Has it been a week already?! I’m gonna have such a hard time getting this all written up, done, and posted every Sunday. So I know last week I went on and on about the musical genius of a one, Mandy Moore, but this week I’m taking a different approach. Utada Hikaru is the number one music artist in Japan, probably ever. That said, her releases stateside aren’t the same j-pop fare she releases overseas. Instead, her English albums seem to suggest a playful side to Utada with lyrics that are often times overtly sexual, while still be cute and a little coy. “This is the One” was released earlier this year and is a lot more accessible to an American audience then her debut “Exodus” was. The album has a clearer direction, cementing itself in the pop/R&B genre with its use of producers such as Stargate and C. “Tricky” Stuart. The album is a lot more sexual that its predecessor as well. I mean let’s talk about these lyrics. In “Dirty Desire” we get:
Doing my nine to five
I’m thinking six and nine
The in “Poppin” there’s the always classic:
Sexy stiletto pumps, tight jeans, no panties on
Oops, did I turn you on?
I only came to party, party
But in all honesty, the CD isn’t just about being a dirty asian slut. In all actuality, Utada is a pretty great writer and only of a handful of the songs have these “racy” lyrics. What I really enjoy about this CD are all the ballads; these songs are really where Utada’s vocals shine and show her true ability as an artist. My three favorite songs off the album all fill this criteria. “Me Muero” is just a cute song. It has a lo-fi sound and interestingly cryptic lyrics. Is Utada really singing about a lost lover, or perhaps an obsession with alcohol:
Everyday my life’s in shambles
Since you took your love away
I got nothing left to gamble
I’ve thrown it all awayNow and then I’m suicidal
Flirting with a new temptation
Happiness inside a bottle
is what I need today
I mean, maybe that’s a little dark and creepy, but it wholly fits with the lyrics of the entire song. I really wouldn’t put it past Utada to write something so scary, especially after seeing and hearing a lot of her angst-ridden Japanese ballads. “Merry 
Christmas Mr. Lawrence – FYI” is a bit more straightforward. It’s most certainly about a relationship, though the actual type could be debatable. This song really showcases Utada’s ability to construct a great song though as she interpolates pieces of Ruichi Sakamoto’s soundtrack to the film “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence” with her own lyrics (mirroring the film) and production resulting in a pretty cute little song. Lastly, “This One (Crying Like a Child)” is the biggest ballad on the album and is definitely my favorite track. The song is deeply rooted in R&B, but really sounds like R&B from the late 90s to early 2000s. The lyrics can be a bit predictable (boy leaves girl, but girl still loves boy; perhaps it’s about her ex-husband, Kazuaki Kiriya.) and maybe a little immature, but I think the sincerity and emotion in Utada’s vocals really elevate this above the other tracks. Other key songs on the album would have to be “Apple and Cinnamon” which refers to two partners in a relationship going together like, well, apples and cinnamon; it’s almost too cute, but it works. “Automatic, Pt II” is a nod to one of Utada’s Japanese hits, “Automatic,” but completely different both musically and lyrically. The song is a cute little intro of sorts for the singer, as the lyrics are all about herself while being incredibly tongue in cheek. I wouldn’t say the album is this great, epic collection of songs that are going to change your life. Really, if you weren’t a fan of Utada before you probably won’t become one now. However, the CD is fun, cute, and totally accessible pop music. So if any of that appeals to you, then I would say check it out.
Download: Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence – FYI | This One (Crying Like a Child) | Automatic Part II | Dirty Desire | Poppin’ | Me Muero | Apple and Cinnamon
