Utada Hikaru (Japanese: 宇多田ヒカル), born January 19, 1983, in New York City, U… Read Full Bio ↴Utada Hikaru (Japanese: 宇多田ヒカル), born January 19, 1983, in New York City, United States, also known by her fan-nickname "ヒッキー" (Hikki), is a third culture singer, composer, arranger, and record producer in Japan and the United States. Hikaru's music is primarily pop and R&B and sometimes incorporates other musical elements such as rock and electronica among others.
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/
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/
Sunglasses
宇多田ヒカル Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
涙のあとをサングラスで隠す度に
少しづつ強くなれるって信じてた
そんなのおかしいって気付きだした
いつも強がりばかり
意地張って笑ってるけど
ほんとはね 泣きそうで臆病な pretender
隠すだけならメイクも fashion もつまらない
誰も見せようとしない正体
そんなゲームに私も参加してた oh no
今日も青空上がり
割り切ってよそ見するけど
ほんとはね ただ悩みが自慢じゃない pretender
どこかに通じ合う人がいて
差し伸べるその手が空いてるうちに
きっと見つけ出す
密かに許し合う約束を
交わしたはずの誰かが 私にもいる
今日めぐり逢う
いつも強がりばかり
意地張って笑ってるけど
ほんとはね 君だって臆病な pretender
今日こそは雨上がり
期待したくはないけど
ほんとはね ただ悩みが自慢じゃない pretender
同じ立場じゃなきゃ分かってあげられないこと
神様 ひとりぼっち?
だから救える
こころに かざし合う 影だけで
触れ合える誰かが 私にもいる
今日めぐり逢う
今日めぐり逢う
少しづつ強くなれるって信じてた
そんなのおかしいって気付きだした
いつも強がりばかり
意地張って笑ってるけど
ほんとはね 泣きそうで臆病な pretender
誰も見せようとしない正体
そんなゲームに私も参加してた oh no
今日も青空上がり
割り切ってよそ見するけど
ほんとはね ただ悩みが自慢じゃない pretender
どこかに通じ合う人がいて
差し伸べるその手が空いてるうちに
きっと見つけ出す
密かに許し合う約束を
交わしたはずの誰かが 私にもいる
今日めぐり逢う
いつも強がりばかり
意地張って笑ってるけど
ほんとはね 君だって臆病な pretender
今日こそは雨上がり
期待したくはないけど
ほんとはね ただ悩みが自慢じゃない pretender
同じ立場じゃなきゃ分かってあげられないこと
神様 ひとりぼっち?
だから救える
こころに かざし合う 影だけで
触れ合える誰かが 私にもいる
今日めぐり逢う
今日めぐり逢う
"Sunglasses" by Utada Hikaru is a song that explores the idea of putting up a strong façade and hiding one's vulnerabilities behind sunglasses. The lyrics depict a person who believes that they can become stronger by concealing their tears with sunglasses. However, they start to realize that this belief is flawed and strange. The singer admits to always putting up a strong front, pretending to be strong and brave, but deep down, they are actually on the verge of tears and filled with fear. They come to the realization that hiding behind makeup and fashion is meaningless if they are not willing to reveal their true selves to others.
Line by Line Meaning
涙のあとをサングラスで隠す度に
Every time I hide my tears behind sunglasses
少しづつ強くなれるって信じてた
I believed that I could become stronger little by little
そんなのおかしいって気付きだした
I realized that such a belief was absurd
いつも強がりばかり
I always pretend to be strong
意地張って笑ってるけど
Putting up a front and forcing a smile
ほんとはね 泣きそうで臆病な pretender
But the truth is, I'm on the verge of tears, a cowardly pretender
隠すだけならメイクも fashion もつまらない
If all I do is hide, makeup and fashion become meaningless
誰も見せようとしない正体
The true identity that no one tries to show
そんなゲームに私も参加してた oh no
Oh no, I was also participating in that game
今日も青空上がり
Today, the blue sky rises
割り切ってよそ見するけど
I try to ignore it and look elsewhere
ほんとはね ただ悩みが自慢じゃない pretender
But the truth is, my troubles are not something to be proud of, a pretender
どこかに通じ合う人がいて
Somewhere, there is someone who understands
差し伸べるその手が空いてるうちに
While their outstretched hand is available
きっと見つけ出す
I will surely find
密かに許し合う約束を
The promise to secretly forgive each other
交わしたはずの誰かが 私にもいる
There should be someone who made that promise to me as well
今日めぐり逢う
Encountering them today
今日こそは雨上がり
Today, it will surely stop raining
期待したくはないけど
I don't want to hope, but
ほんとはね ただ悩みが自慢じゃない pretender
But the truth is, my troubles are not something to be proud of, a pretender
同じ立場じゃなきゃ分かってあげられないこと
I can't understand things unless I'm in the same position
神様 ひとりぼっち?
Is God alone?
だから救える
That's why He can save us
こころに かざし合う 影だけで
With just the shadows that overlap in our hearts
触れ合える誰かが 私にもいる
There is someone who I can connect with as well
今日めぐり逢う
Encountering them today
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hikaru Utada
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@user-tl3zc9gd9j
歌：Hikii
作詞作曲：Hikki
涙のあとをサングラスで隠す度に
少しづつ強くなれるって信じてた
そんなのおかしいって気付きだした
いつも強がりばかり 意地張って笑ってるけど
ほんとはね 泣きそうで臆病なpretender
隠すだけならメイクもfashionもつまらない
誰も見せようとしない正体
そんなゲームに私も参加してたOh no
今日も青空上がり
割り切ってよそ見するけど
ほんとはね ただ悩みが自慢じゃないpretender
どこかに通じ合う人がいて
差し伸べるその手が空いてるうちに
きっと見つけ出す
密かに許し合う約束を
交わしたはずの誰かが
私にもいる 今日めぐり逢う
いつも強がりばかり 意地張って笑ってるけど
ほんとはね 君だって臆病なpretender
今日こそは雨上がり 期待したくはないけど
ほんとは ねただ悩みが自慢じゃないpretender
同じ立場じゃなきゃ
分かってあげられないこと
神様 ひとりぼっち?
だから教えるこころにかざし合う
影だけで触れ合える誰かが
私にもいる 今日めぐり逢う
@user-kj2pv5vk6t
今でも聞いてる人いますか!?
@user-jr3sm1cl4v
居ませんねw
@user-zk4qz5lr6n
この曲を初めて聞いた時、何かすごい不思議な気持ちになって鳥肌が立ちました。
めちゃめちゃ好きな曲です。
@shichirin1919
メインにしてもいい、知る人ぞ知る曲で好き。
@user-nq7kc5ek4n
母親のCDを漁って聞いていた頃にDistanceのアルバムを聞いたのがこの曲との出会いでした。
今でも1番好きな曲です
@user-jh3fx6yc3y
神様、ひとりぼっち、だから救える
。
何回聴いても凄いと思う歌詞。
@savage5167
同じ立場じゃなきゃ分からないコト
@omitosaka6155
この曲が宇多田ヒカルの中で1番好き。
こんな素晴らしい曲は宇多田ヒカルしか作れない&歌えない♡👍
@user-mr2so7pv9f
この曲のイントロ大好き
不思議な気持ちになる
@kenbou6739
同感です