Seiko Matsuda

Seiko Matsuda

Seiko Matsuda (松田聖子, Matsuda Seiko, born Kamachi Noriko, 蒲池法子, on March 10, 1962) is a Japanese pop singer-songwriter.

Born in Kurume, Fukuoka, she rose to fame in 1980 as a teen idol, making her debut with the song "Hadashi no Kisetsu". Later in the same year, "Kaze wa Aki-iro" became the first of her 24 consecutive #1 hits in Japan.

Seiko used to hold the record for the most number 1 singles by a female singer (25 in all) until March 2006 when Ayumi Hamasaki's "Startin' / Born To Be..." reached number 1, making it her 26th single to top the charts. Nevertheless Seiko still holds the record of the most consecutive No.1 singles for a female artist, a record that she has been holding for two decades and not likely to be broken anytime soon (Ayumi has 17 consecutive number 1 singles as of September 2007).

Seiko is also the first one in j-pop history to have a single and an album debut at No.1 on Oricon Chart in the same week. In Nov 1984, Seiko released single 'Heart No Earring' and album 'Seiko Town' both reached No. 1. The next time it happened was 8.5 years later, and so far only seven (7) other artists had successfully topped the two major charts at the same time with new releases.

Seiko is also on the Top 3 list of Most No.1 albums, Most Top 10 singles and Most Top 10 albums. Widely recognised as one of the most influential artists in J-pop history, HMV Japan ranked her No. 10 Top Japanese Artist of All Time, and No. 7 Top Singer of All Time. Her unusual staying power gives her the title of "Forever Idol".

Nobody in Japanese history (including royalty, politicians and sports stars) got more news coverage than Seiko {Oya Soichi Library}. Controversial news about her personal life, as well as her resilient ability to bounce back from any scandals or set-backs, garnered extensive media attention.

She attempted to break into the North American market with an English-language, self-titled album in 1990. She scored a hit with "The Right Combination", a duet with boy band New Kids on the Block singer Donnie Wahlberg. Album sales were mediocre, however, and her follow-up Was it the Future failed to generate any significant sales. In 2002, Seiko's English dance hits 'All To You' and 'Just for Tonight' reached Billboard dance chart No. 8 and No. 2 respectively.

Sony released a deluxe box set for Seiko in July 2006. The box set contains 55 CDs, 860 songs cost 100,000 yen and has a play time of over 80 hours.

Seiko still holds annual concerts, Christmas dinner shows and New Year's Eve Countdown shows. Despite the high ticket prices (her dinner show tickets are the most expensive among female artists), she always performs to a sold out crowd.

Married to actor Masaki Kanda from 1985 to 1997, she has a daughter, herself a singer, who performs under the name SAYAKA.

In addition to music, her career includes appearances in television, film, commercials, and radio. Two books of photos of Matsuda, and two books about her, have been published.

In April 2007, the American radio program This American Life opened with a story of a journalist who, based on a story she wrote about Seiko posing nude in the U.S., was accused by the Japanese media of having an affair with Seiko, despite the journalist's strict heterosexuality and vociferous denials.

Discography

Singles

1. [1980.04.01] Hadashi no Kisetsu
2. [1980.07.01] Aoi Sangoshou
3. [1980.10.01] Kaze wa Aki Iro
4. [1981.01.21] Cherry Blossom
5. [1981.04.21] Natsu no Tobira
6. [1981.07.21] Shiroi Parasol
7. [1981.10.07] Kaze Tachi Nu
8. [1982.01.21] Akai Sweet Pea
9. [1982.04.21] Nagisa no Balcony
10. [1982.07.21] Komugi Iro no Mermaid
11. [1982.10.21] Nobara no Etude
12. [1983.02.03] Himitsu no Hanazono
13. [1983.04.27] Tengoku no Kiss
14. [1983.08.01] Glass no Ringo/SWEET MEMORIES
15. [1983.10.28] Hitomi wa Diamond
16. [1984.02.01] Rock'n Rouge
17. [1984.05.10] Jikan no Kuni no Alice
18. [1984.08.01] Pink no Mozart
19. [1984.11.01] Heart no Earing
20. [1985.01.30] Tenshi no Wink
21. [1985.05.09] Boy no Kisetsu
22. [1985.06.24] Dancing Shoes
23. [1987.04.22] Strawberry Time
24. [1987.11.06] Pearl-White Eve
25. [1988.04.14] Marakech~マラケッシュ～~
26. [1988.09.07] Tabidachi no Freesia
27. [1989.11.15] Precious Heart
28. [1990.07.15] The Right Combination duet with Donnie Wahlberg
29. [1990.10.xx] Who's that boy
30. [1990.11.21] We Are Love
31. [1992.02.05] Kitto, Mata Aeru
32. [1992.08.01] Anata no Subete ni Naritai
33. [1993.04.21] Taisetsu na Anata
34. [1993.05.21] A Touch of Destiny
35. [1993.11.10] Kakowareta, Ai jing
36. [1994.05.11] Mou Ichido, Hajime Kara
37. [1994.12.01] Kagayaita Kisetsu e Tabidatou
38. [1995.04.21] Suteki ni, Once again
39. [1996.04.22] Anata ni Aitakute~Missing You~
40. [1996.04.24] Let's Talk About It
41. [1996.05.17] I'll Be There For You duet with Robbie Nevil
42. [1996.11.18] Sayonara no Shunkan
43. [1997.04.23] Watashi Dake no Tenshi~Angel~
44. [1997.12.03] Gone with the rain
45. [1998.06.17] Koisuru Omoi~Fall in love~
46. [1998.11.26] Touch the Love
47. [1999.10.27] Kanashimi no Boat
48. [2000.05.17] 20th Party
49. [2000.06.07] Shanhai Love Song
50. [2000.06.14] Unseasonable Shore
51. [2000.09.27] True Love Story duet with Hiromi Go
52. [2000.11.29] The Sound of Fire
53. [2001.06.20] Anata Shika Mienai
54. [2001.11.14] Ai Ai~100% Pure Love~
55. [2002.06.05] Suteki na Ashita
56. [2003.06.04] Call me
57. [2004.05.26] Aitai
58. [2004.07.07] Smile on me duet with Takaaki Ishibashi
59. [2005.02.02] Eien Sae Kanji ta Yoru
60. [2005.08.24] I'll Fall In Love
61. [2005.09.21] Shiawase na Kimochi
62. [2006.04.26] Bless You
63. [2007.05.23] Namidaga Tada Koborerudake
64. [2007.08.01] Manatsu No YoNo Yume duet with Takashi Fujii
65. [2007.11.21] Christmas No Yoru

Albums

1. [1980.08.01] SQUALL
2. [1980.12.02] North Wind
3. [1981.05.21] Silhouette
4. [1981.10.21] Kazetachi nu
5. [1982.05.21] Pineapple
6. [1982.11.10] Candy
7. [1983.06.01] Utopia
8. [1983.12.10] Canary
9. [1984.06.10] Tinker Bell
10. [1984.12.08] Windy Shadow
11. [1985.06.05] The 9th Wave
12. [1985.08.15] Sound Of My Heart
13. [1986.06.01] SUPREME
14. [1987.05.16] Strawberry Time
15. [1988.05.11] Citron
16. [1989.05.21] Goya...Uta Detsudzuru Shougai
17. [1989.12.06] Precious Moment
18. [1990.06.07] SEIKO
19. [1990.12.10] We Are Love
20. [1991.05.02] Eternal
21. [1992.03.25] 1992 Nouvelle Vague
22. [1992.12.02] Sweet Memories '93
23. [1993.05.21] DIAMOND EXPRESSION
24. [1993.11.21] A Time for Love
25. [1994.06.12] Glorious Revolution
26. [1995.05.21] It's Style '95
27. [1996.05.27] Vanity Fair
28. [1996.05.14] Was It The Future
29. [1996.12.05] Guardian Angel
30. [1997.05.21] My Story
31. [1997.12.03] Sweetest Time
32. [1998.05.08] Forever
33. [1999.10.06] SEIKO MATSUDA: RE-MIXES
34. [1999.12.18] Eien no Shoujo
35. [2000.06.28] Seiko Matsuda: 20th Party
36. [2000.09.27] seiko remixes 2000
37. [2001.06.20] LOVE&MOTION VOL.1
38. [2001.11.28] LOVE&MOTION VOL.2
39. [2002.06.21] area62
40. [2004.06.09] Sunshine
41. [2005.04.06] fairy
42. [2005.12.07] Under the beautiful stars
43. [2006.05.31] bless you
44. [2006.12.06] Eternal II
45. [2007.06.06] Baby's Breath

Compilations

1. [1981.11.01] Seiko・fragrance
2. [1982.07.01] Seiko・index
3. [1982.12.05] Kin Iro no Ribbon
4. [1983.11.11] Seiko・plaza
5. [1984.03.15] Touch Me, Seiko
6. [1984.11.01] SEIKO・TOWN
7. [1984.11.21] Seiko・Avenue
8. [1985.03.06] Seiko-Train
9. [1985.11.10] Seiko・Box
10. [1986.11.21] LOVE BALLADE
11. [1987.11.21] Snow Garden
12. [1988.07.21] Seiko Monument
13. [1991.11.21] Christmas Tree
14. [1991.12.01] Bible
15. [1994.12.01] Bible II
16. [1996.03.01] Bible III
17. [1996.09.21] Complete Bible
18. [1996.11.01] Winter Tales
19. [1997.06.21] Seaside~Summer Tales
20. [1997.11.21] Dear
21. [1998.07.18] Seiko Celebration
22. [1998.11.30] Seiko '96-'98
23. [1999.04.01] Ballad-20th Anniversary
24. [2000.11.29] LOVE (Seiko Matsuda 20th Anniversary Best Selection)
25. [2000.07.05] SEIKO SUITE
26. [2003.11.27] Another side of Seiko 27
27. [2004.04.14] Best of Best 27
28. [2005.01.26] Seiko Smile (Seiko Matsuda 25th Anniversary Best Selection)

Soundtracks

1. [1981.08.08] Nogiku no Haka
2. [1983.07.01] Purumeria no Densetsu
3. [1984.07.07] Natsufuku no Ivu
4. [1985.05.03] Karibu. Ai no Symphony
5. [1985.06.21] Penginzu Memory (Koufuku Monogatari)
6. [1996.05.17] Surrogate Mother (I'll Be There For You duet with Robbie Nevil)

US release

• Album:

1. 1990 Seiko
2. 1996 Was It The Future
3. 2002 Area62

• Single:

1. 1990 The Right Combination duet with Donnie Wahlberg (Billboard Top100 #56)
2. 1991 All The Way To Heaven (Europe only)
3. 1991 Who's That Boy (Promotion only)
4. 1996 Let's Talk About It
5. 1996 Good For You (Billboard Dance/Club Play #37)
6. 2002 All To You (Billboard Dance/Club Play #19)
7. 2002 Just For Tonight (Billboard Dance/Club Play #15)

Taiwan release

• Album

1. 2005 I'll Fall In Love: 愛的禮物

Further reading

• "Matsuda, Seiko" in The Encyclopedia of Japanese Pop Culture. Schilling, Mark. New York: Weatherhill, 1997. ISBN 0834803801.

External links

• Official Website
• Sony Music public site Template:Ja icon
• Universal Music public site Template:Ja icon
• HMV Japan - Top 100 Japanese pop artists Template:Ja icon