[Utada Hikaru] ☆ Goodbye Happiness in Utada Hikaru's 45th Thread ☆

***koumori*** · #1 1st July 2011, 04:05 AM

Welcome to Utada Hikaru's 45th thread at AHS ♡

Biography ღ

Hikaru Utada was born in Manhattan as the only child of Teruzane Utada, a Japanese record producer, and his wife Junko Utada, an enka singer, performing under the stage name Keiko Fuji.
She did her recordings with her mother, releasing songs under a band named “U3” (also known as Utada 3). until 1996 when she started her first solo project, "I'll be Stronger."

The "Cookin' With Moses Vocal" from this project was called the "Cookin' With Gas Vocal" on the promotional release.
I'll Be Stronger was the first song Utada wrote.
It was released under the artist name "Cubic U", a mathematical reference to her being the third Utada 'power', which was Hikaru's pseudonym before becoming a superstar in Japan.
The song was not released in the United States, and in 1997, she started her next project, though at first she was hesitant.
Cubic U released her debut single Close to You, which was a cover of The Carpenters' song. She then released her debut album Precious.

2011 update

The Japanese TV station NHK premiered a documentary about Utada on January 15, 2011. Titled Utada Hikaru ~今のわたし~ (Utada Hikaru: Ima no Watashi, Utada Hikaru: What I Am), the documentary featured new studio performances by Utada (Show Me Love (Not a Dream) and Goodbye Happiness), as well as some of her Wild Life performances from December. It also featured a post-Wild Life interview with J-Wave host Chris Peppler about her decision to go on hiatus as well as what she plans to do, in which she said she wanted to do volunteer work overseas, and also travel. Utada also stated that she would continue writing music during her hiatus.
- Wikipedia

Discography ღ (Japan)

Spoiler:

First Love - 1999

Tracklist

1. Automatic -Album Edit-
2. Movin' On Without You
3. In My Room
4. First Love
5. Amai Wana: Paint It, Black (甘いワナ～Paint It, Black; Sweet Trap: Paint It, Black?)
5. Time Will Tell
6. Never Let Go
7. B&C: Album Version
8. Another Chance
9. Interlude
10. Give Me a Reason
11. Automatic: Johnny Vicious Remix

Chart Positions and Sales

Oricon Daily Album Chart: #1
Oricon Weekly Album Chart: #1
Oricon Yearly Album Chart: #1

Debut Sales: 2,026,870
Total Sales (Japan): 7,650,215
Total Sales (Worldwide): 10,056,000

Distance - 2001

Tracklist

1. Wait & See (Risk)
2. Can You Keep a Secret?
3. Distance
4. Sunglasses
5. Drama
6. Eternally
7. Addicted to You (Up-in-Heaven Mix)
8. For You
9. Kettobase!
10. Parody
11. Time Limit
12. Kotoba ni Naranai Kimochi (Translation: "Indescribable Feelings")
13. Hayatochi-Remix (bonus track)

Chart Positions and Sales

Oricon Daily Album Chart: #1
Oricon Weekly Album Chart: #1
Oricon Yearly Album Chart: #1

Debut Sales: 3,002,720
Sales Total (Japan): 4,472,343

DEEP RIVER - 2002

Tracklist

1. Sakura Drops
2. Traveling
3. Shiawase ni Narō (Translation: "Let's be Happy")
4. Deep River
5. Letters
6. Play Ball
7. Tokyo Nights
8. A.S.A.P
9. Uso Mitai na I Love You (Translation: The Dubious I Love You)
10. Final Distance
11. Bridge (Interlude)
12. Hikari (Translation: Light)

Sales Positions and Sales

Oricon Daily Album Chart: #1
Oricon Weekly Album Chart: #1
Oricon Yearly Album Chart: #1

Debut Sales: 2,350,170
Total Sales (Japan): 3,605,000

ULTRA BLUE - 2006

Tracklist

1. This Is Love
2. Keep Tryin'
3. Blue
4. Nichiyō no Asa (Translation: Sunday Morning)
5. Making Love
6. Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro (Translation: When Someone's Wish Comes True)
7. Colors
8. One Night Magic ft. Masashi Yamada
9. Kairo (Translation: Sea Route)
10. Wings
11. Be My Last
12. Eclipse (Interlude)
13. Passion

Sales Positions and Sales

Oricon Daily Album Chart: #1
Oricon Weekly Album Chart: #1
Oricon Yearly Album Chart: #7

Debut Sales: 500,317
Total Sales (Japan): 900,343

HEART STATION - 2008

Tracklist

1. Fight the Blues
2. Heart Station
3. Beautiful World
4. Flavor of Life ~Ballad Version~
5. Stay Gold
6. Kiss & Cry
7. Gentle Beast Interlude
8. Celebrate
9. Prisoner of Love
10. Teiku 5 (Translation: Take 5)
11. Boku wa Kuma (Translation: I am a Bear)
12. Niji-iro Basu (Translation: Rainbow-Coloured Bus)
13. Flavor of Life (bonus track)

Sales Positions and Sales

Oricon Daily Album Chart: #1
Oricon Weekly Album Chart: #1
Oricon Yearly Album Chart: #5

Debut Sales: 480,081
Total Sales (Japan): 1,011,373

Discography ღ (English)

Spoiler:

Best of Albums ღ

Spoiler:

We miss you Hikki~! ☆

nanakopy87 · #2 1st July 2011, 04:38 AM

aww,cute picture.from where you get this pic?

Not Fade Away · #3 1st July 2011, 05:48 AM

Continuing the conversation from before -- I think it's just whenever I initially watch the concert I get excited.

Like even though I was watching Wild Life post-live stream, it was just as thrilling because I hadn't seen it before.

Well....and - this might be weird but whatever - I don't get as much excitement from watching it so much as I do from the vocals.

For example: I've heard all of Ayu's lives, but I haven't watched like any of them lol. Don't get me wrong, if there's a certain emotion in her voice (like when she got emotional during 'My All' at Arena Tour 2009 (and others)) I will go and watch it just so I can visualize that portion of the show, but - for the most part - I just like listening to the concerts and not actually watching.

With Utada & Namie though, it's usually different for me. I will occasionally watch Namie's concerts in full because I like to see what dance moves she will perform.

With Utada, I usually watch the performances in full just because I enjoy her concerts so much (even though she usually just stands there, haha).

I'm not saying I don't like Ayu concerts, I just think Namie and Utada affect me more deeply in a way.

I know that seems weird since Ayu puts a lot of thought into her concerts and performances...but I think I connect more with Utada because her concerts are all raw, 'what-you-see-is-what-you-get' performances and Namie is kind of the same. Even though Namie has a lot of dance numbers, there's nothing really flashy or anything like that -- YET.

Okay, sorry for the long long explanation that was somewhat unnecessary.

I don't even remember what I was talking about, hahaaaa

sesshy · #4 1st July 2011, 08:57 PM

Continuing about the stream live...

I knew people were recording the live. My friend was one of them who recorded it. But as a crazy Hikki fan (also applies to other artists/bands) it's awesome to know they're actually performing live, live. XD Actually, I almost didn't get to see it because I thought my Internet wouldn't handle the HQ one.. but it really did! So I watched it and really enjoyed! I know streaming doesn't sound exciting to others, but I thought it was exciting and worth staying up for. Plus watching it together with your friends. We acted like we all flew to Japan and watched it. Random, but fun. Besides, I had nothing to do the next day.... orz

Not Fade Away: I get what you mean. When you hear favorite singer who sings live... hearing their raw voice just gives you the shivers. I had that moment with Utada's 2006 live and WILD LIFE.

***koumori*** · #5 1st July 2011, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nanakopy87

aww,cute picture.from where you get this pic?

I can't even remember

It was in one of my Utada folders

JackieRos · #6 2nd July 2011, 04:45 AM

O.O HIKKI LOVE WILL ALWAYS BE HUGE!!!!!
New thread wooooot

mirrorcleworld · #7 2nd July 2011, 06:19 AM

can someone here tell me whether Be My Last (CD+DVD) is packaged like ayu's cd+dvd singles in a fat jewel case, or is it packaged differently? thanks!~

Polyrhythm · #8 2nd July 2011, 07:22 AM

It's a standard case, not fat. Like singles for basically any other artist but Ayu.

bluegie · #9 2nd July 2011, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Not Fade Away

I know that seems weird since Ayu puts a lot of thought into her concerts and performances...but I think I connect more with Utada because her concerts are all raw, 'what-you-see-is-what-you-get' performances and Namie is kind of the same. Even though Namie has a lot of dance numbers, there's nothing really flashy or anything like that -- YET.

Probly because we expect too much from ayu..? I have this common thought as well. I dun expect much from hikki's live, and to be honest I haven't watched her Bohemian and UNITED concerts because I rather listen to the vocals than just watching her standing there and singing. I wasn't planning to watch the live stream because the same reason. Somehow I clicked the link during the mid of the concert because I thought, "hey it's live so probly it's exciting!" Watching her live (even tho it's just streaming) was much more emotional than I expected. All of the sudden my mind went through from the time I started listened to Automatic in 1999 and so on.

For ayu... I know that she's hard working, trying her best to give a fantastic concert every single time. But since MY STORY tour she has been using the same formula every single time (large screen, lots of visuals, her dancers running around, lots of gimmicks, etc.). The formula is getting old and her lives just don't attract me anymore. That is why I feel more excited to see that she's doing a different type of tour this time. I think I will enjoy her new live more than the circus type at this moment.

My brother doesn't mind watching hikki standing there, doing nothing but singing as well. And he doesn't even bother about ayu's concerts because he thinks they're so boring...

.

AyUta · #10 2nd July 2011, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nanakopy87

aww,cute picture.from where you get this pic?

It's from one of her blog posts a while ago.

CoriKaru · #11 2nd July 2011, 09:12 PM

Wild Life Blu-Ray and Poster arrived today.

Checked the mailbox. Saw Packaging and knew it must be the Blu-Ray. Wondered where the poster was at though.

Walk up to the step to enter the house and whoop there it is.

No idea when I'll watch.

I was looking over the Set List on the back of the box and was shocked and surprised to see "Niji iro BASU" on there. Forgot she sung that. Still don't remember the performance.

For those who have watched, is the concert a mix of day 1 and 2 or just a single day? Or did they cut it in such a way that you can hardly tell because I assume she wore the same outfits both days.

They'd have to chop up the vocals though.

And I forgot about the documentary. Lots to watch.

Oh yeah. I was shocked to see the standard Blu-Ray Disc Box. I was expecting a box created especially for this such as the one they made for "Utada United 2006". Rather jolting. I was like.....something is off. Looks weird. Too ordinary.

EDIT: I believe the results of the Japanese Music Awards are being released today, yes?

CoriKaru · #12 3rd July 2011, 12:13 AM

***koumori*** · #13 3rd July 2011, 12:37 AM

Thanks for the photos!

It looks so beautiful!

JackieRos · #14 3rd July 2011, 04:54 AM

Gorgeous packaging and design I love it.

It's beautiful.

Not Fade Away · #15 3rd July 2011, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluegie

Probly because we expect too much from ayu..? I have this common thought as well. I dun expect much from hikki's live, and to be honest I haven't watched her Bohemian and UNITED concerts because I rather listen to the vocals than just watching her standing there and singing. I wasn't planning to watch the live stream because the same reason. Somehow I clicked the link during the mid of the concert because I thought, "hey it's live so probly it's exciting!" Watching her live (even tho it's just streaming) was much more emotional than I expected. All of the sudden my mind went through from the time I started listened to Automatic in 1999 and so on.

For ayu... I know that she's hard working, trying her best to give a fantastic concert every single time. But since MY STORY tour she has been using the same formula every single time (large screen, lots of visuals, her dancers running around, lots of gimmicks, etc.). The formula is getting old and her lives just don't attract me anymore. That is why I feel more excited to see that she's doing a different type of tour this time. I think I will enjoy her new live more than the circus type at this moment.

My brother doesn't mind watching hikki standing there, doing nothing but singing as well. And he doesn't even bother about ayu's concerts because he thinks they're so boring...

.

Haha I pretty much agree with all you said. And I, too, am really excited that Ayu is stripping down this performance, I think it'll be way more emotional.

@sesshy: I agree, it's her raw vocals that really make the performance. When I heard UU06's 'Hikari' I had to watch it live (and later bought the dvd of the concert) because it was so emotional. I cried all throughout that performance haha.

Also with 'Time will Tell', I was like "OMG Don't Cry!!" *bawls anyway*

EDT: The Blu-Ray looks amazing! I can't afford it right now, but I'm totally splurging and buying it when I get more money, lol.

***koumori*** · #16 3rd July 2011, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoriKaru

EDIT: I believe the results of the Japanese Music Awards are being released today, yes?

Yeah, Utada didn't win anything.

CoriKaru · #17 3rd July 2011, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koumori

Yeah, Utada didn't win anything.

Polyrhythm · #18 3rd July 2011, 06:22 PM

It could have been worse. At least SDMS didn't win Video of the Year.

AyUta · #19 4th July 2011, 05:25 PM

Wow, the packaging IS beautiful

.

NintendoHTF1242 · #20 4th July 2011, 05:43 PM

I bought a bootleg version of the concert at an annual celebration held here in MN

The concert itself is alright. But I usually don't like concerts (lives always bore me :/) but I thought the setlist and Utada's performance were wonderful.