Science Fiction (Hikaru Utada album)

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Science Fiction
Standard cover
Greatest hits album by
Hikaru Utada
ReleasedApril 10, 2024
Recorded1998–2024
Genre
Length119:28
Language
  • Japanese
  • English
Label
Producer
Hikaru Utada chronology
Hikaru Utada Live Sessions from Air Studios
(2022) 		Science Fiction
(2024)
Singles from Science Fiction
  1. "Gold (Mata au Hi Made)"
    Released: July 28, 2023
  2. "Naniiro de mo Nai Hana"
    Released: February 12, 2024
  3. "Somewhere Near Marseilles (Sci-Fi Edit)"
    Released: April 3, 2024

Science Fiction is the first greatest hits album and fourth overall compilation album by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada, released on April 10, 2024, through Epic Records Japan and USM Japan. Commemorated the 25th anniversary of their career, the album consists of two discs with 26 tracks, including new mixing and re-recording of their previous singles and three original track "Gold (Mata au Hi Made)", "Naniiro Demo Nai Hana", and "Electricity". In support of the album, Utada will embark on the Science Fiction Tour in 2024.[1]

Science Fiction debuted atop Oricon Albums Chart and Billboard Japan Hot Albums. The album sold 171,882 copies on its first week of release, making it Utada's overall twelfth number-one album in Japan.[2]

Background and promotion[edit]

Hikaru Utada released their first original single since their eighth Japanese-language studio album Bad Mode, titled "Gold (Mata au Hi Made)", on July 28, 2023. The song served as a theme for the film Kingdom: Flame of Destiny [ja].[3] On December 9, Utada announced Science Fiction, their first greatest hits album, to commemorate their 25th anniversary since their debut in 1998 with "Automatic" / "Time Will Tell".[4] A month later, they unveiled the release date, to be April 10, 2024.[5]

Following the album annoucement, the single "Naniiro de mo Nai Hana" was released on February 12, 2024, used as theme for the drama Kimi ga Kokoro o Kureta kara [ja].[6] Utada first performed the song on CDTV Live! Live! on February 26.[7] To promote Science Fiction, Utada's music videos produced between 1998 and 2012 were remastered in 4K resolution by artificial intelligence and premiered from March 14 for "Wait & See (Risk)" to April 8 for "First Love".[8]

Ahead of Science Fiction, the 2024 mix of "Automatic" was released on March 22,[9] and "Somewhere Near Marseilles (Sci-Fi Edit)" on April 3.[10] Two songs from the album featured on the television advertisements starring by the singer—"Electricity" for general trading company Itochu,[11] and the re-recorded version of "Traveling" for iced green tea brand Ayataka.[12] Utada also appeared on the double covers and gave an interview for the June 2024 edition of Nylon Japan.[13]

To promote the album, Utada gave the first televised performance of "First Love" in 24 years on April 8 at CDTV Live! Live!.[14] She will appear on With Music on April 13 to perform "One Last Kiss" and "Nijikan Dake no Vacance" with Ringo Sheena,[15] and NHK Music Special on April 18 to perform the re-recorded version of "Traveling" and "Hikari", and "Electricity".[16] The supporting concert tour of the same name, Science Fiction Tour 2024, will begin in July 2024 in Japan,[17] as well as Hong Kong and Taipei.[18]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Hikaru Utada, except where noted.

Science Fiction disc one
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Addicted to You" (re-recording; from Distance)
4:28
2."First Love" (2022 mix; from First Love)
4:22
3."Hanataba o Kimi ni" (花束を君に; from Fantôme)H. Utada4:39
4."One Last Kiss" (from One Last Kiss)
  • H. Utada
  • A. G. Cook
4:11
5."Sakura Drops" (SAKURAドロップス, 2024 mix; from Deep River)
  • Miyake
  • H. Utada
  • T. Utada
4:49
6."Anata" (あなた; from Hatsukoi)H. Utada4:38
7."Can You Keep a Secret?" (2024 mix; from Distance)
  • Miyake
  • T. Utada
4:44
8."Michi" (道; from Fantôme)H. Utada3:38
9."Prisoner of Love" (2024 mix; from Heart Station)
  • Miyake
  • H. Utada
  • T. Utada
4:46
10."Hikari" (光, re-recording; from Deep River)
  • H. Utada
  • A. G. Cook
4:36
11."Flavor of Life" (ballad version, 2024 mix; from Heart Station)
  • H. Utada
  • Miyake
  • T. Utada
 
12."Goodbye Happiness" (2024 mix; from Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2)
  • Miyake
  • H. Utada
  • T. Utada
5:04
Science Fiction disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Traveling" (re-recording; from Deep River) 
5:08
2."Beautiful World" (2024 mix; from Heart Station) 
  • Miyake
  • H. Utada
  • T. Utada
4:43
3."Automatic" (2024 mix; from First Love) 
  • Miyake
  • T. Utada
4:55
4."Kimi ni Muchū" (君に夢中; from Bad Mode) 
  • H. Utada
  • A. G. Cook
4:18
5."Naniiro de mo Nai Hana" (何色でもない花) 
  • H. Utada
  • A. G. Cook
4:04
6."Hatsukoi" (初恋; from Hatsukoi) 
  • H. Utada
  • Nariaki
4:42
7."Time" (from Bad Mode) 
  • H. Utada
  • Nariaki
5:00
8."Letters" (2024 mix; from Deep River) 
  • Miyake
  • H. Utada
  • T. Utada
4:37
9."Bad Mode" (BADモード; from Bad Mode)
  • H. Utada
  • Jodi Milliner
5:04
10."Colors" (2024 mix; from Ultra Blue) 
  • Miyake
  • H. Utada
  • T. Utada
4:02
11."Nijikan Dake no Vacance" (二時間だけのバカンス, featuring Ringo Sheena; from Fantôme) H. Utada4:44
12."Gold (Mata au Hi Made)" (Gold 〜また逢う日まで〜) 
  • H. Utada
  • A. G. Cook
4:16
13."Electricity" 
  • H. Utada
  • Shepherd
4:21
14."Somewhere Near Marseilles" (マルセイユ辺り, Sci-Fi Edit; from Bad Mode)
  • H. Utada
  • Shepherd
  • Shepherd
  • H. Utada
4:11
Total length:60:59

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for Science Fiction
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[19] 1
Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon)[20] 1
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[21] 1

Release history[edit]

Release dates and formats for Science Fiction
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various April 10, 2024
[22]
Japan CD Epic Japan
June 26, 2024 LP USM Japan [23]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "宇多田ヒカル初ベストアルバムの発売日決定＆ジャケット公開、6年ぶりツアー日程も発表". Bezzy. January 15, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  2. ^ "週間　アルバムランキング 2024年04月22日付 （2024年04月08日～2024年04月14日）". Oricon. April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  3. ^ "宇多田ヒカル、新曲ジャケット&新アー写公開". Natalie (in Japanese). July 12, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  4. ^ "宇多田ヒカル、デビュー25周年を記念し初のベストアルバム発売＆6年ぶり全国ツアー開催決定". Spice (in Japanese). December 9, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  5. ^ "宇多田ヒカル、レーベルの枠を越えた初のベストAL４月10日発売決定". MusicVoice (in Japanese). January 15, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  6. ^ "宇多田ヒカル、「君が心をくれたから」主題歌「何色でもない花」MV今夜公開". Barks (in Japanese). February 12, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  7. ^ "宇多田ヒカルが『CDTVライブ!ライブ!』に登場! 新曲「何色でもない花」をフルサイズでテレビ初披露【出演アーティスト掲載】". The First Times (in Japanese). February 19, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  8. ^ "宇多田ヒカルのベストALキャンペーン、4K画質MV＆デジタルZINEの公開／SNS企画など実施". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). March 13, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  9. ^ "宇多田ヒカル、ベストアルバムより"Automatic (2024 Mix)"サプライズ配信". Spincoaster (in Japanese). March 22, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  10. ^ "宇多田ヒカルの楽曲「Somewhere Near Marseilles」新エディットが先行配信". Fashion Press (in Japanese). March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  11. ^ "宇多田ヒカル、新曲「Electricity」が伊藤忠商事CMソングに決定". MusicVoice (in Japanese). April 1, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  12. ^ "宇多田ヒカルの新曲"traveling (Re-Recording)"が「綾鷹」CMソングに決定". Spincoaster (in Japanese). April 7, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  13. ^ "宇多田ヒカル「NYLON JAPAN」20周年記念号で再び表紙&Wカバー 変わらぬ輝き放つ". Modelpress (in Japanese). April 4, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  14. ^ "宇多田ヒカル「First Love」24年ぶりTV歌唱にネット興奮「痺れる」「衰えぬ歌唱力凄まじい」". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  15. ^ "宇多田ヒカル、『with MUSIC』レギュラー放送初回メインゲストに 椎名林檎とテレビ初共演も". Real Sound (in Japanese). April 7, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  16. ^ "宇多田ヒカル、『NHK MUSIC SPECIAL』初登場 ベストAL収録曲TV初披露&大質問大会も実施". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). April 9, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  17. ^ "宇多田ヒカル、6年ぶりツアー日程発表 オフィシャルアプリ公開も". Oricon (in Japanese). January 15, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  18. ^ "宇多田ヒカル、台北・香港での単独公演決定". Natalie (in Japanese). February 26, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  19. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2024-04-22" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  20. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2024-04-22" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  21. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of April 17, 2024". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  22. ^ "宇多田ヒカル 初のベストアルバム『SCIENCE FICTION』4月10日発売決定". Hikaru Utada Official Website (in Japanese). January 15, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  23. ^ "「SCIENCE FICTION」 6月26日にアナログ盤 生産限定発売が決定". Hikaru Utada Official Website (in Japanese). April 17, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
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