Hatsukoi (Hikaru Utada song) explained

Hatsukoi
Cover:Hikaru Utada - First Love Hatsukoi 2022.png
Caption:2022 remastering cover
Type:single
Artist:Hikaru Utada
Album:Hatsukoi
Language:Japanese
Recorded:March 2018
Length:4:41
Label:
Producer:Hikaru Utada
Prev Title:Play a Love Song
Prev Year:2018
Next Title:Chikai
Next Year:2018

"Hatsukoi" is a song by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada. It is her fifth single under the label Epic Records Japan and was taken from her seventh Japanese-language studio album Hatsukoi. The song was released as a digital download on May 30 and was used as a tie-in for the Japanese television drama Hana Nochi Hare - Hanadan Next Season. It's the second song that Utada delivers to the series, after Flavor of Life in 2007.[1]

The song and "First Love" from her 1999 album of the same name inspired the 2022 Netflix series First Love.[2] In December 2022, "Hatsukoi" was remastered alongside "First Love" in Dolby Atmos.[3]

Music video

The song's corresponding promo video is directed by Yasuhito Tsuge, the same director that worked with Utada on the "Manatsu no Tooriame" music video. Released on the same day as the song, it can be purchased via iTunes store,[4] and has simultaneously been released for rotation to Japanese TV Station M-On. Following the good reception of the "Forevermore" and "Anata" music video documentaries with M-On, a new one will be exhibited at the channel on June 27, the same day of Hatsukoi album release.

Commercial performance

The song topped the Oricon download chart for 2 consecutive weeks, making Hikaru Utada the only female singer to reach the top of the chart 3 times since its beginning.[5]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2018)Peak
position
Billboard Japan Hot 100[6] 2
Billboard Japan Download Songs[7] 1
Oricon Digital Download Songs[8] 1

Sales and certifications

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)VersionLabel
VariousOriginalEpic Japan
2022 remastering[12]
JapanVinyl"First Love / Hatsukoi" 2022 Remastered

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hikaru Utada's Single "Hatsukoi," The Image Song For TBS Tuesday Night Drama Series "Hana nochi Hare: Hanadan Next Season" To Be Released Digitally On May 30. Utadahikaru.jp . Hikaru Utada Official Website . April 30, 2018.
  2. 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 . 2022-11-26 . ja.
  3. 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.
  4. Web site: Hikaru Utada's Digital Single For "Hatsukoi" (Image Song For TBS Drama "Hana Nochi Hare - Hanadan Next Season") Released Wednesday, May 30! Music Video For The Track Also Announced.. utadahikaru.jp . Hikaru Utada Official Website . June 22, 2018.
  5. Web site: June 13, 2018. 【オリコン】宇多田ヒカル、女性初の配信シングルV2 『花晴れ』提供「初恋」. June 22, 2018. Oricon. Japanese.
  6. Web site: Hot 100. Billboard Japan. Japanese. June 11, 2018. June 7, 2018.
  7. Web site: Download Songs. Billboard Japan. Japanese. June 11, 2018. June 7, 2018.
  8. Web site: 宇多田ヒカル「初恋」デジタルランキング初登場１位. Yahoo! Japan. Japanese. June 6, 2018. June 5, 2018.
  9. Web site: Top Download Songs Chart Year-end 2018. Billboard Japan . Japanese. December 7, 2018.
  10. Web site: 有料音楽配信認定 . RIAJ . December 21, 2017.
  11. Web site: 年間デジタルシングル（単曲）ランキング 1位～25位. Oricon. Japanese. December 22, 2018.
  12. 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.

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