MR.VOCALIST 2

The second album in the series let the fans choose the songs, because Martin wanted to make it together with them. The label ran a request vote on Recochoku, a mobile music site run by Label Mobile, and on 5 January 2009 announced the twelve songs chosen from twenty candidates. Where the first album had sung Japanese women's songs in English, this one turned to female singers from around the world. The label credits the originals to Mariah Carey ("HERO", 1993), Alicia Keys ("No One", 2007), Cyndi Lauper ("Time After Time", 1984), Celine Dion ("My Heart Will Go On", 1997), Faith Hill ("There You'll Be", 2001), Christina Aguilera ("Beautiful", 2002), the Carpenters ("SUPERSTAR", 1971), the Bangles ("Eternal Flame", 1989), Whitney Houston ("I Will Always Love You", 1992), Toni Braxton ("Unbreak My Heart", 1996) and Carole King ("You've Got A Friend", 1971), and the album closes with the traditional "Amazing Grace". The ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro plays on "Time After Time". The lead track, "HERO", became the closing theme of a Nippon TV programme from 21 January 2009. Sony Music Japan International released the album as SICP-2148, priced at 2,730 yen including tax, and billed it as a Japan-first release; first pressings carried a postcard for a prize draw of a special DVD. On the release day Martin played a special show at Shibuya duo for 250 fans drawn by lottery from buyers of MR.VOCALIST, and footage from it came out on 3 June 2009 on the DVD MR.VOCALIST ~A Special Night In Tokyo~. The album was No. 1 among international releases on Oricon's daily chart on its first day and peaked at No. 25 on the weekly album chart, where it stayed for 11 weeks. Later in 2009 it came out in the United States as Timeless, with "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" and "White Christmas" added as bonus tracks.