Stephanie Topalian
Born
Stephanie Nonoshita Topalian

(1987-08-05) August 5, 1987
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Citizenship
  • United States
  • Armenia
Occupations
  • Singer
  • Actress
Years active2007–present
Musical career
GenresPop
LabelsSME Records

Stephanie Nonoshita Topalian[upper-alpha 1] (born August 5, 1987), known simply as Stephanie (ステファニー, Sutefanī), is an American singer and actress of Armenian and Japanese descent who is signed with SME Records Japan, which is a part of Sony Music. She released two albums: her self-titled debut in 2008 and Colors of my Voice in 2009. She has won the Japanese Music Awards in 2007. A number of her songs have been featured in several Japanese films. She had roles in a few Japanese films, notably Pride and Tokyo Tribe. In 2015, she represented Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 as a member of Armenian super group project Genealogy with the song "Face the Shadow".

Career

She began singing at a young age. At age 13, she moved to Japan with her family. At 14, Stephanie sent an audio demo tape of her singing to various music productions,[1] and received a response from a Japanese music producer Joe Rinoie. Rinoie was impressed with her singing, and at the age of 19 Stephanie made her major debut in Japan from SME Records (Sony).[1] She achieved the "Best New Artist Award" at the prestigious 49th Japan Record Awards in 2007 and afterwards released two albums.

Her debut single "Kimiga Iru Kagiri" and the follow-up single "Because of You" became the ending themes of the anime Kiss Dum. Her fifth single, “Changin", was also featured as the last ending theme of the anime D.Gray-man. In early 2008, her single "Friends" became the second ending theme for the anime Gundam 00. The song appeared in the Top 10 of Japanese Oricon charts.

As an actress Stephanie debuted in the film Pride in 2009, based on Yukari Ichijo's shōjo comic. She portrayed the protagonist Shio Asami and took part in the film's theme song, "Pride ~A Part of Me~" that featured SRM. Aside from Pride, Stephanie also starred in 2009 in the short film It's All Good which was fully scripted in English. She was cast in 2014 to be in Tokyo Tribe and a short film.

Eurovision

In February 2015 she was announced as a member of the music group Genealogy (made up of singers from Armenia and the Armenian diaspora) that represented Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015. Stephanie Topalian represents the Asian continent in the formation whereas the Ethiopian Vahe Tilbian represents Africa, the American Tamar Kaprelian the American continent, the French Essaï Altounian the European continent, Australian Mary-Jean O'Doherty Basmadjian Oceania and Inga Arshakyan Armenia. The group sang "Face the Shadow" at the contest in Vienna, Austria. She then became an Armenian citizen along with the other members of Genealogy on April 28, 2015, after being given Armenian passports by President Serzh Sargsyan.[2]

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak positions
JPN
Oricon
[3]
Stephanie (ステファニー) 25
Colors of My Voice
  • Released: June 17, 2009
  • Label: SME Records
  • Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download
 102
"—" denotes items which did not chart, or were released before the creation of a chart.

Singles

As a lead artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
JPN
Oricon
[3]		 JPN
Hot 100
[upper-alpha 2]
"Kimi ga Iru Kagiri" (君がいる限り, "As Long as I Have You") 2007 36— Stephanie
"Because of You" 50—
"Winter Gold" 80—
"Friends" (フレンズ, Furenzu) 2008 87
  • RIAJ (digital): Gold[7]
"Changin’" (featuring Roma Tanaka) 50—[upper-alpha 3] Colors of My Voice
"Pride (A Part of Me)" (featuring SRM) 2009 8263
"Future" 155—
"Towa ni" (永遠に, "Forever") 2012 —— Non-album singles
"Sakura Zaka" (桜坂, "Cherry Blossom Hill") ——
"Precious Love" ——
"—" denotes items that did not chart, or were released before the creation of the Billboard Japan Hot 100 in 2008.
List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
ICE
[9]
"Face the Shadow"
(among Genealogy)		 2015 47 Non-album singles
"The Otherside"[10][11]
(Tamar Kaprelian featuring Elhaida Dani, Elina Born, Maria-Elena Kyriakou & Stephanie Topalian)		 —
"—" denotes items that did not chart.

Promotional singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
JPN
Hot 100
[upper-alpha 2]
"Beyond Myself" 2008 76 Stephanie

Guest appearances

Title Year Other artists Album
"Twister (Kingdom Mix)" 2012 Yoko Shimomura Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance Original Soundtrack
"Someday (Kingdom Mix)"
"Jump Over Yourself (Papapayapa)" 2013 Takeharu Ishimoto Subarashiki Kono Sekai Crossover: Tribute
"Calling (Kingdom Mix) (Live Ver.)" Takeharu Ishimoto, The Death March
"CHASE" 2021 Takeharu Ishimoto Neo: The World Ends with You Original Soundtrack
"Rockin' Rockin'"
"SCRAMBLE"
"DIVIDE"
"Jump Over Yourself"
"LAST CALL"
"LITTLE THINGS"

Notes

  1. ↑ Armenian: Ստեֆանի Թոփալյան; Western Armenian: Սթեֆանի Թօփալեան
  2. 1 2 Sources for chart positions are as follows: "Friends",[4] "Beyond Myself",[5] "Pride (A Part of Me)".[6]
  3. ↑ "Changin'" did not enter the Billboard Japan Hot 100, but peaked at number 48 on the physical Top Single Sales chart.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 Shegrikyan, Zaven (March 24, 2015). "Exclusive interview with Stephanie Topalian!". ESC Bubble. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  2. ↑ Jiandani, Sanjay (April 28, 2015). "Eurovision Armenia: Genealogy meet the president of Armenia". Esctoday. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "ステファニーの作品" [LISA Products]. Oricon. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). February 6, 2008. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). March 12, 2008. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). January 21, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  7. ↑ "有料音楽配信認定 月次認定作品" (in Japanese). RIAJ. July 20, 2017. 2017年6月. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). July 31, 2008. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Netlistinn viku 21, 2015". Archived from the original on May 31, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  10. ↑ Wiwibloggs: Tamar Kaprelian releases ESC collaboration "The Otherside"
  11. ↑ iTunes: "The Otherside"

Further reading

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