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/
Fly Me To The Moon
宇多田ヒカル Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To say a simple thing
It takes thought and time and rhyme
To make a poem singing
With music and words I've been flying
For you I have written a song
To be sure that you'll know what I'm saying
Fly me to the moon,
And let me play among the stars
Won't you let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars
In other words: Hold my hand!
In other words: Darling, kiss me!
Fill my heart with song,
And let me sing forever more
You are all I long for all I worship and adore
In other words: Please be true!
In other words: I love you!
In other words: Please be true!
In other words: I love you!
Com'on, just take me to the moon... yeah
The lyrics to 宇多田ヒカル's song "Fly Me To The Moon" carry a message of love and longing expressed through vivid imagery. The opening lines emphasize the power of simplicity and how poets often use many words to convey a simple idea. The poet acknowledges the effort it takes to craft a meaningful poem, incorporating thought, time, and rhyme.
The next stanza highlights the connection between music and words, stating that the artist has been "flying" with both mediums. It signifies the deep emotional journey the artist has been on, specifically for their loved one. The artist has written a song for their beloved, ensuring that they understand the message being conveyed by translating the lyrics as they go along. It demonstrates their desire to be understood and connect on a deeper level.
The chorus, "Fly me to the moon, and let me play among the stars," suggests a dreamlike desire to escape reality and experience something extraordinary. The artist wants to explore and discover the wonders of the universe, longing to see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars. In simple terms, they ask to hold hands and be closer, begging their beloved to kiss them.
The second verse continues to express the artist's feelings of devotion and affection. They request their heart to be filled with song and to sing forever more, because the beloved is all they long for, worship, and adore. The artist wants their beloved to be true and expresses their love by repeating the phrase, "I love you."
Ultimately, the song carries a plea for love and affection, with a yearning for an incredible journey of discovery and connection. It encapsulates the desire to be taken to new heights and experience the extraordinary alongside a loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
Poets often use many words
Poets frequently utilize an abundance of words
To say a simple thing
In order to convey a notion that is uncomplicated
It takes thought and time and rhyme
It necessitates contemplation, duration, as well as harmony
To make a poem singing
To create a poetic composition that resonates
With music and words I've been flying
By employing music and language, I've been soaring
For you I have written a song
I have penned a melody specifically for you
To be sure that you'll know what I'm saying
To ensure that you comprehend my intentions
I'll translate as I go along
I will decipher and interpret my thoughts as I progress
Fly me to the moon,
Transport me to the moon
And let me play among the stars
Allow me to frolic amidst the celestial bodies
Won't you let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars
Would you kindly allow me to witness the essence of spring on Jupiter and Mars
In other words: Hold my hand!
To put it differently: Embrace my hand!
In other words: Darling, kiss me!
Alternatively expressed: Dearest, bestow upon me your kiss!
Fill my heart with song,
Imbue my heart with an abundance of melody
And let me sing forever more
Allow me to sing eternally
You are all I long for all I worship and adore
You are my sole desire, the one I reverently cherish and adore
In other words: Please be true!
To put it another way: I implore you to be sincere!
In other words: I love you!
Put differently: I am deeply in love with you!
In other words: Please be true!
Alternatively expressed: I entreat you to be faithful!
In other words: I love you!
To phrase it in another manner: I profoundly love you!
Com'on, just take me to the moon... yeah
Come on, simply transport me to the moon... yes
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bart Howard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-kc9cf5tt5n
歌詞 自分用です
Poets often use many words
To say a simple thing
It takes thought and time and rhyme
To make a poem thing
With music and words I've been playing
For you I have written a song
To be sure that you'll know what I'm saying
I'll translate as I go along
Fly me to the moon, and let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars
In other words: Hold my hand!
In other words: Darling kiss me!
Fill my heart with song, and let me sing forever more
You are all I long for all I worship and adore
In other words: Please be true!
In other words: I love you! Oh
In other words: Please be true!
In other words: I love you!
Oh Oh
@user-mv7pm6vy1o
宇多田ヒカルの和訳置いときます。
詩人はたくさんの言葉で
簡単な気持ちを表現するものだけど
詩を「歌」にするには
時間と考慮と韻が必要
最近、音楽と言葉でいろいろ試してるんだ
君に歌を書いたよ
でも君はニブイから
念のため通訳しながら行くよ
私を月まで連れてって
星空で遊ばせて
ジュピターとマーズの春がどんなものか、見せて
それじゃ分からないなら…
つまり、手をつないで！
だから、キスして！
私の胸を歌で満タンにして
永遠に歌わせて
私が憧れるのは、欲しいのは、信じるのは、全て君だけ
それでも分からないなら...
つまり、手をつないで！
だから、ホレるんだってばさ！
つまり、お願いだから嘘吐きにならないで
簡単に言えば、愛してるってことさ
（言わせないでよね）
@user-kp9yl2vx7l
もっとこれは評価されるべき！！！
センスの固まり
@comesilver7114
アレンジが好きすぎる。。。コーラスも心地いいし♡
@user-ze9dt4yv6q
このリズム感というか間の取り方というか天才よなぁ
@kokujinblack77
R&B見たいな感じがいいんですよね
@egg-money7489
素敵な声だな~
@seleneberenicemanceracerve6417
Love this version!!! 😍
@breakthroughnewme4961
I love her voice!
I wish I listened to this song in faster version too!
@GinchiyoAzumi
Awesome song, Awesome version! ^^
@warfu_
Ya es mi versión favorita <333
@rominallanos9497
2019 y aún me encanta😍