| Revision as of 13:49, 28 April 2021 editCitation bot (talk | contribs)Bots5,458,463 edits Alter: title, script-title. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Jamesluiz102 | Category:2006 singles | via #UCB_Category 1656/1926← Previous edit | Revision as of 02:27, 29 June 2021 edit undo1totheInfinity (talk | contribs)3 editsm →Overview: Utada came out as nonbinary in June 2021, and they haven't declared their pronouns yet, so it's changed to singular they for nowNext edit → | ||
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| == Overview == | == Overview == | ||
| "Boku wa Kuma" was |
"Boku wa Kuma" was their first try at writing a children's song. On October 1, 2006, it aired on the children's music program ] on radio, and on TV the day after. Due to strong demand, the song had been planned for continuous rebroadcasting from October 2006 to January 2007 on ].<ref>http://www.nhk.or.jp/minna/ Minna no Uta official site</ref> | ||
| "Boku wa Kuma" was Utada's first single release to have three different pressings: a limited edition that included a picture book, a standard single and cover, and a CD+DVD combo pack, which included the music video. | "Boku wa Kuma" was Utada's first single release to have three different pressings: a limited edition that included a picture book, a standard single and cover, and a CD+DVD combo pack, which included the music video. | ||
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| The song is about a bear, what he can and cannot do, and what he is not (such as a car, chocolate, etc.). His rival is a fried shrimp. | The song is about a bear, what he can and cannot do, and what he is not (such as a car, chocolate, etc.). His rival is a fried shrimp. | ||
| Utada owns a stuffed bear named Kuma-chan; "kuma" is "bear" in Japanese, and "-chan" is an affectionate suffix added to names. |
Utada owns a stuffed bear named Kuma-chan; "kuma" is "bear" in Japanese, and "-chan" is an affectionate suffix added to names. They often post photos of him on their U3 blog. After discovering the "made in China" tag on Kuma-chan's bottom, he was given the full name of "Kuma Chang" (pronounced identically to "Kuma-chan" in Japanese). A staff pass was issued to him for the "Utada United 2006." tour.<ref>{{in lang|ja}} {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510070012/http://www.u3music.com/message/backnumber/ja/20060620j.html |date=May 10, 2007 }}</ref> | ||
| In June 2006, Utada confessed on |
In June 2006, Utada confessed on their blog that they have "pillow dependence".<ref>{{in lang|ja}} {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621221703/http://www.u3music.com/message/backnumber/ja/20060622j.html |date=June 21, 2007 }}</ref> They call their pillow "makura-san" (Mr. Pillow). They enjoy the comfort of feeling the pillow against their face, and would even hold the pillow all day long when they're stressed out. They were later surprised to find out there are many "pillow-addicts" out there, and joked about setting up a "pillow club". 'Makura-san' and Kuma are apparently good friends.<ref>{{in lang|ja}} {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621224304/http://www.u3music.com/message/backnumber/ja/20060810j.html |date=June 21, 2007 }}</ref> | ||
| Utada performed an impromptu performance of "Boku wa Kuma" at the Boston show of |
Utada performed an impromptu performance of "Boku wa Kuma" at the Boston show of their 2010 tour, ]. | ||
| The song was performed during Utada's two date concert series '']'' in December 2010.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://natalie.mu/music/news/41982 | title=宇多田ヒカル一時休止前ラスト公演で感涙＆Ust新記録樹立 |publisher=Natalie | language=Japanese | date=December 13, 2010 | accessdate=December 17, 2010}}</ref> | The song was performed during Utada's two date concert series '']'' in December 2010.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://natalie.mu/music/news/41982 | title=宇多田ヒカル一時休止前ラスト公演で感涙＆Ust新記録樹立 |publisher=Natalie | language=Japanese | date=December 13, 2010 | accessdate=December 17, 2010}}</ref> | ||
Revision as of 02:27, 29 June 2021
2006 single by Utada Hikaru| "Boku wa Kuma" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Utada Hikaru | ||||
| from the album Heart Station | ||||
| Released | November 22, 2006 | |||
| Recorded | 2006 | |||
| Genre | J-pop, novelty | |||
| Length | 2:23 | |||
| Label | EMI Music Japan | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Utada Hikaru | |||
| Producer(s) | Utada Hikaru | |||
| Utada Hikaru singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Boku wa Kuma" (ぼくはくま, lit. I'm a Bear) is Utada Hikaru's 17th Japanese single (24th single overall). The single was released on November 22 of 2006, just a matter of months after Hikaru's last studio effort, Ultra Blue, and only two months after the end of her tour, Utada United 2006.
Overview
"Boku wa Kuma" was their first try at writing a children's song. On October 1, 2006, it aired on the children's music program Minna no Uta on radio, and on TV the day after. Due to strong demand, the song had been planned for continuous rebroadcasting from October 2006 to January 2007 on Minna no Uta.
"Boku wa Kuma" was Utada's first single release to have three different pressings: a limited edition that included a picture book, a standard single and cover, and a CD+DVD combo pack, which included the music video.
The song is about a bear, what he can and cannot do, and what he is not (such as a car, chocolate, etc.). His rival is a fried shrimp.
Utada owns a stuffed bear named Kuma-chan; "kuma" is "bear" in Japanese, and "-chan" is an affectionate suffix added to names. They often post photos of him on their U3 blog. After discovering the "made in China" tag on Kuma-chan's bottom, he was given the full name of "Kuma Chang" (pronounced identically to "Kuma-chan" in Japanese). A staff pass was issued to him for the "Utada United 2006." tour.
In June 2006, Utada confessed on their blog that they have "pillow dependence". They call their pillow "makura-san" (Mr. Pillow). They enjoy the comfort of feeling the pillow against their face, and would even hold the pillow all day long when they're stressed out. They were later surprised to find out there are many "pillow-addicts" out there, and joked about setting up a "pillow club". 'Makura-san' and Kuma are apparently good friends.
Utada performed an impromptu performance of "Boku wa Kuma" at the Boston show of their 2010 tour, Utada: In The Flesh 2010.
The song was performed during Utada's two date concert series Wild Life in December 2010.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Boku wa Kuma (ぼくはくま)" | 2:23 |
| 2. | "Boku wa Kuma (Original Karaoke)" | 2:25 |
Chart rankings
| Charts (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Oricon Weekly singles | 4 |
| RIAJ Reco-kyō ringtones Top 100 | 14 |
Certifications and sales
| Chart | Amount |
|---|---|
| Oricon physical sales | 147,000 |
| RIAJ physical certification | 100,000+ |
| RIAJ full-length cellphone downloads | 100,000+ |
References
- Yahoo! Taiwan news article
- http://www.nhk.or.jp/minna/ Minna no Uta official site
- (in Japanese) U3MUSIC INC Archived May 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- (in Japanese) U3MUSIC INC Archived June 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- (in Japanese) U3MUSIC INC Archived June 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- "宇多田ヒカル一時休止前ラスト公演で感涙＆Ust新記録樹立" (in Japanese). Natalie. December 13, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
- "ぼくはくま - 宇多田ヒカル／ オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2010-09-18.
- "レコード協会調べ 12月度有料音楽配信チャート（「着うた（R）」）＜略称：12月度レコ協チャート（「着うた（R）」）＞" (in Japanese). RIAJ. 2007-01-20. Retrieved 2010-09-18.
- "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved 2010-09-18. (subscription only)
- ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2006年11月. RIAJ (in Japanese). 2006-12-10. Retrieved 2010-09-18.
- レコード協会調べ 2月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：2月度認定＞. RIAJ (in Japanese). 2007-03-20. Retrieved 2010-09-18.
| Hikaru Utada songs | |
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| 1990s | |
| 2000s |
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| 2010s | |
| 2020s | |
| Promotional releases | |
| Collaborations |
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