Remember Utada? Fans of J-Pop would cut me in the face for asking that question, of course – Utada is the simply a moniker for Hikaru Utada, a New York born Japanese pop superstar. Fans – me included – were thrilled that she released her first American album Exodus in 2004, but it didn’t really make any waves in the United States: A mix of bad marketing, a conscious decision to alienate the American fans of her thriving J-Pop career (I’ve never seen her in a bikini for a music video, until now) and some shady production values (Bjork like electronica tracks mixed with two tracks from producer Timbaland at the end) had her peak at #160 on the US Billboard Charts. Honestly, I found myself playing her follow-up Japanese album ULTRA BLUE on my iTunes more often, and I don’t understand a word of Japanese.
Utada’s at it again, though, working on her untitled fifth Japanese-language studio album and second English album simultaneously. In addition, she just did a collaboration with R&B star Ne-Yo for his single, Do You.
Ne-Yo? The guy from “Sexy Love?” Really? At first I thought it was another misguided attempt at putting Utada in an R&B market, but from her website it looks like the single will be released in iTunes Japan only, as an attempt to promote Ne-Yo worldwide.
As for the song itself, here’s a YouTube video:
Hmmm. I’m not sure if I’m feeling this. Her voice is a little too… warbly. Sorry, Hikki, I like your stuff otherwise.
What next?
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3 Comments to “Utada does a duet with… Ne-Yo?”
Xxxtine wrote:
In other news, Yuna Ito does a duet with Celine Dion – who actually hand picked her after hearing her rendition of My Heart Will Go On.
Collabos like these happen more often – Aki-La feat. Snoop Dogg, Toshi feat. Mos Def, Gospellers feat. Howie D from Backstreet Boys – maybe I’ll do a show on it.
Posted on 15-Dec-07 at 8:41 am | Permalink
jpop addict wrote:
I remember what I think was her first Collabo with a major US artist. Does anybody remember “Blow my whistle”? with Foxy Brown off the Rush Hour 2 soundtrack?
It wasn’t that good, even though I love both Foxy and Hikaru.
What about any dream collabos? Any ideas?
Posted on 16-Dec-07 at 4:54 am | Permalink
Rizky Kyky wrote:
waduuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
your very beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on 08-Aug-09 at 1:34 am | Permalink
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