12 Female Singers with Diminished Vocal Abilities [Retirement Imminent, Throat Cancer]

Once renowned for their powerful vocals, these 12 female singers now face the heartbreaking reality of diminished singing abilities, some even nearing retirement due to throat cancer. Their stories inspire empathy and reflection on the fragility of the human voice. Here is the English translation of the text and the outline with headings and detailed paragraphs: 12 Female Singers Who Can No Longer Sing or Have Declined in Vocal Ability [※Retirement Imminent・Throat Cancer]

Yusa Matsuyama: The Soulful Singer-Songwriter Whose Voice Has Faded

Yusa Matsuyama is a Japanese singer-songwriter who debuted in 1972 at the age of 18 with the single “Iie wa Iranai.” She won the Japan Record Award in 2013 and was the first singer-songwriter to be selected as a Cultural Affairs and Labor Award recipient. Matsuyama is known for her gentle and soothing songs like “Haru yo Koi” and the theme songs for Studio Ghibli films. However, it is said that since around 2014, Matsuyama has been unable to sing. The turning point was reportedly a performance at the Imperial Theatre in Tokyo, where her voice sounded strained and weak, like she had inhaled helium gas. The loss of her vocal range and power is attributed to the natural deterioration of her vocal cords due to aging, as she is now 70 years old. Despite this, Matsuyama still receives performance offers, and her fans continue to admire her as a legendary singer.

Noko: The Powerful Vocalist of Rebecca Whose Physique Changed

Noko was the vocalist of the popular rock band Rebecca, which had a major hit with the song “Friends” in 1991. After the band’s disbandment, Noko continued her solo career until 2001. When she made a comeback appearance on FNS Music Festival in 2009, many fans and viewers commented that her voice had deteriorated. The main factor cited was the change in Noko’s physique – she had gained weight, particularly around her chin, which affected her ability to sing with the same power and agility as in her younger days. While her fans understood the natural changes that come with age and childbirth, they felt that Noko could have better prepared her voice and physique before the comeback performance.

Hamada Mitsuko: The Powerful Enka Singer Who Suddenly Retired

Hamada Mitsuko is a renowned enka singer who was known for her distinctive and powerful vocal style. She debuted in 1964 and achieved great success, becoming a national icon. However, at the peak of her popularity at the age of 36, she suddenly announced her retirement, stating that she just wanted to be a normal housewife. Hamada returned to the music scene in 1990 but has since taken a hiatus from performing, reportedly due to health issues that have made it difficult for her to sing at her full capacity. In 2013, she was hospitalized, and she has expressed her anxiety about not being able to sing perfectly, despite her strong desire to do so.

Godaime Natusko: The Enka Singer Diagnosed with Dystonia

Godaime Natsuko is an enka singer who is also the wife of actor Ryotaro Sugi. She began her career as a model and later transitioned into singing, facing several setbacks before finally achieving success in 1987. Natsuko has been a regular performer on the Kohaku Uta Gassen and has been active in various media and charitable activities. However, around 2019, she began experiencing throat discomfort, which eventually led to a diagnosis of dystonia, a neurological disorder that affects muscle control. While Natsuko has had to suspend her singing activities, she remains hopeful that she will be able to perform again once the condition is managed.

Seiko Matsuda: The Eternal Idol Whose Powerful Voice Has Faded

Seiko Matsuda is a Japanese idol singer who rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s. She is known for her hit songs like “Aishiteru to Ittekure” and her distinctive “Seiko-chan” hairstyle. Matsuda has maintained her status as a beloved and influential figure in Japanese pop culture, often topping popularity polls. However, in recent years, her powerful and clear vocal abilities have declined, with her high notes becoming strained and her overall vocal quality sounding heavier and less agile. While Matsuda continues to perform, her fans have expressed disappointment at the noticeable deterioration of her voice, which was once considered exceptional among idol singers.

Hirose Kumi: The “Queen of Winter” Whose Vocal Confidence Has Waned

Hirose Kumi is a Japanese singer-songwriter who gained fame in the early 2000s with her hit songs and wide vocal range. She received training from renowned vocal coaches in Los Angeles and had a successful career, including a sold-out performance at the Nippon Budokan. However, Hirose has faced periods of activity suspension, which she attributed to a lack of confidence in her singing abilities. In recent years, the effects of aging have become more apparent in her vocal performance, though she continues to engage with her fans through YouTube covers and other projects.

Amuro Namie: The Iconic Idol Whose Vocal Power Has Diminished

Amuro Namie was a hugely popular idol singer in the 1970s, known for her energetic performances and distinctive style. She debuted as part of the “Three Idols” alongside Nakajima Miyuki and Kawai Naoko and went on to have numerous hit songs and albums. Amuro’s powerful and clear vocals were a defining part of her success, but in recent years, her vocal abilities have declined, with her high notes becoming more strained and her overall vocal quality sounding heavier. While Amuro continues to perform, her fans have expressed disappointment at the changes in her voice, which was once considered exceptional.

Hiromi: The “Queen of Winter” Whose Vocal Confidence Has Waned

Hiromi is a Japanese singer-songwriter who gained fame in the early 2000s with her hit songs and wide vocal range. She received training from renowned vocal coaches in Los Angeles and had a successful career, including a sold-out performance at the Nippon Budokan. However, Hiromi has faced periods of activity suspension, which she attributed to a lack of confidence in her singing abilities. In recent years, the effects of aging have become more apparent in her vocal performance, though she continues to engage with her fans through YouTube covers and other projects.

Celine Dion: The Powerhouse Vocalist Sidelined by Neurological Disorder

Celine Dion is a Canadian singer who has achieved immense global success, with over 200 million records sold worldwide. She is known for her powerful and technically impressive vocals, as well as hit songs like “My Heart Will Go On” from the film Titanic. Dion has won numerous Grammy Awards and is considered one of the best-selling female artists of all time. However, in 2022, Dion revealed that she has been diagnosed with the rare neurological disorder Stiff-Person Syndrome, which has made it difficult for her to sing and perform as she once did. Dion has had to postpone or cancel several tours and performances due to this debilitating condition, but she remains hopeful that she will be able to return to the stage in the future.

Nakamori Akina: The Iconic 80s Idol Whose Voice Has Faded

Nakamori Akina was a hugely popular idol singer in the 1980s, known for her hit songs like “Wanna Be a Shōjo” and “Koi wa Monoiro no Yume o Miru.” She was one of the top-selling female artists of the decade, rivaling the success of Seiko Matsuda. Nakamori took a hiatus from the industry in the 2010s due to health issues, and while she has made occasional comebacks, her fans have noted a significant decline in her vocal abilities. Nakamori herself has expressed that she can no longer sing the way she used to, a result of the natural deterioration of her voice over time.

Ohguro Maki: The Resilient Singer-Songwriter Who Overcame Illness

Ohguro Maki is a singer-songwriter who debuted in 1992 and is known for hit songs like “Lalala Anata dake Mitsumeteru.” In 2010, Ohguro announced an indefinite hiatus due to a uterine condition that required extensive treatment, including multiple surgeries and miscarriages. After several years of recovery, Ohguro was able to return to recording and performing, though her fans have noted a change in the power and range of her once-strong vocals. While Ohguro has worked to regain her vocal abilities with the help of vocal coaches and producers, the effects of her health issues are still evident in her current performances.

Q&A: 12 Fading Singers

Here are the Q&A based on the English translation of the text:

What happened to Yusa Matsuyama’s singing ability?

Yusa Matsuyama, a Japanese singer-songwriter, is said to have stopped singing well around 2014. This was reportedly due to her voice becoming strained and her high notes becoming difficult to sing during a musical performance at the Imperial Theatre in Tokyo.

How did Noko’s appearance change over the years?

Noko, the former vocalist of the rock band Rebecca, was criticized for her physical changes when she appeared on TV in 2009. She had gained weight, particularly around her chin, which was a stark contrast to her slim and energetic image from her younger days.

What happened to Misora Hibari’s singing career?

Misora Hibari, a renowned enka singer, suddenly announced her retirement at the peak of her popularity in 1984 at the age of 36. It is believed that her declining vocal abilities due to health issues led to her decision to retire from singing.

How did Goro Matsuda’s singing ability change over time?

Goro Matsuda, a popular enka singer, was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological disorder, in 2019. This condition made it difficult for her to sing and speak, leading her to suspend her singing activities, though she was later able to perform again after treatment.

What happened to Seiko Matsuda’s singing voice in recent years?

Seiko Matsuda, a legendary Japanese idol singer, has experienced a significant decline in her vocal abilities in recent years. Her once-powerful and clear voice has become heavier and she struggles to hit the high notes she was known for in her prime.

Video: 12 Female Singers Who Lost Their Singing Ability or Vocal Strength [*Approaching Retirement/Throat Cancer]