First Love [IMPORT]

Utada

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 28, 2002)
• Original Release Date: April 25, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI
• ASIN: B00006L5E1
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (100 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #96,849 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Multi-platinum debut album from artist who is currently one of Japan's hottest female pop vocalist. Includes one bonus track, 'Automatic (Johnny Vicous Remix)'. 1999 release. Standard jewel case.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You'll LOVE this after the FIRST spin, November 6, 1999

By	J. Taylor "chicoeldivo" (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: First Love (Audio CD)

So your intuition has taken you this far; let me win you over. You're probably debating whether or not you should risk it and fork out the extra $s, right? What's the fuss about! Well believe the hype! I ordered this CD after reading the rave reviews on this site, blinded by the fact that it's sold 8 million in Japan. Utada is a truly shining talent and her voice is sweet and strong. The song titles are in English but beware the songs are all sung in Japanese. Don't let that put you off, though, because Japanese has never sounded so good. The music is infectious and it won't take a second spin before you're hooked. The style is urban soul/pop -very Janet Jackson with simple production, more upbeat than Brandy and Monica, more mature than Billie or Britney. Utada covers all bases from pop soul on the opening Automatic to club house on the second single Movin On Without You, to sweet ballads like the title track and then funky beats on the closing Give Me The Reason. The Johnny Vicious revamp of Automatic is an added bonus to dance freaks like myself! If the girl sung in English, she'd storm past Britney and Christina to total world domination. I, for one, hope that happens because the talent deserves to shine wide. This is a NO RISK DISC! What are you waiting for? BUY BUY BUY! If you like this, then check out other hidden gems like Everybody's Somebody by Kele Le Roc (UK), Privacy by Ophelie Winter (France) and My Truth by Robyn (Sweden) but beware that Utada's music is far superior.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's damn damn damn good!!, January 19, 2002

By	"wickedlollies" (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Love (Audio CD)

I llooovvee hiikkii!!!!

Hikki wa daisuki desu ne!

This girl honestly rocks my world. I came to this point where it was like my ears were begging for something new. Something to test my senses. Something to challenge the mainstream crap that overflows my radio airwaves. I've studied Jap for ages, and thought I may aswell d/l a bit of Jap music, and see if I like it.

Now my computer is filled with jpop, my CD shelves stacked with the stuff and others ears bursting with me singing all the time..hehe. And it all started with downloading Utada...

The first song I d/l was from this album, 'paint it black', and I love it, and it still is probably at the top of my list. The best song, catchy, upbeat, quick, and the lyrics..it's about being caught in a 'amai wana' - a sweet trap. A love trap. Something that you just dont wanna get caught in! It's cool!

And 'First Love'. The song that started it all. It's beautiful, melodic, full of love, passion and meaning. All about the one who was her first. this song, even if you can't understand japanese, can be easily understood by the passion behing hikki's voice. It's simply beautiful.

'Automatic'. You know that really cool feeling you get when you're head over heels for someone...when when you see them, everything seems ok, when your heart just can't stop running, when you just can't help to look into their eyes??!! It's automatic. It's a funky song, with a cool record repeat scratch thang getting it on down, a cool bass line, hikki's amazing voice, and just what it's getting across. It has a good peak happening in all the choruses compared to the versus aswell.

Other damn good songs..'Time limit' is really really cool. Hikki has the DarkChild rapper thang happening at the beginning aswell. If ou have bass in your car..there's someunderlying hidden stuff on here that can really move the car. But it's heaps good. 'In my Room'..a real groover kinda song. 'Another Chance'..soo catchy! really good vocals.

This girl has it going on..and it's amazing Im writing this like about 2 years after it's original release date..but the thing is, it just is the type of CD that will not seem to deteriorate with time. It seems the type somehow..the gal's done something..to keep it in and funking.

All the songs are good! I could break them down to pieces and analyse them for you...but we listen to it all together! Im impressed..no..Im blown away by the fact that this is just so damn wonderfully composed. Hikki's vocals, smooth melodies, excellent produced music, and the overall feel and meaning behind her voice. You really dont need to understand Jap to really know the feeling behind her words.

I think it's now my favourite album. Why?! Because it's different to everything else that is always plyed on the radio. It's really funky. It sounds good on the ears. And even the fact that this is being written 2 years after it's release shows it's timelessness.

Buy it. If you're feeling like you need a change, or are feeling a lil risky and wanna try something new..this is for you! Plus not only thast...the CD just damn well rocks! get it!! and you'll damn well enjoy it! Kakkoii ne!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Given up on J-Pop? ..Well, it's "Movin' On Without You"...., February 18, 2000

By	Lance G. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Love (Audio CD)

I had, until my sister (who lives in Japan) gave me Utada's CD for X-mas. For those of you who claim you 'just like the music, and don't pay attention to the words' this is the CD for you! Nothing was lost for me with most of the lyrics in Japanese, and the grooves caught me at once. With her influences stemming from east-coast to the Rolling Stones, this artist, if given proper exposure, could give the American divas a run for their money. The disc contains many styles Americans are used to-rock, pop, hip-hop, dance, ballad, etc..., but with a fresh new twist. Her track "Movin' On Without You" could be played at any dance club in this country and fit seamlessly in with today's dance tracks. I went out and bought a new flash memory card for my Lyra player just to keep a copy of 'First Love' on because it seemed to be the one disc I returned to over and over to grab music from. It is one of the few cd's that I can listen to from start to finish without skipping over tracks. Only 2 problems 'tho... 1) Not enough remixes available and... 2) If you get a song stuck in your head and(like me) have to 'sing' it in your head to get rid of it....good luck! (unless you know Japanese! ) Encore, Utada, encore!