teaser for the PINK BLOOD PV... seems the song will be released soon.
also the first episode of "To Your Eternity" aired so we should get the opening soon with the song.

TV version of "PINK BLOOD":

I keep forgetting to share this. I think it is just so cool.:luv2

omg so cool thanks for sharing

PINK BLOOD cover and new artist photo revealed
Bigger versions are under the spoiler.

https://i.imgur.com/UVEstLV.png

https://i.imgur.com/4mzAKVQ.png

LOVE both the cover and the promo shot! :heart

So cool!!! That's great to hear the digital single PINK BLOOD is gonna be released on the June 2nd of 2021 [wish it was sooner...]
Also does anyone here currently watching her IG LIVE? Can someone tell us what's going on and what we missed? Or more info about the PINK BLOOD song? :D

Thanks

I love the picture for the cover but I really dislike the font xd

Love the cover! Quite different for her I feel!

The full MV for Pink Blood will be premiered at midnight on June 2nd here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_Ry2dM0B34

15 second video teaser they've re-uploaded

^I'm so excited for this single aaaaah!

It's out!

Loved it! She's gorgeous and it's kinda sexy and elegant.

Her best PV since Keep Tryin' and Nijikan dake no Vacance! Perfect combo of PV, cover and song!

It's great! Though I do have to say I like the video more than the song itself. PINK BLOOD seems to be more of a grower for me.

the song is such a mood. i'm vibing non-stop. love the ethereal and electronic approach all songs have and her next album literally could be one of my faves. hope she announce it soon, i expect a late august/september release.
also the direction her lyrics/themes go this era >>>>>>

the video is one of her best. love the whole aesthetic and it fits the song so well.

love the video but the song is a big no for me.

loved the video too, the song was too..I don't know, unmelodic/out of sync for me?
It's nice she grows and changes tho.

^I think my main issue is with the "pink blood" part in the beginning. I can't quite put my finger on it but it sounds somewhat off/weirdly unmelodic to me.

Yeah, her voice seems to be out of sync with the music itself, but that's probably a stylistic choice. So far I enjoy the instrumental, quite relaxing.

Yeah, I've loved what she's been releasing so far, but "PINK BLOOD" sounds odd to me. The music is great, but I don't like her vocal performance much.

yeah, it sure is, but nothing I adapt to easily

love love love the lyrics :heart

Beautiful production and instrumental, but the melody is really bland imo. It’s very repetitive. Definitely my least favorite of everything she’s done post-Hatsukoi.

I LOVE THE SONG and LYRICS. I wish it could be more harmonious compare to the To Your Eternity version. But again, I think that's her intention to be this way?

I'm not sure what she meant when she sings the "Pink blood, pink blood,..." intro...it sounds like an...ad-libs in a way?

Or does anyone know what it means? : )

Latest interview: https://www.billboard-japan.com/special/detail/3186

Does anyone know an English translation of this interview that exists somewhere on the net? Not sure I can rely on Google translate. Thanks!

An English interview is up on Dazed!

She talks a little about the inspiration for One Last Kiss / Pink Blood, about becoming famous at a young age, and a little about her feelings when she debuted in the US.


To be honest, this part of the interview made me tear up:

Hikki came out as nonbinary during today's Instagram live!
Here is a clip of them (I assume those are their preferred pronouns?) saying it: https://twitter.com/fushizengirl/sta...415105025?s=19

I don't think it's too much of a surprise to fans after their last IG caption but I'm so glad they feel comfortable enough to say it like that. :)

Saw the news about Icon Utada being gender non-binary. Slay Icon! Love you and Goddess of Nature bless you <3

Also pink blood was low-key garbage and I probably cant listen to one last kiss for the foreseeable future.

not unexpected, but very happy for them.

Hikki also said that there are a lot of questions about what the meaning behind "pink blood" is?!
they can't answer that yet, but will very soon…
i wouldn't be surprised if their album is also called PINK BLOOD and it will be announced soon.

So happy for Hikki. And this is big because they are the most mainstream and famous person in Japan to ever come out as non binary. This will give alot of Japanese LGBT people hope.

Side comment: how did the thread title change? I’ve been trying to do that but I couldn’t figure out how. Thanks to whoever did that!

So happy for Hikki and proud of them!!

As URANUS said, Hikki is probably the biggest celebrity to come out as nonbinary in Japan. I can only imagine how impactful that must be for the Japanese LGBTQ+ community!

Hikki is the face & the global ambassador of Shiseido's latest campaign! The official reveal is only in three days, though.

This commercial also features a new song by Hikki! They've mentioned during one of their IG lives that the new album will have at least one English song. Maybe this is the one? It would definitely make sense, given that it appears to be a global campaign.




Photo from outside a Shiseido store:

literally this album is shaping up to be amazing for me… love all the singles they released so far. i think with the start of the SHISEIDO campaign well be getting an album announcement as well shortly after.

I'm enjoying this era lot, too! I have to say PINK BLOOD is sadly the one song that I can't warm up to (which is a shame, since I adore its video) but Time is still one of my favourites and I overall really enjoy their recent musical output. This is going to be a great album.:love

so happy for Hikki for having come out as non-binary. seeing the pronouns change acknowledged in this thread following their announcement makes me happy too.

what an amazing way to show support, validation, and encouragement to LGBTQIA+ people that love their music :luv2

That endorsement worths the album

English-audio CM:

Here's a 30s preview without somebody talking over the song:


The new song is called "Find Love" and it has been confirmed to be an English song! I love the way they sing "control". Obviously, I haven't heard a lot of the song yet but it sounds very good so far, possibly the best (imo) since Time. I have a feeling this is shaping up to be my favourite post-hiatus album! :heart

I wonder if this the last single before they release an album this autumn?

EDIT: Just wanted to add this short video of Hikaru talking a bit about gender.

They’re absolutely killing it with promotion and new music! I love to see the enthusiasm.

Here is the minute long version! I keep seeing it on TV and I really like the song

luvs it

I am LOVING Find Love, a bit more than PINK BLOOD tbh. I'm so exited for the new album!

(big picture under the cut)



A new song is coming in October!
It will be the theme song for the TBS drama Saiai.
And their first theme song for a Friday night drama.

We are awaiting more details!
https://twitter.com/saiai_tbs/status...491688973?s=20

edit- forgot the correct pronoun, sorry.

forgot to mention as well, Hikki wrote the song specifically for this drama, the translation for the show is "beloved" or "dearest"

Ooh exciting! I think I will avoid listening to this one until the eventual album releases but look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts on it!

There is going to be HIKARU UTADA EXHIBITION 2021 in Sony stores across the country.
It's an extension of the PINK BLOOD EXHIBITION that was in Ginza Sony Park last June.

10/2-10/11: Nagoya
10/23-10/31: Sapporo
11/6-11/15: Fukuoka
11/20-11/28: Osaka
1/19 - 1/31: Ginza

Details:
1. There will be a photo booth setup using the mirrors from the PINK BLOOD promotional pictures.
2. Costume exhibitions from PINK BLOOD and the Shiseido commercial, as well as photos from PINK BLOOD by the photographer TAKAY, who shot the Hatsukoi jacket art.
3. Listening of both the domestic and US analogue versions of One Last Kiss
4. PINK BLOOD and One Last Kiss MV will be playing on sony screens.

Also, it says they will display some information about PINK BLOOD and Find Love.

They are encouraging visitors to post on social media with the hashtag #HIKARUUTADAEXHIBITION2021

new song: Kimi Ni Muchuu, a tie in for TBS drama『最愛』
https://youtu.be/DHq1Nigwjh4

Hikki's 8th album is scheduled for release next spring!
They will announce details on December 9th, but have uploaded the album teaser.

"Kimi ni Muchuu" will be released this Friday in Japan! Hopefully someone will drop it in Jpopsuki the day before.

She will hold a special online concert in 2022 too. I'm totally excited with all these news!

^ah nice, I avoided most songs from this album.
Why would you need the song a day early? I understood it back in the day when the song was out weeks before the single/CD to listen to rips and leaks, but what is the use nowerdays? A day more or less doesn't matter in my eyes.

Because they normally post lossless 24bit version of it, Spotify doesn't provide that quality yet.

Ah okay - I‘m on Apple Music but I don’t hear a difference n my earphones or its to subtile. Still does not explain why it has to be a day early ;p

That's just because of the time zone. Friday in Japan it's still Thursday here in Brazil.

I hope we get an album title and cover soon at least! She's the last remaining JPop artist I still really keep tabs on and get excited about.

Kimi ni Muchuu is a good ballad with superb arrangement.

Love seeing an inspired queen!

I love the sound of the preview

New album "BAD mode" on sale 1/19 (digital) & 2/23 (physical)!



https://twitter.com/hikki_staff/stat...00182338375681

Well that is an interesting title. Looking forward to the track list given how many singles we have gotten.

^I'm guessing 11 tracks with 6 singles.
The Blu-Ray will have a concert that is held on 19.01

Kimi in Muchuu MV

Nobody talks about the hidden meaning behind this picture?

That little running boy is a bit creepy in the picture, tho.

I don’t know anything about a hidden meaning, but pretty sure that’s Hikki’s son.

Forgot to mention, Hikki tweeted a few weeks ago that they’re working on an English version of Kimi ni Muchuu!

I agree. I don't think there's a "hidden meaning" but the image can definitely be interpreted a number of ways. I see it as Hikki (finally?) standing still after the whirlwind they found themselves in being a new parent. Or something like that.

I feel old to see that.

I remember that time she released DISTANCE at the same time as A BEST. The battle of the sales was iconic.

in one of her ask hikaru insta lives she said that while she usually sings about her relationship with others, this album she sings about her relationship with herself. so i guess that's where this more personal cover idea comes from.

can't wait for the Bad Mode song and video. also hope she releases a vinyl for it too

Needed this reminder about their pronouns. Thanks for that.

^Hikki's pronouns are actually she/they.

We previously didn't know this but it was added to her Instagram not too long ago. Thus, using either is fine. Good to know for sure!


On another note, a 2-minute long LQ snippet of the album's title track has leaked. Here's the link if anyone wants to listen to it: https://twitter.com/m96912032/status...j2kYtD4gg&s=19

It sounds very good IMO! I've said this before but I have a feeling this album is shaping up to be a new favourite of mine – the tite track only confirms that.
I thoroughly enjoyed the last two albums but this is more "my vibe". I still adore Time, and One Last Kiss feels like a new classic to me already.
The only song I haven't grown to love yet is "Pink Bood" (even though it has her best video in years). It's not bad, far from it, but for some reason it never fully clicked with me. I do like it, though. :)
Also, I'm really eager to finally listen to Find Love!! :heart Can't believe it's been half a year since we first heard snippets of it in the SHISEIDO commercials.

Bad Mode is out in about a week and a half... very surprised I haven't seen the full tracklist for the album announced yet...

Guess we are gonna find out during the digital release, because we will have a physical one later on.

tracklist:

1. BADモード
2. 君に夢中
3. One Last Kiss
4. PINK BLOOD
5. Time
6. 気分じゃないの (Not In The Mood)
7. 誰にも言わない
8. Find Love
9. Face My Fears (feat. Skrillex)
10. Somewhere Near Marseilles ―マルセイユ辺り―
Bonus Tracks:
11. Beautiful World (Da Capo Version)
12. キレイな人 (Find Love)
13. Face My Fears (English)
14. Face My Fears (A.G. Cook Remix)

I hope this is a Joke ...

also they'll release all their japanese studio albums on vinyl omg

First Love, Distance and Deep River (March 10th)

ULTRA BLUE, HEART STATION, Fantôme and BADモード (April 27th)

it's all up on CdJapan, there's also a re-issue of 初恋 which will be up for preorder next week I think.

Edit:
I just spent 385$ on this whole collection :dead2

nope, 3 (well 4) new songs :dead2

Weeell.

I kinda expected something like that, so I'm not really all that shocked/disappointed. Still, I did hope we'd get around 5-6 new tracks but 4 (I count Find Love) is okay.
I could have loved without a third version of Face My Fears, though. It's a great song but adding that remix that feels a bit excessive (gives me Cher putting three versions of Woman's World on the target deluxe version of "Closer to the Truth" vibes) and Beautiful World (Da Capo) is already on the OLK EP. Nevertheless, I'll wait with my full judgement until I have actually listened to the album as a whole.

Short version of BADモード:


Full PV will be out on 19th January, 2022.

Again - I told you guys to stop listening to singles :)
Except for FMF and OLK everything is new to me. Win win.

Will order all vinyls too. But in two batches I guess.

It is a bit lame that the album feels so bare, but at least the tracks are all top-tier Utada.
The only song I don't like is "PINK BLOOD".

I'm not sure whether I should order the vinyls. I kinda want to get DR and HS, and maybe Fantôme as well. But those are not cheap with shipping.

And the tracklist... Well not too surprised, still a tiny bit disappointed. Also, don't really feel BADモード (yet), probably the mv is too distracting (lol).

You better order them soon. They were all sold out on cdjapan a few hours ago, but now cdjapan accepts orders again. Who knows when the vinyls will be sold out again...

sad its like only 4 new songs, but tbh i love all of these songs i've heard.
so overall its an incredible album for me so far.

also BADモード (song) leaked a week ago and wasn't into it at first, but this is a song that needs time and when it clicks it really clicks.


i'm so happy i couldn't sleep last night so i could preorder all of the vinyls as soon as they popped up on cdjapan :dead2

Just ordered all vinyls . Shipping was half the price for the complete bundle.
Sad there is no EP for SC2s second disc.

^but her songs are so good! we can't help ourselves T_T.

BADmode is so hot!

Half the price? Darn! I should ordered all then. :shakehead Is it cdjapan or somewhere else?

I only ordered DR and HS in the end, cuz those two albums are the ones I want the most. And just checked, only BADモード and Distance are available on cdjapan.

When I tried to order the first three I had to pay 70 Dollar shipping, now I paid 80 for all seven.

I haven't listened to any of the songs on the tracklist, ever. So it's all completely new to me. I'm excited!

It seems that 気分じゃないの (Not In The Mood) is 7 and a half minutes long, while Somewhere Near Marseilles lasts almost 12 minutes. :o

yes it leaked on jpopsuki in FLAC. it will be available on japanese sites in 1 hour

dear lord... this album is so good...
i literally love every single song :dead2

her son plays violin in BADモード (song) and sings in Not in the Mood. cute!

album is a masterpiece btw.

This album is so cohesive and honestly my fave overall album since their return from hiatus, even though there are songs on Fantome and Hatsukoi I enjoy more individually, at least for now. Having not listened to any songs beforehand aside from One Last Kiss definitely helped imo.

BAD Mode has such a “scandalous” outro I’m so into it. The only song I’m not sure on is PINK BLOOD, but that seems to be a common thing. I can easily get lost with Somewhere in Marseille, which may be the point given the length. Def my fave.

Question tho: Find Love or Kirei no Hito?

I'm listening to the entire album now on Apple music. I feel sad to say this but I can't get into the new songs so far (except Find Love, both versions, which I haven't listened yet). Though so far I really like the flow of the album. Just like many people said, this album is very cohesive in terms of arrangements. And somehow I appreciate more to the previous songs I didn't really like (Time, Darenimo, etc.). Also I think she tuned up a bit in some of her singles.

Atm I think this could be a stronger album than Hatsukoi, but I like Hatsukoi's singles more.

Hmm I like the album but I can't see myself listening to SiM on its own. I hate too long songs.

Album is great, but Somewhere Near Marseilles isn't for me lol
12 minutes of what feels like the same thing over and over...I def will not be seeking it out to listen to.

this album is probably going to be one of my faves, I'm so in love with the album...
from someone that has a big appreciation of electronic and experimental music, tracks like SIM feels immaculate to me. for me the sound + lyrics... I get it.

also the live sessions? They sounded great and I gagged they performed Hotel Lobby and About Me... where is the Exodus vinyl?

ARE YOU KIDDING? OMG, I really want to see it right now.

Oh shit, finally the weird album I have been waiting since Exodus!
Thanks Godtada!