Hikaru Utada Announces New Album “Hatsukoi” and First Tour in 12 Years

25.April.2018 | MUSIC

Hikaru Utada is a forced to be reckoned with this year as she celebrates 20 years since her debut as well as gets ready to release two new digital singles, Play A Love Song and Hatsukoi.

 

It has been 19 months since Utada released her comeback album Fantôme (2016), which proved that even after going on indefinite hiatus she still holds up as a unique, unmatched artist. 2018 marks the singer’s 20th anniversary, and will also serve as the year she releases first album since she moved labels. A new artist visual has also been released for the new record.

UH_HATSUKOI_S copy

Hatsukoi will be Utada’s seventh album and is set for release on June 27. The work covers territory we have all faced: the inability to convey our emotions, and those familiar indescribable feelings. It’s a record that gives a true account of Utada’s creativity as a pop creator and showcases that even 20 years on she is still at the top of her game.

宇多田ヒカル_Play A Love Song_配信用_____s copy

Hatsukoi will feature 12 songs including Oozora de DakishimeteForevermoreAnataChikaiHatsukoi, and Play A Love Song.

 

First Press editions of the album will include an application ticket to be entered into a lottery draw to win concert tickets for Hikaru Utada’s tour at the end of the year. The schedule for the tour has also been released (see below). This will be her first concert tour in almost 12 years. Together with her new album, it’s an absolute must-see.

 

December 9, 2018 is the commemorative day that marks 20 years since Hikaru Utada’s debut. We look forward to seeing how 2018 pans out for her.

 

■Information

Hikaru Utada 2018 Concert Tour Schedule:

11.06.18 @ Yokohama Arena

11.07.18 @ Yokohama Arena

11.14.18 @ Marine Messe Fukuoka

11.15.18 @ Marine Messe Fukuoka

11.22.18 @ Nippon Gaishi Hall

11.23.18 @ Nippon Gaishi Hall

11.28.18 @ Osaka-jō Hall

11.29.18 @ Osaka-jō Hall

12.04.18 @ Saitama Super Arena

12.05.18 @ Saitama Super @rena

12.08.18 @ Makuhari Messe Exhibition Hall 9-11

12.09.18 @ Makuhari Messe Exhibition Hall 9-11

Enquiries: 0180-993-999

 

Album Release Information:

7th Album – “Hatsukoi”

On sale June 27, 2018

Price: ¥3,240 (Tax Included)

*Comes with application card to enter a lottery draw to win tickets for the 2018 concert tour.

Application Window: June 26, 2018 at 12:00―July 11, 2018 at 23:59

 

Order the album here:

https://www.sonymusicshop.jp/m/item/itemShw.php?site=S&cd=ESCL000005076 (Japan)

 

“Play A Love Song” Single Downloads:

iTunes

mora (*High-resolution audio)

Recochoku

 

Digital Single Releases:

“Play A Love Song” on sale April 25, 2018

“Hatsukoi” on sale May 30, 2018

 

Hikaru Utada Official Website

www.utadahikaru.jp/

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    First Love – Rina Sawayama (Hikaru Utada Cover, Tokyo Garden Theatre)

     

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    “Without this artist and without this song, I probably wouldn’t have become a musician or an artist. I heard this track when I was around six years old, and I remember dancing for my parents who were sitting on the sofa. This artist also celebrated her 40th birthday yesterday. This is my first cover, but I think it’s the perfect way to commemorate this special event. Please enjoy,” Sawayama concluded.

     

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    Comment from Megan Rapinoe

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    Comment from Utada Hikaru

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    Comment from Ursula Corbero

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    Still image from the Roman to Soroban Official Music Video.

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    02.November.2019 | MUSIC

    Ringo Sheena is set to release her first-ever all-time greatest hits album Newton no Ringo ~Hajimete no Best Ban~ on November 13, 2019, to wrap up celebrations of 20 years since her debut. New details have dropped on a brand new song that will be featured on the record.

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    Speaking about the new track, Ringo Sheena commented: “It was such a fun program. I’d like to express my gratitude to everyone again: to the great Yoichi Murata, everyone on instrumentals, and of course Hikaru Utada. Thank you so much.”

     

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    Cameraman: Teppei Kishida (岸田哲平)

  • Hikaru Utada’s ‘Laughter in the Dark Tour 2018’ Heading to DVD & Blu-ray

    18.April.2019 | MUSIC

    Hikaru Utada’s Laughter in the Dark Tour took place throughout November and December last year to commemorate the singer’s 20th anniversary. It also marked her first nationwide tour in Japan in 12 years and first performance since Yokohama Arena in 2010 after which she went on indefinite hiatus due to fatigue. The tour wrapped up at Makuhari Messe on December 9, the exact same date as her debut 20 years prior.

    Utada performed for 140,000 fans across the tour. The finale date included a set-list of 20 tracks which included AutomaticFirst Love, Hatsukoi which was released last year and more. The entire set including the encore is now heading to DVD and Blu-ray.

    Both the DVD and Blu-ray will be released in several editions.

    The Limited Pressing Edition comes on DVD and Blu-ray and includes the entire concert at Makuhari Messe as well as a documentary entitled Talking About Laughter in the Dark which features an interview with the tour members and staff.

    It also comes packaged with a 60-page photo book containing unreleased photos taken on stage and during rehearsal, a replica backstage pass, and a DVD containing music videos for ForevermoreAnata and Hatsukoi―all songs released after Utada’s label move to Sony Music―as well as each video’s making-of footage. When purchased at select shops and online stores it also comes with an original neck strap as pictured above. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

    The Limited Pressing Edition is a must-have for fans of Utada, whether they attended the tour and want to relive the moment or weren’t able to make it and want the full authentic experience.

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    「Play A Love Song」(Live Ver.)

     

    「Hikaru Utada Laughter in the Dark Tour 2018」SPOT

     

    Pre-orders for the Limited Pressing Edition opened today. All editions of the DVD and Blu-ray will be released on June 26, 2019.

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    26.March.2019 | ANIME&GAME / MUSIC / Uncategorized

    Hikaru Utada dropped her 22nd single Face My Fears back on January 18 this year which marked her first single release in 11 years. The song is the main theme for the video game Kingdom Hearts III has gone on to break many milestones including surpassing 10 million streams worldwide in February and making it onto the Billboard Hot 100 list.

     

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    The song’s music video, which was posted on Skrillex’s YouTube channel, has finally broken the 10 million view mark.

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    A vinyl edition of Face My Fears will be released outside Japan on March 29.

  • Hikaru Utada’s ‘Face My Fears’ Breaks 10 Million Streams Worldwide

    07.February.2019 | ANIME&GAME / MUSIC

    Hikaru Utada released her hit new single Face My Fears last month and within two weeks of dropping has garnered over 10 million streams across the globe on music platforms including Spotify and Apple music.

    The song has also topped the No. 1 charts for dance music on iTunes in the US, Japan and elsewhere settings a record for the singer.
     

    The official music video for the Japanese version of the song which was released on Skrillex’s official YouTube channel also gained over 4 million views in just 4 days.

     

    The song is used as the opening theme for the new video game Kingdom Hearts III which was released worldwide on January 29. The game has sold over 5 million copies both physical and digital worldwide making it the fastest selling game in the series.


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  • Hikaru Utada’s ‘Face My Fears’ Makes Billboard Hot 100 List

    31.January.2019 | ANIME&GAME / MUSIC

    Hikaru Utada’s new single Face My Fears was released on January 18 as the singer’s first single in 11 years.

    The song was made in collaboration with Skrillex is used as the opening theme for the new video game Kingdom Hearts III which was released worldwide on January 29. Having already topped the iTunes and Apple Music charts where it ranked No. 1 in the digital music charts worldwide, the song has now taken to the Billboard Hot 100 where it ranks 98th.

     

    This marks the singer’s first entry to the Billboard Hot 100 and only the ninth Japanese artist to do so, the last being Pikotaro with his viral hit Pen Pineapple Apple Pen. Her album Exodus made it to 160th on Billboard 200 on October 23, 2014 and her album Fantome clocked in at No. 1 on Billboard World Albums in October 22, 2016.

    A closer look at the Billboard ranking shows that it ranks No. 2 in Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales, No. 9 in Hot Dance/Electronic Songs and No. 18 on Digital Song Sales. It has also been No. 1 on the US iTunes Dance charts for twelve days since its release.

     

    You can track the success of the song on a special global website that was set up titled #HikaruUtada #(Songs) which displays ongoing worldwide statistics of her new single and more.

  • Hikaru Utada’s ‘Face My Fears’ Tops iTunes & Apple Music Charts Worldwide

    21.January.2019 | MUSIC

    Hikaru Utada’s new single Face My Fears was released on January 18 as the singer’s first single in 11 years. The song has taken over digital music charts around the world.

     

    It reached No. 1 on the iTunes album charts in 24 countries and regions including Japan, Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Mexico, UAE,  Qatar, Sweden, Finland, Greece, Spain, Macau, Brunei, Norway and Argentina.

     

    The single also topped the Apple Music album dance charts in Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, US, Italy Spain, Macau, China and Guatemala.

     

    Face My Fears was made in collaboration with Skrillex and will be used as the opening theme for the upcoming video game Kingdom Hearts III which will be released worldwide on January 29. Utada’s last release to rank worldwide was Hikari -Ray Of Hope MIX- (Remixed by Punpee) which was used as the theme for Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue and made it to No. 1 in 9 countries. That makes her new release her biggest international ranking to date.

    To celebrate Utada’s achivement, a special global website has launched titled #HikaruUtada #(Songs) which displays ongoing worldwide statistics of her new single and all the songs on it as well as the song Too Proud featuring XZT, Suboi, EK (L1 Remix) which was released digitally in November last year; Spotify, YouTube and Apple Music statistics; posts about Utada on Instagram and Twitter, and more.

  • Hikaru Utada Releases New Single ‘Face My Fears’ & Posts ‘Hatsukoi’ Album on Spotify, Apple Music

    18.January.2019 | MUSIC

    Hikaru Utada, who celebrated her 20th anniversary last year, released her new and first single of 2019 Face My Fears today on January 18.

    There are Japanese and English versions of the song both made in collaboration with American DJ and singer-songwriter Skrillex. The single also includes Chikai featured on Utada’s latest album Hatsukoi as well as its English version Don’t Think Twice for a total of 4 tracks.

    The CD jacket was illustrated by Kingdom Hearts series director Tetsuya Nomura. It features Utada wielding two keyblades while standing on water. This is an absolute must-get for fans of the video game franchise.

     

    Kingdom Hearts III will be released in Japan on January 25 and worldwide on January 29.

    Hikaru Utada’s seventh album Hatsukoi which dropped last year is also now available on major streaming services including Spotify and Apple Music. This completes Utada’s discography up to now on the services.。

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