SANRIO, Inc. is thrilled to announce that 14 year-old Keke Palmer, one of today’s brightest new stars, will headline its new ‘tween-targeted Hello Kitty CD due out in late 2008.
Hello World, the first-ever Hello Kitty CD, is being created in partnership with New York’s Cherry Lane Music Publishing Co. Inc., home to the catalogues of Elvis Presley, the Black Eyed Peas, Wolfmother, John Legend and Quincy Jones. The CD will offer 11 tracks of original pop tunes resulting in an upbeat and perky compilation that reflects the life-embracing mood of the Hello Kitty brand.
Can Do Keke!
Belting out the Hello Kitty headline track, “Come On, Come On”, Keke Palmer the SAG-nominated & Image Award winning actress mirrors the fun and friendship that’s synonymous with Hello Kitty and the entire SANRIO family of characters. A dynamic star, Keke, part of DAS Communications’ impressive roster, starred in the critically-acclaimed Akeelah & The Bee, Jump In and The Longshots, a movie with Ice Cube to be released this summer.
Keke also has a debut solo album, SO UNCOOL, which was released in September 2007. Keke models girl empowerment, an integral trait of the Hello Kitty brand.
“I’ve always loved Hello Kitty,” Keke admits happily, “so when Cherry Lane brought the opportunity to me, I was so excited!” She recalls being given a diamond Hello Kitty compact mirror as a gift from Screen Actors Guild for being the youngest nominee in a leading actress category – and has been a collector ever since. “I have tons of Hello Kitty things like, lip gloss, watches, earrings, purses and bracelets. I have it all.”
In Japan, where traditional greetings call for exchanging small gifts, “Come On, Come On” is Keke’s gift to SANRIO’s core fan base – 5 to 15 year-old girls.
“It’s fun to work with someone that so perfectly mirrors the life-loving attitude of Hello Kitty,” says Andrea Sobel, Vice President of Marketing for SANRIO, Inc. “Tweens love Hello Kitty, tweens love music and tweens love Keke. It’s a perfect fit!”
Behind the Music
Hello World is just one endeavor resulting from the multi-year joint venture between SANRIO, Inc. and Cherry Lane to produce original music for Hello Kitty and other character brands under the SANRIO umbrella.
For Hello World, writers and performers were hand-picked by SANRIO and Cherry Lane and primarily came from Cherry Lane’s impressive roster. “Come On, Come On” was co-penned by Nini Camps and Gary Phillips (producer of the popular Kidz Bop albums). Other Hello World songwriters and producers include Toby Gad, the writer behind Fergie’s #1 song, “Big Girls Don't Cry”and Gen Rubin, who brings his Grammy-nominated talents to three Hello World songs in total.
“In today’s marketplace, where music enhances everything it touches, Sanrio and Cherry Lane are creating a musical sound and identity that will extend the reach of its properties,” explains Richard Stumpf, Senior Vice President, Creative & Marketing for Cherry Lane.
Hello Kitty Hit Parade: More Music, More Fun!
Hello World and “Come On, Come On” aren’t the only notes on Hello Kitty’s music curriculum…
Hello Kitty-philes can collect a whole slew of Hello Kitty-branded music products including an MP3 Player, a jammin’ plug and play microphone, Hello Kitty CD cases and of course, Hello Kitty rockin’ apparel. Hello Kitty even joins musical luminaries like Matchbox Twenty and Ringo Starr by offering fans a cutting-edge must-have musical accessory – the USB bracelet, where boogie meets bangle!
So look out world! Keke Palmer and Hello Kitty are keeping music lovers engaged with perky personality, fun-loving attitude and a commitment to harmony at every turn!