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Mýa

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Mýa
Background information

<tr><td>Birth name</td><td colspan="2">Mýa Marie Harrison</td></tr><tr><td>Born</td><td colspan="2">October 10 1979</td></tr><tr><td>Origin</td><td colspan="2">Washington, D.C., United States</td></tr><tr><td>Genre(s)</td><td colspan="2">R&B, pop, Hip-hop</td></tr><tr><td>Occupation(s)</td><td colspan="2">Singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, model</td></tr><tr><td>Years active</td><td colspan="2">1998-present</td></tr><tr><td style="padding-right: 1em;">Label(s)</td><td colspan="2">Interscope 1998-2005, Motown 2005-present</td></tr><tr><td>Website</td><td colspan="2">MyaMya.com</td></tr>

Mýa Marie Harrison (born October 10 1979) is an American R&B and pop singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress who rose to fame during the late 1990s. She is best known for hits such as "It's All About Me", "Best of Me," and "Case Of The Ex". Mýa has recorded multiplatinum albums and has earned several awards, including a Grammy for her contribution to the 2001 version of "Lady Marmalade". Her stage name is Mýa, but she is sometimes credited as Mýa Harrison for acting roles.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Mýa was born and raised in Washington, D.C. She also has two younger brothers named Chaz and Nigel. Mýa studied both singing and tap, at one point taking lessons in New York City from Savion Glover. As a teenager, she appeared as a panelist on BET's Teen Summit talk show. She attended Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Maryland, where she graduated at age sixteen.

[edit] Debut album: Mýa

Image:Mya mya.jpg

In 1997, Mýa signed a recording contract with Haqq Islam's University Records, after being brought to the label by her friends an R&B group Dru Hill. The four members of the group, Tamir "Nokio" Ruffin, Mark "Sisqó" Andrews, Larry "Jazz" Anthony', and James "Woody" Green, wrote and produced half of Mýa eponymous debut album, Mýa. The first two singles, "It's All About Me" and "Movin' On", were co-written by Sisqó; the former song also featured Sisqó on guest vocals, while the latter featured rapper Silkk Tha Shocker. Both songs reached top ten on the U.S. Billlboard R&B/Hip Hop chart while "It's All About Me" also reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The videos for these two songs and for her third single "My First Night With You" were MTV staples through 1998. Mya received 2 Soul Train Music Awards nomination for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist for Movin' On and Best R&B/Soul Album Mýa (both beaten by Erykah Badu). Not only did Mya's self titled debut album become 1 of the top 10 selling albums of 1998. It was certified Platinum on October 1st, 1998 and became a big commercial success for her selling more than 2.1 million copies in the US[1][2].

In addition to her solo work, Mýa was also a featured artist with Ol' Dirty Bastard on Pras' 1998 hit, "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)", from the Bulworth soundtrack. Mya received her first grammy nomination for "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)". During the same year, Mýa also scored another hit as a featured vocalist on BLACKstreet's "Take Me There" from the The Rugrats Movie soundtrack, which also featured guest raps from Ma$e and Blinky Blink.

[edit] Fear of Flying

Image:FearofFlying.jpg

On April 25, 2000, Mýa released her second album, Fear of Flying. The album debut at number 15 on the Billboard 200 album charts with first week sales of 72,000 copies. Its first single, "Best of Me", was an urban R&B song that featured rapper Jadakiss and had an even more urban hip hop remix which featured rapper Jay-Z. The song and its remix were hits at urban radio but did not crossover to mainstream radio. Mýa's biggest pop hit came with the second single, "Case of the Ex". The song reached #2 in the U.S. and its music video performed well on MTV's TRL. Following the success of "Case of the Ex", Interscope re-released Fear of Flying on November 7 2000 with a revised track listing containing two new songs, including the third single "Free". (which was previously on the Bait soundtrack) and a new track titled "Again and Again". "Free" was even more pop-friendly and became quite successful at MTV's TRL and pop radio. "Fear Of Flying", landed Mya a Soul Train Music Award nomination for R&B/Soul album. Eventually Fear Of Flying went platinum on March 28, 2001 selling more than 1.2 million copies giving Mya her second platinum album in the US[3].Although Fear Of Flying was received with mixed reviews, the album still became a huge commercial success for Mya launching her career into superstardom.

[edit] Lady Marmalade

Lady Marmalade (2001)

In May 2001, Mýa collaborated with Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, and P!nk on a remake of LaBelle's "Lady Marmalade". The track was produced by hip hop producers Missy Elliott and Rockwilder and was featured in Baz Luhrman's Moulin Rouge!. The song's success was driven by its sexually suggestive video, which featured the four singers dressed in burlesque. P!nk and Mýa later described that the immodest concept almost prevented the video from being filmed; nonetheless, the video was a huge hit on MTV, VH1, and MTV2, and collected several MTV Video Music Awards nominations in 2001. The song was also one of the year's biggest at pop, rhythmic, and even adult top 40. Though all four performers have had at least one subsequent mainstream hit, none of them (with exception to Christina Aguilera) has since achieved the same magnitude of chart success as they did with "Lady Marmalade". Mya along side Christina Aguilera, Lil'Kim, and P!nk not only performed at the Grammys, but also won a grammy for Best Pop Collaboration. "Lady Marmalade" went on to collect numerous awards including 2 MTV Video Music Awards for Video Of The Year and Best Video From a Film.

[edit] Moodring

Moodring (2003)

After the release and success of Fear of Flying, Mýa began to dabble in acting with a supporting role in the 2002 Academy Award-winning musical film, Chicago, in which she would win a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance. In the following years, she continued appearing in films such as Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004), Shall We Dance? (2004), and Cursed (2005). In 2004, Mýa appeared as a Bond girl in the video game James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing; she also sang the video game's theme song, "Everything or Nothing". Mya also went on to become a spokesperson for the Coca Cola company along side Common with their ad campaign Real Compared To What.

In July 2003, Mýa released her third long awaited studio album, Moodring. In the U.S., it peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart selling more than 113,000 in its first week of sales, making it Mya's highest first week sales ever. The first single, the Missy Elliott-produced "My Love Is Like... Wo", became a top twenty hit in the U.S. due to its success on mainstream radio. This video featured Mya acting as a "one woman circus," performing various circus tricks throughout the song. "My Love Is Like...Wo" was nominated for 2 MTV awards(one for Best Dance Video which was beaten by Justin Timberlake and one for Best Choreography in a Video which was beaten by Beyonce). The album's second single, "Fallen" (which samples "Saudade Vem Correndo" by Stan Getz, as does "Runnin'" by The Pharcyde), was not as successful only managing to peak at #51 on the Billboard 100 single charts. The album has sold more than 1.4 million copies to date giving Mya her third platinum album in the US[4][5].

In 2003, Mýa posed for Maxim magazine; her pictorial is featured on their Girls of Maxim gallery. She was also a model for King magazine.

[edit] Promoting Liberation

Mya has worked effortly, promoting her new studio album Liberation slated to be released in early 2007. Mya has made many appearances in magazine ads, online & radio interviews, performances, and also released the single "Ayo" that features DC's hype man DJ Kool. Mya stated that "Ayo" was a warm-up single, but her first official single "Shake It" produced by Polow Da Don is to be released on January 9 2007. Liberation is currently complete and feature guest apperances from Lil Wayne, The Game and now Trina. Productions include Scott Storch, DJ Clue, Kwamé, Tricky Stewart, and Bryan Michael Cox.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
U.S. Hot 100 U.S. R&B UK Singles
1998 "It's All About Me" (feat. Sisqó of Dru Hill) #6 #2 - Mýa
1998 "Movin' On" (feat. Silkk Tha Shocker) #34 #4 - Mýa
1998 "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" (Pras feat. Ol' Dirty Bastard and Mýa) #15 #8 #2 Ghetto Supastar, Bulworth (Soundtrack)
1998 "Take Me There" (BLACKstreet and Mýa feat. Ma$e and Blinky Blink) #15 #10 #7 Finally
1999 "My First Night with You" #28 #28 - Mýa
1999 "Somebody Like Me" (Silkk The Shocker feat. Mýa) - #43 - Made Man
2000 "The Best of Me" (feat. Jadakiss) #50 #14 - Fear of Flying
2000 "The Best of Me" (Holla Main Remix) (feat. Jay-Z) - #35 - DJ Clue: Backstage Mixtape
2000 "Case of the Ex" #2 #10 #3 Fear of Flying
2001 "Girls Dem Sugar" (Beenie Man feat. Mýa) #54 #16 #13 Art & Life
2001 "Free" #42 #52 #11 Bait (Soundtrack), Fear of Flying (Re-Released)
2001 "Lady Marmalade" (with Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim and, P!nk) #1 #1 #1 Moulin Rouge! (Soundtrack)
2003 "My Love Is Like...Wo" #13 #17 #33 Moodring
2003 "Fallen" #51 #35 #74 Moodring
2006 "Ayo (feat. DJ Kool)" - #70 #4 Liberation

[edit] Featured appearances

  • 1999: "Somebody Like Me" (with Silkk The Shocker; from Made Man)
  • 1999: "JOB" (with Foxy Brown; from Chyna Doll)
  • 2000: "Girls Dem Sugar" (with Beenie Man; from Art & Life)
  • 2001: "4 Shure (Remix)" (with Groove Theory & Jagged Edge; from The Answer)
  • 2002: "Fair Xchange (Remix)" (with 2 Pac; from Better Dayz)
  • 2002: "Thin Line (Remix)" (with Jurassic 5; from Power In Numbers)
  • 2002: "I'll Be There" (with Ali Vegas; from Heir To The Throne (Mixtape)
  • 2004: "Forever With You" (with Guy Sebastian; from Beautiful Life)
  • 2005: "Leave That Boy Alone" (with Shortee Redd; from From Da Bottom Up}
  • 2005: "We Won't Stop" {with Shortee Redd; from From Da Bottom Up)
  • 2005: "Sugar Daddy" (with Cuban Link; from Chain Reaction)
  • 2005: "Dreams" (unreleased) (with Mike Jones; from Who Is Mike Jones?)
  • 2005: "Sexy" (with Ray-J; from Raydiation)
  • 2006: "Matter of Time" (with Trae; from Restless)
  • 2006: "4 Ever" (originally recorded with Mya) (with Method Man; from 4:21... The Day After)
  • 2006: "No Matter What They Say" (with Penelope Jones; from Untitled)
  • 2006: "Bout It" (originally recorded with Mya) (with Yung Joc; from Tapemasters Inc. - The Future Of RnB 10)
  • 2006: "Close To You" (with Dionne Warwick; from My Friends and Me)
  • 2006: "Hold N' Back" {with Marques Houston; from Veteran)

[edit] Soundtrack appearances

[edit] Charity songs

[edit] Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1999 In Too Deep Loretta
2002 Chicago Mona
2003 Volcano High Yu Cha-i
2004 Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights Lola Martinez
2004 Hip Hop All Stars Herself Documentary
2004 Shall We Dance? Vern's Fiancée
2005 Cursed Jenny Tate
2006 Cover
2006 Swap Meet Katrina
2006 Ways of the Flesh Valerie
2007 How She Move Herself
2007 The Metrosexual Jessica

[edit] Awards and nominations

Year Award
1998 Soul Train Music Award nomination for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist ("Movin' On")
1998 Soul Train Music Award nomination for Best R&B/Soul Album - Female (Mýa).
1998 MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Video from a Film ("Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)")
1998 MTV Video Music Award nomination for Rap Video of the Year ("Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)")
1998 Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Performance by Vocal Group ("Ghetto Supastar")
2000 Soul Train Music Award nomination for Best R&B/Soul Album - Female (Fear of Flying)
2001 MTV Video Music Award Win for Best Video of the Year ("Lady Marmalade")
2001 MTV Video Music Award Win for Best Video from a Film ("Lady Marmalade")
2001 MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Dance Video ("Lady Marmalade")
2001 MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Pop Video ("Lady Marmalade")
2001 MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Choreography ("Lady Marmalade")
2001 MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Art Direction ("Lady Marmalade")
2001 My VH1 Music Awards Win for It is Hot In Here Or Is It Just My Video ("Lady Marmalade")
2001 My VH1 Music Awards Win for My Favorite Video ("Lady Marmalade")
2001 Radio Music Awards Win for Song Of The Year Top 40 Pop Radio ("Lady Marmalade")
2001 Teen Choice Awards Win for Choice Song Of The Summer ("Lady Marmalade")
2001 TMF Awards-Belgium Win for Best Video Of The Year ("Lady Marmalade")
2001 TMF Awards-Netherlands Win for Best Video Of The Year ("Lady Marmalade")
2002 ALMA Awards Win for Outstanding Song In A Motion Picture Soundtrack ("Lady Marmalade")
2002 ASCAP Pop Music Awards Win ("Lady Marmalade")
2002 BMI Award Win ("Lady Marmalade")
2002 Channel Thailand Music Video Awards Win ("Lady Marmalade")
2002 Grammy Award Win for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals ("Lady Marmalade").
2002 MTV Japan Video Music Award Win ("Lady Marmalade")
2002 MVPA Video Award Win for Best Styling In A Video ("Lady Marmalade")
2003 MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Dance Video ("My Love is Like ..Wo")
2003 MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Choreography in a Video ("My Love is Like ..Wo")
2003 Screen Actors Guild Award Win for Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture ("Chicago").
2003 Phoenix Film Critics Society Award nomination for Best Acting Ensemble ("Chicago").
2003 Broadcast Film Critics Association Award Win for Best Acting Ensemble ("Chicago").
2005 MTV Movie Award nomination for Best Frightened Performance ("Cursed").
2006 11th Annual Palm Beach International Film Festival Win for Cross Over Award (from singer to actress)

[edit] External links

fr:Mya nl:Mya pl:Mýa Maria Harrison fi:Mya

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