Heart Station/Stay Gold

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“Heart Station / Stay Gold”
“Heart Station / Stay Gold” cover
Single by Utada Hikaru
from the album Heart Station
Released February 20, 2008
Format CD
Genre J-Pop
Label EMI Music Japan
Writer(s) Utada Hikaru
Utada Hikaru singles chronology
"Beautiful World / Kiss & Cry"
(2007)		 "Heart Station / Stay Gold"
(2008)		 "Prisoner of Love"
(2008)

"Heart Station/Stay Gold" is Utada Hikaru's 20th Japanese single (28th single overall). The single was released on February 20th, 2008, her first for 2008 with its first pressings featuring an official "Heart Station" sticker. "Stay Gold" debuted to radio on January 7, 2008, and on Recochoku download formats back in December 7 of 2007. 'Heart Station' debuted just two weeks post for Chaku-Uta Ringtone downloads on January 21, 2008, as well as for radio airplay[1][2].

Contents

[edit] Promotional efforts and tie-ins

"Stay Gold" was featured in Kao's Asience late 2007 "Prism Hair" Shampoo CM's[3][4]. A brand new 2008 CM (with a narrative and more cinematic presentation) begun airing on February 29, 2007 featuring the same song[5].

"Heart Station" will be the 2008 commercial song for Recochoku.[6] The "Heart Station" Recochoku CM began airing on 12p.m. January 25, 2008 in Japan and features original footage and imagery of Utada shot last year in December 2007[7]. The video, entitled "PON PON Kumachan," became available for download according to her Japanese site on the same day[8]. On January 26, 2008, her official Japanese site launched a special "Heart Station" website with the single's information as well as blog parts to place the "PON PON KUMACHAN" video on fan's blogs. There are also links to several radio stations across Japan, presumably some promotional agreement between "Heart Station" and various FM channels, with some boasting individual "Heart Station" stickers, indicating each as a "special" Heart Station[9]. The "flying" date of the single's release, February 19, 2008, caused some Japanese-resident purchasers to not only receive the first press edition grid of stickers, but also a bottle of ASCIENCE shampoo at some CD MAXI shops (the tie-in product of "Stay Gold")[10]. The single debuted at #2 with 14,882 units sold its first 24 hours.

[edit] Heart Station Music Video

On February 1, 2008, Space Shower TV officially stated that Utada’s “Heart Station” music video will be directed by Japanese videographer Muto Masashi who has work with many popular artists. [11] The video premiered on February 4, 2008 on VMC's Juke Box Japan.[12] The full video indeed aired in Japan and made its way onto the internet across multiple sites and formats (most notably YouTube) on February 4, 2008[13]. It has received positive reviews from most fans, as Utada actually appears in this PV throughout for the first time in a PV since 2007's "Flavor Of Life -Ballad Version-". Many fans have said that her eye movements are the true hidden meanings and is what makes this PV so mysterious, but others have deemed it as boring, likening it to the negative responses of Hikari, which also lacked the impressive special effects and aesthetics of the other Hikaru/Kazuaki video collaborations.[citation needed]

The video features Utada, simply attired in a white top, jeans, and white headphones, singing on a train filled with black-clad, mysterious people until she arrives at her destination(presumably the director's reference to another form of "Heart Station"). Less noticeable elements that relate to the song include the track lights that follow a heartbeat-like pulse as the train travels along. Also, when the video is shown in a first-person perspective of the viewer, the people appear to be pitch black but whenever it switches to Utada's perspective, us seeing through Utada's eyes, we see the passengers in full color.

The PV has reigned at #1 for five weeks thus far (from February 15, 2008-March 21, 2008) on the prestigous Space Shower TV music video channel's Original Chart[14].

[edit] Radio and Digital Statistics

For the week of February 10, 2008, after debuting only about three weeks earlier at #40, "Heart Station" hit the top of J-Wave's Tokio Hot 100 Single Airplay chart and has so far, as of March 3, 2008, has been at that peak for three non-consecutive weeks[15] and would later reach the #1 apex for the week of February 24, 2008 on FM Osaka 851's Top 100 songs and later Kiss FM Kobe's Hot 40 and Toyama's Top 50 Countdown. As of March 8, 2008, it's still charting well in the 10 or 5 of most all Japanese radio rankings. It also debuted at #1 on the HOT EXPRESS' Daily FM chart (on March 1, 2008, it would also again be at #1 for the second consecutive week[16]) and #4 on the Chaku-Uta All chart (which the song has a tie-in with)[17]. On March 1, 2008, HEART STATION would be #2 on the newly created Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, higher than its #3 debut on the Oricon Singles chart due to the fact its considerable airplay records were also accounted[18]. It has been #1 on the Billboard Japan Airplay Charts for 2 weeks as of March 5, 2008[19]. It has also been #1 on Hot Express' Weekly FM chart for three weeks thus far. [20] According to a new Livedoor article, Utada’s latest single, “HEART STATION,” was the most played song on Japanese radio in the month of February. The song recorded 1,064 plays, the only song to cross the one thousand threshold that month. This also brings the monthly total airplay above her own previous record month of 1,037 plays for 2002’s smash hit “Traveling[21][22].” Oricon released their weekly NINKI chart on March 14, 2008, and Utada’s “HEART STATION” came in easily at #1. The NINKI chart does not reflect predicted sales, but gave an indication of the level of interest within the general Japanese public.[23]

"Stay Gold" was downloaded just over 250,000 times by the end of the December 2007 month, meaning it was the fourth in the monthly rankings for RIAJ's Chaku-Uta Ringtones[24]. It had its greatest success at radio for debuting at #1 on Hot Express' Daily FM chart for the week it debuted, and reaching a high #7 on the Tokio Hot 100 Singles Airplay chart, but rather quickly descended most radio rankings it had peaked mostly in the Top 3, 20 or 40 of after achieving the latter peak, somewhat akin to "Kiss & Cry."The physical single shot straight onto iTunes Japan Albums download chart at #2 the same day it was released while the two A-sides "Heart Station" & "Stay Gold" debuted back-to-back in the Top 3 of Itunes Japan Top Songs at #2 and #3 respectively.

[edit] Tracklist

  1. "Heart Station"
  2. "Stay Gold"
  3. "Heart Station -Original Karaoke-"
  4. "Stay Gold -Original Karaoke-"

[edit] Charts

Release Chart Peak Position First Week Sales Sales Total Chart Run
February 20,2008 Oricon Daily Singles Chart #2
February 20,2008 Oricon Weekly Singles Chart #3 48,430 76,762* 11 weeks*
February 20,2008 Oricon Monthly Singles Chart #13
February 20,2008 Oricon Yearly Singles Chart

For more detailed listings and rankings of Heart Station/Stay Gold's sales, visit the ThePPN:Heart Station / Stay Gold.

[edit] Billboard (Japan)

Release Chart Peak Position Sales Total Chart Run
February 20, 2008 Billboard Japan Hot 100 #2 N/A N/A
February 20, 2008 Billboard Japan Airplay Charts #1(2 weeks) N/A N/A
February 20, 2008 Billboard Japan Hot Singles Chart #3 N/A N/A

[edit] Japanese Digital Sales charts

Chart Peak
position
iTunes Japan Top Songs #1 (Heart Station) / #3 (Stay Gold)
iTunes Japan Plus N/A
iTunes Japan Top Albums* #1
Recochoku Chaku-Uta Downloads[25] #4 (Heart Station)/ #1(Stay Gold)
Recochoku Chaku-Uta Full[26] #4 (Heart Station) / #13 (Stay Gold)
Recochoku Chaku-Uta Melody[27] #1(Heart Station) / #1(Stay Gold)
Recochoku Chaku-Uta All[28] #4 (Heart Station)/ #3 (Stay Gold)
Oricon Mobile Full-Song[29] #2 (Stay Gold)/ #1 (Heart Station)
Mu-mo Song Download Chart[30] #2 (Stay Gold) / #2 (Heart Station)
Dwango Truetone Ringtones (Chaku Uta)[31] #4 (Heart Station) / #8 (Stay Gold)
Dwango Polyphonic Ringtones (Chaku Mero)[32] #2 (Heart Station) / #7 (Stay Gold)

[edit] Japanese Airplay Charts

Chart Peak
position
81.3 FM J-Wave Tokio Hot 100[33] #1 (Heart Station) / #7 (Stay Gold)
MTV Japanese Chart Express[34] #2 (Heart Station)
CDTV Top 100[35] #3 (Heart Station/Stay Gold)
ZIP FM Hot 100 (Nagoya)[36] #6 (Heart Station) / #40 (Stay Gold)
Osakan Hot 100 (Osaka)[37] #1(Heart Station) / #3 (Stay Gold)
Kiss FM Kobe Hot 40[38] #1 (Heart Station)/ #3 (Stay Gold)
FM Osaka 851[39] #1 (Heart Station) / #3 (Stay Gold)
Toyama Countdown Top 50[40] #1 (Heart Station) / #22 (Stay Gold)
MUSIC LOUNGE Japanese Radio[41] #3 (Heart Station) / #19 (Stay Gold)
Hot Express Daily FM Chart for 2/13/08 (also 3/1/08) & 1/07/08 #1 (Heart Station)/ #1 (Stay Gold)
Hot Express Weekly FM Chart #1~3 weeks~ (Heart Station)[42][43]
Space Shower TV Original PV Chart #1~5 weeks~ (Heart Station)

[edit] TV Promotional Performances[44]

On January 31st, 2008, several Japanese media sources announced that EMI was contacting potential audience members for her Fuji T.V. HEY!HEY!HEY! performance, set to be recorded on February 10, 2008 with the actual airing date on the 18th[45]. Although it was originally purported that Utada would perform both A-Sides from this single at all the T.V. Venues, it has been reported that only "Heart Station" would be sung at TV Asahi's Music Station[46]. The TBS Utaban episode promoting "Heart Station/Stay Gold" was shot in Japan February 12, 2008 according to one of Utada's blog messages[47][48]. This would be the lone TV performance of "Stay Gold," according to the Japanese TV magazine, with all the others going to the single's other A-side, "Heart Station[49]."

In all of her performances of Heart Station, Utada has featured prominent ad-libbing in the beginning of the song and in the ending, in which she sings variations of the line, "This is from the bottom of my heart," twice. It is unknown if she will continue this pattern in future performances.

  1. 02.18 - Fuji TV HEY!HEY!HEY! - Heart Station
  2. 02.22 - TV Asahi Music Station - Heart Station
  3. 02.22 - Nihon TV Music Fighter - Heart Station
  4. 02.23 - TBS CDTV - Heart Station
  5. 02.28 - TBS Utaban - Stay Gold

[edit] HEART STATION/Stay Gold Magazine Promotional Schedule

発売日　　　雑誌名

  1. 1月17日(木)　ぴあ
  2. 2月 4日(月)　Gyao Magazine
  3. 2月 7日(木)　steady.
  4. 2月 9日(土)　PATIPATI
  5. 2月12日(木)　U-SIDE（※WEB)＜2/20追加
  6. 2月13日(水)　ＴＶ LIFE
  7. 2月13日(水)　TVぴあ＜1/28追加
  8. 2月14日(木)　CDでーた
  9. 2月14日(木)　ワッツイン
  10. 2月15日(金)　月刊ソングス
  11. 2月15日(金)　BIGLOBE（※WEB)＜2/20追加
  12. 2月20日(水)　TOWER
  13. 2月20日(水)　VA
  14. 2月20日(水)　TSUTAYA CLUB MAGAZINE＜1/28追加
  15. 2月20日(水)　oricon style（※WEB)＜2/20追加
  16. 2月20日(水)　goo音楽（※WEB)＜2/20追加
  17. 2月20日(水)　MUSICO（※WEB)＜2/20追加
  18. 2月20日(水)　MySound（※WEB)＜2/20追加
  19. 2月20日(水)　listen japan（※WEB)＜2/20追加
  20. 2月20日(水)　AOL（※WEB)＜2/20追加
  21. 2月20日(水)　au one ミュージック＜2/20追加
  22. 2月21日(木)　デジタルオーディオファン
  23. 2月21日(木)　MSN（※WEB)＜2/20追加
  24. 2月22日(金)　ORICON STYLE(雑誌）
  25. 2月23日(土)　月刊歌謡曲
  26. 2月23日(土)　Ray ＜1/18追加
  27. 2月24日(日)　TV navi
  28. 2月24日(日)　Invitation＜1/28追加
  29. 2月25日(月)　Music Master
  30. 2月25日(月)　スカパー！ガイド＜1/28追加
  31. 3月 1日(土)　ポップティーン

[edit] References

  1. ^ U.Blog » “HEART STATION” Chaku-Uta 01.21
  2. ^ U.Blog » “HEART STATION” Airs on Radio 01.21
  3. ^ YouTube - Broadcast Yourself
  4. ^ Hikki's WEB SITE
  5. ^ http://www.kao.co.jp/asience/special/movie/
  6. ^ Hikki's WEB SITE
  7. ^ U.Blog » “HEART STATION” Recochoku CM O.A. 01.25
  8. ^ U.Blog » “PON PON Kumachan” Video for Download
  9. ^ 宇多田ヒカル 「Heart Station」Special Site
  10. ^ U.Blog » “HEART STATION/Stay Gold” On Sale Now
  11. ^ Space Shower Tv｜スペースシャワーTv｜Music Video Search
  12. ^ Space Shower Tv｜スペースシャワーTv｜Music Video Search
  13. ^ U.Blog » “Heart Station” Full Pv
  14. ^ Space Shower Tv｜スペースシャワーTv｜Original Chart
  15. ^ U.Blog » U.Bit: Utada @ HEY!3, HS on J-Wave Hot 100
  16. ^ WEEKLY AIRPLAY CHART TOP5 / 音楽情報サイト:hotexpress
  17. ^ 社団法人 日本レコード協会｜各種統計
  18. ^ ビルボードジャパン ホット100 - Billboard（ビルボード） - TSUTAYA online
  19. ^ ビルボードジャパン ホット100エアプレイ - Billboard（ビルボード） - TSUTAYA online
  20. ^ WEEKLY AIRPLAY CHART TOP5 / 音楽情報サイト:hotexpress
  21. ^ U.Blog » “HEART STATION” Monthly Airplay; Utada Bests Record
  22. ^ livedoor ニュース - 宇多田ヒカル、着うた無料DL第2弾は「First Love」
  23. ^ U.Blog » U.Bits: “First Love” Downloads, NINKI, Nick Awards
  24. ^ 社団法人 日本レコード協会｜各種統計
  25. ^ 「着うたフル®」・「着うた®」なら「レコ直♪」 - 「着うた®」ダウンロードランキング
  26. ^ 「着うたフル®」・「着うた®」なら「レコ直♪」 - 「着うたフル®」ダウンロードランキング
  27. ^ 「着うたフル®」・「着うた®」なら「レコ直♪」 - 着信メロディダウンロードランキング
  28. ^ 「着うたフル®」・「着うた®」なら「レコ直♪」 - トータルダウンロードランキング
  29. ^ 着うた(R)/着うたフル(R)/着信メロディ 無料・先行・最新楽曲が充実のオリコン・モバイル
  30. ^ 着うた(R)/着うたフル(R)/着信メロディ 無料・先行・最新楽曲が充実のオリコン・モバイル
  31. ^ dwango.jp | TOP | 着うたフル(R)＆着うた(R)無料検索
  32. ^ dwango.jp | TOP | 着うたフル(R)＆着うた(R)無料検索
  33. ^ 81.3 FM J-WAVE : TOKIO HOT 100
  34. ^ http://www.mtvjapan.com/tv/program/rg_worldchartexpress_1.html
  35. ^ CDTV
  36. ^ ZIP-FM 77.8
  37. ^ FM802
  38. ^ Kiss-FM KOBE [Hit Chart]
  39. ^ fmosaka.net〜FM OSAKA〜
  40. ^ TOYAMA COUNTDOWN TOP50 | FMとやま
  41. ^ Music Lounge リクエストチャート
  42. ^ U.Blog » FM Airplay: “HS” 3 Weeks at #1
  43. ^ WEEKLY AIRPLAY CHART TOP5 / 音楽情報サイト:hotexpress
  44. ^ U.Blog » “HEART STATION/Stay Gold” TV Schedule
  45. ^ U.Blog » HEY!x3 Taping Date: 02.10
  46. ^ U.Blog » “HEART STATION” @ 02.22 Music Station
  47. ^ U.Blog » Utada: Utaban filmed 02.12
  48. ^ U3MUSIC INC
  49. ^ U.Blog » “Stay Gold” Performance @ Utaban
v • d • e
Hikaru Utada
Japanese studio albums
English studio albums
Compilations
Singles
Related articles
Languages