Michael J Downey and the World

Artist Information

Biography

Review
LOS ANGELES, CA - 8/22/07 - (AP) The new Michael J Downey and the World single, "america" has debuted the FMQB Adult Contemporary radio charts as the 1 Most-Added single across the USA for the week of 8/22/07. This week, "america" was added to the playlists of more radio stations than any other AC single on the FMQB charts, including Gwen Stephani, Maroon 5, and others. --AP Wire

Product Description
Michael J Downey and The World: California Based Singer/Songwriter and Former Lead Guitarist for Femme Fatale is Building Powerful Cultural and Musical Bridges between `America' and Korea and Japan Thursday July 12, 4:27 pm ET Band Has Toured Extensively over the Past Year in Asia LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--When Michael J Downey titled his four song 2006 breakthrough EP and its title single and video Bridge of No Return, he drew upon his tireless dedication to the importance of cultural exchange between the U.S. and Asia. The bridge was a historical metaphor about the end of the Korean War, when families were torn apart as citizens were given a choice between staying and crossing from North to South Korea. The popularity of Bridge of No Return throughout Asia led Downey and his all-female band The World to tour Korea last November and Japan this past March and April. Establishing himself as a indie singer/songwriter on 2004's Your World , Downey has come a long way since his lead guitarist days with late 80s glam hair band Femme Fatale. Downey's latest contribution to that philosophy is his new, ripe for AC radio recording america, which features the four songs from Bridge Of No Return (including "Hajimemashite," which means "It's nice to meet you for the first time"), and america, as well as the perfect combination of a lush love song ("In Love Again"), a heartbreaker ("Wish"), a gritty rocker about what we can all learn from "History" and the cutting edge pop/rock fun song "Fly Away." The Bridge songs were produced by David Longoria (Sting, U2) and the newer tracks by Robert Eibach and Downey himself at the helm. His current touring band includes keyboardist Christina Rasch (Ringo Starr, John Tesh) and bassist Jessica Fagre--both of whom also do extensive USO tours. The Bridge concept extends into the artist's overall mission with his recordings, performances and extra-musical activities, which is to create a vibrant and mutually beneficial way for Americans and Asians to interact. After returning from his first tour of Japan a year and a half ago, he was motivated to start hashi.org, a California non-profit organization dedicated to promoting unique cultural exchange opportunities between Southeast Asia and America.

Instrumentation

Discography

1998 - Waiting for the Big One - Femme Fatale, MCA
2004 - "Your World" - Artists1Stop Records
2004 - "Oasis Rock and Roots" - Oasis
2005 - "Hajimemashite" - indy release
2006 - "Bridge of No Return" - Asia-only release
2007 - "america" (World Records)

Official Website

http://www.michaeljdowney.com

Audio

• America
  Listen  
• Fly Away
  Listen  
• Bridge of No Return
  Listen  
• Wish
  Listen  
• Be Here Now
  Listen  
• I Let Her In
  Listen  

Lyrics

• "Your World" - 9 songs- 2004
• Fly Away
• Fly Away
• America

Video

america

Photo Gallery

Press

• Michael J Downey and The World: California Based Singer/Songwriter and Former Lead Guitarist for Femme Fatale is Building Powerful Cultural and Musical Bridges between `America' and Korea and Japan [+ Show ]
  

  Press Release Source: Luck Media & Marketing, Inc. Michael J Downey and The World: California ...Press Release Source: Luck Media & Marketing, Inc.
  
  
  Michael J Downey and The World: California Based Singer/Songwriter and Former Lead Guitarist for Femme Fatale is Building Powerful Cultural and Musical Bridges between `America' and Korea and Japan
  Thursday July 12, 4:27 pm ET
  Band Has Toured Extensively over the Past Year in Asia
  
  
  LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--When Michael J Downey titled his four song 2006 breakthrough EP and its title single and video Bridge of No Return, he drew upon his tireless dedication to the importance of cultural exchange between the U.S. and Asia. The bridge was a historical metaphor about the end of the Korean War, when families were torn apart as citizens were given a choice between staying and crossing from North to South Korea.
  ADVERTISEMENT
  
  
  The popularity of Bridge of No Return throughout Asia led Downey and his all-female band The World to tour Korea last November and Japan this past March and April. Establishing himself as a indie singer/songwriter on 2004's Your World, Downey has come a long way since his lead guitarist days with late 80s glam hair band Femme Fatale.
  
  Downey's latest contribution to that philosophy is his new, ripe for AC radio recording America, which features the four songs from Bridge Of No Return (including "Hajimemashite," which means "It's nice to meet you for the first time") as well as the perfect combination of a lush love song ("In Love Again"), a heartbreaker ("Wish"), a gritty rocker about what we can all learn from "History" and the cutting edge pop/rock fun song "Fly Away."
  
  The Bridge songs were produced by David Longoria (Sting, U2) and the newer tracks by Robert Eibach and Downey himself at the helm. His current touring band includes keyboardist Christina Rasch (Ringo Starr, John Tesh) and bassist Jessica Fagre--both of whom also do extensive USO tours.
  
  The Bridge concept extends into the artist's overall mission with his recordings, performances and extra-musical activities, which is to create a vibrant and mutually beneficial way for Americans and Asians to interact. After returning from his first tour of Japan a year and a half ago, he was motivated to start hashi.org, a California non-profit organization dedicated to promoting unique cultural exchange opportunities between Southeast Asia and America.
  
  
  
  Contact:
  Luck Media & Marketing, Inc.
  Jennifer Malazarte, 818-760-8077
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Source: Luck Media & Marketing, Inc.

• Reviews [+ Show ]
  

  TAXI.COM Pro reviews - --------------------------------------------- “Go In Throught the Door,”...TAXI.COM Pro reviews -
  ---------------------------------------------
  
  “Go In Throught the Door,” “Follow Me”, “Hold Me” -Michael, Good execution structurally in this material. Sounds like you had a good handle on trying to have a good lead up into the chorus section, then build it up even more with a nicely structured harmony background section. All in all, good solid effort in the roots rock department that should be able get you some good bookings and motivation to keep writing and performing.
  
  “Your World” - Michael, this is a heartfelt and positive song. Very nice vocal performance and your voice sounds especially sweet on "so much more." The placement of the vocal in the mix is nice and upfront and allows the nuances of your voice to come through on the track. Melodically there is good contrast between sections and there is a well-crafted "rise" in the chorus that helps it to stand out from the verse. The instrumentation is appropriately minimal and works well. This is a pretty strong piece of music that I feel is worthy of being forwarded for what is being requested in the listing.
  
  “Hold Me” - Michael, these melodies work really well. I will forward this song. I think that if the client is happy with the lyrics it has a good chance because the hook is pretty darned good.
  
  “Be Here Now” - Love the intro and verse. Good build into your chorus. Very strong melody on your first line of the chorus. Good interval jumps. Nice background harmonies add lift. "Right in my backyard" is very good reminiscent of "Wizard of Oz". This is the strongest song of the three on this submission
  
  
  
  

• "america" GOES TOP 40 & Michael going to Japan [+ Show ]
  

  FORMER FEMME FATALE LEAD GUITARIST IS TOURING JAPANESE, AS HIS SINGLE gAMERICAh GOES TOP 40 ON...FORMER FEMME FATALE LEAD GUITARIST
  IS TOURING JAPANESE, AS HIS SINGLE gAMERICAh
  GOES TOP 40 ON FMQB AC40 RADIO CHART
  * * *
  Michael J. Downey Is Set To Make His Second Tour Of Japan This Year With A Series of Solo/Acoustic Shows Starting September 20***
  
  Taking yet another big step towards his goal to build powerful cultural and musical bridges between America, Korea and Japan, Michael J. Downey makes his debut as a Top 40 artist on this weekfs FMQB AC40 Chart.
  
  gAmerica,h the anthemic title track from the California based singer-songwriter and former Femme Fatale lead guitaristfs new album, makes a major jump this week from #42 to #33. As he rises on the chart in the U.S., Downey is also getting ready to tour Japan for the second time in 2007. In April of this year, Downey and his band The World did a two-week stint there, playing seven shows in five cities. The current tour, a response to popular demand that begins on September 20, will be a series of solo acoustic shows and include stops in Tokyo and Kyoto.
  
  During the tour, Downey will speak to the audiences in Japanese between songs, explaining the meaning of his lyrics to his audience and offering words of hope for Americafs relationship with Japan and other countries. The singer stays in direct contact with his fans by way of the Japanese press and the social networking site MIXI.
  
  Downey has been in overdrive since the first jaunt to Japan this year, recording and releasing America and shooting a video of the title song with director Mike Britten. This summer, Downey launched an ingenious three-week Submit-Your-Video contest via his myspace page (myspace.com/mjdmyspace), which included a banner ad on the login page of MySpace. Offering $50 to those whose video clips made the final video, the singer achieved his goal of incorporating authentic visual slices of Americana from people all over the country. Entrants sent Downey links to videos they had posted on You Tube. The lyrics to gAmericah are purposely ambiguous as they ask the listener to question our country and his/her place in it.
  
  The popularity of his EP Bridge of No Return throughout Asia also led Downey and his all-female band The World to tour Korea in November 2006. The EP title could also apply to the fascinating evolution of the multi-talented artistfs career. Establishing himself as a indie singer/songwriter on 2004fs Your World, Downey has come a long way since his lead guitarist days with late 80s glam hair band Femme Fatale.
  
  The Bridge concept extends into the artistfs overall mission with his recordings, performances and extra-musical activities, which is to create a vibrant and mutually beneficial way for Americans and Asians to interact. After returning from his very first tour of Japan a year and a half ago, he was motivated to start hashi.org, a California non-profit organization dedicated to promoting unique cultural exchange opportunities between Southeast Asia and America. True to the meaning of its name (gHashih in Japanese is gbridgeh), the website offers overseas job listings, home-stay opportunities, pen pals, language studies, exchange students and scholarships.
  
  Michael J Downey and The World were recently chosen as a competitor for the L.A. Music Awards competition, which runs for four months and culminates in November. Beyond gigs in and around Los Angeles this year, the band also plans a lot of extended Western U.S. weekend gigging in places like Seattle and San Diego.
  

Setlist

Live Performance:
Shows vary in length and content -
45 -75minute all-original music sets (showcase, concerts, etc.)

Basic Requirements

Calendar