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

[bluegie]

Oricon 2016.06.26:

初恋 - No. 1 - 78,948 copies

Not bad, I was hoping for at least 60K . While it's lower than Fantome's first day, but gotta consider that Fantome had the advantage of being her first album after hiatus.

[DeepRiver]

Originally Posted by bluegie

Oricon 2016.06.26:

初恋 - No. 1 - 78,948 copies

Not bad, I was hoping for at least 60K . While it's lower than Fantome's first day, but gotta consider that Fantome had the advantage of being her first album after hiatus.

I think its really good. There is no promo beside this poster in Japan. No Album CM ... nothing!

[Corvina]

Originally Posted by DeepRiver

I think its really good. There is no promo beside this poster in Japan. No Album CM ... nothing!

She has billboards and ads up, she has a documentary airing today centered about the new album, her single songs have tie-ins, the album has a ticket application card for her new tour... promo and gimmick is there.
The numbers are nice for these days.

[Chibi-Chan]

I don't know... I find this album to be a bit boring? There is nothing that really stands out in my opinion and even though Hatsukoi could have been a great song with a very interesting melody, the "I need you" is so annyoing I just can't listen to it.

[Mr. Talkin2myself]

Originally Posted by Chibi-Chan

I don't know... I find this album to be a bit boring? There is nothing that really stands out in my opinion and even though Hatsukoi could have been a great song with a very interesting melody, the "I need you" is so annyoing I just can't listen to it.

Yeah! I got the same impression. The album in its whole is very monotonous. I don’t dislike the songs, some stand more out to me than others, but I feel Fantôme was way stronger!

[Baco__]

So, people were asking about the tickets for the tour. I guess you can check for yourselves the crazy bureaucracy that is to get our hands in those tickets hahaa if you thought getting tickets for Namie was difficult, wait until you see what they are asking for her concert hahah

http://ticket-hikaruutada20th.com/mp/uh2018-ph-english

I received the cd today, ran to the website to do my application and my ~thing~ is still waiting for approval haha so I guess maybe tomorrow? haha

[aliceshields]

^ good luck!

[Baco__]

I agree the promotion is nothing near Finally, but I've seen pretty big billboards in shinjuku when I was in Tokyo this weekend that were promoting her album. One of them was repeating a real long promo, including excerpts from all of her singles basically. And the fact that she is touring for the first time in TWELVE years is gimmick enough to make people buy the album, I hope hahaha it sold just a little less then Fantôme. I believe in Hikki haha

[summerain]

I like the synthetized works of her. I understand the disliking of these aestethics (when I was young, I really hated most of 80s music because of that), but nowadays I'm in peace with it.

I love those "noises" during second part verses of "Play A Love Song", everything is on place for me.

Oh, talking about sales, here is Fantôme's first week performance on Oricon Charts:
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

[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

[Maemi]

This must be her most boring album in the whole discography... for some strange reason, everything sounds - lifeless? Haha it's weird.

[bluegie]

Recochoku 2018.06.27 ranking:

Single:
初恋 - No. 1
誓い - No. 2

Hi-res single:
誓い - No. 1
初恋 - No. 2

Album:
初恋 - No. 1

Hi-res album:
初恋 - No. 1

Uta:
初恋 - No. 1
誓い - No. 7

[Cahz-]

Oh god, Chikai from 2:49 to 2:58...



This my least liked Utada album I liked that last track tho, and that's the only song I'm keeping.

[Baco__]

Lol what happens between 2:49 and 2:58 that you didn't like so much? Hahaha I'm curious

[Cahz-]

Originally Posted by Baco__

Lol what happens between 2:49 and 2:58 that you didn't like so much? Hahaha I'm curious

I never liked Chikai's melody starting from 0:45 because it sounds awkward, it gives me a headache. And between 2:49 and 2:58 you have that + Utada robot talking, it sounds really messy.

[freedreamer]

Did anyone preorder from CDJapan? My order isnt shipped out yet. SADLY.

[Meat Pao]

Originally Posted by freedreamer

Did anyone preorder from CDJapan? My order isnt shipped out yet. SADLY.

Eh? Mine shipped yesterday. Is it in shipping process at least?

[freedreamer]

Originally Posted by Meat Pao

Eh? Mine shipped yesterday. Is it in shipping process at least?

Yes it is for the past 3 days though hmm

[Baco__]

Hahaha I see. I personally loved it, but what made me wonder if there was something else is because before 2:49 she is already speaking with that voice hahaha so I was like "hmm is there something I ain't listening?" haha

[Cahz-]

Originally Posted by Baco__

Hahaha I see. I personally loved it, but what made me wonder if there was something else is because before 2:49 she is already speaking with that voice hahaha so I was like "hmm is there something I ain't listening?" haha

Yeah she started with that voice some seconds before 2:49 but with different instrumental. After 2:49 it just became the full messy package.