Deep River (Hikaru Utada album)

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2002 studio album by Hikaru Utada

Deep River is the third studio album (fourth overall) released by American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada, released on June 19, 2002. It sold just over 2.35 million copies in its first week of release,[1] charting at number one on the weekly, monthly and yearly Oricon charts. Deep River is ranked as Japan’s fifth-highest album in debut sales, and eighth in the all-time album sales in Japan.

The final track, “Hikari”, would be her first single to reach number one 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 on 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.[2]

According to the IFPI, the album is listed at number 18 on the Top 50 Global Best Selling Albums for 2002.[3]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Hikaru Utada.

Title
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 (光, 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 and Hikaru Utada
  • 10. “Final Distance” – with string arrangement: Neko Saito

Singles[edit]

Personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from the album’s liner notes.[4]

Vocals[edit]

Instrumentation[edit]

  • Hikaru Utada – arrangement (all tracks)
  • Kawano Kei – arrangement (track 1), additional arrangement (track 8), keyboards, cembalo (track 7), guitar sample (track 2), drums (track 9)
  • Saito Neko – string arrangement (track 10), violin (track 11)
  • Akira Hironori – acoustic guitar (tracks 4-5, 12), electric guitar (tracks 1-6), electric sitar (track 4)
  • Honda Larry Yuchiro – arrangement, string arrangement, keyboards (track 8), acoustic guitar (track 5), electric guitar, electric bass (track 9), guitar sample (track 1)
  • Kon Tsuyoshi – acoustic guitar (track 4)
  • Char – acoustic guitar (track 5)
  • Toriyama Yuji – acoustic guitar (track 5)
  • HISASHI – acoustic guitar (track 5)
  • Utada Sking Teruzane – acoustic guitar (track 5)
  • Kanzo – guitar sample (track 1)
  • Saito Mitsutaka – electric bass (track 2)
  • Great Eida Strings – strings (tracks 7, 10)
  • Abe Masahi Cello Octet – strings (track 8)
  • Ishibashi Masakazu – oboe (track 7)

Production[edit]

  • Hikaru Utada – songwriting (all tracks), executive production
  • Utada Sking Teruzane – executive production
  • Miyake Akira – executive production

Technical[edit]

  • Hikaru Utada – basic programming
  • Tad Jensen – mastering
  • Ugajin Masaaki – recording
  • Matsui Atsushi – recording
  • Goh Hotoda – recording, mixing
  • Kawano Kei – programming (all tracks)
  • Honda Larry Yuchiro – programming (track 8)
  • Tsunemi Kazuhide – synthesizer programming (all tracks)

Artwork[edit]

  • Kiriya Kazuaki – art direction, photography
  • Cho Kenji – art direction, design
  • Mayama Yuki – styling
  • Inagaki Ryoji – hair, make-up

Japan (Oricon)

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[edit]



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