Distance
Studio album by Utada Hikaru
Released	March 28, 2001
Recorded	1999-2000
Genre	J-Pop, R&B
Length	64:26
Label	EMI Music Japan
Producer	Utada Hikaru, Darkchild, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Akira Miyake, Teruzane Sking
Utada Hikaru chronology
First Love (1999) Distance (2001) Deep River (2002)
Singles from Distance
"Addicted To You" Released: November 10, 1999 "Wait & See ~Risk~" Released: April 19, 2000 "For You / Time Limit" Released: June 30, 2000 "Can You Keep a Secret?" Released: February 16, 2001

Distance is the second album released by Japanese pop singer Utada Hikaru, released in 2001 in direct competition with A BEST by rival Ayumi Hamasaki (see 2001 in music). A studio album is an original collection of new tracks by a recording artist also known by her fans as, is a Singer-songwriter, Arranger and Record producer in Japan. Events 37 - Roman Emperor Caligula accepts the titles of the Principate, entitled to him by the Senate. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other J-pop is an abbreviation of Japanese pop. It refers to Japanese popular musicians and was coined by the Japanese media to distinguish Japanese musicians from foreign musicians Contemporary R&B (also known as R&B, urban) is a Music genre of western Popular music (predominantly American and Canadian In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music (previous name, is one of Japan 's leading Music companies It became a wholly owned Subsidiary of British music company EMI Group in In the Music industry, a record producer or music producer has many roles among them controlling the recording sessions coaching and guiding the musicians organizing also known by her fans as, is a Singer-songwriter, Arranger and Record producer in Japan. Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins (born July 29 1977 in Pleasantville New Jersey) is a Grammy Award -winning Songwriter, James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III (born on June 6, 1959, in Minneapolis Minnesota) and Terry Steven Lewis (born also known by her fans as, is a Singer-songwriter, Arranger and Record producer in Japan. First Love is the official debut album by Hikaru Utada, released on March 10, 1999. Deep River is the third Japanese studio album (fourth overall released by Japanese pop star Hikaru Utada, released in 2002. Events 1444 - Battle of Varna: The crusading forces of King Vladislaus III of Varna (aka Ulaszlo I of Hungary and Wladyslaw Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) is a song by Hikaru Utada, released as her fifth Japanese language single (her sixth overall on April 19 2000 Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. was Utada Hikaru 's 6th Japanese-language single (8th overall released in June 30 2000. Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Can You Keep a Secret? is also a novel by Sophie Kinsella " Can You Keep A Secret? " is a song by Utada Hikaru, released Events 1249 - Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with the Khan of the Mongols Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. also known by her fans as, is a Singer-songwriter, Arranger and Record producer in Japan. A Best is a Greatest hits Album released by Ayumi Hamasaki on March 28 2001 is a Japanese Singer-songwriter and former Actress. Also called Ayu by her fans Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of Pop" due to her See also 2001 in music (UK Musical groups established in 2001 Record labels Distance is the 4th highest selling album in Japan with over 4. 46 million copies sold. ^[1] Moreover, with over 3 million copies sold in its debut week, it's has world's highest first-week sales of all time.

Track listing

1. Wait & See ~Risk~ (Wait & See ～リスク～, Wait & See ~Risuku~^?) – 4:48
2. Can You Keep a Secret? – 5:08
3. Distance – 5:30
4. Sunglasses (サングラス, Sangurasu^?) – 4:46
5. Drama (ドラマ, Dorama^?) – 4:36
6. Eternally – 4:45
7. Addicted to You (Up-In-Heaven Mix) – 5:19
8. For You – 5:22
9. Kettobase! (蹴っ飛ばせ!, Kettobase!^? lit. is a song by Hikaru Utada, released as her fifth Japanese language single (her sixth overall on April 19 2000 Can You Keep a Secret? is also a novel by Sophie Kinsella " Can You Keep A Secret? " is a song by Utada Hikaru, released " Addicted to You " is a song by Utada Hikaru, released as her fifth overall single (4th Japanese-language released on November 10 1999 was Utada Hikaru 's 6th Japanese-language single (8th overall released in June 30 2000. "Kick It!") – 4:31
10. Parody – 5:25
11. Time Limit (タイム・リミット, Taimu Rimitto^?) – 4:55
12. Kotoba ni Naranai Kimochi (言葉にならない気持ち, Kotoba ni Naranai Kimochi^? lit. was Utada Hikaru 's 6th Japanese-language single (8th overall released in June 30 2000. "Feelings That Can't Be Put to Words") – 5:03
13. Hayatochi-Remix (Bonus Track) – 4:10

Singles

The singles released from the "Distance" album would become the biggest hits of Utada's career in terms of physical sales. Every one sold at least a million units, earning a million certification from the "RIAJ" and making the Top 100 listing of best-selling singles in Japan, except "For You / Time Limit," which sold just under 900K (888,650 units). The Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ is an Industry trade group composed of Japanese corporations involved the Music industry. was Utada Hikaru 's 6th Japanese-language single (8th overall released in June 30 2000.

Charts

Distance - Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

Miscellanea

• All songs were written by Utada Hikaru. Events 1444 - Battle of Varna: The crusading forces of King Vladislaus III of Varna (aka Ulaszlo I of Hungary and Wladyslaw Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) " Addicted to You " is a song by Utada Hikaru, released as her fifth overall single (4th Japanese-language released on November 10 1999 Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. is a song by Hikaru Utada, released as her fifth Japanese language single (her sixth overall on April 19 2000 Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. was Utada Hikaru 's 6th Japanese-language single (8th overall released in June 30 2000. Events 1249 - Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with the Khan of the Mongols Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Can You Keep a Secret? is also a novel by Sophie Kinsella " Can You Keep A Secret? " is a song by Utada Hikaru, released 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 Events 37 - Roman Emperor Caligula accepts the titles of the Principate, entitled to him by the Senate. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Events 37 - Roman Emperor Caligula accepts the titles of the Principate, entitled to him by the Senate. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Events 37 - Roman Emperor Caligula accepts the titles of the Principate, entitled to him by the Senate. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar.
• "Distance" is unique in Utada's discography as her only album not to contain an interlude.
• The song "Distance" was re-arranged into a new single called "Final Distance" in memory of a fan who died in a school stabbing rampage. "Final Distance" is Hikaru Utada 's 8th Japanese-language single (10th overall and the 1st single on her Deep River album The Osaka School Massacre took place on June 8, 2001, at Ikeda Elementary School an elite primary school affiliated with Osaka Kyoiku University in
• Rodney Jerkins, famed producer who's worked with R&B artists like Toni Braxton, produced and rapped on "Time Limit. Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins (born July 29 1977 in Pleasantville New Jersey) is a Grammy Award -winning Songwriter, Toni Michelle Braxton (born October 7 1967 is an American Singer-songwriter, Contralto vocalist and actress. "
• American R&B songwriters Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis produced both Wait & See ~Risk~ and the UP-IN-HEAVEN mix of Addicted to You. James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III (born on June 6, 1959, in Minneapolis Minnesota) and Terry Steven Lewis (born is a song by Hikaru Utada, released as her fifth Japanese language single (her sixth overall on April 19 2000
• "Kotoba ni Naranai Kimochi"'s melody was originally introduced in the track "Interlude" found on the First Love album. First Love is the official debut album by Hikaru Utada, released on March 10, 1999. Due to time constraints, the song couldn't be finished on time.
• The "ri" on the song "Hayatochiri" (from the *"Wait & See ~Risk~" single) was removed, instead "Re" was replaced for the song remix, "Hayatochi-Remix". is a song by Hikaru Utada, released as her fifth Japanese language single (her sixth overall on April 19 2000

Rivalry and sales

Screencaps from the CM for "Distance". ("A BEST" shown)

In 2001, Utada Hikaru and Ayumi Hamasaki were the two biggest artists in the country. A Best is a Greatest hits Album released by Ayumi Hamasaki on March 28 2001 is a Japanese Singer-songwriter and former Actress. Also called Ayu by her fans Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of Pop" due to her Each artists' record company began fabricating a "feud" between these extremely popular J-divas. This feud reached its apex when Avex Trax, Ayumi Hamasaki's record label intentionally put her first greatest hits album, A Best, in direct competition with Utada's highly anticipated second album, Distance. A Best is a Greatest hits Album released by Ayumi Hamasaki on March 28 2001 Both albums were set for a March 28th release, and quickly tabloids began to document the tension between both artists. Although Ayumi has publicly stated in interviews that she was saddened by this record company-fueled rivalry and Hikaru has never shown ill feelings toward Ayumi, this rivalry has been regarded as one of the biggest rivalries in Japanese music history. Distance recorded the highest first week sales for any album ever released in Japan (and possibly worldwide for a solo artist) with just over 3,002,720 copies sold. A Best debuted right behind it at #2 with 2,900,000 in first week sales, the second highest first-week sales for an album in Japan. ^[2] Although "A Best" was certainly more aggressively promoted than "Distance," this album was nonetheless the follow-up to the best-selling album in Japan's history, Utada's debut "First Love," and therefore expectations and anticipation may have been more concentrated on it having there been a 2 year hiatus for it. By years end, both albums had sold over 4,000,000 copies and landed at the #1 and #2 position on the Oricon Albums year-end charts. According to Oricon, Distance is the 4th highest-selling Japanese album of all time and the highest selling Japanese album of the 21st century. 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

Notes and references