[bluegie]

To sum up what ayumisrael has said:

Back then there were some R&B and hip-hop artists in Japanese market, but none of them could really fight into the mainstream market. (They produced most likely heavy R&B songs and Japanese people just could not get into it I think?) When hikki released Automatic, you can see it's a R&B-pop fusion and people were like "wow". Also, back then Toshiba used a strategy that worked really well to increase her popularity: hiding hikki. Hikki wasn't on any tv or radio show at all, and this create a stir in the public wondering who she really was (well they knew how she looked like since she was on her own pvs, but still they couldn't see her in shows). I remember that before First Love was released, the tv company has already signed a deal with Toshiba that a song would be a drama opening theme (which was First Love). When First Love released, everyone rushed to buy the album that it was sold out on the first two or three days (can't remember exactly). I think the initial press was about 2 million copies btw. Then the drama began and luckily it had a high ratings, which attracted lots of people to listen songs inside like First Love, Never let go (a song always played in the drama as well). This really boosted the sales. And I think hikki didn't really go on to any show until June (three months after album release). I think she attended MS that time, and if not beaten it's still the highest rating of the MS show ever.

but..

She might be awesome but that's not a reason for a phenomenal success

To correct that , she is awesome, and she's part of the phenomenal success .

Originally Posted by Picaflor 7/4

So the only thing I can think of, is that we dislike it now, but back then it was probably a very revolutionary piece of work.

I agree with that. Looking back her discography, First Love is quite blend, not as distinctive as the other albums. But no matter what back in 1999 it was a fresh hit to the Japanese.

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

Having ur songs on popular tv shows, like successful dramas = good marketing...

Most of Hikki biggest hits like First Love, Can you keep a secret?, Sakura DROPS and Flavor of Life had VERY strong tie-ins... so, yeah, Hikki's marketing team is VERY good =) Good enough to keep her in without really having her to promote stuff...



Well, I really doubt... Mariah Carrey was releasing songs like First Love for a decade when the song got popular... And Mariah herself was pretty popular in Japan

Every artist in Japan have tie ins almost every single time when they release songs. It's just about being fortunate or not if the songs can be connected to popular dramas. First Love's drama? No one really knows if it would have high ratings, as Matsushima Nanako was just arise and no one could guarantee that she could bring the success to the drama. I agree that HERO drama helped CYKAS? because it had two really popular actor/actress there. And for SAKURA DOROPPUSU, well the drama wasn't even popular at all. Rather it's her illness boosting up the sales.

I dun see why hikki's success if overshadowed by the tie ins and stuff, as every artist is doing the same thing.

Also, I dun think it's fair to connect Mariah Carey with hikki, especially just for a song First Love. Yes Mariah Carey does release that type of songs for a decade or so, but in Japan it's rather new. Also, no matter what First Love is still a really good song, which captures lots of Japanese's hearts (and some of us as well ).