Graves Posted January 20 Author Posted January 20 11 x 1 (scenekiller) HIGHEST SCORE: 9.5 x 1 (Suilen) LOWEST SCORE: 4 x 1 (bestfiction) MY SCORE: 9.2 You know, I wasn't a big fan of Be My Last at first. I thought it was just fine, sure, but not at all an album highlight - and furthermore it's status as a single was baffling to me. A 'just alright' guitar ballad as a representative for this album? An album which is more concerned about flirting with electronic sounds for the most part? It didn't compute to me! But I was doing it a deep disservice. Repeat listening urges more and more from this song, and you begin to notice the intricacies of the track. It's the way it builds up - starting with just the strumming of the guitar, then the drums, and finally the synths twinkle in and soon the song is hitting you with full force. Hikaru's vocal performance is yet another instrument, and one that permeates a haunting atmosphere. I think it's leagues above what they had been giving on the early albums and really displays what a competent vocalist they had grown into. The way they draw out those "laaaaaaaasts"? Pure beauty! I can't say I know exactly what the song is about... parts of it lean towards the end of a relationship, and others about the loss of a loved one, but the overall feeling is one of futility and impermanence. There's frustration in feelings of uselessness, but also an admission of genuine love that existed here, at least at one point. "We couldn't get used to one another, but we tried, right? We fell into the wrong love for us, but it wasn't a mistake." The striking video for Be My Last was filmed on-location in Prague. I guess Hikaru was in Europe at the time, still promoting Exodus, and perhaps it was lucky accident that they got to film here as a result. The single release came in September 2005, but promotion didn't fully kick in for a month, as they were still filming and doing promotion for You Make Me Want To Be A Man. Even so, Be My Last charted at #1, though it's chart run was a far cry from the domination of previous chart toppers - it only made #70 on the year-end list. Some artistic growth at the cost of some of that commercial dominance. Curaga needs to give it a few more spins, I think. "Not bad, but too repetitive with a melody/hook that doesn’t grip me." 2
Suilen Posted January 20 Posted January 20 (edited) The artisty, the emotional turmoil hatsukoi could never Edited January 20 by Suilen 3
Cruel Summer Posted January 20 Posted January 20 Forevermore is one of the two songs I actually regret not giving a higher score, because I’ve been listening to it a ton for the past week. It’s another Hatsukoi song that would feel perfectly at home on Fantôme, and another reason I view that album less as a fully realized Utada record and more as an extension of the Fantôme era with some additional things sprinkled in (songs like Good Night and the closing track, which would obviously not fit on the Fantôme, or songs like Nokoriga, which don’t meet the quality threshold to be on that album). If you transplanted Forevermore, Anata, and Yuunagi onto Fantôme, literally nobody would be able to tell whether they were actually intended for that album originally or not (and at least one of them was). And I actually have a playlist that does exactly that so I don’t have to deal with the rest of Hatsukoi if I’m not in the mood! 3
Curaga Posted January 20 Posted January 20 5 hours ago, Subomie said: [Forevermore] Curaga is a **** for some strings: "Love the strings in the opening. Not my fav hook, but not bad. Love the double vocal." 3 hours ago, Subomie said: [Be My Last] Curaga needs to give it a few more spins, I think. "Not bad, but too repetitive with a melody/hook that doesn’t grip me." Yeah honestly I was a little harsh with my rating for this one (I’d probably bump it up one point to a 7 to match Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro), but I always think of it as my least favorite from Ultra Blue, which is a high bar for me — so many 10s on that album and it’s definitely in my top 3! I have been listening to this song for manymanymany years, but maybe one day I will grow to appreciate it the way you do. 1
AMIT Posted January 21 Posted January 21 13 hours ago, Subomie said: I'm afraid no big updates today my loves, weekends are awful busy for me. A couple of strays to keep you girls fed, perhaps? HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 1 (confide in me) LOWEST SCORE: 5.2 x 1 (Meloetta Carey) MY SCORE: 8.5 They made this one for the R&Btada lovers. Yeah, this is a great track, and one that comes with a snappy backbone to it. I'd go as far as to say that those drums are the star here, but special mention to the way that Hikaru riffs along with them using their voice. It's a super pleasant melodic experience, dahling. I adore the breathy way that Hikaru delivers the "forevermore"s in the chorus. The song ends with them crooning along with the instruments, giving something of a jazz vibe to the track. I really like it! It's neat, and a nice change of pace from the opening suite of Hatsukoi. As the second single of Hatsukoi, released in July of 2017, Forevermore made for a decently sized digital hit. More surprising than that: it actually got a music video! It's just Utada doing some choreo in a dimly light sound stage, but it's better than nothing. A lot better than another "recording in the studio" video! It's kind of neat, Janet Jackson vibes. Forevermore was also the theme for the drama series Gomen, Aishiteru. How prestigious! Honestly, as far as late-career Utada single packages go? This might be as good as it gets. Good song with a decent video is a low bar to clear, and we're barely crossing it... Hatsukoi was a rough era! Curaga is a **** for some strings: "Love the strings in the opening. Not my fav hook, but not bad. Love the double vocal." Stan sis This and Yunagi could totally pass for fantome tracks, surprised both are out before Chikai of all things. 2
Suilen Posted January 21 Posted January 21 I feel like we won't see another album leaving anytime soon, and in a perfect world, songs from like 5 different albums will make the top 10. But I can also see recency bias prevailing and Bad Mode dominating there 1
Graves Posted January 21 Author Posted January 21 HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 4 (Riverbank, Curaga, scenekiller, gingguu) LOWEST SCORE: 4.5 x 1 (Aria0327) MY SCORE: 8 Such a serene track. I find that the soft harp gives Ningyo a calming vibe that fits the maturity of Fantome to a tee. There's no excess to this one, just a gentle lullaby that Hikaru dutifully croons over. That momentary humming sounds especially nice in this regard. Feels like being put to bed, being told a beautiful fantasy story to help you drift off. It's like a peaceful reprieve. As for what it means? Well, a Ningyo is a mermaid, more or less. Perhaps not a one-to-one match with the western mermaid, but it refers to a mythical creature in the same vain: half human, half fish. Lyrically, Hikaru talks about trying to catch glimpse of a mermaid among the lights in the sea, even wading out into the water in pursuit of one. The folklore inspiration returns from Arashi no Megami, and just like that one it's pretty clear that this track is also about their mother. It's very touching in that regard - the once brutal storm goddess transforming into a mermaid and moving on - but also very saddening. The mythological through line in the tracks makes a compelling storyline. A wonderful tribute to her mom. Curaga loves the fantasy elements: "OK, I can see how people might find this one boring, but I love the lyrics of this one so much. RIP ❤️. I love the harp so much. A harp makes sense for a song called Mermaid!" Even known Fantome-skeptic AMIT can find something to love here: "something different from her, I like it!" 1
Suilen Posted January 21 Posted January 21 Too post-modernist for me but happy for the people who get it (or sad considering the placement)
Curaga Posted January 21 Posted January 21 Beautiful tribute to their mother. I definitely would have placed this higher. I listen to this song a lot in bed because it’s so relaxing, but if I really sit and read the lyrics translation, I get misty-eyed. And omg, not us missing that it was Utada’s birthday a couple days ago gsjkahdgdkwueu Happy belated, Legend! 1
Cruel Summer Posted January 21 Posted January 21 Ningyo is one of the best examples of why I love Fantôme so deeply. I think it illustrates one of the complexities of mourning, of being made to let go when you weren’t expecting to have to let go, and beautifully captures the feeling it tries to convey. 2
Graves Posted January 21 Author Posted January 21 It only took 50 eliminations, but it's finally time to wade through the Deep River. 11 x 1 (Hey Dude) HIGHEST SCORE: 9 x 4 (Riverbank, Ewan Chaos, Cruel Summer, confide in me) LOWEST SCORE: 3 x 1 (Aria0327) MY SCORE: 8.5 So, how did you react when you recognized that chorus melody, huh? I remember going back and playing it again just to make sure I wasn't going crazy. Uso Mitai na I Love You ('An Unbelievable I Love You') is... well, a declaration of love, silly! Initially I thought it was about Hikaru's first marriage. They were wed in 2002 to Kazuaki Kiriya, and a lot of the lyrics here speak about closing a chapter in their life and starting another one. That would be married life, huh? Thing is, the album came out in June but the wedding was in September. So idk. I don't think I'm entirely off-base, but whatever. According to Hikki, the ending lines of that first chapter of their life are, appropriately, "I love you". It's kind of sweet, isn't it? And then the choice to turn this massive love song into a guitar-driven rock number too... I don't entirely get it, but I love that it wasn't just another sappy ballad! The elephant in the room with this song is that it has the same chorus melody as the perennial hit that is Simple and Clean. Any English Hikki listener almost definitely discovered them through Kingdom Hearts, or has at least heard the theme to it! They'd probably hear this with a little confusion then, but that wasn't the case for Japanese fans back in 2002. Apparently, the story goes: the original, Japanese version of Simple & Clean - Hikari - was composed with this tune in mind. But finding themselves unable to make the melody fit right, Utada gave that song a different one instead. The old melody was something that they really wanted to keep however, and it was recycled into a chorus for a different, newer song. Thus this song was born! It was also one of the few Deep River album tracks to get performed at the 2004 shows! Let's celebrate that! Ms Meloetta Carey isn't a fan of the similarities: "chorus sounds a bit too much like "Hikari"." Curaga wants to turn the guitars off: "Don’t love the metal." And AMIT is generally unimpressed: "my least fave on the album, not as strong as the rest of the tracks." But you know who is a fan? Other than Hey Dude Ewan Chaos! "Monarch of ROCK Demi who??????" 2
Suilen Posted January 21 Posted January 21 Still a bop despite sticking out like a sore thump on the album
Curaga Posted January 21 Posted January 21 I’m gagged that I’ve never noticed this has the same melody as Hikari/Simple and Clean LOL. I usually skip, so that’s probably why I never noticed. Monarch of reusing melodies (Hotel Lobby/Kiss & Cry)! 1
Cruel Summer Posted January 21 Posted January 21 Actually not the first track I expected to exit from Deep River, but I’m not shocked. It doesn’t quite reach the same heights as much of the rest of the album, even if it did kind of, sort of originate the iconic Simple & Clean melody.
nostalgic Posted January 21 Posted January 21 (edited) I gave almost everything on Deep River a 8 and a 10 (or an 11, did I give Sakura my 11? I can't remember!). While the album is sonically and lyrically beautiful, there was just something slightly holding it back from being *perfect* to my ears. Edited January 21 by nostalgic
Curaga Posted January 21 Posted January 21 15 minutes ago, nostalgic said: I gave almost everything on Deep River a 8 and a 10 (or an 11, did I give Sakura my 11? I can't remember!). While the album is sonically and lyrically beautiful, there was just something slightly holding it back from being *perfect* to my ears. Same, songs like Play Ball, Tokyo Nights, and A.S.A.P. are all great, but there is something about them I can’t put my finger on that keeps them from being 10s for me, idk. Sakura Drops is definitely 11 material though! 1
Graves Posted January 21 Author Posted January 21 Even the interlude on Deep River is highkey a highlight.
Graves Posted January 21 Author Posted January 21 HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 2 (Curaga, nostalgic) LOWEST SCORE: 4 x 1 (AMIT) MY SCORE: 7.5 You know, I tend to think poorly of the Kingdom Hearts III tie-ins, but that's probably got a lot more to do with Face My Fears. This? This is honestly pretty cute. Chikai, or 'Oath', and Don't Think Twice both make decent theme songs, though I'm a Chikai-head myself. I just think the delivery comes out a little bit stilted in Don't Think Twice. Either's good though. Elephant in the room - yes... this isn't as mind-blowing or showstopping as Sanctuary or Simple & Clean were, I don't disagree. But as a piece of music? Chikai is still a good time! There's a flow to the lyrics that's very pleasing to listen to, and I love the rapid-fire bridge too. She spitting bars! I wonder if this song was written about the marriage? It actually came out after the divorce but it was surely written beforehand? Am I looking too much into the "oath" part of it? Maybe so... Even before it was the Kingdom Hearts III closing theme, Chikai was the sixth (and yet somehow not final) single released from Hatsukoi. June 2018, a month after the album! How bout that? Surely that means it got a respectful single release?? ...Huh? Oh, ok. So no single cover? No video either, really? Not even an in-studio one? Damn... I guess it can re-use the same graphic as the other KH song then. Poor Chikai... Curaga is a fellow weeb: "Love it! Lyric meter is awkward in that one part in the English version, but I still like it. 誓い > Don’t Think Twice." 2 1
nostalgic Posted January 21 Posted January 21 Agree about the rapid-fire bridge, that's what caught my attention the most and bumped it up to a 10
Suilen Posted January 22 Posted January 22 As a Hatsukoi skeptic, that was cute. Never listened to the English version, though
Aria0327 Posted January 22 Posted January 22 ngl second half of deep river (other than simple and clean) is weaker than the first half. I appreciate ningyo’s lyrical content and soundscape but the melody is a bit bland for me
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