Music: Utada Hikaru Documentary – “Hikaru Utada ~Ima no watashi~”
January 19th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
I’m on a Hikki kick lately. Its also her birthday today!
This being her last time on television before she goes on her indefinite hiatus from the music scene, Utada Hikaru gives one final gift to her fans.
Sitting down with Chris Peppler, Utada answers several questions in regards to her most recent works, the involvement of music in her life and the reasons for her hitaus. She also gives two performances of her newest songs, “Goodbye Happiness” and “Show Me Love (Not A Dream),” which is also the theme song for the film adaptation of the famous manga, Ashita no Joe. There are also clips from her Wild Life concert performances as well. Its a great interview.
For translation of the interview, go to tokyohive.
Music: *Spotlight* – Hikaru Utada
January 15th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Hikaru "Hikki" Utada
You should’ve known it was coming.
Considering my broad tastes in music, my first love of Japanese Rock/Pop was actually NOT Miss Hikaru. It was Camui Gackt (But that’s another entry…)
However, after hearing one song from her off her Deep River album, “Uso Mitai Na I Love You,” I fell in love with her. Unique music styles and distinctive voice, along with an ability to sing in 3 (Yes, THREE) languages, Hikaru Utada is deserving of all the spotlight.
First Love
Distance
Deep River
Ultra Blue
Heart Station
2 Single Collections, over 9 DVDs, 2 Photobooks, and 5 studio albums (8 if you count her 3 American releases), she is ranked as one of the top-selling female artists in Japan. Her first album, First Love, is the best-selling album in Oricon history. She even took the bold step into breaking American charts with two American albums, Exodus and This is the One. She is also known for creating and singing the opening and ending songs to the Kingdom Hearts Series.
She was born in New York City to parents with musical backgrounds, her father a producer and her mother a famous enka singer. Considering the life around her, she eventually picked up an interest and love for music. Her first album was actually in English, under the name Cubic U. However, after such small success, Emi Japan noticed her talent and asked if she could sing in Japanese and her career was born.
Her first single, “Automatic”, broke records and every album since her debut, First Love, would go on to continue that tradition. She has fans all over the world and she adores them just as much as they do her. However, as of September of 2010, she announced that she will be going on a hiatus from music to focus on her personal life. Having known music most of her live and dedicating herself to it, it would only be inevitable she would need a break.
She married movie director Kazuaki Kiriya, who wrote and directed the movie Casshern. He was also the man who directed her music video from the Deep River and Ultra Blue eras. They divorced due to conflicting of interests, jobs and distance. She leaves her fans with a 2nd Singles Collection, two live concerts and a documentary that will be airing today, January 15th, in Japan.
5 Songs that I recommend (Although I could easily do 10):
Others that are just as good: Stay Gold, Show Me Love (Not a Dream), Wait & See, Flavor of Life.
Depressed that she is gone for the time being, but I will patiently wait for her return to the music scene. Such a great and talented artist and she will always be ranked #1 in my list.
