Deep River (Hikaru Utada album)

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Deep River
File:UtadaHikaruDEEPRIVER.jpg
Studio album by Hikaru Utada
Released June 19, 2002
Recorded 2001-2002
Genre J-pop, alternative, rock, R&B, experimental, dance
Length 54:54
Label Toshiba-EMI
Producer Hikaru Utada, Akira Miyake, Teruzane Sking
Hikaru Utada chronology
Distance
(2001)Distance2001
Deep River
(2002)
Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 1
(2004)Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 12004
Singles from Deep River
  1. "Final Distance"
    Released: July 25, 2001
  2. "Traveling"
    Released: November 28, 2001
  3. "Hikari"
    Released: March 20, 2002
  4. "Sakura Drops / Letters"
    Released: May 9, 2002

Deep River is the third studio album (fourth overall) released by Japanese singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada, released in June 19, 2002. It sold just over 2.35 million copies in its first week of release [1] (succeeding 2,026,870 units by First Love and 3,002,720 by Distance in their respective debut week), charting at #1 on the weekly, monthly and yearly Oricon charts. Deep River is ranked as Japan's 5th highest album in debut sales, and 8th in the all-time album sales in Japan.[2]

The final track, "Hikari", would be her first single to reach #1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles chart three times, and the Japanese version of the theme song for Square Enix's RPG video game, Kingdom Hearts. The English version, "Simple and Clean," (released in her COLORS single), also accompanied promotion of "Kingdom Hearts" in overseas versions. The album was cited by many fans and critics as Utada's most acclaimed work, as well as achieving the Triple Crown at the 17th Golden Disc Awards in Japan.[3]

According to IFPI, the album is listed at #18 on the Top 50 Global Best Selling Albums for 2002.[4]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Hikaru Utada. 

No. Title Length
1. "Sakura Drops (SAKURAドロップス Sakura Doroppusu?)"   4:58
2. "Traveling"   5:14
3. "Shiawase ni Narō (幸せになろう?, Let's Be Happy)"   4:46
4. "Deep River"   4:37
5. "Letters"   4:48
6. "Play Ball (プレイ・ボール Purei Bōru?)"   4:14
7. "Tokyo Nights (東京NIGHTS?)"   4:43
8. "A.S.A.P."   4:56
9. "Uso Mitai na I Love You (嘘みたいな I Love You?, The Dubious I Love You)"   4:49
10. "Final Distance"   5:38
11. "Bridge (Interlude)"   1:09
12. "Hikari (?, Light)"   5:02

All songs were arranged by Kei Kawano and Hikaru Utada, except for the following:

  • 1. "Sakura Drops" - arrangement: Hikaru Utada and Kei Kawano (the order of the name was changed)
  • 7. "Tokyo NIGHTS" - with string arrangement: Kei Kawano
  • 8. "A.S.A.P." - arrangement: Yuichiro Honda, additional rhythm track arrangement: Kei Kawano & Hikaru Utada
  • 10. "Final Distance" - with string arrangement: Neko Saito

Singles

Date Title Peak position Weeks Sales
July 25, 2001 "Final Distance" 2 13 582,120
November 28, 2001 "Traveling" 1 21 856,140
March 20, 2002 "Hikari" 1 13 598,130
May 9, 2002 "Sakura Drops / Letters" 1 10 686,720

Charts

Deep River - Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

Release Chart Peak position Debut sales Sales total Chart run
June 19, 2002 Oricon Daily Albums Chart 1
June 19, 2002 Oricon Weekly Albums Chart 1 2,350,170 3,605,000 56
June 19, 2002 Oricon Yearly Albums Chart 1

References