Hatsukoi (Hikaru Utada song)

Last updated
"Hatsukoi"
Hikaru Utada - First Love Hatsukoi 2022.png
2022 remastering cover
Single by Hikaru Utada
from the album Hatsukoi
LanguageJapanese
ReleasedMay 30, 2018 (2018-05-30)
RecordedMarch 2018
Genre
Length4:41
Label
Songwriter(s) Hikaru Utada
Producer(s) Hikaru Utada
Hikaru Utada singles chronology
"Play a Love Song"
(2018)
"Hatsukoi"
(2018)
"Chikai"
(2018)
Music video
"Hatsukoi" on YouTube

"Hatsukoi" is a song by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada. It is her fifth single under the label Epic Records Japan and was taken from her seventh Japanese-language studio album Hatsukoi . The song was released as a digital download on May 30 and was used as a tie-in for the Japanese television drama Hana Nochi Hare - Hanadan Next Season . It's the second song that Utada delivers to the series, after Flavor of Life in 2007. [1]

Contents

The song and "First Love" from her 1999 album of the same name inspired the 2022 Netflix series First Love . [2] In December 2022, "Hatsukoi" was remastered alongside "First Love" in Dolby Atmos. [3]

Music video

The song's corresponding promo video is directed by Yasuhito Tsuge, the same director that worked with Utada on the "Manatsu no Tooriame" music video. Released on the same day as the song, it can be purchased via iTunes store, [4] and has simultaneously been released for rotation to Japanese TV Station M-On. Following the good reception of the "Forevermore" and "Anata" music video documentaries with M-On, a new one will be exhibited at the channel on June 27, the same day of Hatsukoi album release.

Commercial performance

The song topped the Oricon download chart for 2 consecutive weeks, making Hikaru Utada the only female singer to reach the top of the chart 3 times since its beginning. [5]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Hikaru Utada; all music is composed by Hikaru Utada

Digital version
No.TitleLength
1."Hatsukoi"4:41

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Hatsukoi"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Streaming
Japan (RIAJ) [12] Gold50,000,000

Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history and formats for "Hatsukoi"
RegionDateFormat(s)VersionLabelRef.
VariousMay 30, 2018
  • Digital download
  • streaming
Original Epic Japan
December 9, 20222022 remastering [13]
Japan Vinyl "First Love / Hatsukoi" 2022 Remastered
[3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hikaru Utada</span> American and Japanese pop singer and producer (born 1983)

Hikaru Utada, also known by the mononym Utada, is an American and Japanese singer, songwriter and producer. Utada is one of the most influential, bestselling musical artists in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Love (Hikaru Utada song)</span> 1999 single by Utada Hikaru

"First Love" is a song by the Japanese-American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada. It was released on April 28, 1999, as the third Japanese language single from her second studio album, First Love, which was issued a month previously. It was certified double platinum for 800,000 copies shipped to stores in Japan.

<i>Ultra Blue</i> 2006 studio album by Hikaru Utada

Ultra Blue is the sixth album by Japanese–American singer Hikaru Utada, released on June 14, 2006, by EMI Music Japan. It is the first original Japanese language album under Hikaru Utada's name in four years since her third album Deep River (2002). Ultra Blue contains thirteen songs, including six singles released between 2003 and 2006. While the arrangements for her album Deep River were done collaboratively, all but one of the songs on Ultra Blue were written, composed, and arranged solely by Utada, who also did the programming herself. In this album, the R&B elements that have been present since her debut are further diminished, and the majority of the songs have an electronic flavor with an emphasis on synth sounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hikaru Utada discography</span>

The discography of Japanese-American R&B and pop singer Hikaru Utada consists of eleven studio albums, four compilation albums, eleven video albums and numerous singles and promotional singles. Utada began as a musician in the early 1990s as a member of U3, a family unit made up of her, her mother Junko Utada, also known as 1970s enka singer Keiko Fuji, and her father, musical producer Teruzane Utada. U3 released their debut album Star in 1993, with the hope to debut in America. In 1996, the group was rebranded as Cubic U, an R&B project focusing on Hikaru Utada, resulting in the English language album Precious in 1998 with record label Toshiba EMI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flavor of Life</span> 2007 single by Hikaru Utada

"Flavor of Life" is Hikaru Utada's 18th Japanese single. The physical single was officially released on February 28, 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beautiful World (Hikaru Utada song)</span> 2007 single by Hikaru Utada

"Beautiful World" is a song by Japanese American musician Hikaru Utada. It served as the theme song for Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone, the 2007 film reboot of the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion. It was released as a double A-side single on August 29, 2007 along with her song "Kiss & Cry", which had been released digitally three months earlier. In 2009, a remix of the song, "Beautiful World " served as the theme song of the second film in the series, Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart Station (song)</span> 2008 single by Hikaru Utada

"Heart Station" is a song by Japanese musician Hikaru Utada, which was released as a double A-side single alongside her song "Stay Gold" on February 20, 2008. It served as the fifth single from her fifth Japanese-language album Heart Station. "Heart Station" was fully written, composed and produced by Utada herself. The song was created with the image of a song that would come on if you were to turn on your car radio on a late-night highway on your way home from work or play, with the title meaning a place that transmits radio waves from the heart. Musically, it is a midtempo pop ballad. Lyrically, it speaks about bidding someone adieu and still trying to reach them and maintain their presence in your life.

<i>Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2</i> 2010 greatest hits album / EP by Hikaru Utada

Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2 is Japanese pop singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada's second compilation album, released on November 24, 2010, by EMI Music Japan, the same day as her Universal-released English language compilation album, Utada the Best. The album includes two discs, with the first being a 13-track greatest hits album spanning 2004–2009, while the second is an extended play featuring new material. Along with Utada the Best, this remained Utada's last album release for six years, until 2016's Fantôme, due to an announced hiatus. Several of the new songs achieved commercial success, with "Goodbye Happiness" reaching number one on Billboard's Japan Hot 100 chart, and "Can't Wait 'Til Christmas" reaching number one on the Recording Industry Association of Japan's digital track chart. Both songs have been certified by the association as gold records for full-length cellphone downloads.

"Can't Wait 'Til Christmas" is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada. It was released on Utada's second Japanese compilation album, Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2, on November 24, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sakura Nagashi</span> 2012 single by Utada Hikaru

"Sakura Nagashi" is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada. It was released by EMI Music Japan digitally on November 17, 2012, with a DVD single released December 26, 2012. The song is the theme to the third film of the Rebuild of Evangelion movie series, Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, and was later included on their sixth Japanese-language studio album Fantôme, released in 2016. The single also marked Utada's last release under the then EMI-controlled EMI Music Japan as the label was absorbed into Universal Music Japan as EMI Records Japan in April 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sakura Drops</span> 2002 single by Hikaru Utada

"Sakura Drops" is a song by Japanese-American musician Hikaru Utada. It was released as a double A-side single with the song "Letters" on May 9, 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stay Gold (Hikaru Utada song)</span> 2008 single by Hikaru Utada

"Stay Gold" is a pop song by Japanese American musician Hikaru Utada. Used in a high-profile campaign for Kao Corporation's Asience shampoo commercials in 2007, the song was released as a double A-side single with Utada's song "Heart Station" on February 20, 2008.

<i>Fantôme</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Hikaru Utada

Fantôme is the sixth Japanese studio album by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada. Although Utada announced an indefinite hiatus from the public eye in August 2010, she continued writing and composing material with her father, Utada Teruzane, and long-term collaborator, Miyake Akira. Musically, Fantôme contains a collection of tracks that utilizes acoustic and stripped-down instrumentations, alongside influences of pop, electronic, and R&B music. The lyrical content delves into themes of grief, sadness, love, and death—mostly influenced by the death of her mother, her second marriage, and the birth of her son in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anata (song)</span> 2017 single by Hikaru Utada

"Anata" is a song by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada. It is their third single under the label Epic Records Japan, from their seventh Japanese-language studio album Hatsukoi. The song was used as a tie-in for movie Destiny: The Tale of Kamakura, and was released as a digital download on December 8. The song is their first movie tie-in in 5 years, since "Sakura Nagashi" was released in 2012 for Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo. The song was written with a Buddhist's view to show both the real and fantasy mixed world shown in the movie. Besides the movie, the song is also featured in a Sony campaign to promote a wireless headphone line, in which they themself also appears.

"Chikai" is a song by Japanese American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada. Along with its English-language counterpart "Don't Think Twice", it serves as the ending theme song to the Square Enix video game, Kingdom Hearts III. "Chikai" first appeared on Utada's seventh Japanese-language studio album, Hatsukoi, and was also included on the setlist of their Laughter In The Dark Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Play a Love Song</span> 2018 single by Hikaru Utada

"Play a Love Song" is a song by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada. It is her fourth single under the label Epic Records Japan, from her seventh Japanese-language studio album Hatsukoi. The song was released as a digital download on April 25, 2018 and was being used as a tie-in for Tennensui Suntory Water.

<i>Hatsukoi</i> (Hikaru Utada album) 2018 studio album by Hikaru Utada

Hatsukoi is the seventh Japanese-language studio album by Japanese–American recording artist Hikaru Utada. It was released on June 27, 2018, as her first album under Sony Music Japan sublabel Epic Records Japan. The release coincided with the commemoration of her 20th Anniversary as an artist in Japan. A national tour was announced to support the album in November 2018. The five previously released songs were confirmed in the album track list, for a total of twelve songs, including the title track "Hatsukoi" and the Kingdom Hearts III theme song "Chikai".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hikaru Utada Laughter in the Dark Tour 2018</span> 2018 concert tour by Hikaru Utada

Hikaru Utada Laughter in the Dark Tour 2018 was Japanese-American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada's fourth Japanese tour. The 13-date sold-out tour began in Yokohama and ended in Chiba. It was Utada's first concert in Japan in 8 years since Wild Life, and first concert tour in the country in 12 years since Utada United 2006. Initially, the concert tour was scheduled with 12 regular dates in arenas, but one extra concert, sponsored by Suntory, was later scheduled for November 17.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Time (Hikaru Utada song)</span> 2020 single by Hikaru Utada

"Time" is a song by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada, released on May 8, 2020, by Epic Records Japan. It served as the theme song for the NTV drama Bishoku Tantei Akechi Goro. The song was certified Gold by RIAJ for selling more than 100,000 digital downloads in Japan.

<i>Science Fiction</i> (Hikaru Utada album) 2024 greatest hits album by Hikaru Utada

Science Fiction is the first greatest hits album and fourth overall compilation album by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada, released on April 10, 2024, through Epic Records Japan and USM Japan. Commemorated the 25th anniversary of their career, the album consists of two discs with 26 tracks, including new mixing and re-recording of their previous singles and three original tracks "Gold ", "Naniiro Demo Nai Hana", and "Electricity". In support of the album, Utada will embark on the Science Fiction Tour in 2024.

References

  1. "Hikaru Utada's Single "Hatsukoi," The Image Song For TBS Tuesday Night Drama Series "Hana nochi Hare: Hanadan Next Season" To Be Released Digitally On May 30". Utadahikaru.jp. Hikaru Utada Official Website. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  2. "満島ひかり×佐藤健の"10代の頃"を八木莉可子×木戸大聖が演じる『First Love 初恋』" (in Japanese). ORICON NEWS. 2022-11-10. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  3. 1 2 "宇多田ヒカル、デビュー記念日に「First Love」「初恋」のドルビーアトモス版&7inchアナログリリース" [Hikaru Utada to Release Dolby Atmos & Vinyl Version of "First Love" and "Hatsukoi" on Debut Anniversary]. 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-12-09.
  4. "Hikaru Utada's Digital Single For "Hatsukoi" (Image Song For TBS Drama "Hana Nochi Hare - Hanadan Next Season") Released Wednesday, May 30! Music Video For The Track Also Announced". utadahikaru.jp. Hikaru Utada Official Website. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  5. "【オリコン】宇多田ヒカル、女性初の配信シングルV2 『花晴れ』提供「初恋」" (in Japanese). Oricon. June 13, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  6. "Hot 100" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. June 11, 2018. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  7. "Download Songs" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. June 11, 2018. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  8. "宇多田ヒカル「初恋」デジタルランキング初登場1位" (in Japanese). Yahoo! Japan. June 6, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  9. "Top Download Songs Chart Year-end 2018" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  10. "有料音楽配信認定". RIAJ. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  11. "年間デジタルシングル(単曲)ランキング 1位~25位" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  12. "Japanese single streaming certifications – Hikaru Utada – Hatsukoi" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan . Retrieved February 29, 2024.Select 2024年1月 on the drop-down menu
  13. "宇多田ヒカルのアナログ盤「First Love / 初恋」発売記念ポップアップ企画開催、DJイベントあり" [DJ Event to Commemorative Hikaru Utada's Vinyl Release of "First Love / Hatsukoi"]. 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-12-09.