Eternally (Utada Hikaru song)
| "Eternally" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Utada Hikaru | |
| from the album Distance | |
| Released | March 10, 2008 |
| Format | Digital download |
| Recorded | 2000 |
| Genre | J-pop, Pop |
| Length |
4:45 4:49 (Drama Mix) |
| Label | EMI Music Japan |
| Songwriter(s) |
|
| Producer(s) |
|
"Eternally" is a song by Japanese musician Utada Hikaru, from her 2001 album Distance. It was re-arranged in 2008 as "Eternally (Drama Mix)," for the use in the Maki Horikita starring Fuji TV drama Innocent Love.[1] It was released as a digital single on October 31, 2008,[2] and eventually released onto CD in March 2009, on an EMI compilation album I: Zutto, Zutto, Aishiteru (i(アイ)～ずっと、ずっと、愛してる～).[3]
Innocent Love director Toshiyuki Nakano originally decided that Utada's voice would suit the themes of the drama well. Hearing "Eternally," he felt the song was a perfect choice for the drama, as the song's melody, lyrics and title fitted, in his opinion, as if the song had been specifically commissioned for the drama.[1]
Writing
The song is a R&B ballad, featuring an arrangement of strings, background percussion and guitar. The lyrics describe a person addressing their lover, who is describing how much they treasure a single moment they are sharing with this person. They believe that even if they cannot stay with their lover forever, at least "the feeling (they) have now will last forever " (今の気持ちだけはずっと永遠 ima no kimochi dake wa zutto eien).[4]
The drama mix of the song features a different take of Utada's vocals during the recording sessions of Distance in 2001, however it was given a new mix in 2008.[1] The new version is very similar in structure to the original, however with more prominent strings during the chorus.
Chart rankings
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
Billboard Japan Hot 100[5]
|
36 |
| RIAJ Reco-kyō ringtones Top 100[6] | 50 |
RIAJ Reco-kyō ringtones Top 100[6]
|
7 |
Certifications
| Chart | Amount |
|---|---|
| RIAJ full-length cellphone downloads[7] | 100,000+ |
RIAJ full-length cellphone downloads[2]
|
100,000+ |
RIAJ PC downloads[8]
|
100,000+ |
Release history
 |
"Eternally"
A sample from the chorus of the original version. "Eternally (Drama Mix)"
A sample from the version used for Innocent Love. |
| Problems playing these files? See media help. | |
| Region | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | March 10, 2008[7] | Digital download (original version) |
| October 31, 2008[2] | Digital download (Drama Mix) |
References
- 1 2 3 宇多田ヒカル"隠れた名曲"の新ヴァージョンが月9主題歌に. Barks (in Japanese). 2008-09-29. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
- 1 2 3 レコード協会調べ 11月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：11月度認定＞. RIAJ (in Japanese). 2008-12-20. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
- ↑ "[CD] i(アイ)～ずっと、ずっと、愛してる～ / オムニバス". Neowing (in Japanese). Retrieved September 17, 2010.
- ↑ "Eternally - 宇多田ヒカル". Goo Music (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-09-17.
- ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Japan. November 3, 2008. Archived from the original on September 17, 2010. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
- 1 2 "レコード協会調べ 10月度有料音楽配信チャート（「着うた（R）」）＜略称：10月度レコ協チャート（「着うた（R）」）＞" (in Japanese). RIAJ. 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
- 1 2 レコード協会調べ 12月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：12月度認定＞. RIAJ (in Japanese). 2009-01-20. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
- ↑ レコード協会調べ 11月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：11月度認定＞. RIAJ (in Japanese). 2009-12-20. Retrieved 2010-09-17.