Graves Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 3 (Curaga, scenekiller, Cruel Summer) LOWEST SCORE: 5 x 1 (Hey Dude) MY SCORE: 8 Released only a few short weeks after the majestic Time, Darenimo Iwanai was the second single from Bad Mode - also put out in May of 2020. Unlike Time, however, the video was filmed and ready to go from pre-pandemic shoots! ...Unfortunately, that video was not, in fact, a music video but instead a commercial shot for... Suntory water. *shudders* How many music videos are going to be robbed from us by this wicked water company? How many times can Hikaru wander the forest with a backpack on? Enough! But yeah, this is definitely another track that deserved a better single package. It's so subdued! Hikki sounds downright delicate on this at parts, but can turn it into deep yearning real quick. "I just want your body..." Ooh, that's sexy. Sultry and soft all at once, this used to be a little bit boring to me but I've grown to appreciate it's hidden depths! Curaga: "Are you kidding me . . . STUNNING. This could be an 11. Beautiful, beautiful vocal delivery and dynamics. The way they coo, “Darenimo iwanai” is sooooo alluring." HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 6 (Subomie, Curaga, Cruel Summer, confide in me, Hey Dude, Reverie) LOWEST SCORE: 3.5 x 1 (Aria0327) MY SCORE: 10 Most 10's for any song thus far Whew! This one is pretty immense, isn't it? It's the way that it bounces through those sweet verses and then breaks out into a fully soaring chorus for me. One of the catchiest choruses on the album too, mind you. All of that contrasts wonderfully with that rapid fire spitting they do on the bridge! One of the most "complete package" songs on the record, and one of their best album tracks overall in my opinion. Perhaps even a missed single opportunity? I dunno, but I certainly love it! The early parts of Ultra Blue focus a lot on positive thinking and keeping optimistic through tough times, and Making Love is no different. This song sees Hikaru facing a relationship that has just become long-distance, and dealing with that change in your life. Romantic or friendly? It's not entirely clear, and maybe it doesn't even matter that much. It's a pledge to that person, the person that left such an impact on your life, to keep doing your best even if they can't see as much. Hikaru does a good job expressing the gratefulness you can sometimes have to force forward when somebody that you love has to leave you. Curaga: "Looove this one. Sister of Keep Tryin’." 3
Curaga Posted January 26 Posted January 26 (edited) 3 hours ago, Subomie said: HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 2 (Curaga, Cruel Summer) LOWEST SCORE: 4.5 x 1 (Suilen) MY SCORE: 9.5 The third single from Hatsukoi, Anata is also the album's biggest hit - #2 peaking digital single with a nifty Platinum cert under its belt. Sure, the days of utter chart domination were behind us, but Hikaru still grabbing hits twenty years into their career is why they're the monarch! The single cover is one of my favorites of theirs, proof that they can still serve some great visuals when need be. ...The music video is the antithesis of that, of course. Eugh. You win some, you lose some. The single was also used as the theme song for the film 'DESTINY Kamakura Monogatari', and as the commercial theme for Sony's Noican wireless headphones. Most Utada singles get maybe one brand deal, this song got two. The privilege. Anata is a hymn in the same vein as the preceding song, Play A Long Song - it's a sweet serenade to a partner, an assurance of constant companionship and protection. Anata literally translates to "you", so it's a confession that amounts to "nothing matters without you". Look, the lyrics are nice if a bit simple, but the lyrics aren't why I love this track. That would be down to the melodies here. Oof, the chorus is a complete earworm, good luck not singing along. And when the trumpets start coming in? It's over. One of their late-career highlights for sure and easily my favourite Hatsukoi track. HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 5 (Subomie, Curaga, scenekiller, Cruel Summer, nostalgic) LOWEST SCORE: 3 x 1 (Aria0327) MY SCORE: 10 They really saved all the synths for this song. Take 5 is one of those legendary-tier album tracks that gain some reputation. And rightfully so, this synth-laden track is one of the more beautiful and tragic ones of Hikaru's entire career. Despite how pretty it sounds, the song is actually about death. It does fit together when you realize as much, and the song's frantic nature becomes a fitting vessel. It really does sound like Hikaru's delivering some last-minute confessions, unsure of how much time they have left at all. I'd call it an artistic triumph, right down to the sudden ending. Cutting the song in what seems like the middle of the outro. It'd make for a perfect closing track! ...So it's a shame it wasn't. Yeah, of all the tracklisting quirks throughout their discography, following up Take 5 with Boku wa Kuma must be one of the most baffling. Pleading, desperate death-bed confessions giving way to... the dumb bear song for the kids. Even the soundscapes clash real bad. The pulsating synths stopping and you immediately having to hear the entirely-too-happy notes of the bear song. My fingers can never hit the skip button quick enough. And yes, I've heard the theory that it represents rebirth. Going from the death song to the children's song. I don't care! It still sounds whack! Take 5 should've closed the album and that's final! OK this is devastating! Both of these songs are so amazing Anata is super catchy, but the lyrics make me like it even more because I read a long time ago that it’s about their son. I am a sucker for mom songs (like Little Star by Madonna). And Take 5…… the power that that has, the impact that that has, the beauty that that has…… I guess we’re really getting down to it in the top 40, but this song deserved to be much higher. Comments I had at the time: Anata: Love it! Love the jazzy horns. Take 5: Insaaane. I looove this song so much omg. Beautiful. Edited January 26 by Curaga 2
Graves Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 Just now, Curaga said: OK this is devastating! Both of these songs are so amazing Anata is super catchy, but the lyrics make me like it even more because I read a long time ago that it’s about their son. I am a sucker for mom songs (like Little Star by Madonna). And Take 5…… the power that that has, the impact that that has, the beauty that that has…… I guess we’re really getting down to it in the top 40, but his song deserved to be much higher. Comments I had at the time: Anata: Love it! Love the jazzy horns. Take 5: Insaaane. I looove this song so much omg. Beautiful. ff sorry. I know I skipped comments on those tracks. I was kind of rushing through the process. I wasn't going to include comments at all today, but looking at the Celebrate comments made me feel bad and I reversed my decision.
Suilen Posted January 26 Posted January 26 (edited) Some people just couldn't handle Utada's honesty and horniness on Darenimo Iwanai. A career highlight. Ended Marquise. As for where my 10 is, I gave it a 9.5 because I didn't want to overrate the album but other people did a good job at it anyway. Making Love being so beloved is interesting. Never really connected with it. Edited January 26 by Suilen 2 1
Curaga Posted January 26 Posted January 26 1 minute ago, Subomie said: ff sorry. I know I skipped comments on those tracks. I was kind of rushing through the process. I wasn't going to include comments at all today, but looking at the Celebrate comments made me feel bad and I reversed my decision. omg you’re totally fine. After yesterday’s server debacle, I understand why you’re just trying to get the results out! And again, your write-ups are far away more interesting than my little comments. I debated even adding them in my own post because they’re so minor lol but I just thought I would. 1
Curaga Posted January 26 Posted January 26 2 hours ago, Subomie said: HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 3 (Hey Dude, confide in me, Reverie) LOWEST SCORE: 5 x 1 (Suilen) MY SCORE: 8 The little baby that would grow up into Final Distance! Though I believe that version of the track to be superior, I do think this is a great little tune too. Sweet and bouncy, Distance is probably the best of the 'teen love songs' of these early years. Embodying the optimistic, and perhaps naive view that love can conquer any distance in the way, Hikki wrote an anthem for the long-distance relationship girls. Put your paws up! There's such a genuine innocence to their voice on here, I don't see how anybody could hate this. It's pure sugar. Though Distance received no single release, that was not always the plan. Initially a planned single release was scheduled as a post-album single for early-mid 2001. Plans were changed, however, and the release was re-worked into the Final Distance we know and love after Hikaru was inspired by the victim of a tragic school massacre in 2001. It's a sad tale, but we can talk more about it when the Final mix leaves. Still, Distance has remained quite popular despite that. It is still one of their most streamed non-singles, received and outing at their 2004 live shows, and even got voted as one of Japan's favorite Utada songs back in 2015... being chosen over Final Distance, even. Those girls love their bops extra sweet, I suppose. HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 2 (Take Me Apart, gingguu) LOWEST SCORE: 6 x 1 (nostalgic) MY SCORE: 6.5 An R&B-infused number, this impatient banger serves to bring us into the final stretch of the Deep River. Though I quite like some of the production choices here, and the ad-libs at the end are very pretty too, I don't think this is one of the stronger album cuts. It's somewhat lacking, I find. The chorus melody isn't as arresting as a lot of the other songs, and I even find it to be a tad repetitive? I dunno. I use it - it's still a Deep River track and they're all decent - but not that often. The lyrics... from what I understand, ASAP is the sound of pleading. Of a needy girlfriend, begging for some affection. The type of person that wants her man's constant presence around her, and will summon him as if its an emergency even for the slightest problems. That's the impression I get. There's an implied coldness to it, that she now has to beg him for his attention. "Just believe me one more time, I swear this will be my last lie." I like a lot of the individual lines here, actually. Lyrically it makes for a cool song, but even I don't know if I'm interpreting it right. No live performances either, as far as I can tell. I feel that the Deep River album tracks got a little shafted on that front. They deserved some live outings. We definitely didn't need B&C or Paint It Black at the 2004 shows. There was room for some of the newer girls. Makes sense to me that Final Distance is more popular given the context of the song and her more mature delivery, but I prefer the original Distance is the first song on the album that finally clicked with me. I keep listening to this album over and over hoping it will click one day. I am getting there with some of these songs you girls have rated highly so I’m getting there! I totally agree about ASAP having good elements but just not being the strongest on the album. I always want to skip, but once I get into it I’m like, “OK, no, I like this!” 2
Graves Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 5 (Curaga, AMIT, willmcclure9, confide in me, Reverie) LOWEST SCORE: 6 x 1 (bestfiction) MY SCORE: 9 It's a wrap for Hatsukoi. Undoubtedly one of the finest moments on the record, a closing track that brings an end to a somewhat uneven album in a stunning fashion. I may have some complaints about Hatsukoi as a whole, but you won't hear me badmouthing this track. The elements are all pulling their weight here, though nothing dominates. The strings and piano melodies only pop in to punctuate occasional lines, never overstaying a welcome, the only constant is the percussion - a subtle backing that takes turns pulsating or skittering as needed. Funny how the track that uses the string section so selectively is the one with the most epic feel of all, eh? 'A Life to be Envied' is one of the coolest love songs Hikaru has ever penned. The thought that: no matter how the rest of your life goes, the fact that the person you love was in it makes it one worthy of envy. Die tomorrow or live for another five decades, it won't change it. Beyond love, it applies even just looking at Hikki's life in and of itself. "I can say it, no matter how humble I am, "This was a life to be envied"" They should say it! Curaga: "Looove this one omg. Really cool backing vocal effect at 0:57. The piano sounds like a waterfall." AMIT: "she knocked it out of the part with this song, amazing closer. possibly my least fave album out of her japanese releases, but this song is incredible and definitely a career highlight." HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 5 (Riverbank, Curaga, Suilen, Cruel Summer, Reverie) LOWEST SCORE: 5 x 1 (willmcclure9) MY SCORE: 9 How refreshing - a nice slice of R&B-pop bop. Sometimes a song is so good that you just can't relegate it to a forgotten album track and apparently Hikaru felt that way about Hotel Lobby, seeing as the verses there are interpolated here as Kiss & Cry's pre-chorus. They knew they had something good with that track, and they made something equally great on here too. One thing I really appreciate about Kiss & Cry is how hook-laden it is. Heart Station can be a bit of a slower, more relaxed album at times and it just needs a shot of life every now and then. So thank you for your service, Kiss & Cry! Unfortunately, I can't say that Kiss & Cry got a particularly noteworthy single release. See, in Utada canon there are two types of singles that get "low key" releases: digital-only singles, and the back half of a double A-side single. Kiss & Cry has the misfortune to be both of these things. Put out as a digital release in May 2007 and then tacked on as the second half of the Beautiful World release in August 2007. The song was used as a commercial tie-in for Nissin Cup Noodles, including a rather shameless shout-out in the actual lyrics of the track? Jeez. Capitalistada. It also got an awfully lazy music video, but that's par for the course with the Heart Station singles... Curaga: "Hello, Hotel Lobby melody! This is the instrumental you deserved." 3
Curaga Posted January 26 Posted January 26 29 minutes ago, Subomie said: HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 3 (Curaga, scenekiller, Cruel Summer) LOWEST SCORE: 5 x 1 (Hey Dude) MY SCORE: 8 Released only a few short weeks after the majestic Time, Darenimo Iwanai was the second single from Bad Mode - also put out in May of 2020. Unlike Time, however, the video was filmed and ready to go from pre-pandemic shoots! ...Unfortunately, that video was not, in fact, a music video but instead a commercial shot for... Suntory water. *shudders* How many music videos are going to be robbed from us by this wicked water company? How many times can Hikaru wander the forest with a backpack on? Enough! But yeah, this is definitely another track that deserved a better single package. It's so subdued! Hikki sounds downright delicate on this at parts, but can turn it into deep yearning real quick. "I just want your body..." Ooh, that's sexy. Sultry and soft all at once, this used to be a little bit boring to me but I've grown to appreciate it's hidden depths! Curaga: "Are you kidding me . . . STUNNING. This could be an 11. Beautiful, beautiful vocal delivery and dynamics. The way they coo, “Darenimo iwanai” is sooooo alluring." HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 6 (Subomie, Curaga, Cruel Summer, confide in me, Hey Dude, Reverie) LOWEST SCORE: 3.5 x 1 (Aria0327) MY SCORE: 10 Most 10's for any song thus far Whew! This one is pretty immense, isn't it? It's the way that it bounces through those sweet verses and then breaks out into a fully soaring chorus for me. One of the catchiest choruses on the album too, mind you. All of that contrasts wonderfully with that rapid fire spitting they do on the bridge! One of the most "complete package" songs on the record, and one of their best album tracks overall in my opinion. Perhaps even a missed single opportunity? I dunno, but I certainly love it! The early parts of Ultra Blue focus a lot on positive thinking and keeping optimistic through tough times, and Making Love is no different. This song sees Hikaru facing a relationship that has just become long-distance, and dealing with that change in your life. Romantic or friendly? It's not entirely clear, and maybe it doesn't even matter that much. It's a pledge to that person, the person that left such an impact on your life, to keep doing your best even if they can't see as much. Hikaru does a good job expressing the gratefulness you can sometimes have to force forward when somebody that you love has to leave you. Curaga: "Looove this one. Sister of Keep Tryin’." Two bad bi tches out…… Darenimo Iwanai is a standout track to me on an album full of gems. It really is that bi tch! Soaring is the perfect word for the chorus on Making Love! They did THAT! 1
Curaga Posted January 26 Posted January 26 (edited) 15 minutes ago, Subomie said: HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 5 (Curaga, AMIT, willmcclure9, confide in me, Reverie) LOWEST SCORE: 6 x 1 (bestfiction) MY SCORE: 9 It's a wrap for Hatsukoi. Undoubtedly one of the finest moments on the record, a closing track that brings an end to a somewhat uneven album in a stunning fashion. I may have some complaints about Hatsukoi as a whole, but you won't hear me badmouthing this track. The elements are all pulling their weight here, though nothing dominates. The strings and piano melodies only pop in to punctuate occasional lines, never overstaying a welcome, the only constant is the percussion - a subtle backing that takes turns pulsating or skittering as needed. Funny how the track that uses the string section so selectively is the one with the most epic feel of all, eh? 'A Life to be Envied' is one of the coolest love songs Hikaru has ever penned. The thought that: no matter how the rest of your life goes, the fact that the person you love was in it makes it one worthy of envy. Die tomorrow or live for another five decades, it won't change it. Beyond love, it applies even just looking at Hikki's life in and of itself. "I can say it, no matter how humble I am, "This was a life to be envied"" They should say it! Curaga: "Looove this one omg. Really cool backing vocal effect at 0:57. The piano sounds like a waterfall." AMIT: "she knocked it out of the part with this song, amazing closer. possibly my least fave album out of her japanese releases, but this song is incredible and definitely a career highlight." HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 5 (Riverbank, Curaga, Suilen, Cruel Summer, Reverie) LOWEST SCORE: 5 x 1 (willmcclure9) MY SCORE: 9 How refreshing - a nice slice of R&B-pop bop. Sometimes a song is so good that you just can't relegate it to a forgotten album track and apparently Hikaru felt that way about Hotel Lobby, seeing as the verses there are interpolated here as Kiss & Cry's pre-chorus. They knew they had something good with that track, and they made something equally great on here too. One thing I really appreciate about Kiss & Cry is how hook-laden it is. Heart Station can be a bit of a slower, more relaxed album at times and it just needs a shot of life every now and then. So thank you for your service, Kiss & Cry! Unfortunately, I can't say that Kiss & Cry got a particularly noteworthy single release. See, in Utada canon there are two types of singles that get "low key" releases: digital-only singles, and the back half of a double A-side single. Kiss & Cry has the misfortune to be both of these things. Put out as a digital release in May 2007 and then tacked on as the second half of the Beautiful World release in August 2007. The song was used as a commercial tie-in for Nissin Cup Noodles, including a rather shameless shout-out in the actual lyrics of the track? Jeez. Capitalistada. It also got an awfully lazy music video, but that's par for the course with the Heart Station singles... Curaga: "Hello, Hotel Lobby melody! This is the instrumental you deserved." The way 7 of these 10 eliminations were 10s from me ddddddd Shittosareruebki Jinsei is so beautiful omg. Glad people appreciate this track despite the overall Hatsukoi hate! You know what’s funny is that, even though I listened to Utada as a kid/teen, I kinda took a break when they did, and when they came back with Fantome, it was such a different sound that I questioned if I was even an Utada fan anymore. But then somehow, Hatsukoi really won me over and I was like, you know what, I love this new sound from them — and it made me realize that Fantome is such an incredible album, much better/more consistent than Hatsukoi, and here I am today: Utada stan and rate villain! Edited January 26 by Curaga 1
Graves Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 HIGH SCORERS 1. scenekiller - 8.33 2. nostalgic - 8.167 3. confide in me - 8 LOW SCORERS 1. Reverie - 5.917 2. Suilen - 5.958 3. AMIT - 6.125
Graves Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 So here's the thing. The plan was to do a late update yesterday and an early one today - I got plans tonight so it made sense to try and reach as many of you as possible like this. Obviously the attempt at doing an update yesterday flopped like Exodus, so what now? I can do the 30-21 update in like an hour if you guys want me to.
Suilen Posted January 26 Posted January 26 Well, the only song on Hatsukoi that made me feel something won, so I guess I'm satisfied.
Curaga Posted January 26 Posted January 26 6 minutes ago, Subomie said: So here's the thing. The plan was to do a late update yesterday and an early one today - I got plans tonight so it made sense to try and reach as many of you as possible like this. Obviously the attempt at doing an update yesterday flopped like Exodus, so what now? I can do the 30-21 update in like an hour if you guys want me to. Sounds good to me! Thanks for keeping us fed despite ATRL’s Utadaphobia
Suilen Posted January 26 Posted January 26 10 minutes ago, Subomie said: So here's the thing. The plan was to do a late update yesterday and an early one today - I got plans tonight so it made sense to try and reach as many of you as possible like this. Obviously the attempt at doing an update yesterday flopped like Exodus, so what now? I can do the 30-21 update in like an hour if you guys want me to. I'll be there.
Graves Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 Oh lord not the server giving in right when I start tagging again
Graves Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 @Riverbank @Curaga @scenekiller @Meloetta Carey @gingguu @AMIT @willmcclure9 @Ewan Chaos @Suilen @bestfiction @Aria0327 @confide in me @nostalgic @Hey Dude @Reverie @Cruel Summer Girlies, I am going to once again try and do an update in 30 minutes. Be there if you can, and if the server allows! If not... well, read through the last ten I posted again. 1 1
Cruel Summer Posted January 26 Posted January 26 I have a lot to say later about the ten from earlier because I took SO many Ls today already But hey, in a discography like this, top forty is still pretty great! 1
Graves Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 2 (scenekiller, AMIT) LOWEST SCORE: 5.5 x 2 (Ewan Chaos, Aria0327) MY SCORE: 7 1999 was a hot year for Hikki. Automatic / time will tell had become one of the best selling singles in Japanese history, and First Love had become the greatest selling album of all time over there. TV series were making themes out of everything they released, even their damn album tracks, the records were selling like hot cakes - the point is that everyone was thirsty for more. So, how do you follow that? What does a young, R&B loving teen of the late '90s do for their second album? Follow in the footsteps of the queen, of course! Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were the architects of some of the greatest pop and R&B songs of the '80s and '90s, thanks to their partnership with Janet Jackson. Utada went right to the best, flying out to Minneapolis to work with them in their studio on a cutting edge R&B track that would serve as the follow-up to the monumental First Love era. Addicted To You was the fruit of those sessions. It was destined to be a smash hit. The song had a high-budget video shot in Hong Kong, and it served as the theme for Sony's RED HOT campaign commercials in Japan. Could Utada keep the momentum going with their second album? Yeah, of course. Duh. A #1 debut - their second chart topper - opening with over a million copies sold in a single week(!!). The song was everything it needed to be, and more. Even the cover art and music video were set to poise Hikaru Utada as a woman, grown up and matured compared to the sweet girl from Automatic. Keeping in mind that they were still just seventeen years-old at the time. The song was a huge part of their early career, no doubt about it, but how does it hold up today? Hm... to me? They've done better. It's nice! But I feel like Jimmy & Terry could've given Hikki something hotter (and they did, a few months later imo). It's nice, really nice, but I don't consider it one of Utada's best, personally. Curaga thinks it's nice. "Love the instrumental on the chorus." AMIT is a big fan, but with some small complaints, "her Oops I did It Again moment. Automatic is obviously superior, but this is still very much a worthy successor, the chorus is absolute FIRE. we deserved a better video though" 1
Cruel Summer Posted January 26 Posted January 26 What a song, though, like yeah Automatic is definitely better, but this is still so good Kind of surprised this made it to the top thirty over some other tracks, though, especially some of the eliminations earlier today! I guess it’s just hard to not like this one. 2
Graves Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 1 minute ago, Suilen said: So it's not Curaga we had to worry about huh Never was 1
Graves Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 17 minutes ago, Suilen said: I wonder which Evangelion song will be out first HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 6 (Take Me Apart, gingguu, AMIT, confide in me, nostalgic, Hey Dude) LOWEST SCORE: 5 x 2 (Meloetta Carey, Aria0327) MY SCORE: 9.5 While Hikaru might not be a fan of the Kingdom Hearts franchise, she certainly loves a bit of Evangelion. Who doesn't? That OG series is GOATed, minus the last two episodes. So when the creator of Evangelion, Hideaki Anno, announced the three-part remake series 'Evangelion Rebuild' in 2006, Hikaru Utada was first on his mind for a theme song. Without so much as a script or image to refer to, Hikaru wrote Beautiful World with inspiration from the original series. Though later Evangelion Rebuild songs that she worked on would take inspiration from some other characters, Beautiful World is squarely inspired by Shinji - the male lead. Hence the "beautiful boy" lyrics. Beautiful World is an accurate title, as this song is indeed a beauty. Sensitive softness and gentle declarations make for a tender track with some unassuming strength. The themes of early Evangelion lined up rather well with the themes Hikaru had already been exploring on Ultra Blue and Heart Station, notably belief in oneself and struggling through hard times. The song was so good that it got used again in remixed form as the theme for the second film of the Rebuild series, and even in the credits of the fourth and final film almost 15 years later! Beautiful World got a single release in August of 2007, mere weeks before Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone launched in theaters. It was paired with Kiss & Cry, a track that had seen a digital release months earlier, as a double A-side release. The tracks charted at #2 on Oricon and proved to be some of Hikaru's bigger hits of the late '00s. Unfortunately, neither song got a proper music video - Beautiful World was represented with Evangelion film clips. Which is a shame. The imagery on the CD release (seen in the elimination graphic) is gorgeous! Some of the only good imagery we got of Utada during this time period. bestfiction believes that "One Last Kiss kinda renders it obsolete. It’s still good tho." I disagree with that, but it seems the voters are on-board. Curaga leaves it simple: "Pretty." Pretty and sparkly uwu. 3
Graves Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 Let's play a game. I'm telling you guys that an album is about to leave us in its entirety and you guys guess which one! For the record - First Love, Distance, Heart Station, Exodus and the Single Collection are all down to their last track
Curaga Posted January 26 Posted January 26 2 minutes ago, Subomie said: HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 6 (Take Me Apart, gingguu, AMIT, confide in me, nostalgic, Hey Dude) LOWEST SCORE: 5 x 2 (Meloetta Carey, Aria0327) MY SCORE: 9.5 While Hikaru might not be a fan of the Kingdom Hearts franchise, she certainly loves a bit of Evangelion. Who doesn't? That OG series is GOATed, minus the last two episodes. So when the creator of Evangelion, Hideaki Anno, announced the three-part remake series 'Evangelion Rebuild' in 2006, Hikaru Utada was first on his mind for a theme song. Without so much as a script or image to refer to, Hikaru wrote Beautiful World with inspiration from the original series. Though later Evangelion Rebuild songs that she worked on would take inspiration from some other characters, Beautiful World is squarely inspired by Shinji - the male lead. Hence the "beautiful boy" lyrics. Beautiful World is an accurate title, as this song is indeed a beauty. Sensitive softness and gentle declarations make for a tender track with some unassuming strength. The themes of early Evangelion lined up rather well with the themes Hikaru had already been exploring on Ultra Blue and Heart Station, notably belief in oneself and struggling through hard times. The song was so good that it got used again in remixed form as the theme for the second film of the Rebuild series, and even in the credits of the fourth and final film almost 15 years later! Beautiful World got a single release in August of 2007, mere weeks before Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone launched in theaters. It was paired with Kiss & Cry, a track that had seen a digital release months earlier, as a double A-side release. The tracks charted at #2 on Oricon and proved to be some of Hikaru's bigger hits of the late '00s. Unfortunately, neither song got a proper music video - Beautiful World was represented with Evangelion film clips. Which is a shame. The imagery on the CD release (seen in the elimination graphic) is gorgeous! Some of the only good imagery we got of Utada during this time period. bestfiction believes that "One Last Kiss kinda renders it obsolete. It’s still good tho." I disagree with that, but it seems the voters are on-board. Curaga leaves it simple: "Pretty." Pretty and sparkly uwu. omg I finally watched the original Evangelion series last year and it was so inspiring, it sparked me to start creative writing again for the first time in yeeeeears. Love this song! Definitely one of my favs from Heart Station. Fake fan though, I had no idea it was used for NGE hasjfaiojsef 1
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