Namie Amuro is considered one of the three royalty of female J-pop. She was at the top of the charts before Utada and Hamasaki even debuted, and earned the title 'Queen of Hip-Hop' (or was it J-pop?). Then, because of several hiatuses from the industry, her career started to decline (but not super giant decline), and rebounded slightly with the release of her awesome album 'PLAY' in 2006. Her latest single, which I've talked about before, '60s 70s 80s', was released earlier this year, and became her biggest hit sales-wise in a long time.
She is also of the three 'Queens/Empresses' of J-Pop, the best dancer, the one with the best hair, the one with the most risqué image, and the oldest (at 30 years old). For '60s 70s 80s', she chose three songs, one from the 60s (New Look), 70s (Rock Steady), 80s (What a Feeling), redid them, and for the music videos, partnered with Vidal Sassoon and Patricia Fields. Vidal Sassoon made 30 second clips of her videos and used them in commercials for their VS hair products, and Patricia Fields was the costume designer for them all. Fields was the person responsible for 'The Devil Wears Prada', 'Sex and the City', 'Ugly Betty', and a couple of other stuff.
The PV's are pretty good. By the way, 'Stay Gold' was used in a commercial for Ascience, Kao's competing hair product.
60s-New Look-Namie Amuro
70s-Rock Steady-Namie Amuro
80s-What a Feeling-Namie Amuro
Asience (Jeon Ji Hyun)- Stay Gold - Utada Hikaru
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
T3-89 Final Distance
I was pretty late to school today. Our science teacher wasn't there, but I missed a test and she didn't mark one of my assignments.
My brain is just a jumble of things now, I don't even know what I'm trying to say.
By the way, for the English album, I used 6 Utada Hikaru songs, 5 of them Japanese. They were Hikari, Final Distance, Take 5, First Love, Kremlin Dusk, and Passion.
The other ones were Say My Name (Destiny's Child), Hung Up (Madonna), Unity (Kelly Rowland), and Wake Up Call (Maroon 5).
My brain is just a jumble of things now, I don't even know what I'm trying to say.
By the way, for the English album, I used 6 Utada Hikaru songs, 5 of them Japanese. They were Hikari, Final Distance, Take 5, First Love, Kremlin Dusk, and Passion.
The other ones were Say My Name (Destiny's Child), Hung Up (Madonna), Unity (Kelly Rowland), and Wake Up Call (Maroon 5).
Thursday, May 29, 2008
T3-88 Passion
For our English project, I'm doing a CD where we have to have 10 songs about a character among other things. I've done 9 songs, but now I can't think of the tenth song!
By the way, Koda Kumi has done a collaboration with Fergie called 'That Ain't Cool'.
But most importantly, word of a Utada Hikaru collaboration with superstar producers Stargate has appeared! On the BMI website, who handles licensing for some artists, a track registered under the name 'Apples and Cinnamon' has the Stargate producers and Utada listed as the composers.
Honestly, though, I don't really think that this will become a hit in the USA. Timbaland did several tracks for Exodus, and they weren't hits.
By the way, Koda Kumi has done a collaboration with Fergie called 'That Ain't Cool'.
But most importantly, word of a Utada Hikaru collaboration with superstar producers Stargate has appeared! On the BMI website, who handles licensing for some artists, a track registered under the name 'Apples and Cinnamon' has the Stargate producers and Utada listed as the composers.
Honestly, though, I don't really think that this will become a hit in the USA. Timbaland did several tracks for Exodus, and they weren't hits.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
T3-87 Better In Time
I must learn more about computers.
Stupid viruses and file conversions.
I also read the sunscreen blog of wisdom on the website. Life experience really is very important. I'll try to follow what you said, particularly about living in New York. I wonder how long would it be until I'm 'hard'?
Stupid viruses and file conversions.
I also read the sunscreen blog of wisdom on the website. Life experience really is very important. I'll try to follow what you said, particularly about living in New York. I wonder how long would it be until I'm 'hard'?
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
T3-85
I've been pretty uncoordinated recently.
I kept on coughing on water recently, such as the time when I had a coughing fit in the middle of the Children's Foundation's YPI presentation (for which I am sorry for).
By the way, lots of work, as I'm sure you already know from the blogs you've probably been getting.
I kept on coughing on water recently, such as the time when I had a coughing fit in the middle of the Children's Foundation's YPI presentation (for which I am sorry for).
By the way, lots of work, as I'm sure you already know from the blogs you've probably been getting.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
T3-83 How crazy
CS and I went to IC's house today. I get the feeling that he thought I was a creep.
I hate it when people come over to my house and act pretty inconsiderately. There was once where a classmate and I ran over to my house during break to grab something that was due that day. I let him come in, and I went upstairs to grab my stuff, and when I came back down, he had his greasy fingers over the keyboard and was searching through my documents.
Now, obviously, I didn't do that at IC's house.
But many times I do things subconsciously, or things that I do without thinking and don't think of until much later that might seem offensive and inconsiderate to other people.
Generally, I don't give hints, I tend to be pretty upfront, or at least it would have to be extremely obvious.
I try not to, but I don't think things completely out before acting upon it.
By the way, Prisoner of Love is still second on the Oricon charts! Even a recut single from Utada could defeat Ai Otsuka, but is still no match for the power of boyband singles (Hey!Say!Jump!'s Dreams come true).
I hate it when people come over to my house and act pretty inconsiderately. There was once where a classmate and I ran over to my house during break to grab something that was due that day. I let him come in, and I went upstairs to grab my stuff, and when I came back down, he had his greasy fingers over the keyboard and was searching through my documents.
Now, obviously, I didn't do that at IC's house.
But many times I do things subconsciously, or things that I do without thinking and don't think of until much later that might seem offensive and inconsiderate to other people.
Generally, I don't give hints, I tend to be pretty upfront, or at least it would have to be extremely obvious.
I try not to, but I don't think things completely out before acting upon it.
By the way, Prisoner of Love is still second on the Oricon charts! Even a recut single from Utada could defeat Ai Otsuka, but is still no match for the power of boyband singles (Hey!Say!Jump!'s Dreams come true).
Thursday, May 22, 2008
T3-82 Prisoner of Love -Quiet Version-
Sometimes it takes someone to be a total jerk to appreciate other people's virtues and realize that you may be pretty mean yourself.
Anyways, Prisoner of Love was released as a recut single.
In Japan, singles come before the album, whereas in the western world, there's a lead single, then the rest of the singles come afterwards to promote the album.
There's also a -Quiet Version- on the single that isn't on the album. Its pretty nice, better than the preview on the EMI website, but all that much better than the original version.
Its also right now at number 2 on the daily charts. Pretty good for a recut single.
Anyways, Prisoner of Love was released as a recut single.
In Japan, singles come before the album, whereas in the western world, there's a lead single, then the rest of the singles come afterwards to promote the album.
There's also a -Quiet Version- on the single that isn't on the album. Its pretty nice, better than the preview on the EMI website, but all that much better than the original version.
Its also right now at number 2 on the daily charts. Pretty good for a recut single.
T3-81 How crazy
I am tired and undependable.
We should expect the English play to die if it is left to my organization skills.
We should expect the English play to die if it is left to my organization skills.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
T3-80 JEWEL/How High
I still have bits and pieces of the flu left over, topped off by an extremely sensitive throat that threatens to cough so much that I throw up if I don't shut my mouth up, drink water and take throat candy.
I was reading some Jpop forums, and some people tend to confuse commercial decisions with the artist his/herself. Just because somebody's music video wasn't so good doesn't mean that artist was lazy. The artist doesn't always have much of a say in his/her music videos. A success for branding, I guess.
I was reading some Jpop forums, and some people tend to confuse commercial decisions with the artist his/herself. Just because somebody's music video wasn't so good doesn't mean that artist was lazy. The artist doesn't always have much of a say in his/her music videos. A success for branding, I guess.
Monday, May 19, 2008
T3-79 Get Together/Isaac
While everybody else has already set their sights on 'Hard Candy', I've just started listening to 'Confessions On A Dance Floor'. And I haven't even heard 'Ray of Light' yet.
Anyways, I've been listening to Confessions, and it is an awesome album. Obviously, anything Madonna does is practically incomparable, but if I have to compare it with its closest Utada counterpart, EXODUS, then Confessions just...obliberates its competition.
By the way, in the last couple of days I have been watching TV like crazy cause I can't do anything else, I watched MuchMusic's list of 20 most powerful musicians or something like that. The top three ranking was Justin Timberlake, followed by Jay-Z, then Madonna. I personally think that Justin Timberlake is in no way more powerful than Madonna. Heck, none of Timberlakes' latest singles or album is even comparable to the success of Hung Up, or Confessions. And there isn't anything else Timberlake is better at. Dancing? Songwriting maybe, singing? Selling power? Business sense? Powerfulness?
And now, I must talk about Utada. I read a German article (somebody on a fansite had translated it), which said that Utada earned $216 million USD (140 m. Euros, I didn't convert it). Now, I'm not really sure if this figure is correct, but if it is, well, that is a huge huge huge number. Madonna is said to be worth $860 million herself, and earned $72 million last year (but she's signed a deal with Artist/Live Nation for $120 million) Oh, and Utada has one of the largest houses in Tokyo.
I saw that number, then wondered how in the world could she have earned that money. She has sold about 41 million records world wide, and in the world of global mega superstars, that isn't too much. But she's sold 34 million in Japan (24 m. albums, 15 m. singles, and 3 m. VHS/DVD). Yes, I know those numbers don't add up, that's why I'm confused. Anyways, in Japan, albums and singles sell for more. For example, a Utada album in Japan would sell for about $30, while in Canada, it would sell for $10-13. A single in Japan would sell from $7-10, while in Canada, it would sell from $2-4. Digitally, the difference isn't large: $2 versus $1.5 for a track (almost all downloads are per track). Now, she's also sold anywhere from 15 million to 25 million digital downloads.
I've read a little little bit about royalties, but not in Japan, so all of this most likely wrong, but hopefully somewhat close to the real number. Perhaps in the same magnitude?
Anyways, Utada composes, writes the lyrics, sings, and most of the time arranges the music herself. I don't know about composing royalties, but singing royalties would probably be about 15% of sales, because EMI is very nice to Utada. Digital royalties are much smaller, about 5% of sales.
She doesn't get too many endorsements, at least, not much that I know of. She has had only two full-fledged tours, Bohemian Summer and Utada United, and one five-date tour (Hikaru no 5). All were sell-outs, and I think in two hours. Bohemian Summer had 19, and Utada United had 11 (later doubled to 22), and Hikaru no 5 had 5 dates, so a total of 46 performances. She only performed in the largest stadiums, so I'm guessing about an average of 20000 seating capacity per stadium (this is a big estimate), so 920,000 in attendance. She also had some small stuff here and there, but I'm pretending its part of the 920,000. I have absolutely no idea about ticket prices. However, I know that Bohemian Summer was crazy. It was right after First Love and a couple of Distance singles, so there was a huge demand. 16 dates were announced, all sold out, then 3 dates were added, but there were 900,000 entries for the seats (they were sold in a lottery system). I don't know how much from this tour goes into Utada's pocket, though.
In comparision, Madonna's Confession Tour, the highest grossing for a female artist, sold $194 m with 60 shows and 1.2 m people attending.
I don't think Utada Hikaru got the ticket prices Madonna got, but I'm not sure.
Okay, I give up on the math. Somebody else go do it.
I also read that in 1999, she became one of Japan's 100 richest people after the release of First Love at the age of 16. However, that same source said that she paid the most tax in 2005 in Japan (roughly equating to being the richest person). That I'm not so sure. 2005 to her was a year where she practically didn't do anything, except release 'Be My Last', which wasn't such a success. Perhaps she was given an advance on her record deal with EMI which we don't know of? Even so, I don't think EMI gave an advance worth several billion dollars.
Anyways, I've been listening to Confessions, and it is an awesome album. Obviously, anything Madonna does is practically incomparable, but if I have to compare it with its closest Utada counterpart, EXODUS, then Confessions just...obliberates its competition.
By the way, in the last couple of days I have been watching TV like crazy cause I can't do anything else, I watched MuchMusic's list of 20 most powerful musicians or something like that. The top three ranking was Justin Timberlake, followed by Jay-Z, then Madonna. I personally think that Justin Timberlake is in no way more powerful than Madonna. Heck, none of Timberlakes' latest singles or album is even comparable to the success of Hung Up, or Confessions. And there isn't anything else Timberlake is better at. Dancing? Songwriting maybe, singing? Selling power? Business sense? Powerfulness?
And now, I must talk about Utada. I read a German article (somebody on a fansite had translated it), which said that Utada earned $216 million USD (140 m. Euros, I didn't convert it). Now, I'm not really sure if this figure is correct, but if it is, well, that is a huge huge huge number. Madonna is said to be worth $860 million herself, and earned $72 million last year (but she's signed a deal with Artist/Live Nation for $120 million) Oh, and Utada has one of the largest houses in Tokyo.
I saw that number, then wondered how in the world could she have earned that money. She has sold about 41 million records world wide, and in the world of global mega superstars, that isn't too much. But she's sold 34 million in Japan (24 m. albums, 15 m. singles, and 3 m. VHS/DVD). Yes, I know those numbers don't add up, that's why I'm confused. Anyways, in Japan, albums and singles sell for more. For example, a Utada album in Japan would sell for about $30, while in Canada, it would sell for $10-13. A single in Japan would sell from $7-10, while in Canada, it would sell from $2-4. Digitally, the difference isn't large: $2 versus $1.5 for a track (almost all downloads are per track). Now, she's also sold anywhere from 15 million to 25 million digital downloads.
I've read a little little bit about royalties, but not in Japan, so all of this most likely wrong, but hopefully somewhat close to the real number. Perhaps in the same magnitude?
Anyways, Utada composes, writes the lyrics, sings, and most of the time arranges the music herself. I don't know about composing royalties, but singing royalties would probably be about 15% of sales, because EMI is very nice to Utada. Digital royalties are much smaller, about 5% of sales.
She doesn't get too many endorsements, at least, not much that I know of. She has had only two full-fledged tours, Bohemian Summer and Utada United, and one five-date tour (Hikaru no 5). All were sell-outs, and I think in two hours. Bohemian Summer had 19, and Utada United had 11 (later doubled to 22), and Hikaru no 5 had 5 dates, so a total of 46 performances. She only performed in the largest stadiums, so I'm guessing about an average of 20000 seating capacity per stadium (this is a big estimate), so 920,000 in attendance. She also had some small stuff here and there, but I'm pretending its part of the 920,000. I have absolutely no idea about ticket prices. However, I know that Bohemian Summer was crazy. It was right after First Love and a couple of Distance singles, so there was a huge demand. 16 dates were announced, all sold out, then 3 dates were added, but there were 900,000 entries for the seats (they were sold in a lottery system). I don't know how much from this tour goes into Utada's pocket, though.
In comparision, Madonna's Confession Tour, the highest grossing for a female artist, sold $194 m with 60 shows and 1.2 m people attending.
I don't think Utada Hikaru got the ticket prices Madonna got, but I'm not sure.
Okay, I give up on the math. Somebody else go do it.
I also read that in 1999, she became one of Japan's 100 richest people after the release of First Love at the age of 16. However, that same source said that she paid the most tax in 2005 in Japan (roughly equating to being the richest person). That I'm not so sure. 2005 to her was a year where she practically didn't do anything, except release 'Be My Last', which wasn't such a success. Perhaps she was given an advance on her record deal with EMI which we don't know of? Even so, I don't think EMI gave an advance worth several billion dollars.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
T3-76-78
76
Hello.
I am sick.
I have a fever, the flu, and a stomach ache.
77
I have the flu.
78
I'm feeling much better now. Which means that I probably won't get to miss school on Tuesday.
Hello.
I am sick.
I have a fever, the flu, and a stomach ache.
77
I have the flu.
78
I'm feeling much better now. Which means that I probably won't get to miss school on Tuesday.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
T3-75 Take A Bow
I think that I have complained enough for my entire life already. I should think of those who have much more to complain than me when I want to whine and drown in self-pity.
Somebody has been promoting 'Take A Bow' by Rihanna by writing on various surface. I have a temptation to write 'Devil Inside-Utada' right over or on top of it.
Somebody has been promoting 'Take A Bow' by Rihanna by writing on various surface. I have a temptation to write 'Devil Inside-Utada' right over or on top of it.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
T3-74 Do You (feat. Utada)
I need to be quiet and shut up sometimes.
I just finished studying for Science. Well, not completely. I thought I had all of it down pat, then I looked at the review questions, and I could only do 40% of them without going back through the textbook.
I just finished studying for Science. Well, not completely. I thought I had all of it down pat, then I looked at the review questions, and I could only do 40% of them without going back through the textbook.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
T3-72
HEART STATION is now number one on the Oricon daily charts.
Wow.
It's now 8 weeks since the album's release, and for an album to do that in Japan is unheard of for the last couple of years. Sure, it is a slow sales week, but considering that she hasn't reached number 1 ever since the first week...
The power of drama tie-in's.
Prisoner of Love is the drama tie-in for 'Last Friends'( ラスト・フレンズ), and drama tie-in do wonders for a song's popularity/sales. By the way, its on every Thursday at 22:00 on Fuji TV (which I think is on channel 8). That is, if you're living in Tokyo.
And, HEART STATION has shipped one million copies! She's also sold 20 million albums already. Quite wonderful, isn't it? At the rate things are going, she'll definetly get number one female studio, perhaps female overall, and maybe break one million sold in Japan (definetly she'll get one million globally).
Wow.
It's now 8 weeks since the album's release, and for an album to do that in Japan is unheard of for the last couple of years. Sure, it is a slow sales week, but considering that she hasn't reached number 1 ever since the first week...
The power of drama tie-in's.
Prisoner of Love is the drama tie-in for 'Last Friends'( ラスト・フレンズ), and drama tie-in do wonders for a song's popularity/sales. By the way, its on every Thursday at 22:00 on Fuji TV (which I think is on channel 8). That is, if you're living in Tokyo.
And, HEART STATION has shipped one million copies! She's also sold 20 million albums already. Quite wonderful, isn't it? At the rate things are going, she'll definetly get number one female studio, perhaps female overall, and maybe break one million sold in Japan (definetly she'll get one million globally).
Sunday, May 11, 2008
T3-70/71
70
Still not happy.
71
I was talking to my mom about her Utada Hikaru experiences. There were a lot of stuff I missed/forgot the first couple of years I went to Japan, actually. Heck, the first time I heard of Utada Hikaru was watching her UH3+ clip collection, and I thought she was just some small artist back then.
Still not happy.
71
I was talking to my mom about her Utada Hikaru experiences. There were a lot of stuff I missed/forgot the first couple of years I went to Japan, actually. Heck, the first time I heard of Utada Hikaru was watching her UH3+ clip collection, and I thought she was just some small artist back then.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
T3-69
I can't say I'm happy right now.
I'm quite disappointed with our YPI results actually. However, the only person I can really blame is me, because I had made so many wrong decisions, and I didn't give this project my full effort. Heck, I can make an entire list right now of all the things I could have done better.
Even so, I think I still feel a trace of bitterness.
I'm quite disappointed with our YPI results actually. However, the only person I can really blame is me, because I had made so many wrong decisions, and I didn't give this project my full effort. Heck, I can make an entire list right now of all the things I could have done better.
Even so, I think I still feel a trace of bitterness.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
T3-68
JC: Hahaha I know. I was going to put it on my personal message or something, but then I realized that he would see it, so I was afraid and didn't put it there. I'm hoping that he didn't read that blog.
I was watching the second last episode of 'The Hospital' (白色巨塔 ), and it was still as good as ever.
Then, later on I watched Reba and Hope and Faith and laughed so hard I almost threw up (it was right after dinner).
I was watching the second last episode of 'The Hospital' (白色巨塔 ), and it was still as good as ever.
Then, later on I watched Reba and Hope and Faith and laughed so hard I almost threw up (it was right after dinner).
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
T3-67
I remember that at the Japanese Bunkasai festival, there was a singing competiton. A girl sang 'Time After Time' by Mai Kuraki, and to be honest, it was just as good as Mai Kuraki's original version.
And Joy won Churchill Idol singing a Hairspray song. There was a judge who said how that song showed us a different side of her, but I think it would be much more interesting if she sang 'Devil Inside' by Utada.
Okay, maybe not.
That song, though did hit number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Play, and 57th on the Hot Singles Sales.
I don't know why, but sometimes when other people tell me I'm acting weird or something, I usually have one of Utada Hikaru's English songs ('Devil Inside', 'Kremlin Dusk') or Prisoner of Love in my head.
And Joy won Churchill Idol singing a Hairspray song. There was a judge who said how that song showed us a different side of her, but I think it would be much more interesting if she sang 'Devil Inside' by Utada.
Okay, maybe not.
That song, though did hit number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Play, and 57th on the Hot Singles Sales.
I don't know why, but sometimes when other people tell me I'm acting weird or something, I usually have one of Utada Hikaru's English songs ('Devil Inside', 'Kremlin Dusk') or Prisoner of Love in my head.
Monday, May 5, 2008
T3-66 Fly Me To The Moon
I procrastinate so much that I am truly scaring myself.
It seems that I have lost the resolve to not procrastinate. Or really even work hard.
It seems that I have lost the resolve to not procrastinate. Or really even work hard.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
T3-63-5
63 Me Against the Music
I procrastinate so much I wonder why people still choose me to be in their groups.
64 Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
I feel content.
I am now addicted to Tetris, except I'm not very good at it. But, practice really does improve your skills!
65
I feel the need to 'reevaluate' my life.
I procrastinate so much I wonder why people still choose me to be in their groups.
64 Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
I feel content.
I am now addicted to Tetris, except I'm not very good at it. But, practice really does improve your skills!
65
I feel the need to 'reevaluate' my life.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
T3-62 Green Light
I've been listening to Beyonce's B'Day again. The last couple of times I heard it, I thought it was quite boring, but now, it sounds much better for some reason.
Oh, and we had a track meet. Like always, I am the worst person in my category. At the very least in our school team; I am dead last at every single event I do.
Then again though, I don't really care.
Oh, and we had a track meet. Like always, I am the worst person in my category. At the very least in our school team; I am dead last at every single event I do.
Then again though, I don't really care.
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