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Mýa Marie Harrison (born October 10, 1979) is an American Grammy Award-winning R&B singer, dancer, and actress who rose to fame during the late 1990s. Her stage name as a singer is Mýa, and she is credited as Mýa Harrison for acting roles.
Biography
Early life
Mýa was born in Washington, D.C. to an Italian American mother, Theresa Harrison, and a African American father, Sherman Harrison. She grew up in the D.C. area and studied both singing and dancing as a child. Mýa sang alto and studied ballet, 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.Debut album: Mýa
In 1997, Mýa signed a recording contract with Haqq Islam's University Records, after being brought to the label by her friends in 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 that for her third single "My First Night With You" were MTV staples through 1998.
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. During the same year, Mýa also scored a hit as a featured vocalist on BLACKstreet's "Take Me There" from the The Rugrats Movie soundtrack, which also featured guest raps from *] and Blinky Blink.
Fear of Flying
On April 25, 2000, Mýa released her second album, Fear of Flying. 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 successful on MTV, TRL, and at pop radio.In April 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 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 has since achieved the same magnitude of chart success as they did with "Lady Marmalade".
Moodring
After the release of Fear of Flying, Mýa began to dabble in acting with a supporting role in the 2002 Academy Award-winning musical film, Chicago. In the following years, she continued appearing in films such as Havana Nights (2004), Shall We Dance? (2004), and Cursed (2005). In 2004, Mýa appeared as a Bond girl in the video game Everything or Nothing; she also sang the video game's theme song, "Everything or Nothing".
In July 2003, Mýa released her third album, Moodring. In the U.S., it peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and was certified Gold, having sales in excess of 900,000. 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. The album's second single, "Fallen" (which sampled "Runnin'" by The Pharcyde), was not as successful.
Liberation
Mýa is currently working on her fourth album Liberation, which is scheduled for a fall 2006 release and involves production by Dr. Dre, Lil Jon, Scott Storch, Jonathan Rotem, and Kwame. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002383599 Recently, two new tracks ("One Night" and "I Am") have leaked onto the Internet. Mya's new single is expected to hit radio on August 22nd. Mýa is also said to be appearing on Method Man and Elephant Man's new albums.
In 2005, she signed a six figure deal with Ford Models. She is also said to be working on creating her own clothing line which will debut in 2008.
Discography
Albums
- Mýa (1998) (US #29) (U.S. certification: Platinum)
- Fear of Flying (2000) (US #15) (U.S. certification: Platinum)
- Moodring (2003) (US #3) (U.S. certification: Gold)
- Liberation (2006) (Fall)
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 | US R&B/Hip-Hop | UK Singles | |||
| 1998 | "It's All About Me" (featuring Sisqó of Dru Hill) | #6 * | #2 | - | Mýa |
| 1998 | "Movin' On" (featuring Silkk Tha Shocker) | #34 | #4 | - | Mýa |
| 1998 | "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" (Pras feat. Ol' Dirty Bastard abd Mýa) | #15 * | #1 | #2 | Ghetto Supastar, Bulworth (Soundtrack) |
| 1998 | "Take Me There" (BLACKstreet & Mýa feat. *] and Blinky Blink) | #15 * | #10 | #3 | Finally |
| 1999 | "My First Night With You" | #28 * | #28 | - | Mýa |
| 2000 | "The Best Of Me" (featuring Jadakiss) | #50 | #14 | - | Fear Of Flying |
| 2001 | "The Best Of Me (Holla Main Remix)" (featuring 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) | - | - | #13 | Art and Life |
| 2001 | "Free" | #42 | #52 | #11 | Bait (Movie Soundtrack) |
| 2001 | "Lady Marmalade" (with Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim and P!nk) | #1 Platinum | #1 | #1 | Moulin Rouge! (Soundtrack) |
| 2003 | "My Love Is Like...Wo" | #13 | #17 | #33 | Moodring |
| 2003 | "Fallen" | #51 | #35 | #74 | Moodring |
| 2005 | "Sugar Daddy" (with Cuban Link) | - | - | - | Chain Reaction |
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)
- 2002: "Fair Xchange (Remix)" (with 2 Pac; from Better Dayz)
- 2002: "Thin Line (Remix)" (with Jurassic 5; from Power In Numbers)
- 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" (with Mike Jones; from Untitled'')
- 2005: "Sexy" (with Ray-J; from Raydiation)
- 2005/2006: "Matter of Time" (with Trae; from Later Dayz (2005) and Restless (2006)
- 2006: "4 Ever" (with Method Man; from 4:21... The Day After) (not yet confirmed TBR on album)
- 2006: "No Matter What They Say" (with Penelope Jones; from Untitled)
Soundtrack appearances
- Bulworth ("Ghetto Superstar"; 1998)
- Belly ("Movin' Out University Mix"; 1998)
- Rugrats: The Rugrats Movie ("Take Me There"; 1998)
- Life ("Why Should I Believe You"; 1999)
- Bait ("Free"; 2000)
- The Lost Empire ("Where the Dream Takes You"; 2001)
- Moulin Rouge! ("Lady Marmalade"; 2001)
- Legally Blonde ("Sex Machine"; 2001)
- All About The Benjamins ("Cream Cheese"; 2002)
- Everything Or Nothing ("Everything or Nothing"; 2003)
- Back in Business ("Fallen Zone 4 Remix"; 2004)
- Havana Nights ("Do You Only Wanna Dance"; 2004)
- Shall We Dance ("Let's Dance"; 2004)
- Fat Albert ("Not Gonna Drop"; 2005)
Charity songs
- 2004: "Forever in Out Hearts" (2004 Indian Ocean earthquake)
- 2005: "Come Together Now" (Hurricane Katrina)
Filmography
- In Too Deep (1999)
- Chicago (2002)
- Havana Nights (2004)
- Shall We Dance? (2004)
- Cursed (2005)
- Way of the Flesh (2006) (post production)
- The Metrosexual (2007) (post production)
- Swap Meet (2006) (pre-production) (in negotiations)
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 Life is Like ..Wo") |
| 2003 | MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Choreography in a Video ("My Life 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) |
External links
1979 births | Actor-singers | African-American actors | African-American singers | American female singers | American film actors | American pop singers | American rhythm and blues singers | Grammy Award winners | Italian-Americans | Living people | Multiracial entertainers | People from Washington, D.C. | Rhythmic Top 40 acts
Mya (Sängerin) | Mya | Mya
"Mýa"