This Is the One [Digital Download]

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• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  THIS IS (TRULY) THE ONE! That will make a mark...

  • Incentivized

  For those of you whom have never heard of Utada or her music, or are wondering what's the recent, if small scale, internet or radio concentration on her here's a bit of a swift review of highlights of her career thus far!: *Her debut CD, First Love, is the best-selling album in Japanese history (w/ over 7.65 million units sold there alone and more than 10 million worldwide to date!) Released when she was only 16! *Her subsequent two releases (DISTANCE-4.4 million units- and DEEP RIVER-3.6 million) as well as the aforementioned debut, are in Japan's Top 10 Best-Selling Albums Ever listing (#1,#4, and #8)! Both were released back to back in 2001 and 2002, and sold a record breaking 3.0 and 2.35 million in their 1st week respectively! *Has won 27 Japanese Gold Disc Awards for her discography across the board! *Is the only artist to have finished #1 on the Yearly Ranks of the Japanese Oricon chart 5 times (once for single "can you keep a secret?" and for her first four Japanese albums-the last a compilation of all her singles up to 2003!) *And much,MUCH more (just check her wikipedia or fan blog sites/pages)... ANYWAY, regarding THIS IS THE ONE, its her third proper English release afterill-fated Precious in 1998 and EXODUS in 2004. The former's failure was due to a record label dissolvement and the latter Island/Def Jam's poor promotion of both singles and said album. EXOUDUS' international failure was slightly overshadowed by its expected Japanese -exclusive success, where it became her 5th #1 album, sold a million copies, and made her the only Asian Artist or non-anglophone artist @ that point to have two #1 albums on the United World Chart. This highly-anticipated release has been under construction since 2007 while she was simultaneously recording demos for her 5th Japanese Studio Album, 2008's 'HEART STATION'! After numerous delays and updates via her myspace, facebook,blog fan-made sites, and her official Japanese site, the new album has recently been titled and has a full tracklisting (@ least for the Japanese version) and first single 'Come Back To Me' is already making significant buzz @ radio on both sides of the Atlantic. Utada was careful about collaborators this go-around: famed duo Stargate produced 6 tracks and the notable Tricky Stewart 4 of the so-far confirmed 10 tracks! It was recorded in Tokyo, Atlanta, and New York City, near her Manhattan apartment. The 1st single is distinguished w/ her unique,emotion-brimming vocals and laxed electronic synths and R'n'B backdrop/piano-driven composition (an incredible and upcoming Music Video has recently been shot for it)...Utada, as w/ all her releases had 100% control over the melody, lyrics, and overall direction of this release and really highlights her talent as a singer/songwriter. Its impossible to pigeonhole her into one genre, but what she's tried thus far in the past includes elements of dance, electronic, R'N'B, Hip Hop,World,Classical,Ethereal Wave,Hard Electric Rock, and so much more! Another significant contributor to her success is her phenomenal bilingual skills in English and Japanese and her being raised by a famed record producer (Utada Teruzane, her current manager) and Enka/Japanese Classical Music Singer (Utada Junko). Her influences and heroes instantly shatter all expectations and stereotypes, and there's really no telling wjhat new heights she'll scale musically or lyrically w/ this album, but BELIEVE ME, I've been an ardent fan of hers since 2003 when a friend gave me her 'COLORS' single, and I've been addicted to her ever since, and you'll surely be as well if you have an open-minded taste for music. I listen to genres and artists the average listener would probably be alienated of, from ALL around the world, and trust me, this album is going to be a legendary even in her career and music history you DON'T want to miss. It'll be well worth your while to try Utada now when she's inside her prime in creativity and popularity! The official tracklist as of me writing this are... 01. On And On (a 'fun track' said to feature the phrase 'g-a-y parade'-Produced by Tricky Stewart!) 02. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence - FYI (features a sample of a Ryuichi Sakamoto piano piece and references the landmark 1980's film of the same name, and apparently explains her final vision for the album!-Produced by Stargate) 03. Apple And Cinnamon (described as 'breezy' and is supposedly about men and women!-Produced by Stargate and in an internet rumor uproar since last June when it appeared @ the BMI website) 04. Taking My Money Back (TBA-produced by Tricky Stewart) 05. This One (Crying Like A Child) (TBA) 06. Automatic Part II (a sort of mash up of music/lyrical between The International Artist of 'Utada' and the Japan-exclusive 'Utada Hikaru', and was the last song to be named;Also the name of her record-breaking Japanese debut single) 07. Dirty Desire (TBA) 08. Poppin’ (originally the Austin Powers Song-Produced by Tricky Stewart) 09. Come Back To Me ( the unbelievable and very pop/mainstream 1st single, can be downloaded @ amazon,Itunes,verizon,etc. and streamed virtually anywhere!-Produced by Stargate) 10. Me Muero (I Die or I'm Dieing in Spanish and Utada's favorite track off the album, said to be flirty and sophisticated!) Utada's made numerous comments and explanation in interviews and elsewhere regarding every song, and if you read and listen to them (some are in audio w/ a google search), all of them have a positive chance of leaving anything she's done in the past in ashes. Invest in easily the most exciting talent to come to the U.S. or elsewhere in the new millennium, and BUY THIS CD, it will be worth your while! And than, tell others about it! Friends don't keep secrets like this, and Utada has a way of changing your world and life view once you really get in tuned to her music. Buy this TODAY or a least ASAP because THIS IS (again-truly), whether it breaks out or not, THE ONE! Thanks for reading!

  Posted 16 years ago by cartoonmaster009

• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  GREAT !!!!!

  • Incentivized

  I was searching the Best Buy Online Circular for some new music to purchase because I LOVE good music. Most of the music now is the same! No originality. I click on her Album and listened to a few tracks on this Best Buy website and I knew this Album MUST be purchased!! This Album is GREAT!!! Her lyrics were on point with the music (beats) and you could hear the creativity in each song! She gives the listener something alittle different in each song. I really hope more people in this country purchase this Album (I have to listen to her other Albums). I know her other Albums have already sold millions overseas. Many of the songs on this Album should be currently playing on the Radio. I hope she has a BIG career in this country. Many of the current Pop and Female R&B Albums can't touch this Album!

  Posted 16 years ago by Conman1

• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  Surprisingly Fantastic!

  • Incentivized

  I bought this CD for the Kingdom Hearts songs, and I was quite pleasently surprised to find that this girl is GOOD. I wouldn't be surprised to find some of her music on the radio soon. Her voice is rich and beautiful, her English is perfect, and the lyrics are great. I highly recommend this CD.

  Posted 16 years ago by Kristin215