Forum - View topicUtada Hikaru - HELP!!!!!!!!!!!
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Full_Metal1923
 Posts: 312 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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I'm hoping you guys, and girls can help me once again, in another matter of purchasing music. Specifically relating to Utada Hikaru this time. Recently, I pre-ordered her latest, and my favourite album "Heart Station". I'd like to continue buying her music because simply, there's so much to love. But, I'm having a couple of issues with two of her most prominent works, in terms of making a decision on buying them. I feel almost as if I'm buying them for the sake of buying them, and not necessarily the content. I'll go by album:
Heart Station - Favourite album, love it to bits, it's a must-have on my part, and so I've pre-ordered it. ULTRA BLUE - There are a couple of distractions but aside from those, I'm very happy with buying "COLORS", and "Be My Last", and potentially "Passion" later on. Deep River - It's the #8 best-selling album in Japan's history. With favourites such as SAKURA Drops, LEtters, traveling, Play Ball, FINAL DISTANCE, even Deep River itself, and Hikari have grown on me. Oh, and Shiawase ni Narou, and Tokyo NIGHTS aren't bad either. I think I'm perfectly comfortable purchasing this one. And, here comes the problem... Distance - Can You Keep a Secret is great, and even though it hasn't stuck in my head, Wait & See ~ Risk ~ also is very good. However, I'm indifferent about Addicted to You, For You, and Time Limit. Their not bad songs yet they don't really jump out at me. I look at them as positives but then I'm just not sure. The other songs for the most part I can go without but they aren't bad. But, these are the interesting ones for me. Perhaps, it's the style. I grew up listening to this style of R&B in the '90s thanks to a coule of the very same producers behind a few of these songs. Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis - "Addicted to You", and "Wait & See ~ Risk ~" Darkchild - "Time Limit" And, during this time I never hated or loved the songs they did for acts like Destiny's Child, Janet Jackson, etc. And, while I'd probably pick these songs over many of those from then. I still am unsure of purchasing the album would be a good choice. I was thinking of perhaps just buying the singles the same way I did for ULTRA BLUE. But, even then I can't say that any one of them is worth a purchase since I don't see them as "THE MOST AMAZING SONG EVER! 10/10", like a song....like a "READY STEADY GO" by L'Arc, or to continue to the Utada love - "Flavor of Life". First Love - Falls in the same catagory almost. For some reason I'm more preferable to picking this one up. Automatic, Time Will Tell, Another Chance, Movin' on Without You, Amaiwana, First Love are great songs. Others like In My Room, Never Let Go, and Give Me a Reason are decent as well. So, I'm very much stuck on these two albums, and while I would love to have them, I'm not too sure if I'll enjoy them nearly as much as I'd like to. So that is why I have come here! You've never given me bad advice. In fact, if it weren't for some of the posts that I've received in previous threads I've created, I would've never known the amazing voice of Mikuni shimokawa, who became my favourite J-pop singer shortly after. And, that's only one example. Is it bad that I'm relunctant to purchase these albums as a fan of Utada Hikaru, or better yet the fact their the #1, and #4 best-selling albums of all time in Japan? Looking at the potential for purchasing singles, I can live without Can You Keep a Secret even though I really like it, I hate the B-side, it just grinds me the wrong way like L'Arc's "Forever" from their SMILE album in '04. Addicted to You i(as I listen now), I can live without as well. So, that leaves Wait & See ~ Risk ~, and For You/Time Limit (which come otgether thankfully). Currently, this is what I'm thinking of doing (hopefully amazong won't screw me over, and just kill this whole headache by not even having the singles available...that'd really suck to say the least). And, what would you suggest in regards to First Love? Please, members of ANN. Help me once again as you always have! Share with me your knowledge, and opinions on the great Utada Hikaru! |
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unfurling
 Posts: 60 |
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here's my take.
i started buying utada's music when deep river was first released... i quickly went back and bought everything else that she had done, which at that point was distance, first love, and cubic u (heard of that one?) and i have to say i did not regret the decision. i went on to buy everything else she's done as it's come out, and i've been a huge fan of hers ever since. i would say that investing in the music is worth it. because while you may not be too thrilled about some songs on those albums now, you may find yourself loving them in six months. but that doesn't mean you have to get the albums now. give it some time, enjoy what you have and look forward to your new album, but don't write off the others yet. 
hope that helps a little! |
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fighterholic
Posts: 9193 |
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First Love was an interesting find. I liked Automatic, but I actually almost cried when I was listening to First Love. What's interesting about my getting into First Love was it was introduced to me by my grandfather of all people. First Love I say is a gem for her, and worth looking into.
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Zoe
 Posts: 898 Location: Austin |
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You seem to be mentioning mostly only her singles. How about her Best collection?
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Full_Metal1923
Posts: 312 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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I could go for the Singles Collection but there are a couple nice songs I really like outside of them. Such as "Play Ball", "Another Chance", and "amaiwana" and so forth. I think I'll take that advice, and just give it some time. However, oddly enough, I believe its "Addicted to You" has been stuck in my head all day.
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yukikanou
Posts: 19 Location: 大阪 |
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Personally, I am getting sick of Hikaru UTADA singing about the same things over and over.
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Full_Metal1923
Posts: 312 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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Thanks a lot for that insightful opinion on the matte at hand.
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Vuwazy
Posts: 208 |
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It's been a long time since I listened to her music. Anyway, she has a lot of great songs. Her album she did when she tried to make an impact in the states is disappointing to fans. But don't let that stop you. Utada's older stuff are memorable. One song I didn't think was mentioned that I liked was Kettobase. I liked that song. Try that song if you haven't heard it. There are a lot of songs I could try to remember but it's been so long that I can't get to all of them. I don't know what album to tell you to get, but just get whatever stands out to you.
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Full_Metal1923
Posts: 312 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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Thanks. I've heard that one on youtube before. It actually creeps me out a bit. Particularly the chorus part "I want your baby", with the background, it frightens me a tad. To be honest, I'm not a big fan of that one, and I recently checked out a couple songs from Exodus, and it really is a disappointment.
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Vuwazy
Posts: 208 |
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I see how that line she says you're mentioning is frightening. But I thought it was an awesome song. Kettobase and Can You Keep a Secret are two of my most liked of her songs. Her work with Exodus just doesn't feel like anything she has done before. There are more frightening things with the songs coming from that album. There is a song called You Make Me Wanna Be a Man and the title alone is scary. She sings good in English too but the stuff from Exodus puts me off. She has done older songs in English. Have you heard of any before?
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Full_Metal1923
Posts: 312 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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"Simple And Clean", and its remix, and her version of "Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)", and "Sanctuary" are the only songs I've heard from her in English outside of Exodus, but let's not count that... almost like the Legend of Zelda games on the CD-i.
 I do agree, the name alone scares me. Thankfully, according to wikipedia her upcoming English album has a good chance of including "Sanctuary" in there. It's not her greatest but it's at least a notable inclusion.
Furthermore, the genres listed are along the lines of what Utada Hikaru has done in Japan. R&B, Hip-Hop, and so forth. I think she has a much better grasp now, on who she is, and what she's done. "ULTRA BLUE" seemed to hint that she was still experimenting a tad but I believe her most recent album is perfect, and that her upcoming English album will also reflect such perfection. Especially, now that its in familiar territory per se. Getting back to song she's done in English, if I remember correctly, the album she released under the name Cubic-U was an English album. However, I haven't heard anything from there, nor has it ever shown up on amazon.com when I am searching for potential purchases. |
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Vuwazy
Posts: 208 |
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I've listened to a couple of her early English songs. Promise and Close To You. I think they were on the album you mentioned, Cubic-U. Then probably others that escape my mind. Maybe you could try to listen to those early songs she did on that album so that you can compare with what she did with her more recent stuff. So that you can get an idea of where you want to get. Some of Hikaru's songs drive me away because they make me go
 . I rarely listen to her songs for about over a year. But I'm trying to listen to Utada Hikaru again. I would tell all of the songs I like from her but I don't know if I'm up to it.
When is her upcoming album going to be? I haven't payed too much attention to her recently. |
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Full_Metal1923
Posts: 312 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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Aside from the album she did under the name Cubic-U, I'm familiar with everything else for the most part. Heart Station (the new album) is already out in both Japan (since March), and in North American (came out April 29th). You can tell the growth in her music, and lyrical content, especially in Heart Station.
I could also name my favourites but will I? Sure! 
First Love: Automatic, Time Will Tell, Another Chance, Movin' on Without you, Amaiwana -PAINT IT BLACK-, First Love, and well other songs I'm not as crazy about but enjoy would be Never Let Go, Give Me a Reason, In My Room, and B&C. Distance: Can You Keep a Secret?, Addicted to You, Wait & See ~Risk~, Distance, and For You. Other songs I'm preferable to: Time Limit, and Eternally. Deep River: I love every single song off the album except for A.S.A.P. Exodus: Nothing ULTRA BLUE: COLORS, Be My Last, Nichiyo no Asa, and then there are songs that I like but can't fully accept the fact I like them  Passion, One Night Magic, and This is Love, but they're still worth noting.
HEART STATION: I love every single song on the album, even the songs I didn't like as much at first like Kiss & Cry, I've come to like. If someone were to ask me what's my favourite album of all time, I'd probably say this right now. Other: Simple and Clean, Fly Me to The Moon (In Other Words), and I suppose Sanctuary. |
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duotrouble
 Posts: 6 Location: Atlanta |
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You could join Kawaii-radio and request her songs. You can buy one CD at a time spreading out your expense. Buy your favorite CDs first, the ones you're positive you want. Then request songs from the other CDs until you've decided which is next. You'll be able to keep your obsession going while keeping some kind of budget.
 And there's a poll going on right now regarding her and another artist. Which one is your favorite?
OR did I completely misunderstand you? Anyway, my favorite song from her is "Hikari". I really like the remix too. I own her CD Deep River. |
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Full_Metal1923
Posts: 312 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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Thanks. I suppose that would be a good idea to extend the fandom, and continue other obsessions I still have (Fullmetal Alchemist still going strong). In regards to a poll, Utada Hikaru would be my pick over anyone except for L'Arc~en~Ciel. That'd be one I could not decide on, especially at this point where I'm currently listening to Utada moreso.
EDIT: Thanks a lot for noting Kawaii Radio, I just started listening in, and was surprised to hear Rin Oikawa's "I'll be your Home", a song I have on my computer. Which is great of course. So thanks very much. |
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