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/
Hayatochi
宇多田ヒカル Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(You, you, you said)
そろそろ部屋から出ておいで
いつまでたっても消えないから事実
つまずく姿を見られた時の様に
フォローすればいいのかな
だいたい君もずるいじゃないかい
お世辞じゃないよ
会いたい また私のはやとちり
思わせぶりでは 好かれてしまうよ
嘘吐きなだけでは 嫌われちゃうよ
勝てないような気がした
オマエはいつも強いし
泣かない それは君の勘違い
事態を理解してしまった時に
理想主義の理論なんてうるさい
責めないで
間違った速度で走ってたんじゃない
ただ今回はさ
ちょっと歩幅が合わなかっただけ
夢から覚めた後 また眠りたいよ
現実主義者には分からないだろう
In the song "Hayatochi-Remix" by Utada Hikaru, the singer is engaging in a dialogue with someone who seems to be offering their advice or criticism. The singer addresses them directly in the first line asking them to come out of their room because the truth about something won't disappear no matter how long they stay inside. The following lines suggest that the person in question may have made a mistake and been seen in a vulnerable state. The singer suggests that they should offer some support to the person to help them through this, although they also acknowledge that the person may be playing games or using flattery to gain favor.
The next few lines convey a sense of helplessness and uncertainty as the singer wonders if they'll be able to overcome obstacles and suggests that the other person is always strong, whereas they themselves are not. There's a sense of frustration as they acknowledge that sometimes good intentions, or idealism, can be exhausting or ineffective. As the song progresses, the singer seems to become increasingly defensive, suggesting that they might have been unfairly blamed for something. They implore the other person not to lay blame, suggesting that they too might have made mistakes.
Overall, the lyrics seem to be exploring themes of vulnerability, powerlessness, and frustration, with moments of self-doubt as well as defiance against perceived criticism or misunderstanding. The use of the word "hayatochi" (which refers to the feeling of being out of sync with someone else or with a situation) adds an extra layer of meaning, reinforcing the sense of disconnect between the singer and the other person.
Line by Line Meaning
(You)
The singer is addressing someone, implying that they are the subject of the following lyrics.
(You, you, you said)
The singer is emphasizing that the forthcoming lyrics are a response to something the addressed person said.
そろそろ部屋から出ておいで
Come out of your room soon.
いつまでたっても消えないから事実
The truth will never disappear no matter how long it takes.
つまずく姿を見られた時の様に
Just like when you stumbled and were seen.
フォローすればいいのかな
Should I have helped you then?
だいたい君もずるいじゃないかい
Aren’t you cunning yourself?
お世辞じゃないよ
I'm not flattering you.
会いたい また私のはやとちり
I want to see you again, my Hayatochiri.
思わせぶりでは 好かれてしまうよ
Being suggestive will make people like you.
嘘吐きなだけでは 嫌われちゃうよ
But telling lies alone will make people hate you.
勝てないような気がした
I felt as if I couldn't win against you.
オマエはいつも強いし
You are always strong.
泣かない それは君の勘違い
You don't cry, that's your misconception.
事態を理解してしまった時に
When I understood the situation.
理想主義の理論なんてうるさい
Theories of idealism are just noise.
責めないで
Don't blame me.
間違った速度で走ってたんじゃない
I wasn't running at the wrong speed.
ただ今回はさ
Just this time.
ちょっと歩幅が合わなかっただけ
Our steps didn't sync just a little.
夢から覚めた後 また眠りたいよ
After waking up from the dream, I want to sleep again.
現実主義者には分からないだろう
Realists won’t understand.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hikaru Utada
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-pn2ps6wr6d
そろそろ部屋から出ておいで
いつまでたっても消えないから「事実」
つまずく姿を見られた時の様に
フォローすればいいのかな
だいたい君もずるいじゃないかい
(お世辞じゃないよ)
会いたい
また私のはやとちり
思わせぶりでは好かれてしまうよ？
嘘吐きなだけでは嫌われちゃうよ？
カラカラになった太陽は
毎日雨を望んでいるのかも
そう考えれば降られた気分だって
悪くないんじゃないかな
「勝てないような気がした
オマエはいつも強いし
泣かない」
それは君の勘違い
事態を理解してしまった時に
理想主義の理論なんてうるさい
責めないで
間違った速度で走ってたんじゃない
ただ今回はさ
ちょっと歩幅が合わなかっただけ
夢から覚めた後また眠りたいよ
現実主義者には分からないだろう
随分話が違うじゃないかい
今すぐ厭なら明日にバイバイ
That's the way it is
いつまで待っても損なだけなら
出直してくるよ 今はバイバイ
That's the way it is
@user-pn2ps6wr6d
そろそろ部屋から出ておいで
いつまでたっても消えないから「事実」
つまずく姿を見られた時の様に
フォローすればいいのかな
だいたい君もずるいじゃないかい
(お世辞じゃないよ)
会いたい
また私のはやとちり
思わせぶりでは好かれてしまうよ？
嘘吐きなだけでは嫌われちゃうよ？
カラカラになった太陽は
毎日雨を望んでいるのかも
そう考えれば降られた気分だって
悪くないんじゃないかな
「勝てないような気がした
オマエはいつも強いし
泣かない」
それは君の勘違い
事態を理解してしまった時に
理想主義の理論なんてうるさい
責めないで
間違った速度で走ってたんじゃない
ただ今回はさ
ちょっと歩幅が合わなかっただけ
夢から覚めた後また眠りたいよ
現実主義者には分からないだろう
随分話が違うじゃないかい
今すぐ厭なら明日にバイバイ
That's the way it is
いつまで待っても損なだけなら
出直してくるよ 今はバイバイ
That's the way it is
@user-pn2ps6wr6d
そろそろ部屋から出ておいで
いつまでたっても消えないから「事実」
つまずく姿を見られた時の様に
フォローすればいいのかな
だいたい君もずるいじゃないかい
(お世辞じゃないよ)
会いたい
また私のはやとちり
思わせぶりでは好かれてしまうよ？
嘘吐きなだけでは嫌われちゃうよ？
カラカラになった太陽は
毎日雨を望んでいるのかも
そう考えれば降られた気分だって
悪くないんじゃないかな
「勝てないような気がした
オマエはいつも強いし
泣かない」
それは君の勘違い
事態を理解してしまった時に
理想主義の理論なんてうるさい
責めないで
間違った速度で走ってたんじゃない
ただ今回はさ
ちょっと歩幅が合わなかっただけ
夢から覚めた後また眠りたいよ
現実主義者には分からないだろう
随分話が違うじゃないかい
今すぐ厭なら明日にバイバイ
That's the way it is
いつまで待っても損なだけなら
出直してくるよ 今はバイバイ
That's the way it is
@10eternityluke
まどろみの中で聞いてたこの曲。戻りたいなあの日に。
@ten-hikki57
宇多田さんが初めて編曲・プロデュースを単独でやった曲だったね
@showmelovenotadream69
掘っても掘っても神曲ばっかだわ、宇多田
@Afterthebattle
This is one of my all time favorites by Hikki. Such an underrated song!
@caifabe8050
this HAS to be a career highlight. hands down their best song, imo
@Ebu_san
11年前だと.....
@iambrandon44
she is one of my favorite singers.
@Flowersinthebody
This song really goes off!
@ayapoipo
この写真上野樹里に似てるかも☆