
Hatsune Miku made her American TV debut on Wednesday night, performing on none other than the Late Show with David Letterman. Miku, of course, is a vocaloid, a super-famous Japanese idol who just happens to be virtual. The turquoise-haired star surprised viewers by performing an English song, “Sharing the World”.
Mr. Letterman, meanwhile, looked a little nonplussed.
The veteran TV host dealt admirably with the challenges of appearing alongside a virtual idol, thanking Miku repeatedly before quipping, “It’s like being on Willie Nelson’s bus.” We don’t think he’ll be lining up to buy any Miku merchandise any time soon though…
▼TV history in the making!
“Sharing the World” is the theme song of the MIKU EXPO, although if you find her English a little difficult to make out (Japanese synthesisers currently sound better on Japanese songs than English ones. Who knew?!) you should check out some of her songs in Japanese too.
Miku got some decent exposure Stateside this year when she opened for Lady Gaga on sections of Gaga’s art-rave concert tour The ARTPOP Ball. The Letterman performance is a push for the New-York based MIKU EXPO, which includes an art exhibition dedicated to all things Miku, on at Wallplay until October 19th. She will also be performing “live” in Los Angeles on October 11th and 12th, and then back in New York to play at the Hammerstein Ballroom on the 17th and 18th.


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