Simple and Clean wasn't made first as far as I can tell.


Utada: Uh-huh. Well, from the beginning, yeah, before doing that contract, I'd done a few songs where I had to translate, like for Kingdom Hearts, I had to make an English version of the song "Hikari," which became "Simple and Clean," and then also for Kingdom Hearts II, I had to make the Japanese version which was the song "Passion" and then the English version that was "Sanctuary," and that was so hard, it's just, and it felt strained, and as a result, I'm happy that I worked hard to do those, because those English versions are really good and "Simple and Clean," I think, is a really good song, and people- most of the people that know me here, they know me for that- but it's not ideal for me as a writer, to- because, actually, I changed the melodies for "Simple and Clean" and "Hikari," because when you change the language you're singing in, the same melodies don't work- and as a writer, it's just very frustrating to have, like- I wrote these melodies for Japanese words, and to have to write in English for that, it's just not right. And then, so, for this, uh, this contract with Island Def Jam, in the beginning I separated it to this English language album, and I don't do Japanese translations. I just, my integrity as an artist just would not take that, could not take that.

:yes and lol at the SNL sketch. I started to try and keep some interviews with her due to that question usually being asked, oohh about every few months.

Thanks for the explanations, that's interesting. Switching languages is not easy when it comes to sing, it's true that the same melodies don't work anymore, so I can understand her point in changing it. And LOL, she really can't complete a sentence straight XD

simple and clean has the chorus instrumental of that japanesjapaneseILOVEYOU!! song from Deep River (or is it on distance) and not hikaris original instrumental for those who did not know that.

Man, I remember having Uso mitai na I LOVE YOU on one of the first ~japanese mix CDs~ my friend ever made for me back in 7th grade and loving it soooo much. Along with Play Ball. :laugh Which would have been right around the time Deep River came out, now that I think about it. I've never even bothered listening to Simple and Clean or Sanctuary just bc I thought the Japanese versions were flawfree and had no interest in them...but now I'm kind of curious about Simple and Clean!

Hmmn, I guess she explained again that during Ultra Blue period then (if she talked about Sanctuary as well). Cuz she talked about Simple and Clean and Uso's similar melodies when she released COLORS. And it was from an long interview in a Japanese magazine. I guess back then the translation went wrong lol.

I miss the energy of y'all in this topic. I wish she would just announce something already so we can go back to talking about it for a page and then start discussing her hair or whatever we talk about lmao

I remember random J said that the cover of HS looks like Utada's channeling her inner (butch) lesbian and that she has an organ failure.
Ironically HS is my fav album cover from her.

The cover was really nice, but the photos inside were not that great.
DEEP RIVER's cover was excellent, and the inner photos (including the foot) were great lol :D.

^The foot should have been the album cover.

That's the hawttest album cover I've ever seen.

Foot fetish Kween

OMG...no comment o.O

Does anyone know what's going on with Hikki, is she in Italy or Japan?

HS has a better cover than Ultra Blue (imho). I'm not saying its a BAD cover, but she has more life in the HS cover (or at least in expression).


Aiya! That's hilarious but so artsy.

This is what it has come down to. This is what a 5 year hiatus from an artist who already releases stuff slow as hell does to her fans. We're comparing album covers which are all face forward head shots from the neck up.

We have officially run out of topics.

At least we're not comparing her back covers ;). And maybe she will release a new song since the new EVA movie will be released this year rite?

lol nah the foot should be kept inside the booklet.
If she really used her foot pic as the cover tho, it would be a fantastic piece of art :D.

^ I've been praying all year for the possibility of a new song. This b**** teases new music and then goes back to hiding

Maybe we should talk about her back hair I mean back covers. Mines still HS because I'm biased and pissed that this trick isn't giving us new music. What is she, bjork.

Haha, yup!

For the record, Deep River and Ultra Blue have great back covers.