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/
Can You Keep A Secret?
宇多田ヒカル Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Otonashiku narenai
Can you keep a secret?
* Hit it off like this
Hit it off like this, oh baby (x2)
Koko kara zutto okutteru angou wo
Tsutaeyou, yameyou
Kono mama kakusou
Nigekirenaku naru made
Shinjiyou, dame da yo
Mada utagaesou da mono
Chikazukitai yo kimi no risou ni
Otonashiku narenai
Can you keep a secret?
Kanashiku nai yo kimi ga iru kara
Can you keep a secret?
Can you keep a secret?
Chikazukenai yo kimi no risou ni
Sugu ni wa kawarenai Can you keep a secret?
Kanashiku naru to kimi wo yobu kara
Can you keep a secret? Or kono mama secret?
* repeat
Soba ni itemo toomawashi na hyougen sagashiteru
Meikyuuiri sasetakunai nara
Won't you come on, yeah
Kasuka na monooto
Otte kuru moving shadow
Furikirenaku naru kage
Sukoshi no bouken to
Kizutsuku yuuki mo aru desho
Chikazukitai yo kimi no risou ni
Otonashiku narenai
Can you keep a secret?
Kanashikunai yo kimi ga iru kara
Can you keep a secret?
Can you keep a secret?
Chikazukenai yo kimi no risou ni
Ato ni wa modorenai Can you keep a secret?
Oshaberi ja nai to shoumei shite yo
Can you keep a secret? Or kono mama secret?
Ima made zutto himitsu ni shiteta
Dare ni mo iwanaide Can you keep a secret?
Kanashikunai yo kimi ga iru kara
Can you keep a secret?
Can you keep a secret?
Kizutsukenai to yakusoku shitemo
Dare ni mo wakaranai Can you keep a secret?
Kanashikunai yo kimi ga iru kara
Can you keep a secret? Or kono mama secret?
The lyrics of Can You Keep A Secret? by 宇多田ヒカル speak about a person's desire to get closer to the one they love, be a part of their world, and connect with their ideals. The opening lines express this longing to be near the other person's ideals, while feeling that they have not yet learned to be mature and patient. The chorus repeats the song's title and poses the question about whether they can keep a secret or not because there are things the singer wants to share that they may not want to reveal.
The middle of the song features verses about the singer's interest in the other person's shadow, as though looking for clues into their personality, but desiring to avoid traps and challenges in the pursuit of further understanding the other person. The bridge of the song finds the singer finally admitting their feelings and acknowledging that they have been keeping them secret, emphasizing how important the other person is to them, but uncertain if reciprocation is possible.
Overall, the song is about the push and pull of a person's desire to connect with someone they love while also acknowledging the need for privacy, secrets, and inner thoughts that may not be readily shared. This internal conflict and the desire to bridge the gap is what makes this song so emotionally resonant.
Line by Line Meaning
Chikazukitai yo kimi no risou ni
I want to get closer to your ideal self
Otonashiku narenai
I can't become quiet or submissive
Can you keep a secret?
Can you promise to keep something confidential?
Hit it off like this
We have a great connection
Koko kara zutto okutteru angou wo
I have been keeping this code hidden for a long time
Kimi wa mada kaidoku de kitenai
You can't read it yet
Come on
Let's do it
Tsutaeyou, yameyou
Let's tell, let's stop
Kono mama kakusou
Let's keep it this way
Nigekirenaku naru made
Until we can't escape anymore
Shinjiyou, dame da yo
Let's believe, it's not good
Mada utagaesou da mono
It's still in doubt
Can you keep a secret?
Can you promise to keep something confidential?
Kanashiku nai yo kimi ga iru kara
It's not sad because you're here
Chikazukenai yo kimi no risou ni
I can't get closer to your ideal self
Sugu ni wa kawarenai Can you keep a secret?
I can't change it right away, can you keep a secret?
Kanashiku naru to kimi wo yobu kara
I'll call for you if I become sad
Or kono mama secret?
Or should we just keep it a secret?
Soba ni itemo toomawashi na hyougen sagashiteru
Even when you're by my side, I'm searching for ambiguous expressions
Meikyuuiri sasetakunai nara
If I don't want to get lost in a labyrinth of emotions
Won't you come on, yeah
Won't you come with me?
Kasuka na monooto
A faint sound
Otte kuru moving shadow
Following shadowy movements
Furikirenaku naru kage
The shadow won't leave me
Sukoshi no bouken to
A little adventure
Kizutsuku yuuki mo aru desho
I bet there's also courage to get hurt
Chikazukitai yo kimi no risou ni
I want to get closer to your ideal self
Otonashiku narenai
I can't become quiet or submissive
Can you keep a secret?
Can you promise to keep something confidential?
Kanashikunai yo kimi ga iru kara
It's not sad because you're here
Chikazukenai yo kimi no risou ni
I can't get closer to your ideal self
Ato ni wa modorenai Can you keep a secret?
We can't turn back time, can you keep a secret?
Oshaberi ja nai to shoumei shite yo
Prove to me that you won't talk too much
Kizutsukenai to yakusoku shitemo
Even if I promise not to hurt you
Dare ni mo wakaranai Can you keep a secret?
No one else knows, can you keep a secret?
Kanashikunai yo kimi ga iru kara
It's not sad because you're here
Can you keep a secret? Or kono mama secret?
Can you promise to keep something confidential? Or should we just keep it a secret like this?
Contributed by Caroline A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@_o16rm
（ 歌詞・時間付き ）
0:00 近づきたいよ 君の理想に
0:05 おとなしくなれない
0:08 can you keep a secret?
0:11 ※Hit it off like this
Hit it off like this,oh baby×4※
0:29 ここから ずっと 送ってる暗号
0:38 君は まだ 解読できてない
0:47 伝えよう やめよう
0:50 このまま隠そう
0:52 逃げ切れなくなるまで
0:56 信じよう だめだよ まだ疑えそうだもの
1:05 △近づきたいよ 君の理想に
1:10 おとなしくなれない
1:13 can you keep a secret?
1:15 悲しくないよ 君がいるから
1:20 can you keep a secret?
can you keep a secret?
1:24 近づけないよ 君の理想に△
1:29 すぐには 変われない
1:31 can you keep a secret?
1:33 悲しくなると 君を呼ぶから
1:38 can you keep a secret?
1:40 Or このままsecret
1:43 (※くり返し)
2:01 側にいても 遠回しな表現 探してる
2:10 迷宮入りさせたくないなら
2:16 won't you come on?
2:19 かすかな物音 追ってくる movin' shadow
2:25 振り切れなくなる影
2:29 少しの冒険と 傷付く勇気も あるでしょ
2:38 (△くり返し)
3:01 あとには 戻れない can you keep a secret?
3:06 おしゃべりじゃないと 証明してよ
3:10 can you keep a secret?
3:13 Orこのままsecret
3:33 今までずっと 秘密にしてた
3:37 誰にもいわないで
3:40 can you keep a secret?
3:42 悲しくないよ 君がいるから
3:47 can you keep a secret?
can you keep a secret?
3:52 傷付けないと 約束しても
3:56 誰にもわからない can you keep a secret?
4:01 悲しくないよ 君がいるから
4:05 can you keep a secret?
4:07 Or このままsecret
@ZERO_KUN
歌詞
歌：宇多田ヒカル
作詞：Utada Hikaru
作曲：Utada Hikaru
近づきたいよ 君の理想に
おとなしくなれない
Can you keep a secret?
Hit it off like this
Hit it off like this, oh baby
Hit it off like this
Hit it off like this, oh baby
Hit it off like this
Hit it off like this, oh baby
Hit it off like this
Hit it off like this, oh baby
ここからずっと送ってる暗号を
君はまだ解読できてない
Come on
伝えよう やめよう
このまま隠そう
逃げ切れなくなるまで
信じよう だめだよ
まだ疑えそうだもの
近づきたいよ 君の理想に
おとなしくなれない Can you keep a secret?
悲しくないよ 君がいるから
Can you keep a secret?
Can you keep a secret?
近づけないよ 君の理想に
すぐには変われない Can you keep a secret?
悲しくなると君を呼ぶから
Can you keep a secret?
Or このまま secret?
Hit it off like this
Hit it off like this, oh baby
Hit it off like this
Hit it off like this, oh baby
Hit it off like this
Hit it off like this, oh baby
Hit it off like this
Hit it off like this, oh baby
側にいても 遠回しな表現探してる
迷宮入りさせたくないなら
Won't you come on
かすかな物音
追ってくる moving shadow
ふりきれなくなる影
少しの冒険と
傷つく勇気もあるでしょ
近づきたいよ 君の理想に
おとなしくなれない Can you keep a secret?
悲しくないよ 君がいるから
Can you keep a secret?
Can you keep a secret?
近づけないよ 君の理想に
あとには戻れない Can you keep a secret?
おしゃべりじゃないと証明してよ
Can you keep a secret?
Or このまま secret?
今までずっと秘密にしてた
誰にも言わないで Can you keep a secret?
悲しくないよ 君がいるから
Can you keep a secret?
Can you keep a secret?
傷つけないと約束しても
誰にも分からない Can you keep a secret?
悲しくないよ 君がいるから
Can you keep a secret?
Or このまま secret?
Can you keep a secret?
Can you keep a secret?
Can you keep a secret?
Can you keep a secret?
Can you keep a secret?
Can you keep a secret?
Can you keep a secret?
@Chankooooo
近づきたいよ 君の理想に
おとなしくなれない
can you keep a secret?
※Hit it off like this
Hit it off like this,oh baby×4※
ここから ずっと 送ってる暗号
君は まだ 解読できてない
伝えよう やめよう
このまま隠そう
逃げ切れなくなるまで
信じよう だめだよ まだ疑えそうだもの
△近づきたいよ 君の理想に おとなしくなれない
can you keep a secret?
悲くないよ 君がいるから
can you keep a secret? can you keep a secret?
近づけないよ 君の理想に△
すぐには 変われない can you keep a secret?
悲くなると 君を呼ぶから
can you keep a secret?
Or このままsecret
(※くり返し)
側にいても 遠回しな表現 探してる
迷宮入りさせたくないなら
won't you come on?
かすかな物音 追ってくる movin' shadow
振り切れなくなる影
少しの冒険と 傷付く勇気も あるでしょ
(△くり返し)
あとには 戻れない can you keep a secret?
おしゃべりじゃないと 証明してよ
can you keep a secret? Orこのままsecret
今までずっと 秘密にしてた 誰にもいわないで
can you keep a secret?
悲しくないよ 君がいるから
can you keep a secret? can you keep a secret?
傷付けないと 約束しても
誰にもわからない can you keep a secret?
悲しくないよ 君がいるから
can you keep a secret?
Or このままsecret
@legendmanable
宇多田ヒカルの場合歌がかなり上手いのはもちろんなのですが
並の歌手と決定的に違うというか才能を感じるのは作詞・作曲特に作詞ですね
10代の時点でおまえ何歳やねんとつっこみをしたくなる詞を歌にしている
10代なのに感情、人間関係ふくめ社会のことを一通り経験した人間にしか表現できないようなことをサラッと詞にできる
とうぜん宇多田ヒカルはこの時10代ですから一通り経験しているわけがない
つまり彼女の発想力や表現力が天才的なんです
自分の人生の20年か30年くらい先が見えているかのような詞
一言でいえば大人びている
日本人の10代でこんな人間は前にも後にも宇多田ヒカルふくめ数えるくらいしかいない気がします
@MAMA-oh3gv
歌：宇多田ヒカル 作詞：宇多田ヒカル 作曲：宇多田ヒカル
近づきたいよ 君の理想に
おとなしくなれない
can you keep a secret?
※Hit it off like this
Hit it off like this,oh baby×4※
ここから ずっと 送ってる暗号
君は まだ 解読できてない
伝えよう やめよう
このまま隠そう
逃げ切れなくなるまで
信じよう だめだよ まだ疑えそうだもの
△近づきたいよ 君の理想に おとなしくなれない
can you keep a secret?
悲くないよ 君がいるから
can you keep a secret? can you keep a secret?
近づけないよ 君の理想に△
すぐには 変われない can you keep a secret?
悲くなると 君を呼ぶから
can you keep a secret?
Or このままsecret
(※くり返し)
側にいても 遠回しな表現 探してる
迷宮入りさせたくないなら
won't you come on?
かすかな物音 追ってくる movin' shadow
振り切れなくなる影
少しの冒険と 傷付く勇気も あるでしょ
(△くり返し)
あとには 戻れない can you keep a secret?
おしゃべりじゃないと 証明してよ
can you keep a secret? Orこのままsecret
今までずっと 秘密にしてた 誰にもいわないで
can you keep a secret?
悲しくないよ 君がいるから
can you keep a secret? can you keep a secret?
傷付けないと 約束しても
誰にもわからない can you keep a secret?
悲しくないよ 君がいるから
can you keep a secret?
Or このままsecret
@user-vv5zq2vw7f
近づきたいよ君の理想に
って歌詞、単純なのに凄い響くからすごいわ…
@user-sz1or6un2g
2024年でも聞いてる。
色褪せない黄金のような曲ですね。
@user-jv1gz7pq1e
2024年3月でも聴いてまーーす🙋🎉❤ 今更ながら私この曲R&Bって気づいたよ……😂
@user-zp6rp8br4e
マジで名曲ってのは何年経っても今を感じれるような曲だよな
@user-ml2gg9gz1o
10代で自分の声の活かし方が分かってて、
この歌詞とメロディで曲が書けるってもう天才。
「おしゃべりじゃないと証明してよ」のとこの譜割りとか10代で思い浮かぶか普通！と思う。
人生何回目の10代だよ！みたいな。。。
@junemt.1691
HEROが再放送されるたび再燃する曲。
不死鳥かよ。。
@keiba343
再々放送しても再々燃する
@xxxx-re5ym
懐かしさは感じるのに古臭さは感じない。宇多田ヒカルが歌う曲は色褪せない。
@maa5973
15年くらい前がJポップの全盛期やと思います
@ch-8984
@@maa5973 自分的には90年代