Flavor Of Life / Utada Hikaru

11 April 2007

宇多田ヒカル Utada Hikaru
Flavor Of Life

28.2.07
18th single
TOCT-40095

tracklisting
1 Flavor Of Life
2 Flavor Of Life -Ballad Version-
3 Flavor Of Life (Original Karaoke)
4 Flavor Of Life -Ballad Version- (Original Karaoke)
5 Flavor Of Life -Antidote Mix-

purchase date 23.3.07

review
"Flavor Of Life" is a reasonably good ballad comparable to her older works. Tied as the theme song for Japan's version of "Meteor Garden 2", "Flavor Of Life" is hikki first oricon #1 single after the release of "Be My Last" in 2005, and hikki manage to secure this top spot for 3 consecutive weeks. Unlike any of her post-best singles with pathetic few tracks, "Flavor Of Life" has 3 versions for a total of 5 tracks, which might be the key reason for the good sales result.

Arranged solely by hikki, the original version retains her recent mild dance beat that is similar, but better than "COLORS". The original version do link back a little to her R&B roots. However, the beats of this original version makes the song sounds very rushed. Furthermore, hikki's vocal is a little incompatible with the electone arrangement, making her voice floating randomly above the instrumental.

Being the lead track, the -Ballad Version- obviously has better arrangement backed by a full orchestra. Compared to the original version, the ballad version is more relaxing and laidback, which I think suits the lyrics and melody better.

Remixed by Alexis Smith, the -Antidote Mix- can be classified as a simplified version, as it is recorded with only drum beat and minimal programming. This version is very similar in style to the "Passion ~after the battle~" and is more in line with hikki's recent works.

Overall, I really like "Flavor Of Life". I think this is her best single since "誰かの願いが叶うころ", because I actually like "Flavor Of Life" upon my first listen, as contrast to her post-EXODUS singles which requires a long digestion period.

recommending #2 Flavor Of Life -Ballad Version-, #5 Flavor Of Life -Antidote Mix-
rating 8/10 good

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Flavor Of Life / Utada Hikaru   © 文彬 2004~2024. All rights reserved.

SINGLE CLIP COLLECTION VOL.4 / Utada Hikaru

11 January 2007

宇多田ヒカル Utada Hikaru
SINGLE CLIP COLLECTION VOL.4

27.9.06
12th video
TOBF-5501

tracklisting
1 COLORS
2 誰かの願いが叶うころ
3 Be My Last
4 Passion
5 Keep Tryin'

purchase date 23.12.06

review
Shortly after the release of "ULTRA BLUE", hikki released this clip compilation containing all the pv of her 5 singles from the "ULTRA BLUE" album.

The video of "COLORS" has a contemporary zen approach. Despite being filmed by well known director Donald Cameron, it is the worst pv hikki ever filmed. Hikki was very thin and pale-looking, as she was still recovering from her illness. I don't like both the song and the pv. They are obviously not up to her usual standard.

Being of one of the few live-action pv directed by her husband Kiriya Kazuaki, the video of "誰かの願いが叶うころ" is filmed in monochrome, which suits the mood of this song very well. Both the song and its pv strongly reflects hikki anti-war message, which can be seem in the lyrics "when someone's dream come true, the child is still crying, because everyone's dream can never come true at the same time". The family-themed pv portraits hidden secret and uneasy relationships among family members. During the pv making off shots, hikki joked that her on-screen family looks like murderers.

The pv of "Be My Last" is filmed in Prague, the mysterious capital of Czech. Both the song and the pv has a very dark and spooky atmosphere. This is an excellent live-action video directed by Kiriya Kazuaki, with an interesting storyline. Although to be honest, I only managed to understand the storyline after a few replay. In the pv, hikki was the guardian angel of the lead actress, who is the only person who can see her. This can be proved from the last scene when nobody offered help to hikki, who was killed in the traffic accident when she saved the lead actress with her life. Interestingly, the public and medical team were rushing to offer help to the lead actress, who was barely hurt in the accident. The lead actress begged everyone to save hikki, but she was ignored by all of them as nobody can see hikki.

"Passion" is hikki's typical CG-infused pv directed by Kiriya Kazuaki. However, the pv do change into a real-world scene towards the end, showing horses galloping across vast grassland of rural Beijing with hikki standing in the middle of the landscape. There isn't any making clip available for this pv, which is a pity as it is an interesting pv and I'm interested to know if the characters are indeed individuals or simply CG clones.

"Keep Tryin'" is the worst pv made by Kiriya Kazuaki. The video shows hikki appearing as various roles like waitress, police, OL, air stewardess, train officer, news reporter, street performer and student. The pv is set in a cardboard world where actions of the folks are extremely artificial, comical and exaggerated. The CG effect is also a far cry from Kiriya Kazuaki's trilogy ("FINAL DIATANCE", "traveling" and "SAKURAドロップス").

The "初回盤特典DVD" is not available in the overseas (OS) version. Thus I don't get to watch the premium live performance of "Be My Last" and "Passion". Overall, this is a good pv compilation of extreme quality. It has excellent pv like "Be My Last" and "誰かの願いが叶うころ". But it also has some of hikki's most boring pv "COLORS" and "Keep Tryin'". Furthermore, it is extremely value for money with its low price and quality works.

recommending #3 Be My Last, #2 誰かの願いが叶うころ, #4 Passion
rating 6/10 average

Buy it here:
Utada Hikaru Single Clip Collection Vol.4 [Regular Edition] / Hikaru Utada
Utada Hikaru Single Clip Collection Vol.4 [Limited Edition] / Hikaru Utada

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SINGLE CLIP COLLECTION VOL.4 / Utada Hikaru   © 文彬 2004~2024. All rights reserved.