Entrance to the festival
I loved to attend the 30th edition of the Tanabata Matsuri last year, which also celebrated the 100 years of Japanese immigration to Brazil, but we weren’t able to stay for too long and enjoy all that the festival had to offer, so this year, I wanted to bring my friends, and Sofy came with me!
We decided to attend the festival on the 12th, the day when HEART STATION completes its second anniversary. It was a lot better because the festival started on Saturday, so it was basically already initiated and we got to enjoy it more!
Bamboo charged with wishes
We arrived at the other end of the festival this time, behind the stage, and we walked through the tents to check out what they were selling while looking for some Japanese food. There were many gift shops around us, full of little Japanese goodies that ranged from traditional to just contemporary and adorable. We looked around for a while before we got to the sushi booth. We ordered some hot rolls and california rolls for us and after we were done eating, decided that it’s time for that yearly wish that we hang up on the bamboos distributed through Liberdade. Sofy and I went for the yellow scroll (Meaning money), and wished for success, money, and I wished for happiness as well. After some time trying to figure out what to write and how to write Mega-sena (I ended up telling Sofy it was written ‘Mega-cena’), we went to look for a bamboo to hang them up, and we decided to put them up in the bamboo with the most wishes because we figured it’d give our wishes more energy from the other wishes… If they’re getting granted, ours better be granted too!
Beautiful balloons decorated the whole festival
We went to a Chinese restaurant for lunch. The waitress basically attacked us with her eyes when my father was oblivious to the fact that it was a Chinese restaurant and asked for sushi. She looked really mad and she wasn’t even Chinese… She had a bit of an attitude, but she was fun. I felt embarrassed that my parents had no idea it was a Chinese restaurant and kept asking for Japanese food. The name of the restaurant was Shanghai! Of course they’d only serve Chinese food. We wandered around some more, looking at the little booths that covered the streets and it was a lot of fun because everything was really simple but very cute and adorable. We reached the stage again, and stood there, listening to the band that was playing. They had performed two songs and I had this feeling that I’d be listening to some
Man watching the show through his window
Utada soon because it is a Japanese festival. After they were done, the man took the microphone and said that they’d be performing a beautiful ballad. I already took out my camera and waited for them to start First Love. He said that the ballad was broadcasted several times in Brazil, and I remembered this from my research for Utada’s fanbook, so I was already jumping up and down. When he said First Love, I told everyone to start filming and filmed it myself as well. It was beautiful and I was so happy that they performed an Utada song! People were even watching the performance from their homes.
After the dose of Utada that was so happily injected into our ears, we went to look for little gifts for our friends who unfortunately, couldn’t be there. We returned to the little gift shop we were liked and I bought gifts for Cary, Chris, JUNIOR and Rapha-cat. 3 out of the 4, I’m going to have to ship off because Chris, JUNIOR and Rapha-cat live far from me, but I hope they appreciate what I bought them!
The weather was so good yesterday and we had so much fun. When we were leaving, I took my time to photograph 3 balloons that reminded me of JUNIOR’s famous quote, “eu gosto de estrelas”! (“I like stars”) In the car, ready to go home, we drove by a really odd church that seemed to be more of a gay pride church and a shop very much in the mood for HEART STATION’s second anniversary because it’s called Station! Here are the three masterpieces that caught our eyes while we left the city of São Paulo:
"Eu gosto de estrelas" - JUNIOR
Pride church
"Station" Shop
We had a lot of fun, and I got to read some really sweet comments about HEART STATION’s second anniversary when I got home. It was great to spend time with Sofy and the festival was delicious, beautiful and certainly inviting us to join in once again next year! Hopefully with a much bigger group!
Please, Go Ahead And Faint
Come Back To Me Intro
Apple And Cinnamon + Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
The crowd was screaming and everyone turned to the door at the back. It opened, and a bodyguard came out, then, after some more people, I could see the perfect figure of a cute little Asian girl with perfect skin and perfectly trimmed hair, glowing with her beautiful smile! U-TADA! U-TADA! She passed by me, with only a shelf separating us. I thought I was going to faint. Everything was so surreal. The Japanese superstar that I admired for so long was standing in front of me. She got up on stage and it was time for some interviews, fan questions, and Me Muero!
Utada's Entrance
U-TADA!
Me Muero
Utada’s Feeelings Towards Being Compared To Mariah
Utada’s View On Twitter
When you acquire a bracelet for the event, you also get a raffle ticket and you get the chance of winning 500 dollars of Sephora store credit. Utada was reading out the winner ticket and the number was 340052. I had 340060 and my father had 340050. I was so excited and when my father showed me his ticket, I wanted to turn back time to get that ticket! It could’ve been me shaking Utada’s hand and taking pictures with her. She was advised not take pictures and to not sign anything, so this only made it harder for me.
Some questions were quite amusing, like this one guy who said “Um… um… I LOVE YOU!” what a great question that is! Another fan was a bit more ambicious and asked “WILL YOU MARRY ME?!” Utada’s answer to that was that she got divorced a couple years ago so she’s going to wait a couple more before she decides to get married again.
You’re A Goddess, Utada!
Utada Speaking Japanese
Utada spent some time talking to the hostess and the fans and I was just mesmerized by her beauty! Her skin was truly flawless, her hairstyle, impeccable and everything about her was just amazing! I couldn’t believe that I was really in the same room as Utada! During the fan Q&A, I kept waving the fanbook up into the air, and I think it grabbed Utada’s attention and the hostess’ attention, but they didn’t say anything and picked people closer to the stage to ask her questions. I wasn’t picked because I was in the middle of the crowd, but if she had picked me I’d say “Utada, we made this fanbook for you all the way from Brazil and I’d like to know if you’d like to have it!” or something like this.
It was all really quick and suddenly, the hostess asks Utada to say her last words for the fans. I couldn’t believe it was ending so early… I thought the event was going to be at least one hour long, like the advertisement said, but it was maybe 20-30 minutes long. Probably because she needed to record her appearance at the Early Show. When she was walking back, all the fans locked outside started to slam against the door and all I could see were hands and flashes coming from that direction. It was pretty scary. All fans standing behind the same shelf as I was started waving albums and papers for Utada to sign, and I was waving the book. I guess I had an advantage because I was taller. Utada was waving at everyone, and looking at the shelf full of her items. When she saw the book, she stopped, a little confused and looked at the security people around her. She was looking at me and I was waving the book at her as for her to come near so I can give it to her. She looked a bit stunned as she came nearer and asked
Is this for me?
and I was shouting
It’s from Brazil!
but she didn’t seem to understand with all the fans screaming, even though I repeated it a few times, but then she took it and said
Thank you!
she looked beside me at a fan who wanted her to sign an album for him, so she did, even though she was advised not to. She’s so adorable. She then left with her red Sharpie and our Brazilian fanbook, kind of confused and thankful… and so beautiful.
Utada with our fanbook and a fan's Sharpie!
Utada signing a fan's album while holding our fanbook!
Utada’s Goodbye + Fanbook Delivery
After Utada had left, the lady in charge of the event was handing out signed Utada pictures to us. There was plenty to go around and my father and I each got one! I’m the proud owner of not one, but two pictures singed by Utada! I couldn’t be happier! We got to talk a little, which was really cute and I loved to share that moment with her! To think that she stopped just to get our fanbook! She’s the best. The trip to Miami was completely worth it and tomorrow I’m coming back to Brazil to show everyone how incredible Utada is!
Autographs + raffle ticket
I LOVE YOU, UTADA!
I came back from Utada’s Miami event a few hours ago and I feel so honored! I got there at 12 to get my bracelet and then left for the apartment to return when the event started. I met some really cool fans in line who were going to several wild parties… Which was kind of weird, but they were helping me out to get the bracelet, which was really nice of them! My father was parking the car, so he got his bracelet later. I met some really friendly people in line who liked the Brazilian fanbook I brought for Hikki:
Front and back of our Brazilian fanbook!
The introduction to our fanbook
Utada banner at the entrance of Sephora
Fans waiting to get their bracelets
The lady handing out bracelets advised getting there before 6:30 because it’s when the store opens its doors to the bracelet-wearing fans and after everyone’s in, the people without bracelets can come in. My father and I got there at 6.
He left me in line to park the car and come back. He forgot the fanbook made by us over at Utada.com.br in the car, so he had to run back to the parking lot and bring it to me. When he returned, the fanbook drew quite a bit attention yet again and one of the people in line thought I should just go in because I came from so far away! Imagine his surprise when I said I came from Brazil after he was discussing that people from New York were coming to Miami for this event. After some time talking and making fan bonds, the line started to grow and more fans were coming:
Ahead, the line to get in Sephora
The back of the line to get into Sephora
Some promotion of "This Is The One" for the fans!
The people were really sweet and supporting of my difficult mission. My father and I stayed in line for a while, wondering if they would favor bracelet-wearing people over the braceletless ones, and kept a close watch of the line. The really nice man behind us (To whom I explained about the book) said that we should go to the front of the line and explain it all. That’s we were doing when people started coming in. They were favoring the magical little yellow bracelets we kept wrapped around our arms, afterall! Really excited with the loud music and the rush of getting near the stage, we came into the store.
There wasn’t a way for us to directly go to the stage, across the store, we needed to go around the store and remain within the area where the shelves are located. About half the store was crowded and the rest of the people (Who were late for the event, I think), remained outside, watching us from there. The hostess was really fun and got the crowd really excited even before Utada got there! She told us to put up our cellphones and cameras,
Cellphones and cameras!
(The girl standing out in the picture because of her pink outfit is dressed up as Miracle Hikaru)
because this is not something we’d like to miss! She also said that if we’d like to faint, we should feel free to do so, since it might grab Utada’s attention and we’d get to meet her. This is a great way to meet Utada, only I don’t have the courage to faint in front of everyone like that. The hostess brought everyone’s excitement to the roof by putting on Utada’s new album really loud in the shop, and her interest in the tracks was really exciting too! She gave really good introductions to the songs that got the fans screaming and singing along like crazy! We also made a gang sign for Utada, what was making a U shape with our hands and screaming “Utada” over and over. What a great gang we were!
U-TADA! U-TADA!
After warming us up for some Utada, the hostess says “put your hands together for Utada!” and I completely freeze. It was quite sudden, actually, so I wasn’t expecting Utada’s arrival to be so abrupt. I looked behind me and waited anxiously to see my pop idol come out the door and pass by to greet us.
I hate missing school days. Maybe because I get the feeling that the world is spinning around me and while my surroundings are frozen, my classmates are in school, working hard and I’m missing all that they are doing. At least this time it’s for a great cause and I hope that this event doesn’t make Hikki so real to me as to make me lose interest in her. Sometimes that happens, but I think that with Hikki, it will only light that strong flame even more!
I hope that tomorrow I get to see her and give her the fanbook, and to make sure we’ll get a hold of every moment, my father and I went shopping today (As you can see from my brand new Twitter widget to the left) and my father bought himself a brand new video camera and he also bought me a brand new video/photo camera that has a resolution of 12.2 megapixels! I’m really excited for all the quality we’ll be able to offer to you guys that will be watching the event from the comfort of your homes! I’ll try to get there earlier and get a good spot to make it all easier.
I’m really nervous because one second of action or non-action can change everything and if I’m not aware of everything that is going on. Even though I booked my appointment, many of the things that happen in the event are independent of that, for example, the getting in. We need to stay in line to get a bracelet, which will be kind of like an entrance ticket. After we get in, the VIPs (People who booked an appointment) will get to take pictures with Utada and get her autograph! I plan on handing the book to her then!
I hope I don’t get too nervous at the time. My father will also be filming her reaction to the book so you can see her response as well as read about it! If Sephora has a Wi-Fi zone, be sure that if you’re connected to Twitter, you won’t miss anything!
I’m heading to the airport right now to leave for Miami! I’ll be arriving there thursday morning and friday I’ll see Utada at Sephora!
I’ve been reading about the Sephora event at Los Angeles and I see that the event in Miami might too turn out to be chaotic, so I’ll try to be there really early to get my entrance wristband and take my pictures, since I booked my appointment with Utada!
The fanbook looks amazing, even though the pages weren’t printed with a picture of Kuma Chang at the back like how it was intended to be, it looks amazing. It’s hardcover so it’ll last long and Utada can enjoy it while she’s in her plane back to Tokyo or New York. I’m so happy and I’ll be posting pictures of the fanbook and the autograph paper. I printed 6 copies of the autograph paper, one for each member of the Utada.com.br staff and the other for a lucky Brazilian fan who might get a hold of our dear Utada’s autograph!
Check out my latest ventures in Miami through my brand new Twitter! I think I’ll be using it a lot in the future, so add me if you want! I’ll be more than happy to know about your lives too!
I’ll publish more later, but now I need to get to the airport!
I’m so excited for next week!
Why, you ask…
Because I’m going to see Utada! In person! She’s going to be throwing a few listening parties here and there in the United States and perfectly, the last one is in Miami… Where I happen to own an apartment. It’s fate.
Everything was pretty last minute, though. I had little time to prepare everything, and my father still had to buy the plane tickets… That was already a problem, but when I discovered that my passport wasn’t valid anymore, I knew it was time to test the thesis about perseverance getting you anywhere you wish to be.
In one week, my father got the tickets (But unfortunately, I’m taking a plane on Sunday during the day, so I can’t sleep through it) and today I went after the passports and booked an appointment with the store to see Hikki. The passport might be coming out on Tuesday or Wednesday (The day I’m leaving), so it’s right in time! I really hope they arrive at that time, because if it’s any later, I’m going to let many people down.
Why, you ask…
Because, being a member of Utada.com.br, I love spreading the Hikki love, but this time, I’m spreading some Brazilian love to our favorite pop icon! I’m bringing Hikki a fanbook made by her fans from Brazil and the Utada.com.br staff. The instructions are right here, but keep in mind it’s only for Brazilian fans!
Like I said, the passport isn’t here yet, so keep in mind that the trip might be cancelled due to that slight detail, but keep your hopes up and positive things might come our way!
I read that there will be gifts for the people that stop by! I hope it’s some kind of Hikki goodies bag or a Japanese copy of This Is The One (Since the American version wasn’t released yet… Or maybe it’s the American version of This Is The One for that same reason…) so she can sign it for me!
I really wanted to have other people come with me so we have stories to share… Maybe a friend or we could’ve made this an Utada.com.br visit with the whole staff… It’s too bad it’s so last minute because it would have been so much fun!
I’m going to keep everyone updated about the event through Utada.com.br and maybe here as well! I’m going to try and post many pictures and videos about the event as well as reports. I hope you enjoy the coming posts!
Utada’s new English album, THIS IS THE ONE is an amazing album! I’m going to pre-order it as soon as I can!
To begin with all the wonderful news and updates on Utada’s American career, Her official website in Island Records was updated! Now the homepage of Island Records is decorated with Utada as well! Feel free to check out her homepage! (Utada) I created an account on the website and we’ll see how that goes! All of her new promotional pictures look amazing! Really cute and similar to her adorable Japanese promotional pictures.
Get ready because soon I’ll be reviewing THIS IS THE ONE in a²fiction, and it’s probably going to be high-rated! I’ll try to make the comments as fun as possible, though!
I love basically all the songs from THIS IS THE ONE… from On and On to This One (Crying Like A Child)! I’ll save up on the details for everyone to read it on a²fiction! I’m having some thoughts about the overall view of the album that are good to mention!
I also have a recently created iLike account! You can check out what I’m listening to here! Through iLike, you can check out what I’ve been listening to and what artists I like! They come straight from my iTunes library so whenever I listen to a certain song, it’ll be added to my ‘recently played’ list! It’s really fun and I hope that if you make/have an iLike account, you’ll add me! Be sure that if you do create an iLike account, you’ll request many Utada concerts in Brazil!
I’m really excited for this month’s releases, and I’ll try to put up as many reviews as I can even if I’ll be kind of busy with my school projects! Next up: BoA’s debut album on the 17th!
I think BoA and Utada have really amazing material for their American careers so I’m really excited for both of them!
There are many exciting news over at UHb, and I can’t help but share them!
Since the day that Utada revealed that she would be working on her sophomore English album, we’ve all been waiting for this. One month before its release, the title has been determined. Utada’s new album is to be named This Is The One!
I have my Utada groove on after translating quite a big interview (Conversation With Utada) for UHb and this interview was really good to translate because not only does it include basic information for the new Utada fans, but it also includes 7 completely unrelated questions at the end that are quite random and entertaining. I also feel like it’s my best work in UHb so far! It was quite fun to translate. Utada is just so amazing, and to see how many artists, producers and other professionals in the music business (Like Ne-Yo, Stargate, Timbaland) respect her and her work is so rewarding and it gives us each time more and more reassurance that Utada is all the we think she is: Out of this world.
Utada used to manage a radio show in the beginning of her career called the Tres Bien Bohemian transmitted through JFL Networks, airing from October 1999 to September 2000, and it will be returning for one night only in Japan to celebrate Utada’s 10th anniversary. The show will air once again on March the 22nd at 20:00 in Japan.
Along with the new album title and the news on Tres Bien Bohemian, there is also wonderful news on her brand new books, 点 (Ten [Point]), and 線 (Sen [Line]) are coming out as well. The covers have been revealed and also details of each book. Here they are:
点 (Ten [Point])
Contents
* Original text (15,000 characters) written by Utada Hikaru
* Summary of Official Interview 1998-2008 (Text by Yasue Matsuura)
- From her debut to the album “HEART STATION”
* Utada Hikaru quotations
- Collection of quotations spanning over 10 years
* Photographs
about 200 images
512 pages
Price: 2,499 yen (tax included)
ISBN 978-4-930774-22-4
C0073
線 (Sen [Line])
Contents
* All entries dating from Feb. 19, 1999 to Dec. 9, 2008 from the WEB diaries “Message from Hikki” and “Message from Utada Hikaru/Utada,” which Utada Hikaru has been writing since her debut.
* The latest original photographs by Yasuhide Kuge, photographer for her album “First Love”
512 pages
Price: 1,995 yen (tax included)
ISBN 978-4-930774-23-1
C0073
Scheduled Publication Date: March 10th, 2009
If all this isn’t enough to satiate your thirst for Utada goodness, then you should also know that there are three songs confirmed in the album, F.Y.I., Apples And Cinnamon (Previously rumored track) and Me Muero (Note that the title is in Spanish!). In Utada’s interviews of why she’s exploring the American market, she makes it clear that she doesn’t want to remain somewhere forever, she wants to fight for her merit in other places and make it fun, unique. Well, with all this brand new material, she’s certainly proving herself to be more unique as each second passes by!
A promo kit has been upload by Utada’s label with footage of her Utada United concert and of her making the album! She looks so amazing!
Today is Utada Hikaru’s birthday! She’s turning 26 this year and I know that her birthday this year will be filled with pride because her new releases will be amazing! Come Back To Me is already an awesome single and I can’t wait to see what’s up ahead!
The cover of Come Back To Me has already been released and her upcoming English album is already available for pre-order and there will definitely be many updates as the days go by and the date of its release gets closer and closer.
Hikki looks and sounds amazing (Like always) and I’m really looking forward to previews of her new songs! We know that she’ll be getting some airplay on february and we can only hope that she gets the fame she deserves in the American market!
I have just received an e-mail from Utada’s mailing list with the wonderful news that her new single, Come Back To Me is soon to be released. And better yet, it’s already available for fans to listen to! It even has cover art! I think that in it’s simplicity, it’s really sweet, and everyone knows how I love pink and gray together!
I couldn’t help but click the links to her MySpace page and her Island Records page, both of which contained the complete song.
I think the song is amazing. I felt that it would be a sweet R&B song, always with that lovely feeling that only Utada can offer. Her voice, the music, it’s all so addicting, so beautiful, so different.
The song starts off with the piano, really classic, but then Utada shows us that her R&B roots that were present through her debut album aren’t gone at all. With a beautiful, simple background, Utada sings with her beautiful voice, working with the vibrato so wonderfully. It’s a brand new catchy tune! When ever she says “I don’t wanna be alone,” I get a little shiver-y, because at the beginning, her voice is deeper and stronger, but then it gets a lot higher when she says “I don’t wanna be alone.” It’s so good, so fresh, I’m absolutely in love with it! Even 3 friends of mine said they liked the song, when 2 of them don’t like Japanese pop at all! Come Back To Me is surely going to be a hit and it’s just that type of song you would listen to while it’s being broadcasted through the radio.
This single is very different from her first try at the North American market, EXODUS. Unlike EXODUS, Come Back To Me is a lot closer to her Japanese work, an R&B ballad, and we all know that ballads are her area. EXODUS revealed an approach to the dance clubs, something new, while Come Back To Me is a more natural single to what she’s used to.
I’m so excited to see what’s coming next, but I know that if it started out with Come Back To Me, it can only get better!
