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/
Don't Think Twice
宇多田ヒカル Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And people who say things they don't really mean, really mean
You're only everything I ever dreamed
Ever dreamed of, ever dreamed of
You must be kidding me, did you really think
I could say no
So if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
Everything is just right
But if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
I really don't get what everyone else believes
So why do I say things I don't really mean, really mean
I'm only crying 'cause I never dreamed
It'd take this long, it'd take this long
I want you for a lifetime
So if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
Everything is just right
But if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
Don't think twice, don't think twice
Don't think twice, baby, don't think twice
If you want to take it to an even higher level
All you gotta do is say the word, you know I'll follow
If you wanna take it to an even higher level
I don't, I don't bite
If you want to make it happen, nothing's impossible
All you gotta do is say the word, the walls will crumble
If you want to make it happen, nothing's impossible
I want you for a lifetime
So if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
Everything is just right
But if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
Kiss me once, kiss me twice, kiss me three times
Cross the line
Don't think twice, don't think twice
Don't think twice, baby, don't think twice
Kiss me once, kiss me twice, kiss me three times
Cross the line
Kiss me once, kiss me twice, kiss me three times
Be mine
Don't think twice, don't think twice
Don't think twice, baby, don't think twice
The lyrics of Don't Think Twice by Utada Hikaru are full of emotional complexity and depth. The song is essentially about the singer's desire for a committed relationship, their fear of being hurt by someone they love, and their confusion about why people say things they don't really mean. The line "How did I live in a kingdom of thieves" is a powerful metaphor for the sense of betrayal that the singer feels, as if they have been surrounded by people who are just pretending to care about them. The sentiment is intensified in the line "I'm only crying 'cause I never dreamed it'd take this long," which suggests that the singer has been waiting for love for a long time.
The chorus of the song is a plea addressed to the object of the singer's affections. They want that person to commit to a lifetime of love and intimacy, but they don't want to hear any doubts or reservations. The chorus repeats the phrase "if you're gonna think twice, baby, I don't wanna know," emphasizing the singer's desperation for certainty and commitment.
The song takes a turn towards the end, as the singer becomes more assertive in their desires. The lines "If you want to take it to an even higher level / all you gotta do is say the word, you know I'll follow" and "If you want to make it happen, nothing's impossible" suggest that the singer has grown bolder in their pursuit of love. The final lines, "Kiss me once, kiss me twice, kiss me three times / be mine," are a direct plea for affection and commitment.
Overall, Don't Think Twice is a powerful exploration of the complexities of love and commitment. The lyrics are full of emotional depth, and the chorus is especially memorable for its repeated plea for certainty and commitment.
Line by Line Meaning
How did I live in a kingdom of thieves
I can't believe I used to live in a place where dishonest people thrive.
And people who say things they don't really mean, really mean
People in this place are known for being insincere and untruthful.
You're only everything I ever dreamed
You're more than just someone I want, because you're everything I ever imagined in a partner.
Ever dreamed of, ever dreamed of
I've never considered anyone else but you as the one I want.
You must be kidding me, did you really think
You should have known that I would want you as a part of my life.
I could say no
I can never refuse you.
I want you for a lifetime
You're not just temporary; I want you for good.
So if you're gonna think twice, baby
If you're not sure about being with me, then
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
just don't let me know.
Everything is just right
Things are perfect between us.
But if you're gonna think twice, baby
But if you're unsure, and
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
you don't want to let me know, then keep it to yourself.
I really don't get what everyone else believes
I don't understand why others think the way they do.
So why do I say things I don't really mean, really mean
Although I could never be insincere, sometimes I find myself uttering meaningless things.
I'm only crying 'cause I never dreamed
I'm overwhelmed with emotion, because I never thought my dreams would come true.
It'd take this long, it'd take this long
I never expected it to take this much time, and I'm glad we made it here.
Don't think twice, don't think twice
Don't question our love, don't overthink things.
If you want to take it to an even higher level
If you want to deepen our relationship, then
All you gotta do is say the word, you know I'll follow
just tell me what you want, and I'll do it for you.
I don't, I don't bite
I'm not dangerous, and I won't hurt you.
If you want to make it happen, nothing's impossible
If you want to achieve something, then you can do it.
All you gotta do is say the word, the walls will crumble
Just tell me what you want, and I'll help you break down any barriers to achieve it.
Kiss me once, kiss me twice, kiss me three times
Show me how much you love me by giving me multiple kisses.
Cross the line
Take our relationship to the next level.
Be mine
I want you to be mine forever.
Lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company
Written by: Hikaru Utada
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
stuck in the swamp
※1:32
I don't really give*でした。訳は｢僕は他のみんなが信じてることを信じていないんだ｣などです。
この歌の訳、第一人称どうしようか、ということで日本語verの『誓い』を確認したところ｢私｣も｢僕｣も使ってらっしゃいました。そういえば宇多田さん、昔から色んな一人称使われてますよね。僕を使ったって必ずしも男目線な訳では無いでしょうし、そういう所、昔はノンバイナリーという名前が一般になかっただけであって宇多田さんにとっては自然な事だったのだろうと感じます。と、訳しながら思いました😅。感想ぜひお待ちしております。
やっこ ひやひや
和訳ありがとうございます。歌詞も曲もドラマティックてすごく良い・・。
A
日本語のものとは全然違いますね。こんなに変えていたのか。。メロディも違うところあるし。驚いた。
運命なんて知らない
けどこの際
存在を認めざるを得ない
本当にこんな私でもいいの
ねえいいの
あんまり期待させないでほしいよ
今日という日は嘘偽りのない
永遠の誓い日和だよ
綺麗な花も証人もいらない
同じ色の指輪をしよう
悔しくて仕方がない
ダサいくらいしがみついたまま
眠りたい 毎日
約束はもうしない
そんなの誰かを喜ばすためのもの
今言うことは受け売りなんかじゃない
約束でもない 誓いだよ
嘘つきだった僕には戻れない
朝日色の指輪にしよう
胸の高鳴りを重ねて踊ろうよ
今を生きることを祝おうよ
たまに堪えられなくなる涙に
これと言って深い意味はない
ただ昔を突然思い出し（ああ泣きたい）
開かれたドアから差し込む光
これからもずっと側にいたい
選択肢なんてもうとっくにない
今日という日は過去前例のない
僕たちの誓い日和だよ
綺麗な花も証人もいらない
同じ色の指輪をしよう
Kiss me once, kiss me twice
一度じゃ足りない
Kiss me once, kiss me twice
あなたをください
Kiss me once, kiss me twice
Kiss me three times
お願い
Kiss me once, kiss me twice
あなたをください
日の昇る音を肩並べて聞こうよ
共に生きることを誓おうよ
あいか*
有難うございます👏🏼✨
Ye Ye
ヒッキーの日本語ver英語ver両方ある曲ってそれぞれの歌詞が対訳になっていないけど
バイリンガル的にはこっちの方が自然なのかな
薫風
キングダムハーツとはどんな内容のゲームなんでしょう。
願いがここにあります。
楽餓鬼ピノ RAKUGAKI PINO
it's play!!
ジブリール
ヒッキーの英語は聴き取りやすいって評判だけど、最近のインタビューとか見ててその意味がわかった気がする、気がするだけでなるほどわからんだけど😑