Sakura Drops Explained

Sakura Drops
Cover:Sakura Drops Letters.jpg
Alt:The head of a woman surrounded by frills, flowers and leaves
Caption:"Sakura Drops" / "Letters" cover.
Type:single
Artist:Hikaru Utada
Album:Deep River
Recorded:2002
Genre:R&B, J-pop
Length:4:59
Label:Toshiba EMI
Producer:Kei Kawano, Akira Miyake, Teruzane Utada
Prev Title:Hikari
Prev Year:2002
Next Title:Letters
Next Year:2003

is a song by Japanese-American musician Hikaru Utada. It was released as a double A-side single with the song "Letters" on May 9, 2002.[1]

Background and development

Since she debuted as a musician in 1998, Utada had worked as the primary or sole songwriter for her music. Beginning with their second album Distance (2001), Utada began to co-arrange songs, such as "Wait & See (Risk)", "Distance" and "Kettobase!"[2] The bonus track on Distance, "Hayatochi-Remix", was arranged entirely by Utada.[2] In March 2002, Hikaru Utada released "Hikari", the theme song for the game Kingdom Hearts.[3] "Sakura Drops" was first announced as the theme song for the drama First Love in mid-February.[3]

Promotion and release

The song was used as the theme song for the TBS drama First Love, starring Atsuro Watabe and Kyoko Fukada.[4] This was Utada's third composition to be used as a drama theme song, after "First Love" was used for Majo no Jōken (1999), and "Can You Keep a Secret?" for Hero (2001).[5] The drama first aired in Japan on April 17, 2002.[3]

On May 13, 2002, Utada performed the song live at Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ, a week before they performed the single's second A-side "Letters".[6] [7]

Utada performed the song during their Hikaru no 5 Budokan residency show in 2004, at their Utada United 2006 Japanese tour, during their international tour and at their two date concert series Wild Life in December 2010.[8]

The song was noticed for its digital success in the burgeoning ringtone market in Japan, with 29% of the revenue they had received from the song coming from ringtones.[9]

Music video

A music video was released for the song, directed by their then husband Kazuaki Kiriya,[10] who had directed all of their music videos since "Final Distance" (2001). The video clip was a mix of strongly colored CGI imagery of a fantasy forest and animals, as well as scenes of Utada standing in this forest. The imagery seen in the video was inspired by the works of Edo period artist Itō Jakuchū.[11]

Usage and covers

For the Disney on Ice production Let's Party! which debuted in 2009, an English language version of the song was used as a part of the set. After becoming aware of Disney's usage of the song in 2012, Utada was surprised, but honored that Disney had chosen to use their song.[12]

In 2007, the band Kinmokusei covered "Sakura Drops" for their cherry blossom-themed album Sakura, and similarly in 2008 by Sotte Bosse for Blooming E.P..[13] [14] In 2014, "Sakura Drops" was recorded by Yōsui Inoue for Utada Hikaru no Uta, a tribute album celebrating 15 years since Utada's debut.[15] It was released as a preceding download from the album on December 3, 2014, and was commercially successful enough to reach number 68 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart and number 11 on the Japanese Adult Contemporary Airplay chart.[15] [16] [17] In Spring 2015, Inoue's cover recharted on the Adult Contemporary Airplay at number 41.[18]

Critical reception

Critical reception to the song was positive. Hayashi of Ongaku DB noted that the song was simultaneously elaborate and simple, praising the balance of this sound with a humble melody and Utada's passionate vocals, feeling that this mix was "natural, but at the same time miraculous".[19] Akiyoshi Sekine of CDData praised the song's "simple but deep world view", while noting its "oriental taste" and "graceful sense of the season".[20] Kanako Hanakawa of Backstage Pass felt that the cherry blossom imagery worked especially well because of Utada's vocal qualities.[21]

CDJournal reviewers called the song "simple and fresh", and were surprised at how much more dark their style was in "Sakura Drops", considering how dark much of their music was already. They praised their vocal style and song arrangement, noting the "gleaming sound effects" and "tough melody" as highlights.[22] [23] Masamichi Yoshihiro of Yeah!! J-Pop! called the song a "classic pop tune", and noted the "J-Pop-style approach" of "Sakura Drops", also shared with their previous single "Hikari", which was stronger than anything seen before in their music, as opposed to their earlier R&B/club styled songs. He likened the song to those of Yumi Matsutoya, feeling its "straightforward emotional expression" and "pop arrangement" left the biggest impression. He felt that Utada's signature lyrics and vocals made the song stand out over other pop-genre songs.[24]

Personnel

Personnel details were sourced from Deep Rivers liner notes booklet.[25]

Charts

Chart (2002)Peak
position
Japan Oricon weekly singles[26]
  • "Sakura Drops" / "Letters"
1
Chart (2012)Peak
position
Japan Billboard Japan Hot 100[27] 74
Chart (2014)Peak
position
Japan Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay[28] 23
Chart (2015)Peak
position
Japan Billboard Japan Hot 100[29] 79
Japan Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay21

Sales and certifications

Chart Amount
Oricon physical sales[30]
  • "Sakura Drops" / "Letters"
687,000<--686,720-->
RIAJ physical certification[31]
  • "Sakura Drops" / "Letters"
2× Platinum (800,000)
RIAJ cellphone download certification[32] Gold (100,000)

Release history

RegionDateFormatDistributing labelCatalog code
JapanMay 9, 2002[33] CD singleToshiba EMITOCT-4381
TaiwanGold Typhoon55088529
JapanApril 1, 2004[34] Digital downloadToshiba EMI
South KoreaSeptember 30, 2005[35] Digital downloadUniversal Music Korea

Notes and References

  1. Web site: SAKURAドロップス/Letters . Amazon.co.jp . December 19, 2014.
  2. Distance . . 2001 . Japanese . Toshiba EMI . Tokyo, Japan.
  3. Web site: Artist Search 宇多田ヒカル . https://web.archive.org/web/20050320124342/http://www.musicnet.co.jp/cgi-bin/artist/list.cgi?artist=0056 . Sony Magazines . March 20, 2005 . Japanese . December 29, 2014.
  4. Web site: News . https://web.archive.org/web/20020401233007/http://www.toshiba-emi.co.jp/hikki/news/main.htm . Toshiba EMI . April 1, 2002 . Japanese . December 18, 2014.
  5. Web site: http://www.tbs.co.jp/drama_archive/majo/index-j.html . ja:魔女の条 . . Japanese . December 20, 2014.
  6. Web site: GUEST 宇多田ヒカル . https://web.archive.org/web/20091009171425/http://www.fujitv.co.jp/HEY/guestprofile/utada.html . Fuji Television . October 9, 2009 . Japanese . December 20, 2014.
  7. Web site: GUEST 宇多田ヒカル . https://web.archive.org/web/20091009062335/http://www.fujitv.co.jp/HEY/guestprofile/utada2.html . Fuji Television . October 9, 2009 . Japanese . December 20, 2014.
  8. 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 . Japanese . December 13, 2010 . December 17, 2010.
  9. Web site: In Japan, phone downloads lift royalty payments . Miki Tanikawa . The New York Times . September 3, 2003 . December 23, 2014.
  10. Web site: 宇多田ヒカル SAKURA ドロップス . Space Shower . Japanese . December 13, 2010 . December 23, 2014.
  11. Web site: 宇多田ヒカル - SAKURAドロップス . https://web.archive.org/web/20141222114320/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlwCZm2MQbQ . EMI Music Japan . Youtube . December 22, 2014 . Japanese . December 22, 2014.
  12. Web site: Utada Hikaru's "Sakura Drops" Used For "Disney On Ice" Show . Jpop Asia . July 18, 2012 . December 23, 2014.
  13. Web site: https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%81%95%E3%81%8F%E3%82%89-%E3%82%AD%E3%83%B3%E3%83%A2%E3%82%AF%E3%82%BB%E3%82%A4/dp/B000MZHV8W . ja:さくら . Amazon.co.jp . Japanese . December 23, 2014.
  14. Web site: Blooming E.P. . Amazon.co.jp . Japanese . December 23, 2014.
  15. Web site: http://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000110305 . ja:『宇多田ヒカルのうた』全貌明らかに。井上陽水、椎名林檎、浜崎あゆみ、吉井和哉ら参加アーティストコメント . All details revealed for Utada Hikaru no Uta, comments from contributing artists such as Yosui Inoue, Ringo Sheena, Ayumi Hamasaki and Kazuya Yoshii. . Barks . Japanese . December 3, 2014 . December 3, 2014.
  16. Japan Billboard Hot 100 . . Japanese . December 17, 2014 . December 22, 2014.
  17. Adult Contemporary Airplay . . Japanese . December 17, 2014 . December 22, 2014.
  18. Adult Contemporary Airplay . . Japanese . April 1, 2015 . April 1, 2015.
  19. Web site: http://music.yahoo.co.jp/jpop/cd_reviews/ongakudb/20020604/odbrvw002.html . ja:ＳＡＫＵＲＡドロップス . https://web.archive.org/web/20040816225446/http://music.yahoo.co.jp/jpop/cd_reviews/ongakudb/20020604/odbrvw002.html . Hayashi of OngakuDB.com . Yahoo! Japan . May 9, 2002 . August 16, 2004 . Japanese . December 19, 2014.
  20. Web site: http://www.cddata-mag.com/pastdisc/?ID=4648 . ja:宇多田ヒカル PAST RELEASE . CDData. Kadokawa Shoten. https://web.archive.org/web/20040110070613/http://www.cddata-mag.com/pastdisc/?ID=4648 . January 10, 2004 . Japanese . December 20, 2014.
  21. Web site: http://music.yahoo.co.jp/jpop/cd_reviews/shinkomusic/20020515/snkrvw016.html . ja:ＳＡＫＵＲＡドロップス . https://web.archive.org/web/20040816225800/http://music.yahoo.co.jp/jpop/cd_reviews/shinkomusic/20020515/snkrvw016.html . Kanako Hanakawa of Shinko Music . Yahoo! Japan . May 15, 2002 . August 16, 2004 . Japanese . December 19, 2014.
  22. Web site: http://artist.cdjournal.com/d/utada-hikaru-single-collection-vol1/3204020152 . ja:宇多田ヒカル / Utada Hikaru SINGLE COLLECTION VOL.1 . CDJournal . Japanese . December 19, 2014.
  23. Web site: http://artist.cdjournal.com/d/-/3202030548 . ja:宇多田ヒカル / 1.SAKURAドロップス 2.Letters . CDJournal . Japanese . December 20, 2014.
  24. Web site: http://music.yahoo.co.jp/jpop/cd_reviews/planet/20020515/plarvw001.html . ja:ＳＡＫＵＲＡドロップス . https://web.archive.org/web/20040816225418/http://music.yahoo.co.jp/jpop/cd_reviews/planet/20020515/plarvw001.html . Masamichi Yoshihiro of Yeah!! J-Pop! . Yahoo! Japan . May 15, 2002 . August 16, 2004 . Japanese . December 19, 2014.
  25. Deep River . . 2002 . Japanese . Toshiba EMI . Tokyo, Japan.
  26. Web site: http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/193854/ranking/cd_single/ . ja:宇多田ヒカルのシングル売り上げランキング . Hikaru Utada single sales ranking . https://web.archive.org/web/20131111143257/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/193854/ranking/cd_single/ . Oricon . November 11, 2013 . Japanese . December 18, 2014.
  27. Japan Billboard Hot 100 . . Japanese . April 10, 2012 . August 28, 2014.
  28. Adult Contemporary Airplay . . Japanese . April 9, 2014 . December 22, 2014.
  29. Japan Billboard Hot 100 . . Japanese . April 8, 2015 . April 8, 2015.
  30. Web site: オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 . Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree' . . subscription . December 18, 2014.
  31. GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 2002年5月度 . Gold Albums, and other certified works. May 2002 Edition . The Record . Bulletin . Japanese . . . July 10, 2002 . 512 . 12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140117133823/http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/2002/200207.pdf . January 17, 2014 . January 17, 2014.
  32. Web site: ja:レコード協会調べ 4月度有料音楽配信認定 . Record Association Investigation: April Digital Music Download Certifications . http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w110520.html . . Japanese . May 20, 2011 . June 10, 2014.
  33. Web site: 櫻花翩翩 . G-Music . December 19, 2014.
  34. Web site: SAKURAドロップス . Amazon.co.jp . December 18, 2014.
  35. Web site: Sakuraドロップス/Letters . 9 May 2002 . Bugs . Korean. December 19, 2014.

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