Hikari (song)
Encyclopedia
is Hikaru Utada's 10th Japanese-language single (12th overall), and is also her 3rd single on the Deep River album. Its release date was March 20, 2002. It is the main theme song for the Japanese release of the Square
(now Square Enix
) and Disney Interactive video games Kingdom Hearts
, Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
, and Kingdom Hearts Re:coded. Utada was the only singer that Tetsuya Nomura
, the director of Kingdom Hearts, had in mind for the Kingdom Hearts theme song. This also marked the first time Utada had produced a song for a video game.
The English language version of the song, titled "Simple and Clean", was used in the English and Final Mix releases of Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts RE: Coded. Although the two songs share a similar melody and background music, the meaning of the lyrics are changed significantly in the English version. "Simple and Clean" was also used in both Japanese and English-language releases of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Utada stated that she couldn't get the same meaning she wanted to portray in "Simple and Clean" as in "Hikari", so changed the chorus melody to the one used in "Uso Mitai na I Love You", also on the Deep River album. Both "Simple and Clean" and its remix, "Simple and Clean -PLANITb Remix-" were later released as the B-side of her single Colors
.
"Hikari" was performed during Utada's two date concert series Wild Life
in December 2010.
) for "Hikari" is a simple one. Utada washes dishes, and enjoys a glass of water through its course. Utada, in an interview, explains how she enjoys washing dishes at home as well, which contributed to her making this music video.
(They were able to reach Kazuaki Kiriya eventually, but they had no time to shoot a complex video.)
charts for a lengthy three weeks, selling 270,370 in its debut week. By August 2002, it had sold over 598,130 copies in Japan.
Sales Chart (Japan)
Square (company)
was a Japanese video game company founded in September 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto. It merged with Enix in 2003 and became part of Square Enix...
(now Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
) and Disney Interactive video games Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts
is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square in 2002 for the PlayStation 2 video game console. The first game in the Kingdom Hearts series, it is the result of a collaboration between Square Enix and The Walt Disney Company. The game combines characters and settings from Disney...
, Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
is an action role-playing game developed by Square Enix and Japanese studio Jupiter and published by Square Enix in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance. The game serves as an intermediary between the two larger-scale PlayStation 2 games in the Kingdom Hearts series. It was one of the first GBA games to...
, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix and Disney for the PlayStation Portable, serving as the sixth installment in the Kingdom Hearts series. The game was released on UMD in Japan on January 9, 2010, in North America on September 7, 2010 and in Europe on September...
, and Kingdom Hearts Re:coded. Utada was the only singer that Tetsuya Nomura
Tetsuya Nomura
is a Japanese video game director and character designer working for Square Enix , best known for his work on both the Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts series.-Time before Square:Nomura was born in Kōchi, Japan...
, the director of Kingdom Hearts, had in mind for the Kingdom Hearts theme song. This also marked the first time Utada had produced a song for a video game.
The English language version of the song, titled "Simple and Clean", was used in the English and Final Mix releases of Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts RE: Coded. Although the two songs share a similar melody and background music, the meaning of the lyrics are changed significantly in the English version. "Simple and Clean" was also used in both Japanese and English-language releases of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Utada stated that she couldn't get the same meaning she wanted to portray in "Simple and Clean" as in "Hikari", so changed the chorus melody to the one used in "Uso Mitai na I Love You", also on the Deep River album. Both "Simple and Clean" and its remix, "Simple and Clean -PLANITb Remix-" were later released as the B-side of her single Colors
Colors (Hikaru Utada song)
"Colors" is Hikaru Utada's 12th Japanese-language single , and is the only single she released in 2003. It was released on January 29, 2003 and debuted at #1 on the Oricon charts with 437,903 copies sold in the first week, and became her fifth single to perform the rare two-consecutive weeks at...
.
"Hikari" was performed during Utada's two date concert series Wild Life
Wild Life (concert)
WILD LIFE was Japanese-American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada's final concert tour before her scheduled hiatus from 2011. Performing only two dates at the Yokohama Arena, Japan on December 8 and 9 2010.-Set list:-Tickets:...
in December 2010.
Track listing
Music video
The music video (directed by Kazuaki KiriyaKazuaki Kiriya
, born April 20, 1968 in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, is a Japanese photographer and director of films and music videos. His birth name is .He made his feature film debut writing and directing the live action film adaptation of Casshern in 2004. In 2009, he wrote and directed his second film,...
) for "Hikari" is a simple one. Utada washes dishes, and enjoys a glass of water through its course. Utada, in an interview, explains how she enjoys washing dishes at home as well, which contributed to her making this music video.
- "Actually we were to shoot the PV of 'Hikari' with him (Kazuaki Kiriya) but it didn't come true due to his scheduling conflicts at the last moment and that's why we requested Kiriya urgently to shoot that dish-washing video." --Hikaru Utada
(They were able to reach Kazuaki Kiriya eventually, but they had no time to shoot a complex video.)
Reception
The single proved to be very popular. It hit #1 on OriconOricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
charts for a lengthy three weeks, selling 270,370 in its debut week. By August 2002, it had sold over 598,130 copies in Japan.
Charts
"Hikari" - OriconOricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
Sales Chart (Japan)
| Release | Chart | Peak Position | Sales Total | Chart Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2002 | Oricon Daily Singles Chart | 1 | ||
| Oricon Weekly Singles Chart | 1 | 598,130 copies | 13 | |
| Oricon Yearly Singles Chart | 10 |