How do you feel about the upcoming hiatus?
 

Utada Hikaru's upcoming hiatus is obviously a very hot topic right now and it's pretty much the only thing being discussed in the Hikki thread at the moment. There's lots of mixed emotions from us fans... But I wanna know how the casual listeners and non-fans feel about the upcoming hiatus?

Just incase this is the first time you're hearing about it, Utada will release Single Collection Vol.2 this fall and it will contain 4-5 new songs. She also will be appearing in a new line of commercials and she mentioned "going full throttle" until the end of the year, although there's no official word if there will be anymore releases after Single Collection Vol.2. Starting in 2011, she'll take a 2-5 year hiatus. That means she won't be releasing anything until sometime between 2013 and 2016. It's quite a long time..

Now some people will say, so what? She takes long gaps of time in between releases anyway, but so far since her debut, she's released at least one single or album every year. So this is 2-5 years with NOTHING. Quite saddening, in my opinion. But I think she deserves it. She's cited wanting to pursue "human activities" instead of "artist activities" for the time period of the hiatus. The girl's been sucked up in the music industry since she was 13, so I really understand where she's coming from and wish her luck.

I'll anticipate her return greatly! She promised to come back! How about you?

She got me into J-Pop, so I'll always love her! I guess she does deserve this break, and I'll wait for her return. No matter how long it takes.

being a fan for 10 years I actually feel indifferent because I'm used to her releases patterns so
I guess it was about time she officially told her fans that she was taking a break.

I would never stop loving Hikki, she was the first Japanese artist I heard.
Her songs will never get old.

I kind of lost interest in her, so I'm fine with her hiatus.

I'll listen to her music again when she comes back anyways, so doesn't really matter to me :D

This thread needs an option like JPM's "That ***** is never coming back" lol

I think she's had enough time off already and I'm upset. (May or may not wait for her return.)

I think she's retiring and just letting her fans down easy. (Will be shocked if she returns at all.)

Well I'll wait, because I love her, but if she doesn't come back I'm okay because she has great timeless music :yes

I will be waiting for my Jpop queen to return and show them all how it's done :yes

Forever...and ever and ever and ever.

I have a feeling she will return, and when she does, she'll probably have another peak like Namie did when she returned, which would be great. I think she deserves time to just be herself. I will be waiting for her return, and hopefully she will come back stronger than ever!

Honestly I've barely been listening (if I do its only certain songs from only 3 albums) to her and I say I tie her with ayu as my top jpop artists for petty reasons just out of respect for her

It'll be like she never was gone...so I'm kinda indifferent I just hope whatever she releases next is lasting and amazing. Like UB and certain DR songs...HS was tiresome after a while. Not impactful enough. And TITO was whatever
So if she releases something impactful and amazing I'm sure the haitus will be better seeming
Hikki can have fun. At least she's choosing herself to go.

There's other artists/bands I'm more worried about and ill be more devastated without.

I just don't think ill miss her. But ill listen to her if she ever chooses to return. :)

This.

I'm actually a little surprised when I hear she's releasing something. She's worse than Namie. :laugh

But hey, I'm glad she's taking a break. We'll see if she comes back.

Lost interest a long time ago. Nothing to do with her though. I hope she does come back for her fans sake.

I agree with pommy48

I'll be waiting for her return, no doubt

First option.

She's not a music making machine. I can wait for a good album for a very long time, but if it never got out, I wouldn't be angry or anything. Sometimes things just doesn't swing your way. Then you need to let go. The long interval between her latest release and this announcement may frustrate most of her fans, and I understand that. But if you cant; you can't. Besides I have so many other musical interests, that losing this one for a while will not shake me as much, as it might do her bigger fans.

I don't quite understand how time can make people lose interest. Patience is one thing, but interest? I'd lose interest if Ayu started making country music only, but not if she started making an album only every 3-4 years.

I lost interest in her so I don't really care.
I just hope that her come-back song will great!

I'll be waiting. I'm waiting for other artists/groups, why I can't wait for one more person?

I'm just glad she decided to inform us and leave us with a parting gift XD

I hope she'll find whatever she's looking for. And I will listen to her again if she ever really comes back.

I'll be awaiting her return~ :)

I'll be waiting for her comeback, no doubt. :)

I never liked her anyway/lost interest in her already so I don't care. is the perfect option to explain how I feel. Honestly, I was never a true fan but there was a time when i did listen to one or two of her songs non-stop for a couple of days. But still, I never cared too much for her music.
This hiatus hasn't affected me too much since I had LITERALLY forgotten she existed these past few months...

I'm not sure whether she's gonna return, but if she does, it'll be interesting to see what kind of comeback she makes!

I never fell inlove with many of Utada's songs, apart from a few, but i have to admit
that Hikaru Utada was one of the artists that got me into j-pop and started my love for ayumi hamasaki
so nonetheless i will miss her, but i bet her compilation album will sell 1,000,000 + because people will go crazy buying it.
Hope she has a good time in her well deserved break.

I will be awaiting her epic return (at least I hope its epic lol)! I have 7 great albums from her to listen to until she comes back plus the new songs that will be on Single Collection Vol. 2.

I lost interest in hikki for a very long time already, she hadn't done anything for quite a long while, and now she is going on to an even longer hiatus... I think she just really wants to retire her singing career, so I'll be surprised if she returns at all. but if she does make a comeback, i'll definitely try her again :)

I lost interest in her already so I don't give a **** since looooooooong time ago

Maybe the ammount of new songs in her new single collection will be the ammount of years she'll be on hiatus? Thus, just listen to one of the new songs every next year, so that you trick yourself that you've got "new" songs while hikki was hybernating.:laugh

^LOL. Good idea! :laugh

She said she'd go on a 2-5 year hiatus... and there are supposed to be 4-5 new songs, so that could very well be a plan. xDD

I think she's had enough time off already and I'm upset. (May or may not wait for her return.)

I never liked her anyway/lost interest in her already so I don't care.

I think she just doesn't want to release an abum at this time ! it'll be so hard for that album to hit million or even 700k and i think it's just she doesn't want to see her abum sells so low ! she 'll come back when she know she 'll have chance to sell well !

"I might lose interest in her by the time she comes back..." It's sad to confess this but it's true. I'm sure I'll lose interest in her completely if she ever comes back anyway. :/

I'll await her return. I briefly lost interest in her during the break that we've already been going through (especially since I wasn't able to listen to her music) but I got back into her and now I'll wait for her for as long as she needs ^^ She deserves a break <3 Some time to herself <3

I'm not a big fan of her. If she releases something, then maybe I'll listen to it if I've got time. Otherwise, I don't really care. So this hiatus isn't that big of a deal.

Also, in terms of Western artists, there are periods about 2-5 years where they also don't release anything, and they (usually) come back with really great stuff.

LOL..it's not her lifetime break that worries me but the extra long break she'll take to finally release something after she announces her come back:ttongue:dark:bchuck:bgiggle:yes:lech

I've lost interest in her so I don't really care. If she does return and release something new, I'll listen.

I'm not a fan but there were a few songs from her that became my favorites.
So, I'll wait for her return and expect something great. :D

Lost interest in her awhile ago so whether she returns or not isn't anything to me.

what really worries me is the fact that 'I don't like her/don't really care' is closing in on the "we'll wait for your return!" option.

I was so sad when I heard the news.

But I'll be waiting for her return, no doubt.

What a year:
First HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR
Then MEG
Then Hikki
Then OLIVIA announced a best album and I thought she will retire.
I was like.. what the *******? Who's next? Base Ball Bear? flumpool? YUKI? BONNIE PINK? Perfume? LOL
Thank god OLIVIA is not leaving!!!

i still listen to her music but she hasn't had anything new in ages so i already felt like she was on a hiatus so i'm not really bothered. i'll listen to her new material if she comes back. lol i don't know which option to choose

No option fits my thoughts. And to be honest I think she acts absolutely unprofessional. Furthermore I have enough of these artists who always complain about theire job being an artist would be so hard that they need a break.

I have several points I want to point out:

1. It's simply her job being an artist. The only reason why she can permit herself taking a break is money. Most people on this planet work very hard for their money and will never have enough to go on hiatus for 2-5 years.

2. She is not the only one working hard. As metioned before most people work hard for their money and I think I'm right when I say that most people have to work a lot harder for their money than Utada has to work for her money.

3. She had chosen to be an artist by herself. She is one of those lucky people who can choose a job by themselfes absolutely free without any social borders or a certain educational achievement and earn also a lot of money with it.

4. Furthermore she is also one of those lucky people who could make her dreams come true by only making her job. Most people do something just to have a job and if they have fun by what they are doing isn't necessary as long as they earn money with it.

5. She wants to do 'human activities' instead of 'artist activities'. She wants to study and to travel. Again most people would like to do 'human activities' instead of 'working activities'. And this is an attitude by Utada which makes me really angry. For me it's like she would say 'As an artist my job is soooooooooo more hard than yours and of course it's no normal job! And it's also more important and of course I deserve it way more than you all to take a break'.

6. If she wants to take a break sure, why not. But please Utada, think more carefully about your reasons or don't point them out with this 'I'm holier-than-thou' feeling.

7. And to be honest again: I don't think she works hard. She had to pruduce 10 songs in one year (2008-2009). So she had more than one month time to make 1 song. That's really nothing for every other artist. Of course she always writes her own music and arranges it also, but for this amount of time it's nothing. And since 2009 she had 1 and a half year time to produce 4 or 5 songs, I don't know what to say about this really hard work.

8. And not to consider what an amount of money she must have earnt. To live with the financial safeness Utada can live most people can only dream off. So yeah, it's a really hard life for her with really hard work and of course with those problems and sorrows a normal human being has to bear.

9. In one point I agree with Utada: she really has to grow up. She has to grow up and to notice in what a dreamland she is living and that every human being has to handle private problems and sorrows. And that she has one big advantage: She will never have problems in her life like having no money or no job. She will never be absoluetly unhappy with her job and only make it to earn money for food and a home because she loves music and it's what she wants to do. That are problems or fears most people have to deal with in life - besides their private problems - and those people will never get the chance to take a break.

I agree with some of your points. But that's mostly on how people usually feel like "artists desrves these breaks after so much hard work". I'm a physician and as one, I have to be constantly studying and putting up with the latest science discovers. The responsibility I have when I examine a patient can sometimes be so much for me to bring the matters to think about them at home, after I've left my work place. I have to constantly be recycling my knowledge. There's just too much you have to learn. And you have to deal with people's bad humor, unfounded complaints, neurosis and also with the risks of getting infected or getting injured by a patient who's delusional or aggressive. Still, I don't feel like I deserve a 5 years break because my job is 'oh so stressing'. I know making songs is art, and you don't rush art, but if that's your job, I don't see how is it so sacrificing that you need to take lifetime breaks. Maybe hikki's human activities are jsutifiable in a way or another, but I don't feel like her music career break is something she "deserves" after all her "hard work". In other words, I just personally feel she's being a little irresponsible with career, but well, whatever floats people's boats. she does have the money to pursue her activities and put her career on hold anyways, os it's up to her. Doesn't mean either that I won't look forward to her releases when she finally decides to ocme back he he

THIS.

Why some people keep thinking she didn't work hard?
She compose, arrange, write, and even produce her music, she already put so much efforts for almost of every release. Also, her last PV, directed by herself, it's just more than efforts for me.

Even this radio interview almost tell everything :


If she didn't work that hard and money oriented, what about her decision to tell the fans that the fans shouldn't buy the Utada The Best album? She doesn't want her fans putting down money for something that her heart isn't in.

I'll be waiting for her return, no doubt.

I lost interest in her quite awhile ago. Even going to her concert earlier this year only reignited my former love for her for just one night. To be honest, she could retire for good at this point and I couldn't care less :\

I'll be waiting for her return, no doubt.

i admit i don't acre anymore about her but it's sad she's leaving..i believe anyway she won't ever release anything

I hated her This is one album, so I don't care that much, but I still like her old songs. I think she'll come back next year. And it will be difficult for her to become one of the best again. She'll may need change of style or something, just like Namie did.

No doubt, she's lost the battle to Ayumi XD

wtf are you blabbing about? Her albums have been outselling Ayu's since the dawn of time. Get your facts straight.

but where is she now? people started to lose interest in her, they may forget her at all if she doesn't come back ;)

I think it's you who'd better get facts straight. ayu's already broken the record as the best selling solo singer in Japanese history, so entirely she's outselled Hikki.

and you know, it's not all about the sales. just look how many albums Hikaru Utada has, how often did she appear on tv and magazines, how many tours she had. not that much as ayu, it's obvious. and who had lot of influence among japanese youngsters? definitely not hikaru!

We're on an ayu forum. Of course there are Ayu stans. :laugh

It's ok if you two have a difference of opinion but don't make it personal!

I agree with you! I'm not a fan of This is the One, and I prefer her Japanese works and older works, like Ultra Blue. (if you consider that old!)

I think Ayu is a more powerful force in the music industry, and a consistent force at that. My friends in Japan say that they see her quite often on magazine covers and she always releases a new album & single every year, as well as does CDL and Arena Tours. Even if she has lost a bit in popularity if you are counting that solely on sales, she is consistent. Utada was so hard for me to follow... there's giant information gaps and tours every once in a while, and albums with quite a while in between release..

Now having said this, I like Hikki. I discovered her before Ayu and fell in love with Ultra Blue. But it's frustrating to wait like 3 years in between albums..
Maybe she needs this break to "find herself" and her musical muse! I think she'll write some lyrics and things casually while taking her time off.

yes, if Utada constantly released one album per year and toured, she would probably be just one of the best. I mean, with her super musical skills she could do a lot of great things!

I'll be waiting for her return, no doubt.

Hikki is one of my favorite singers ever along with Ayu and Namie. Of course, Ayu's first :laugh but Hikki comes second.
When I knew she was going to retire I was soo sad, srsly. I grown up with her as well, although I always complaining because she wasn't super-duper fast as Ayu at releasing singles and albums :roflmao. Too spoiled because of Ayu, you know lol.
Well I've waited a year to get new stuff, I'll wait for just 4 more years then.

Thanks for stating the obvious, but we are all fully aware that ayu is the highest selling solo artist in Japan overall. No one is doubting that. What Polyrythm meant is despite that, Hikki has more studio albums sold than ayu (17,647,829 +/- vs. 15,775,927 +/-) but that will more than likely change since she is on hiatus. :yes

Despite the fact that Hikki is my favorite Japanese artist of all time, I'm basically touch and go in regard to her return. I feel this hiatus will benefit her and I will wait for her but I won't hold my breath.

I don't care.

I'll be waiting for her return, no doubt.

Although I do kinda think she already took enough time off already :/...but of course I'll always stay a loyal fan!

I'll be waiting for her return.

I won't lie, I was really disappointed. I was expecting an album or more singles after releasing HEART STATION for so long... then she comes back an announces hiatus. But I still consider her as one of my favorite artists and she was the reason why I got into Asian music. If that's her choice, well we can't do anything about it. I just hope this won't be a very long hiatus.

I'm still waiting for this lazy chick to get off her lazy butt and make some wig snatching music again.
Sakura Drops can only satiate the universe for so many years...

I was never a fan and lost interest a long time ago and don't really care here or there if she ever returns but will promise to give her a listen if she does. I just really disliked her album This Is The One, it's one of the worst ever made, worse than the Fifthy Shades of Grey soundtrack. Pretty much all Hikki stuff, except HEART STATION -album and her singles, are lame in my opinion, just not my style at all :shakehead