Japanese Schoolgirl Watch: A Sweet-Sounding Software App Climbs the Charts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz3xJUn1lWo
Miku Hatsune is one of Japan’s hottest new pop sensations. Since last August, the 16-year-old’s cute soprano voice has been near the top of the charts — the software charts. Hatsune, whose full name means "first tone of the future," is a vocal-synthesizer app created by Yamaha and based on audio data sampled from anime voice-actress Saki Fujita. The program lets aspiring music nerds create pitch-perfect vocal tracks by simply entering the lyrics (in Japanese or English) and musical notes. The AI superstar can be heard singing dozens of tunes on YouTube. Strangely, though, no sign yet of "Mr. Roboto." Here’s a collection of Miku covers — from pop tunes, videogame themes to classical pieces. SUPER MARIO BROS 2 The theme song to the 1989 classic gets the vocaloid treatment. One YouTube commenter describes Miku’s sing-songy a cappella version of the Super Mario Brothers 2 theme as "perfect for torture techniques at Guantanamo Bay." Is it really that horrible? You be the judge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvtkZMl3tqo
FINAL FANTASY Miku sings another a cappella version of a popular videogame theme song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL_Dk0IVgVA
MIKU VS. MICHAEL JACKSON An epic battle between Miku and Michael Jackson in the freeware 2-D fighting game, M.U.G.E.N. Watch them duke it out with kicks, punches, and of course singing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfo-M_eEzh8
NUMA NUMA It may not be as funny as the original http://youtube.com/watch?v=KmtzQCSh6xk "Numa Numa" cover featuring the lip-syncing of Gary Brolsma, but at least the visuals in the Miku video aren’t as soul-scarring.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgrGRcjyzVw
LEVAN POLKA The Finnish band Loituma recording of the folk song "Levan Polka" became an Internet meme in Japan when it was paired with video of an anime character. Miku’s version is so catchy, it might even be better than the original.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0nOGJMOfBI
GO WEST Miku sings this http://youtube.com/watch?v=39KZ2afBtLU Pet Shop Boys tune as a duet with Vocaloid buddy, Prima.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQAQNwvEY20
THE NIGHT IS STILL YOUNG A chirpier, soprano version of "The Night Is Still Young" by Japanese pop group Pizzicato Five. Compare it to the original, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkqEJ4zrmB8&feature=related here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnvDDN8LQ6I
TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROAD Miku takes this http://youtube.com/watch?v=DC8nDdPM_Qk John Denver tune and makes it her own. The song is very popular in Japan, as anyone who’s seen the anime http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisper_of_the_Heart Whisper of the Heart can affirm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gjXsgZ-OR0
VOI CHE SAPETE Watch a 3-D Miku perform in concert. Here, she sings an aria, "Voi Che Sapete," from Mozart’s "The Marriage of Figaro."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAxJwTBfhk4
AVE MARIA Miku sings an ethereal, yet slightly creepy rendition of Gounod’s classic melody, "Ave Maria."