Distance (Hikaru Utada album)

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Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox album

Distance is the third studio album by Japanese and American singer Hikaru Utada. Toshiba EMI released it on March 28, 2001, making it their second release with the label. Utada wrote and co-produced the majority of the album, alongside previous collaborators Akira Miyake and Teruzane Utada, as well as new collaborations with American producers Rodney Jerkins and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. Distance, like its predecessor First Love (1999), is influenced by pop music and R&B, with additional hip-hop, rock, reggae, and techno influences from Western music.

Music critics praised the overall sound and production quality of Distance, earning Utada numerous awards and recognitions as a result of its critical success. Distance was released on the same day as Ayumi Hamasaki's greatest hits album A Best (2001), a coincidence which Avex Trax had organised. This resulted in extensive coverage in both Japanese and Western music media. Despite its marketing and competition, Distance was a huge commercial success. It ascended to number one on the Oricon Albums Chart with the highest-ever first-week sales in music history until Adele's 25 14 years later, and eventually became the fourth best-selling album of all time in Japan.

To promote the album, Utada released four singles: "Addicted to You," "Wait & See (Risk)," "For You / Time Limit" and "Can You Keep a Secret?." All four releases were successful in the Japanese market, selling over a million copies and becoming best-sellers. They promoted the album by performing two shows in Japan: Bohemian Summer 2000 and a special Unplugged event, both of which resulted in live releases. Furthermore, a video collection titled Utada Hikaru Single Clip Collection Vol. 2 was released, which included all of the album's music videos.

Background and recording

First Love, Utada's major-label debut studio album, was released in March 1999 via Toshiba EMI.<ref name="FirstLove">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> First Love, which they co-wrote and produced with Teruzane Utada and Akira Miyake, was a commercial success throughout the year, becoming the best-selling album in Japanese music history.<ref name="BestSeller">Template:Cite web</ref> With a string of successful singles, Utada quickly rose to prominence in Japan, where they were ranked fifth on the Tokyo Hot 100's Top 100 Artists of the 20th Century, as voted on by stations and listeners.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the summer of 1999, their final summer vacation as a high school student, they performed a video concert called Luv Live Remix: Hello From New York,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> a charity concert called Soukenbicha Natural Breeze Concert '99 with TLC and Monica,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> made their first TV commercial appearance,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and recorded a new song that was called “Addicted To You.”<ref name="addicted"/>

Distance contains songs recorded between 1999 and 2001.<ref name="Distance">Japanese versions listed below:

  • Template:Cite AV media notes
  • Template:Cite AV media notes
  • Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> During their last summer vacation as a high school student in 1999, Utada flew to Minneapolis and produced "Addicted To You" with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, the production team that has worked with artists such as TLC and Janet Jackson.<ref name="Distance"/> In both the United States and Japan, the producer's influence is often more prominent than that of the artist, but in Minneapolis, Utada said that the production with them was on an equal footing, and that it was a "ball of ideas."<ref name="ten03">Template:Citation</ref> The follow-up, “Wait & See (Risk),” was also produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, but this time Utada was unable to make it to Minneapolis due to schoolwork; however, Utada even made an arrangement track for the song in the demo tape stage, which was retained in the actual arrangement, and Utada's name was added to the arranger's credits for the first time.<ref name="Wait"/> Before their first national tour in 2000, they produced “Time Limit” with top producer Rodney Jerkins, one of the R&B scene's leading producers at the time.<ref name="Distance"/> "For You,” for which the melody was created before their debut, was also completed around this time.<ref name="Distance"/> In addition, several of the recorded songs were created during the same tour. Utada said that live performances are not R&B but rock, and those songs were also arranged with a rock flavor.<ref name="ten03"/> The rest of the album's songs were written and recorded in November of the same year, after their university exams were over, and were recorded over the New Years when their university was on winter vacation. When asked why they were not appearing on Kōhaku Uta Gassen at the time, Utada replied: "Because I want to make an album."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On January 26, 2001, Utada announced on their official website that recording for the album Distance had been completed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Akira Miyake, who has been Utada's producer since their debut, wrote a "Post-Recording Notes" on Utada's official website on February 2, 2001, saying:

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Composition

Musically, Distance expands on their previous studio album's R&B-influenced sound while also incorporating jazz, pop music, hip-hop, and rock elements.<ref name="AllMusic">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="CDJournal">Template:Cite web</ref> According to Ian Martin, writing for AllMusic, the tracks produced by Jerkins, Jam, and Lewis had a "rich production" as opposed to the "cheap, tinny" sound of Japanese pop at the time.<ref name="AllMusic"/> "Wait & See (Risk)" is a genuine US-style R&B number with a sprinkling of funk and soul flavors.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Can You Keep a Secret?" was billed as a J-pop song with "sophisticated" songwriting and production standards.<ref name="AllMusic"/> The album's title track is a pop song that features twinkling beats, topped with a 90s-like piano melody and filled with breathy background vocals.<ref name="journal">Template:Cite web</ref> "Sunglasses" is a medium-slow number that features an ensemble that intersects with a falsetto.<ref name="journal"/> "Drama" is a song that was written in collaboration with Takuro from Glay; it features brazenly strummed distortion guitars.<ref name="journal"/>

"Eternally" is a power ballad that sings about "love" and "eternity" head-on.<ref name="journal"/> "Addicted to You" is an authentic R&B produced song that incorporates the "chiki-chiki" sound throughout.<ref name="collection">Template:Cite web</ref> "For You" is an R&B pop ballad.<ref name="collection"/> "Kettobase!" is a high-speed pop rock song with a punchy guitar rock sound that combines hard and sharp elements.<ref name="journal"/> "Parody" is a reggae-style song with phrases reminiscent of Sting's "Englishman in New York."<ref name="journal"/> "Time Limit" is medium tempo R&B track.<ref name="collection"/> "Kotoba ni Naranai Kimochi" is an R&B number with a funky bass line.<ref name="journal"/>

Concept

The album title was chosen because it was something Utada felt when interacting with others . Utada said they realized that their songs were about various types of " distance," such as "relationships between people, ways of interacting, ways of relating, and emotional distance." They also said that the word "distance" was a perfect fit, given that they had visited and been involved in the production of the album in a variety of places, from Tokyo to Osaka, Atlantic City, Minneapolis, New York, Miami, London, and Hong Kong.<ref name="ten04">Template:Cite book</ref> Utada also said the following about the title in an interview :<ref name="ten04"/>

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Utada says that the title track "Distance" brings together and connects all the themes of the lyrics of the other songs on the album. Utada believes that no matter how close you are to someone, even if they are your parents or lovers, no matter how much you understand each other, no matter how much you trust each other and how close you get to each other, "in the end, you can't become one," "distance will always be created," and that "it's something that can't be helped." In "Distance," Utada said they wanted to portray the idea that "you really need to acknowledge that distance and cherish it."<ref name="ten04"/>

Promotion

On November 10, 1999, Toshiba EMI released the album's lead single, "Addicted to You".<ref name="addicted"/> Two versions of the song were on the single: the "Up-In-Heaven Mix" and the "Underwater Mix," though only the "Up-In-Heaven Mix" received radio airplay and its own music video.<ref name="addicted">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The song received high marks for its production quality and sound, with praise towards its producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. Commercially, it reached number one on the Oricon Singles Chart and was certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of over 1.6 million.Template:Efn<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> It is Utada's second best-selling physical single behind "Automatic/Time Will Tell," which sold a combined 2.06 million copies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album's second single, "Wait & See (Risk)", was released on April 19, 2000, with a physical edition that included a few B-side tracks and remixes.<ref name="Wait">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> Critics also praised the single's sound and production value. It reached number one on the Oricon Singles Chart and was the album's second single to receive a quadruple RIAJ certification.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>Template:Efn

On June 30, 2000, the songs "For You" and "Time Limit" were packaged together and released as double A-side single.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> Both tracks had music videos, with Utada performing the song live. It received positive reviews from critics and debuted at number one on the Oricon Singles Chart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The single was certified triple platinum by the RIAJ after shipping over 1.2 million units in Japan.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>Template:Efn The fourth and final single from the album, "Can You Keep a Secret?" debuted on February 16, 2001.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> "Can You Keep a Secret?" served as the theme song to the 2001 dorama Hero, in which Utada appeared as an actor.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The song received positive reviews from publications and debuted at number one on the Oricon Singles Chart, earning them a final triple platinum certification from the RIAJ.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>Template:Efn It also received platinum and gold certifications for exceeding 250,000 digital downloads and 50 million streams, respectively.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite certification</ref>

The song "Distance" was originally planned to be a single without any alterations, but it was instead released in a rearranged ballad form called "Final Distance" in memory of a fan who died in the June 2001 Ikeda school massacre;<ref name="essay">Essay.</ref> this new version would appear in their next album, Deep River.<ref name="DeepRiver">Japanese versions listed below:

Critical reception

Template:Music ratings Ian Wade of AllMusic rated the album four stars. He praised the record's production and songwriting, writing, "Distance stands as one of Hikaru's most consistent and inventive albums, and comes across as a far more convincing example of R&B by a Japanese artist than their later attempts to crack the U.S. market."<ref name="AllMusic"/> Music writer Tetsuo Hiraga of Hot Express praised Distance as “a work that expresses the dramatic ‘growth’ from First Love with the whole body,” and also pointed out the expansion of their musicality compared to their previous work.<ref name="HotExpressReview">Template:Cite web</ref> In his review of this album in Rockin'On Japan, Jun Shikano said, “Hikaru Utada's music is soulful and reflects the heart. It is both universal and primal."<ref name="rockin'">Template:Cite journal</ref>

From 1999 to 2002, the album and several singles won Japan Gold Disc Awards. Distance won Best Rock & Pop Album in 2002, and each of its four singles was named Song of the Year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC Awards) honoured the album's single "Can You Keep a Secret?" with the Silver Award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The song also won the International Viewer's Award at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2002, as well as the Drama Song Award at the 2001 Television Drama Academy Awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Release and commercial performance

File:Ayumi Hamasaki 2007.jpg
Distance was released alongside A Best by Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki (pictured), which generated huge significance in Japanese and Western music media.

Toshiba EMI released Distance on March 28, 2001, marking their second release with the label. In Japan, it was initially available on CD, double vinyl, and cassette, each with thirteen tracks.<ref name="Distance"/> EMI Music later released the album in several Asian countries, including China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.Template:Efn Distance was re-released worldwide on January 23, 2019, via digital and streaming services, with a double vinyl edition re-issued in Japan by Universal Music on March 10, 2022.<ref name="AppleMusic">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Vinyl">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

Toshiba EMI had scheduled the album's release date for March 28. At the same time, Japanese record label Avex Trax planned to release A Best, the greatest hits album by Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Avex's strategy was to compete with Utada's album, as both Hamasaki and Utada were at the peak of their popularity at the time. The announcement of both album release dates sparked widespread controversy in Japanese and Western media, with claims that the two singers were "rivals" in professional as well as personal circumstances.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Both singers claimed it was a label-sponsored campaign, with Hamasaki expressing her displeasure over a lack of material and creative control of A Best.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Both albums received extensive promotion prior to their release on March 28, but both were extremely successful in terms of first-week sales.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Japan, Distance ascended to number one on the Oricon Albums Chart, while A Best debuted at number two.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Distance sold 3,002,720 copies in its first week and became the fastest-selling album in music history,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> a record it held until 2015, when Adele's third album 25 sold 3.4 million copies in its first week in the United States.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> It topped the charts for two nonconsecutive weeks while being dethroned by A Best in the second week.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Distance had sold 4,404,290 units by the end of 2001, making it the best-selling album of the year, with A Best coming in second.<ref name="Yearly">Template:Cite web</ref> Utada also topped the annual singles chart that year with “Can You Keep A Secret?” and dominated the singles and albums charts for the year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) certified the album quadruple million for selling more than four million copies, and Oricon reports that it sold more than 4.472 million in Japan.<ref name="RIAJ1"/><ref name="Sales">Template:Cite web</ref> Oricon named it the best-selling Japanese album of the 2000s, and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) ranked it as the tenth best-selling record of 2001.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="globe">Template:Cite web</ref> The album is currently the fourth best-selling album in Japan, trailing only Glay's greatest hits album Review and B'z's The Best's "Pleasure" and Utada's studio album First Love, the best-selling record in Japanese history.<ref name="BestSeller"/>

Track listing

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Personnel

Personnel details were sourced from the Distance liner notes booklet.<ref name="Distance"/> Template:Div col begin

  • Miyake Akira – producer
  • Nishihira Akira – arranger, keyboards, programming
  • David Barry – guitar
  • John Blackwell – drums
  • Darnell Davis – keyboards
  • Paul Foley – editing
  • Steve Hodge – engineer, mixing
  • Goh Hotoda – engineer, shaker, mixing
  • Jimmy Jam – arranger, producer, musician
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Rodney Jerkins – arranger, programming, producer, engineer, rap
  • Terry Lewis – arranger, producer, musician
  • Harvey Mason, Jr. – engineer, editing
  • Michael McCoy – assistant engineer
  • Alexander Richbourg – producer, drum programming
  • Philippe Saisse – keyboards
  • Dexter Simmons – mixing
  • Xavier Smith – drum programming, assistant engineer
  • Mike Tocci – assistant engineer
  • Sanada Yoshiaki – executive producer
  • Honda Yuichiro – guitar, arranger, keyboards, programming, pre-production arranger
  • Toriyama Yuji – guitar

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Charts

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Weekly chart

Chart (2001) Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 1

Monthly charts

Chart (2001) Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)<ref name="monthly">Template:Cite web</ref> 1

Template:Col-2

Yearly chart

Chart (2001) Position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)<ref name="Yearly"/> 1
Worldwide Albums (IFPI)<ref name="globe"/> 10

Decade-end charts

Chart (2000–2009) Position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 1

All-time chart

Chart Position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)<ref name="BestSeller"/> 4

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Certification and sales

Template:Certification Table Top Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Table end

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label Template:Abbr
Japan March 28, 2001 Template:Hlist Eastworld <ref name="Distance"/>
China 2001 CD <ref name="China"/>
Indonesia <ref name="Indonesia"/>
Philippines <ref name="Philippines"/>
South Korea <ref name="SouthKorea"/>
Taiwan <ref name="Taiwan"/>
Thailand <ref name="Thailand"/>
Various January 23, 2019 Digital download EMI Music <ref name="AppleMusic"/>
Japan March 10, 2022 Vinyl Universal Music Japan <ref name="Vinyl"/>

See also

References

Notes

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Citations

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Template:Hikaru Utada Template:Hikaru Utada songs

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