Hikaru Utada

Name	Hikaru Utada
Background	solo_singer
Alias	Utada, Hikki, Cubic U
Birth name	Hikaru Utada ()
Born	January 19, 1983New York City, New York, United States
Origin	Tokyo, Japan
Genre	Pop, J-pop, Ethereal Wave, R&B;, Experimental, Electronica, Rock, Dance, Hip-Hop, Funk, Dance-pop
Occupation	Singer, Songwriter, Producer, Composer, Arranger
Instrument	Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active	1996–2011 (on hiatus)
Label	EMI Music JapanIsland Def Jam Music Group (2004 - 2010) EMI (2010 - present)
Associated acts	Keiko Fuji, Teruzane Utada, Jam & Lewis, Ne-Yo, Timbaland, Stargate, Tricky Stewart, The Neptunes, Rodney Jerkins, Foxy Brown
Url	EMI MusicIsland Records U3 Music (Personal Blog)Official Twitter accountOfficial YouTube account

(born January 19, 1983), known by her stage name Utada () in America and Europe, is a Japanese/American Utada has had three of her Japanese studio albums in the list of Top 10 best-selling albums ever in Japan (number 1, 4, 8) and six of her albums (including one English-language and one compilation) charting within the 275 Best-Selling Japanese albums list. Utada has had twelve number-one singles on the Oricon Singles chart, with two notable record achievements for a female solo or group artist: five million-sellers and four in the Top 100 All-Time Best-selling Singles. Utada has an estimated more than 38 million records sold in Japan to date.

She was described by Time Magazine as a "Diva On Campus," a reference to her having attended Columbia University for a brief, career-break semester in 2000. In 2009, she was considered "the most influential artist of the decade" in the Japanese landscape by The Japan Times. In 2003, Utada was ranked number 24 in the survey of Top 100 Japanese Pop Artists of All Time by HMV, number 10 in HMV's Top 30 Best Japanese Singers of All Time in 2006.

Additionally, Utada is most well known in the West for making two theme song contributions to Square Enix and Disney's collaborative video game series Kingdom Hearts: "Simple and Clean" (which is the re-written English version of her 10th Japanese single Hikari) for Kingdom Hearts and "Passion" for Kingdom Hearts II (later re-recorded with new English lyrics as "Sanctuary" for the North American and European releases of the game). In 2007, her single "Flavor of Life" reached number 2 in worldwide digital download yearly single chart with over 7.2 million downloads, and contributes to 12 million digital sales for her over the same year. Unlike other pop-stars at the time, she was more focused on becoming a singer and songwriter while other Japanese female singers were attempting to become idols. Leading up to the release of her first album First Love, Utada released two successful million-selling singles: "Automatic/Time Will Tell" and "Movin' on Without You". "Automatic/Time Will Tell" sold over two million copies. Backed by her singles, her debut album First Love went on to sell over 7 million units in Japan alone (with an additional 3 million overseas, bringing it to a sum of at least 10 million units

After a two years' break, Utada released her follow up album Distance, garnering a first-week sales of 3 million units sold. Backed by her singles — "Addicted to You", "", "For You/Time Limit" and "Can You Keep a Secret?" — Distance became the best-selling album of the year, with 4.469 million copies sold in Japan alone. Additionally, "Addicted To You" became Utada's best-selling single, selling one-million in its first week which became the highest first week sales for a female solo artist and staying on top of the chart for two consecutive weeks. "Wait & See: Risk" and "Can You Keep A Secret" also were later ranked at number 6 and number 10 respectively on Oricon's list of 10 Best-Selling Singles from January 1, 1999 to April 24, 2006.

Leading to her third album, Utada released "Traveling", "Hikari", and "Sakura Drops/Letters": all the songs reached the top of the charts. Before the release of Utada's third album, Deep River, the artist underwent surgery after being diagnosed with an ovarian tumor, causing Utada to put her promotional activities on hold. After recovering, she released Deep River and immediately went on promotional tours. While there were no TV appearances, she promoted her album in magazine and radio interviews.

Deep River sold 2.35 million copies on its first-week sale: Oricon reported that sales eventually surpassed 3.60 million, making Utada the only singer or group in Japanese music history to have three consecutive albums surpass the three million mark, by RIAJ standards. It was her third consecutive time to hold the number 1 position on Oricon's Yearly Albums chart and became the eighth best selling album of all time in Japan. Despite its success, the album received very little promotion and contained no new material or photos; moreover, it charted longer on the Oricon Albums chart longer than any other Utada release to date (over 2 years). The album sold over 2.575 million units in Japan, making it the 34th best-selling album ever in the country. It was released nearly a month earlier, on September 9 in Japan, with a special booklet and housed in a cardboard slipcase. In an MTV interview, Utada said: "I don't think it's the music that I'm concerned about. It's obviously that I look really different and there really aren't any completely Asian people [who are popular singers in the U.S.] right now." Exodus became Utada's fourth consecutive release to debut at number 1 and boast 500,000 copies in its first-week sales. In spite of enlisting the help of Timbaland to produce and co-write some songs, her American debut as an Island Records artist was met with indifference by the American market, selling 55,000 units. "Easy Breezy" was released as the lead single in early August 2004, peaking at number 9 Billboard Hot Dance/Club Airplay chart, followed up by "Devil Inside" a month and two weeks later. And Utada became the cover of the Interview magazine June, 2005 issue.

"Exodus '04" was released at the end of June 2005 and featured remixes from The Scumfrog, Richard Vission, JJ Flores and Peter Bailey. In the UK, Mercury added another 2 remixes for "You Make Me Want to Be a Man" in the original album Exodus 04, titled "You Make Me Want to Be a Man [Bloodshy & Avant Mix]" and "You Make Me Want to Be a Man [Junior Jack Mix]." By the end of the year Utada was voted "Number 1 Favorite Artist of 2004" by Oricon's annual readers poll.

The fourth single from her English Exodus album, "You Make Me Want to Be a Man," was released in October 2005. "Devil Inside" became a club smash in the U.S. and topped the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Airplay charts. Both the Exodus album and "You Make Me Want to Be a Man" single were released in the U.K., with different artwork from the USA and Japanese versions.

Return to Japan: 2005–2008

A year after the international release and promotion of Exodus, Utada moved back to Tokyo and returned to the Japanese music scene. Leading up the release of her fourth album Ultra Blue, Utada released a string of successful hit singles: "Colors" (number 1), "Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro" (number 1), "Be My Last", (number 1), "Passion" (number 4), and "Keep Tryin'" (number 2). The digital single "This Is Love" was released to promote the album, netting 1,000,000 digital downloads and ranking as the ninth most downloaded song of 2006 at iTunes Japan.

Ultra Blue sold 500,317 copies in the first week, lower than that of the previous album, although it still topped the Oricon Daily, Weekly, and Monthly charts. Ultra Blue gave the artist her fifth consecutive chart-topping Japanese album (excluding her English album) to sell in excess of 500,000 copies for a first-week sales. On July 13, Toshiba EMI published a report stating that Ultra Blue had sold over one million copies worldwide and four million digital ringtones already making it one of EMI's 10th best-selling album of the past year. The album, which did not contain much pop music, was met with indifference and did not boost sales, although the album was certified Million by RIAJ for one million shipments. Additionally, it was the highest-selling original studio album by a Japanese female artist in 2006.

Ultra Blue later became available on the iTunes Japan online music store, charting at number 4 on the 2006 yearly download rankings. Later in the year a digital track by American R&B; artist Ne-Yo, titled "Do You" from his 2007 album, Because of You featured Utada and was released in Japan on November 21.

The year 2007 ended with the single "Flavor of Life" becoming the best seller of 2007 and with Utada being voted "Number 1 Favorite Artist of 2007" by Oricon's annual readers poll, three years after she was last voted number 1 on the poll. The single was featured as the main song in second season of TV drama Hana Yori Dango.

Utada's fifth studio album, Heart Station, was released on March 19, 2008, becoming her fifth consecutive number-one Japanese studio album. Although it had collected the lowest first week sales for Utada's career, with 480,081 copies sold, the sales of this album reached a million on the Oricon charts in January 2009, making it her first Japanese album to do so since her 2004 compilation album. It was given a certification of one million for shipments by the RIAJ. Heart Station became the best-selling digital-format album on the iTunes 2008 yearly album charts in Japan, and was also the highest-selling original studio album by a solo female artist on the Oricon Yearly Chart.

Her song "Prisoner of Love" was used as the theme-song for the highly successful TV drama Last Friends, which was aired in the spring TV season. Although not originally released as a single, after being used in the show, the song was released as a single and it reached number 1 in iTunes and the Chako-Uta charts. It reached number 2 at the Oricon Weekly charts. It won Best Theme Song at the 57th Drama Academy Awards and sold 2.9 million downloads. It marked the fourth successful Utada drama tie-in (following 1999's Majo no Jouken and First Love, 2001's Hero and Can You Keep a Secret and 2007's Hana Yori Dango and Flavor of Life).

On October 20, 2008, her song "Eternally" from her 2001 album Distance was used as the theme for the drama Innocent Love. The song was later released as a digital single.

By the end of the year, Utada was also voted the "Number 1 Favorite Artist of 2008" by Oricon's annual readers poll, making it her second consecutive year, and third time overall, to win the vote; her previous years being 2004 and 2007.

Return to North America: 2009–2010

tour, in New York.]]

On December 16, 2008, information leaked onto the Internet that Utada's next English-language single, titled "Come Back to Me", would be scheduled for airplay release through U.S. Rhythmic/Crossover and Mainstream formats on February 9 and 10, 2009 respectively via Island Records, according to credible American radio news sites FMQB and R&R;. The song then was made available for streaming on Island's, All Access' website, and her MySpace Music Page for advanced promotion. Island Records also updated their webpage with information regarding Utada's new single, and included a link to her official Japanese website and MySpace page, both featuring a track preview. Additionally, a number was included that fans could text to join Utada's mobile list to receive future news updates. The new English album, titled This Is The One, was released on March 14, 2009 in Japan and on May 12, 2009 in the United States. On February 23, 2009, Utada announced that she was in studio recording her next Japanese-language single. This Is the One debuted at number 1 in Japan on March 13, 2009, the day it was released in Japan, but became Utada's first album not to top the weekly chart since Precious. On March 30, 2009 she appeared on New York City radio station Z-100 (100.3), the largest pop radio program in the U.S., and granted a live on-air interview on the station's Elvis Duran Morning Show, a noteworthy breakthrough that would lead to a promotional schedule up and through the album's international physical release on May 12. Utada also sang the theme song for the latest Evangelion film, Evangelion 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance. The single was released on June 27, 2009, and is a remix of her previous single, Beautiful World. The new single is titled .

On October 14, Utada mentioned that she was writing lyrics that were due on October 15. She also added that some "German magic" would be added to the music. Goetz B, who has worked with Utada on her album Ultra Blue is currently mixing tracks for her. Most notable is a track called "Show Me Love", which is reported to be released as a Japanese single at a yet-unspecified date.

On November 30, 2009, at Studio Coast, Tokyo, Utada sung a duet of Let It Snow with pop singer Mika. Mika posted on his Twitter account about Utada: "Was joined on stage by Hikaru Utada tonight. We sang "let it snow". It was glorious. I love her."

On December 21, Utada's Dirty Desire remixes were released only on Amazon.com, Zune Marketplace, and the U.S. iTunes Store, in support of This Is the One and her upcoming tour. The tour, , was her first concert tour outside of Japan and included eight cities in the US and two dates in London, UK. The tickets for the second London performance went on public sale November 13, and reportedly sold out in just 5 hours. In an interview before she kicked off In The Flesh, Utada said she is planning on promoting This Is the One, and her newest single, Dirty Desire. She also expressed she could be planning to do a cover album, or just take a break to get some new ideas.

Hiatus: 2011

On August 9, 2010, Utada announced on her personal blog that starting in 2011, she would go on an indefinite hiatus, citing fatigue since her debut 12 years before, wanting to rest, study new things, learn more about the world, and to give time to private matters. She says the period could be anything from two to five years.

However, before her hiatus begins, she said she would go "full-throttle" on her career, and her official website was updated with the news that a new compilation album, Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2 will be released on November 24. This new album will include all her Japanese singles since 2004 (from Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro to Prisoner of Love), and would include an additional five new tracks specifically for this album.

On September 27, 2010, Utada revealed a new single, entitled Hymne à l'amour (Ai no Anthem), which was a commercial tie-in for Pepsi's newest softdrink, Pepsi NEX. The song features both French lyrics and Japanese, specifically written and translated by Utada herself. Official Twitter accounts by Utada, her staff, and her father Teruzane. were all created on September 28 to keep in close public contact with all up to minute activity, along with the announcement that Utada would be performing December 8 and 9 at Yokohama Arena to promote the album, her first Japan concert since Utada United 2006. with a new profile picture recently taken by Japanese cinematographer and director Tomatsu Fujii appearing on her official website for a yet-specified purpose.

On October 3, 2010, Utada's official EMI Music website was updated with the final tracklisting and cover photo for Single Collection Volume 2, with the first disc featuring all her previous released Japanese singles from 2004-2008 in reverse chronological order and second disc featuring all the new songs. The first press editions included a 3-fold paper slip case, a Kuma chang amulet/good luck charm, and a lottery slip for fans to have a chance of winning one of 1000 tickets to Utada's upcoming December concert at Yokohoma arena.

On October 15, it was announced that the anticipated footage from Utada's "In The Flesh" 2010 tour would be released in the coming months via Utada and her father's Twitter accounts, and that the typical physical format DVD would be ousted in favor of a digital-only package. Though there are technical issues with making it available at Apple's iTunes store for the time, the footage is officially edited and mixed and will be publicly distributed before year's end. On the same day, it was posted at Teruzane Utada's Twitter that talks, a mock-stage, and other concrete planning for Utada's upcoming concerts have been in process for the past few weeks. These will be the first live show or concert series that is self-produced by Utada, with Teruzane acting as co-producer with the aim of creating a 'warm' atmosphere.

In late October, despite no previous announcements from Utada or any of her staff and management, it was revealed online at Tower Record Japan and several other websites that an English-language 'best of album' titled "Utada the Best" would become available in Japan on the same day as Single Collection Vol. 2, November 24. Utada herself stating that the release of this compilation album is "entirely against my will". She also said "I understand that if it doesn’t sell I’m the one who will take the hit, but to be honest, I don’t want my fans putting down money for something that my heart isn’t in." She posted on her official Twitter account: "The release of "Utada the best" is entirely against my will. I wish that my fans won't have to buy it. There's no new material in it."

On October 24th, 2010, a list of promotional Japanese radio and TV appearances was posted on Utada's official site, with the former being interview-based and the latter streaming her previous music videos in support of Single Collection Vol. 2 and its first week release. A staff-posted preview of her new single, Goodbye Happiness began radio airplay in Japan on November 1st and Chaku-Uta downloads began on the 3rd, with its accompanying PV appearing publicly on November 9th. This was included on a bonus DVD to Single Collection Vol. 2 for those who pre-ordered Single Collection Vol. 2'' before November 14th. It has also been chosen as the new Recochoku Chaku-Uta TV commercial theme song.

On 8 November 2010, EMI Music announced on their website that they had made a "new global recording" deal with Utada, also stating that all her work (English and Japanese) will be released under one name: "Hikaru Utada".

First-week sales for Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2 is 231,000 units according to Oricon album daily charting. Although replacing Heart Station as her lowest first week sales of any Utada Hikaru album to date, this release marked Utada's 7th consecutive #1 album (5 original and two best-ofs) since her debut, surpassing Kinki Kids' previous record of six and making her the artist with the most successive consecutive #1 albums in Oricon chart and Japanese music history (the latter according to her label EMI) since premiering. Simultaneously with this new release, her first greatest hits compilation advanced #167 to #43 on the same chart, extending its cumulative physical sales past 2,595,000.

For that same week marked December 6, 2010, the Single Collection Volume #2 and the first single "Goodbye Happiness" made their unanimous #1 presence across all the major Billboard Japan charts, which accounts nationwide digital and physical sales, as well as airplay similar to the American Billboard; Specifically, the album received summit status on the Top Albums with "Goodbye Happiness" surging threefold atop the Composite Hot 100, Top 100 Airplay, and Top 100 Adult Contemporary Airplay, respectively.

at Yokohama Arena, December 8, 2010.]] Utada held the last two concerts before her hiatus, called WILD LIFE, on Dec 8-9, 2010. Day 1 was broadcast in 64 cinemas in Japan, and was streamed free on Ustream for fans worldwide; The December 8 concert was broadcast on Ustream.tv, a live video streaming website. Between the two channels set up for the concert, they were accessed a total of 925,000 times, with 345,000 unique viewers, as well as 185,000 comments left on the feed. This was a global record on Ustream.tv, for the highest number of simultaneous accesses of any video, with the previous highest being only 100,000.

Japanese TV station NHK will be premiering a documentary about Utada on 15 January 2011. The documentary will feature new studio performances by Utada, as well as some of her WILD LIFE performances from December. It will also feature a post-Wild Life interview with J-WAVE host Chris Peppler.

Personal life

On September 7, 2002 Utada married Kazuaki Kiriya, a photographer and film director who was fifteen years her senior and who had directed several of her music videos. After four and a half years of marriage, the couple announced their divorce (which became official on March 2, 2007), citing personal changes, different viewpoints on the future of their marriage, and lack of communication due to the nature of their jobs. Utada confirmed she had a boyfriend 8 years her senior, and began their relationship in at least September (she was declaring this before September, however). However, as of January 27, they have ended their relationship, due to the fact they never saw each other, and that she was much too busy with her In The Flesh 2010 tour.

Musical style

Influences

On her official website, Utada cites 15 musicians: Freddie Mercury, Cocteau Twins, Nine Inch Nails, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Édith Piaf, Chick Corea, The Blue Nile, Björk, Lenny Kravitz, Béla Bartók, Mozart, Jeff Buckley, Yutaka Ozaki and Hibari Misora as some of her favorite artists.

Discography

Japanese studio albums

1999: First Love

2001: Distance

2002: Deep River

2006: Ultra Blue

2008: Heart Station

English studio albums

Cubic U:

1998: ''Precious

Utada:

2004: ''Exodus

2009: ''This Is the One

Japanese compilation albums

2004: Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 1

2010: Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2

English compilation albums

2010: Utada the Best

References and notes

See also

List of number-one dance hits (United States)

List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart

Capitol Records

List of awards received by Hikaru Utada

External links

Diva On Campus (Time Magazine)

Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:People from New York City Category:People from Tokyo Category:Columbia University alumni Category:Video game musicians Category:English-language singers Category:Japanese female singers Category:Japanese singer-songwriters Category:Japanese pop singers Category:Japanese rhythm and blues singers Category:American musicians of Japanese descent Category:Japanese-language singers Category:American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters Category:Musicians from New York Category:American dance musicians Category:Dance musicians Category:American expatriates in Japan Category:World Music Awards winners Category:American people of Japanese descent