Deep River [Import]

Utada | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 3, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI Japan
• ASIN: B000065SOO
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #219,466 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Sakura

2. Traveling

3. Deep River

4. Letters

5. Nights

6. A.S.A.P.

7. I Love You

8. Final Distance

9. Bridge (Interlude)

Editorial Reviews

Third album for Japanese singer/songwriter who's possibly the most recognized Asian music artist in the world. 12 tracks. 2002. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Utada Hikaru: In Range, November 18, 2003

By 

Deanna Fogg (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Deep River (Audio CD)

Tempted by the reviews and of the song or two I'd heard of Ms. Utada's, I bought her second album, along with this one ("Deep River"). While "Distance" was a bunch of simple songs with a few notes a little too high for this singer, "Deep River" is more spruced up and smooth to listen to. Here's my thoughts on this CD:

1.'Sakura Drops' - A good song with an absolutely beautiful closing with Ms. Utada's voice being shown off a little more.
2.'Traveling' - A simple song with a repetitive, yet catchy chorus.
3.'Shiawaseni Narou' - A nice tune, but not very memorable, especially being right before:
4.'Deep River' - This one is a really exceptional slow song and one of the best on the album in my opinion.
5.'Letters' - Another good song, with a fun beat and sound.
6.'Play Ball' - A little similar to 'Letters' but not enough to make it a song to pass over.
7.'Tokyo Nights' - I sort of have to be in a poppy mood to listen to this. It's reminds me of the US mainstream teenybopper songs. But it's still a good song.
8.'A.S.A.P.' - Probably my least favorite song on the CD. The chorus is just a little to repetitive, and because it mainly consists of "A.S.A.P" it gets old about halfway through.
9.'I Love You' - A song with a little bit of a punkish flavor to it and a lower instrumental sound. Nice little change in the CD's rhythm.
10.'Final Distance' - this is a remake of Ms. Utada's song 'Distance' and it's MUCH better than the original. The main instrument, aside from vocals, is the piano, unlike its first version, which pretty much had computer-made noises strung throughout it to give it a (oh no!) teenybopper sound.
11.'Bridge (Interlude)' - this starts out with a heartbeat and then leads into a small violin solo that wraps up with that good ol' heartbeat again. It's really very pretty.
12.'Hikari' - another faster version of this song was in the opening of the game Kingdom Hearts. This one, like 'Sakura Drops' shows off Ms. Utada's voice a little bit. It's also a good beat to end on.

Try going to YesAsia.com for better info on Uatada Hikaru.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Traveling Letters Play Ball in Utada Hikaru's sophmore album, October 4, 2004

By 

CJR (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Deep River (Audio CD)

All fans of music must not pass this album up. It's one of the best records in J-pop history. Utada Hikaru has delivered Japan several 10 ten hits as well as number one albums. As she makes her debut with her fourth album "Exodus" in the U.S.A, it is a wonder if the luck she has had in Japan will rub off on her with her style which some fans may call 'racy and sexy,'

Taking a step back from Exodus, we find ourselves stuck at Utada Hikaru, or 'Hikki' as her fans call her, Japanese career, and with that, if you want to get one album which is full of spicy J-pop lyrics and style, it would be this album.

"Sakura Drops," the albums opener is one of the high lights of this album as the notes she reaches are not only high, but off-key. Not that this should steer you away from the album's content, the song is very meaningful when translated correctly and uses doesens of metaphores which make this song worth while to listen too. ***

"Traveling," Deep River's second cut, carries a fun/funky beat along with a medley that you absolutley must sing along with. The lines 'there's no need to hurry, there's a song I want you to listen [to], repeating endlessly, spurs on my feeling, just as planned' sums up this song as it will be stuck in your head all day. One of the albums best tracks *****

"Shiawase ni Narou" a/k/a "Lets Be Happy" when translated into the American languge starts out with a sweet and innocent tone in the beat which is should, because within a minute into the song you will be dancing on your bed attempting to sing along with the japan lyrics but unfortunally, failing horribly. Again, the beat in this song is most notable as it combindes a classic piano tone with an R&B bass. ****

"Deep River," 'Connecting points to points, Drawing lines with my finger, I came down this road... or is it my destination?
Line to line, we link together, Before long, everyone arrives at the sea, And becomes one, that's why I'm not scared.' As you can see by verse one of this song, it is very meaningful. If you do not speak japanese it would be a very good idea to translate this song into the English languge and just read it all. It is very deep, like a river! *****

"Letters," is another song that you will not want to turn off because the beat is so fresh and different (as is the whole album) This gets you caught in from start to finish. Like 'Deep River' and well, most of Hikaru's songs, this song is filled with a ton of litterary devices and is beatuiful when sung by her in Japanese. *****

Hikki throws a curve ball at you with "Play Ball," for it is one of the most urban sounding J-pop songs on the album. Keep your eye on the ball as she 'takes aim and throws her heart at you' and if you don't catch it, the aim of the song can often be mistaken for something else. ****

To limitation of time we gather and have the spree, Who prevents you from leaving this song? "Tokyo Nights" drops a very Japanese sound into this album which makes you remember Utada is not forgeting where she came from. The lyrics follow many things about her or someone else's doings in Tokyo, Japan. While the lyrics maybe again filled with metaphores, if you do not pay attention, you may be thrown off by what the song is about. This song is a song I refuse to skip when listening to "Deep River." It is the best song on the album and if you do not like this song seek medical help. (Kidding of course...)

"A.S.A.P.," 'right now, right now listen to me!' Hikki shouts out in this song. And with this song, you will Stay here until the story finishes! The urban beat Utada produced herself (along with the rest of the album) provides a perfect setting with the mysterious lyrics and flow of the medely. A.S.A.P. will be one of the first songs you will listen to on this record after the first couple spin. It's not one of my personal favorites, but every other Hikki fan I speak to seems to love it. "Take it or leave it," the choice is yours. ***

Does the medeley in the chorus of "Uso mitai na I Love you," sound familiar? If you didn't know Utada recorded a song for the disney inspired game "kingdom hearts" entitled "Simple and Clean." The medley for this chorus and "Uso Mitai na I Love You" was intended for the Japanese version of "Simple & Clean" entitled "Hikari." Although, since words in Japan have different sylabals than ones in the U.S. it had to be recycled for "..I love You" and then returned to it's rightful place in the English version of "Hikari." Do NOT dodge this rock! It's a big one and has a bit of off-key notes (again with the high ones..WHY CAN'T SHE STAY AWAY?) But never the less, the guitar and drums in this song saves it from a terrible plunge. I, myself, am not a huge fan of rock music, but this is probably the best I've heard at it (...that is, present day rock.) Four 1/2 stars to the top selling lady who loves to sing high notes off key!!! **** 1/2

"Final Distance," is probably the hardest song to get through on this album for it's medely and instrumental was re-writen from it's original form "Distance," the title track for her sophmore album and included on this album for a child who was stabbed at a school. She was a very big Hikaru fan and wanted to be just like her when she grew up. You can read about it in a journal entry Hikki wrote herself online. She dedicates this song to the girl who died as well as the others. Suprisingly, all high notes on this song is on-key and will give goosebumps to whoever is listening. The production is amazing on this track and stands out as one of the best ballads ever in the history of J-pop. *****

"Bridge (interlude)" combindes Traditional Japanese music you are used to hearing when you listen to Japanese folk tales or watch Japanese movies, with that of a very dance/pop beat. Although there are no lyrics, this song will have you wanting more at it's one minute and eight second stand. *****

As mentioned before, "Hikari's" Medely for the chorus was changed to fit the song and lyrics better, but it still stands as a very good close out to this very deep and thoughtful album, "Deep River." It is yet another balad and unlike most of the other songs, is about well...I think it's time for you to get the translator and start eh?

Five stars for this album! It's the best J-pop album I've heard and I doubt anything can top it. Anyone who does NOT have this album needs to buy it. and NOW!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Incredible Cd!, May 12, 2003

By 

Raine (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Deep River (Audio CD)

First of all I don't know any Japanesse, but it doesn't matter. I first heard of Hikki when reading about the video game 'kingdom hearts', after playing the game and hearing her song 'simple and clean' I became very interested in her. I recently looked online and found a list of her album's and decided to pick up this one. Each song is beautifully sung, and each track has a great melody. My favorite songs are, "Deep River", "A. S. A. P.", "I Love You" and the Japanesse version of 'Simple and Clean'. With almost an hour of music, Hikki is sure to keep you interested. I look forward to buying more of her work. If you don't want to spend a lot of money here, buy this and other asian cd's on sensasian.com, because there items come start from asia, they have a lot of this cd's for half price(this one only costed me 13 bucks). Also, some of the lryics in some of the songs are in english, so even if you get lost in the Japanesse words, there will be some words you can understand.