Keep Tryin' (Hikaru Utada song)

"Keep Tryin'"
Single by Hikaru Utada
from the album Ultra Blue
Released February 22, 2006
Format CD, paid download
Genre Pop, synthpop
Length 4:53
Label EMI Music Japan
Writer(s) Hikaru Utada
Producer(s) Hikaru Utada
Hikaru Utada singles chronology
"Passion"
(2005)		 "Keep Tryin'"
(2006)		 "This Is Love"
(2006)
Music sample
Keep Tryin'

"Keep Tryin'" is a song by Hikaru Utada. It was released as her 16th Japanese single on February 22, 2006. The song was the first promotional song (January - April 2006) for Lismo! au Listen Mobile Service. It first aired on radio on January 30, 2006 and the music video was first broadcast on February 15, 2006.

On December 20, 2006 iTunes Japan released a list of top downloaded singles and albums; "Keep Tryin'" ranked as #1 making it the most downloaded song for 2006.[1]

Music video

The promotional video for "Keep Tryin'" alludes to Utada's past PVs: "Final Distance", "Traveling", "Sakura Drops" and "Passion". There are also references to Utada's own cartoon cat creation, Chuichi, who is seen jumping on several rooftops while she is marching near the end of the video. First, when she stops by a store window filled with televisions, there is a kid pressed against the glass facing a reflection of himself, similar to "Final Distance". Later on, when she is walking through the office there are several secretaries typing, alluding to the drummers present in "Passion" PV.Also, the two dresses from her "Sakura Drops" PV are on display in a store window. Finally, during the biking sequence, there is a group of "people" marching along, similar to those in the traveling PV.

Covers

In 2014, Kirinji recorded the song for Utada Hikaru no Uta, a tribute album celebrating 15 years since Utada's debut.[2]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Hikaru Utada. 

No. Title Length
1. "Keep Tryin'"   4:53
2. "Wings"   4:52
3. "Keep Tryin' (Original Karaoke)"   4:53
Total length:
 14:40

Chart rankings

Charts (2006) Peak
position
Oricon weekly singles[3] 2
Oricon yearly singles[4] 82

Certifications and sales

Chart Amount
Oricon physical sales[5] 125,000
RIAJ physical certification[6] 250,000
RIAJ ringtone downloads[7] 750,000+
RIAJ full-length cellphone downloads[7] 100,000+
RIAJ PC downloads[7] 100,000+

References

  1. ↑ ITmedia News：iTunes年間ランキング、トップは宇多田とモーツァルト
  2. ↑ "『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 Hikar no Uta, comments from contributing artists such as Yosui Inoue, Ringo Sheena, Ayumi Hamasaki and Kazuya Yoshii.] (in Japanese). Barks. December 3, 2014. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Ｋｅｅｐ　Ｔｒｙｉｎ’ - 宇多田ヒカル／ オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2010-09-18.
  4. ↑ シングル 年間ランキング (in Japanese). Oricon. December 2006. Archived from the original on October 20, 2007. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
  5. ↑ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved 2010-09-18. (subscription only)
  6. ↑ ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2006年2月. RIAJ (in Japanese). 2006-03-10. Retrieved 2010-09-18.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 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＞. RIAJ (in Japanese). 2006-09-20. Retrieved 2010-09-18.