Hikaru Utada’s new album doing well in the U.S.

Sunday 29th March, 05:14 AM JST

TOKYO —

Singer and songwriter Hikaru Utada, 26, broke a record for Japanese artists this week when her second album in English - “This is The One” - entered the charts on Apple’s iTunes Music Store at No. 19, the first time an album by a Japanese artist has entered the online store’s rankings in the top 100.

Her album went on sale at the iTunes store last Wednesday, where it finished the day at No. 20 in the general rankings and at No.2 in the pop category, and as of March 27, was ranked No. 19 and No. 3 respectively. The album’s U.S. CD release is scheduled for May, but will be listed on the Billboard 200 chart on April 9, which takes into account CD sales as well as download purchases.

Utada has been promoting the new album heavily in the U.S. over the last month, and it is her second attempt to penetrate the market after her English-language debut album “Exodus” sold just over 50,000 copies in 2004. Her new album has been on sale in Japan since March 14, but PR staff said they will be focusing their efforts in the U.S.

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Latest 15 of 21 Total Comments Show All

moshiso7 at 10:45 AM JST - 29th March

There's no good American song that I know. So what's the big deal trying to make big in the US?
gogogo at 03:26 PM JST - 29th March

Number 19 on the itunes charts is around 100-200 units sold... do some research next time JT!
Crimsonsil at 04:11 PM JST - 29th March

@moshiso7

You must not listen to much music. Every country has good songs and bad songs. It's never a bad thing to start trying out music from other places.
butterfly1 at 08:04 PM JST - 29th March

her song 'come back to me ' is great ;)
smithinjapan at 10:50 PM JST - 29th March

I'm with USNinJapan2, for a change: Exodus was horrible. The top-selling song, "Easy Breezy" was god-awful. I haven't heard a single song off this album yet, and didn't even know about it, but it's got to be better with the reception it's getting. I respect Utada for her originality and her ability to write and compose much of her own music, and with the ability to actually sing (many Japanese artists -- especially 'Johnnys' groups -- can't sing worth a damn live).

Moshiso7: "There's no good American song that I know."

BS. That's called bias, plain and simple. There are PLENTY of good American songs, as well as those of pretty much any other nation, and the US music industry has tried very hard to emulate American music styles. Do you think Hip-Hop is originally Japanese? Rock? Face it, if it weren't for Western music you'd have nothing but Enka and Okinawan music to listen to (the latter of which I like sometimes).
smithinjapan at 10:50 PM JST - 29th March

That should be, "and the JAPANESE music industry has tried very hard to emulate American music styles", not 'US music industry'.
Peaceful_Man at 11:02 PM JST - 29th March

I wonder if it is just Japanese consumers just buying it on the US iTunes? That woiuld make sense.
seeker1 at 11:33 PM JST - 29th March

Peaceful_Man, unless Japanese consumers have a US credit card, they can't order from the US iTunes. Her new single is pretty good, much better than Exodus, and more similar to her Japanese albums. The music video for the single"Come Back ToMe" is a free download on the US iTunes store this week (until Tuesday 3/31), check it out if you can. That may be a reason it is doing well on the iTunes store, but I think it is because it is a good song. USNinJapan2 I also cringed when I heard that lyric, it's almost as bad as Styx "Domo Arigato Mr. Robato..." Another bad one is Neil Diamond's "Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon". Classic stuff.
herzenstube at 01:47 AM JST - 30th March

In terms of their singles, I'll agree that "Come Back to Me" is far better than "Easy Breezy," but unlike Exodus, which was otherwise pretty good and contained a couple hidden gems (Hotel Lobby, Kremlin Dusk), "This is the One" has less stand-outs and still has its share of embarrassing tracks (Dirty Desire, Poppin'). That said, I think it's no worse than the material other American pop artists put out, so in all fairness, she should enjoy the same sales...though of course, she won't :(
GJDailleult at 07:58 AM JST - 30th March

"Easy Breezy" was pretty cringe-worthy for sure. But she is still much better than almost all her Japanese competition, and if they do a better job at trying to make it internationally than the first time around she does have a chance. In other words, use what works for her and gives her her appeal in Japan instead of trying to make her something she isn't.
soldave at 08:50 AM JST - 30th March

gogogo - is that true? In that case it's hardly a mean feat.
USNinJapan2 at 09:48 PM JST - 30th March

smithinjapan

I gotta disagree that she's any good performing live. I haven't seen a live show of hers in person, but every time I've heard her singing live on TV/DVD she sounds bad enough to wonder if she's actually tone deaf and her music is all just great producing. My wife has been to one of her concerts and says the same thing. In fact I think she's rather known for her less than spectacular live singing ability...
IvanCoughalot at 10:23 PM JST - 31st March

Exodus was diabolical.

I was dancing with a dirty blonde Texan Charming accent but the music's playing too loud for talking So I showed him how people in the Far East get down

Push it up, push it down Pull it up, pull it down Keep it up, keep it down Now put me down ...what a workout!

Nope. What a pile of scheidt. I really do hope this album's a sight better - she showed real talent...about ten years ago.
wasurenaide at 06:14 PM JST - 1st April

Exodus...hmmm won't comment on that. But I do love her Japanese songs. Hopefully she will produce some good "originality" and at least get some positive feedback in the US market. (What is it with Asians trying to make in the states these days? BoA,se7en, the Filipino girl who was on Oprah...Asianwise- I'm rooting for the Filipino girl)
takuyaki at 12:39 AM JST - 4th April

I like Utada Hikaru's japanese songs esp the ones used in tv dramas.