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

[Surreal17]

Yeah, her voice seems to be out of sync with the music itself, but that's probably a stylistic choice. So far I enjoy the instrumental, quite relaxing.

[ShiniTakashi]

Yeah, I've loved what she's been releasing so far, but "PINK BLOOD" sounds odd to me. The music is great, but I don't like her vocal performance much.

[thinkingoutloud89]

Originally Posted by Surreal17

Yeah, her voice seems to be out of sync with the music itself, but that's probably a stylistic choice. So far I enjoy the instrumental, quite relaxing.

yeah, it sure is, but nothing I adapt to easily

[tenshi no hane]

love love love the lyrics

[Akutenshi]

Beautiful production and instrumental, but the melody is really bland imo. It’s very repetitive. Definitely my least favorite of everything she’s done post-Hatsukoi.

[encore_peace]

I LOVE THE SONG and LYRICS. I wish it could be more harmonious compare to the To Your Eternity version. But again, I think that's her intention to be this way?

I'm not sure what she meant when she sings the "Pink blood, pink blood,..." intro...it sounds like an...ad-libs in a way?

Or does anyone know what it means? : )

Latest interview: https://www.billboard-japan.com/special/detail/3186

Does anyone know an English translation of this interview that exists somewhere on the net? Not sure I can rely on Google translate. Thanks!

[Xianghua]

An English interview is up on Dazed!

She talks a little about the inspiration for One Last Kiss / Pink Blood, about becoming famous at a young age, and a little about her feelings when she debuted in the US.


To be honest, this part of the interview made me tear up:

Utada compares the period of grieving with the death of her mother, the esteemed enka (Japanese ballad) singer Keiko Fuji. “My whole life I was grieving for my mother, losing her slowly to mental illness, and since her death eight years ago, it became a conscious grief, a loss I didn’t know how to move on from,” she explains. “When I began working on ‘One Last Kiss’ I finally understood that the point was not to try to leave that behind, but to accept that I will carry it with me always. It still hurts, and that’s alright. What was a loss became a gift.”

[koumori]

That interview is really good, it's so rare that she organises interviews in English. I was surprised to see her comment so candidly on her meteoric rise to fame in her teens, and yeah, that her mother suffered from mental illness for a long time. It was a sobering read.
I'm happy she is in a place in her life that she feels she can both still make music as Utada Hikaru, and where she can feel safe to just be herself outside of the industry too.

[Katsuyuki012]

Hikki came out as nonbinary during today's Instagram live!
Here is a clip of them (I assume those are their preferred pronouns?) saying it: https://twitter.com/fushizengirl/sta...415105025?s=19

I don't think it's too much of a surprise to fans after their last IG caption but I'm so glad they feel comfortable enough to say it like that.

[Delicious n Bold]

Saw the news about Icon Utada being gender non-binary. Slay Icon! Love you and Goddess of Nature bless you <3

Also pink blood was low-key garbage and I probably cant listen to one last kiss for the foreseeable future.

[Gubsi]

not unexpected, but very happy for them.

Hikki also said that there are a lot of questions about what the meaning behind "pink blood" is?!
they can't answer that yet, but will very soon…
i wouldn't be surprised if their album is also called PINK BLOOD and it will be announced soon.

[URANUS]

So happy for Hikki. And this is big because they are the most mainstream and famous person in Japan to ever come out as non binary. This will give alot of Japanese LGBT people hope.

[Xianghua]

Side comment: how did the thread title change? I’ve been trying to do that but I couldn’t figure out how. Thanks to whoever did that!

[koumori]

Originally Posted by Xianghua

Side comment: how did the thread title change? I’ve been trying to do that but I couldn’t figure out how. Thanks to whoever did that!

It's a mod-only thing, I'm sorry you have been trying and not able to do it. You're welcome to DM to change it at any time.

re: Hikki's nb news - as a huge fan who considers themselves under the nb umbrella, the news was incredible to read with them actually using the label itself. I did assume that's what they meant from their IG post but it was huge to hear them say it themselves. I'm so happy that they felt comfortable enough to share that part of their identity with the world.

Their HEART STATION covers and concept helped teen me think about self-expression and gender identity way back when, and their consistent support of the LGBTQ+ community has always been a comfort. This news isn't surprising but it's emotional, and also such a big moment for LGBTQ+ rights.

[mi|kshake]

So happy for Hikki and proud of them!!

[Katsuyuki012]

As URANUS said, Hikki is probably the biggest celebrity to come out as nonbinary in Japan. I can only imagine how impactful that must be for the Japanese LGBTQ+ community!

[Katsuyuki012]

Hikki is the face & the global ambassador of Shiseido's latest campaign! The official reveal is only in three days, though.

This commercial also features a new song by Hikki! They've mentioned during one of their IG lives that the new album will have at least one English song. Maybe this is the one? It would definitely make sense, given that it appears to be a global campaign.

Spoiler:

Photo from outside a Shiseido store:

Spoiler:

Source: https://twitter.com/tiisaikaayan/sta...734339593?s=19

[Gubsi]

literally this album is shaping up to be amazing for me… love all the singles they released so far. i think with the start of the SHISEIDO campaign well be getting an album announcement as well shortly after.

[Katsuyuki012]

I'm enjoying this era lot, too! I have to say PINK BLOOD is sadly the one song that I can't warm up to (which is a shame, since I adore its video) but Time is still one of my favourites and I overall really enjoy their recent musical output. This is going to be a great album.

[Deep snow]

so happy for Hikki for having come out as non-binary. seeing the pronouns change acknowledged in this thread following their announcement makes me happy too.

what an amazing way to show support, validation, and encouragement to LGBTQIA+ people that love their music