Although pop superstar
Utada Hikaru hasn't been in the recording studio for the past few years, her music is still going strong. Her debut album
First Love, the best-selling album in Japanese music history, was re-released in 2014 as a 15th anniversary special edition and made it into the Oricon top ten for a second time. Later in 2014, 13 different musicians each covered one of her songs to create
Utada Hikaru no uta - 13 kumi no ongakuka ni yoru 13 no kaishaku ni tsuite as a tribute to her career in music. It was released on December 9th.
As with 2002 album
Deep River,
SAKURA DROPS kicks things off. This edition is a very different animal however. Eccentric singer-songwriter
Inoue Yosui has chosen to transform it into an energetic, brassy bit of salsa with guest band
Orquesta de la Luz. It works unexpectedly well, even if it is a bit over the top - think
Carmen Miranda. Latin and jazz also make their way into
Letters which follows, and with
Shiina Ringo taking the reins it would have been disappointing if they didn't. Her brand of Parisian jazz-pop has added dramatic flair and a complex, layered arrangement that is uniquely
Shiina.
Other artists have also decided to make the tunes very much their own. Another huge pop star,
Hamasaki Ayumi, has injected even more synth and dance beats into the already upbeat
Movin' on without you to put her Eurodance stamp on it.
tofubeats' cover of
time will tell has an odd, chewed-cassette warp to it. With the capable
BONNIE PINK delivering the vocals this slower, electro-pop and R 'n B mash up is a decent listen, if a little cold. The jolly cover of
Hikari, with its levity and strong folk influences, is unmistakeable
LOVE PSYCHEDELICO. The most dramatic cover would have to be that of multiple award-winning producers
Jimmy Jam and
Terry Lewis, who have worked with the likes of
Janet Jackson,
Mary J. Blige and
Boyz II Men to name but a few. They have teamed up with rhythm and blues singer
Peabo Bryson for
Sanctuary, the English version of
Passion. It is therefore much more soulful, removing most of the prominent drum beat of the original to create a well-balanced, quieter arrangement and focus on the powerful yet emotional vocals.
Some artists have decided not to stray far from the original vision. Vocal powerhouse
AI shows off what she does best in an unfussy
FINAL DISTANCE.
Keep Tryin' is just as light and motivational in the hands of
KIRINJI, but more playful with the additional of xylophone, lighter percussion and
kotringo's childlike vocals.
Kato Miliyah, like
Utada, has roots in pop and urban music. It makes sense then that her version of
For You wouldn't have been out of place on one of
Utada's original albums. An excerpt of
Give Me a Reason has been cleverly squeezed in for good measure, making it more of a tribute piece rather than a straightforward remix. Similarly the composition of
Yoshii Kazuya's take on
Be My Last is still pop rock, but the balance has shifted - the pop has been toned down and the rock dialled up, with a stronger bass and heavier drums adding more drama.
Yoshii's performance is also more powerful and affecting, expressing more heartbreak than the gentler original and leaving a lasting impression.
Okamura Yasuyuki's
Automatic is one track that could have done with more distance from the original though, as the exaggerated '90s synth and loud bass turn it into bad karaoke. It's not helped at all by
Okamura's overzealous, often out of tune crooning and the fact that
others have done it better.
Sometimes less is more, and this is clearly demonstrated in a couple of surprising standout tracks.
HANAREGUMI has the barest acoustic accompaniment to his tender, androgynous vocals in
Flavor of Life, never using more than three instruments altogether. Even then they're kept clean and chord-free to prevent overpowering the whisper-soft voice. It's beautifully restrained and fragile, as is
ohashiTrio's
Stay Gold. It's as if the two collaborated on both arrangements. The piano-only backing and flawless, unembellished vocals draw all focus to the sweetness of the song itself in its purest form. These tracks are exceptional in their simplicity and demonstrate
Utada Hikaru's greatest strength: the ability to write a memorable and heartfelt melody.
It's anyone's guess when
Utada Hikaru will release any new material herself, although rumours about a return for new projects this year abound. Luckily
Utada Hikaru no uta can help to fill the gap with its imaginative re-workings in the meantime. That such a diversity of talent has been brought together for this is a testament to her ever present creative influence. Not all of the covers hit the mark and they will certainly divide opinion, but what is clear is that whatever the end result
Utada's superb music writing always shines through.
