[Utada Hikaru] Finishing the Decade with a Bang in her 39th Thread

Polyrhythm · #1 11th September 2010, 08:17 PM

Spoiler:

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.

Spoiler:

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.

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

Promo Pic:

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

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

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

Japanese Discography

Spoiler:

US Discography (as Utada)

Spoiler:

*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

Picaflor 7/4 · #2 11th September 2010, 11:12 PM

Now that you made the new utada thread, you have to live up to my legacy of creating a really funny and kick ass introduction post. heh

Mirai Noah · #3 12th September 2010, 01:46 AM

I love the first post, with the Kuma waving XD

Pieces_of_SEVEN · #4 12th September 2010, 02:00 AM

NEWS: coming soon.

of course.

dreamland2.0 · #5 12th September 2010, 02:21 AM

I love the Kumas!!

Picaflor 7/4 · #6 12th September 2010, 02:27 AM

wdym track list for the new album isn't in order? it isn't completed but it's in order. chronological order that is. it's not like she's gonna throw a whammy on us and put boku wa kuma as the first song, and dareka no, as the last.

Pieces_of_SEVEN · #7 12th September 2010, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Picaflor 7/4

wdym track list for the new album isn't in order? it isn't completed but it's in order. chronological order that is. it's not like she's gonna throw a whammy on us and put boku wa kuma as the first song, and dareka no, as the last.

We don't know where she will put the new songs. Could be the beginning, the end, or even perhaps in between.

Paparazzi · #8 12th September 2010, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Picaflor 7/4

wdym track list for the new album isn't in order? it isn't completed but it's in order. chronological order that is. it's not like she's gonna throw a whammy on us and put boku wa kuma as the first song, and dareka no, as the last.

artists do that a lot, actually.

Keiichi_JPU · #9 12th September 2010, 04:11 AM

Considering Single Collection Volume 1 was completely in chronological order, Volume 2 will probably be the same, I'm guessing with the new tracks at the end, to make sense.

Or maaaaybe.. she's gonna come up with a 2CD-edition, CD1 Single Collection and CD2 mini-album with the new tracks.

But that's kinda un-hikki-like, sounds too much like something Avex would do.
I'm still praying for a CD+DVD version, though!! Although that's also unlikely.

Picaflor 7/4 · #10 12th September 2010, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keiichi_JPU

Considering Single Collection Volume 1 was completely in chronological order, Volume 2 will probably be the same, I'm guessing with the new tracks at the end, to make sense.

Or maaaaybe.. she's gonna come up with a 2CD-edition, CD1 Single Collection and CD2 mini-album with the new tracks.

But that's kinda un-hikki-like, sounds too much like something Avex would do.
I'm still praying for a CD+DVD version, though!! Although that's also unlikely.

cd+dvd version of her cds is un-hikki like. alternate covers is un-hikki like, having more than 1 cd per album is un-hikki like, and having the songs in anything except chronological order for her "single collection vol. 2" is un-hikki like. lol We pretty much have it down, as to what is going to happen. Chronological order of all the A-sides of her singles from Ultra Blue till now, 1 cover, 1 versjion, no bonus dvd, no extra music videos, no bonus material, etc. When is her "going full blast until the end" going to start?

Although I do hope that this one album will be that one exception, and have a ton of extra stuff since we won't hear from her for a few years starting 2011. I don't get it. didn't she say before she leaves, she will go full blast with her music? When is that going to start? To me that means music videos, singles, release dates, promotion, live performances, etc. Cause as far as I know, we only have 4 months left till 2011 and since her announcing the new album, anything has yet to happen.

FIRSTKLAS · #11 12th September 2010, 04:28 AM

Anyone think Single Collection Vol. 2 will outsell to LOVE?

I'm pretty interested to see how it will turn out since this is Hikki's last release before going on hiatus: I wonder if that will affect its chart life at all...

Picaflor 7/4 · #12 12th September 2010, 04:35 AM

^none of her albums have ever sold less than a million copies in japan with the exception of ultra blue (which sold just under that). I think it's safe to say it will do well. Besides, with the announcement of her hiatus, it will probably do even better.

First Love - 7 million
Distance - 4 million
DEEP RIVER - 3 million
Single Collection Vol. 1 - 2 million
EXODUS - 1 million
ULTRA BLUE - 909,000 Thousand
HEART STATION - 1 million
This Is The One - 200,000 Thousand

Although it seems with every album the number drops, 7 to 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 million.

jeeze. is jpop stop/wiki correct? tito only sold 200,000 copies? that's horrible for hikki's standards. Exodus sold 1 million copies. I guess tito really isn't that great. :/ I knew she should have stuck to her own experimental pop rather than try and please the american audience with that "trying too hard to be mainstream" sound.

Do you believe her last Utada Hikaru album was Heart Station which came out in 2008? 2 years ago! and the first single for it was boku wa kuma which was released in 2006!! jeeze. So in a way, Heart Station started back in 2006. It's now 2010. We need another album! I can only listen to my favorite songs so many times before they get boring.

ストロボ・EdGE · #13 12th September 2010, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRSTKLAS

Anyone think Single Collection Vol. 2 will outsell to LOVE?

I'm pretty interested to see how it will turn out since this is Hikki's last release before going on hiatus: I wonder if that will affect its chart life at all...

Either way won't it count on the Oricon 2011 chart?

And Polyrhythm, you did a really good job with that opening banner.

FIRSTKLAS · #14 12th September 2010, 04:45 AM

^How does ORICON define its yearly charts? I thought financial years usually start in the second quarter of the year and go into the first quarter of the next?

Paparazzi · #15 12th September 2010, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRSTKLAS

^How does ORICON define its yearly charts? I thought financial years usually start in the second quarter of the year and go into the first quarter of the next?

Oricon goes by Calendar year

ストロボ・EdGE · #16 12th September 2010, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paparazzi

Oricon goes by Calendar year

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRSTKLAS

^How does ORICON define its yearly charts? I thought financial years usually start in the second quarter of the year and go into the first quarter of the next?

But Namie's last album was released in December 09 but was officially counted only in 2010 rankings. There's a cutoff date for what's part of the year for album sales, but I'm not sure when.

emi♡ · #17 12th September 2010, 07:17 AM

I think the end of the fiscal year for ORICON was in May or June...like what firstklas said

but for Charts...I think it cuts off way before December...in either october or november. I want to say it ends right before december...but I think that's wrong.

It certainly doesnt go by the calendar year.

Nackar_91 · #18 12th September 2010, 11:52 AM

The cut-off date is, I think, two weeks into December.

Flumpool's album What's Flumpool!? was released 12.23.2009 and counted entirely towards 2010. So did Namie Amuro's past<future, which was released on the 16th.

Exile's Aisubeki Mirai e was released on the 2nd and had 2 weeks counted towards 2009, so the cut-off date for last year was December the ninth.

BTW, Exile always releases their albums around the cut-off date. If they hadn't for the past two years they'd be the ones with the no. 1 albums for the year, not Arashi XD

bluegie · #19 12th September 2010, 12:09 PM

Oricon used to end the yearly chart around mid or the end of November... But I think they pushed the cut-off date to somewhere around December in last year or so. Either way, all the singles/albums released after the mid of November shall be counted towards next year's charts.

And to be more precise:

Quote:

First Love - 7.6 million
Distance - 4.4 million
DEEP RIVER - 3.6 million
Single Collection Vol. 1 - 2.5 million

Dunno.. but I think having 0.5 million extra makes a big difference between sales... hehe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Picaflor 7/4

Although it seems with every album the number drops, 7 to 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 million.

jeeze. is jpop stop/wiki correct? tito only sold 200,000 copies? that's horrible for hikki's standards. Exodus sold 1 million copies. I guess tito really isn't that great. :/ I knew she should have stuck to her own experimental pop rather than try and please the american audience with that "trying too hard to be mainstream" sound.

Then again, all her first four albums (counting SC1) got yearly no. 1 even (like you said) the number dropped from 7 -> 4 -> 3 -> 2. I think the first album was just miracle. So the sales from Distance till SC 1 were more consistent with the industry's flow.

About the sales of TITO in Japan.. I think Exodus got over a million copies because it was her first English album, and many Japanese got curious about her English songs. Also, hikki was still in her peak (I mean... the peak where no one could touch her at all at that moment). Yes, 200K is a bit low for hikki, but TITO was already her 2nd English album and you know most Japanese don't speak English, and the music direction is further away from her Japanese side, so after all it's not that bad.

I dun even know if she tried hard at all to "please" the american audience. If so, she should go to countless tv shows/radio. She basically didn't really promote her stuff at all.

Maemi · #20 12th September 2010, 12:49 PM

The first post is amazing!

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