However, I still believe Beyonce's father was amazed by Shota, and said 'I can't believe he is Japanese'. (It's a bit humiliating phrase, though.) Shota has a certain talent which not so many Japanese singers have.

For example, listen to this clip.


This cover of Ne-Yo's So Sick is the one which Shota posted two years ago when he was still a singer wannabe goes to Caless music school.He called himself 'Amezi', then, and there are some awkward points , but he is still amazing. If I were him, I would have said, 'He can't be Japanese!!' - if I hadn't known about other Japanese singers like Hirai Ken or Kubota Toshinobu.

Anyway, it's a good new one Japanese talented singer - who is still 19 years old could have such a connection with American famous music producer somehow. I think one of the problem of Shota's music is, the track is not as good as his vocal. Then I wish Beyonce's father will hellp him out somehow.