I try to wait for the full album, but a collab with Shiina sounds so great!

I hate myself not able to resist... Now I only have 6 new songs from the album...

Track 9 is featuring rapper KOHH. He posted about it in a LINE message. Funny cause in a song of his, he samples hikkis Sakura drops and I always wondered if he got permission or not. Lol

Considering the lyrics and the way they interact with each other, I think they are playing lovers in this PV.

That was only my initial thought, I hadn't read the lyrics at the time. Didn't want to double post when I found the full translation.

Would someone mind sharing "2 Hour Vacation" through MEGAUPLOAD for me? :P

'til then, though, I am loving the look/theme of the PV! super cool - and Hikki & Shiina are so gorgeous! :heart

thxx for the radio rip:yes

I'm so excited with the Shiina collab news! They looked really pretty in that vid, I wanna watch the whole thing :heart

I adore Michi and I really like Nijikan dake no Bakansu :heart :heart The PV looks like it'll be great too. I just really love this release so far and how they're handling it. The way we get piece by piece is really keeping me excited :heart

I've also been translating the new songs, so if anyone is interested, you can find them here on my tumblr.

FULL PV IS OUT

https://vimeo.com/182962992?ref=fb-share

Fuck mxxxxxx ... It's so good. Love the setting and she looks amazing ...
Georg Lucas would love it too :rolleyes

Lesbian hikki best hikki <3

:yes

The song and the video were so good that I honestly didn't want it to end. THIS is the type of stuff I miss from the Japanese music scene. I'm madly in love with everything released so far. Hoping Utada smashes the ORICON charts.

Watched it like four times since I saw this post. Everything about this amazing. Godtada and Ringo Sheena look gorgeous :yes:yes

I'm not a Utada fan just like some of her stuff and I don't like Shiinas voice that much but sweet baby jesus that PV was amazing and it fits the song so good. Space and weird future planet romantic date. 100/10 Go Utada

So true <3

Loved the PV! They are both so beautiful!!! *_*

Amazing :mischief This is like her best PV in the last 10 years imo...

It has been deleted :eviltongu :eviltongu :eviltongu

&%QTYHuihqweuigh!

I MISSED IT. :cry

[edit]
It's on JPS!

The melody got portion of another Hikki song stuck in my head. I couldn't figure out what it was but now I finally remembered: it's "Prisoner of Love" - the part where she goes like "I'm gonna tell you the truth," (the pre-chorus I guess you'd call it). That melody or pacing is similar the melody/pacing of the melody in certain portions of this track.

Finally a pv that can match her best pv production moment...

__________________________________________________ _____________

Recochoku 9.16:

Singles:
No. 2 - 二時間だけのバカンス (feat.椎名林檎)
No. 4 - 道

Uta:
No. 1 - 二時間だけのバカンス (feat.椎名林檎)
No. 6 - 道

Video:
No. 1 - 花束を君に

One of the first reviews of the album is in and U.Blog translated the parts about songs we haven't heard yet:

“Ore no Kanojo”

Starts with a double bass sound. Adds in strings and a ‘band sound,’ and has the scent of a blues track. Lyrically, Utada performs as both a male and female character on the song.

“Ningyo”

Accompanied by a live harp and drums, “Ningyo” is beautiful. Quite adventurous for a pop song to include just vocals, a harp, and drums, but “Ningyo” succeeds

“Tomodachi with Nariaki Obukuro”

The track starts with some programmed drums. Alongside “Michi,” this song really seems to symbolize the album. Features a brass arrangement that was done by Utada herself. Makes one wonder what sort of music she was listening to during her hiatus.

“Kayou no Ookami”

Utada’s own breath is used as part of the beat. The brass section and strings sound as if they’re swirling around the track. Very soulful singing from Utada. The way that the drum and bass repeat and create an almost breakbeat rhythm, giving it a slight hip-hop feel.

“Boukyaku feat. KOHH”

KOHH’s rap draws from this idea of the space between life and death, and Utada’s vocal sound very lonely and yet raw. Heat and coldness, hard and soft, and then life and death. This contrast is illuminated through KOHH’s rapping and Utada’s vocals. The track starts w/ a beat programmed by Utada. It has a very tribal feel. Gives imagination to the idea of death. Could be the most controversial song on Fantome.

“Jinsei Saikou no Hi”

The programmed drums are very charming, and this could be the airiest song on the album. It’s amazing how Utada can so casually drop a perfect pop song like this, especially after a song like “Boukyaku feat. KOHH”

Boukyaku having tribal feel. OMG

Gosh, after reading that, I didn't think I could get more excited for this release than I already have been. Really looking forward to hearing 'Ningyo', 'Boukyaku', and 'Kayou no Ookami' but they all sound promising.

Does anyone know anything about Nariaki Obukuro, I'm not familiar with him. I'm curious how that collaboration came about.

I will try to avoid more details of the upcoming album. I've already spoiled myself so much by listening all her new songs. :P

The PV for "2 Hour Vacation" blew my mind. :blove So cool! and both Utada & Shiina Ringo were looking absolutely stunning, as well - plus, the song's just out of this world! :laugh Everything's just so amazing. Thank you, Hikki. :weep :heart

I love 二時間だけのバカンス :love

Godd i never thought i needed this album more than i do

Michi is currently sitting at #6 on Itunes.:yes
She is being held back by RADWHIMPS and ONE OK ROCK.

Can this album just leak already pls I need some light in my life

Okay, so I finally listened to 道 and 二時間だけのバカンス and they're simply amazing :heart That's literally all I've been listening to ever since and I cannot wait for Fantome. I'm so glad Utada is finally back. J-Pop needed her.

I can't identify one planet from the mv. I know that they left Earth in the beginning, and the space craft passed through Jupiter after the first chorus, then the one I can't identify during ringo's verse, then in the end they're facing Saturn.

And I think the scene where they walked around should be Mars. (or at least a planet that looks like Mars's land)
Edit: It looks like the planet in ringo's verse is Mars.. How come they showed Jupiter first, then Mars later on... :shakehead
Edit 2: It looks like Venus... I dunno anymore...

They probably were just traveling around without any special place in mind, so they traveled back and forth :P

They only had two hours to devote to their vacation, after all--I'm sure they tried to make the most of it :P

The planet during Ringo's verse is definitely Mars. Venus has a super thick atmosphere and absolutely no snow. haha

Maybe Mars and Earth were opposite each other in orbit so they needed a gravity assist from Jupiter to get to Mars before their two hours was up. :laugh

But in the end of the two hour, they're facing Saturn... Let's say they're leaving Saturn (instead of going there in the last 20 seconds of the pv), so they had to mess around with Jupiter's gravity to Mars in between... Very confusing indeed.
LOL spending time finding why this was happened when it's just a pv... :P

Her music station performance airs soon! She's performing "Sakura Nagashi" :heart

I hope someone will release the ts file asap. Can't wait!

Good choice! I imagine people still remember the song from the last Evangelion movie.

That Eva version of Sakura Nagashi PV is just awesome, I really really love it :heart

the PV is great, I'm happy she's back

JPS has the performance now.

I hope she inspires some creativity in Jpop again lol.

^thats what we all hope for, cause J-Pop been too save and dull with some exceptions the last years...
with all the songs we know so far i'm really pleased so far with this album!
especially "2 Hours Vacance", it's been on repeat since 2-3 days

Sigh... Haven't seen her performing live in such a long time. I'm so glad she does promotions this time.

Her performance was everything :love

It was actually better than I thought (I read ublog before watching the live). She seemed a bit nervous in the beginning, but getting emotional in the end. I closed my eyes and just listen to her voice... so splendid....

I still can't believe she's back. :scry

9 Days !!!

I think I never heard Hikki having so much control over her own voice! Her vocals were pretty solid, and this makes me very happy (and surprised)! <3

Her performance on Music Station was simply beautiful. Vocals were on point and she seemed pretty emotional singing "Sakura Nagashi". I just can't wait for Fantôme to be out!

One wonders why she didn't sing First Love. Or Can You Keep a Secret? Or Hikari. Or, y'know, a ~special medley~ given that this is a special episode meant to appeal to the general undiscerning public who just wants to hear hits amirite?

My guess is she sang a recent song because it's her long-waited comeback and her first TV performance over a half-decade. And the song being Evangelion theme could help the choice.

Everyone's record sales are declining, but it's clear who has more confidence in their new music. I respect Hikki a lot for this. She's obviously trying to sell a record, but at least she's trying, and it's forward looking. Ayu's new music isn't necessarily inferior. I wish she (or her management) would give her hard work the due respect it deserves.

The theme being hit songs there would be nothing Ayu could sing that wouldn't be at least 5 or even 10 years old. She had her fair share of songs big among her fandom and even some that got notorious over the years because they were performed at concerts, but she didn't had a general public hit in a while.

Unlike Hikki who had this tie-in from a movie that "earned Japan's second-highest weekend box office of 2012 with 1,131,004,600 yen (US$13,913,200).[20] The film subsequently grossed the equivalent of over US $60 million at box office." font

In other words, unlike Ayu, Hikki had a 4 years old hit to sing that happens to be part of her next album.

I don't want to be that person but is there anywhere to watch/download this performance and I'm dying to see it and, of course, I can't find it anywhere

All of her 4 pre-order tracks off Fantôme are in the Top 20 on iTunes Japan, Sakura Nagashi at #12 after her live performance!

Gosh, i'm really addicted to Sakura Nagashi lately.
I've barely listened to it but i gave it a new try with the release of Fantôme and i rediscovered it. I feel bad that i didn't paid attention to it at its release.

The live is amazing. Hikki's vocals are awesome.
Glad that she is back. I can't wait for Fantôme. I love Michi already.

Ah thank you so much!!!

Edit:

Oh my God, that was a great performance. I really, really felt her emotions. It was powerful and honest. The best performance she's done in a long time and I'm really glad she sung that song because I love it sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much.
(the only criticism I have is that I hate those shoes.)

nice performance...but I really can't stop counting on how many times she blink during the performance..

I'm so proud of Utada right now. Between her and Ayu finally doing CMs and promo and trying to be herself again, I think J-Pop is on its way back to substance. Far too long we've had to rely on Namie to carry the pop torch. I hope Koda's next album is impressive too.

But for now, Utada may very well take the trophy of best J-Pop album from Miliyah Kato. Miliyah's LIBERTY is still the best album I've heard in years, but I sincerely think Utada will thief that right away.

She blinked A LOT in the beginning, almost once every second. She must be quite nervous.

^ I actually thought she was going to cry. It seemed to me she was blinking to hold back tears.

I could be wrong, but it seemed like she was putting a lot of effort/emotion into that performance. Lyrically it fits so well with her life in the moment, I feel. "No matter how frightening it is, I won't look away if there is love at the end of it all."

Of course, that's totally subjective. That's just what I've taken from it, however.

Does anyone have a mp3 rip from the MUSIC STATION performance?

^
I would be interested in an MP3 as well!

Isn't she the queen of blinking? If someone imitate her (monomane) they always show that side of her that keep on blinking

Who's the guy in the middle ...???

The one with the tuque? Toshiaki Karasawa

Thank you :)

Ublog - Fantôme is no #1 on Amazon, Rakuten, Tower Records and HMV ! :D

I really really like her new CM ...

http://natalie.mu/music/news/202556

Yesterday's "Sakura Nagashi" performance was beyond incredible - and even I've gotten a bit emotional towards the end, while watching it. Amazing job, Hikki. :heart

Thanks, I love it! :love

NHK songs airs in less than 24 hours. She's performing "Michi," "Hanataba wo Kimi ni" and "Tomodachi." :love

Nariaki Obukuro will be joining her to perform "Tomodachi!"

We're getting the new album in less than a week! :D *excited*

SONGS is available at JPS.

EDIT: you can see all performances at https://twitter.com/phyocc.

I don't know what's wrong with my VLC player but I haven't been able to play ANY of the .ts files from JPS without converting them to another file type first. :grumpy

^they work perfectly fine for me
No converting whatsoever
She was good I was really enjoying tomodachi
Can't wait for Fantome to drop already

wow. this album is shaping up to be really amazing.

I just realized that I'm missing a lot of utada's discography in my collection. All I have is the single collection USB, First Love Deluxe 15th Anniversary Edition, Heart Station, Exodus, and Utada United 2006.

Gonna go order the things I'm missing. Were there any first press bonuses or limited edition things for her releases? I don't really remember...

DEEP RIVER better get the hell out of the way because FANTOME IS COMING. :laugh

I think all of her albums had first edition picture discs. DEEP RIVER and ULTRA BLUE did for sure. DEEP RIVER, Distance, and First Love also had extremely limited vinyl pressings. I have the DR one. They're extremely high quality packages and records.

Not a fan of Tomodachi.

OMG.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13...ps0ny7s5ow.jpg

Also...Brett is realllllllly annoying, whoever they are.

^^Did you see her second response? She burned him. lmao

https://twitter.com/utadahikaru/stat...99948683640836
Also, for anyone who wants the mp3 of "Tomodachi" from NHK songs:
https://mega.nz/#!BZ0w2JAa

YAS UTADA <3

Not just sad and alienating, it's a damn good criticism of people trying to be politically correct. They rather end up making assumptions about someone (like Brett thinking Utada is just some average straight girl) or they assume a certain person can only be related to by people exactly like them, which itself promotes exclusion.

Go Utada!

I loved her answer. It's also so great that she spent some time of her busy day to answer that question, most artists would have ignored the person (especially if they were that annoying).

Just watched the performances.:luv2
I really like Tomodachi, it reminds me of Letters a bit. I look forward to hearing the album version.
As for the twitter troll, I can't.:rolleyes
Those kind of people really get under my skin. It is only a song.
Utada is a great storyteller through her lyrics, this song is about a gay person falling in love with a straight person. It isn't a song to "represent" the LGBT population, it wasn't made for that purpose. Utada wrote it as fiction to my knowledge. But even if it was based on a true story it wouldn't matter. It happens in real life, unrequited love is universal among all people. So sick of the social justice warrior/politically correct culture.:dead2
There is an article about it on arama japan, that same person is still going on about it in the comment section of the article. There are some mentions of Ayu too.:rolleyes

Lyrics and translation courtesy of U.Blog:

English Translation
-


--

Romaji
-

Just amazing!! I've felt this way before and she describes it so well. Love it.

I'm so in love with her lyrics for this album. First Manatsu no Tooriame with all the poetic death and grief, then Michi, now the best song I know about recovering and moving on after a loss, and now Tomodachi, which also hits very close to home with some excellent lines ("These embarassing fantasies and unfulfilled dreams / I’ll have to take them with me / To the graveyard" same, Hikki). I've never really thought of Hikki as a great lyricist before but maybe I've been overlooking many things.

Also, Michi is everything, such a unique and wonderful pop song. It's really hard for my voice, but I can't stop singing along. I can't wait for the whole album to drop, she's really raised my expectations.

I can't recall if ULTRA BLUE's pictorial disc is first press or just normal press. But Distance and DR's first presses are definitely pictorial discs. Also, DR's first press included a poster (which cdjapan didn't give me at that time cuz i didn't specify when I ordered the cd, and because they wanted extra shipping at that time :eviltongu) I'm not sure if First Love had first press, but HS doesn't have one I believe.

I'm so in love with this album!!!! I can't wait for the whole album to drop!!! Gotada is truly amazing!!!! *_*

Thank you for this! Could you possibly do one for Sakura nagashi?

https://mega.nz/#!BZ0w2JAa

Says a decrypt key is needed...?

Michi is amazing!! But why is Utada's discography not on Apple Music? :(

I liked only Michi so far.

Wonder if the album will be leaked over the weekend :/

Just watched SONGS and I'm so impressed <3 She's rocking it! Love "Michi"! And she's looking so good with that hair and make up. Her styling is ON POINT! The stage was really good as well. Can't wait for Fantôme!