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

[bluegie]

Mine was shipped yesterday as well.

[bluegie]

初恋 @ Oricon album daily chart:

2016.06.26 - No. 1 - 78,948 copies
2016.06.27 - No. 1 - 50,814 copies (total: 129,762 copies)

Fantome's comparion:
Day 1: 87,088
Day 2: 49,728 (total: 136,816 copies)

[inspire_rmx]

so in love with 初恋. pretty amazing sales too for the 1st two days

[koumori]

I've listened to all but the last two songs, waiting on lyric translations for them before I do. So far I love the album though... It's very Utada. There's some interesting experimentation going on when it comes to composition and I really like how the songs are all distinct, but still feel part of the same era.

I am surprised how there's no big epic rock ballad-y piece though, especially with it being the album with the KHIII track on. Unless one of the last two songs is one (which I doubt, given the comments here), then that's the only thing I'm missing since her comeback. I love her new sound but she was always so good at those surreal, intense songs.

[summerain]

Originally Posted by Koumori

I've listened to all but the last two songs, waiting on lyric translations for them before I do. So far I love the album though... It's very Utada. There's some interesting experimentation going on when it comes to composition and I really like how the songs are all distinct, but still feel part of the same era.

I am surprised how there's no big epic rock ballad-y piece though, especially with it being the album with the KHIII track on. Unless one of the last two songs is one (which I doubt, given the comments here), then that's the only thing I'm missing since her comeback. I love her new sound but she was always so good at those surreal, intense songs.

kimonobeat (tumblr) translated everything:

Yuunagi

A little boat leaves a scar
On the glassy ocean

Everything will come to an end eventually
Without exception
Without a doubt
Now and forever

How many years has it been
Since the last time I spent
A moment this peaceful with you?

You’ve gotten so small
I held you in my arms so I wouldn’t lose you

Each and every one of us
Truly and indiscriminately
Follows laws that never change
Even without hurrying it along, we do

Everything is ending now
Without exception
And all by chance, by chance
The waves arch, then disappear

Everything is headed somewhere
Without exception
Without a doubt
It’s always been that way, and always will

Shittosarerubeki Jinsei

I just knew after a slight bow
And a self-introduction
That I’d be spending my life with this person

It all started with us telling our life stories
I don’t really remember the beginning
But it didn’t end in a single night

It’s eerie, almost, how it never seemed to end
Something came pouring out of me
My life felt so long to me before, but suddenly it felt so short

Even if today were the last day of my life
Even if I ran into you fifty years from now
I’d say I was happier than anyone else
I’d say I had a life to be jealous of

Even if today were the last day of my life
Even if I ran into you fifty years from now
I’d say I was happier than anyone else
I’d say I had a life to be jealous of

I would
As modest as I try to be
I’d say that I had a life to be jealous of

I’m done living my life
Just trying to live up to other people’s expectations
I’d be faithful to you if you passed before me
I think to myself
While changing the flowers
In front of my late mother’s portrait
If I die first
I’ll spend my final moments smiling

Today’s the first day of my life
Even if I saw you fifty years from now
I’d say I was happier than anyone else
I’d say I had a life to be jealous of

I would
As modest as I try to be
I’d say that I had a life to be jealous of

I would
As much as I try to be modest about it
I had a life to be jealous of

[koumori]

Originally Posted by summerain

kimonobeat (tumblr) translated everything

Thank you so much for these!
I loved both of the ending songs as well. I don't know, I think this is one of Utada's most personal works yet, and it's also an album that resonates with me strongly for this time in my life. I think it was released at a time I can truly appreciate it.

As always, her lyrics are so beautiful...

[njanjayrp]

The album is pretty much on pair with Fantome for me. It's nice, but nothing too outstandingly amazing. I like Chikai and Younagi best (and Forevermore of course). I enjoyed most of the singles except from Hatsukoi which somewhat annoys me. The thing that seems to be prominent in a number of songs is that she starts repeating a word over and over, kind of kills some of the songs for me. I do miss Hikaru who did Deep River and Ultra Blue, but over-all this is a nice album.

[bluegie]

初恋 @ Oricon album daily chart:

2016.06.26 - No. 1 - 78,948 copies
2016.06.27 - No. 1 - 50,814 copies
2016.06.28 - No. 1 - 21,427 copies (total: 151,189 copies)



Fantome's comparison:
Day 1: 87,088
Day 2: 49,728
Day 3: 27,782 (total: 164,598 copies)

So about 15K less than Fantome, but still doing fine .

[Marurosu]

Originally Posted by bluegie

初恋 @ Oricon album daily chart:

2016.06.26 - No. 1 - 78,948 copies
2016.06.27 - No. 1 - 50,814 copies
2016.06.28 - No. 1 - 21,427 copies (total: 151,189 copies)

2016?????????????????

[tenshi no hane]

I love the new album

Chikai, Goodbye, Yuunagi and Shitto sareru beki jinsei are my favorites. Too Proud is fun when she's singing, but the talking part makes me cringe a bit.

I do think this album is more enjoyable if you know Japanese. Some songs probably sound a bit slow/long if you don't understand the lovely lyrics.

I love this part in Shitto sareru beki jinsei:

I will stop living so as to meet
other people’s expectations...
That's what I think while replacing the flowers
in front of my mother’s portrait
If you were to leave this world before me
I will never take another
If I were to die before you
I will smile until the very last second

[aliceshields]

My eyes got tears when Yuunagi (I listen with my earpiece), pang of sadness, I miss my grandma... T-T

[roxaskh2fm]

I don't like Chikai that much. This song seems so basic compared to Hikari or Passion. Maybe it will have a remix for the game?

Listened to the album and i can listen again and again til Good Night. The last 5 songs are blah.
IMO, these last two albuns have good songs (and maybe one or two masterpieces) but nothing compared to UB or HS.


About promotion, i saw lots of outdoors in Osaka and Tokyo (shibuya, shinjuku, akihabara, JR stations). Maybe i saw one outdoor in Hiroshima too (but not big as in tokyo). Actually when I went one day to Harajuku i could hear Hatsukoi (the song) in every place. It was awful one time, i think i listened to this song 15 times in one hour X__X

[ayumi_croatia]

Hatsukoi is a really good album! Has nothing on her previous classics but it's miles better than Fantome.

[ayu-fan]

Is the beats from Chikai supposed to sound like it’s delayed? It’s really bugging me, it could’ve been so much better with ‘normal’ beats

[chocopockymaster]

Originally Posted by ayu-fan

Is the beats from Chikai supposed to sound like it’s delayed? It’s really bugging me, it could’ve been so much better with ‘normal’ beats

I had similar feelings when the preview first leaked...I'm listening to the song in full for the first time now and it still confuses the fuck out of me. That delayed part is so uncomfortable to listen to!!!

[ayu-fan]

Originally Posted by chocopockymaster

I had similar feelings when the preview first leaked...I'm listening to the song in full for the first time now and it still confuses the fuck out of me. That delayed part is so uncomfortable to listen to!!!

I know right, at first I thought there’s something wrong with the audio, it just feels like the beat isn’t in sync with the vocal/melody. Maybe after a few more listen and I will get used to it.

[amorphose]

Originally Posted by ayu-fan

Is the beats from Chikai supposed to sound like it’s delayed? It’s really bugging me, it could’ve been so much better with ‘normal’ beats

I also thought it sounded strange when I first listened to the preview, but it's like my mind has since accepted it and it doesn't sound odd to me anymore. One of my favorites on the album.

[inspire_rmx]

Originally Posted by ayu-fan

Is the beats from Chikai supposed to sound like it’s delayed? It’s really bugging me, it could’ve been so much better with ‘normal’ beats

i thot it was delibrate and i really like it. haha. especially getting used to it after a few more listen. the song would be less interesting without the "delayed" beats imo

[summerain]

There's a longer clip preview of NHK SONGS here http://www6.nhk.or.jp/nhkpr/post/original.html?i=14918

According to the text below the video (Japan-only), she sang "Hatsukoi", "Play A Long Song" and "Anata".

Hope she improved her live vocals a little bit, it's often a problem for her.

[Michan]

Overall, I like this album better than Fantome. Yuunagi has become one of my favorite song of her ever. I wish she would do a live acoustic orchestra version for this album.