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/
Kettobase!
宇多田ヒカル Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want your baby, oh
間違いだらけのこの夜にゃ あいにく傘が似合う
泣きっ面を隠してくれるよ
近頃あいつにゃ やられっぱなしで腹が立つ
この際 成長してみせるよ
誰かのせいにすりゃ それはまたそれでつらいだろ?
自分の為に泣いてみよう
I want your baby, I want your baby
待ち伏せしないで
よみがえる昨日を 蹴っ飛ばせー!
Another day has passed me by
どうしたら届くの あなたへ
Another day, ah, another day, another day
うしろめたさで胸がノドまで満たされちゃう
悪気の無さが玉に傷
こんなに大事な存在でなけりゃ 気にしない
明るい性格が裏目に出る
I want your baby, I want your baby
待ち伏せしかけて
振り返る自分を 蹴っ飛ばせー!
Another day has passed me by
先 行かせてもらうよ 悪いね
関係あるから
よみがえる昨日を 蹴っ飛ばせー! Yeah
Another day has changed my life
勝手な年頃で ごめんね
Another day, another day, another day
In "蹴っ飛ばせ!" by 宇多田ヒカル, the lyrics convey a sense of frustration and determination in the face of a difficult and mistake-filled night. The singer feels overwhelmed and betrayed by someone and is tired of being taken advantage of. They express their desire to grow and become stronger, asserting their independence and standing up for themselves. The repetition of "I want your baby" could symbolize the desire for support and understanding in their struggles.
The lyrics also touch upon the idea of blaming others for their problems, acknowledging that although it may be tempting, it ultimately leads to more pain and difficulty. Instead, the singer suggests that it is important to allow themselves to cry and process their emotions for their own well-being. The mention of hiding their crying face behind an umbrella implies a need to protect vulnerability and maintain a strong façade.
The song urges the listener to kick away the past and start anew, leaving behind the regrets and setbacks that hold them back. It encourages self-reflection and embraces the idea of personal growth and resilience. Overall, the lyrics of "蹴っ飛ばせ!" showcase a candid and determined expression of the singer's emotions and their journey towards empowerment.
Line by Line Meaning
I want your baby
I desire to have a deep emotional connection and intimate relationship with you
I want your baby, I want your baby
I strongly and persistently desire to have a deep emotional connection and intimate relationship with you
In this night full of mistakes, unfortunately, an umbrella suits me
In this night filled with errors and misfortunes, it seems that carrying an umbrella would be fitting, as it will shield and protect my tearful face from being seen by others
Hide my tear-streaked face for me
Please, hide the visible evidence of my crying face to spare me from further embarrassment and vulnerability
Lately, I've been constantly hurt and irritated by that person
Recently, I have been continuously experiencing pain and frustration due to the actions of that individual
At this point, I will show my growth and development
Now, I am determined to exhibit my personal growth and progress in response to the difficult circumstances
Blaming someone else will still be painful, right?
Even if I shift the blame onto others, I know that it will still cause me distress and anguish
Let me cry for my own sake
To heal and restore my own emotional well-being, I ought to allow myself the catharsis of shedding tears
Do not lie in wait for me
Please, do not ambush or trap me
Kick away the resurfacing memories of yesterday
Release and discard the memories of the past that keep resurfacing, by forcefully and decisively pushing them away
Another day has passed me by
Yet another day has gone by without any significant change or improvement in my circumstances
How can I reach you?
What steps should I take in order to establish a meaningful connection with you?
Allow me to proceed ahead, I'm sorry for this inconvenience
Please, permit me to move forward and advance, I apologize for any disruption or inconvenience this may cause
Because we have a connection
Since we share a bond or a relationship
Kick away the resurfacing memories of yesterday
Expel and dismiss the memories of the past that continue to resurface, by forcefully and resolutely pushing them away
Another day has changed my life
Once again, another day has brought about significant transformations and alterations in my life
I'm sorry for my selfish adolescence
I apologize for any selfish or self-centered behavior that may have been exhibited during this phase of youthful independence and development
Another day, another day, another day
Continuously, day after day, another day goes by
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hikaru Utada
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bunnyrabi
I want your baby
I want your baby
machigai darake no kono yoru nya
ai niku kasa ga niau
nakizura wo kakushite kureru yo
chikagoro aitsu nya
yarareppanashi de hara ga tatsu
kono saisecho shite miseru yo
I want your baby
I want your baby
dare ka no sei ni surya
sore wa mata sore de tsurai daro?
jibun no tame ni haitemiyou
I want your baby
I want your baby
matchibuse shinai de
yomi ga eru kinou wo
Kettobase!
Another day has passed me by
doushitara todoku no
anata he
ushirometasa de mune ga NODO made
mitasarechau
warugi no nasa ga tama ni kizu
konna ni daiji no sonzai de nakerya
kinishinai
akarui seikaku ga urame ni deru
I want your baby
I want your baby
machibuse shikakete
furikaeru jibun wo
Kettobase!
Another day has passed me by
saki ikasetemo rauyo
warui ne
kankei aru kara
yomi ga eru kinou wo
Kettobase!
Another day has changed my life
katte no toshigoro de
gomen ne
@user-wf6hs7qm4q
I want your baby
I want your baby
OH OH oh oh
間違いだらけのこの夜にゃ
あいにく傘が似合う
泣きっ面を隠してくれるよ
近頃あいつにゃやられっぱなしで
腹が立つ
この際成長してみせるよ
I want your baby
Ah ah ah ah
I want your baby
誰かのせいにすりゃ
それはまたそれでつらいだろ？
自分の為に泣いてみよう
I want your baby
Ah ah ah ah
I want your baby
待ち伏せしないで
よみがえる昨日を
蹴っ飛ばせー！ YEAH
Another day has passed me by
どうしたら届くの あなたへ YEAH
Another day Ah Another day
うしろめたさで
胸がノドまで満たされちゃう
悪気の無さがたまに傷
こんなに大事な存在でなけりゃ気にしない
明るい性格が裏目に出る
I want your baby
Ah ah ah ah
I want your baby
待ち伏せしかけて
振り返る自分を
蹴っ飛ばせー！ Yeah
Another day has passed me by
先 行かせてもらうよ 悪いね Yeah
関係あるから よみがえる昨日を
蹴っ飛ばせー！ YEAH
Another day has changed my life
勝手な年頃でごめんね YEAH
Another day
Another day
Another day
自分用で作ってみました
@user-rf2ft7ck1o
なんだかんだで、この曲大好き💕
@TsujichanKagoikechan
たまに無性に聴きたくなる！名曲✨
@user-md4jt2yz1t
かっこいい中に切なさとか大人っぽさとか…なんとも言えない初めて聞いた時からずっと好きな曲です♡
@user-iw4dv4vv7j
懐かしいし泣けてくる。この曲大好きだったーーー！！！！
@junchan2121
懐かしい！オリジナルアルバムの曲で一番
好きだった
@user-if8ei1ru5e
曲が始まってから終わるまで終始カッコいい！
この曲大好きです。
@akek8461
TikTokで久しぶりに流れてきて思わずきました😂❤何回聞いたかなこれ懐かしい😂
@shrimp25
懐かしいなぁ、子供の時に親がよく聴いてて好きだったな〜
@user-gg5ds6yw9g
この曲が入ってるアルバムが曲もジャケットも宇多田ヒカルの最高傑作だと思ってます👍
@user-rt3jn6el7c
長い間この曲が投稿されるのを待ってました！
宇多田ヒカルのカッコイイ曲と言えばこれしかないでしょ☆彡