Exodus (Utada Hikaru album)
Encyclopedia
EXODUS is the debut English language album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...

 by Japanese-American singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...

 Utada, released in 2004
2004 in music
See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....

 by Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...

. It was released on September 9, 2004, in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

, with a special booklet and housed in a cardboard slipcase. All of the Japanese translation
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...

s were done by , except for the song "Animato" which was translated by Utada herself. Utada stated that it had a certain feel to it that she wanted to bring across to her Japanese audience.

Exodus was released in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

 nearly a month after it was released in Japan, on October 5, 2004, two months later in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

, on November 17, 2004, and the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 version was released about a year after on September 26, 2005.

The tracks "Opening" and "Crossover Interlude" contain exactly the same lyrics, but are mixed differently. Even though "Opening" has vocals in the song, the lyrics aren't provided in the lyric booklet. The Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...

 and Taiwan
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...

 versions of the album contains lyrics for "Opening" in Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...

.

Only two Japanese words were used on the whole album: the words and are found in "Easy Breezy
Easy Breezy
The Ultimix version is found on Ultimix 108 as track 3, remixed by Stacy Mier.-Charts:"Easy Breezy" - Oricon Sales Chart...

". Additionally, the words are written in the lyric booklet.

Exodus was re-released on September 20, 2006 in Japan, under Universal International, parent company of Island Def Jam. This limited reissue
Reissue
A reissue is the repeated issue of a published work. In common usage, it refers to an album which has been released at least once before and is released again, sometimes with alterations or additions....

 retailed at ¥
Japanese yen
The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the U.S. dollar, the euro and the pound sterling...

1470.

"Devil Inside", "Exodus '04
Exodus '04
"Exodus '04" is the 3rd English single by Utada and written by herself and Timbaland.It was released on June 21, 2005. It hit #24 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Airplay chart...

", "You Make Me Want to Be a Man
You Make Me Want to Be a Man
- Utada, on the inspiration for You Make Me Want to Be a Man.-Track listing:CD+DVD Promo Version*Both You Make Me Want to Be a Man and You Make Me Want to Be a Man were featured as bonus tracks on the UK release of EXODUS.-Release history:- Charts :"You Make Me Want to Be a Man" - Oricon Sales...

" and "Easy Breezy" debuted on American radio in April 2004, while on Japanese radio in June 2005 and on British radio in May 2006.

On February 23, 2005, Utada did a one-night-only showcase at the Skylight Studios, New York. There she sung a few songs from Exodus.

The album sold a total of 1.5 million copies worldwide.

Reception

Exodus is the largest debut selling foreign language album in Japanese history (debut with 523,761 units). It is the 247th best selling album of all time in Japan.

Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...

 stated that:
However, the album was not that successful in the US, reaching #160 on the US Billboard 200 chart
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...

, and has sold in excess of 55,000 units in the territory according to Nielsen Soundscan.
It did, however, have more success in Japan. On September 8, 2004, Universal Music Japan shipped 1 million copies of the album, breaking a record that was held by Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...

 (she had sold 500,000).

Track listing

All songs are written by Utada except "Exodus '04" and "Let Me Give You My Love", which are co-written with Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....

. "Wonder 'Bout" was remixed by Timbaland.

Charts

Exodus (Japan) - Oricon
Oricon
, 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 in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...

Sales Chart (Japan)
Release Chart Peak Position Debut Sales Sales Total Chart Run
September 8, 2004 Oricon Daily Albums Chart 1
September 8, 2004 Oricon Weekly Albums Chart 1 523,761 1,074,393 20
September 8, 2004 Oricon Yearly Albums Chart 6


Exodus (U.S.) - Billboard
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...

Sales Chart (U.S.)
Release Chart Peak
position
Sales Total
October 5, 2004 The Billboard 200 160
55,000
October 5, 2004 Top Heatseekers 5

Exodus singles - Billboard charts

Year Single Chart Peak
position
2004 "Devil Inside" Dance Radio Airplay 1
2004 "Devil Inside" Hot Singles Sales 57
2004 "Devil Inside" Hot Dance Music/Club Play 30
2005 "Exodus '04" Hot Dance Music/Club Play 24

Release history

Country Date
Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

 
September 8, 2004
United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 
October 5, 2004
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...

 
October 5, 2004
Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 
October 5, 2004
New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 
October 14, 2004
Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

 
November 17, 2004
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 
September 26, 2005
World
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....

wide
October 5, 2004

External links

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