Seiko Matsuda


Seiko Matsuda is a Japanese pop singer-songwriter, known for being one of the most popular Japanese idols of the 1980s. Due to her popularity in the 1980s and her long career, she has been dubbed the "Eternal Idol" by the Japanese media. In 2016, however, Ian Martin of The Japan Times compared her output unfavorably with that of Utada Hikaru, describing Matsuda as "first and foremost an idol rather than an artist. Her legacy is best expressed in singles rather than albums." Seiko once held the record for number-one hits from 1983 to 2000 and for solo artist. Seiko was the overall finale performer of Kouhaku in 2014 and 2015, the prestigious NHK New Year's Eve Music show on which she has performed 21 times. She is still actively releasing new singles and albums, doing annual summer concert tours, winter dinner shows, high-profile TV commercials and movies, and makes frequent TV appearances and radio broadcasts.
In January 2011, the Japanese music television program Music Station listed her as the 2nd best-selling idol of all time in Japan, with 29,510,000 records sold. She placed right behind pop group SMAP and ahead of Akina Nakamori, her biggest rival from the 1980s, who was listed in third place.

Biography

After winning the ‘Miss Seventeen’ contest held by a popular magazine in 1978, a sixteen-year-old girl named Noriko Kamachi from Fukuoka adopted the stage name "Seiko Matsuda" and rose to fame in 1980 as a teen idol, making her debut with the song "Hadashi no Kisetsu". Later in the same year, her 3rd single "Kaze wa Aki-iro" became the first of her 24 consecutive number 1 hits in Japan. She shattered the former Japanese record of nine consecutive number-ones by popular 1970s music duo Pink Lady. Her run of number-one records ended in 1989 when her 27th single "Precious Heart" ranked at number two, behind Tetsuya Komuro's "Gravity of Love". Matsuda had another number-one single "Anata ni Aitakute ~Missing You~" in 1996, which would become her last number-one single to date. It was certified a million-seller by RIAJ.
Matsuda held the record for the most number-one singles and most consecutive number-one singles on Japan's Oricon charts for 12 years, from 1988 to 2000. Both were surpassed by B'z in late 2000. She held the record for the most number-one singles by a female singer for 18 years, from 1988 till 2006, when Ayumi Hamasaki's "Startin'/Born to Be..." became her 26th single to top the charts. Matsuda's held the record for the most consecutive number-one singles by a female singer and any soloist for 22 years, from 1988 to 2010. It was broken by Hamasaki's "L" in September/October 2010. Matsuda also held records for the most top-ten albums and most number-one albums. Both records have since been broken by Hamasaki. Matsuda was the first artist to have a single and an album debut at No. 1 on the Oricon Chart in the same week. So far, this has only happened three times.
In a May 2011 an Oricon survey crowned her the No. 1 everlasting idol of all time, beating Momoe Yamaguchi, Kyōko Koizumi, Morning Musume and Akina Nakamori.
Her long staying power is mainly due to her continuous re-invention of herself. She was labeled a 'Mamadol'. Her hair styles, fashion sense and makeup have all been copied by millions of girls and women in Japan and in certain parts of Asia.
Matsuda's voice and singing technique have won her two best performance awards from Nippon Record Awards, first in 1983 for ガラスの林檎 and again in 1993 for 'きっと、また逢える・・・'.
Matsuda began to write her songs by herself. She wrote lyrics for the first time when she produced her song "Chiisana Love Song" in 1983. This was followed by her first composed song "Canary". All music and lyrics of her 2007 album Baby's Breath were written by herself. It became her first completely self-produced album.
Matsuda attempted to break into the North American market with an English-language, self-titled album in 1990. She managed to score a hit – "The Right Combination", a duet with boy band New Kids on the Block singer Donnie Wahlberg. The album sales were mediocre, and her follow-up Was it the Future failed to generate significant sales. In 2002, however, Matsuda's English dance hits "All to You" and "Just for Tonight" managed to reached the Billboard dance chart at No. 8 and No. 2, respectively.
In July 2006, Matsuda's compilation album Seiko Matsuda, which consisted of 74 CDs, debuted at number 96, becoming the highest-priced album in the Oricon history at the price of 100,000 yen. Hibari Misora, a well-known enka singer from the 1950s held the previous record with her 1989 album Kyō no Ware ni Asu wa Katsu.
Although some up-and-coming female singers like Namie Amuro and Hamasaki became successful after the end of the 1980s, most "typical" pop idols from Matsuda's era disappeared as the golden age of idols began to fade away, except Matsuda, who was still going strong, releasing single after single. She has been a secret idol for subsequent female celebrities such as Shoko Nakagawa who called Matsuda "God" and "My Universe". Japanese voice actress Nana Mizuki released her cover version of Matsuda's "Akai Sweet Pea" as the B-side of an image song single under the character name Moka Akashiya of the anime Rosario + Vampire on 14 February 2008. There are endless cover version of Matsuda songs and tribute albums being released every year. Among those 'Diamond Eyes', 'Missing You' and 'Akai Sweet Pea' and Sweet Memories have been reinterpreted by other artists countless times, including a cover performance by Akina Nakamori.
On 5 August 2009, Sony re-released 16 of Matsuda's early albums under the Blu-spec CD format. Thirteen of these entered the Oricon Top 100 Album Chart at the same time, surpassing the record set by Hibari Misora and making her the first female artist to do so.
Matsuda is also on the Top 3 list of Most No.1 albums, Most Top 10 singles and Most Top 10 albums for a solo artist. HMV Japan ranked her No. 10 Top Japanese Artist of All Time, and No. 7 Top Singer of All Time.
Matsuda still holds annual concerts, Christmas dinner shows and New Year's Eve Countdown shows. Despite the high ticket prices for many years and to this day, she always performs to a sold-out crowd. Matsuda is also listed as second only behind Eikichi Yazawa as an artist to have performed many concerts at the Nippon Budokan.
Matsuda made a guest appearance on one of Fox Broadcasting Company's popular TV dramas "Bones" in 2010. In 2011, she was invited to performed in American music producer Quincy Jones's concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. She also performed as a guest vocalist on the album "Esprit De Four" by the contemporary Jazz super-group Fourplay, released worldwide on 18 September 2012
In 2015, Matsuda won the Japanese equivalent of a Grammy Award when she received Best Vocal Performance at the Japan Record Awards, the most prestigious award in the Japan music industry.

Personal life

In 1983, Seiko was romantically linked with singer, Hiromi Go. Although there were rumours of an impending engagement, Go's traditional values would have required Seiko to give up her singing career and focus on raising a family instead. Momoe Yamaguchi, Japan's top female idol of the 1970s, had followed such a course, but Seiko ended her relationship with Go instead. Her break from tradition set a precedent for Japanese women in the 1980s and 1990s to continue their careers even after marriage.
Matsuda has been married three times. She was married to actor, Masaki Kanda, from 1985 to 1997. Their only child and daughter, Sayaka Kanda, is also a singer.
Her second husband, Hiroyuki Hatano, was a dentist to who she was married from 1998 to 2000.
On 13 June 2012, she announced her marriage to university associate professor, Hiromasa Kawana, on her official website.
In addition to music, Matsuda's career include appearances in film, radio, and television. Along with other books about Matsuda and several books of her photos including Five Seasons, No Comments, Akai Sweet Pea, have been published. Matsuda has appeared in numerous commercials, such as numerous Ezaki Glico products, Minolta, Sony, Diosa Hair Color, Suntory, DirecTV, NTT DoCoMo, Astalift, Kanebo, Doctor Drive, Takano Yuri, Alba, and Shiseido. In 2015, Matsuda caused a stir in the Japanese entertainment industry when she modelled for lingerie company, Triumph International.

Discography

Singles

  1. "Hadashi no Kisetsu"（裸足の季节）
  2. "Aoi Sangoshō"（青い珊瑚礁）
  3. "Kaze wa Akiiro/Eighteen"（风は秋色/Eighteen）
  4. "Cherry Blossom"
  5. "Natsu no Tobira"（夏の扉）
  6. "Shiroi Parasol"（白いパラソル）
  7. "Kaze Tachinu"（風立ちぬ）
  8. "Akai Sweet Pea"（赤いスイートピー）
  9. "Nagisa no Balcony"
  10. "Komugiiro no Mermaid"
  11. "Nobara no Etude"
  12. "Himitsu no Hanazono"
  13. "Tengoku no Kiss"
  14. "Glass no Ringo/Sweet Memories"
  15. "Hitomi wa Diamond/Aoi Photograph"
  16. "Rock'n Rouge"
  17. "Jikan no Kuni no Alice/Natsufuku no Eve"
  18. "Pink no Mozart"
  19. "Heart no Earring"
  20. "Tenshi no Wink"
  21. "Boy no Kisetsu"
  22. "Dancing Shoes"
  23. "Strawberry Time"
  24. "Pearl-White Eve"
  25. "Marrakech"
  26. "Tabidachi no Freesia"
  27. "Precious Heart"
  28. "All the way to Heaven"
  29. "The Right Combination"
  30. "Who's That Boy"
  31. "We Are Love"
  32. "Kitto, Mata Aeru..."
  33. "Anata no Subete ni Naritai/Shinin' Shinin'"
  34. "Taisetsu na Anata"
  35. "A Touch of Destiny"
  36. "Kakowareta, Ai-jing"
  37. "Mō Ichido, Hajime kara"
  38. "Kagayaita Kisetsu e Tabidatō"
  39. "Suteki ni Once again"
  40. "Anata ni Aitakute /Ashita e to Kakedashite Yukō"
  41. "Let's Talk About It"
  42. "I'll Be There For You"
  43. "Sayonara no Shunkan"
  44. "Good For You"
  45. "Watashi Dake no Tenshi /Anata no Sono Mune ni"
  46. "Gone with the Rain"
  47. "Koisuru Omoi "
  48. "Touch the Love"
  49. "Kanashimi no Boat"
  50. "20th Party"
  51. "Shanghai Love Song"
  52. "Unseasonable Shore"
  53. "True Love Story/Sayonara no Kiss o Wasurenai"
  54. "The Sound of Fire"
  55. "Anata Shika Mienai"
  56. "Ai Ai Ai "
  57. "All to You"
  58. "Suteki na Ashita"
  59. "Just For Tonight"
  60. "Call Me"
  61. "Aitai"
  62. "Smile on Me"
  63. "Eien Sae Kanjita Yoru"
  64. "I'll Fall in Love"
  65. "Shiawase na Kimochi"
  66. "Bless You"
  67. "We Are"
  68. "Namida ga Tada Koborerudake"
  69. "Manatsu no Yo no Yume"
  70. "Christmas no Yoru"
  71. "Hanabira Mau Kisetsu ni"
  72. "Love Is All"
  73. "Ano Kagayaita Kisetsu"
  74. "Idol Mitai ni Utawasete"
  75. "Ikutsu no Yoake o Kazoetara"
  76. "Tokubetsu na Koibito"
  77. "Namida no Shizuku"
  78. "LuLu!!"
  79. "Yume ga Samete"
  80. "I Love You!! ~Anata no Hohoemi ni~"
  81. "Eien no Motto Hate Made / Wakusei ni Naritai"
  82. "Bara no Yoni Saite Sakura no Yoni Chitte"

    Studio albums

  83. Squall
  84. North Wind
  85. Silhouette
  86. Kazetachinu
  87. Pineapple
  88. Candy
  89. Utopia
  90. Canary
  91. Tinker Bell
  92. Windy Shadow
  93. The 9th Wave
  94. Sound of My Heart
  95. Supreme
  96. Strawberry Time
  97. Citron
  98. Precious Moment
  99. Seiko
  100. We Are Love
  101. Eternal
  102. 1992 Nouvelle Vague
  103. Sweet Memories '93
  104. Diamond Expression
  105. A Time for Love
  106. Glorious Revolution
  107. It's Style '95
  108. Vanity Fair
  109. Was It The Future
  110. Guardian Angel
  111. My Story
  112. Sweetest Time
  113. Forever
  114. Eien no Shoujo
  115. 20th Party
  116. Love & Motion Vol.1
  117. Love & Motion Vol.2
  118. Area62
  119. Sunshine
  120. Fairy
  121. Under the beautiful stars
  122. Bless You
  123. Eternal II
  124. Baby's Breath
  125. My Pure Melody
  126. My Prelude
  127. Cherish
  128. Very Very
  129. A Girl in the Wonder Land
  130. Dream & Fantasy
  131. Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo
  132. Shining Star
  133. Daisy
  134. Merry-go-round

    Greatest hits albums

  135. Seiko Fragrance
  136. Seiko Index
  137. Kin'iro no Ribbon
  138. Seiko Plaza
  139. Touch Me, Seiko
  140. Seiko Town
  141. Seiko Avenue
  142. Seiko-Train
  143. Seiko Box
  144. Love Ballade
  145. Snow Garden
  146. Seiko Monument
  147. Christmas Tree
  148. Bible
  149. Bible II
  150. Bible III
  151. Complete Bible
  152. Winter Tales
  153. Seaside: Summer Tales
  154. Dear
  155. Seiko Celebration
  156. Seiko '96–'98
  157. Ballad-20th Anniversary
  158. Love
  159. Seiko Suite
  160. Another Side of Seiko 27
  161. Another Side of Seiko 14
  162. Best of Best 27
  163. Best of Best 13
  164. Seiko Smile
  165. Premium Diamond Bible
  166. Diamond Bible
  167. Seiko Matsuda Christmas Songs
  168. Seiko Matsuda Single Collection 30th Anniversary Box: The voice of a Queen
  169. Seiko Matsuda Original Soundtrack Collection 1981–1985
  170. Touch Me, Seiko II
  171. Seiko Story 80s Hits Collection
  172. Seiko Matsuda Super Hit Collection Vol. 1
  173. Seiko Matsuda Super Hit Collection Vol. 2
  174. Etranger
  175. Calendar
  176. Seiko Suite Collection: 80s Hits
  177. Seiko Matsuda Best Ballad
  178. We Love Seiko – 35th Anniversary Matsuda Seiko Kyukyoku All Time Best 50 Songs
  179. We Love Seiko Deluxe Edition – 35th Anniversary Matsuda Seiko Kyukyoku All Time Best 50 + 2 Songs
  180. Seiko Matsuda Sweet Days
  181. Seiko Memories: Masaaki Omura Works

    Remix albums

  182. Seiko Matsuda: Re-Mixes
  183. Seiko Remixes 2000

    Special albums

  184. Seiko Jazz

    Soundtracks

  185. Nogiku no Haka
  186. Plumeria no Densetsu
  187. Natsufuku no Eve
  188. Caribe, Sinfonia de Amor
  189. Penguin's Memory: Shiawase Monogatari

    World releases

Albums

  1. 1990 Seiko
  2. 1996 Was It the Future
  3. 2002 Area62
  4. 2017 Seiko Jazz
  5. 2019 Seiko Jazz 2

    Singles

  6. 1986 Dancing Shoes
  7. 1990 "The Right Combination" duet with Donnie Wahlberg
  8. 1991 All The Way To Heaven
  9. 1991 Who's That Boy
  10. 1996 Let's Talk About It
  11. 1996 Good For You
  12. 2002 All to You
  13. 2002 Just For Tonight
  14. 2012 Put Our Heart Together

    Taiwan releases

Albums

Films