[Utada Hikaru] 58th Thread: New album BAD Mode, out 19.1.2022

[hud]

Originally Posted by koumori

Omg really?? Where did you read this?

here are the credits:

https://www.e-onkyo.com/news/3317

01. BAD モード
Written by Hikaru Utada and Jodi Milliner
Produced by Hikaru Utada and Sam Shepherd
Recorded by Steve Fitzmaurice at RAK Studios
Vocals Recorded by Hikaru Utada
Vocal Tracks Editing by Yuya Saito at ABS Recording
Mixed by Steve Fitzmaurice at Pierce Room
All Vocals: Hikaru Utada
Guitar: Ben Parker
Bass: Jodi Milliner
Drums: Leo Taylor
Percussion: Will Fry
Trumpet: Freddie Gavita
Violin: The Artist’s Son
Keyboards, Programming and Piano: Hikaru Utada
Keyboards, Programming and Rhodes Piano: Sam Shepherd

06. 気分じゃないの (Not In The Mood)
Written by Hikaru Utada
Produced by Sam Shepherd and Hikaru Utada
Recorded by Steve Fitzmaurice at British Grove Studios
Vocals Recorded by Hikaru Utada
Vocal Tracks Editing by Yuya Saito at ABS Recording
Mixed by Steve Fitzmaurice at Pierce Room
Vocals: Hikaru Utada
Guitar: Ben Parker
Bass: Jodi Milliner
Percussion: Ash Soan
Vocals: The Artist’s Son
Keyboards, Programming and Piano: Sam Shepherd

also it seems like they tweaked some singles for the release

One Last Kiss also has its own ending (doesn't bleed into the next track) and Beautiful World (Da Capo Version) has its own start (doesn't have leftover from the previous track).

Face My Fears JP: they re-recorded a bit of the vocals on Face My Fears in the first chorus, and I think slightly different piano at the ending.

Face My Fears EN: Sounds like they re-recorded parts of the vocals at the ending.

noticed by blue490246 @ jps

[Katsuyuki012]

『BADモード』 full music video:


"Find Love" live version


"Face My Fears (English version)" live version


Ahh, there's so much I want to say about this album but I don't have the time to write about it right now. Can't wait to share my thoughts later.

[koumori]

Originally Posted by hud

here are the credits:

https://www.e-onkyo.com/news/3317

Thank you so much! This is so sweet.

[Katsuyuki012]

Originally Posted by koumori

Thank you so much! This is so sweet.

Hikki's son is also the voice in "Not In The Mood"

Hikki talks about that in this new English interview with Billboard, among many other things!

Originally Posted by Hikaru Utada

Yeah. It’s my son. I was working on the track at home in this room, and he just walked in and sat on my lap and I said, “You want to listen?” He was listening to it, and said, “Oh, how about this?” And he began singing his idea. I was like, “Oh yeah, that’s good. You want to put that down?” And he stood on my chair, sang into the mic properly with headphones on. It was really nice, so it made it into the song.

I didn’t use it just because it’s my son. I told him “I can’t promise you it’ll be in the song, but it might make it.” When I played him the final product, I was like, “See? You sound amazing. You’re in the end. It’s the best part.” He’s like, “Yeah. I think that my part should be more in the other choruses too, like an echo to your singing.”

Here's a link to the full article:
https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/...re-1235020381/

It's such a great, insightful read – a real treat for fans. Hikki also goes quite in depth about their thought process from when they came out as nonbinary. I definitely recommend it!

Spoiler:

I'm also very happy to see Hikki talk positively about Exodus. Especially knowing that they performed About Me & Hotel Lobby during the live sessions.

[koumori]

Originally Posted by Katsuyuki012

Hikki's son is also the voice in "Not In The Mood"

Yes! I think this one was much easier to catch at the time, my partner and I looked at each other like "!!!" when it happened during our first listen Such a wonderful addition. I love that we got insight into how it happened in the interview, too.

[Klauser_Bateson]

I wasn't sure about this album at first, but after listening to it a couple times, I love it so much. It's actually in my top 3 favorite Hikki albums.

[Next_Level29]

is the album doing well digitally?

[Gubsi]

Originally Posted by Next_Level29

is the album doing well digitally?

i think we'll get the numbers tomorrow

[haraiso]

Been loving this album quite a lot. It's a really chill album to listen straight through and on repeat. (except Face My Fears. I still can't get myself to like it lol)

Originally Posted by Katsuyuki012

Here's a link to the full article:
https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/...re-1235020381/

It's such a great, insightful read – a real treat for fans. Hikki also goes quite in depth about their thought process from when they came out as nonbinary. I definitely recommend it!

I'm quite curious. Utada mentioned it both here in this interview and in the Spotify Liner Notes that the reaction to their non-binary announcement was quite intense (especially in Japan). Does anybody have more insight on that?

I know western reactions were quite supportive, but I wonder what Japan's reaction was like.

[ShiniTakashi]

^ Japan is really conservative when it comes to things like this. I doubt many people understand what non-binary is, so they're unable to comprehend it.
I actually live here, but didn't even pay attention to what was being reported on the news, though, so I'm just speculating.

Also, I hope this isn't rude, but I was curious as to why everyone only refers to Hikaru as "their" now. Hikaru's Instagram says pronouns are "she / their". I know it's not a big deal, but I just wanna make sure I'm using their preferred pronouns.

[summerain]

Originally Posted by ShiniTakashi

Also, I hope this isn't rude, but I was curious as to why everyone only refers to Hikaru as "their" now. Hikaru's Instagram says pronouns are "she / their". I know it's not a big deal, but I just wanna make sure I'm using their preferred pronouns.

In English, "they" is the most common pronoun used to refer to non-binary people. It's a solution to avoid referring to someone who doesn't identify as a male of female (or at least not completely). Maybe they also use "she" as a way to simplify things at the beginning, because they are socially seen as a "she".