Belated Happy New Year everyone! :)

As you all are already so aware that Charice will return to Japan next month (yes, we're now in February now) for her second nationwide solo tour, and today, what has been speculated is now revealed and announced.

It has just been revealed that Charice, is to join a new campaign called "I LOVE COVERS", powered by Rekochoku and music.jp, which is also a major part of a second campaign of "CHARICE×ACUVUE - LOVE JAPANESE SONGS CAMPAIGN".

The thing is, people is going to vote for a Japanese song that they would like Charice to cover, and she will. "I LOVE COVERS" is a campaign and a series of covers with each different artists. And Charice was chosen to be the very first singer for the series. What a honor! :)

There will be a voting at several places on the web like twitter, facebook, mixi (Japanese SNS), starting from today (February 1st) to February 14th. For you, you come up with a "Japanese Song" that Japanese people have always beloved and treasured, and vote what song you would like Charice to cover.

Warner Music Japan also stated that for Charice, who has dearly loved Japan, they would like to take this opportunity to let her touch and know more beautiful music in Japan as gratitude.

There will be 5 songs to be picked first, then there will come an online quiz for you all can apply for which one from the five will be chosen. All the applicants will automatically be applied for a Special Charice Giveaway. (The present haven't been annouced at this moment)

The song will be chosen will be announced by Charice herself on the first night of her 「ACUVUE presents CHARICE "INFINITY" JAPAN TOUR」 Tour at Shibuya Kokaido, Tokyo on March 14th, and will be performed at all three venues.

A beautiful Japanese song, will reborn with this fantastically miraculous voice.

More updates to come shortly. I'm sorry for this messy writing for I'm rushing right now but I had to do this.:)

CHARICE×ACUVUE - LOVE JAPANESE SONGS CAMPAIGN - Special Web
(Warner Music Japan)

As many of you have known that Charice has left so much "savings" when she was here in Japan last month.

A few posts away to the shutdown of this place, some of those will be posted here.

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Latest treasure come from David Foster, who has been Charice's mentor.

Charice first recognized her first interst in music when she was 4, when

"My mom told me that I sing very well" - Charice

Since then, she has been on so many singing contests to help her family finacially.

"It was such a hard time....tough time. At one contest, I was told by a sponsor there who goes

[I'm sorry but you aren't pretty, you don't look pretty so I can't let you in to sing]

..and I wasn't even allowed to sing. But it ain't me to give up so I went back after about a month, and this time I was alllowed to sing, and judge told me that

[you do have such a wonderful voice]"

Those tough times have lead her to the success in the states and worldwide.

"When I first did performance in the States, I was so anxioius about how this girl from Asia would be possibly accepted from people in this country. But in the end, the audience so accepted me as a singer paying much respect me as an Asian, and as a Filippino. I can be here strong because of those hard times i was thru in the past."

Charice is about to release her long awaited second album "infinity" following her first international album which has sold more than 200,000 units only here in Japan.

"I do love my last album, however I had always wanted to be a dancer, so I'm so much in love with this new album which has more R&B, dance, and pop songs in than the last one. On the new One Day MV, I showed my dance on it for the very first time, and on a new song called Bounce Back, I paid a little revenge to who has spoken ill of me...of course in that song (laugh). I also love songs like Far As The Sky, which was written for the drama the Bull Doctor, and other song called New World, which is a theme song for the new Final Fantasy XIII-2 game. I think it has a variety of music packed that wide range of generations from teens to elders who I hope would find a song and goes 

[Yeah this song is about my story]

So i hope you'll like it."

Folllwing her success, David Foster is starting a new audition called "Born to SIng" meant to discover new talents in Asia.

"I'm sure there is a plenty of gifted people waiting to be discovered in Asia so i hope this will be a great opportunity for them. and not just discovering a beautiful voice, I hope this will be a great case to meet a truly truly gifted someone who are still hidden and deserves to be discovered with a true power of convincing in performance." 

Charice must've left so much "savings" while she was here last.

Charice was a guest on FM Yokohama "Radio Hits Radio", which was aired on October 15.

This late night radio program (25:00-27:00 on Saturdays) has been known to invite international recording artists for an interview for each episode while they're in Japan for a promotional trip.

And this time, for those who missed the episode with Charice, lucky lucky you. This program offers a podcast for each episode available at iTunes so you can grab and download the episode with Charice, for free.

To download the podcast, click HERE. (You'll be redirected to iTunes)

Today long awaited "One Day" MV Japan edition during Charice' last stay only a few weeks ago, is now complete and viewable via Gyao!, Youtube, and ACUVUE Special Web site.

Plus, a documentary "Making of One Day Japan edition" is also revealed at the ACUVUE Special web, also "One Day [∞ - Infinity] Free Live" which was held at the east exit of Shinjuku Station on October 5, and Louder MV has now also been archived and viewable for good also at Gyao!

CHARICE
"I am so happy having had a great chance to make this great Music Video come true.
The four dancers on the MV did great job, I'm so happy to be on this MV with them.
I am so thankful for being given this very special opportunity,
and I am so looking forward to working with them again, one day.

UPDATE 1 (17:00 Oct 17, 2011) - Tower Records Japan has also had this item on their listing without the tracklist, and with the same release date.

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Since Amazon first annouced of the release of Infinity Asia Exclusive Edition to be out on October 25th, it still has left quite a mystery on the package in every details. Today, HMV Japan announced an offer to public for pre-ordering "Infinity - Asia Exclusive edition" that if HMV is correct, the release might be slated to Nov 01.

*Pics will be attached here later

What's interesting is, the tracklist shows difference. This edition has 10 tracks - Far As The Sky is removed, and the track order has a slight change...a few tracks has been swapped.

Here's the track list.

1 Louder   

2 Lost The Best Thing　   

3 Bounce Back   

4 Before It Explodes   

5 Heartbreak Survivor   

6 New World   

7 Lesson For Life   

8 Never Always   

9 One Day　   

10 Lighthouse

Far As The Sky on CD will be slightly obscure to those outside of Japan, but make sure to pick up the original Japanese edition, and pick one or two up for your collection :)

More to come you can always check out right here, at CharMing Report.

As I tweeted days ago, i-sanin, local portal web based in Matsue-city, Shimane prefecture, interviewed Charice.

This interview has come interesting trivia and some news that are so very first time for us to find out.

Anyway, here you go.

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Q (i-sanin) : Now you've been so active worldwide, did you have any vision that someday you would become a worldwide singing sensation?

A (CHARICE) : Oh no (Laugh). When I was in the Phiippines I had wanted to become famous, but I never had thought of becoming famous around the world like this. I started to become known through YouTube, I think the time matches. I think I was in a right time.

Q :  So you are from the Philippines. Are you still based in your home country?

A : Now I'm based both in the Philippines and the States. And I fly around other countries...just like this. I'm in Japan.

Q : Were you already able to speak English when you were younger in your country?

A : No I could not speak English at all. Well English is the secondary national language in Philippines so. I've been studying English since I first flied to America to perform when I was 15. I learned by watching TV dramas and movies and like that.

Q : You have such a powerful voice that fascinates people all around the world. Is there anything you do daily to maintain your voice?

A : Agigato Gozaimasu (Thank you in Japaese). Talking about a care, basically I don't do anything specific to maintain my voice (laugh) If anything I would have much rest. so, that's about it I do for it.

Q : Was there a time you were hit in a slump, time you felt like down in the valley low in your career?

A : I was on a huge audition when I was 13, I went for it with all my best, faith, and will to be winning on the top...with all my soul and spirit. But I was on the 3rd prize. That was so mortifying, I was crying in my house for day. I did it with all my very best, and it didn't make it..so I thought of quitting singing. Then my mother came to me and said "A time like this could happen in our life, but sure there will come a so much better time to you" that was so encouraging and motivating that helped me stand up once again. But I still remember that mortifying feel within.

Q : Any books or movies, or anything has been so influential on your life?

A : I used to work at Mos Burger. Part time work. I worked during the first two years in high school. Fast food sort of a service is one of the few high school students are allowed to work so that's one of the reason but I chose Mos basically because I love Mos :) Mos has promotional ranks for employees, and hight you be, you'll be allowed to do other stuffs in the back. And of course the pay gets better. I went up to a pretty high spot in the ranking. I made a bunch of hamburgers, I did a lot of preparings of all the foods.

Q : Is there a place or two you love to visit on your travel?

A: I love Japan. This is sixth time to visit Japan. Japanese people are so kind and polite, and the food is so good.Sushi, Shabu-shabu, Rice Ball....they are all great. Oh and I have been to Tennessee on my private trip, and that was sunningly beautiful. I thoght I want to live there. Big lake and wide blue sky. Everything is ao huge and there isn' people there. The view is magnificent, and the air is good. Time was really slow and I had so much fun.

Q : Did you go shoppping here?

A : I bought this (pointing at a grey jacket and a cream colored T-shirt)  I bought these at ZARA. ZARA Japan has quite a great inventory that ZARA in the States doesn't have in stock so yeah, shopping here is quite fun.

Q : Your shape is kinda tiny so I guess you would fit with any outfits available here in Japan?

A : That precisely! When in the States, All the clothes available over there is in way too big to fit my shape. Japan has all tons of tons os selections that would fit just perfect with me so that's why I buy a lotta clothes when here in Japan. Oh and I also bought this here (pointing at a little yellow green watch she was putting on). So I definitely go shopping everytime I come back here in Japan.

Q : So when shopping in Japan, people around you would notice that it's you.

A: Oh they don't. even in the States. In my case some people would notice me and go "Oh that's Charice" but usually they don't notice me so it's fine.

Q : Last question. would you give a message to Japanese people?

A : I'm so happy that many people have listened to my songs. This new song on my new abum called Far As The Sky was a theme song for drama The Bull Doctor so i think many people would find it familiar. This new album is totally different from the last one. It has even widr variety to it with each song for I hope you'll like it. 

This worldwide sensation, who has been godfathered by the legendary multi-awards winning prioducer David Foster, it's Charice.

The Philippines-born worldwide sensation first touched the magic of music when

"My mother told me that [You(Charice) sing very well] when I was 4 ".  -  Charice

Since then, she had applied and won numorous number of singing contests only to support her mother and family with all the money came with her prizes.

CHARICE "That was really hard, and a trying time for all of my family. At one contest, I was told by a promoter goes [I'm sorry but you(Charice) don't look pretty so we can't get you up there] and I wasn't allowed even to sing. But I couldn't just leave so I went back to the same contest a month later, then they told me "You have such a fantastic voice", then I made it.

Thou it was all the tough times for her, those have undoubtedly lead her to her success in the States including her international debut with her first album recorded in the United States. 

CHARICE "I was so anxious about how people would react or like my performace when I first performed in the United States. But all the audiences in the States did acccept me, my performace and music with respect to my ethnical background that I am a Filipino. I now believe that I have come to be stronger because of all the hard times I went through."

She is about to launch her long awaited sophomore album "Infinity" following her first international album "CHARICE" sold more than 200,000 units in Japan.

CHARICE "I really love my first album, but I wanted to be a dancer in the first place, i mean before I decided to become a singer so I love this second album better cuz it has more R&B and Dance Pop songs on this one. In my new One Day MV, I did dance for the very first time in my international career, and in Bounce Back I did some kinda [revenge] to who have spoken eveil at me....of course not for real, but in that song (laugh). the CD also has Far As The Sky which was the theme song for drama The Bull Doctor, and New World, which is a theme song for a new Final Fantasy XIII-2..the two were written for Japanese which I love too. From teenagers to adults, I hope any of these listeners will find at least one of those songs on the album and goes [Hey, this song is about my story]."

Following the success, David Foster has launched a new audition project. 

CHARICE "There are many talents in the entire Asia I'm sure so i think that's gonna be such a great chance for all of them. and not just to take their gift as a beautiful voice, the project will find a true talent who are truly gifted in all the way so I believe."

It's been many interviews with Charice made during her visit back to Japan, thou this one doesn't seem like an usual interview.

Nikkei Entertainment, one of the major magazine spaeicialzing in entertainment business and what's inside of it, special featured Charice on their latest issue.

Nikkei was with Charice during her last visit in the past August so to figure out how busy Charice was, and how Warner Music Japan do their own very best to pull out the best effects from their very best efforts and strategy in promotion. It's like "5 days with Charice". Ok here you go.

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---80 media in 5 days! What is it to increase and make the best of an effective promotional appearance? ---

Having sent her first album to Billboard Top 10 in the United States, Charice has come back to Tokyo for promotion. How Warner Music Japan put up the timetable for Charice to pull up the most effective promotional schedule for appeal?

Launched at YouTube, then acknowledged and fully supported by a multi-awards winning producer David Foster, who has worked with Celine Dion and lots more of millions selling aritsts, Philippines-born young beautiful singer Charice made her international debut with her first int'l release "CHARICE" executive produced by Foster, and has sold more than 200,000 units as of today.

Charice came back to Tokyo this past August for promotion. Proir to the release of her long awaited second album Infinity, Charice had interviews and made several guest appearances during the stay.

They're like, interviews in each 30 to 40 minutes with no break, plus recording a brief comments for radio programs and blah blah, the number of media she worked with during the stay would go more than 80.

Especially an passionate call was come from staffs for Sukkiri (NTV). International Music has been struggling its sales here in Japan these days, and media has less featured int'l music for the last several years, but Sukkiri remains one of the few programs still keen on introducing international music to Japanese people.

Ms.Nao Hikosaka of Warner Music Japan, who is in charge of everything about Charice, leads Cha team in WMJ says,

"In a mixture of this girl-next-door kind of a sweet charming personality and this stunning gift in singing, Charice is kind of a rare singer who once come out with her voice and sing a song, the reaction would be coming back to her and us real straight in its number."

As a matter of fact, since she finished performing on Sukkuri in the morning, the number of music downloads went straight up high. 

And in the afternoon, Charice visited the shooting location of the Bull Doctor, greeted with all the main casts, and performed Far As The Sky in acapella. And that story was featured on papers next day. Looks like what domesrtic artists would do. Mariah or Celine haven't done something like this before. But Ms.Hikosaka says

"This seems to be what all the domestic artists tend to do but this is very important for International artists to do to get more attentions from a lot more people"

Days off, is essentials 

When in Japan, her work started in the morning, and called it a day around 6pm at latest. Warner team carefully never lacked their efforts to arrange a break for Charice in this crammingly busy schedule.

Hikosaka "International Artists usually and understandably get questions about how they feel and like about Japan during interview. So we wanted to arrange and spare time for Charice to watch Japan with her own eyes."

Waner also wisely set her schedule for August 11th to focus on all the appointments with radio stations to make it go smoth.

On the last day, Charice made an appearance to Mezamashi Live at Odaiba bayarea, and left Japan with a flight off at Haneda airport. Since Haneda accepts fights landing and takeoff at early in the morning or late night, and since its opening of International Flight Terminal last year, that has allowed Warner to organize and put up that kind of a flexibly effective schedule possible.

Charice is coming back to Japan on this October for promotion. During the next visit, she will be more focused on TV and radio appearances that would bring "areaction instant".

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Interview with Charice

8 hours to talk when in Japan, Many hours for transportations in the States - Promotion in the States is way tougher.

This is her sixth time to visit Japan for the last 12 months since her Japan debut. Having flied around the world, we asked Charice about the difference in how promotional campaign would go in Japan and other countries.

CHARICE : This time I came back to Japan to promote my soon to come new album "Infinity".

On the first day here in Tokyo, I was a guest on Sukkiri in the morning to perform Far As The Sky. But for singers, it's gotta take some time to warm up the voice, and I had a jet lag at that time so it was pretty tough work to do. After it's done, I paid a visit to the shooting location for the Bull Doctor to sing the song in acapella. This kind of an experience is a second time since when I went to a filming location for a movie in the Unites States. Actoer Fumiyo Kohinata (Main cast of the Bull Doctor) told me that he is my fan, and i was so grateful and thankful.

When in Japan, I am always surprised to see that there is a lot and lot of medias here. I took 5 or 8 interviews today this time but in the States, it'd go like, one hour press conference, then one long interview for like, 3 to 4 hours long and that's it so.

However, I generally get soft kind of questions on interviews here in Japan, but in the States, they come to me and come up with romance kinda issue, or all the straight-foward edgy sorta hard questions to answer. I have been confused before when a US media once reported and goes that I am dating with one of my good friend (laugh in a bitter smile)

I usually travel across the States to visit radio stations on Christmas season, and you know, it does take lots of lots of time just for transportations. It's like, after a performance on a radio show for several hours, i quickly moved to a club to perform, and on the next day, I woke up at 3am to catch a flight to go to the next venue. Singing need stamina, is tougher than talking on interviews so I'm totally alright and feel good to talk even for, like, 8 hours long :)

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Charice also said she bought a new canera (DSLR cam) which is her third in her collection. She goes "I got a new toy!" :)

Charice is featured on the latest issue of TV Fan (Sorta Japanese version of TV Guide) magazine.

Q (TV Fan) : I saw you on TV the other day performing Far As The Sky live which is on your latest album Infinity.

A (CHARICE) : I was real tense. The vocal range for the song is real wide, and lyrics for each chorus is different so this song is really challenging. But this is truly a wonderful song Everyone can share its compassion to the lyrics. The song is about "Destiny", and it perfectly fits with the concept of the drama "The Bull Doctor".

Q : How do you like Japan so far?

A : Japan always has so much cool and interesting stuffs at stores. I went to shopping in Shibuya yesterday, and saw all those fashions for teenagers are so cool!! I've been on many TV programs during this visit, and those programs are all so fun. I mean, the way they talk, and all the little expressions and sort of things, they are so interesting. They got me wanting to understand Japanese.

Q : Would you give a message to your Japanese fans?

A : When I first heard the news about the earthquake hit Japan on March 11th, I was throughly sad. Japan is a very very important country as its now a significant part of my life so I would like to do anything I can do to help. I hope to make many people as can to make and feel happy with my songs. This new song called New World, which is on my new album, has a message that tells you "Whatever makes you sad, just do not give up". The songs tells us that there will come a brand new tomorrow, and there will be a new world, so I am hoping to send this song to people who are standing up once again from the disaster.

Charice and her Infinity is featured on TOWER magazine, which is available for free at Tower records branch in Japan natonwide.

Charice said on Far As The Sky

CHARICE "This song has a message goes that even if there's a tough time or a challenge rite in front of you, there is always a hope. and feeling it, you can win it over sooner or later" That's why I want to dedicate this song to Japanese people. This is not an end of the world. There is still a hope. And please feel that there will do come tomorrow. You have all of my support for Japanese people. The song is for you. I hope you'll listen to it and enjoy it"