Mari Iijima's post today was sad...

[kndy]

Mari posted the following on Facebook (very sad!):
https://www.facebook.com/mariiijima
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It's sort of a depressing fact that the most popular post by me to date is "Macrossworld Con" announcement. I got more than 500 likes. Every time I post something about Macross, people go crazy. But when I announced about my new album = my life, my heart . . . not so many people were interested.

Why do I continue? Because creating and performing my music is my IT thing and I know it deep in my
heart.

I've been struggling with this typecast issue for the last 30 years. Every day, every minute of my life. People say "Accept and embrace it" but you never lived my life as me. As I don't understand your suffering in your life, you can't fully understand my agony and pain.

I moved to overseas, I thought about ending my life because of this issue more often than you think, but I never gave up because I felt strongly for my music. They are so real and precious. I'm not just about my voice. I'm a composer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, producer, coordinator, engineer, etc etc. I swear I'm one of the most underrated artists in the world. I don't know if someday people will recognized me as what I really am, but I admit, it's been a hard battle. I burst into tears from time to time, I have countless silent screams in my heart, but I'm still standing here for my music. Because I KNOW I'm meant to be out there performing for thousands of people being discovered for who/what I really am.

My Macrossworld Con live performance will start at 2PM. I'll perform with all my raw emotions, with my heart.

[greg]

Wow. I have to admit, I am rather ignorant of what her current music is about. Maybe I owe it to her to give it all a listen. The stuff from Macross, for the most part, is all old stuff. I'm only really fond of her songs that were unique to DYRL. I can't imagine the frustration of being typecast, but I think that for those who consider themselves as her fans, they owe it to her to be just as enthusiastic about her other stuff. I have one Mari Iijima CD, called "Gold/Best Takes" because it had the two big songs from DYRL as well as her other '80s stuff. It also had all the songs from the Macross TV show, but I wasn't really interested in that. I mainly just wanted to hear newer stuff, but for only a few hundred yen at Book Off, I wouldn't pass it up. I'm not really that much into anime soundtracks, but I do like listening to other stuff from those who were featured in anime shows.

Anyhow, maybe this is somewhat related, but Mari Iijima blocked one of my best friends from her Facebook page after posting a comment that was intended as a compliment, but maybe it was awkwardly misconstrued as being an insult. I don't remember the exact word he said, but in response to her saying that she was tired of some non-serious people, he posted a comment which he intended to mean that she is a serious businesswoman. She blocked him, and he felt like crap after that. I can understand that if she's going through depression, she may take things the wrong way.

[kndy]

I have only one album with her music and it's "Do You Remember Love". I'm more of a Macross fan but I do understand why she is frustrated.

[Heero]

I'm not gonna tell anyone how to think/feel but I really have to wonder if she would prefer to be one of the MANY artists that have almost ZERO fans, rather than being typecast by legions of fans. I mean, for every actor annoyed at being typecast by one hugely popular role that makes them set for life, there's dozens (if not hundreds) of "aspiring" actors who are waiting tables trying to get ANY work. Maybe she needs to work twice as hard to get past the pre-conceptions, but at least people LISTEN to her (or read) and know who she is.

[greg]

Heero, I completely agree with you. It seems that she refuses to see it that way, though. Being typecast can't be too terrible, but it just depends on how you deal with it. Mark Hamil went into voice acting for animated shows, and everyone loves him for playing the Joker on Batman. Wil Wheaton was in Stand By Me, but everyone really knows him as "that annoying kid on Star Trek." (I remember a Usenet Newsgroup called alt.wesley.crusher.die.die.die or something like that.) He has embraced that infamy and has emerged as a super geek idol. He has a great sense of humor about his experiences on ST:TNG and has written hilarious memoirs of his time on that show.

So I'm of the philosophy of "learn to embrace it and appreciate how it boosted you to where you are today" mentality. I can understand that more than claiming, "I am so great and underappreciated," because to me that sounds rather arrogant. Maybe people who like J-pop idol music from the 80's don't really go for mellow jazz sung in English or whatever it is she does these days. I'm sure it is very different than what she did in Japan 30 years ago. She obviously has a passion for what she is doing now, but apparently it doesn't attract the attention that rehashing 30 year old pop songs do. I understand the frustration, but at least she isn't touring Indian casinos like Loverboy and Air Supply are.

[kndy]

Another post from Mari that are making people concerned...

I'm living in the now. I'm not living in the past. Some people want to hold onto some past moments maybe because they aren't happy in the now. Nostalgia. An escaping spot. I don't do that. The past happened. And it was true back then. but it's not here any more. And it's no longer a truth to me in this moment. I don't have any past moments that I want to hold onto. I never felt euphoric in the past. So I don't have any moments that I want to hold onto. I'm aways seeking greater moments. To me, the past is a faded memory. I don't live with it.

You have your own stories. And the stories keep on changing in people's minds. It's no longer simply the facts, they are your creations. You want me to fit into your stories sometimes, but I have my own story that's very different from yours.

I live in the now. I live with my new music and activities. I serve you with my presence, music and voice when you need me, without complaining, with smiles. I respect you, so please respect me too. Thank you.

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Francine Dion: Dear Beautiful Mari, I cannot totally agree with you, but I realize you are reacting to something I am not aware of. For me, "good old memories" of moments I lived with people I cherish and I worship is very precious. I like to remember those beautiful moments since it helps me go through my very difficult life, actually. And, more over, it keeps me hoping that I will live some more beautiful moments with those beautiful persons. For the ones that I lost because they died, I like to remember those "good old days" and to remember how much we enjoyed each other. The only stories that I erased from my mind are the love stories that ended at court and cost me a lot of money....Otherwise, it is good for me to know that someone has the same "good moments" we shared together in his mind too.
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Mari Iijima: You and I are different. I have zero attachment to my past. I have no such things as "good old memories". No, I'm not reacting. It's about living in the moment mundfully. I do this everyday. It sounds like you hope for the future based on your past memories. But they are not here, the past and future. We are NOW HERE. My happiness is not based on men or people around me. It's all about inside of my heart. How much can I accept and like myself. People come and go. But the love and self-respect we have for ourselves, it stays. And faith! Good luck to you. I'm sure you'll meet so many more beautiful people in your life including yourself.

[kndy]

I actually had this typed up for her...but I decided to not post it. She seems to be in phase right now...

Everyone's entitled to their opinion and I understand you trying to separate yourself from the past. And I can understand your happiness is not based on men or people around you. But I hope that your fans and people who are passionate about your music or your performances do make you happy. But I suppose some people are different. In my opinion, Mari, you are a product of your past. You have been fortunate to be given a wonderful musical opportunity in the past and that name recognition has led to people discovering your music today. You mention you have no such thing as good old memories but over a decade ago when we interviewed you, you told us with your past work (Macross), "Everybody was together, there were no arguments. Every time we got together, we were like a family. I really felt comfortable being there. Everything was was really great. It was my first animation job and my last job too, but those people are so great. That was my best memory." I wholeheartedly agree with you moving forward and living for today and not in the past, but I do honestly believe that our past leads us to experiences that people hopefully learn from.

[greg]

It's like she hates her past or something. I can understand not wanting to be typecast and that she wants to be loved for her current work just as much (if not more) than her origins, but she shouldn't hate her '80s music. I've listened to her new music from samples on Amazon, and it is certainly different than her '80s stuff. But she needs to just accept the fact that she is where she is today because of her beginnings, even if she wasn't a serious artist back then.

[davemerrill]

I fully empathize with her desire to move on from her work on Macross. It can be very annoying to be constantly reminded of this one thing you did 25 years ago; a career and a life is more than one role or one accomplishment. From her words, I don't get that she "hates" her Macross work, but she's not letting that be the be-all and end-all of her career.

I would like to see her get with a publicist or an agent and work up some kind of impressive public relations event that firmly establishes her as a talented and multifaceted musician. There honestly is much more to her talent than Lynn Minmay.

[Heero]

I fully empathize with her desire to move on from her work on Macross. It can be very annoying to be constantly reminded of this one thing you did 25 years ago; a career and a life is more than one role or one accomplishment. From her words, I don't get that she "hates" her Macross work, but she's not letting that be the be-all and end-all of her career.

Here's my problem with this, it's the same as if 20 years from now an American Idol winner was telling you they're SOOO much better than their 15 mins of tv-voted fame. They have depth and layers and are an AMAZING artist that you should acknowledge them for the greatness they possess. And you know what, today (aka 20 years ago in the future) they went on this cheesy TV show to "get their big break". You know why? Because they were waiting tables or working a phone bank or some other menial job because NO ONE WOULD RECOGNIZE that they are an amazing artist with depth and layers and all that. Remember where you came from.