[News] Utada Hikaru named the most influencial artist of the decade by Japan Times

[Polyrhythm]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

^ But I think what some people here are trying to say is that even without Utada, it still would have happened anyways. The groundwork had already been laid. Also, whose to say that if Mai Kuraki's first album had been released ahead of Utada's, that it wouldn't be Mai who gets the credit for bringing R&B to Japan? Hikki is a big deal no doubt and influential too. But I've never thought that she should get sole credit like she usually does for this type of music.

Mai wrote all her lyrics but she didnt compose the songs. Hikki is a song writer. Mai is also a native in Japan, and Utada a foreigner. Both of those add to Utada's appeal and spark interest. Maybe the people at Kuraki's company thought it would be better to use that style seeing how Utada pioneered it with such success