First Love (1999) - Hikaru Utada


First Love is the debut Japanese-language studio album by Japanese-American artist Hikaru Utada, released on March 10, 1999. This album marked a significant milestone in J-pop, blending R&B and dance-pop elements with Utada's soulful vocals and bilingual lyricism.

Tracklist:

  1. Automatic -Album Edit

  2. Movin' on without you

  3. In My Room

  4. First Love

  5. Amai Wana 〜Paint It, Black〜

  6. time will tell

  7. Never Let Go

  8. B&C -Album Version

  9. Another Chance

  10. Interlude

  11. Give Me A Reason

First Love showcases a fusion of R&B and dance-pop, with lyrics primarily in Japanese interspersed with English phrases. The album delves into themes of love and relationships, reflecting Utada's personal experiences during her teenage years. Notably, "Never Let Go" incorporates a melody from Sting's "Shape of My Heart," though initial releases omitted proper credits due to licensing issues.

Upon its release, First Love debuted at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart, selling over two million copies in its first week. It has since become the best-selling album in Japanese history, with over 8 million copies sold domestically and approximately 9.91 million units worldwide. The album's success positioned Utada among Japan's top artists and significantly influenced the J-pop genre.

Critics praised the album for its heartfelt lyrics and Utada's emotive vocal delivery. Tomoyuki Mori of Amazon highlighted its emotional depth, while CDJournal commended its sincerity. Tower Records described it as "an epoch-making work" that transformed Japanese pop music. 

In 2014, to commemorate its 15th anniversary, First Love was re-released in two editions: a standard two-disc set featuring a remastered version of the album and a live DVD, and a limited deluxe edition with additional content, including unreleased demos and memorabilia.

First Love remains a seminal work in Hikaru Utada's discography and continues to resonate with fans worldwide.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

nostalgia, ULTRA (2011) - Frank Ocean

Image
  Nostalgia, Ultra is Frank Ocean’s debut mixtape, released on February 16, 2011. Though never officially released on major streaming platforms due to sample clearance issues, the project quickly became a cult classic and established Ocean as one of the most innovative and emotionally resonant artists in modern R&B. Tracklist 1. Street Fighter 2. Strawberry Swing 3. Novacane 4. We All Try 5. Bitches Talkin’ 6. Songs for Women 7. Lovecrimes 8. Goldeneye 9. There Will Be Tears 10. Swim Good 11. Dust 12. American Wedding 13. Soul Calibur 14. Nature Feels Nostalgia, Ultra is deeply introspective, blending elements of R&B, alternative hip-hop, indie rock, and neo-soul with a lo-fi, storytelling-driven approach. The mixtape’s title itself reflects Ocean’s central themes—0nostalgia for the past, relationships lost, and emotional struggles, all painted with cinematic detail. Love, Heartbreak, and Reflection – Tracks like "Novacane" and "Swim Good" deal with emotiona...
Read more

DAMN. (2017) - Kendrick Lamar

Image
A Dual Narrative Experience Released on April 14, 2017, through Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath, and Interscope Records, "DAMN." is a landmark album that combines razor-sharp lyricism with introspection, exploring themes of fate, morality, and personal identity. It marked a shift from the expansive, jazz-inflected To Pimp a Butterfly to a more immediate, hard-hitting sound, balancing commercial appeal with conceptual depth. Critically acclaimed, it won the Pulitzer Prize for Music, making Lamar the first non-classical or jazz artist to receive the honor. Tracklist BLOOD. DNA. YAH. ELEMENT. FEEL. LOYALTY. (feat. Rihanna) PRIDE. HUMBLE. LUST. LOVE. (feat. Zacari) XXX. (feat. U2) FEAR. GOD. DUCKWORTH. The Concept of DAMN. – A Story Told in Two Ways One of the most unique aspects of DAMN. is that the album can be listened to in two different orders, each presenting a distinct narrative arc. 1. The Standard Order (As Released) The original sequence of DAMN. follows...
Read more

Gallery of Suicide (1998) - Cannibal Corpse

Image
  Gallery of Suicide by Cannibal Corpse, released in 1998, stands as one of the band's most distinct and varied albums. Showcasing a blend of relentless brutality and technical precision, it reflects the band’s evolution in songwriting and their ability to create atmospheres of horror and despair. With George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher delivering unrelenting vocal ferocity, the album is both a showcase of technical prowess and thematic exploration of macabre and grotesque imagery. Tracklist: I Will Kill You Disposal of the Body Sentenced to Burn Blood Drenched Execution Gallery of Suicide Dismembered and Molested From Skin to Liquid Unite the Dead Stabbed in the Throat Chambers of Blood Headless Every Bone Broken Centuries of Torment Crushing the Despised The title track, "Gallery of Suicide," is a haunting piece that departs from Cannibal Corpse's usual tempo, delving into slower, doom-laden riffs that amplify its somber and eerie tone. Contrasti...
Read more