Utada Hikaru


Japanese R&B singers - Utada Hikaru
Utada Hikaru released her first Japanese album, First Love, in 1999. I was only 5 years old back then, but fast forward 18 years and I find myself amazed at how much of her lyrics I remember.
If you ever go karaoke in Japan, get ready to sing along to this song!
First Love
タバコのflavorがした
ニガくてせつない香り
明日の今頃には
あなたはどこにいるんだろう
誰を想っているんだろう
Nigakute setsunai kaori
Ashita no imagoro ni wa
Anata wa doko ni irundarou
Dare wo omotterundarou
いつか誰かとまた恋に落ちても
I remember to love
You taught me how
You are always gonna be the one
今はまだ悲しいlove song
新しい歌 うたえるまで
Itsuka darekato mata koi ni ochitemo
I'll remember to love you taught me how
You are always gonna be the one
Ima wa mada kanashii love song
Atarashi uta utaeru made
忘れたくないことばかり
明日の今頃には 私はきっと泣いている
あなたを思ってるんだろう
Wasureta kunai kotobakari
Ashita no imagoro niwa Watashi wa kitto naiteru
Anatawo omotterundarou
いつもあなただけの場所があるから
I hope that I have a place in your heart too
Now and forever you are still the one
今はまだ悲しい love song
新しい歌 歌えるまで
Itsumo anata dake no basho ga aru kara
I hope that I have a place in your heart too
Now and forever you are still the one
Ima wa mada kanashii love song
Atarashii uta utaeru made
Five year old me loved her. The catchy melodies and her clean, beautiful voice got me hooked, and our family would listen to her CD during our car rides. Utada was born and raised in New York, just like me, and most of her Japanese songs contain English lyrics. At the time, my sister was one of the very few people I could speak both English and Japanese to, so listening to Utada sing in both English and Japanese was extremely comforting.
22 year old me still loves her. I only started listening to her again very recently, and as I listened to more of her songs, I remembered why I loved her so much. Of course, the melody and her voice, but this time, her lyrics really got me. Five year old me didn’t really listen to her for the meaning, but the 22 year me is struck with the passion and maturity in her lyrics.
(First Love Translated)
タバコのflavorがした
ニガくてせつない香り
明日の今頃には
あなたはどこにいるんだろう
誰を想っているんだろう
A bitter and a heartbreaking fragrance
Tomorrow this time, I wonder where you will be
Who you will be thinking of
いつか誰かとまた恋に落ちても
I remember to love
You taught me how
You are always gonna be the one
今はまだ悲しいlove song
新しい歌 うたえるまで
Even if I fall in love with someone else
I remember to love
You taught me how
You are always gonna be the one
But now it is still a sad love song
Until I can sing a new song
忘れたくないことばかり
明日の今頃には 私はきっと泣いている
あなたを思ってるんだろう
Only things I don’t want to forget
This time tomorrow I am surly crying
Thinking about you
いつもあなただけの場所があるから
I hope that I have a place in your heart too
Now and forever you are still the one
今はまだ悲しい love song
新しい歌 歌えるまで
There is always a place just for you
I hope that I find a place in your heart too
Now and forever you are still the one
But now it is still a sad love song
Until I can sing a new song
To me, her lyrics are so poetic and personable, and no wonder why she became such a huge hit. What blew my mind even further is the fact that she was only 16 when she wrote and recorded First Love. You can compare this with Britney Spears’ hit single, ...Baby One More Time, which was also written and recorded when she was around 16, but as much as five year old me loved Britney (I had a Britney Spears Barbie), Utada’s naturally serene voice, as well as the lyrics she wrote herself makes her seem more like a mature artist. Here’s another one of her many hits, Automatic.
Automatic Lyrics
名前を言わなくても声ですぐ分かってくれる
唇から自然とこぼれ落ちるメロディー
でも言葉を失った瞬間が 一番幸せ
Namae wo iwanakutemo
Koe de sugu wakatte kureru
Kuchibiru kara shizen to kobore ochiru merodii
Demo kotoba wo ushinatta shunkan ga ichiban shiawase
I don’t have to say my name, you know by my voice
Melodies fall out naturally from my lips
But I’m happiest in moments I lose my words
君に会うと全部フッ飛んじゃうよ
君に会えない my rainy days
声を聞けば自動的に sun will shine
Kimi ni au to zenbu futtonjau yo
Kimi ni aenai my rainy days
Koe wo kikeba jidouteki ni sun will shine
When I see you it’s gone
My rainy days are when I can’t see you
When I hear your voice, the sun will shine automatically
側にいるだけで その目に見つめられるだけで
ドキドキ止まらない Noとは言えない
I just can't help
soba ni iru dake de
Sono me ni mitsumerareru dake de
Dokodoki tomaranai
No to wa ienai I just can't help
Being next to you, when you gaze me with your eyes
My heart can’t stop beating, I can’t say no
I just can’t help it
抱きしめられると 君とParadiseにいるみたい
キラキラまぶしくて 目をつぶるとすぐ
I feel so good It's automatic
Kimi to paradies ni iru mitai
Kirakira mabushikute
Me wo tsuburu to sugu I feel so good
It's automatic
When you hold me it’s like I’m in paradise
It’s so bright, when I close my eyes
I feel so good
It’s automatic
こんなにほれてることは
もう少し秘密にしておくよ
Konna ni horeteru koto wa
Mou sukoshi himitsu ni shite oku yo
いつも本当のことを言ってくれた
ひとりじゃ泣けない rainy days
指輪をさわれば ほらね sun will shine
Itsumo hontou no koto wo itte kureta
Hitori ja nakenai rainy days
Yubiwa wo sawareba hora ne sun will shine
You always told the truth
On rainy days when I can't cry alone
If I touch my ring, look, the sun will shine
側にいるだけで 体中が熱くなってくる
ハラハラ隠せない 息さえ出来ない
I just can't help
Karadajuu ga atsuku natte kuru
Harahara kakusenai, iki sae dekinai
I just can't help it
Being next to you, my body temperature gets hotter
I can’t hide my excitement, I can’t breathe
I just can’t help it
アクセスしてみると 映るcomputer screenの中
チカチカしてる文字 手をあててみると
I feel so warm
Akusesu shite miru to utsuru computer screen no naka
Chikachika shiteru moji te wo atete miru to
I feel so warm
When I access it
I try to touch the glittering words
Inside the computer screen and I feel so warm
側にいるだけで
愛しいなんて思わない
ただ必要なだけ
淋しいからじゃない
I just need you
Itoshii nante omowanai
Tada hitsuyou na dake
Sabishii kara ja nai
I just need you
I don't think you're beloved, just necessary
It's not because I'm sad
I just need you
Utada’s music videos are also very fun to watch. Remembering that these were made in the late 90s and early 2000s, a lot of her videos are very futuristic and includes a lot of animation and special effects.
One of her newest singles, 花束を君に (hanataba wo kimini), or “bouquet for you”, was chosen to be the theme song for NHK’s popular short drama series, トト姉ちゃん (Toto ne-chan), or “Sister Toto”. I think her singing style has changed a bit, and these lyrics are a bit mellower in my opinion, but either way, it’s a beautiful song.
What do you think about Utada? Personally, I can’t wait for more of her songs!
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