Distance
Artist: Utada Hikaru
Album: Distance
Musicians: Utada Hikaru (Vocals)
Composer/Lyricist: Utada Hikaru (Lyrics)
Release Date: 28 Mar 2001
| Distance - Utada Hikaru Tracklisting 01. Wait & See ~Risk~ *Bold Titles - Recommended Listening |
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OVERVIEW
Distance is Utada Hikaru’s sophomore album, and the 18 year-old pop prodigy continues to deliver. After receiving record-breaking success with her debut album First Love, Utada went on to release four singles, and released Distance in March of 2001, two years after First Love. All four of the singles are included in this album; they all deserve to be on it. Like the album before it, this one shattered almost all sales records and became the 4th best selling album in Japanese history, as well as the best-selling album released after 2000. This album stands out as unique and more pop-oriented than her last, with hits such as “Wait and See” and “Can you Keep a Secret?”. While the album has its faults, there are so many more accomplishments that, in the end, no one will ever remember the flaws in Distance.
THE GOOD
Wait and See ~Risk~
Powerful and fast-paced, “Wait and See†is a perfect opening song to a pop album. Like any other good Hikki song, this one is catchy right from the start. Much like “Automaticâ€, a powerful, catchy instrumental intro hooks you on straight from measure one. She sings faster than she normally would in this song, making it quite hard to follow, but it works well given the tempo. The chorus, with its line “Oh baby, wait and see..†is strangely powerful and moving. The verses work quite well with the chorus: low, soft and fast. The instrumentals work perfectly, and her voice is completely on pitch, hitting each note clearly. The song deteriorates during the end, becoming a little bit “warped†and distorted. This may very well be the song’s only flaw, however the next track picks off right where this one left off, and complements this one extremely well.
Can You Keep a Secret?
As previously stated, this song picks off right where “Wait and See†left off. Another fast-paced pop-style song, this one is one of Hikki’s best songs to date. The main attraction here is the melody. It’s a fluctuating, “overarching†melody that gives a sense of “bignessâ€, and none of the notes sound drawn out or too short. Especially during the verses, she utilizes long tones and short notes especially well, going along with the feel of the lyrics. The chorus is probably one of her most recognizable; once again she deftly uses her fluent English skills to her own advantage. The bridge is also a nice touch; it’s the point where the whole song slows down a bit, as if she’s letting you catch your breath after being blown away by a flurry of lyrical genius. However, the peace doesn’t last very long; she then launches into the final chorus and the song fades away to perfect completion.
Distance
Good songs just seem to keep on coming. After the first two songs have left you breathless, she hits you again with this bright, happy pop song, “Distance.†Completely differently in tone from the first two, this song also has its own nice touches. It’s one of those songs that really could cheer you up on a bad day. She starts out saying, “Where you are, near or far…†to set the tone of the piece. It’s a song of optomism, and one of love. While most songs about a lost love are sad, mournful and generally depressing, “Distance†isn’t. Everytime I listen to this song, it never fails to put a smile on my face. The chorus, especially, works well. The entire chorus is in English, and the beautifully sung line “I wanna be with you now†in particular emphasizes her optimism, her love, and her happiness. Truly a song that’ll make anyone feel fuzzy inside, “Distance†is a must-hear on this album.
Addicted to You
Unfortunately, after “Distanceâ€, the album slips into a little slum. The three tracks between “Distance†and “Addicted to You†are by no means bad, they just sound mediocre compared to the opening three. Fortunately, “Addicted to Youâ€, the seventh track on this album, is one of the best. Like “Can You Keep a Secretâ€, “Addicted to You†is a more upbeat song. With a strong beat and hushed vocals, this song is one that’ll make you want to get up and dance. Out of all the catchy songs on Distance, this one gets my vote for most catchy. The chorus will have you singing along, “Kimi ni ADDICTED kamo…†And, just like she sings, you’ll be addicted to this song.
THE BAD
Kettobase!
Unfortunately for us listeners, the second half of the album deteriorates rapidly. The album should have ended at “For You.†“Kettobase!†represents, to me, one of her worst songs to date. Perhaps it’s just the straight-up weirdness of lyrics such as “I want your baby†that have absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the lyrics, the off-key instrumentals that are too loud, or her voice, which sounds hoarse and flat. In fact, there are points in this song where her voice squeaks somewhat. It blows my mind as to why such a song belongs on this album. Everything is absolutely horrible: vocals, lyrics, instrumentals. Do as the song title suggsts and “kettobase!†— Kick it away.
The Rating: 8
Reviewed By: Akira
