[Utada Hikaru] ʕ•̫͡•ʔ Upcoming 2018 Album and Tour in the 57th thread ʕ•̫͡•ʔ

[Maemi]

There is one song on new album that reminds me of that awful Kuma song... I can't stand it.

[koumori]

Originally Posted by Maemi

There is one song on new album that reminds me of that awful Kuma song... I can't stand it.

Apparently they were written around the same time. I love it, it's my new curry theme lmao

[ayumi_croatia]

Originally Posted by Maemi

There is one song on new album that reminds me of that awful Kuma song... I can't stand it.

Pakuchi no Uta? I love it. One of my favorites on the album.

Boku wa Kuma, on the other hand, is one of the reasons why Utada will never be one of my truly favorite artists. I can't stand turds like this.

[Maemi]

What do you think about the album?
Fav Hatsukoi tracks?

[aliceshields]

At first I not really into Boku wa Kuma, but as years gone and now I kind of like it.. ^^

Hmmmm compare to Fantôme, I more like Hatsukoi.

[ayu-fan]

Is the beats from Chikai supposed to sound like it’s delayed? It’s really bugging me, it could’ve been so much better with ‘normal’ beats

[chocopockymaster]

Originally Posted by ayu-fan

Is the beats from Chikai supposed to sound like it’s delayed? It’s really bugging me, it could’ve been so much better with ‘normal’ beats

I had similar feelings when the preview first leaked...I'm listening to the song in full for the first time now and it still confuses the fuck out of me. That delayed part is so uncomfortable to listen to!!!

[bluegie]

Hikki thought the beats were normal to her, so she was surprised that people got confused by the beats of the song.

Originally Posted by Maemi

There is one song on new album that reminds me of that awful Kuma song... I can't stand it.

Surprisingly I accept (and love) this song so fast, much quicker than Boku wa Kuma. Maybe because I like cooking...? lol.

Pakuchii, pakupaku...
ooooo...
pakupaku pakuchii...

[Cahz-]

Originally Posted by bluegie

Hikki thought the beats were normal to her, so she was surprised that people got confused by the beats of the song.

I would like to read that interview

[koumori]

Originally Posted by Cahz-

I would like to read that interview

posted a few pages ago

Originally Posted by ahtka-chan

I love those weird chants/backing vocals near the end of Play A Love Song. But that's the only thing I like in that song. I could've lived without this song.

Some interesting facts about the songs in the album, according to Hikki herself:
- “Chikai”: Utada received an offer to write the theme song for Kingdom Hearts III not long after releasing “Fantôme”. While Utada initially thought she was on-empty post-Fantôme, she was surprised at how easily ideas came bubbling up. “Chikai,” “Oozora,” “Forevermore” and “Anata” were all written during this creative spurt. famed drummer Chris Dave and “Chikai”: Upon the theme song trailer release for KH3, Utada heard reaction saying “I don’t understand the rhythm” and “what kind of beat is this?” Made Utada realize that something which seemed like a very simple + normal groove line for her wasn’t necessarily heard that way by others. Feels like if Chris Dave hadn’t been involved, the song would not have have succeeded since the beat was so tricky and nuanced

- “Pakuchii no Uta”: Utada had been stewing on it for around 10 years. She believes it was written around the same time as her iconic “Boku wa Kuma”

- “Yuunagi”: The song was originally to be included on Fantôme but Utada wasn’t happy with the writing. Debated whether or not to omit on “Hatsukoi” as well. Utada took herself back to the mindset of “Ningyo” in order to complete the track. “Yuunagi” contains allusions to the sea, and she considers it as a sequel of sorts to “Ningyo”.

- “Shitto saserubeki jinsei”: Because the track came out with such scale and weight, Utada wanted to write lyrics about a “Supreme Love”. Utada considers it a personal yet fictitious sort of novel. When thinking about a “Supreme Love,” she landed on the idea of a love that ends in death

- “Nokoriga”: Utada struggled a lot with the lyrics, so much so that she thought of giving up on Japanese and writing it in English. The breakthrough came when she thought of the line “kata wo sagasu” (For your warm shoulder, I search) whilst taking a bath

- Overall, Utada considers this to be an album about beginnings and endings. She thinks it carries a different sort of weight than Fantôme, but thinks it’s her most power-filled album yet

From: Ublog

[Xianghua]

I hadn't listened to Forevermore before I heard it on Hatsukoi so not sure if this was brought up before, but the beginning of Forevermore makes me think of Prisoner of Love. I don't know how to explain it.

[axmish87]

To me Forevermore sounds as that song on Mika Nakashima's album TOUGH Missing You

[Cahz-]

Originally Posted by Koumori

posted a few pages ago

thanks

[amorphose]

Originally Posted by ayu-fan

Is the beats from Chikai supposed to sound like it’s delayed? It’s really bugging me, it could’ve been so much better with ‘normal’ beats

I also thought it sounded strange when I first listened to the preview, but it's like my mind has since accepted it and it doesn't sound odd to me anymore. One of my favorites on the album.

[Baco__]

What are you guys talking? Wrong beat? lol I can't hear anything wrong at all. In fact it's my favorite song hahaha

[ayu-fan]

Originally Posted by chocopockymaster

I had similar feelings when the preview first leaked...I'm listening to the song in full for the first time now and it still confuses the fuck out of me. That delayed part is so uncomfortable to listen to!!!

I know right, at first I thought there’s something wrong with the audio, it just feels like the beat isn’t in sync with the vocal/melody. Maybe after a few more listen and I will get used to it.

[inspire_rmx]

Originally Posted by ayu-fan

Is the beats from Chikai supposed to sound like it’s delayed? It’s really bugging me, it could’ve been so much better with ‘normal’ beats

i thot it was delibrate and i really like it. haha. especially getting used to it after a few more listen. the song would be less interesting without the "delayed" beats imo

[amorphose]

Originally Posted by Baco__

What are you guys talking? Wrong beat? lol I can't hear anything wrong at all. In fact it's my favorite song hahaha

For me, it was only the beginning part before she starts singing. I don't know musical terminology so it is hard to explain. Utada herself mentioned it in one of the album interviews. U.Blog posted translations.

[summerain]

It's a 3/4 tempo song. I'm not an expert, but in music we have a lot of tempos (ayu's Humming 7/4 uses a rare tempo, for example, the one in the title) that define the rhythm of the song.

Sometimes, an artist uses some tempo to deliberately deliver a feeling or create an atmosphere. Sometimes it's cheerfulness, sadness or even discomfort.

[bluegie]

Originally Posted by amorphose

For me, it was only the beginning part before she starts singing. I don't know musical terminology so it is hard to explain. Utada herself mentioned it in one of the album interviews. U.Blog posted translations.

Oh... Weird, I don't find the melody confusing (and I'm definitely not a music expert). I always thought people were talking about the part @ 2:38.

__________________________________________________ __________________


初恋 @ Oricon album daily chart:

2018.06.26 - No. 1 - 78,948 copies
2018.06.27 - No. 1 - 50,814 copies
2018.06.28 - No. 1 - 21,427 copies
2018.06.29 - No. 1 - 12,460 copies
2018.06.30 - No. 1 - 17,753 copies
2018.07.01 - No. 1 - 20,923 copies (total: 202,325 copies)

Oricon said she sold about 204K on the first week .



Fantome's comparison:
Day 1: 87,088
Day 2: 49,728
Day 3: 27,782
Day 4: 25,038
Day 5: 28,889
Day 6: 32,065 (total: 250,590 copies)