Ayumi Hamasaki Sekai - [Utada Hikaru] The 40th Thread

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Utada Hikaru is a Japanese American singer/songwriter who by the age of 15 had already risen to the top of Japan's music industry. Born on January 19, 1983, Utada was exposed the music industry at an early age by her parents who were both musicians. The recording studio was often like a second home to her because of the long hours she had to spend there due to her parents' work. Growing up, Utada lived in both Tokyo and New York. These aspects of her early life would later influence her musical compositions.

At age 12, Utada made her first professional recording as part of the musical project, U3. Soon after, she made a series of releases under the name Cubic U. In 1998, Utada moved to Tokyo to attend the American School in Japan, from which she later graduated. During her time in Tokyo, Utada was still writing and recording for Toshiba EMI. On December 9, 1998, Utada Hikaru released her debut Japanese single, Automatic/Time Will Tell. She became an instant hit. The single sold over 2 million copies and was followed by the million selling single, Movin' on Without You.

On March 10, 1999, Utada Hikaru released her debut album, First Love. First Love sold over 7 million copies in Japan alone and over 10 million copies worldwide making it the best selling album in Japanese music history. A re-cut single from the album, also titled First Love, was released and reached #2 on the Oricon charts. By age 16 Utada Hikaru was already a household name in Japan.

In 2001, 2 years after her massive debut success, Utada returned with her sophomore album, Distance. There was controversy concerning the album as it was to be released on the same day as Hamasaki Ayumi's first best album, A-Best. Hamasaki, then the top selling idol in Japan, was forced by her label Avex Trax to deliberately release her best album on the same day as Distance. Both artists denied that there was a rivalry. On March 28, 2001, Distance was released. In the album's first week of sales, it took the #1 spot. In the second week, Hamasaki's A-Best topped the charts. In the end, Distance became the best selling album of 2001 and the #4 best selling album in Japanese history.

In 2002, Utada released DEEP RIVER, another #1 selling album featuring the theme song of the popular video game Kingdom Hearts, Hikari. The album became the #8 best selling album in Japanese history. She also surprised the Japanese public by marrying her long time music video director, Kiriya Kazuaki, 15 years her senior. Following the success of the album, Utada took a break from the Japanese music scene, only releasing the single COLORS in 2003 and her first best album, Utada Hikaru SINGLE COLLECTION VOL. 1 in 2004. The compilation became the best selling album of 2004.

In 2004, Utada once again shocked the public by announcing that she was to debut in the United States. On July 3, 2004, she released the single Easy Breezy. Fans were shocked to see the shy singer in the promotional video, poolside and in a bikini. On September 8, Utada released her debut English album, EXODUS (released under the name Utada and not Utada Hikaru). Though the album only sold 55,000 copies in the U.S, it sold over a million copies in Japan. Utada also noted that the development of EXODUS influenced the sound of her later releases.

In 2006, Utada Hikaru returned with her fourth Japanese album, ULTRA BLUE, which featured the Kingdom Hearts II theme song, Passion. Though the album reached #1 on the Oricon charts and became the #7 album of the year, it also became her first album to sell less than a million copies, selling about 900,000 copies. To promote the album, Utada embarked on a nationwide tour titled "UTADA UNITED 2006".

In 2007, Utada released the single Flavor of Life, an insert song for the popular dorama, Hana Yori Dango 2. The single became the most downloaded ringtone in Japanese music history with over 5.5 million copies sold. In addition, the single sold over 670,000 physical copies, becoming the #2 best selling single of the year. On March 19, 2008, Utada Hikaru released the album HEART STATION, her fifth consecutive album to reach #1 on the charts. The album sold over a million copies, becoming the #5 best selling album of 2008 as well as the most downloaded album of the year (with 15 million full downloads).

In 2009, Utada once again returned in the US music scene with the album, This Is The One. The album reached #69 on the US Billboard Top 200 Charts. This made Utada only the 7th Japanese artist to accomplish this and the first one in 23 years. The album was also a digital success, reaching #2 on the iTunes pop albums chart as well as #18 overall (the first Japanese artist to accomplish this). In Japan, the album reached #3 on the Oricon album charts and topped the foreign album charts at #1 for 5 consecutive weeks. By the end of 2009, Utada was named the most influential artist of the decade by Tokyo Times. In early 2010, Utada held her first US Tour, Utada In The Flesh, which included 2 dates in London.

In August 2010, Utada Hikaru announced that she was taking a break from music. She will release Utada Hikaru SINGLE COLLECTION VOL. 2 on November 24, 2010 with 5 new songs.

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Utada publicly denounces release of English compilation album
On October 24, 2010, Utada made a statement through Twitter criticizing Universal Japan's decision to release a compilation of her English works and their audacity in placing the album for release on the same date as her Japanese compilation.

"The release of "Utada the best" is entirely against my will. I wish that my fans won't have to buy it. There's no new material in it."

Utada In The Flesh footage being released soon!
On Oct. 15, Utada Teruzane (Utada's father) announced that they are currently in talks with Apple to release the concert footage from Utada's 2010 US Tour.

"We have been discussing w/ Apple i-Tunes to utilize the US/London 2010 tour video, by the way, it is already mixed/edited. teruzane"

English Compilation Album: Utada The Best
Universal Japan has announced an English compilation album to be released under the name Utada on 11/24 (the same day as SINGLE COLLECTION VOL. II).

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Release Date: 11/24/2010

Tracklist:
01. Come Back To Me
02. Easy Breezy
03. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence - FYI
04. You Make Me Want To Be A Man
05. This One (Crying Like A Child)
06. Exodus '04
07. Apple And Cinnamon
08. Automatic Part II
09. Devil Inside
10. Kremlin Dusk
11. Sanctuary (Opening)
12. Sanctuary (Ending)
13. Exodus '04 (JJ FLORES Double J Radio Mix)
14. Devil Inside (RJD2 Remix)
15. Come Back To Me (Tony Moran & Warren Rigg Radio Edit)
16. Dirty Desire (Mike Rizzo Radio Edit)

Utada opens official Twitter Account!
Like she hinted at in her recent blog posts, Utada has opened a Twitter account. In fact, there are three.
http://twitter.com/utadahikaru
http://www.twitter.com/u3music
http://www.twitter.com/hikki_staff

Utada to star in new commercial for Pepsi NEX
The CM will air on October 2
Screenshots below

Spoiler:

Other famous artists with lucrative contracts with Pepsi NEX include Koda Kumi and Perfume.
Watch the 15 sec, 30 sec, special version of the CM + interview with Hikki here (gallery also shows 2 new promo pics):
http://www.pepsi.co.jp/gallery/index.html

Yokohama Arena Concerts!
Utada will be having 2 shows at the famed Yokohama Arena on Decemeber 8th and 9th.

The concert is titled WILD LIFE

New Digital Single: Hymne à l'amour ～愛のアンセム～ (Ai no Anthem)
Rumored release date: October 9

Promo Pic:
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The song is a cover of Édith Piaf's "Hymne à l'amour" and will feature Japanese and French lyrics.
Preview on Hikki's official website:
http://www.emimusic.jp/hikki/release/
*Note for Mac users: If you are having a hard time trying to open the file, right click on the file icon, go to Get Info, and change the extension of the file from .wax to .asx. Then open with VLC media player. Hope that helps!

Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2

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Release Date: 11/24/2010

Tracklist:

Disc 1:
01. Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro (誰かの願いが叶うころ)
02. Be My Last
03. Passion
04. Keep Tryin'
05. This Is Love
06. Boku wa Kuma (ぼくはくま)
07. Flavor Of Life　-Ballad Version-
08. Beautiful World
09. Kiss & Cry
10. HEART STATION
11. Stay Gold
12. Prisoner Of Love
13. Beautiful World -PLANiTb Acoustica Mix-

Disc 2:
01. Arashi no Megami (嵐の女神 )
02. Show Me Love (Not A Dream)
03. Goodbye Happiness
04. Hymne a l'amour
05. Can't Wait 'Til Christmas

First Press Bonus:
*Foldable sleeve + case
*Enclosed Kuma Charm
*Application ticket for lottery for Yokohama concert tickets

PREORDER NOW: CDJapan, YesAsia, HMV Japan

Simple and Clean featured in new Kingdom Hearts TV CM

Oricon Favorite Artists Poll 2010
Utada was voted #7 in the most recent edition of Oricon's annual poll for favorite artists. Utada previously topped the list in 2004, 2007, and 2008.

Link: http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/specia...909/index.html

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*Numbers reflect peak positions on the Oricon Weekly Album/Singles Charts. Info provided by Jpop Stop Wiki.

Japanese Discography

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US Discography (as Utada)

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*All info provided by Jpop Stop Wiki

[1999] (Yusen Awards) Top Award "Special Prize"
[1999] (Yusen Awards) Top Award "Best New Artist"
[1999] (Record Awards) Best Album (First Love)
[1999] (Record Awards) Best Song (Automatic)
[2000] (Golden Disc) The Triple Crown
[2000] (Golden Disc) Artist of the Year
[2000] (Golden Disc) Song of the Year (Automatic, Movin' on without you, Addicted To You)
[2000] (Golden Disc) Pop Album of the Year (First Love)
[2000] (Golden Disc) Music Video of the Year (SINGLE CLIP COLLECTION VOL.1)
[2000] (World Music Awards) Best-Selling Japanese Artist
[2000] (JASRAC) Gold Award (Automatic)
[2000] (JASRAC) Silver Award (time will tell)
[2001] (Golden Disc) Song of the Year (Wait & See ~Risk~, For You / Time Limit)
[2001] MTV Japan Viewer's Choice Video (Can You Keep a Secret?)
[2002] SSTV Best Art Direction Video (Traveling)
[2002] SSTV Best Female Video (Traveling)
[2002] SSTV Best Video of the Year (Traveling)
[2002] SSTV Best Music Video (Traveling)
[2002] MTV Japan Best R&B Artist
[2002] (Golden Disc) Song of the Year (Can You Keep A Secret?)
[2002] (Golden Disc) Song of the Year (Traveling)
[2002] (Golden Disc) Pop Album of the Year (Distance)
[2002] (JASRAC) Silver Award (Can You Keep A Secret?)
[2003] (World Music Awards) Best-Selling Japanese Artist
[2003] J-WAVE Best Female Artist
[2003] SSTV Best Female Video (SAKURA Drops)
[2003] MTV JAPAN Best Female Video (SAKURA Drops)
[2003] (Golden Disc) The Triple Crown
[2003] (Golden Disc) Artist of the Year
[2003] (Golden Disc) Song of the Year (Hikari)
[2003] (Golden Disc) Song of the Year (SAKURA Drops)
[2003] (Golden Disc) Song of the Year (COLORS)
[2003] (Golden Disc) Rock & Pop Album of the Year (Deep River)
[2003] (Golden Disc) Music Video of the Year (Traveling)
[2003] JASRAC Silver Award (Traveling)
[2003] JASRAC Silver Award (Foreign Production) (Hikari)
[2004] AMD Award for Best Music Composer (UH LIVE STREAMING 20 Dai wa Ikeike!)
[2004] (World Music Awards) Best-Selling Japanese Artist
[2004] Ranked #1 on Oricon's Top Ten Favorite Artists poll
[2005] (Golden Disc) Song of the Year (Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro)
[2005] (Golden Disc) Rock & Pop Album of the Year (Utada Hikaru SINGLE COLLECTION VOL. 1)
[2005] (Golden Disc) International Rock & Pop Album of the Year (Exodus)
[2005] (Golden Disc) Music Video of the Year (Utada Hikaru in Budokan 2004 'Hikaru no 5')
[2006] (Golden Disc) Song of the Year (Be My Last)
[2007] (Golden Disc) Rock & Pop Album of the Year (ULTRA BLUE)
[2007] (Golden Disc) 10 Best Albums (ULTRA BLUE)
[2007] (Golden Disc) Million Sales Album Artist Card (ULTRA BLUE)
[2007] Ranked #1 on Oricon's Top Ten Favorite Artists poll
[2008] (Golden Disc) Single of the Year (Flavor Of Life)
[2008] (Golden Disc) PC Download Song of the Year (Flavor Of Life)
[2008] (Golden Disc) Best 10 Singles (Flavor of Life)
[2008] (Golden Disc) Best 5 Chaku-Uta Songs (Flavor of Life-Ballad Version)
[2008] (Golden Disc) Best 5 Chaku-Uta Full Songs (Flavor of Life-Ballad Version-)
[2008] (Golden Disc) Best 5 Chaku-Uta Full Songs (Flavor of Life)
[2008] (Golden Disc) Best 5 PC Download Songs (Beautiful World)
[2008] (Golden Disc) Best 5 PC Download Songs (Flavor of Life)
[2008] Best Monthly Airplay Record at Japanese Radio (Heart Station)
[2008] Radio Television Hong Kong 19th International Pop Poll Awards - Top Japanese Gold Song (Beautiful World)
[2008] Radio Television Hong Kong 19th International Pop Poll Awards - Top Japanese Artist
[2008] MTV Japan Best Video from a Film (Beautiful World, from Neon Genesis Evangelion)
[2008] Ranked #1 on Oricon's Top Ten Favorite Artists poll
[2009] (Golden Disc) Best 5 Chaku-Uta Songs (Prisoner of Love)
[2009] (Golden Disc) Best 5 Chaku-Uta Full Songs (Prisoner of Love)
[2008] (Golden Disc) Best 5 PC Download Songs (Prisoner of Love)
[2009] (Golden Disc) Best 5 Albums (HEART STATION)
[2009] The 1st CD Shop First Prize Award Best CD Album (HEART STATION)
[2009] Jasrac Award 2009 10 Best Interactive Songs (Prisoner of Love)
[2009] Named the most influential artist of the decade (2000-2010) by Japan Times
[2010] Ranked #7 on Oricon's Top Ten Favorite Artists poll