First Love (Hikaru Utada song) explained

First Love
Cover:Utada Hikaru - First Love.jpg
Caption:12cm single cover
Type:single
Artist:Hikaru Utada
Album:First Love
Recorded:1998
Language:Japanese, English
Length:4:18
Label:Toshiba-EMI
Producer:Akira MiyakeUtada Sking Teruzane
Prev Title:Movin' on Without You
Prev Year:1999
Next Title:Addicted to You
Next Year:1999

"First Love" is a song by the Japanese-American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada. It was released on April 28, 1999, as the third Japanese language single from her second studio album, First Love, which was issued a month previously. It was certified double platinum for 800,000 copies shipped to stores in Japan.[1]

In a 2009 survey by Oricon, asking respondents what song they wanted to hear with a broken heart, "First Love" was voted in the top 10.[2] "First Love" was performed during Utada's 2010 tour, . It was also performed during Utada's two-date concert series Wild Life in December 2010.[3] The song and "Hatsukoi" from her 2018 studio album of the same name inspired the 2022 Netflix series First Love.[4] In December 9, 2022, "First Love" was remixed alongside "Hatsukoi" in Dolby Atmos.[5]

Promotion

The song was used as the theme song for the Japanese drama Majo no Jōken, starring Hideaki Takizawa and Nanako Matsushima. "First Love" is featured in the PlayStation 2 rhythm game Unison, released in 2001.

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1999)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japan (Oricon) [6] 2
Japan (Oricon) [7] 6
Chart (2009)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japan (RIAJ Digital Track Chart)[8] 89
Chart (2014)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[9] 56
Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Hong Kong (Billboard)[10] 2
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[11] 5
Japan Combined Singles (Oricon)[12] 11
Japan Combined Singles (Oricon)[13]
27
Singapore Regional (RIAS)[14] 17
Taiwan (Billboard)[15] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Position
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[16] 45

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)VersionLabel
JapanApril 28, 1999Original
TaiwanAugust 2000[17]
JapanNovember 19, 2004[18]
VariousDecember 9, 20222022 Mix[19]
Japan"First Love / Hatsukoi" 2022 Remastered

Juju version

First Love
Type:promo
Artist:Juju
Album:Request
Genre:J-pop, R&B
Length:4:27
Label:Sony
Producer:Akihisa Matsuura

"First Love" was covered by the Japanese R&B singer Juju in 2010, on her cover album Request. It was the main promotional single, and was released as a digital download to cellphones on September 15, 2010.[20] Juju performed the song at Hey! Hey! Hey! on September 20.[21]

Release history

RegionDateFormat
JapanRingtone
Cellphone download

Other cover versions

Notes and References

  1. GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1999年5月度 . Gold Albums, and other certified works. May 1999 Edition . The Record . Bulletin . ja . . . July 10, 1999 . 476 . 9 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140109020835/http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1999/199907.pdf . January 9, 2014 . January 22, 2014.
  2. Web site: ja:失恋した時に聴きたい曲、男性はミスチル 女性はプリプリ . http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/ranking/63970/full/ . Oricon . ja . 2009-03-11 . 2010-09-24.
  3. Web site: 宇多田ヒカル一時休止前ラスト公演で感涙＆Ust新記録樹立 . Natalie . ja . December 13, 2010 . December 17, 2010.
  4. Web site: 満島ひかり×佐藤健の"10代の頃"を八木莉可子×木戸大聖が演じる『First Love 初恋』 . . 2022-11-10 . 2022-11-19 . ja.
  5. Web site: 宇多田ヒカル、デビュー記念日に「First Love」「初恋」のドルビーアトモス版＆7inchアナログリリース . Hikaru Utada to Release Dolby Atmos & Vinyl Version of "First Love" and "Hatsukoi" on Debut Anniversary . 2022-12-09 . 音楽ナタリー . ja.
  6. Web site: First Love - 宇多田ヒカル／ オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」. Oricon. 2010-09-24 . ja.
  7. Web site: First Love - 宇多田ヒカル／ オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」. Oricon. 2010-09-24 . ja.
  8. Web site: レコード協会調べ 2009年09月02日～2009年09月08日 ＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞ . 2009-09-11 . . 2010-09-24 . ja . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120422145918/http://satsuki.musicdb.gr.jp/all_info/ranking_weekly/WeeklyRankingAction.do?term=2009s&weeklyCd=20090908&rankKbn=100 . 2012-04-22 .
  9. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of March 24, 2014. Billboard Japan. ja. February 29, 2024.
  10. Hikaru Utada Chart History (Hong Kong Songs). Billboard. December 20, 2022.
  11. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of December 21, 2022. Billboard Japan. ja. December 21, 2022.
  12. Web site: Oricon Top 50 Combined Singles: 2022-12-19 . . December 16, 2022 . ja.
  13. Web site: Oricon Top 50 Combined Singles: 2022-12-19 . . December 16, 2022 . ja.
  14. Web site: RIAS Top Charts Week 50 (9 - 15 Dec 2022). RIAS. December 20, 2022. December 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221220083058/https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/#1562208279199-5ec9aa23-80dc.
  15. Hikaru Utada Chart History (Taiwan Songs). Billboard. December 13, 2022.
  16. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year End. Billboard JAPAN. 2023-12-28.
  17. Web site: First Love (Overseas Ver.) . 2010-09-24 . Yesasia.
  18. Web site: ja:レコード協会調べ 8月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：8月度認定＞ . http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w090920.html . . ja . 2009-09-20 . 2010-09-24.
  19. Web site: 宇多田ヒカルのアナログ盤「First Love / 初恋」発売記念ポップアップ企画開催、DJイベントあり . DJ Event to Commemorative Hikaru Utada's Vinyl Release of "First Love / Hatsukoi" . 2022-12-09 . 音楽ナタリー . ja.
  20. Web site: JUJU インフォメーション . Sony . ja . September 24, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110429083411/http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/AI/JUJU/ . April 29, 2011 . dead.
  21. Web site: 今聴きたい！名曲HEY！HEY！HEY！伝説的アイドルの祭典！史上最多30人大集結スペシャル！！ . Fuji TV . ja . September 20, 2010 . September 24, 2010.
  22. Web site: レコード協会調べ 2010年09月15日～2010年09月21日 ＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞ . 2009-09-24 . . 2010-09-24 . ja . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141228000807/http://satsuki.musicdb.gr.jp/all_info/ranking_weekly/WeeklyRankingAction.do?term=2010s&weeklyCd=20100921&rankKbn=50 . 2014-12-28 .

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