Lisa Lopes replaced by Jpop star Namie Amuro? Left Eye was left off the 20th Anniversary remake of TLC’s biggest hit “Waterfalls.” TLC has worked with Namie Amuro before, appearing in the music video for her new song "Hands on Me. So this could be a sign of something more permanent.

Lisa Lopes is not heard at all on the new version of the TLC signature hit. This could be a sign that TLC is pulling the Jpop star Namie Amuro into a more visible place in the 90s hit girl group.

Namie Amuro performs the iconic rap that was originally done by Left Eye nearly twenty years ago. The remake was released as a dedication to TLC’s fans in Japan, which could explain why Namie Amuro was chosen as the replacement, but this isn’t the first time they groups has teamed with the popular Japanese singer. Watkins and Thomas recently made cameo appearances in a music video for Amuro's "Hands on Me." Namie has been working Dallas Austin, who has been a constant TLC-collaborator for years. So maybe this has been a long time coming.

Lisa Lopes’ family was reportedly very hurt that Tionne Watkins and Rozanda Thomas would hire the Japanese singer to fill in for the late singer. They said they found out about the replacement through a fan’s website.

Reigndrop Lopes, the late singer’s sister, told TMZ that “I did not know about it until a fan posted it online. I mean it would have been nice if they would have given us a heads up before being surprised."
She also said her mother wanted to see her late daughter’s memory honored by keeping her on the track.

"Waterfall" is one of TLC's biggest hits. The single topped Billboard chart for seven weeks and was nominated for two Grammys at the 1996 Grammy Awards.

Lisa Lopes was killed in a car crash in La Ceiba, Honduras on April 25, 2002. Lopes was driving the car and the crash was caught on videotape. The footage was later including in a documentary on her life called “The Last Days of Left Eye.”

 by Tony Sokol