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/
プレイ・ボール
宇多田ヒカル Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
気にしないで
そう 最高の防御は時に攻撃だと言うでしょ
祭りの音が野性呼び覚ます
涼しい夜に熱を注ぐ
流行りの歌が私かきたてる (sounds like)
勝負どころ ("play ball", come on)
束の問の沈黙を破る question
九回の裏で魅せるピッチャーのように
I'm throwing my heart
一人でも続けると決めた mission
誰にでも好きと言えるわけじゃない
狙いを定めて
I'm throwing my heart at you
夏も終わりの気配漂う八月末
あきらめないで
全力尽くしてもダメだったら それもまた風流
花火の色が横顔を染める
淋しい空が急に笑う
きれいな星が帰り遅らせる (sounds like)
望むところ ("play ball", c'mon)
君の胸のどこかに眠る passion
わずかな隙 見逃さぬランナーのように
I'm stealing your heart
一人でも続けると決めた mission
誰にでも素顔見せるわけじゃない
眼鏡をはずして
I'm throwing my heart
華麗な逆転させた first impression
足元に武器を捨てるハンターのように
I'm showing my heart
一人でも続けると決めた mission
誰にでも牙を向けるわけじゃない
答えを聞かせて
I'm throwing my heart at you
束の問の沈黙を破る question
九回の裏で魅せるピッチャーのように
I'm throwing my heart
一人でも続けると決めた mission
誰にでも好きと言えるわけじゃない
狙いを定めて
I'm throwing my heart at you
The lyrics of 宇多田ヒカル's song プレイ・ボール convey a message of determination, passion, and the pursuit of one's goals. The first verse talks about the initial impression one might give off, but emphasizes not to worry about it. It suggests that sometimes, the best way to defend oneself is by going on the offensive, taking risks, and being assertive.
The following lines describe a festive atmosphere, with the sound of music awakening the wild side within. The singer mentions pouring their energy and enthusiasm into the cool night and being inspired by popular songs. This section also refers to the crucial moment of decision-making, symbolized by the phrase "勝負どころ" (play ball, come on), indicating a call to action.
The second verse depicts the end of summer, a time where the feeling of resignation might prevail, but the lyrics encourage not giving up. Even if giving one's all doesn't lead to success, it is portrayed as a graceful and admirable endeavor. The imagery of fireworks coloring the face, a lonely sky suddenly smiling, and beautiful stars delaying one's return captures the bittersweet essence of the situation.
The bridge introduces the concept of hidden passion within someone's heart. It compares it to a skillful base runner not missing the slightest opportunity to make a move. The singer expresses a desire to steal the listener's heart and reveals that they have decided to continue on their mission without relying on others. They remove their glasses, symbolizing a stripping away of barriers to show their true self.
The final chorus signifies a magnificent turnaround, describing a first impression that dazzles others. The lyrics compare it to a hunter discarding their weapons at their feet, symbolizing vulnerability and authenticity. The singer declares their intention to continue pursuing their mission, emphasizing that they are not out to challenge anyone but seeking answers and aiming with clarity.
Overall, the lyrics of プレイ・ボール evoke a sense of determination, courage, and the willingness to give one's all to achieve personal goals while acknowledging the importance of staying true to oneself. It encourages listeners to break the silence, seize opportunities, and throw their hearts into their endeavors.
Line by Line Meaning
生意気そうと思われる第一印象
The first impression might make me seem arrogant
気にしないで
But I don't care
そう 最高の防御は時に攻撃だと言うでしょ
Because sometimes the best defense is offense, they say
祭りの音が野性呼び覚ます
The sound of the festival awakens the wildness
涼しい夜に熱を注ぐ
Injecting heat into a cool night
流行りの歌が私かきたてる (sounds like)
The popular song stirs me up
勝負どころ ("play ball", come on)
It's game time (play ball, come on)
束の問の沈黙を破る question
Breaking the silence of countless questions
九回の裏で魅せるピッチャーのように
Like a pitcher wowing in the bottom of the ninth
I'm throwing my heart
I'm giving it my all
一人でも続けると決めた mission
I've decided to continue even if I'm alone, that's my mission
誰にでも好きと言えるわけじゃない
It's not easy for me to say I love anyone
狙いを定めて
But I'll take aim
I'm throwing my heart at you
I'm giving my heart to you
夏も終わりの気配漂う八月末
The end of summer is in the air at the end of August
あきらめないで
Don't give up
全力尽くしてもダメだったら それもまた風流
Even if giving it my all doesn't work, that's still romantic
花火の色が横顔を染める
The colors of the fireworks color my profile
淋しい空が急に笑う
The lonely sky suddenly laughs
きれいな星が帰り遅らせる (sounds like)
The beautiful stars delay my return
望むところ ("play ball", c'mon)
Here's what I desire (play ball, c'mon)
君の胸のどこかに眠る passion
The passion that sleeps somewhere inside your heart
わずかな隙 見逃さぬランナーのように
Like a small opening that a runner won't miss
I'm stealing your heart
I'm capturing your heart
一人でも続けると決めた mission
I've decided to continue even if I'm alone, that's my mission
誰にでも素顔見せるわけじゃない
I don't show my true self to just anyone
眼鏡をはずして
Taking off my glasses
I'm throwing my heart
I'm giving it my all
華麗な逆転させた first impression
A dazzling reversal of the first impression
足元に武器を捨てるハンターのように
Like a hunter discarding their weapon at their feet
I'm showing my heart
I'm revealing my heart
一人でも続けると決めた mission
I've decided to continue even if I'm alone, that's my mission
誰にでも牙を向けるわけじゃない
I don't bear my fangs at just anyone
答えを聞かせて
Let me hear your answer
I'm throwing my heart at you
I'm giving my heart to you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hikaru Utada
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@userunnkodaisuki
感動しました🥺
@catchocolate6695
いいですね〜。
I love this song.