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Hikaru Utada
The Complete Guide
Contents
Articles
Overview
1
Hikaru Utada 1
Awards and nominations 10
Discography
12
Discography 12
Studio Albums
20
Compilation Albums
21
Solo Singles
22
Soundtrack Singles
23
Collaboration Singles
24
Tours
25
References
Article Sources and Contributors 26
Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors 27
Article Licenses
License 28
1
Overview
Hikaru Utada
Hikaru Utada
Hikaru Utada in a Sephora store, New York, 2009
Background information
Birth name Hikaru Utada ( Help:Installing Japanese character sets)
Also known as Utada, Hikki, Cubic U (retired)
Born January 19, 1983
New York City, New York, United States
Origin Tokyo, Japan
Genres Pop, R&B, rock, alternative, dance, electronica, synthpop, experimental
Occupations Singer, Songwriter, Producer, Composer, Arranger
Instruments Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active 19962011 (on hiatus)
Labels EMI Music Japan (Virgin, Foozay, Eastworld) (1997-2013)
Universal Music (Island, Mercury, EMI (20042010; 2013-present)
Website
Official site
[1]
Hikaru Utada ( Utada HikaruHelp:Installing Japanese character sets, born January 19, 1983)
is a Japanese American singer, songwriter, arranger, and producer. She is known by her stage name Utada English
/utd/ in the United States and Europe. Since the release of her Japanese debut album First Love, which went on
to become the best-selling album in Oricon history, 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.
[2]
Hikaru 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 sold an estimated more than 52
million records worldwide.
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.
Hikaru Utada
2
Additionally, Utada is best 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-language
version of her 10th Japanese single "Hikari") for Kingdom Hearts and "Sanctuary" for Kingdom Hearts II ("Passion"
in the Japanese version 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 contributed to 12 million digital sales for her
over the same year.
Career
Early life and beginnings
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.Wikipedia:Citation needed She did her
recordings with her mother, releasing songs under a band named U3 (also known as Utada 3)Wikipedia:Citation
needed 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.Wikipedia:Citation needed
"I'll Be Stronger" was the first song Utada wrote.Wikipedia:Citation needed 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.Wikipedia:Citation needed 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.
She released Precious in Japan on January 28, 1998 and re-released it on March 31, 1999.
Japanese debut and breakthrough success: 19972003
Utada moved to Tokyo in late 1997 and attended Seisen International School, and later the American School in
Japan, while continuing to record on a new contract with Toshiba-EMI. Her movement originally came from
Japanese FM radio. She opted for becoming a singer-songwriter instead of attempting to become an idol. Leading up
to the release of her Japanese debut 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), becoming the highest selling album
in Japan's recent history. The album yielded the single "First Love", which peaked at the number-two spot. By the
end of the year, Utada was rank number 5 on a Japanese radio station Tokio Hot 100 Airplay's Top 100 Artists of the
20th Century by the station and its listeners.
After a two-year 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", "Wait & See (Risk)", "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. Utada also went on to release a
single which was dedicated to the female victim of a murder case in Ikeda, Osaka, titled "Final Distance".
In 2001, Utada recorded a song for the action-comedy film Rush Hour 2, Blow My Whistle, which is a collaboration
with American rapper Foxy Brown, and was written by Utada herself, alongside Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo.
The song is included on Def Jam's Rush Hour 2 soundtrack, which peaked the 11th spot on both the Billboard 200
and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and also the 1st on the Top Soundtracks. Although Hikaru usually produces her
own songs, Blow My Whistle was produced by The Neptunes.
[3]
Hikaru Utada
3
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 a benign 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.Wikipedia:Citation needed
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.
In 2003, Utada's promotional and personal life schedules became more active due to her marriage and an imposing
agreement with Island Records in the United States to release a "proper" full-English debut album. Though she
released "Colors", it was her only single release for 2003. The song featured heavy ethereal and experimental tones
for the first time in Utada's discography. It became her longest charting single ever with a 45 week trajectory on the
Oricon Singles chart, selling 881,000 copies, and was number 3 on the Yearly Singles chart.Wikipedia:Citation
needed
Foray into international market: 20042005
Utada Hikaru in 2004
Her first singles compilation album Utada Hikaru Single Collection
Vol. 1 was released on March 31, 2004. It became the best-selling
album of 2004 in Japan, making her the only solo or group artist to
reach number 1 four times on the yearly charts. It was the first
compilation album to reach number 1 in six years on the yearly charts,
and the first compilation album to reach number 1 in twenty-six years
by a female artist. 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. A
month later, on April 21, she released her only Japanese single in 2004,
"Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro," which topped the singles chart for
two consecutive weeks and sold 365,000 units by the year's end and
was also the main theme song for Casshern, her now ex-husband's
directorial debut.
In mid-2004, Utada moved back to New York, and began work on a
new recording contract with Island Def Jam Music Group. On October
5, 2004, she released her North American English-language debut
album, Exodus, under the name "Utada," which was her new American-given artist title at the Universal Convention.
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 Japan. 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
Hikaru Utada
4
Airplay chartWikipedia:Citation needed, 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 Exodus, "You Make Me Want to Be a Man", was released in October 2005 in the UK. "Devil
Inside" became a club smash in the U.S. and topped the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Airplay charts. Both the Exodus
album and the "You Make Me Want to Be a Man" single were released in the UK, with different artwork from the
USA and Japanese versions.
Return to Japan: 20052008
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.
The four outfits that Utada Hikaru wore during
her Utada United 2006 tour
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. Two weeks after the release of Ultra Blue, Utada began a nationwide tour titled "Utada United
2006" on June 30, 2006 which ended on September 12, 2006. This was Utada's second concert tour after her debut
tour "Bohemian Summer 2000" and five performances at the Nippon Budokan in 2004. Aside from her Japanese
work, the tour's set list featured three tracks from her 2004 English-language album, Exodus.
The singles that were released prior to Utada's fifth studio album, Heart Station, were able to reach the Top Five
position on the chart, including the number 1 hit "Flavor of Life", which would become the best selling digital single
in Japan with over 7,500,000 copies download. Around the same time, Utada said she visited New York to talk with
producers and executives at Island/Def Jam about recording a new English album. 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 song was later featured on Ne-Yo's "best of" album, Ne-Yo: The Collection, released
on September 2, 2009 in Japan and November 2009 in the US).
[4][5]
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. She sold 12 million digital ringtones and songs in 2007, the highest of a Japanese artist in one year. The
single was featured as the main song in second season of TV drama Hana Yori Dango.
Hikaru Utada
5
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.Wikipedia:Citation needed It marked the fourth successful Utada drama tie-in (following 1999's Majo no
Jken 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: 20092010
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.
[6]
The song then was made available for streaming on Island's, All Access' website, and her MySpace
Music Page for advanced promotion.
[7][8]
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.
[9]
This Is the One debuted at number 1 in Japan on March 13, 2009, the day it was
released in Japan,
[10]
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 second 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 Beautiful World
-PLANiTb Acoustica Mix-.
[11]
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.
[12]
It was revealed that Goetz B, who had previously worked with
Utada on her album Ultra Blue was in the process of mixing tracks for her.
[13]
Most notable was a track called
"Show Me Love", which was reported to be released as a Japanese single at a then-unspecified date.
[14]
On November 30, 2009, at Studio Coast, Tokyo, Utada sung a duet of Let It Snow with pop singer Mika.
[15]
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."
[16]
On December 21, 2009, 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.
[17]
The tour, Utada: In the Flesh
Hikaru Utada
6
2010,
[18]
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.
[19]
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.
[20]
Return to Japan, Wild Life and hiatus: 20102013
On August 9, 2010, Utada announced on her personal blog that beginning in 2011, she would go on an indefinite
hiatus, citing fatigue since her debut 12 years previously. She also stated a need for rest, to study new things and
learn more about the world, as well as see to some personal matters. She said the hiatus would last anywhere from
two to five years.
Before her hiatus began, she said that she would go "full throttle" on her artistic activities, and soon after her site was
updated, and a new compilation album, Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2, was announced, with a release date
of November 24, 2010. This new album would include all her Japanese singles from Dareka no Negai ga Kanau
Koro to Prisoner of Love on disc one, as well as an extra EP, featuring five new tracks.
[21]
Later it was announced a
DVD containing the promotional video for Goodbye Happiness would be included in all first-press edition
pre-orders.
On September 27, 2010, Utada revealed a new single, entitled Hymne l'amour (Ai no Anthem), which became a
commercial tie-in for Pepsi NEX. The song features both French and Japanese lyrics, specifically translated and
written by Utada herself. At this time, official Twitter accounts were set up by Utada,
[22]
her staff,
[23]
and her father,
Teruzane
[24]
were created to keep fans and the public with up-to-date information.
An announcement was made that Utada would perform a short concert tour titled Wild Life at Yokohama Arena,
Yokohama to promote the album, her first Japanese concert since 2006's Utada United.
On October 3, 2010, Utada's official EMI website was updated with the album artwork and final track list for Utada
Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2. First Press editions included a 3-fold paper slip case, along with a Kuma-chang
good luck charm, and a lottery slip for fans to have a chance at winning one of 1000 tickets to WILD LIFE (this idea
was, however, later scrapped).
[25]
On October 15, 2010, it was announced that the anticipated footage from Utada's In The Flesh 2010 tour would be
released in the following months, confirmed by both Utada and Teruzane's Twitter accounts, and a physical DVD
release would be ousted in favor of a digital-only package with a promise of release before the year's end.
[26]
On the
same day, Teruzane posted on Twitter that the plans for Wild Life were beginning to take shape, as talks were under
way and a mock-stage had been created. The show was the first self-produced by Utada, with Teruzane acting as
co-producer.
[27]
In late October, despite no previous announcements from Utada or any of her staff and management, it was revealed
online at Tower Records Japan
[28][29]
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 Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2,
November 24. Utada herself reacted to the news, stating "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.", and later
"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."
Utada later announced a new single, Goodbye Happiness, which began radio airplay in Japan on November 1, 2010,
and Chaku-Uta downloads began on November 3, with its accompanying PV appearing publicly on November 9,
2010. The song was also chosen as the new Recochoku Chaku-Uta TV commercial theme song. She also appeared
on a track entitled "London City" with English rapper Devlin on his first studio album, Bud, Sweat and Beers, which
was also released on November 1.
Hikaru Utada
7
On November 8, 2010, EMI Japan announced on its Web site that the company had made a new global recording
deal with Utada, also stating that all of her future works regardless of language would be released under one name:
Hikaru Utada. This also signalled the retirement of Utada's Western stage name, Utada.
From November 24, 2010, first-week sales for Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2 were 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 seventh consecutive number 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 number 1 albums in Oricon chart and Japanese music history (the latter according to her label EMI)
since premiering. On April 10, 2011, Utada won the award for "Best Conceptual Video" in the SpaceShowerTV
Music Video Awards for the PV for "Goodbye Happiness", which also marked her directorial debut.
Utada held a short, two-concert tour before her hiatus began, titled Wild Life, on December 8 and 9, 2010,
performing both dates at Yokohama Arena, Yokohama. The December 8 concert was broadcast in 64 cinemas in
Japan; while it was simultaneously broadcast on Ustream, a live video streaming website. Between the two channels
set up for the concert on Ustream, they were accessed a total of 925,000 times, with 345,000 unique viewers, which
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 premiered a documentary about Utada on January 15, 2011, entitled Utada Hikaru ~
~ (Utada Hikaru: Ima no Watashi, Utada Hikaru: What I Am), a documentary featuring studio
performances by Utada (Show Me Love (Not a Dream) and Goodbye Happiness), as well as a few clips from the
Wild Life performances. 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. It was later revealed that
the documentary would be broadcast internationally, specifically the US on February 12, 2011 and Europe on
February 2, 2011, on the NHK channel (TV Japan in America, and JSTV in Europe).
A DVD and Blu-ray release of Wild Life were confirmed and initially set for release on April 6, 2011. However, on
March 24, 2011, Utada Tweeted that both the DVD and Blu-ray release of Wild Life had been postponed, due to the
earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan damaging the pressing factories. The DVD was released on April 20,
2011, the Blu-ray followed under a month later on 8 May.
On December 7, 2011, Recochoku updated their yearly download and awards chart, with Utada's Utada Hikaru
Single Collection Vol. 1 being the second most downloaded album of 2011.
On December 10, 2011, Utada has thanked her fans via her Twitter for her thirteenth Japanese debut anniversary.
She posted in Japanese: "Yesterday was the 13th anniversary of my debut! Even though I have been on hiatus for a
year already, I received a lot of congratulations, thank you so much (`( )) !!"
Despite her hiatus, on November 16, 2012, Utada's YouTube account uploaded a video entitled " " ("Sakura
Nagashi", meaning "Flowing Cherry Blossoms"). The song featured is Utada's newest single. The single was
co-written with Paul Carter, and was digitally released on November 17, 2012. A DVD single was released over a
month later, December 26, 2012. "Sakura Nagashi" is the theme song from the animation movie Evangelion: 3.0
You Can (Not) Redo.
On December 9, 2013, to celebrate Utada's 15th anniversary since her official debut in Japan, EMI Records released
Utada: In The Flesh 2010 tour footage in iTunes and announced a re-release of her debut album First Love, including
a special limited edition that contains the original album remastered, instrumentals from the original tracks,
unreleased tracks and live footage from Hikaru's first live, LUV LIVE.
Hikaru Utada
8
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, who was 8 years her senior, with whom she had begun their relationship in at least September 2009. On
January 27, 2010, it was reported that they had ended their relationship, due to the fact they never saw each other,
and that she was too busy with her In The Flesh 2010 tour.
On August 22, 2013, Utada's mother, Keiko Fuji, died by apparent suicide by jumping from the thirteenth floor of a
28-floor condominium building in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
On February 3, 2014, through an announcement on her personal site, Utada announced that she was engaged to be
wed, asking for her fans and the media to view her personal life from a "respectable distance" as he is not in the
entertainment industry. On the same day Kiriya Kazuaki congratulated his ex-wife Utada Hikaru on her marriage.
On February 10, 2014 Utada and her fiance Francesco Calliano left a message at official site of Utada explaining
how they met each other, his being a bartender in a London hotel, and asking for privacy. On May 23, 2014, they got
married
Musical style
Influences
On her official Web site, Utada cites 15 musicians and composers: Freddie Mercury, Cocteau Twins, Nine Inch
Nails, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, dith Piaf, Chick Corea, the Blue Nile, Bjrk, Lenny Kravitz, Bla Bartk, Mozart, Jeff
Buckley, Yutaka Ozaki, and Hibari Misora as some of her favorite artists,
[30]
and at another point lists R&B artist
Aaliyah as inspiration as well.
[31]
Discography
Main article: Hikaru Utada discography
Japanese studio albums
1999: First Love
2001: Distance
2002: Deep River
2006: Ultra Blue
2008: Heart Station
English studio albums
1998: Precious
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
U3's Albums
1993: *Star
2003: Are Kara 10 Nen Kinen Ban
Hikaru Utada
9
References
[1] http:/ / www. utadahikaru.jp/
[2] (http:/ / www. musictvprogram. com/ corner-ranking-album. html). Musictvprogram.com. Retrieved
on October 26, 2010.
[3] http:/ / www. imdb.com/ title/ tt0266915/ soundtrack
[4] Utada.com (http:/ / www6. islandrecords. com/ utada/ site/ news. php)
[5] Utada.jp (http:/ / www. utada.jp/ news/ press006.html)
[6] R&R :: Going For Adds :: CHR/Top 40 (http:/ / gfa.radioandrecords. com/ publishGFA/ GFANextPage. asp?sDate=02/ 10/ 2009&
Format=1). Gfa.radioandrecords.com (February 10, 2009). Retrieved on 2010-10-26.
[7] [7] mms://wm.allaccess.com/allaccess/utadcome.wma
[8] Utada - 110 - Vrouw - NEW YORK, NEW YORK - myspace.com/thisisutada (http:/ / www. myspace. com/ thisisutada). MySpace. Retrieved
on October 26, 2010.
[9] Hikki Texts: Light rain + ume apricot (http:/ / hikki.blogspot. com/ 2009/ 02/ light-rain-ume-apricot. html). Hikki.blogspot.com (February
23, 2009). Retrieved on 2010-10-26.
[10] Oricon Style (http:/ / www. oricon. co.jp/ ). Oricon.co.jp. Retrieved on October 26, 2010.
[11] Hikki's WEBSITE (http:/ / www.emimusic.jp/ hikki/ release/ index_j. htm). Emimusic.jp. Retrieved on October 26, 2010.
[12] U3MUSIC INC (http:/ / www. u3music.com/ message/ index. php?m=1& l=JP& d=2009101403093j. xml). U3music.com. Retrieved on
October 26, 2010.
[13] Producers, Engineers, Artists (http:/ / 365artists.com/ producers. php). 365 Artists. Retrieved on October 26, 2010.
[14] Producers / Writers (http:/ / www. 365artists. com/ pages/ producers. php?artistID=30). 365artists.com. Retrieved on October 26, 2010.
[15] Twitter / U.Blog: Utada joins Mika onstage d (http:/ / twitter. com/ UBlog/ status/ 6200616389). Twitter.com (November 30, 2009).
Retrieved on 2010-10-26.
[16] Mika celebrity Twitter - mikasounds: Was joined on stage by Hikaru Utada tonight. We sang (http:/ / celebritytwitter. com/ twitter/ Mika/
1656245). Celebritytwitter.com (November 30, 2009). Retrieved on 2010-10-26.
[17] News : Dirty Desire Remixes (http:/ / utada.com/ news/ default. aspx?nid=5826). Utada (December 9, 2009). Retrieved on 2010-10-26.
[18] Official Site (http:/ / utada. com/ events/ ). Utada. Retrieved on October 26, 2010.
[19] News : Utada Returns To The U.S. For Tour (http:/ / utada. com/ news/ default. aspx?nid=5679). Utada. Retrieved on October 26, 2010.
[20] Chan, Tracy. (January 15, 2010) Utada's a global sensation | Metromix Honolulu (http:/ / honolulu. metromix. com/ music/ article/
utadas-a-global-sensation/ 1710791/ content). Honolulu.metromix.com. Retrieved on 2010-10-26.
[21] Hikki's WEBSITE (http:/ / www.emimusic.jp/ hikki/ news/ news_j. php). Emimusic.jp. Retrieved on October 26, 2010.
[22] (utadahikaru) on Twitter (http:/ / twitter. com/ utadahikaru). Twitter.com. Retrieved on October 26, 2010.
[23] STAFF (hikki_staff) on Twitter (http:/ / twitter. com/ hikki_staff). Twitter.com. Retrieved on October 26, 2010.
[24] u3music (u3music) on Twitter (http:/ / twitter.com/ u3music) Twitter.com. Retrieved on October 26, 2010.
[25] Single Collection Vol. 2 Tracklist and Cover Revealed; First Press Details U.Blog / The Utada News Blog (http:/ / blog. utada2. net/
?p=1781#comments). Blog.utada2.net (October 3, 2010). Retrieved on 2010-10-26.
[26] In The Flesh Tour Footage Coming Soon U.Blog / The Utada News Blog (http:/ / blog. utada2. net/ ?p=1789#comments).
Blog.utada2.net (October 15, 2010). Retrieved on 2010-10-26.
[27] Teruzane Utada talks Upcoming Concert U.Blog / The Utada News Blog (http:/ / blog. utada2. net/ ?p=1794#comments). Blog.utada2.net
(October 15, 2010). Retrieved on 2010-10-26.
[28] Utada The Best - TOWER RECORDS ONLINE (http:/ / tower. jp/ item/ 2814567/ Utada-The-Best). Tower.jp. Retrieved on October 26,
2010.
[29] [CD] Utada The Best / Utada (http:/ / www.neowing.co. jp/ detailview. html?KEY=UICL-1110). Neowing. Retrieved on October 26, 2010.
[30] Hikki's WEB SITE (http:/ / www. emimusic. jp/ hikki/ profile/ prof08. htm). Emimusic.jp. Retrieved on October 26, 2010.
[31] (http:/ / www. emimusic. jp/ hikki/ gallery/ main02_e. htm). Hikki's Website. Retrieved on November 26, 2011
External links
Official website (http:/ / www. utadahikaru. jp/ )
Hikaru Utada (http:/ / www. allmusic. com/ artist/ p765200) at AllMusic
Diva On Campus (Time Magazine) (http:/ / www. time. com/ time/ magazine/ article/ 0,9171,1000787,00. html)
Hikaru Utada (http:/ / www. imdb. com/ name/ nm0882483/ ) at the Internet Movie Database
Awards and nominations
10
Awards and nominations
This is the list of awards received by Hikaru Utada, a Japanese singer-songwriter.
Awards
Years Awards
1999
Yusen Awards Top Award "Special Prize"
Yusen Awards Top Award "Best New Artist"
The 40th Japan Record Awards Best Album Prize (First Love)
The 40th Japan Record Awards Honorable Mention Songs (Automatic)
[1]
Record: First Love Best-Selling Japanese Language Album of All Time (7.648 million units in Japan and 10.056 worldwide as of
2007), Highest First Week Sales for a Debut Album (2 million+), and Fastest Selling album in Japanese history (5.24 million units in
one month)
2000 The Japan Gold Disc Awards The Triple Crown
The Japan Gold Disc Awards Artist of The Year
The Japan Gold Disc Awards Song of The Year (Automatic, Movin' on Without You, Addicted to You)
The Japan Gold Disc Awards Pop/Rock Album of The Year (First Love)
The Japan Gold Disc Awards Music Video of The Year (Single Clip Collection Vol.1)
World Music Awards- Best-Selling Asian Artist
Jasrac Gold Award (Automatic)
Jasrac Silver Award (Time Will Tell)
2001 The Japan Gold Disc Awards Song of The Year (Wait & See: Risk, For You/Time Limit)
MTV Japan Viewer's Choice Video (Can You Keep a Secret?)
Record: Distance Highest First Week Sales Album of All Time (3 million+)
2002 SpaceShowerTV Best Art Direction Video (Traveling)
SpaceShowerTV Best Female Video (Traveling)
SpaceShowerTV Best Video of The Year (Traveling)
MTV Japan Best R&B Artist
The 16th annual Japan Gold Disc Awards Song of The Year (Can You Keep a Secret? & Traveling)
The 16th annual Japan Gold Disc Awards Pop/Rock Album of The Year (Distance)
Jasrac Silver Award (Can You Keep a Secret?)
2003
Rank #24 in HMV Japan's Top 100 Japanese Pop Artists of All Time
[2]
J-Wave Tokio Hot 100 Airplay Best Female Artist
SpaceShowerTV Best Female Video (Sakura Drops)
MTV Japan Best Female Video (Sakura Drops)
The Japan Gold Disc Awards The Triple Crown
The Japan Gold Disc Awards Artist of The Year
The Japan Gold Disc Awards Song of The Year (Hikari, Sakura Drops, & Colors)
The Japan Gold Disc Awards Rock & Pop Album of The Year (Deep River)
The Japan Gold Disc Awards Music Video of The Year (Traveling)
Jasrac Silver Award (Traveling)
Jasrac Silver Award Foreign Production- (Hikari)
2004 AMD Award for Best Music Composer (UH Live Streaming 20 Dai wa Ikeike!)
World Music Awards Best-Selling Japanese Artist
Record: Highest First Week Sales in Japan for an English/International Album: Exodus (521,000+ units)
Record: Only Musical Artist (solo or Group) to be #1 on Oricon's Yearly Charts 5 (consecutive or -non) times (4x on Yealy Album
Charts and 1x on Yearly Singles Chart)
2005 The Japan Gold Disc Awards Song of The Year (Dareka no negai ga Kanau Koro)
The Japan Gold Disc Awards Rock & Pop Album of The Year (Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 1)
The Japan Gold Disc Awards International Rock & Pop Album of the Year (Exodus)
The Japan Gold Disc Awards Music Video of The Year (Utada Hikaru in Budokan 2004 'Hikaru no 5')
Awards and nominations
11
2006
Rank #10 in HMV Japan's "30 Greatest Japanese Singers of All Time" List
[3]
Rank #3 for Total Female & Solo Artist Album Sales
The 20th Japan Gold Disc Awards Song of the Year (Be My Last)
Rank #1 Most Consecutive Albums by a solo or group artist to have 500,000+ first week sales since debut (5)
2007 The 21st Japan Gold Disc Awards Rock & Pop Album of The Year Award (Ultra Blue)
The 21st Japan Gold Disc Awards 10 Best Albums (Ultra Blue)
The 21st Japan Gold Disc Awards Million Sales Album Artist Card Ultra Blue
HEY!HEY!HEY! Music Champ SP (Top 10 Million-Selling Albums of All-Time in Japan)
First Love-#1 (7,650,215)
Distance-#4 (4,469,135)
Deep River-#8 (3,604,588)
Listen Japan Website Report: #1 Digital Artist of Japan 2007 for 10 million download sales of two song versions of "Flavor of Life" and
three "Beautiful World/Kiss & Cry" single songs
The #2 Digital Single of the World "Flavor Of Life"
The #1 Best Selling Artist in Terms of Digital Sales in 2007, with total sales of over 12 million.
2008
The 22nd Japan Gold Disc Awards Single of the Year ("Flavor Of Life")
The 22nd Japan Gold Disc Awards PC Download Song of the Year ("Flavor Of Life")
The 22nd Japan Gold Disc Awards Best 10 Singles ("Flavor of Life")
The 22nd Japan Gold Disc Awards Best 5 Chaku-Uta Songs ("Flavor of Life"-Ballad Version)
The 22nd Japan Gold Disc Awards Best 5 Chaku-Uta Full Songs ("Flavor of Life"-Ballad and Original Versions-)
The 22nd Japan Gold Disc Awards Best 5 PC Download Songs ("Beautiful World" & "Flavor of Life")
Best Monthly Airplay Record at Japanese Radio (Heart Station)
[4]
Radio Television Hong Kong 19th International Pop Poll Awards Top Japanese Gold Song ("Beautiful World")
Radio Television Hong Kong 19th International Pop Poll Awards Top Japanese Artist
MTV Japan Best Video from a Film (Beautiful World, from Neon Genesis Evangelion)
2009 The 23rd Japan Gold Disc Awards Best 5 Albums ("HEART STATION")
The 23rd Japan Gold Disc Awards Best 5 Chaku-Uta Songs ("Prisoner of Love")
The 23rd Japan Gold Disc Awards Best 5 Chaku-Uta Full Songs ("Prisoner of Love")
The 23rd Japan Gold Disc Awards Best 5 PC Download Songs ("Prisoner of Love")
The 1st CD Shop First Prize Award Best CD Album ("HEART STATION")
Jasrac Award 2009 10 Best Interactive Songs ("Prisoner of Love")
References
[1] Jacompa (http:/ / www. jacompa. or. jp/ index.html)
[2] /Top 100 Japanese pops Artists No.24/HMV (http:/ / www. hmv. co. jp/ news/ newsDetail.
asp?newsnum=310200001)
[3] / TOP30 10 /HMV (http:/ / www. hmv. co. jp/ news/ newsDetail.
asp?newsnum=512080125)
[4] livedoor DL 2- First Love (http:/ / news. livedoor. com/ article/
detail/ 3545500/ )
12
Discography
Discography
Hikaru Utadadiscography
Releases
Studio albums 8
Compilation albums 3
EPs 2
Singles 27
Digital Singles 6
This is the discography of Japanese-American J-pop and R&B singer Hikaru Utada, one of Japan's most successful
music artists. Utada has sold almost 38 million singles and albums in Japan alone, with her seven albums, one
compilation, and numerous singles.
Albums
Japanese studio albums
Year Title Chart positions Sales/Certifications
JPN TWN HKG SIN
1999 First Love
Released: March 10, 1999
Label: EMI Music Japan
1 1 1 1 RIAJ sales: 8,530,000
Worldwide sales: 10,000,000
RIAJ Certification: 8x Million
2001 Distance
Released: March 28, 2001
Label: EMI Music Japan
1 1 1 1
Japan sales: 4,472,343
2
RIAJ Certification: 4x Million
2002 Deep River
Released: June 19, 2002
Label: EMI Music Japan
1 1 1 1 Japan sales: 3,605,000+
RIAJ Certification: 3x Million
2006 Ultra Blue
Released: June 14, 2006
Label: EMI Music Japan
1 1 1 1 Japan sales: 1,000,000
RIAJ Certification: Million
Discography
13
2008 Heart Station
Released: March 19, 2008
Label: EMI Music Japan
1 1 1 1 Japan sales: 1,011,373
RIAJ Certification: Million
MIAK Certification: Platinum
Notes:
1
Currently best-selling album in Japan.
2
Currently claims the largest one-week album sales worldwide (in recent memory) with 3 million first week sales.
"" denotes releases that did not chart.
International / English studio albums
Year Title Chart positions Sales/Certifications
JPN USA TWN HKG SIN
1998 Precious
Released under the name Cubic U
Released: January 28, 1998
Label: EMI Music Japan
2 Japan sales: 702,060
RIAJ Certification: 2x Platinum
2004 Exodus
Released under the name Utada
Released: September 8, 2004 (JP), October 5, 2004 (US)
Label: Island Def Jam
1 160 1 1 1 US Sales: 55,000
Japan sales: 1,074,393
RIAJ Certification: Million
2009 This Is the One
Released under the name Utada
Released: March 14, 2009 (JP), May 12, 2009 (US)
Label: Island Def Jam
3 69 2 US sales: 30,000
Japan sales: 242,657
RIAJ Certification: Platinum
Compilations albums
Year Title Chart positions Sales/Certifications
JPN TWN HKG SIN
2004 Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 1
Released: March 31, 2004
Label: EMI Music Japan
1 1 1 1 Japan sales: 2,602,391
Worldwide sales: 3,000,000
RIAJ: 3x Million
2010 Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2
Released: November 24, 2010
Label: EMI Music Japan
1 6 1 Japan sales: 442,549
Worldwide sales: 500,000+
RIAJ: 2x Platinum
TWN: Gold
Utada the Best
Released: November 24, 2010
Label: Universal Music Japan
12 Japan sales: 20,000
Worldwide sales:N/A
Discography
14
U3 albums
Year Title
1993 Star
Released: September 17, 1993
Length: N/A
Oricon top 200 weekly position: N/A
Language: Japanese
2003 Are Kara 10 Nen Kinen Ban
Released: June 21, 2003
Length: N/A
Oricon top 200 weekly position: N/A
Language: Japanese
BOX Set
Year Title
2005 1998-2005 All For You: UH Premium Single Box Set
Released: October 11, 2005
Length: N/A
Oricon top 200 weekly position: N/A
Language: Japanese
Singles
Japan singles
Release Title Oricon Singles Charts Billboard Japan Charts Legal
Downloads
(all formats)
Album
Peak Positions Sales Hot
100
Hot
Airplay
Hot
Singles
Daily Weekly Yearly Debut Overall
Discography
15
1998 "Automatic/Time Will
Tell" - 8cm
4 22 17,990 772,080 500,000 First Love
"Automatic/Time Will
Tell" - 12cm
2 5 24,220 1,290,700
1999 "Movin' on Without
You" - 8cm
5 101,360 346,820
"Movin' on Without
You" - 12cm
1 1 16 372,170 879,760
"First Love" - 8cm 15 68,040 303,430 700,000
"First Love" - 12cm 2 196,850 500,890
"Addicted to You" 1 1 6 1,067,510 1,784,050 Distance
2000 "Wait & See (Risk)" 1 1 3 804,570 1,662,060
"For You/Time Limit" 1 1 18 451,640 909,000
2001 "Can You Keep a
Secret?"
1 1 1 783,620 1,484,940
"Final Distance" 2 24 225,860 582,120 Deep River
"Traveling" 1 1 2 277,100 856,140
2002 "Hikari" 1 1 10 270,370 598,130
"Sakura Drops/Letters" 1 1 6 400,390 686,720 100,000
2003 "Colors" 1 1 3 437,903 893,790 Ultra Blue
2004 "Dareka no Negai ga
Kanau Koro"
1 1 14 150,020 365,206
2005 "Be My Last" 1 1 70 80,064 150,928 2,000,000
"Passion" 2 4 91 49,242 112,345 1,000,000
2006 "Keep Tryin'" 1 2 82 70,147 135,077 2,000,000
"This Is Love" 1,500,000
"Boku wa Kuma" 4 4 127,
72
39,715 147,041 870,000 Heart Station
2007 "Flavor of Life" 1 1 2 270,605 670,510 1 8,180,000
"Beautiful World/Kiss
& Cry"
1 2 20 93,518 245,050 2,800,000
2008 "Heart Station/Stay
Gold"
2 3 102 48,430 100,000 2 1 3 1,960,000
"Fight the Blues" 1 1 130,000
"Prisoner of Love" 2 2 95 38,902 100,000 2 6 2 2,900,000
"Eternally (Drama
Mix)"
36 500,000 Recut Single
2009 "Beautiful World
(Planitb Acoustica
Mix)"
8 5 150,000 Utada Hikaru
Single Collection
Vol. 2
2010 "Hymne l'amour (Ai
no Anthem)"
7
"Goodbye Happiness" 1 1 2,000,000
Discography
16
2012 "Sakura Nagashi"
(DVD single)
3 3 20,681 31,641 2 2 350,000* Non-album single
Number-one songs 14 12 1 3 3
Footnotes:
^ = Still active in charts
= N/A or TBD
International / English singles
Year Title US
Hot
100
US
Pop
100
US
Hot 100
Airplay
US
Pop 100
Airplay
US
Rhythmic 40
Airplay
US
Club
Play
UK
Top
100
JP
Hot
100
JP
Hot 100
Airplay
JP
Oricon
JP
iTunes
Album
1997 "I'll Be Stronger"
"Close to You" Precious
2000 "Remix: Fly Me
to the Moon"
16
2004 "Easy Breezy" Exodus
"Devil Inside" 1
2005 "Exodus '04" 24
"You Make Me
Want to Be a
Man"
227
2007 "Do You" 2
2009 "Come Back to
Me"
93 100 50 39 5 3 1 1 This Is the
One
"Sanctuary"
"Dirty Desire" 16
U3 singles
Release Number Single Information
1st "Rainy Day"
Released: 1995
2nd "New Life"
Released: 1995
3rd "Tsumetai Tsuki: Nakanaide" feat. Fuji Keiko
Released: 1996
4th "Thank You"
Released: 1999
5th "Golden Era" feat. Fuji Keiko
Released: 1999
6th "Kodomo-tachi no Uta ga Kikoeru"
Released: 2003
Discography
17
7th "9 Sai No omoide"
Released: 2009
Contains previous singles "Kodomo-tachi no Uta ga Kikoeru" and "Thank You"
Video Releases
Utada Hikaru Single Clip Collection Vol.1 - December 12, 1999
Bohemian Summer 2000 - December 19, 2000
Utada Hikaru Single Clip Collection Vol.2 - September 27, 2001
Utada Hikaru Unplugged - November 11, 2001
Utada Hikaru Single Clip Collection Vol.3+ - September 30, 2002
UH Live Streaming 20Dai wa Ike Ike! - March 29, 2003
Utada Hikaru in Budokan 2004: Hikaru no 5 - July 28, 2004
Utada Hikaru Single Clip Collection Vol.4 - September 27, 2006
Utada United 2006 - December 20, 2006
Wild Life: Live at the Yokohama Arena 2010 - April 6, 2011
Utada "In The Flesh" 2010 Tour - December 8, 2013
Others
Other recordings
Colors (Godson Mix) Used for a Toyota Wish commercial in 2004. It was not commercially released
Hikari - Kingdom Hearts Game (Japanese Title song for the game)
Simple and Clean - Kingdom Hearts Game (US Title song for the game)
Passion - Kingdom Hearts II Game (Japanese Title song for the game)
Sanctuary - Kingdom Hearts II Game (US Title song for the game)
I Love You - BLUE ~ A Tribute to Yutaka Ozaki
Others various artists
Japanese
Promise "I Do" - Maki Ohguro (December 12, 2001) (O)
Beautiful Drivin' Classic Wish (November 6, 2003)
Kaze ga Fuiteru - Kuzu (March 26, 2003) (Kuzu Album)
One Night Magic - Yamada Masashi (December 2006) (Ultra Blue)
English
I Won't Last a Day Without You (featuring Shiina Ringo) From Shiina Ringo's album Utaite Myri:
Sono Ichi ( Singer's Luck ~part one~Help:Installing Japanese character
sets) (original song by The Carpenters)
Blow My Whistle (featuring Foxy Brown) Def Jam's Rush Hour 2 soundtrack (Produced by The
Neptunes) (July 31, 2001)
By Your Side (featuring Kiley Dean) Unity: Official Athens 2004 Olympic Games (July 27, 2004)
Do You (featuring Ne-Yo) From Ne-Yo's single "Do You", from the album "Because of You" (July 31,
2007)
Discography
18
Other songs
"Save the Best for Last" - She sang the chorus of the song originally by Vanessa L. Williams on her 20th birthday.
Mentioned that it's her 'weapon song' during karaoke sessions. (UH Live Streaming 20 Dai wa Ikeike!)
"I Love You" - On her Bohemian Summer 2000 tour, she covered Yutaka Ozaki's "I Love You" as a tribute to
him.
"Living on My Own" - On her Bohemian Summer 2000 tour, she covered Freddie Mercury's "Living on My
Own".
"Take on Me" - On her Bohemian Summer 2000 Tour, she covered A-ha's "Take on Me".
"With or Without You" - she covered U2's "With or Without You" on MTV Unplugged.
"Playback part 2" - A cover of Momoe Yamaguchi's song, also performed on her Bohemian Summer 2000 tour.
"Boulevard of Broken Dreams" - She covered Green Day's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" along with "Passion"
on the Christmas of 2005. It was available as an internet download for a short period of time.
"Let It Snow" - On November 30, 2009, at Studio Coast, Tokyo, Mika sung "Let It Snow" in a duet with Utada.
"The Bitter End" - During her Utada: In The Flesh 2010 tour, Utada sung a cover of Placebo's "The Bitter End"
on each of the tour dates.
"Across the Universe" - At the Wild Life concerts, Utada sung a cover of The Beatles' song "Across the
Universe", playing the guitar herself (also accompanied by another guitarist).
Incorrectly attributed songs
"Sukiyaki" - She did not cover the song "Sukiyaki" by Kyu Sakamoto. "This was a demo version for her
recording company, Toshiba-EMI and was never officially released to the public." was made up. The song
"Sukiyaki" was sung in English by a band called A Taste of Honey. While the singer from this band does sound a
lot like Utada, the fact is the song was sung in the early 1980s. The rumor is believed to have been started by
someone mislabeling the song file, then that file getting distributed to the public via a file sharing program.
"Hear Me Cry" - Utada is often incorrectly attributed to singing "Hear Me Cry" by American band Cagnet. The
rumour Utada is said to have sung this song is due to the fact the lead singer sounds similar to Utada, with the
song being mislabelled (as with "Sukiyaki") and being distributed to the public via a file sharing program.
Physical sales by year (Japan only)
Year Sales
1998 10,062,780
1999 1,465,165
2000 1,550,710
2001 5,392,335
2002 4,889,438
2003 8,112,790
2004 1,023,809
2005 773,323
2006 1,181,231
2007 1,885,560
2008 961,418
2009 234,547
2010 500,000*
Discography
19
2011 150,000*
Total 38,422,698
References
20
Studio Albums
21
Compilation Albums
22
Solo Singles
23
Soundtrack Singles
24
Collaboration Singles
25
Tours
Article Sources and Contributors
26
Article Sources and Contributors
Hikaru Utada Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=611238419 Contributors: *Chosen One*, -Anthony-, 2011yay, ACSE, ASDFGH, Abarry, Aceshadows, Acr8tiv,
AhnSoonKyung, Aimskimu, Akamad, Akina66, Akuru, Allan87, Allens, AmericanIdolFreak3, AncientToaster, And we drown, Andrew Gwilliam, Andycjp, Angelic4rapsody, Aniami14,
Apoc2400, ArashiNoMegami, ArglebargleIV, ArielGold, Artistthatneverwas, Ask123, Aspects, Astone92, Atomic Duck!, AtticusX, Auntof6, Auzzzzz, Avatar Z, Awesome456, Awyumdude,
Ayumisrael, BD2412, Baaleos, BabyMusic011, Backtobasic06, Badagnani, Badkarma, Bakahito, Bananagenes, Banzaiboy, Bearas, Bearddll, Beavershadow, Bender235, Bezaaum, Bhiinoe,
BigHaz, Billdorr, Blah3, Blak000, Blauereiter, Blocker209, Blonde princess5, Blurasis, Bmusician, Bnynms, Bobo192, BokuAlec, Boneyard90, Bradlee151, Brianreading, Burst tool,
Butterfly0fdoom, C777, Calicore, CambridgeBayWeather, Cameron en, Can't sleep, clown will eat me, Cartoonmaster009, Ceyockey, Chakahc, ChaosAkita, Cherrieslovable, Chibashun,
ChibiKiwi, Chowbok, Chris 73, Chsf, Ckatz, Closedmouth, Clouded, Clumsy505, Coldbread, Coldruler, Colonies Chris, CommonsDelinker, Coreax, Cqinz, CyberSkull, Cyborg Ninja, Cyrus
XIII, D6, DAJF, Da Vynci, Daiz kuro, DanMS, Darc aqua, Dark raito, DarkEvil, Darknshadow, Darkriku, Dasani, Davandron, Davykamanzi, Dearslownessi, Deflective, Demitel, Denisarona, Der
Golem, Derek R Bullamore, Deutschpro, Dianaofburlington, Diannaa, Diotti, Discospinster, Doberdog, Doctor Hexagon, Dominichikaru, Dontyoudare, Doubt97, Download, DrippingInk,
DropDeadGorgias, Dycaite, E-Kartoffel, Earth Wikipedian, ElinorD, Eloc Jcg, Elymera, Endroit, Entegy, Ep347, Ericorbit, Erith, Eternally Mean, Etoncal, Etzer0, Evil Monkey, Evolution7931,
Extransit, F7651234, Faithlessthewonderboy, FallenAngelII, Famitsudc, Fayenatic london, Feitclub, Fetchcomms, Filmguy24p, Fireglowe, Fixer88, Frecklegirl, FreshBulletTime, F, GaGa Boy,
Gaius Cornelius, Gambattemusic, Gamermanz, GateKeeper, Gazza-Xtreme, Gennaro Prota, Gerbrant, Gjd001, Glen, Goldster215, Goofgoobers, Gowth, Graham87, GreekStar12, GregorB, Grey
Shadow, GreyFace, Groink, Gwern, Gwib, Gkhan, H, Hamish59, Happy Panda, Haracas, Hariharan91, Harizotoh9, Hatto, Hedatari, Hextan, Hikari7, Hooperbloob, Hotdate240, How2what4,
Hvn0413, Ichris, Ihateneagan, Iknowthenews1, Immblueversion, Impracticable, Ink Runner, InnerRise, Inunah, Ipatrol, Isenfords, Isequals, Iste Praetor, J happy, JL 63, JPG-GR, Jack Cox,
JackSparrow, Jagamijs, Jalabi99, Jamesjiao, Jarzu, Jclark256, Jclemens, Jcw69, Jeimii, Jerec, Jesse hz, Jessicapierce, Jfdwolff, Jijithecat, Jksdfug, Jksun2, Joan-of-arc, Joe Decker, John254,
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