News ► UPDATE: Hikaru Utada's future with Kingdom Hearts Undecided

[Oracle Spockanort]

Re: UPDATE: Hikaru Utada's future with Kingdom Hearts Undecided

Why is everyone bringing up Shimamura all of a sudden?

/musicalrant

Hikaru and Yoko can't be compared in this situation, as they're not even in the same category. They're two different people, doing two different jobs, for different reasons. Utada is a public face of Kingdom Hearts (more so in Japan, but hey), while Yoko is the composer (not a public face). If Yoko wanted to write music to be in the spotlight, she wouldn't have been an orchestral composer, promise. The two musicians tell the same story in a different way, but they're both necessary for different reasons. It seems that some people would rather just kick Hikaru out and let Yoko write the theme. In hindsight, where do you think Yoko got the material to write the orchestrated themes in previous games? Yoko is staying, and that won't change. That's her job. I have no doubt that Hikaru will come back.

Maybe it's just the band director in me, but goodness. I love them both to death, and they've both helped me make decisions on being a music educator.

/endrant

I agree with you 100%.

I love Yoko Shimomura's music, but there is no denying that Utada is the face of the theme of this series. People who aren't even big fans of the series can hear Simple & Clean/Hikari and say "That's from Kingdom Hearts!" You can't do that with any other Kingdom Hearts song.

 

[roguegem]

Re: UPDATE: Hikaru Utada's future with Kingdom Hearts Undecided

I don't think she will do it again. Her mother recently committed suicide while Hikaru was staying in London... I just hope everything goes ok. But from what I heard Hikaru has a real chip on her shoulder and she is kind of a pre-madonna ...

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

Re: UPDATE: Hikaru Utada's future with Kingdom Hearts Undecided

I don't think she will do it again. Her mother recently committed suicide while Hikaru was staying in London... I just hope everything goes ok. But from what I heard Hikaru has a real chip on her shoulder and she is kind of a pre-madonna ...

She's still been doing her work, though. She has a radio show and about a month after her mom's death she got things back in order and has been moving on.

Utada hadn't been the one to reject Disney the first time anyways. It had been her father, though I'm pretty sure they discussed it together beforehand. She did Evangelion 3.0 despite still being on her music hiatus. She seems willing to make small compromises depending on the situation, and music is still a passion of hers regardless if she hasn't made a new album in years.

 

[Taochan]

Re: UPDATE: Hikaru Utada's future with Kingdom Hearts Undecided

A new song is far less taxing than a new album, and if she's well compensated then I'm sure her father will have no complaints.

 

[kupo1121]

Re: UPDATE: Hikaru Utada's future with Kingdom Hearts Undecided

A new song is far less taxing than a new album, and if she's well compensated then I'm sure her father will have no complaints.

That's the problem, if she was well compensated. I'm sure though that in the end, Disney would shell out quite a lot more than previous titles in order to ensure her return, but they are notoriously known for not being the best when it comes to payments.

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

Re: UPDATE: Hikaru Utada's future with Kingdom Hearts Undecided

That's the problem, if she was well compensated. I'm sure though that in the end, Disney would shell out quite a lot more than previous titles in order to ensure her return, but they are notoriously known for not being the best when it comes to payments.

Despite Utada being paid on a commission, she'd get royalties as well. Depending on how discussions go, she can easily argue for a bigger cut from the sales of her song (because it'll definitely end up on iTunes, on her YT channel as a video, and though physical distribution either on the OST or something...)

One side will have to make a compromise and I think everybody would still profit regardless of who gives up what.

 

[roxaven]

Re: UPDATE: Hikaru Utada's future with Kingdom Hearts Undecided

I'm ready for a new theme song for Kingdom Hearts. I personally like Utada's music well at least her music in the early and mid 2000's. I still enjoy Simple and Clean and Sanctuary as well as the Japanese version but I am anxious to hear what her new song will sound like.

 

[kupo1121]

Re: UPDATE: Hikaru Utada's future with Kingdom Hearts Undecided

I'm sure that IF Utada does come back, her releasing even a snippet of her new song (Japanese or English) will make the fanbase go nuts haha so I hope that happens Though I do agree, no matter what happens in the end, I trust it'll be good...Utada or not (I'd like Utada though in a perfect world).

 

[RoxasFrost]

Re: UPDATE: Hikaru Utada's future with Kingdom Hearts Undecided

D: No Utada?
That sucks....

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

Re: UPDATE: Hikaru Utada's future with Kingdom Hearts Undecided

D: No Utada?
That sucks....

Nothing is set in stone, yet. Her father said it's undecided. We'll see...

 

[Gram]

Re: UPDATE: Hikaru Utada's future with Kingdom Hearts Undecided

Given the track record I get the feeling it'll lean towards no. =[

 

[Noka]

Re: UPDATE: Hikaru Utada's future with Kingdom Hearts Undecided

Wow, Hikaru has to return. Each numbered Kingdom Hearts game had a new theme song and if 3 doesn't it's gonna be disappointing for me. The Kingdom Hearts music brings up the nostalgia, and is what plays a huge role in the Kingdom Hearts series in my opinion. Even if Hikaru doesn't return, I would still love to see some "kingdom hearts styled" music from some other great composer.

 

[Draxem]

Re: UPDATE: Hikaru Utada's future with Kingdom Hearts Undecided

I agree with you 100%.

I love Yoko Shimomura's music, but there is no denying that Utada is the face of the theme of this series. People who aren't even big fans of the series can hear Simple & Clean/Hikari and say "That's from Kingdom Hearts!" You can't do that with any other Kingdom Hearts song.

I think the main melody to 'another side another story', '13th analogy' (i forget the name) and a few others is instantly recognizable to players as well

 

[rac7d]

Re: UPDATE: Hikaru Utada's future with Kingdom Hearts Undecided

Mabey if they agreed to release it on itunes In the US. I never understood why the woulndt release them here, it would sell well. The song are always a hit in Japan.
There still a year before a descion has to be made but I hope she remember the large part she has in making this game what appealing.

 

[Javelin434]

Re: UPDATE: Hikaru Utada's future with Kingdom Hearts Undecided

Mabey if they agreed to release it on itunes In the US. I never understood why the woulndt release them here, it would sell well. The song are always a hit in Japan.
There still a year before a descion has to be made but I hope she remember the large part she has in making this game what appealing.

omg show this picture to Utada!!!
I'm sure this will persuade her to come back xD

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

Re: UPDATE: Hikaru Utada's future with Kingdom Hearts Undecided

I think the main melody to 'another side another story', '13th analogy' (i forget the name) and a few others is instantly recognizable to players as well

I'm talking about casual fans. They probably wouldn't be able to tell you the name of those two songs (hell, I usually can't tell you the name of those two songs unless I'm thinking about them) and probably say "oh, that's from Kingdom Hearts" half of the time. "Simple & Clean" is instantly paired with Kingdom Hearts, and rightfully so since we've been listening to it for 10 years.

Also what you're thinking of is "Organization XIII". "The 13th Anthology" is the one from the Drammatica orchestral album Yoko Shimomura did in 2008.

Mabey if they agreed to release it on itunes In the US. I never understood why the woulndt release them here, it would sell well. The song are always a hit in Japan.
There still a year before a descion has to be made but I hope she remember the large part she has in making this game what appealing.

You can get "Hikari" & "Passion" on iTunes US right now, though...I think the other ones have something to do with Disney & Square Enix's weird licensing bullcrap that also has to do with why no KH OST has been released here in years.

Utada's label released "Sakura Nagashi" on iTunes US a few days after the song was released to the world. It's not impossible...

 

[rac7d]

Re: UPDATE: Hikaru Utada's future with Kingdom Hearts Undecided

I'm talking about casual fans. They probably wouldn't be able to tell you the name of those two songs (hell, I usually can't tell you the name of those two songs unless I'm thinking about them) and probably say "oh, that's from Kingdom Hearts" half of the time. "Simple & Clean" is instantly paired with Kingdom Hearts, and rightfully so since we've been listening to it for 10 years.

Also what you're thinking of is "Organization XIII". "The 13th Anthology" is the one from the Drammatica orchestral album Yoko Shimomura did in 2008.



You can get "Hikari" & "Passion" on iTunes US right now, though...I think the other ones have something to do with Disney & Square Enix's weird licensing bullcrap that also has to do with why no KH OST has been released here in years.

Utada's label released "Sakura Nagashi" on iTunes US a few days after the song was released to the world. It's not impossible...

Is it there now? It definitely wasn't 6 years ago. I kept that theme stuck in my head from 4th grade till 9th when i finally got a chance to play it. I have the songs now so it doesn't it matter. I just think if they release the main theme or remixed theme as singles to coincide witht the release of the game they would sell well, which would make them pay her well, which would have prevented her from stepping away from KH.

 

[Gram]

Re: UPDATE: Hikaru Utada's future with Kingdom Hearts Undecided

It may have helped them sell a bit better but not sure if it would've kept her with kh though.

This image ;A;