The 17th Tasty Apple & Cinnamon Thread of Utada Hikaru!

[Akutenshi]

Originally Posted by Amai Yume

yep yep, I think the Flavor of Life [Original Version] kinda gives this feeling of hope. Like the lyrics talk about the aftermath of a breakup and the music kinda supports it by showing there is hope. At least that's what comes to me during the instrumental breaks. The ballad version has her vocals, which portray the emotion very well IMO, especially in the end.

The chorus of Making Love is where the emotion comes forward, especially when she sings the title.

I agree with you in saying Hikki can portray emotions from her voice and even though a lot of her songs don't bring tears to my eyes, her voice really does a good job. I only wish that there was an even stronger emotional presence from the song to match the vocals to really make me feel it even more.

I agree with your last statement, and I guess that's why songs like Be My Last and Prisoner of Love really do it for me. Her voice, the melody, and the music itself all connect. I used to HATE Be My Last, a LOT. But one day, the music just kind of clicked with me, and it made the song perfect, in my eyes.

[Amai Yume]

that just goes to show ya, songs can really grow on you that you never thought they would.
Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro began to click with me too because I really didn't care for it at first and even though I might want to skip it as I listen to the whole album, it's gotten to the point where I still pay attention. With Be My Last, I just wait for Passion to click on lol

[Akutenshi]

I had the same thing with Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro, I really disliked it at first, but now I find it to be another of her most beautiful songs to date. I always saw Dareka... and Be My Last as twins, mostly because they're both sad, acoustic tracks that use real instruments on an otherwise synth-pop album.

[Amai Yume]

I still think they are the worst tracks on Ultra Blue butttt I can see what you mean about them being twins. I never think of them like that but I see where you're going

Originally Posted by Amai Yume

The chorus of Making Love is where the emotion comes forward, especially when she sings the title.

I agree, and also the pre-chorus bits really pull at my heartstrings:

"I want you to be happy more than anyone
Sadness doesn't suit your eyes
Why do you act like you don't feel anything
It's already evening but it's still bright"

Love those lyrics, and the melody is gold.

Originally Posted by Akutenshi

The lyrics are some of her most realistic and down-to-earth that she's ever written, IMO. Especially when taken in a Japanese mindset. And I don't get what you mean about it not being conveyed right. The song is desperate, sad, and pleading. It's in the lyrics, the melody, and the way she sings it.

I dunno, I don't hear much emotion in a lot of her songs. I mean, not nearly as strongly as in Be My Last.

The thing about BML is that there is absolutely no subtlety. It's so in-your-face dramatic that it kind of turns me off. I find that little hints of sadness or anger, or especially bittersweetness like in "Making Love", are so much more powerful than the obviousness of BML.

Originally Posted by Amai Yume

I still think they are the worst tracks on Ultra Blue butttt I can see what you mean about them being twins. I never think of them like that but I see where you're going

No, not my "Dareka no..."! I love that song to pieces. The video especially did it for me, I fell in love the first time I saw that.

[Amai Yume]

hahahaha, the song has grown on me at least a little bit though. Hikki's done better hehe
And yes, Making Love lyrics are sooo good.

[bluegie]

I think... BML, FoL, Dareka are really different types (even tho I do treat BML as a twin of Dareka... probly 1) both have simple instruments; 2) I couldn't distinguish the transition between verse and chorus for both songs when I first heard them; 3) strong vocals for both).

Dareka is a really sad song, probly the saddest in those three. I especially love it when she sings the title part: When someone’s wish comes true that girl will be crying. It just simple tells everyone's wishes will not be granted at the same time. No one gets happy at the same time. Thinking about that is just... sad.

BML is another thing. For me, it's more likely a desperate feeling rather than being sad (well it's still sad, but to me, desperation covers the whole thing). It's like she shouted loudly that she wants the love, so painful that I feel like bloods leaking from her heart. The emotion driven in this song is just fantastic.

FoL is yet another thing. It's like there's no alternative solution and it feels like something has to move on. It's sad, but at the same time I feel there's a hope in the future. So it's more likely an implicit emotion..

Bonus: Deep River is emotional but it's not about love. It's more about thinking (I can say this is one of the most philosophic works off hikki). I just simply love her lyrics. It's... one of her best .

[Amai Yume]

OMG YES, Deep River is soooo good. Now THAT is a song that can bring me to tears. Love these lyrics

I’m searching today
For you, who changed your form so many times
Before you descended before me
We don’t need to try
To be accepted anywhere
We have all been blessed with a sword of individuality

I agree that it is one of her best.

^That is pure poetry right there... I love Deep River's lyrics. I think more recently "Teiku 5" has shown me she really has an amazing strength in lyric writing... I love how she's talking about wanting to pass away because it will be so peaceful, without any disappointments, failures or conflicts. This is so beautiful:

What version of myself makes me happy?
Like the sky that has no success nor failure
I want to be translucent
Take off my coat and step inside
With no beginning and no end
This day we call today, I’d like to live with grace

Wow, that honestly makes me wanna shed a tear! Beautiful, I never thought about death like that.

[Amai Yume]

That is true true poetry.
Hikki really can write lyrics to hit the heartstrings.
Niji-iro Bus has some wonderful lyrics as well

[ALPHY]

I just think it's amazing how the mood changes throughout Nijo-iro BASU. <3

@DDD: New set already? Meh.

[ayumisrael]

Originally Posted by bluegie

Bonus: Deep River is emotional but it's not about love. It's more about thinking (I can say this is one of the most philosophic works off hikki). I just simply love her lyrics. It's... one of her best .

Oh I was almost sure that Deep River is about people's problems in their life and how they slowly can confront them =P oh well...

I wonder... what is teiku 5 about?

[ALPHY]

Originally Posted by ayumisrael

I wonder... what is teiku 5 about?

Death.

Someone correct if I'm wrong.

[Beauty4123]

from utada's blog!

Spoiler:

last friends ~kuma version~ LOL.

[CHE.R.RY]

Originally Posted by Beauty4123

from utada's blog!

Spoiler:

last friends ~kuma version~ LOL.

Omg...that is so cute ...

LMAO @ Last Kumas. So cute! I guess she really DOES like this drama.

Originally Posted by ALPHABEAT

I just think it's amazing how the mood changes throughout Nijo-iro BASU. <3

@DDD: New set already? Meh.

Sorry! I have yours saved though. I finally found the DOLCE PB online and had to use the pics for something. Gomen!

[Akutenshi]

Originally Posted by dddaiyamondo

The thing about BML is that there is absolutely no subtlety. It's so in-your-face dramatic that it kind of turns me off. I find that little hints of sadness or anger, or especially bittersweetness like in "Making Love", are so much more powerful than the obviousness of BML.

I see where you're coming from, and maybe that's why I like it. I like upfront rather than subtlety.

But I think I can agree with everyone on Deep River and Take 5, those are some of the best lyrics she's written in her career, I think.

[bakacat]

Aww, that Kuma version of Last Friends so so cute!

[Melrose]

Originally Posted by karenpang

lol but sometimes the reverse effect can happen in that you can come up with the lyrics of the song 1st & then the melody/music or the opposite isn't it ?

Yea, I just thought the word "song" was kinda off because to me it means melody + lyrics.

Originally Posted by Luv ~Venus~

IMO, the whole song sounds sad. @_@ Everytime I listen to it, it that sad feeling from it. You guys didn't feel the same way????


....and Yay! HS/POL is still hanging on strong despite the new releases. HS is @ 21 amd POL is @ 24. I hope the last eppy of LF is epic.

IMO Passion is just sad. ^^; How can anyone think the "aaaaaaaaaahs!" in the BG sound happy. @_@

Originally Posted by Ayulover_06

There's only been two songs that have made me cry:

Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro (as I said)
Stay Gold (I have no idea why but something about the piano melody really touched me.)

Ooh, that's cool~ ^.^ The only Hikki song that made me teary eyed (not cry lol I only did that to Ayu's HEAVEN I think...) is Stay Gold too... Oh and Be My Last. Becaaausseee... I can relate to the lyrics of both. And Stay Gold is just really sweet and sad. The piano alone makes me sad. Be My Last's chorus and the "aaaaaaaah!" leading up to the chorus are so emotional, and then the "be my laaaaast", it's so perfect. ;__;

BUT I'm still in the stage of downloading her songs and listening to them for the first time. That stage is so much fun! ^_^ I wish I had saved some Ayu songs for listening later too lolz. I still gotta dl Koda's discography too but I dont think I like her old songs much, judging from her BEST compilation albums.

Originally Posted by ALPHABEAT

Death.

Someone correct if I'm wrong.

Ya. That's why it ends so suddenly. Like she dies. I don't get the connection between death and the lyrics AT ALL (after reading it several times), but Hikki said it herself I think so it must be true. @_@

^About Teiku 5's lyrics, I didn't get it until I really looked carefully at what she was saying. Here's a little of my interpretation:

Spoiler:

Collapsing on top of the cold grass
I want to hide my burning body

She is tired of her physical body and all the problems that come with it, so here she's throwing herself on the grass. This could be a metaphor for how dead things decompose into the ground, only to nourish the plants that grow from it.

These mid-winter constellations are my lovers
I have been waiting all this time

She feels like she belongs with these constellations, which themselves are not real beings and live in the hearts of people. And she's been waiting to become one with these sort of things for a long time.

My mood today is the highest
Like the sky that has no despair nor hope
I want to be translucent

Essentially she wants to pass away and have her spirit turn into nothingness. The sky is not living or conscious, and it has no hopes or disappointments, so she wants to become like that.

If we do not meet, we won’t fight
With no chance for disillusionment

She says that if there is no chance of meeting someone, there won't be any conflict or confusion (especially in a romantic situation). If something never happens, there can be no disappointment when it ends or goes bad.

The wind that is like a knife
Helping to increase my speed
Take 5

I'm guessing she wants her soul to be carried off by the wind in this line. Sounds almost like a reference to "Sen no Kaze ni Natte".

What version of myself makes me happy?
Like the sky that has no success nor failure
I want to be translucent

She would be happiest if she turned into nothing, again, because there would be no success, but there would also never be any failure.

Take off my coat and step inside
With no beginning and no end
This day we call today, I’d like to live with grace

She's taking off the layers that she has to wear here on Earth, because of the difficult world we all must live in. When she dies, she's able to relax and essentially "come out from the cold" so to speak. And again, if something never begins, then there can be no ending and no sadness from that ending. I think the last line, however, indicates that until she dies, she wants to remain graceful and live as a good person.

All in all, I feel like she's embracing death in a very positive way in this song. She sees it as a relaxing, peaceful experience because she will never have to deal with pain, disappointment, sadness, disillusionment, etc.