I’m sure it’s been written to death at this point, but twenty years ago today Utada Hikaru made her debut with Automatic / Time Will Tell! I was already listening to j-pop around that time, but like a lot of people I found out about her through Kingdom Hearts. Up to that point I thought the concept of KH was the wackest thing ever (my, how times have changed 🙄), until I heard the song on a commercial. It was actually pretty good, and that would not be the first time I would be suckered into buying a game because of the theme song (see: Final Fantasy X-2), haha
I wrote some words about my 20 favorite songs! This is NOT a complete list, simply because I could honestly list the entire Deep River album, plus or minus a few songs and call it a night 🙃 anywayyyy
Automatic / I mean duh. I have a habit of listening to this song on New Years Eve (and I’ve been doing this since middle school)… something about it reminds me of this perfect, melancholy winter night, you know? TBH I have a preference for the Johnny Vicious Remix… it’s retro but not overtly so.
traveling / My fondest memories include singing this song at karaoke in front of a bunch of Japanese exchange students (some of whom were my friends, I have some chill). I goofed up on the lyrics but they chimed in and it was very nice and wholesome.
Letters / Is this underrated? Hahaha.
Can You Keep A Secret? / My love for this song predates me finding out it was the closing theme for what is quite possibly my favorite Kimutaku drama of all time. I say this every time but it’s a shame she has not been able to capture the success of having a great song tied to a great drama in a LONG ASS time. Not her fault though, lmao.
A.S.A.P. / Another underrated middle school vibe. I love her vocal delivery here.
Final Distance / HONORABLE MENTION: Distance (m-flo remix).This is the closest we’ll get to an m-flo collaboration and tbh I listen to both versions more than the original version of Distance. A good arrangement is transformative!
This Is Love / A part of me WISHES this could have been the Kingdom Hearts 2 theme instead because it actually reminds me more of Twilight Town more than anything else, lol. Hands down, this is one of Hikki’s best songs. It’s ethereal, full of feeling, emblematic of her sound (at that time), and PURE LOVE. Such a perfect way to start one of her strongest albums. And those vocals. Damn. 💖💖💖
誓い / I think I need more time to decide where Hatsukoi stands, but I know for a fact that this is the best song on the album. This is another one of those songs that inspires intense feelings in me, and that feeling is LONGING. For what exactly? idk. Hikki, ha power!!!!
Keep Tryin’ / This is a song I always forget I like until I reach the end and find myself singing along.
Simple and Clean / OBVIOUSLY. And after hearing the PlanitB remix for years, PUNPEE’s take on this song is refreshing!
Kiss & Cry / I feel like this song is just Keep Tryin’ part two, lol. I love the emphasis on beats, the mostly minimal intro, and that slow build up to the chorus.
Prisoner of Love / I think this was where the shitty drama/great song trend started, because I love any and all versions of this but Last Friends was just SO BAD.
About Me / We are taking it WAY fucking BACK! Easy Breezy’s cringe worthy lyrics aside, I actually liked Exodus! The production was unique, but I liked this simple track the best.
真夏の通り雨 / Since its release, I have listened to it approximately 299 times on iTunes. The moment I heard this song I knew I was going to buy Fantôme. I bought it twice! I love songs that get me into my feels and while a lot of people (read: ARAMA! Japan… 🍵🐸) aren’t into the direction that she’s taken with her music — I like it. I think she’s more into a more naturalistic approach these days, with a focus on mastering and just… getting that really good ORGANIC sound. That aside, this is one of those songs that makes me realize the beauty of the Japanese language because she was doing a lot of literary flexing here. I love!
俺の彼女 / Aaaaaand this song is number two at 143 listens, lol. I love the story this song paints! It’s so seductive and almost sinister… it actually reminds me a lot of ドラマ (DISTANCE).
Time Limit / I’m an R&B-nut, so it’s no surprise that I would love something with Darkchild’s name all over it.
甘いワナ ～Paint It, Black / This. song. is. perfection. The new jack swing flair is EVERYTHING to me! Her delivery in the intro is almost jazzy and… ugh. I feel this song is very underrated and deserves more love!
テイク 5 / and just what song is gonna give you an ending like THAT?
大空で抱きしめて / This song starts off really unassuming and upbeat but then that beat kicks in towards the latter third and it’s like, “oh? where was this in the beginning?” Loves it. It’s a sonically very interesting song.
HAYATOCHI-REMIX / Underrated deepcut. I think I might have listened to the original a few times, but this is just so good. Hot take !!!! this might be her best remix.
嫉妬されるべき人生 / My blog, my rules, I’m adding one more song. Writing this post was already hard enough, and I can already think of one more person I have to do this for next year!! If I count out all the songs that weren’t previously released as singles on Hatsukoi, this one is my favorite. It’s one of the few songs on the album that has immense replay power for me.
Stay Gold / Okay, one more. I think this is my favorite non-traditional ballad by her… it really has an aura. And as a side note: Ohashi Trio is an artist who covers her songs pretty frequently, and his version of this song just takes it to another (sadder!) level. It helps that the song is so delicate and lovely to begin with.
And that’s it! Here’s to many more years of illustrious music. 20周年 おめでとう~