, on March 10, 1962, in
Kurume, Fukuoka}} is a Japanese
pop singer-songwriter. Due to her popularity in the 1980s and her long career, she has been dubbed the "Eternal
idol" by the Japanese media.
Biography
Matsuda was born in the Kamachi clan, which was from the
Saga Genji line and was also a former
sengoku daimyo of
Yanagawa Domain. However, she gained the stage name "Seiko Matsuda" and rose to fame in 1980 as a
teen idol, making her debut with the song "Hadashi no Kisetsu" (lit. "Season of bare feet"). Later in the same year, "Kaze wa Aki-iro" (lit. "Wind is autumn color") became the first of her 24 consecutive number 1 hits in Japan. She shattered the Japanese former record of nine consecutive number-ones by popular music duo
Pink Lady. Her consecutive number 1 record ended when her 27th single "Precious Heart" was ranked at number-two because
Tetsuya Komuro's "Gravity of Love" was ranked at number-one. Seiko made one more number 1 single "Anata ni Aitakute ~Missing You~" (lit. "I want to meet you ~Missing you~") in 1996. The single was certified a million-seller by
RIAJ.
Seiko used to hold the records for the most number 1 singles and most consecutive number 1 singles on the Japan's Oricon charts. Both were surpassed by B'z. She still had held the record for the most number 1 singles by a female singer until March 2006 when Ayumi Hamasaki's "Startin'/Born to Be..." reached number 1, making it her 26th single to top the charts. Hamasaki's "L" broke Seiko's streak for the most consecutive number 1 singles by a female singer and any soloist in September/October 2010. Nonetheless holding such a record for 22 years in the second largest record market in the world is no small feat.
Seiko was also the first person in the Oricon history to have a single and an album debut at No. 1 on Oricon Chart in the same week. In November 1984, Seiko released a single "Heart no Earring" (lit. "Heart's earring") and album Seiko Town: both reached No. 1. The next time it happened by Wands was nearly nine years later, and so far only seven other artists have successfully topped the two major charts at the same time with new releases.
Seiko's angelic voice and singing technique have won her two best performance awards from Nippon Record Awards, first in 1983 for ガラスの林檎 (lit.Glass Apple) and in 1993 for 'きっと、また逢える・・・' (lit. Surely, will meet again).
Seiko began to write her songs by herself. She wrote lyrics for the first time when she produced her song "Chisana Love Song" (lit. "Small Love Song") in 1983. This was followed by her first composed song "Canary". All music and lyrics of her 2007 album Baby's Breath were written by herself. It became her first completely self-produced album.
Seiko attempted to break into the North American market with an English-language, self-titled album in 1990. She scored a hit with "The Right Combination", a duet with boy band New Kids on the Block singer Donnie Wahlberg. Album sales were mediocre, however, and her follow-up Was it the Future failed to generate any significant sales. In 2002, Seiko's English dance hits "All To You" and "Just for Tonight" reached Billboard dance chart No. 8 and No. 2 respectively.
In July 2006, Seiko's compilation Seiko Matsuda, which consisted of 74 CDs, debuted at number 96, becoming the highest-priced album in the Oricon history. Its price was 100,000 yen (about 850 dollars). Hibari Misora held the previous record with her 1989 album Kyō no Ware ni Asu wa Katsu (60,000 yen).
Although female singers like Namie Amuro became successful after the end of 1980s, "typical" idols like Seiko disappeared in Japan. She has been a secret idol for subsequent female celebrities such as Shoko Nakagawa who called Seiko "God" and "My Universe". Japanese voice actress Nana Mizuki released her cover version of Seiko's "Akai Sweet Pea" (lit. "Red Sweet Pea") as the B-side of an image song single under the character name Moka Akashiya of the anime Rosario + Vampire on February 14, 2008. There are endless cover version of Seiko songs and tribute albums being released every year. Among those 'Diamond Eyes', 'Missing You' and 'Akai Sweet Pea'(lit. Red Sweet Pea) and Sweet Memories have been reinterpreted by other artists countless times.
On 5 August 2009, Sony re-released 16 of Seiko's early albums under the Blu-spec CD format. 13 of them entered Oricon Top 100 Album Chart at the same time, surpassing the record of Hibari Misora (12 albums) and making her the first female artist to do so.
Seiko is also on the Top 3 list of Most No.1 albums, Most Top 10 singles and Most Top 10 albums. HMV Japan ranked her No. 10 Top Japanese Artist of All Time, and No. 7 Top Singer of All Time.
Seiko still holds annual concerts, Christmas dinner shows and New Year's Eve Countdown shows. Despite the high ticket prices (her dinner show tickets are the most expensive among female artists) for many years and until today, she always performs to a sold out crowd. Seiko is also listed as second only behind Eikichi Yazawa as an artist to have performed many concerts at the Nippon Budokan.
Personal life
Married to actor Masaki Kanda from 1985 to 1997, Seiko has a daughter,
Sayaka Kanda, who is also a singer.
In addition to music, her career includes appearances in television, film, and radio. Several books of photos of Matsuda including 'Five Seasons', 'No Comments', 'Akai Sweet Pea', along with other books about her, have been published.
Seiko has appeared in numerous commercials, including numerous Glico products including Pocky Curry and chocolate, Minolta camera, Sony walkman, VCR and computer, Diosa Hair Color, Suntory beverages, Direct TV, NTT Docomo mobile phone, cosmetics products endorsements include: Fujifilm Astalift, Kanebo, Doctor Drive, Takano Yuri and Shiseido cosmetics.
Discography
Singles
# [1980.04.01] "Hadashi no Kisetsu"
# [1980.07.01] "Aoi Sangoshō"
# [1980.10.01] "Kaze wa Akiiro/Eighteen"
# [1981.01.21] "Cherry Blossom"
# [1981.04.21] "Natsu no Tobira"
# [1981.07.21] "Shiroi Parasol"
# [1981.10.07] "Kaze Tachinu"
# [1982.01.21] "Akai Sweet Pea"
# [1982.04.21] "Nagisa no Balcony"
# [1982.07.21] "Komugiiro no Mermaid"
# [1982.10.21] "Nobara no Etude"
# [1983.02.03] "Himitsu no Hanazono"
# [1983.04.27] "Tengoku no Kiss"
# [1983.08.01] "Glass no Ringo/Sweet Memories"
# [1983.10.28] "Hitomi wa Diamond/Aoi Photograph"
# [1984.02.01] "Rock'n Rouge"
# [1984.05.10] "Jikan no Kuni no Alice/Natsufuku no Eve"
# [1984.08.01] "Pink no Mozart"
# [1984.11.01] "Heart no Earing"
# [1985.01.30] "Tenshi no Wink"
# [1985.05.09] "Boy no Kisetsu"
# [1985.06.24] "Dancing Shoes"
# [1987.04.22] "Strawberry Time"
# [1987.11.06] "Pearl-White Eve
# [1988.04.14] "Marrakech"
# [1988.09.07] "Tabidachi no Freesia"
# [1989.11.15] "Precious Heart"
# [1990.04.xx] "All the way to Heaven"
# [1990.07.15] "The Right Combination" (duet with
Donnie Wahlberg)
# [1990.10.xx] "Who's That Boy"
# [1990.11.21] "We Are Love"
# [1992.02.05] "Kitto, Mata Aeru..."
# [1992.08.01] "Anata no Subete ni Naritai/Shinin' Shinin'"
# [1993.04.21] "Taisetsu na Anata"
# [1993.05.21] "A Touch of Destiny"
# [1993.11.10] "Kakowareta, Ai-jing"
# [1994.05.11] "Mō Ichido, Hajime kara"
# [1994.12.01] "Kagayaita Kisetsu e Tabidatō"
# [1995.04.21] "Suteki ni Once again"
# [1996.04.22] "Anata ni Aitakute (Missing You)/Ashita e to Kakedashite Yukō"
# [1996.04.24] "Let's Talk About It"
# [1996.05.17] "I'll Be There For You" (duet with
Robbie Nevil)
# [1996.11.18] "Sayonara no Shunkan"
# [1996.12.10] "Good For You"
# [1997.04.23] "Watashi Dake no Tenshi (Angel)/Anata no Sono Mune ni"
# [1997.12.03] "Gone with the Rain"
# [1998.06.17] "Koisuru Omoi (Fall In Love)"
# [1998.11.26] "Touch the Love"
# [1999.10.27] "Kanashimi no Boat"
# [2000.05.17] "20th Party"
# [2000.06.07] "Shanghai Love Song"
# [2000.06.14] "Unseasonable Shore"
# [2000.09.27] "True Love Story/Sayonara no Kiss o Wasurenai" (duet with
Hiromi Go)
# [2000.11.29] "The Sound of Fire"
# [2001.06.20] "Anata Shika Mienai"
# [2001.11.14] "Ai Ai Ai (100% Pure Love)"
# [2002.06.05] "Suteki na Ashita"
# [2002.xx.xx] "All to You"
# [2002.12.17] "Just For Tonight"
# [2003.06.04] "Call Me"
# [2004.05.26] "Aitai"
# [2004.07.07] "Smile on Me" (duet with
Takaaki Ishibashi)
# [2005.02.02] "Eien Sae Kanjita Yoru"
# [2005.08.24] "I'll Fall In Love"
# [2005.09.21] "Shiawase na Kimochi"
# [2006.04.26] "Bless You"
# [2006.05.24] "We Are"
# [2007.05.23] "Namida ga Tada Koborerudake
# [2007.08.01] "Manatsu no Yo no Yume" (duet with
Takashi Fujii)
# [2007.11.21] "Christmas no Yoru"
# [2008.03.19] "Hanabira Mau Kisetsu ni"
# [2008.06.25] "Love Is All"
# [2008.10.22] "Ano Kagayaita Kisetsu"
# [2010.04.21] "Idol Mitai ni Utawasete" (as Princess Seiko with
Yazima Beauty Salon)
# [2010.05.05] "Ikutsu no Yoake o Kazoetara" (9,129 sold in 3 weeks)
Studio albums
# [1980.08.01]
Squall
# [1980.12.02]
North Wind
# [1981.05.21]
Silhouette
# [1981.10.21]
Kazetachinu
# [1982.05.21]
Pineapple
# [1982.11.10]
Candy
# [1983.06.01]
Utopia
# [1983.12.10]
Canary
# [1984.06.10]
Tinker Bell
# [1984.12.08]
Windy Shadow
# [1985.06.05]
The 9th Wave
# [1985.08.15]
Sound Of My Heart
# [1986.06.01]
Supreme
# [1987.05.16]
Strawberry Time
# [1988.05.11]
Citron
# [1989.12.06]
Precious Moment
# [1990.06.07]
Seiko
# [1990.12.10]
We Are Love
# [1991.05.02]
Eternal
# [1992.03.25]
1992 Nouvelle Vague
# [1992.12.02]
Sweet Memories '93
# [1993.05.21]
Diamond Expression
# [1993.11.21]
A Time for Love
# [1994.06.12]
Glorious Revolution
# [1995.05.21]
It's Style '95
# [1996.05.27]
Vanity Fair
# [1996.05.14]
Was It The Future
# [1996.12.05]
Guardian Angel
# [1997.05.21]
My Story
# [1997.12.03]
Sweetest Time
# [1998.05.08]
Forever
# [1999.12.18]
Eien no Shoujo
# [2000.06.28]
20th Party
# [2001.06.20]
Love & Motion Vol.1
# [2001.11.28]
Love & Motion Vol.2
# [2002.06.21]
Area62
# [2004.06.09]
Sunshine
# [2005.04.06]
Fairy
# [2005.12.07]
Under the beautiful stars
# [2006.05.31]
Bless You
# [2006.12.06]
Eternal II
# [2007.06.06]
Baby's Breath
# [2008.05.21]
My Pure Melody (15,336 sold in 3 weeks)
# [2010.05.26]
My Prelude (16,955 sold in 2 week)
# [2011.06.01]
Cherish (first week sales: 11,688 / Total sales: 14,666 sold in 2 weeks)
Greatest hits albums
# [1981.11.01]
Seiko Fragrance
# [1982.07.01]
Seiko Index
# [1982.12.05]
Kin'iro no Ribbon
# [1983.11.11]
Seiko Plaza
# [1984.03.15]
Touch Me, Seiko
# [1984.11.01]
Seiko Town
# [1984.11.21]
Seiko Avenue
# [1985.03.06]
Seiko-Train
# [1985.11.10]
Seiko Box
# [1986.11.21]
Love Ballade
# [1987.11.21]
Snow Garden
# [1988.07.21]
Seiko Monument
# [1991.11.21]
Christmas Tree
# [1991.12.01]
Bible
# [1994.12.01]
Bible II
# [1996.03.01]
Bible III
# [1996.09.21]
Complete Bible
# [1996.11.01]
Winter Tales
# [1997.06.21]
Seaside: Summer Tales
# [1997.11.21]
Dear
# [1998.07.18]
Seiko Celebration
# [1998.11.30]
Seiko '96-'98
# [1999.04.01]
Ballad-20th Anniversary
# [2000.11.29]
Love (Seiko Matsuda 20th Anniversary Best Selection)
# [2000.07.05]
Seiko Suite
# [2003.11.27]
Another Side of Seiko 27
# [2003.11.27]
Another Side of Seiko 14
# [2004.04.14]
Best of Best 27
# [2004.04.14]
Best of Best 13
# [2005.01.26]
Seiko Smile (Seiko Matsuda 25th Anniversary Best Selection)
# [2009.09.30]
Premium Diamond Bible
# [2009.09.30]
Diamond Bible
# [2009.11.11]
Seiko Matsuda Christmas Songs
# [2010.05.26]
Seiko Matsuda Single Collection 30th Anniversary Box: The voice of a Queen
# [2010.08.11]
Seiko Matsuda Original Soundtrack Collection 1981-1985
# [2010.09.22]
Touch Me, Seiko II
Remix albums
# [1999.10.06]
Seiko Matsuda: Re-Mixes
# [2000.09.27]
Seiko Remixes 2000
Soundtracks
# [1981.08.08]
Nogiku no Haka
# [1983.07.01]
Plumeria no Densetsu
# [1984.07.07]
Natsufuku no Eve
# [1985.05.03]
Caribe, Sinfonia de Amor
# [1985.06.21]
Penguin's Memory: Shiawase Monogatari
US releases
Albums
# 1990 Seiko
# 1996 Was It the Future
# 2002 Area62
Singles
# 1990 The Right Combination duet with
Donnie Wahlberg (Billboard Top100#54, Canada#2, Australia#11)
# 1991 All The Way To Heaven (Europe only)
# 1991 Who's That Boy (Promotion only)
# 1996 Let's Talk About It
# 1996 Good For You (Billboard Dance/Club Play No.37)
# 2002 All to You (Billboard Dance/Club Play No.10)
# 2002 Just For Tonight (Billboard Dance/Club Play No.2)
Taiwan releases
Albums
# 2005 I'll Fall In Love:
Filmography
Films
Nogiku no Haka (1981)
Purumeria no Densetsu Tengoku no Kiss (1983)
Natsufuku no Eve (1984)
Karibu Ai no Symphony (1985)
Penguin's Memory (1985) (Voice)
Docchimo Docchi (1990)
Final Vendetta (1996)
Armageddon (1997)
Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)
GEDO The Final Blade (2000)
Sennen no Koi Story of Genji (2001)
Shanghai Baby ((2007)
Hotaru no Haka (2008)
Yazima Beauty Salon The Movie (2010)
TV
The Big Easy (1997)
Partners (2000)
King of the Hill (2002) - Season 6, Episodes 21 & 22 (Rhythm game playing girl)
Tatta Hitotsuno Takaramono (2004)
Hanazakarino Kimitachie (2007)
Bones (2010) - Season 5, Episode 15 (Riku Iwanaga)
Further reading
"Matsuda, Seiko" in The Encyclopedia of Japanese Pop Culture. Schilling, Mark. New York: Weatherhill, 1997. ISBN 0-8348-0380-1.
References
External links
Official website
Sony Music public site
Universal Music public site
HMV Japan - Top 100 Japanese pop artists
Category:1962 births
Category:Japanese female singers
Category:Japanese idols
Category:Living people
Category:People from Kurume, Fukuoka
Category:Sony Music Japan artists
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