Announced today on Hikki's Website, there will be a new music video for Hikki's new song "Goodbye Happiness". Further, there will be a DVD for the video and it will now be included free as a part of the Preorder Bonus for anyone who preorders the "SINGLES COLLECTION VOL.2" album before November 14th! (Preorders in-store and online are included)
Previews of Hikki's new song "Goodbye Happiness" that will be on her upcoming album "SINGLES COLLECTION VOL.2", have been released/announced on Twitter by Hikki and her staff. Have a listen here (wma)!
Also, Hikki's Website has been updated with dates for upcoming radio play and mobile downloads of the song! Radio airplay for "Goodbye Happiness" will begin November 1st, 2010 and mobile downloads will begin November 3rd, 2010!
Good day UtadaNet members,
As you can see, we've already announced this on the "Utada General Discussion" section.
For formality, and to those who are lurkers of the site, we're going to have a Twitter Brigade that will start on November 1 up to November 24, the release date of UHSCV2.
The Twitter Brigade will serve as our countdown for the release. To those who are interested, below is the instructions:
On your every Utada-related tweet, include #utadahikaru and #utadanet at the end. Or either one will do. (I've stated previously #utada first. But since it's her Japanese album, we should use #utadahikaru because #utada is for her English work). Now to those lurkers, you may not include #utadanet if you want.
There is no limit on how often you'll include #utadahikaru and #utadanet. Do it as much as you want.
The goal of this brigade is to make #utadahikaru a trending topic on twitter on or before the release date.
I'm hoping for a wide cooperation from all of you. Let's give it our best shot for this project. 
Much love,
Soulhunter14
Various online Japanese CD retailers (neowing.co.jp, yesasia.com, cdjapan.co.jp) have posted to their catalogs, a new English Utada Album to be released November 24th, 2010. It is a sixteen track greatest hits album of her American work. No word yet on any releases for outside of Japan.
[UPDATE] (Oct.24.2010)
Utada tweeted to fans today regarding the upcoming Universal Japan release of "Utada The Best", a compilation 'best of' album of her English work, and how it is being release without her blessing.
Quote:
@utadahikaru
The release of "Utada the best" is entirely against my will. I wish that my fans won't have to buy it. There's no new material in it.
In other Japanese posts, she even mentions how Universal was deciding on releasing this "Utada The Best" compilation album at the same time as her ?Single Collection Vol. 2? that is being released by EMI. Utada says that more detail about this will be released later on.
[UPDATE #2](Oct.25.2010)
Utada has just posted an more detailed message about this "Utada The Best" issue on her U3music.com blog. She talks about the circumstances to which this other compilation album is being released, and her feelings about it and how it 'coincides' with her EMI release of UHSC2. She seems concerned about how this release will affect her fans. You can read the English translation here
Hikki's Website's news section has been updated with announcements of upcoming Utada Hikaru television programs and upcoming live radio appearances!
Quote:
[2010/10/25] TV Channel Features for Music Video Clips Decided!
■ VMC ■
"VMC SPECIAL / Utada Hikaru"
11/21 (Sun) 19:00-21:00 (TV Edition)
Repeat Broadcast: 11/27 (Sat) 21:00 - And again in December
■ MUSIC ON! TV ■
"Artist File Utada Hikaru"
11/22 (Mon) 19:00 to 20:00 (first broadcast)
* repeat broadcast is scheduled for December.
■ SPACE SHOWER TV ■
"COMPLETE VIDEOS - Utada Hikaru 98/10-"
11/27 (Sat) 20:00 to 22:30 (first broadcast)
* repeat broadcast is scheduled for December.
■ MTV ■
"MTV A CLASS: Utada Hikaru"
11/27 (Sat) 20:00 - 21:00 (first broadcast)
Repeat Broadcast: 11/28 (Sun) 14:00, 12/03 (Fri) 17:00, 12/04 (Sat) 18:00
Quote:
[2010/10/25] FM Radio Guest Appearances Decided！
◆J-WAVE
「McDonald's TOKIO HOT 100」
Nov. 21st（Sun）13:00～16:54
◆BayFM
「ON8」
Nov. 24th (Wed) 20:00～21:25
◆Nack5
「J-POP MAGAZINE」
Dec. 4th（Sat）& 11th（Sat） 12:00～12:50
More to be announced soon
◆ZIP-FM
「BANG!BANG!ZIP!」
Nov. 24th (Wed) 14:00～17:00
◆FM愛知
「ParadiseBeat」
Nov. 25th (Thu)13:00～16:00
To be announced soon
Hikki's Website was updated with full details on the 2-day Yokohama Arena concerts that were announced earlier.
-The concerts will be held December 8th & 9th, 2010 at Yokohama Arena.
-The concert series will be titled 'WILD LIFE'.
-Tickets are ￥6,000.
-Tickets are sold in a lottery fashion, similar to other Hikki Japanese concerts
For full details, see the concert site!: http://eplus.jp/wild-life/
Just announced on Hikki's twitter (@utadahikaru), she says that 'footage' from the USA+UK concert tour from January and February 2010 will be released soon:
Quote:
@utadahikaru
In The Flesh Tour's footage will be released in some form, hopefully soon(as soon as some technicalities are cleared). We'll let you know!
I guess all the constant English tweets asking about an In The Flesh Concert DVD worked!
Afterwards, her dad, Teruzane (@u3music), Tweeted that the video is complete and had been edited, and they have been trying to get it available on iTunes, but have been having issues with the store. They may be looking for other methods of distribution as well.
Quote:
@u3music:
We have been discussing w/ Apple i-Tunes to utilize the US/London 2010 tour video, by the way, it is already mixed/edited. teruzane
Quote:
@u3music
Apple is having technical problems. Need to find other options to release more timely ways via internet. Please be patient. teruzane
They promise to get it out before the end of 2010!
Quote:
@u3music:
I promise to do this before the end of the year!! teruzane
The full digital release of Utada's "Hymne a l?amour ~Ai no Anthem~" is now available on iTunes Japan.
The track length is 6:33 and is selling for ?200.
Get it on iTunes Japan now!
First posted by @hikki_staff on twitter, Hikki's WEBSITE has announced the track listing for "Singles Colelction Vol.2" two disc album, including the names of the 5 new songs:
■Disc 1
01. Prisoner Of Love
02. Stay Gold
03. HEART STATION
04. Kiss & Cry
05. Beautiful World
06. Flavor Of Life -Ballad Version-
07. ぼくはくま
08. This Is Love
09. Keep Tryin'
10. Passion
11. Be My Last
12. 誰かの願いが叶うころ
13. Beautiful World -PLANiTb Acoustica Mix-
■Disc 2
01. 嵐の女神 (Arashi no Megami)
02. Show Me Love (Not A Dream)
03. Goodbye Happiness
04. Hymne a l'amour ~Ai no Anthem~
05. Can't Wait 'Til Christmas
It is interesting to point out, that the fabled "Show Me Love" track is here, which was first discovered back in November 2009.
The first-run limited edition version will have 3 fold booklet, a kuma charm designed by Hikki, and a chance for 1000 fans to win tickets to the concert in Yokohama!
Also, the cover art has been revealed! This will be the first time an Hikki album cover will not have an image of her face ...
Just posted on Hikki's twitter, the upcoming album "Singles Collection Vol.2" will be a TWO DISC SET! The first disc will be a 'best of' compilation of singles released since "Darekano Negaiga Kanau Koro". "Disc 2" will hold five new songs!
So lots of BIG news today in the Hikki-verse!
New Song "Hymne ? l'amour" for Pepsi Nex CM:
So one of the new songs that Hikki is releasing is called "Hymne ? l'amour - Ai no Anthem" (Hymn of Love - Love Anthem). "Hymne ? l'amour" is a jazzy sounding track and the lyrics are in FRENCH!!! (along with some Japnaese). The song is a cover of Edith Piaf, with some newly written Japanese lyrics. It will be the featured song for Pepsi Nex commercials in Japan. To view versions of the commercial, which includes amazing 15 and 30 second clips of Hikki singing French lyrics of "Hymne ? l'amour", 'Special' and 'Interview' clips, as well as wallpapers, goto the Gallery and Digital Premium sections of the Pepsi Japan site.
Ring back tones for the new track will be available September 28th and full PC and mobile downloads available October 9th.
Announcement of Upcoming Concerts:
What is to be the last concerts before her hiatus, it was announced today that there will be two-day concert at Yokohama Arena on December 8th and 9th. Further details on the concerts will come later on Hikki's Website. This is sure to be huge, as Hikki will be doing her best to thank her fans before her 'break'.
Official Twitter Accounts:
As mentioned before on Hikki's blog, Hikaru has now joined the Twitterverse.
@UtadaHikaru - The one, the only HIKKI
@U3music - U3music account, mostly her dad, Teruzane, posting.
@Hikki_staff - EMI staff that work for Hikki
Remember: ALL OTHER TWITTER ACCOUNTS CLAIMING TO BE HIKKI ARE FAKE
Announced today, "SINGLE COLLECTION VOL.2", Utada Hikaru's last album before she takes her previously announced hiatus from the music industry, will be released on November 24th, 2010. Available for 3300yen, it is available for preorder now!
Quote:
『Utada Hikaru SINGLE COLLECTION VOL.2』の発売日が決定！
11月24日発売
品番：TOCT-27027・28 (2枚組）
価格：3,300円（税込）Quote:
Hikaru Utada's blog website U3music.com reportedly received one million views in a single day, following her announcement on her blog Monday that she will be taking a break from music starting in 2011. (Source: Sanspo)
Also, in a new message on her site today, Hikaru responds to a Suponichi article. Apparently, EMI Director/Producer Akira Miyake was misquoted and the article suggests that Hikki is taking a break because she has "lost a lot" and has been "unable to go to McDonalds and Shibuya 109". Which she responds as being "ridiculous ＿|￣|○". (Message Translation)
From a new message post today on Hikaru's blog site U3music.com, Hikki reminisces about the past twelve years of her career and how she started when she was only fifteen years old. She goes on to say that it has been a long time and that she thinks that she needs to spend more time on life and take a BREAK from music. She indicates that it is NOT an announcement of "RETIREMENT" but not just a "rest" or "vacation" either.
So it seems Hikki will be taking a long term SABBATICAL from her music career! However, she assures fans that she will be back one day; two years ... five years ... she cannot be sure how long.
But before that, she says she will go full-throttle with music activities until the end of this year. In the blog message, she also announces a new compilation album, SINGLES COLLECTION VOL.2, which will also include four or five new songs! The release should sometime in Fall 2010.
She also announces that she will be a part of an endorsement campaign as well, so be sure to expect some new commercials featuring Hikki!
And she is also thinking of starting a Twitter account so she can more directly respond to fans during this time.
She thanks everyone, her staff, and her fans :)
Hikki's WEBSITE for her Japanese / EMI work has been updated with a new look. Also, there is a new profile picture, which appears to be from the reported photo-shoot in Shibuya back in May, 2010.
http://www.emimusic.jp/hikki/