[Utada Hikaru] Japanese music waits in despair for the Goddess's return in her 44th thread

[Not Fade Away]

Hahaaa, I actually can't stand 'Easy Breezy' on that album. When she put it out as the first single, I literally shook my head. Don't get me wrong, I love Utada, but there are definitely some 'skippable' tracks on her albums for me. It's funny because I read a lot about Utada (swear I'm not obsessed lol) and even now I find out new things about her or her discography.

Like I didn't realize 'Drama' on Distance was a collaboration between her and Takuro from Glay. I don't know if they actually worked on it together, or if she sampled a guitar piece from one of Glay's songs, but I still think it's awesome.

-- Not to side-track from the Exodus conversation, but does anyone know if any famous JPop/KPop artists attended her concerts?

I am always curious about this, because we know that Gackt & Namie went to Ayu's, and we all know Namie is familiar with Utada (her cover of 'Kettobase') and we saw Koda Kumi singing along to Utada's songs on that Heyx3 CD singles countdown thing or w/e it was.

[Polyrhythm]

Kazutoshi Sakurai from Mr. Children and Koshi Inaba from B'z attended.

[amorphose]

Originally Posted by Not Fade Away

I am always curious about this, because we know that Gackt & Namie went to Ayu's, and we all know Namie is familiar with Utada (her cover of 'Kettobase') and we saw Koda Kumi singing along to Utada's songs on that Heyx3 CD singles countdown thing or w/e it was.

Is there a clip of that? I'd love to see! haha

[ahtka-chan]

Originally Posted by Paparazzi

I also always thought she was saying "Ranger" until i goggled the lyrics but it just didn't make sense to me, lmao.

I think Hikki meant that everyone wanted her to be their shoulder to cry, to be someone to lean...

[koumori]

Originally Posted by ahtka-chan

I think Hikki meant that everyone wanted her to be their shoulder to cry, to be someone to lean...

She doesn't say ranger, she says angel.

[Not Fade Away]

I just can't get over how Elton John was talking about her at the time ) ....It's sad that no one else recognized her talent.

Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeez if Utada had had a good marketing team she would have dominated in the States. Hopefully now that EMI will handle her English-language releases she'll have more success. I feel like they do an AMAZING job promoting her in Japan (her face is everywhere when she has a new release), so they probably would do an equally amazing job in the US.

I really hope she doesn't take longer than a year, because I've already burned out the new songs on Complete Singles Collection Vol 2. I'm now relying on Namie to get me through.

It's even more frustrating because I felt like she was getting back to the R&B/Rock roots that was First Love/Distance/Deep River. Not that I don't like her techno-y stuff, but she belts more when she does r&b and I love it haha.

As for that clip, amorphose (sorry I don't know your real name, lol) the person that posted it took it down, but I will try my hardest to find it! (Also because I love it myself lol)

[Not Fade Away]

Sorry for the double post!!!

I found it:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6i...2007-hey_music

It's really blurry though, so I'll try and find an HQ version -- you can see Kuu singing along at the 2:30 mark (Later she sings along to Addicted to You haha)

[Polyrhythm]

I have a weird feeling that if they did this countdown a couple years from now, it'd be like, 50% filled with AKB48 songs

[Not Fade Away]

Haha probably -- ugh I wish I could find an hq version! There's also a Heyx3 Best Selling CDs countdown, but I can't find that ---

That countdown is my favorite too because whenever they say the number 1 album as being Utada's and I see that she's like 2 million+ ahead of the runner up, I get so happy hahaha.

[Not Fade Away]

Sorry for the double post, guys!

I just wanted to mention that Utada's Video for 'Goodbye Happiness' is up for Video of the Year at the MTV Music Awards in Japan.

Click here to vote for her: http://www.mtvjapan.com/vmaj/nominee...eo_of_the_year

EDT: She's up against Namie, but damn....when my loyalties come down to it, I always choose Utada hahaha. Also her video had more meaning this year.

[Rogue]

I've chosen SNSD. I'm sorry but I think they deserve it more than Utada. It has nothing to do with loyalty because I really do love Utada and her music, but SNSD is a group that trains everyday and works super hard to attain what they've attained until now.
Utada's clip was sweet, but it's one of her lesser ones. Nothing compares to Kiriya Kazuaki's work for me.

[Polyrhythm]

Don't worry, it's okay to like generic, cookie cutter, ksongs....apparently I mean.

[Mirrorcle Monster]

About Goodbye Happiness, it is one if the best song ever and waaaay better than Gee (even if Gee is epic too) . But the PV doesnt deserve any award

[Not Fade Away]

I think it deserves an award just because it has a lot of meaning to her fans. Yeah it's simplistic, but when I watched it I thought it was a really great tribute to us, and i'm sure that's partially why it was nominated too.

[hayasaki]

^i honestly became teary eyed the first time i watched it. So the nomination is not a joke.

[mirrorcleworld]

can anyone here tell me whether Be My Last and Passion (CD Only) is actually housed in just carboard sleeves without any jewel cases? Thanks~

[Keiichi_JPU]

Originally Posted by mirrorcleworld

can anyone here tell me whether Be My Last and Passion (CD Only) is actually housed in just carboard sleeves without any jewel cases? Thanks~

I know of the existence of these two Passions:

- CD only cardboard sleeve (saw this at HMV Oxford Street, London)
- CD+DVD jewel case (I own it)

I don't know whether a CD-only jewel case exists or not, but I haven't seen it.

[koumori]

Originally Posted by hayasaki

i honestly became teary eyed the first time i watched it. So the nomination is not a joke.

Me too. Glad it wasn't just me~

[JackieRos]

this thread is still alive O.o

[Not Fade Away]

Holllaaa! hell yeah it is, haha.

I wonder if she'll win at the MTV awards...probably not. Namie always appears so she usually wins.