First Love (Utada Hikaru song)
"First Love" is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Utada Hikaru. It was released as her third Japanese language single on April 28, 1999, a month after the release of her debut album, First Love. It was certified double platinum for 800,000 copies shipped to stores across Japan.[1]
In a 2009 survey by Oricon, asking applicants what song they want to hear with a broken heart, "First Love" was voted in the top 10.[2]
"First Love" was performed during Utada's 2010 tour, Utada: In the Flesh 2010.
It was also performed during Utada's two date concert series Wild Life in December 2010.[3]
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.
Track listing
| 1. |
"First Love" | Kei Kawano |
4:18 |
| 2. |
"First Love (Strings Mix)" | Kawano |
4:22 |
| 3. |
"First Love (Original Karaoke)" | Kawano |
4:21 |
| 4. |
"First Love (John Luongo Mix)" | John Luongo |
4:08 |
Total length: |
17:09 |
| 1. |
"First Love" | Kawano |
4:18 |
| 2. |
"First Love (featuring David Sanborn)" | Kawano |
4:17 |
| 3. |
"First Love (Strings Mix)" | Kawano |
4:20 |
| 4. |
"First Love (John Luongo Mix)" | Luongo |
4:08 |
Total length: |
17:13 |
Chart rankings
Certifications and sales
| Chart |
Amount |
|---|
| Oricon physical sales[7]
|
501,000 |
| Oricon physical sales[7]
|
303,000 |
| RIAJ full-length cellphone downloads[8] |
250,000+ |
Release history
| Region |
Date |
Format |
|---|
| Japan |
April 21, 1999 (1999-04-21)[4][5] |
12 cm single, 8 cm single |
| Taiwan |
August 2000 (2000-08)[9] |
8 cm single |
| Japan |
November 19, 2004 (2004-11-19)[8] |
Cellphone full-length digital download |
Personnel
- Hironori Akiyama - guitar
- Yuichiro Goto - strings
- Takahiro Iida - synthesizer programming
- Kei Kawano - arrangement, string arrangement, keyboards, programming
- Masayuki Momo - synthesizer programming
- Hikaru Utada - lyrics, music, vocals
Juju version
First Love was covered by Japanese R&B singer Juju in 2010, on her cover album Request. The song was the main promotional single, and released as a digital download to cellphones on the 15th of September, 2010.[10] Juju performed the song at Hey! Hey! Hey! on September 20.[11]
Chart rankings
| Chart |
Peak
position |
|---|
| RIAJ Digital Track Chart Top 100[12] |
5 |
Release history
| Region |
Date |
Format |
|---|
| Japan |
September 8, 2010 (2010-09-08)[10] |
Ringtone |
| September 15, 2010 (2010-09-15)[10] |
Cellphone download |
Other cover versions
- Naoko Terai (1999, violin, album Pure Moment).
- Jessa Zaragoza (2000, on the album Siya Ba Ang Dahilan?).
- Cao Xue Jing (2004, erhu solo, on the album Koiuta Erhu).
- Toni Gonzaga (2006, on the album You Complete Me). Sampled the song for "We Belong"
- Sotte Bosse (2007, on the album Innocent View).
- Scott Murphy (Allister) (2008, on the album Guilty Pleasures 3).
- Ryō Nagano (Apogee) (2008, digital single).
- Yasushi Nakanishi (2008, on the album Standards 3).
- Jake Shimabukuro (2008, ukulele solo, DVD Ichigo Ichie).
- Makoto Hirahara (2009, saxophone, on the albumVocalese).
- Sing-O (2009, digital single).
- Starving Trancer feat. Maki (2009, on the album Exit Trance Presents Dramatic Trance Memorial Daiichiwa).
- Hideaki Tokunaga (2010, on the album Vocalist 4).
- Eric Martin (2010, on the album Mr. Vocalist 3).
- Boyz II Men (2010 on the album Covered: Winter).
- May J (singer)(2013) on the album "Summer Ballad Covers'
References
- ↑ "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1999年5月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. May 1999 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese) (Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan) 476: 9. July 10, 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
- ↑ 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. Oricon (in Japanese). 2009-03-11. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
- ↑ "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" (in Japanese). Natalie. December 13, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
- 1 2 "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」" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
- 1 2 "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」" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
- ↑ "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)」）＞" (in Japanese). RIAJ. 2009-09-11. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
- 1 2 "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved 2010-09-24. (subscription only)
- 1 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). 2009-09-20. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
- ↑ "First Love (Overseas Ver.)". Yesasia. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
- 1 2 3 "JUJU インフォメーション" (in Japanese). Sony. Archived from the original on September 24, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
- ↑ "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！！" (in Japanese). Fuji TV. September 20, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
- ↑ "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)」）＞" (in Japanese). RIAJ. 2009-09-24. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
External links
|
|---|
| | | | Japanese-language studio albums | |
|---|
| | English-language studio albums | |
|---|
| | Compilation albums | |
|---|
| | Other albums | |
|---|
| | Tours | |
|---|
| | Related articles | |
|---|
|
