Music Monday|Utada Hikaru — One Last Kiss
Hello BAYOG luvs~ It’s Monday, so it’s time to continue our Music Monday posts!~ Today’s music recommendation is Utada Hikaru’s newly released “One Last Kiss”!~ You might remember that Utada is my all time [favorite Japanese artist]~ I’ve been a fan of her music even before her songs for Kingdom Hearts. This track is the theme song for the Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (シン・エヴァンゲリオン劇場版𝄇) film. It’s a pretty fresh release since the EP and music video just dropped last week~
I’ll keep the artist info a bit more brief since I already went into detail in my [Utada] post; Which happens to be the very first BAYOG Playlist post~ Utada Hikaru is a Japanese-American singer and songwriter. She was born in the US, and grew up in both New York and Tokyo. She’s the daughter of music producer Utada Teruzane and enka singer Keiko Fuji. She signed with Toshiba-EMI and originally debuted in 1998, releasing an English album under the name Cubic U. It wasn’t a commercial success though. She ended up being more influenced by R&B and dance pop. Later that year, she released her first Japanese album First Love under the name Utada Hikaru. It was a success, and she continued to release successful albums and singles over the past 23 years. Utada was known for her more experimental sound compared to other Japanese artists. She had some of the top selling albums of all time in Japan. She’s one of the Queens of J-Pop, and I would say she’s also one of the most well known female artists in Japan and Asia. Of course you all know that she’s also famous for her contributions to the Kingdom Hearts games. She’s also contributed songs to the Evangelion movies as well. She also did try to break into the western market with her appearance on the Rush Hour 2 soundtrack and 2 English albums: Exodus and This Is The One. Some of the tracks did chart and have favorable reviews. However, like other Asian artists who were pursuing to break into the western market at the time (BoA and Se7en), she didn’t break into mainstream status. Personally, I think that it just wasn’t the right time and conditions since back then people weren’t as open to Asian acts like they are now. There was a point where she did go on hiatus for a while. However, she did make a successful comeback and has continued to release great music.
Artist: Utada Hikaru (宇多田 ヒカル)
EP: One Last Kiss
Genre: J-Pop, Electropop (?)
Language: Japanese
Release: March 2021
Again, One Last Kiss is the theme song for Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (シン・エヴァンゲリオン劇場版𝄇), the latest and final film of the Rebuild of Evangelion series. The movie was released on March 8, 2021. Utada’s One Last Kiss EP was released March 9, 2021. I admit that I have never watched or followed the Evangelion series, but I know it’s an iconic series that many of my friends enjoy. I do love Utada though. “One Last Kiss” is one of the 4 songs that Utada has done for Evangelion. The previous songs were: “Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words) – 2007 Mix”, “Beautiful World”, and “桜流し/Sakura Nagashi”. 2021 remastered versions of these tracks, as well as the De Capo Version and PLANiTb Acoustica Mix of “Beautiful World” are included on the One Last Kiss EP as well. “One Last Kiss” has a bittersweet tone to it. My brain isn’t working to describe the genres so other than J-Pop, I’m like struggling to describe this track. The cool thing about Utada is how her music is always very experimental. She’s always using different genres and sounds, but has that signature Utada sound to it. I’d say it would be considered an electropop track? I surprisingly really liked this track alot. Prior to this single, she dropped “Time” back in the beginning of May 2020. To be honest, I wasn’t that into “Time”. However, I was really into “誰にも言わない/Dare Ni Mo Iwanai”, which she dropped at the end of May 2020. To be honest, while I do like her prior songs for Evangelion, they’re not my favorite Utada tracks. With Utada’s music, you never know how an upcoming track is going to sound. So I honestly wasn’t expecting myself to particularly love the track or anything. I instantly loved it though. I shit you not when I say that I’ve had this song on nonstop repeat since it dropped. It’s only been a few days, but it’s already my most played song on Spotify within the past 6 months. Like I legit looked up my play stats… It’s been a while since I enjoyed a song so much that I’d have it on constant repeat like this. I think the reason why I enjoy “One Last Kiss” in particular is because it feels kind of nostalgic. It has a mix of Utada’s current and classic sounds. I’m a big fan of her older releases. The bittersweet tone is said to be comparable and reminiscent of her earlier works from Heart Station (2008) and Ultra Blue (2006). At the same time, the sound and style of the track reminds me a bit of [“道/Michi”] from her Fantôme album (2017). For me the style and vibes are like a cross between [“Heart Station”] and [“道/Michi”]. The song itself is about recognizing an inevitable separation while recalling her feelings.
You can listen to the One Last Kiss EP on Spotify, here:
You can listen to “One Last Kiss” on YouTube, here:
I actually really like the music video. It’s comprised of mostly simple and casual shots; Many taken with smartphones. Utada herself asked SHIN EVANGELION director Hideaki Anno to direct the music video. The thing though, is that Utada currently lives in London. The pandemic and current COVID restrictions was a bit of an obstacle. However, they managed to find a way to create the video without Hedeaki Anno actually being there. Instead, he had Utada and her people shoot the footage, and then send it to him to cut and edit. He just sent an email with minimal tasks for her to do like eye focus and lip syncing. Utada then went around with a minimal amount of staff to the outskirts of London to get the footage. All while following necessary COVID precautions and all though. Once they finished, they sent to to Hedeaki Anno and his staff.
I love you more than you’ll ever know…
The footage shot for the video was from alot of different devices, including smartphones. Which I think is why I like it. It gave it a personal, intimate look and feel. It just feels really simple and casual. It’s the ordinary shots and vibes that make it feel alot more intimate. From one point, Utada is actually a pretty private person. Especially with her life in the UK, and especially with her son. So with these shots, we’re able to see glimpses of her life in the UK. As for the matter of the song and music video, I like the bittersweet, nostalgic, and intimate feel. To me it’s like looking back on videos taken and the time spent with someone who’s no longer with you. Those videos are in that moment of when you’re enjoying your time with them, and the memories you’re making. Videos we take are personal. Not only do we normally take it ourselves, but we’re also filming the subject and moment that we want. There’s a warmth a happiness from that moment. Yet, when you’re separated from that person it’s bittersweet. You think of those happy times, but it can also be sad and painful when you’re hit with the fact that they’re no longer by your side. You can also think of the video shots as being the perspective of how the other person sees Utada during their relationship. Though it’s slightly different, the concept kind of reminds me of Epik High’s concept MV for [“연애소설 (LOVE STORY) ft. IU (아이유)“]. Although Epik High’s version sounds and feels more sad. Aside from the intimate smartphone type videos, there are also some artistically and aesthetically beautiful shots that really help make it a music video and not just like a home movie. Everything is put together to make a really beautifully made music video that perfectly captures that bittersweet feeling.
Edit: I found out that apparently Utada’s son helped film the parts where she was singing in her PJ’s on the bed~ awww~
[Verse 1]
Utada Hikaru| One Last Kiss| Translation: [Genius]
Despite being my first visit to the Louvre
It didn’t surprise me
Because a long time ago
I have already met my very own Mona Lisa
Since the day I found you, the heart began to turn its gears
I can’t help but have a hunch, that I will lose you
[Chorus]
Oh, although we have kissed countless of times
Please kiss me one more time
Can you give me one last kiss?
It’s something that I don’t want to forget
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-woah, oh-oh-oh, oh-woah
Oh-oh-oh-oh, it’s something that I don’t want to forget
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-woah, oh-oh-oh (Oh-oh)
Oh-oh-oh-oh, I love you more than you’ll ever know
Oh
[Verse 2]
“I’m don’t like taking pictures”
That’s okay
For you have already imprinted in
The projector in my heart
I pretend I don’t miss you
Well, I guess that we both do
To be someone
That hurts someone
[Chorus]
Can you give me one last kiss?
I’ll give you a fiery kiss (Ooh)
Even if I wanted to forget
But I can’t
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-woah, oh-oh-oh, oh-woah
Oh-oh-oh-oh, I love you more than you’ll ever know
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-woah, oh-oh-oh (Oh-oh)
Oh-oh-oh-oh, I love you more than you’ll ever know
Oh
[Bridge]
Oh, I really do understand
That even til’ the end of time
That even when I’m old
[Hook]
That you’re an unforgettable person
(Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-woah, oh-oh-oh, oh-woah)
Unforgettable person, unforgettable person
Unforgettable person
(Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-woah, oh-oh-oh (Oh-oh))
Unforgettable person
I love you more than you’ll ever know
(Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-woah, oh-oh-oh, oh-woah)
Unforgettable, unforgettable
Oh-oh-oh-oh, you’ll never be forgotten
(Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-woah, oh-oh-oh (Oh-oh))
Unforgettable person
Oh-oh-oh-oh, I love you more than you’ll ever know
Unforgettable, unforgettable
Unforgettable, an unforgettable person
Unforgettable, unforgettable
Unforgettable, an unforgettable person
(I love you more than you’ll ever know)
Anyway, that’s it for today’s Music Monday post! Did you all hear the new single or watch the music video yet? What did you think?~ Were you already a fan of Hikki? What are your favorite tracks?~ Which is your favorite Hikki Evangelion track? Let me know in the comments, my socials, or on the BAYOG Discord server!~ Honestly, I’m hella tired and my blogging groove is a bit off. So please forgive me for being an awkward mess in this post haha~ I’ll work hard to get back on track! Take care, stay safe, and have a lovely day my luvs~
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