Search - Utada :: Deep River

Traveling Letters Play Ball in Utada Hikaru's sophmore album

CJR | Pennsylvania, USA | 10/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"All fans of music must not pass this album up. It's one of the best records in J-pop history. Utada Hikaru has delivered Japan several 10 ten hits as well as number one albums. As she makes her debut with her fourth album "Exodus" in the U.S.A, it is a wonder if the luck she has had in Japan will rub off on her with her style which some fans may call 'racy and sexy,'



Taking a step back from Exodus, we find ourselves stuck at Utada Hikaru, or 'Hikki' as her fans call her, Japanese career, and with that, if you want to get one album which is full of spicy J-pop lyrics and style, it would be this album.



"Sakura Drops," the albums opener is one of the high lights of this album as the notes she reaches are not only high, but off-key. Not that this should steer you away from the album's content, the song is very meaningful when translated correctly and uses doesens of metaphores which make this song worth while to listen too. ***



"Traveling," Deep River's second cut, carries a fun/funky beat along with a medley that you absolutley must sing along with. The lines 'there's no need to hurry, there's a song I want you to listen [to], repeating endlessly, spurs on my feeling, just as planned' sums up this song as it will be stuck in your head all day. One of the albums best tracks *****



"Shiawase ni Narou" a/k/a "Lets Be Happy" when translated into the American languge starts out with a sweet and innocent tone in the beat which is should, because within a minute into the song you will be dancing on your bed attempting to sing along with the japan lyrics but unfortunally, failing horribly. Again, the beat in this song is most notable as it combindes a classic piano tone with an R&B bass. ****



"Deep River," 'Connecting points to points, Drawing lines with my finger, I came down this road... or is it my destination?

Line to line, we link together, Before long, everyone arrives at the sea, And becomes one, that's why I'm not scared.' As you can see by verse one of this song, it is very meaningful. If you do not speak japanese it would be a very good idea to translate this song into the English languge and just read it all. It is very deep, like a river! *****



"Letters," is another song that you will not want to turn off because the beat is so fresh and different (as is the whole album) This gets you caught in from start to finish. Like 'Deep River' and well, most of Hikaru's songs, this song is filled with a ton of litterary devices and is beatuiful when sung by her in Japanese. *****



Hikki throws a curve ball at you with "Play Ball," for it is one of the most urban sounding J-pop songs on the album. Keep your eye on the ball as she 'takes aim and throws her heart at you' and if you don't catch it, the aim of the song can often be mistaken for something else. ****



To limitation of time we gather and have the spree, Who prevents you from leaving this song? "Tokyo Nights" drops a very Japanese sound into this album which makes you remember Utada is not forgeting where she came from. The lyrics follow many things about her or someone else's doings in Tokyo, Japan. While the lyrics maybe again filled with metaphores, if you do not pay attention, you may be thrown off by what the song is about. This song is a song I refuse to skip when listening to "Deep River." It is the best song on the album and if you do not like this song seek medical help. (Kidding of course...)



"A.S.A.P.," 'right now, right now listen to me!' Hikki shouts out in this song. And with this song, you will Stay here until the story finishes! The urban beat Utada produced herself (along with the rest of the album) provides a perfect setting with the mysterious lyrics and flow of the medely. A.S.A.P. will be one of the first songs you will listen to on this record after the first couple spin. It's not one of my personal favorites, but every other Hikki fan I speak to seems to love it. "Take it or leave it," the choice is yours. ***



Does the medeley in the chorus of "Uso mitai na I Love you," sound familiar? If you didn't know Utada recorded a song for the disney inspired game "kingdom hearts" entitled "Simple and Clean." The medley for this chorus and "Uso Mitai na I Love You" was intended for the Japanese version of "Simple & Clean" entitled "Hikari." Although, since words in Japan have different sylabals than ones in the U.S. it had to be recycled for "..I love You" and then returned to it's rightful place in the English version of "Hikari." Do NOT dodge this rock! It's a big one and has a bit of off-key notes (again with the high ones..WHY CAN'T SHE STAY AWAY?) But never the less, the guitar and drums in this song saves it from a terrible plunge. I, myself, am not a huge fan of rock music, but this is probably the best I've heard at it (...that is, present day rock.) Four 1/2 stars to the top selling lady who loves to sing high notes off key!!! **** 1/2



"Final Distance," is probably the hardest song to get through on this album for it's medely and instrumental was re-writen from it's original form "Distance," the title track for her sophmore album and included on this album for a child who was stabbed at a school. She was a very big Hikaru fan and wanted to be just like her when she grew up. You can read about it in a journal entry Hikki wrote herself online. She dedicates this song to the girl who died as well as the others. Suprisingly, all high notes on this song is on-key and will give goosebumps to whoever is listening. The production is amazing on this track and stands out as one of the best ballads ever in the history of J-pop. *****



"Bridge (interlude)" combindes Traditional Japanese music you are used to hearing when you listen to Japanese folk tales or watch Japanese movies, with that of a very dance/pop beat. Although there are no lyrics, this song will have you wanting more at it's one minute and eight second stand. *****



As mentioned before, "Hikari's" Medely for the chorus was changed to fit the song and lyrics better, but it still stands as a very good close out to this very deep and thoughtful album, "Deep River." It is yet another balad and unlike most of the other songs, is about well...I think it's time for you to get the translator and start eh?



Five stars for this album! It's the best J-pop album I've heard and I doubt anything can top it. Anyone who does NOT have this album needs to buy it. and NOW!"

Hikaru's most powerful album yet

Jesse Galindo | King City, CA United States | 11/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a GREAT album. Hikki really gives it her all here. Unlike First Love or Distance, which incorporated a lot of hip-hop and R&B influences (specially Distance) Deep River is more soulful, poetic, and just stunning. Some of the best songs are Sakura Drops (The lyrics read out like a great poem of love lost, that, and her voice complete the feeling that Hikaru is really singing from her heart); Travelling is just pure energy, great as a dance track; Deep River, I think is the most beautiful song i've ever heard from Hikaru. It uses strong Indian guitars (can't remember what they're called exactly), great ballad; Letters is another song that I really liked, using mainly acoustic guitars, she sings of a love that left her, the song itself is rather up-tempo. Play Ball has a R&B feel to it but it's not that prevalent. "???NIGHTS has a louder musical sound than the last couple of songs. Final Distance is great also, very romantic even though she sings about breaking up. Hikari, is just great, nothing else.
Colors, I really enjoyed. I can't really describe the sound of it although it makes me think of the word "experimental" for some reason. The lyrics to this song are very poetical, highlighting the colors of objects and of memories and her feelings. Simple and Clean is the english version of Hikari, albiet not a direct lyrical english version, but I feel it captures some of the essence of the Japanese version. Hikaru, of course, speaks PERFECT English so the song sounds great. I also reccomend that you pick up her music video collections on DVD (they're multi-region so you can play the anywhere) especially Utada Hikaru Single Clip Collection 3. Which has Sakura Drops, Travelling, Final Distance, Hikari (all of which include a making of) and Deep River. Also you can get the DVD video single of Colors, the video is great, very imaginative."

Awesome

Doug Anderson | Butler, PA United States | 07/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I got these cd's only knowing a very few of the songs, but it was worth it. The Deep River cd is very good and and has great songs like "Sakura Drops" and "Hikari". The Colors single that it comes w/ has "Colors" and "Simple and Clean", and they are both awesome songs too. If you like Hikaru Utada, then i suggest this cd. BUY NOW!"