Exodus (Hikaru Utada album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2007)
Exodus
Studio album by Utada
Released September 8, 2004
(see release history)
Genre Pop, dance, R&B, ethereal wave, alternative, rock, electronica
Length 54:15,
65:00 (UK Version)
Label Island
Mercury, Universal
Producer Utada, Timbaland, Danja, Sking U
Utada chronology
Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 1
(2004)		 Exodus
(2004)		 Ultra Blue
(2006)
Alternative cover
UK album cover
Singles from Exodus
  1. "Easy Breezy"
    Released: August 3, 2004
  2. "Devil Inside"
    Released: September 14, 2004
  3. "Exodus '04"
    Released: June 21, 2005
Singles from Exodus (United Kingdom Version)
  1. "You Make Me Want to Be a Man"
    Released: October 17, 2005

Exodus (エキソドス Ekisodosu?) is the debut English language album by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Utada, released in 2004 by Island Records. It was released on September 9, 2004, in Japan, with a special booklet and housed in a cardboard slipcase. All of the Japanese translations were done by Hiroko Shintani (新谷洋子 Shintani Hirōko?), except for the song "Animato" which was translated by Utada herself. Utada stated that it had a certain feel to it that she wanted to bring across to her Japanese audience.

Exodus was released in North America nearly a month after it was released in Japan, on October 5, 2004, two months later in Brazil,[1] on November 17, 2004, and the UK version was released about a year after on September 26, 2005.

The tracks "Opening" and "Crossover Interlude" contain exactly the same lyrics, but are mixed differently. Even though "Opening" has vocals in the song, the lyrics aren't provided in the lyric booklet. The Hong Kong and Taiwan versions of the album contains lyrics for "Opening" in Chinese.

Only two Japanese words were used on the whole album: the words "konnichiwa" (こんにちは?) and "sayōnara" (さようなら?) are found in "Easy Breezy". Additionally, the words "Thank you for praying for my success" (成功祈ってくれてありがとう Seikou inotte kurete arigatou?) are written in the lyric booklet.

Exodus was re-released[2] on September 20, 2006 in Japan, under Universal International, parent company of Island Def Jam. This limited reissue retailed at ¥1470.

"Devil Inside", "Exodus '04", "You Make Me Want to Be a Man" and "Easy Breezy" debuted on American radio in April 2004, while on Japanese radio in June 2005 and on British radio in May 2006.

On February 23, 2005, Utada did a one-night-only showcase at the Skylight Studios, New York. There she sung a few songs from Exodus.[3]

The album sold a total of 1.5 million copies worldwide.

Contents

[edit] Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 3/5 stars[4]
MSN Music 3/5 stars[5]
Stylus Magazine (B)[6]
USA Today 3/4 stars[7]

Exodus is the largest debut selling foreign language album in Japanese history (debut with 523,761 units). It is the 247th best selling album of all time in Japan.[8]

Elton John stated that:

“ In terms of surprises, there's an interesting girl, Utada, who's a pop star in Japan and who released an album late last year called Exodus [Island]. It's really interesting dance and pop music. She could be the first Japanese recording artist to really make it in the West.[9] ”


However, the album was not that successful in the US, reaching #160 on the US Billboard 200 chart, and has sold in excess of 55,000 units in the territory according to Nielsen Soundscan.[10] It did, however, have more success in Japan. On September 8, 2004, Universal Music Japan shipped 1 million copies of the album, breaking a record that was held by Mariah Carey (she had sold 500,000).[11]

On her interviews in the United States while promoting This Is the One in 2009, when asked about Exodus, she said that she was "trying hard" on making the album and she added that "Exodus is an experimental album, and it was kind of album that doesn't really sell."[12]

[edit] Track listing

All songs written and composed by Utada, except "Exodus '04" and "Let Me Give You My Love" composed by Utada and Timbaland. 

No. Title Length
1. "Opening"   1:50
2. "Devil Inside"   3:58
3. "Exodus '04"   4:32
4. "The Workout"   4:01
5. "Easy Breezy"   4:03
6. "Tippy Toe"   4:15
7. "Hotel Lobby"   4:30
8. "Animato"   4:31
9. "Crossover Interlude"   1:18
10. "Kremlin Dusk"   5:14
11. "You Make Me Want to Be a Man"   4:37
12. "Wonder 'Bout" (remixed by Timbaland) 3:48
13. "Let Me Give You My Love"   3:38
14. "About Me"   4:00
UK Bonus Tracks
No. Title Length
15. "You Make Me Want to Be a Man (Bloodshy & Avant Mix)"   4:03
16. "You Make Me Want to Be a Man (Junior Jack Mix)"   6:44

[edit] Charts

Exodus (Japan) - Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

Release Chart Peak Position Debut Sales Sales Total Chart Run
September 8, 2004 Oricon Daily Albums Chart 1[13]
September 8, 2004 Oricon Weekly Albums Chart 1[14] 523,761 1,074,393 20
September 8, 2004 Oricon Yearly Albums Chart 6[15][16]

Exodus (U.S.) - Billboard Sales Chart (U.S.)

Release Chart Peak
position		 Sales Total
October 5, 2004 The Billboard 200 160
55,000
October 5, 2004 Top Heatseekers 5

[edit] Exodus singles - Billboard charts

Year Single Chart Peak
position
2004 "Devil Inside" Dance Radio Airplay 1
2004 "Devil Inside" Hot Singles Sales 57[17]
2004 "Devil Inside" Hot Dance Music/Club Play 30
2005 "Exodus '04" Hot Dance Music/Club Play 24

[edit] Release history

Country Date Distributing label
Japan September 8, 2004 Universal Music Japan
United States October 5, 2004 Island Records
Luxembourg October 5, 2004 Universal Music
Germany October 5, 2004
New Zealand October 14, 2004
Brazil November 17, 2004
United Kingdom September 26, 2005 Mercury Records
Worldwide October 5, 2004 Universal Music

[edit] Personnel

  • Hikaru Utada - vocals, writer, producer, programmer, acoustic guitar
  • Teruzane Utada/Skingg U - producer, guitar
  • T. Moseley / Timbaland - producer, writer, remixer
  • Goh Hotoda – recording, mixer
  • Mat Snedecor – engineer
  • Dan Bucchi – engineer
  • Brian Russel – engineer
  • Pat Woodward - engineer
  • Jason Dale – engineer
  • Patrick Magee – engineer
  • Pete Davis – programmer
  • Steve Sidelnyk – programmer
  • Bill Pettaway – production coordinator
  • Michael Evans - production coordinator
  • Yuko Honda – production coordinator
  • Jeff Gulob - guitar
  • Jon Theodore - drums
  • Bryan G. Russell - saxophone

[edit] References

  1. ^ Shin. "Universal Music lança Utada Hikaru no Brasil". jpop.com.br. http://www.jpop.com.br/noticias/noticia.php?id=46. Retrieved 5 May 2005. 
  2. ^ Utada - EXODUS ＜初回生産限定特別価格盤＞
  3. ^ popdirt. "Utada Showcase Performance in New York City". popdirt. http://popdirt.com/utada-showcase-performance-in-new-york-city/36934/. Retrieved 26 February 2005. 
  4. ^ AllMusic. "Exodus - Utada". AllMusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r712440. 
  5. ^ MSN Music. "Exodus [CD by Hikaru Utada"]. MSN Music. http://music.msn.com/music/album/hikaru-utada/exodus.1/. 
  6. ^ Carolan, Rob. "Utada - Exodus - Review". Stylus Magazine. http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=3685. Retrieved 09 January 2006. 
  7. ^ Gardner, Elysa. "Jimmy Eat World's 'Futures' lacks bite; Utada's techno-pop is toothsome". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2004-10-18-listen-up_x.htm. Retrieved 18 October 2004. 
  8. ^ Unknown. "歴代アルバムランキング TOP280". Music TV Program. http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2004-10-18-listen-up_x.htm. 
  9. ^ "Elton's tip sheet". Interview. February 2005. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1285/is_1_35/ai_n9474410. [dead link]
  10. ^ Schwartz, Rob. "Utada in 2/28 Billboard Magazine". U.Blog. http://blog.utada2.net/?p=1053#more-1053. Retrieved 25 February 2009. 
  11. ^ popdirt. "Utada's 'Exodus' Breaking Records". popdirt. http://popdirt.com/utadas-exodus-breaking-records/32711/. Retrieved 12 September 2004. 
  12. ^ popdirt. "Utada Reaches The Peak Of Her Pop-ness with 'This Is The One'". popdirt. http://popdirt.com/utada-reaches-the-peak-of-her-pop-ness-with-this-is-the-one/72112/. Retrieved 2 March 2009. 
  13. ^ Oricon. "Utada、2位以下を圧唐ｷる好スタート！". Oricon. http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/ranking/5081/. Retrieved 8 September 2004. 
  14. ^ Oricon. "Utadaが洋楽史上最高のスタートで首位！". Oricon. http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/ranking/5078/. Retrieved 14 September 2004. 
  15. ^ Unknown. "2004年間シングルランキング TOP100". Music TV Program. http://www.musictvprogram.com/corner-ranking-2004.html. 
  16. ^ "2004年の音楽". http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004%E5%B9%B4%E3%81%AE%E9%9F%B3%E6%A5%BD. 
  17. ^ Top Music Charts - Hot 100 - Billboard 200 - Music Genre Sales

[edit] External links

Hikaru Utada
Japanese-language studio albums
English-language studio albums
Compilation albums
Tours
Related articles
Hikaru Utada singles
Japanese singles
First Love
Distance
Deep River
Single Collection Vol. 1
Ultra Blue
Heart Station
Single Collection Vol. 2
English singles
Precious
Exodus
This Is the One
Non-album
Other songs
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Exodus_(Hikaru_Utada_album)&oldid=478622743"
Personal tools
Namespaces

Variants
Actions
Navigation
Interaction
Toolbox
Print/export
Languages