Utada is a third culture singer, composer, arranger, and record producer working in Japan and the United States. They have sold an estimated 52 million albums worldwide. Utada is fluent in both English and Japanese as they were raised in both New York and Tokyo. They’re most notable in the west for composing and singing the main themes for Kingdom Hearts 光 (Hikari) and Simple and Clean, as well as the theme songs for Kingdom Hearts II, Passion and Sanctuary.
Utada Hikaru was born on January 19, 1983 in New York City to Japanese parents who both had roots in the Japanese music industry; their father, Teruzane Utada, was a producer, while their mother, Junko Utada, was an enka singer (she performed under the stage name 藤圭子/Keiko Fuji). Utada has been recording since 1993, creating their first professional recording at the age of twelve. They released their first album comprised of all English songs, Precious, in 1996 under the pseudonym Cubic U. The album led to their career overseas. In an MTV interview (MTV's You Hear It First, October 2004), Utada 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."
While much of Utada's earlier work borrows from the stylings of 90s Western R&B, their music has shifted to incorporate more pop/experimental tones over time. This R&B sound was what brought them so much attention with their first release in Japan; Automatic/time will tell, stood out among the crowd, as there were no other artists with their distinct style.
Utada was once-married to famed director Kiriya Kazuaki, who directed the movie CASSHERN, where they sang the main theme song Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro.
After their first singles compilation album Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol.1 was released in March 31st, 2004, Utada moved back to New York to work on their second English album Exodus, which was released in the US on October 5th, 2004. Due to lack of promotion by their record label Island Def Jam and a lack of precedent for third culture artists at the time, however, the album was met with indifference in the US market. The second single from this album, "Devil Inside," managed to become a club smash in the US despite this and topped the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Airplay charts. Devil Inside also had a notable appearance in the 2000s LGBT serial drama Queer as Folk.
Utada moved back to Tokyo after a year of promotion for Exodus, and returned to the Japanese music scene. Despite flogging sales overseas, they released three albums over the span of 2 years: Ultra Blue and Heart Station, both certified of selling one million for shipments by the RIAJ, On October 20, 2008, their song "Eternally" from their 2001 album Distance was used as the theme for the drama Innocent Love. The song was later released as a digital single. By the end of the year, Utada was also voted the "#1 Favorite Artist of 2008" by Oricon's annual readers poll, making it their second consecutive year, and third time overall, to win the vote; their previous years being 2004 and 2007.
According to Utada's blog, on September 25th, 2007, Utada began speaking to Island Def Jam about their second English-language album. There was no set schedule, as Utada's tone suggested that they were in no rush. On October 23rd, 2007, Utada said that they had already made several demo tracks for not only the upcoming English album, but also their fifth Japanese album and was scheduled to record some of the songs on that afternoon.
On November 14th, 2007 it was announced that Utada would be featured on a download only version of Ne-Yo's song Do You. The song was released in Japan on November 21st.
Utada released their second English album, This Is The One, on March 24th, 2009 in the United States electronically. A physical copy was released later, on May 12th, 2009. The main single "Come Back To Me", which they dubbed them "breakout song" during an interview with KiwiBox, was released for airplay on February 9th, 2009. Despite their previous English album's lesser success, Utada was confident about this one. "I don't want to do experimental stuff. I just want to make a really good pop album," they told the interviewer. "This is the one, you know?"
Hikaru Utada hasn’t released anything under the “Utada” pseudonym since their last effort in 2009.
Official sites:
www.utada.com
www.emimusic.jp/hikki
www.u3music.com
Distance
Utada Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
泳ぎつかれて 君まで無口になる
会いたいのに 見えない波に押されて
また少し遠くなる
途切れないように keep it going, baby
同じ気持ちじゃないなら
Tell me 無理はしない主義でも
I wanna be with you now
二人で distance 縮めて
今なら間に合うから
We can start over ひとつにはなれない
I wanna be with you now
いつの日か distance も
抱きしめられるようになれるよ
We can start sooner
やっぱり I wanna be with you
ひとことでこんなにも傷つく君は
孤独を教えてくれる
守れない時 keep on trying, baby
約束通りじゃないけど
Trust me 無理はしない主義でも
君とならしてみてもいいよ
I wanna be with you now
二人で distance 見つめて
今なら間に合うから
We can start over 言葉で伝えたい
I wanna be with you now
そのうちに distance も
抱きしめられるようになれるよ
We should stay together
やっぱり I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you now
I wanna be with you and that is all I want, yeah
'Cause I know this can't be forever
We can start over just you and me
I wanna be with you now
Right now, baby, that is all I want, yeah
'Cause I know this can't be forever
We should stay together just you and me, I wanna be with you
You, nobody but you, all my life
Near or far, keep it going
I wanna be with you now, keep it going, don't stop
Don't you ever let me go
Near or far, keep it going, don't stop, keep it going
I wanna be with you now, baby
The lyrics to Utada's song Distance express the pain of being separated from someone you love, even when you want to be close to them. The first verse describes the frustration of being unable to express your feelings to someone because the distance between you has made you both quiet and withdrawn. The second verse encourages the listener to keep trying to make things work despite the difficulties, and suggests that even a small effort is worth making.
The chorus expresses the longing to be with the person, despite the distance between you. The singer wants to shorten this distance and start over together as one, but acknowledges that they may not be able to fully come together. The bridge speaks to the struggle of being alone and the desire to be with the person, no matter what happens.
Overall, the lyrics to Distance are a poignant reflection on the challenges of maintaining a relationship across distance and the depth of feeling that can arise from that distance.
Line by Line Meaning
気になるのに 聞けない
I'm curious, but I can't ask
泳ぎつかれて 君まで無口になる
Tired of swimming, I become silent towards you
会いたいのに 見えない波に押されて
I want to see you, but I'm pushed away by invisible waves
また少し遠くなる
And we get a little farther apart again
途切れないように keep it going, baby
Keep it going endlessly, baby
同じ気持ちじゃないなら Tell me 無理はしない主義でも 少しならしてみてもいいよ
If you don't feel the same, tell me. Even if you're one who doesn't push yourself too hard, it's okay to try at least a little.
I wanna be with you now 二人で distance 縮めて 今なら間に合うから We can start over ひとつにはなれない
I want to be with you now. Let's shorten the distance between us. We can start over if we act quickly but we can't become one entity.
I wanna be with you now いつの日か distance も 抱きしめられるようになれるよ We can start sooner やっぱり I wanna be with you
I want to be with you now. Someday we'll be able to embrace each other despite the distance. We should start as soon as possible. As expected, I still want to be with you.
ひとことでこんなにも傷つく君は 孤独を教えてくれる
You can hurt me with just one word. You teach me about loneliness.
守れない時 keep on trying, baby 約束通りじゃないけど Trust me 無理はしない主義でも 君とならしてみてもいいよ
When I can't keep my promise, I'll keep trying, baby. It's not exactly as promised, but trust me. Even if I'm someone who doesn't push themselves too hard, it's okay to try it with you.
I wanna be with you now 二人で distance 見つめて 今なら間に合うから We can start over 言葉で伝えたい
I want to be with you now. Let's keep an eye on the distance between us. We can start over if we act quickly. I want to express my feelings in words.
I wanna be with you now そのうちに distance も 抱きしめられるようになれるよ We should stay together やっぱり I wanna be with you
I want to be with you now. Eventually, we'll be able to embrace each other despite the distance. We should stay together. As expected, I still want to be with you.
I wanna be with you now I wanna be with you and that is all I want, yeah 'Cause I know this can't be forever We can start over just you and me
I want to be with you now. All I want is to be with you. I know this won't last forever. We can start again together.
I wanna be with you now Right now, baby, that is all I want, yeah 'Cause I know this can't be forever We should stay together just you and me, I wanna be with you You, nobody but you, all my life Near or far, keep it going Don't you ever let me go
I want to be with you now. I want to be with you more than anything else. I know this won't last forever. We should stay together, just the two of us. You are the only one for me, no matter how far apart we are, let's keep going. Don't ever let me go.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hikaru Utada
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@libra1148
気になるのに聞けない
泳ぎつかれて君まで無口になる
会いたいのに見えない波に押されて
また少し遠くなる
途切れないように keep it going baby
同じ気持ちじゃないならTell me
無理はしない主義でも
少しならしてみてもいいよ
I wanna be with you now
二人でdistance 縮めて
今なら間に合うから
We can start over
ひとつにはなれない
I wanna be with you now
いつの日かdistanceも
抱きしめられるようになれるよ
We can start sooner
やっぱりI wanna be with you
ひとことでこんなにも傷つく君は
孤独を教えてくれる
守れない時 Keep on trying baby
約束通りじゃないけどtrust me
無理はしない主義でも
君とならしてみてもいいよ
I wanna be with you now
二人でdistance見つめて
今なら間に合うから
We can start over
言葉で伝えたい
I wanna be with you now
そのうちにdistanceも
抱きしめられるようになれるよ
We should stay together
やっぱりI wanna be with you
『I wanna be with you now Cuz I know this can't be forever We can start over, just you and me I wanna be with you now Cuz I know this can't be forever We should stay together, just you and me I wanna be with you』
『いま、キミとひとつになりたいよ。 なぜなら私はこの愛が永遠に続かないって分かってるから。 キミと私なら今からでも間に合う(やり直せる)よ。 いま、キミとひとつになりたいよ。 なぜなら私はこの愛が永遠に続かないって分かってるから。 私たちは一緒にいるべきなんだ。 (だから)いま、キミと一緒にいたい…。』
@yuuji.73y
作詞：宇多田ヒカル
作曲：宇多田ヒカル
気になるのに聞けない
泳ぎつかれて君まで無口になる
会いたいのに見えない波に押されて
また少し遠くなる
途切れないように keep it goingbaby
同じ気持ちじゃないならTell me
無理はしない主義でも
少しならしてみてもいいよ
I wanna be with you now
二人でdistance 縮めて
今なら間に合うから
We can start over
ひとつにはなれない
I wanna be with you now
いつの日かdistanceも
抱きしめられるようになれるよ
We can start sooner
やっぱりI wanna be with you
ひとことでこんなにも傷つく君は
孤独を教えてくれる
守れない時 Keep on trying baby
約束通りじゃないけどtrust me
無理はしない主義でも
君とならしてみてもいいよ
I wanna be with you now
二人でdistance見つめて
今なら間に合うから
We can start over
言葉で伝えたい
I wanna be with you now
そのうちにdistanceも
抱きしめられるようになれるよ
We should stay together
やっぱりI wanna be with you
『I wanna be with you now
Cuz I know this can't be forever
We can start over, just you and me
I wanna be with you now
Cuz I know this can't be forever
We should stay together, just you and me
I wanna be with you』
「いま、キミとひとつになりたいよ。
なぜなら私はこの愛が永遠に続かないって分かってるから。
キミと私なら今からでも間に合う(やり直せる)よ。
いま、キミとひとつになりたいよ。
なぜなら私はこの愛が永遠に続かないって分かってるから。
私たちは一緒にいるべきなんだ。
(だから)いま、キミと一緒にいたい…。」
@ibsyrfalhsn
I wanna be with you now
Let's shorten the distance with the two of us
We can still make it on time
We can start over
We can't be as one
I wanna be with you
Someday even this distance
We'll be able to embrace
We can start sooner
After all I wanna be with you
@libra1148
気になるのに聞けない
泳ぎつかれて君まで無口になる
会いたいのに見えない波に押されて
また少し遠くなる
途切れないように keep it going baby
同じ気持ちじゃないならTell me
無理はしない主義でも
少しならしてみてもいいよ
I wanna be with you now
二人でdistance 縮めて
今なら間に合うから
We can start over
ひとつにはなれない
I wanna be with you now
いつの日かdistanceも
抱きしめられるようになれるよ
We can start sooner
やっぱりI wanna be with you
ひとことでこんなにも傷つく君は
孤独を教えてくれる
守れない時 Keep on trying baby
約束通りじゃないけどtrust me
無理はしない主義でも
君とならしてみてもいいよ
I wanna be with you now
二人でdistance見つめて
今なら間に合うから
We can start over
言葉で伝えたい
I wanna be with you now
そのうちにdistanceも
抱きしめられるようになれるよ
We should stay together
やっぱりI wanna be with you
『I wanna be with you now Cuz I know this can't be forever We can start over, just you and me I wanna be with you now Cuz I know this can't be forever We should stay together, just you and me I wanna be with you』
『いま、キミとひとつになりたいよ。 なぜなら私はこの愛が永遠に続かないって分かってるから。 キミと私なら今からでも間に合う(やり直せる)よ。 いま、キミとひとつになりたいよ。 なぜなら私はこの愛が永遠に続かないって分かってるから。 私たちは一緒にいるべきなんだ。 (だから)いま、キミと一緒にいたい…。』
@yukafukuoji4576
20歳だった。私は43歳になってもこの曲の新鮮さを二度と味わえないです。それぐらい大切です。😢
@user-sn9zd5wg7c
分かる。
44歳。
@amude888
私たちは同じですが、私はまだこの歌が好きです。
@wkupdm6647
軽快なのにどこか切ない。
心に響く、こんな音楽を名曲って言うんだなぁって思う。
@uniuni_3156
余計な音が入ってなくて、無駄を省いた曲
全てが素晴らしい
@user-zw6tt1es2o
せせせせ😅😅😊😅😅😅😊😅😅😅😊😅😊😅
@user-fi3qq1ox5r
finalよりこっちのが好きな人は他にも居ますか？
@user-oi9rv5hq8g
初めて聴いたとき、このイントロに衝撃を受けました
なんていうか、、距離感、もどかしさ、さわやかだけど切なさが凝縮されたようなメロディ
やっぱり宇多田ヒカルは天才ですね
@amazing3387
本当に頭の良い人だな〜と感心します。2人でDistance 見つめて…と言う歌詞が深いなと思う。ネイティヴ並みに英語が堪能なのに、日本語で事の深さを語れる才能は宇多田ヒカルにしかできないと思う。