Well, like a Utadafied version of Enka.

Has she ever sung enka? I can't remember.

Btw, does anyone know about the reception in Japan? Do they like the songs?

I actually do think that Manatsu no Toori Ame is about her mom's death. Is it too early to suspect? XD anyway, the lyrics on the preview are quite sad for me especially the last line "shadow of the standing person sayinh farewell."

Once she called her mom the goddess of storm, and IMO this time she refers to her as the rain. She died sometime in August and that's like midsummer. A sudden rain on summer is probably referring to her sudden death.

And i kinda think that the reason why she refers to her mom as "rain" this time is because its calm, like probably how she'd wish her mom is at peace wherever she may be at right now.

This song is giving me life even from the short preview. I can't wait to hear it in full.

^Well, that have a lot of sense. I mean, I've read that the song "Arashi no Megami" was written to her mother or dedicated to her...

I'm starting to love Mantasu no Toori Ame more. I know that she's always have a special place in my heart (as I've been her fan since 1999), but listening to her new songs really diggin my inner heart out, that how I've been missing her voice so much for the past few years.

You know, not to totally change topic here, but I'm starting to really like Hanabata wo Kimi Ni. I've listened to it several more times and it's just.. enjoyable in a very soft, relaxing way. Was it what I was expecting for a comeback song? No. Perhaps I put too much pressure and was thinking too much of what I was hoping it was going to be rather than what it was. I actually find myself listening to it more than Manatsu no Toori Ame.

I really am enjoying what we've heard of both songs so far. I'm confident that the full versions will both be great, but I'm betting Manatsu no Tooriame is gonna be earth shattering. :yes

What label is Utada right now in? Because whatever label she is in...that label hasn't complied with the dreaded YouTube Red rules that its videos are blocked pretty much anywhere YouTube Red is offered, e.g. United States (along with AKB48, Victor Entertainment (with Leo Ieiri), Pony Canyon (e.g. Rina Katahira, aiko), Being group (such as B'z, BREAKERZ))...

(Seriously, I don't like YouTube Red at all. Especially when it comes to limiting J-pop stateside. (>_<))

Is she going to make PVs for her new songs..

any information..?

Know how lazy hikki is, probly not lol. The last so-called decent pv (to me) was HEART STATION. Prisoner of Love was plain as butt, Goodbye Happiness was cute but I would not call that a decent production (even I know hikki was the director). I really wanna see hikki making pvs as beautiful (if not prettier) as the ones directed by kiriya, but I doubt she will put efforts in pv nowadays (if she's doing it).

Both songs will get a PV.
Source: http://www.utadahikaru.jp/news-e/

She's under Universal Music Japan.

http://www.jpopasia.com/news/program...gs::19302.html

Did anyone else see this? Apparently Toto Nee-chan ("Hanataba" theme song) had the highest ratings for morning drama in 15 years, with some 20% of TV viewers tuning in to the show.

The news program NEWS ZERO had their highest ratings for the year after debuting Manatsu.

I wonder if this will actually be a huge comeback for Utada.

Universal? I didn't know that... But I thought we could watch Perfume videos (Perfume's also part of Universal) on YouTube here stateside! Hmm... Not sure why...

Now I have more faith in hikki getting no. 1 on digital chart. At the very least, people are still interested in hikki. She's really Godtada :D.

Were we ever worried she wasn't going to get no. 1? haha xD That is very good news, however. Good to hear and better to see. :)

I still remember how sad I was when hikki couldn't get no. 1 anymore after she released Passion. And technically Sakura Negashi didn't get weekly no. 1 (it was monthly no. 1 tho :P). Btw, both new singles will be released on Friday, so unless loads of people downloading the songs in Japan, they might end up not getting weekly no. 1.

Oh Goodness, you're right. I completely forgot about that. My bad, my bad.

Still, that news is good to hear!

Regardless of whether she hits number one, I bet they'll both crack the top 10 and that'll be impressive to have two songs charting in the top 10 simultaneously!

Rankings dont really matter with Hikki, even though her singles used to have a great longevity, but she isnt really a single artist after all. both of ayu and kuu used to sell more singles, but eventually in terms of albums hikki was selling way more.

Anyways im soo excited about the new singles. New day of slay :heart