I hope she will make more music and not going to stop..

^that's actually what i am scared of. Those long lonely eight years (minus Sakura Nagashi) was unbearably tbh. I'm just curious to know what's next after Fantôme. Well, the spaces between her releases are always huge anyway.

Sometimes she released album really quick though.

Distance (March 2001) --> DEEP RIVER (June 2002)
ULTRA BLUE (June 2006) --> HEART STATION (March 2008)

So I hope she's not going to hide for another eight years for the next album. I can bear for 2 - 4 years, not more than 4...

As long as she continues to make great, well thoughtout, well made music I don't care how long I have to wait. The hardest part of these past whatever years, for me, was actually just the last two weeks or so before the release because it was so close. But before that I was patient. Ready. But patient because I knew whatever she'd bring to the table would be well worth the wait.

And it so was. This album is still on repeat and I usually tire of listening to new albums within a week or so.

She might release another English album in the next year or so! Exodus was meant to come out in the latter half of 2002 originally, but was delayed and This Is The One came out only a year after HEART STATION.

yeah. BTW i can still remember the news during the time she'll enter Hiatus that HIKARU UTADA is going to be her name for all the releases be in japanese or English. What ever happened to that.

:laugh very true. When she initially announced her hiatus, I saw the number 5 and was like what?! Then freaking 8 years later.... xD but, like I said, it was well worth the wait. I am so in love with this album. I mean, I totally respect people's opinions and do not argue whether or not to like an album but because im biased id have to ask "why not?" The worst of it is the cover, to me. The rest? 10/10. Even the songs I don't like, I like more than any of my other favorite artists have released this year.

yeah i'm just hoping she's doing the theme songs for the final EVA movie and Kingdom Hearts III...so we can expect a new album in 2-3 years at least :laugh

At least she gave us a heart attack two years ago with Sakura Nagashi. If she didn't release that song, it would be indeed really painful...

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10.10: No. 1 - 13,155

Still going steady. I think she will have at leat 60 - 80K this week.

Fantôme reached #1 for the week on the Billboard World Albums chart! It also still hasn't dropped off the iTunes US Top 200 Albums chart yet, at #96 currently.

Alright after giving myself a couple days to digest the album

Michi - Really fun track. Loving the positive vibes and the chorus is infectious. My favorite part of the song is when she sings the English lines in the pre-chorus. The layering is SO good.

Ore no Kanojo - I have a love/hate relationship with this song. The whole jazz thing isn't my cup of tea, but the melody is incredible and the last two minutes of the song is flawless.

Hanataba wo Kimi ni - Between this and Manatsu, Manatsu was the better track. But this track is still great.

Nijikan Dake no Vacance - Love love LOVED this song the first time the PV came out. Still an amazing track. Shiina compliments Utada so well. Match made in heaven right there.

Ningyo - I'm a sucker for harps. The song is chill. Nothing too mind-blowing but a good listen.

Tomodachi - I looooove the vibes. The male singing with Utada is pretty good too.

Manatsu no Tooriame - Beautiful, flawless, gorgeous, godly, etc.

Kouya no Ookami - Not a big fan of this track :/ A little on the boring side.

Boukyaku - I LOVE surreal type tracks like this. I was always impressed with KOHH ever since I heard his part on It G Ma; so to hear him rapping on a more intimate track is a welcome change. Beautiful song.

Jinsei Saikou no Hi - Kind of a filler track for me. Nice song to listen to but nothing I skip to.

Sakura Nagashi - FLAWLESS BEAUTIFUL YOUR FAVES COULD NEVER

Overall, I'm pleased with what we got. It's a pretty dark album which makes sense in regards to the context. It is VERY different from what she's done before in the past which I really like.

Completely unrelated to the current topic, but I was checking my old Soundcloud account and I found a remix I did for Boku Wa Kuma long four years ago. I think it's quite fun <3

https://soundcloud.com/raphachan/bok...tkachans-dance

So many good memories <3 Also, so much time has passed but I'm still tone deaf :(

So is it just me or does the beginning of the Ray of Hope remix borrows lines from "traveling"?

Hi Guys!

I'm opening a Jpop Karaoke shop!

You can request Hikki's Fântome instrumentals here (or any other album you want)

http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3218816

10.10: No. 1 - 13,155
10.11: No. 3 - 7,836
Est. Week 3 Sales: 20,991

Week 2 Official sales: No. 1 - 103,854
Total Sales (excluding week 3): 356,435

No, it's not just you. It is kinda a mash-up of the two songs. :) I really like it!

Fantôme still selling out in certain shops around Japan :yes

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CufEUtoUAAE399_.jpg
U.Blog

Something interesting to read

BILLBOARD.com Article

Somehow..I feel that this is another marketing strategy to make the album sell even more..

Agreed. Fântome is truly a masterpiece and even though I missed her for all these years, now I'm sure that the wait was worth it.

That'd be GREAT. I love her Western stuff! :yes