Hikaru Utada was born to Japanese parents who both had roots in the Japanese music industry; her father, Teruzane Utada, was a producer, while her mother, Junko Utada, was an enka singer (she performed under the stage name Keiko Fuji (藤圭子). Utada Hikaru has been recording since 1993. She made her first professional recording at the age of twelve, and recorded her first album, Precious, in 1996 under the pseudonym Cubic U. This album led to her career overseas. In an interview for MTV's, You Hear It First, Hikaru said: "Someone in Japan heard it, at a Japanese record company, and he said, 'Oh, can't you write in Japanese? You speak Japanese.' And I didn't want to say no, so I had to try it."
Hikaru 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. 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 Japanese debut album "First Love", Hikaru 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, 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 history.
After a two-year break, Hikaru released her follow up album "Distance", garnering first-week sales of 3 million units sold. Backed by her singles — "Addicted to You", "Wait & See ~リスク~", "For You / タイム・リミット" and "Can You Keep a Secret?" — Distance became the best-selling album of the year, with almost 5 million copies sold in Japan alone. Additionally, "Addicted to You" became Hikaru's best-selling single, selling one million in its first week. Hikaru went on to release a single which was dedicated to the female victim of a murder case in Ikeda, Osaka, titled "Final Distance".
Leading up to the third album, "Deep River", Hikaru released "traveling", "光", and "SAKURAドロップス"; all the songs reached the top of the charts. Deep River sold 2.35 million copies in its first week. Oricon reported that sales eventually surpassed 3.6 million, making Utada the only act in Japanese music history to have three consecutive albums surpass the three million mark. The album was cited by many fans and critics as Hikaru's most acclaimed work, as well as achieving the Triple Crown at the 17th Golden Disc Awards in Japan. Later, she attempted to break into the US market under her stage name Utada with her album Exodus.
A year after the release of Exodus, Hikaru moved back to Tokyo and started work on her next album. Leading up to the release of her fourth album, "Ultra Blue", Hikaru released a string of successful hit singles: "COLORS" (no. 1), "誰かの願いが叶うころ" (no. 1), "Be My Last", (no. 1), "Passion" (no. 4), and "Keep Tryin'" (no. 2). The digital single "This Is Love" was released to promote the album, netting around one million digital downloads. 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 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 albums of the past year.
A tour of Japan, "Utada United 2006," commenced on June 30th, 2006 (Two weeks after Ultra Blue's release) and ended on September 12th, 2006, after Hikaru Utada's performances at Yoyogi. Ticket sales started on May 28th, 2006, with the majority of venues selling out in less than two hours.
Hikaru Utada released the single "Flavor of Life" on February 28th, 2007. Her next single, "Beautiful World / Kiss & Cry", was released in Japan on August 29th, 2007 - A track which also doubled as the theme song to the anime movie "Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone".
On February 20th, 2008, she released her 20th Japanese single, HEART STATION/Stay Gold which reached #1 on Japan’s weekly radio charts, which was followed shortly after by her 6th Japanese studio album, HEART STATION released on the 19th of March 2008. Hikaru intended to go for a "simpler" approach for the album; she stated, "From the beginning, I had always intended to make this album easier to listen to so anyone can enjoy it. I always aimed for a simple melody, simple lyrics and a simple message rather than over-complicating it all. But overall, I had a lot of fun making this album." Utada then returned to the US market, releasing This Is the One. She also went on tour with 'Utada: In the Flesh', playing in cities around the world, such as Los Angeles, New York, and London.
On August 9, 2010, Hikaru 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. It was unclear as for how long this break would last and if she would ever return to the music scene. Before the hiatus began, she said that she would go "full throttle" on her artistic activities, and soon after her site was updated, 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 "誰かの願いが叶うころ" to "Prisoner of Love" on disc one, as well as an extra EP, featuring five new tracks.
From November 24, 2010, first-week sales for Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2 were 231,000 units according to Oricon album daily charting. 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. An announcement was made that Utada would perform a two-night concert titled Wild Life at Yokohama Arena to promote the album, her first Japanese concert since 2006's Utada United.
On August 8, 2016, her sixth Japanese album's title was released: "Fantôme", French for "ghost". Following its release on September 28, Fantôme was commercially and critically successful. It debuted atop the Oricon Albums Chart and stayed there for four consecutive weeks, the most of any Utada studio album since First Love. It was awarded Album of the Year at the Japan Record Awards and received positive reviews from media outlets. Musically, Fantôme is a collection of tracks that emphasize acoustic and stripped-down instrumentation, alongside influences of pop, electronic, and R&B music. The lyrical content delves into themes of grief, sadness, love, and death, mostly influenced by the death of her mother, her second marriage, and the birth of her son in 2015.
Hikaru's seventh album, "初恋", was released on June 27, 2018. The release coincided with the commemoration of her 20th anniversary as an artist in Japan. A national tour was announced to support the album in November 2018, "Laughter in the Dark 2018", her first Japan concert tour in 12 years. It is currently available on iTunes for digital download and Netflix for streaming.
Hikaru released her eighth album, "BADモード" on January 19, 2022. It features production from musicians such as Skrillex and A. G. Cook.
Official sites:
www.emimusic.jp/hikki
http://www.u3music.com/
あなた
宇多田ヒカル Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
どんな願いも叶わないから
燃え盛る業火の谷間が待ってようと
守りたいのはあなた
あなた以外なんにもいらない
大概の問題は取るに足らない
多くは望まない 神様お願い
一日の終わりに撫で下ろす
この胸を頼りにしてる人がいる
くよくよなんてしてる場合じゃない
Oh ただの数字が特別になるよ
あなたと歩む世界は
息を飲むほど美しいんだ
人寄せぬ荒野の真ん中
私の手を握り返したあなた
あなた以外なんにもいらない
大概の問題は取るに足らない
多くは望まない 神様お願い
代り映えしない明日をください
戦争の始まりを知らせる放送も
アクティヴィストの足音も届かない
この部屋にいたい もう少し
Oh 肌の匂いが変わってしまうよ
あなたの生きる時代が
迷いと煩悩に満ちていても
晴れ渡る夜空の光が震えるほど
眩しいのはあなた
あなた以外思い残さない
大概の問題は取るに足らない
多くは望まない 神様お願い
代り映えしない明日をください
何度聞かれようと変わらない答えを
聞かせてあげたい
なんと言われようと
あなたの行く末を
案じてやまない
終わりのない苦しみを甘受し
Darling 旅を続けよう
あなた以外帰る場所は
天上天下 どこにもない
どこにもない
どこにもない ウウウウウウ
どこにもない
In “Anata”, 宇多田ヒカル feat. Jevon sing about their unconditional love for someone. They sing about how in a world without this person, their wishes would never come true, no matter how much they burn with the desire to see them. They also sing about how they don't need anything else besides the presence of this one person in their life. They are aware of the difficulties and sorrows of life, but with this one person by their side, they are able to transcend it all.
The song talks about how the world with this person is breathtakingly beautiful and how even the stars tremble with the light of this person. They don't need anything complicated or extravagant, they simply want to be with this person. The song also talks bout how even with wars and activist movements around, the singer only wants to stay in the same room with this person. The love is so strong between the two of them that even the difficult moments in their lives become bearable.
Line by Line Meaning
あなたのいない世界じゃ
In a world without you,
どんな願いも叶わないから
No wish can come true.
燃え盛る業火の谷間が待ってようと
Even if a valley of blazing flames awaits,
守りたいのはあなた
What I want to protect is you.
あなた以外なんにもいらない
I don't need anything else except you,
大概の問題は取るに足らない
Most problems aren't worth worrying about.
多くは望まない 神様お願い
I don't ask for much, God, please
代り映えしない明日をください
Give me a tomorrow that won't be replaced by another.
一日の終わりに撫で下ろす
At the end of the day, I stroke
この胸を頼りにしてる人がいる
This chest that someone relies on.
くよくよなんてしてる場合じゃない
This is no time to worry about things.
Oh ただの数字が特別になるよ
Oh, just numbers become special.
あなたと歩む世界は
The world I walk with you,
息を飲むほど美しいんだ
Is breathtakingly beautiful.
人寄せぬ荒野の真ん中
In the middle of a deserted wilderness,
私の手を握り返したあなた
You grasped my hand back.
戦争の始まりを知らせる放送も
Even broadcasts that announce the start of war
アクティヴィストの足音も届かない
And the footsteps of activists can't reach.
この部屋にいたい もう少し
I want to stay in this room a bit longer.
Oh 肌の匂いが変わってしまうよ
Oh, the smell of our skin is changing.
あなたの生きる時代が
The era you live in,
迷いと煩悩に満ちていても
Is filled with confusion and temptation,
晴れ渡る夜空の光が震えるほど
The light of the clear night sky is so strong
眩しいのはあなた
That it's you who's dazzling.
あなた以外思い残さない
I won't have any regrets except for you.
大概の問題は取るに足らない
Most problems aren't worth worrying about.
多くは望まない 神様お願い
I don't ask for much, God, please
代り映えしない明日をください
Give me a tomorrow that won't be replaced by another.
何度聞かれようと変わらない答えを
No matter how many times I'm asked, my answer won't change.
聞かせてあげたい
I want to let you hear it.
なんと言われようと
No matter what anyone says,
あなたの行く末を
I will always worry about
案じてやまない
Your future.
終わりのない苦しみを甘受し
I'll accept endless suffering
Darling 旅を続けよう
Darling, let's continue on this journey.
あなた以外帰る場所は
There's no place to go back to except for you,
天上天下 どこにもない
In heaven and on earth, there's nowhere else.
どこにもない
Nowhere else.
どこにもない
Nowhere else.
どこにもない
Nowhere else.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Hikaru Utada
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Razri
歌：宇多田ヒカル
作詞：Utada Hikaru
作曲：Utada Hikaru
あなたのいない世界じゃ
どんな願いも叶わないから
燃え盛る業火の谷間が待ってようと
守りたいのはあなた
あなた以外なんにもいらない
大概の問題は取るに足らない
多くは望まない 神様お願い
代り映えしない明日をください
一日の終わりに撫で下ろす
この胸を頼りにしてる人がいる
くよくよなんてしてる場合じゃない
Oh ただの数字が特別になるよ
あなたと歩む世界は
息を飲むほど美しいんだ
人寄せぬ荒野の真ん中
私の手を握り返したあなた
あなた以外なんにもいらない
大概の問題は取るに足らない
多くは望まない 神様お願い
代り映えしない明日をください
戦争の始まりを知らせる放送も
アクティヴィストの足音も届かない
この部屋にいたい もう少し
Oh 肌の匂いが変わってしまうよ
あなたの生きる時代が
迷いと煩悩に満ちていても
晴れ渡る夜空の光が震えるほど
眩しいのはあなた
あなた以外思い残さない
大概の問題は取るに足らない
多くは望まない 神様お願い
代り映えしない明日をください
何度聞かれようと
変わらない答えを
聞かせてあげたい
なんと言われようと
あなたの行く末を
案じてやまない
終わりのない苦しみを甘受し
Darling 旅を続けよう
あなた以外帰る場所は
天上天下 どこにもない
モチマメ
あなたのいない世界じゃ
If I lived in a world without you
どんな願いも叶わないから
No wishes would ever come true
燃え盛る業火の谷間が待ってようと
No matter how terrifying flames of hell are waiting out there
守りたいのはあなた
All I wanna protect is you
あなた以外なんにもいらない
I don't need anything but you
大概の問題は取るに足らない
All other things are irreverent for me
多くは望まない 神様お願い
I don't wish much - So please God
代り映えしない明日をください
Let us go on with monotonous life
一日の終わりに撫で下ろす
At the end of the day I got unwind
この胸を頼りにしてる人がいる
And I got the one leaning on me
くよくよなんてしてる場合じゃない
No time to niggle over tiny things
Oh ただの数字が特別になるよ
Oh a mere sequence of numbers comes to mean a lot to me
あなたと歩む世界は
When I walk with you
息を飲むほど美しいんだ
The world is breathtakingly beautiful
人寄せぬ荒野の真ん中
In the middle of the abandoned land
私の手を握り返したあなた
The one giving handhold back to me was you
あなた以外なんにもいらない
I don't need anything but you
大概の問題は取るに足らない
All other things are irreverent for me
多くは望まない 神様お願い
I don't wish much - So please God
代り映えしない明日をください
Let us go on with monotonous life
戦争の始まりを知らせる放送も
Shut away from broadcast on the war outbreak
アクティヴィストの足音も届かない
Shut away from footsteps of activists
この部屋にいたい もう少し
Just leave us to stay in this room for a while
Oh 肌の匂いが変わってしまうよ
Oh I miss the scent of your skin just disappearing
あなたの生きる時代が
The generation you go through
迷いと煩悩に満ちていても
May be filled with ambivalence and evil thoughts
晴れ渡る夜空の光が震えるほど
But even the lights of the cloudless night sky
眩しいのはあなた
May be fading because of sparkling you
あなた以外思い残さない
I don't have any concern leftover apart from you
大概の問題は取るに足らない
All other things are irreverent for me
多くは望まない 神様お願い
I don't wish much - So please God
代り映えしない明日をください
Let us go on with monotonous life
何度聞かれようと
Over and over
変わらない答えを
I wanna tell you
聞かせてあげたい
The same answer
なんと言われようと
Over and over
あなたの行く末を
I care about your future
案じてやまない
Whatever you say
終わりのない苦しみを甘受し
Accepting endless suffers
Darling 旅を続けよう
Darling Keep travelling
あなた以外帰る場所は
You are the only place I come back
天上天下 どこにもない
In this world nowhere like you
黒犬
『自分用』
歌詞
あなたのいない世界じゃ
どんな願いも叶わないから
燃え盛る業火の谷間が待ってようと
守りたいのはあなた
あなた以外なんにもいらない
大概の問題は取るに足らない
多くは望まない 神様お願い
代り映えしない明日をください
一日の終わりに撫で下ろす
この胸を頼りにしてる人がいる
くよくよなんてしてる場合じゃない
Oh ただの数字が特別になるよ
あなたと歩む世界は
息を飲むほど美しいんだ
人寄せぬ荒野の真ん中
私の手を握り返したあなた
あなた以外なんにもいらない
大概の問題は取るに足らない
多くは望まない 神様お願い
代り映えしない明日をください
戦争の始まりを知らせる放送も
アクティヴィストの足音も届かない
この部屋にいたい もう少し
Oh 肌の匂いが変わってしまうよ
あなたの生きる時代が
迷いと煩悩に満ちていても
晴れ渡る夜空の光が震えるほど
眩しいのはあなた
あなた以外思い残さない
大概の問題は取るに足らない
多くは望まない 神様お願い
代り映えしない明日をください
何度聞かれようと
変わらない答えを
聞かせてあげたい
なんと言われようと
あなたの行く末を
案じてやまない
終わりのない苦しみを甘受し
Darling 旅を続けよう
あなた以外帰る場所は
天上天下 どこにもない
Razri
歌：宇多田ヒカル
作詞：Utada Hikaru
作曲：Utada Hikaru
あなたのいない世界じゃ
どんな願いも叶わないから
燃え盛る業火の谷間が待ってようと
守りたいのはあなた
あなた以外なんにもいらない
大概の問題は取るに足らない
多くは望まない 神様お願い
代り映えしない明日をください
一日の終わりに撫で下ろす
この胸を頼りにしてる人がいる
くよくよなんてしてる場合じゃない
Oh ただの数字が特別になるよ
あなたと歩む世界は
息を飲むほど美しいんだ
人寄せぬ荒野の真ん中
私の手を握り返したあなた
あなた以外なんにもいらない
大概の問題は取るに足らない
多くは望まない 神様お願い
代り映えしない明日をください
戦争の始まりを知らせる放送も
アクティヴィストの足音も届かない
この部屋にいたい もう少し
Oh 肌の匂いが変わってしまうよ
あなたの生きる時代が
迷いと煩悩に満ちていても
晴れ渡る夜空の光が震えるほど
眩しいのはあなた
あなた以外思い残さない
大概の問題は取るに足らない
多くは望まない 神様お願い
代り映えしない明日をください
何度聞かれようと
変わらない答えを
聞かせてあげたい
なんと言われようと
あなたの行く末を
案じてやまない
終わりのない苦しみを甘受し
Darling 旅を続けよう
あなた以外帰る場所は
天上天下 どこにもない
mini tsang
This song and the movie both is so wonderful 😢😢
とだてんやで
助かりました
YOU&CHI
ありがとうございます🤗
もふもふ
😊様😊😊
フォンダンショコラ
この曲、「あなた」をパートナーにしても、子供にしても、母親や父親にしても違和感なく聞けるのがすごい。
宇多田ヒカルの歌詞って本当に凄いよなぁ…。
おしりちゃん
かみ
葵
あと友達も
国人國井
あと俺も
まっつん
@葵 ！