Customer Reviews

This Is the One

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're a fan of Utada Hikaru already, you don't need a review of the album, you just need to get it. You won't regret it.

If you're new to her music, Utada is one of, if not the most successful singer of all time in Japan. Her Japanese music and lyrics have a great appeal to them... so how about the English side?

Exodus, her previous English album, is along the same lines as this one in terms of it's pop appeal, but the maturity levels have gone way up. She's not just playing cute anymore and dancing around the themes, she takes them to the levels where they belong.

Each song on this album is very distinct - you can clearly imagine the scenarios in her songs, or in the cases of her more club/dance focused songs the beat is invigorating and sticks with you even after they're done playing.

As a long time fan of her Japanese music, the songs on their first listen will probably seem like more of a turn off. But the amazing thing about her music is that it only takes one listen before you realize you've got the songs repeating in your head.

All I had to do was see Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence - FYI live on the CBS early show and I was hooked and bought it on iTunes in addition to buying a CD copy here on Amazon. Leaving the playlist running, Apple and Cinnamon came on next, followed by Taking My Money Back, and I would go back and play them over and over. Come Back to Me and This One (Crying Like a Child) are more like her J-Pop, so those were easy to listen to. Dirty Desire is surprisingly explicit for her, but it's very catchy, as is Poppin', and On And On is just a fun song. Me Muero and Automatic are probably my least favorites, but they actually do grow on me the more I listen to them. And Simple and Clean and Sanctuary are great bonus tracks to the album for the Kingdom Hearts fans.

While it may be minor, one of the things I appreciate about this album are the photos, like the cover one. Some people might be thinking it's boring, confusing, or that she's over-dressed, but this is actually her appeal for me. Utada doesn't dress like a street walker or try to win the audience by acting like trash as most of America's pop artists do - she knows she's better than that, and that's a truly great image to have as an artist.

Like I said before, if you're a fan of her other music, this album might take adjusting to, but it's still the Utada we know and love. And if you're new to her, give it a listen and see how fast you get sucked in before you even realize it.

I have been searching for this album since I watched my brother play Kingdom Hearts when I was 14.. My husband just bought the new game and I decided to look up who sang the opening song.. This girl has such a beautifull voice and her songs are just amazing.. I dont think I can wait 3 days to get the cd!!

I wasn't sure what to expect after the well-intentioned but unsuccessful "Exodus", but with this latest effort, Utada has taken it back to her roots. Those who say that she has strayed away from quirky electronic beats to produce a typical mainstream album would do well to remember that r&b/pop (with her own distinct style thrown in, of course) is how she got started in the first place.

With that being said, this album is better, MUCH better than many of the pop acts in the U.S. and should be getting way more attention than it is now. Every song is a potential single and there are no skippables.

I rarely if ever buy CDs but Utada has definitely earned my money.

Utada has grown through the years as an artist this is some of her best work yet!. That's great she worked with difrent producers on this album so thwe U.S. can get a taste of How big she is in Japan!. Great album! you have to go and pic this one up if you don't already have it!

I've been listening to her music for a few years now and I have most of her previous work in Japanese. Which is how I got into her music along with a song she did on the Rush Hour 2 soundtrack (with Foxy Brown/Def Jam). Regardless I really enjoyed her "Exodus" album released in 2004, it was different and had a lot of songs with different feels. I believe that's the reason it only had limited success over in the States.

Now with the released of "This Is The One" Utada brings her excellent singing and songwriting skills to everyone over here. Even after the first song "Come Back To Me" with Utada pleading for her man to give her a second chance after she cheated on him. Saying she'll do whatever you need her to. It has a sincerity and feel to that should fit right in on just about US radio station. I'm also partial to the song "Poppin'" it has a R&B, club vibe to it that is nothing like her previous efforts.

Also, "Me Muero" as well with a latin, jazz club feel to it again not something Utada does. But it is handled very well and ends up being a great song.

Beyond that i'm not able to pick a favorite as I love just about every song on the cd. It sounds cliche and everything, but its true that you can tell someone that has a love and talent for performing and Utada has it. Not only on this cd but on many of her previous albums check out "Exodus" as well if you have the opportunity. Check out "This Is The One" because it truly is just that. The one album that will get your attention and not let it go. Its only 10 songs but their are 3 extra songs on here "Simple & Clean", "Sanctuary (Opening)", and "Sanctuary (Closing).

They all hold your attention and are more than listen worthy buy "This Is The One". You won't be disappointed.

Utada's This Is The One is so much better than Exudos. The songs are more memorable and I'm guessing she maybe had some type of English vocal training or... sumthing (?) to help her with this album. Her voice is more mature and grown up, not just a girl trying to sing. I'm sorry but Exudos only had like 3 good songs and her voice DOES sound different on this album. 'This Is The One' really is the one for Utada's American signature.
My favorite songs on here are::: Me Muero. On & On. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, FYI. Come Back To ME. This One (Crying Like A Child). Automatic Part II.

I think this album is underrated b/c she doesnt look like Briney Spears or your typical American pop chick; Plus, not every song has her panting her little heart out while singing about 'getting it on' with some in almost every track.

I'm sure Britney Spears' newest albums all wished they sounded as good as Utada's This Is The One...

When I heard her sonorous vocal on Final Distance, the melancholy 2001 ballad about a tragic schoolyard killing, J-Pop sensation Hikaru Utada made a strong impression on me with her hauntingly soulful delivery wrapped in a uniquely emotive voice. You wouldn't expect such a shallow genre to produce such an emotionally resonant singer, and she continues to top the charts in Japan. Stateside stardom has been far more elusive starting with her vapid 2004 American recording debut on Island Def Jam, the hook-heavy Exodus, which wasted her considerable talent on flavor-of-the-month, electro-funk dance grooves.

Five years later, Utada makes another bid for mainstream acceptance here (she was actually born in New York City), and the results are only marginally better with her 2009 effort produced by Norwegian songwriting team StarGate and the über-popular Christopher "Tricky" Stewart (Beyoncé's Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), Rihanna's Umbrella). Trading electronica for more of a hip-hop vibe, Utada is still bouncing on inescapable pop hooks, but this time, her voice gets more of a workout, and she flirts with a more overtly sexual attitude a la Janet Jackson's 1993 janet.. Aside from the classical piano opening, the first track, "Come Back to Me", is genuinely catchy with more than a passing resemblance to Mariah Carey's We Belong Together, and the Sergio Mendes-style bossa nova beats on "Me Muero" are fairly intoxicating.

Things start to feel more programmatic with the syncopated breathiness of "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence - FYI", the mid-tempo "Apple and Cinnamon", and the retro-wink of "Poppin'". Utada tries to be more of a provocative poseur on "Dirty Desire", but the track is really nothing more than a Britney knock-off of Toxic. Providing a better showcase for her supple voice are the more openly romantic songs - "This One (Crying Like a Child)", the yearning "Simple and Clean", and the fugue-like "Sanctuary" presented rather pretentiously in two parts. Slick production values aside, the disc still doesn't capitalize on the powerful voice I heard eight years ago. Hopefully, Utada will have a chance to show it off without the need for the packaging presented here.

If you like to play video games, especially video games like "Kingdom Hearts", then you may know of Utada Hikaru.

Now going by only her family name, Utada is best known in the States for the opening song, "Sanctuary", (or "Passion" in the Japanese version), of the Playstation 2 video game, "Kingdom Hearts 2". However, she is a very well-established pop singer in Japan and has come out with numerous albums over the years. Her newest album, "This is the One", was released on the record label, Island Def Jam. The hip hop influence of the label can be most notably seen in the single and opening track, "Come Back to Me".

Below is a brief description and numerical rating of the tracks on this CD. Fair warning, though, if you like her as a J-Pop singer, sometimes her lyrics don't translate as fluidly in English as they may in Japanese. She tends to use downright kooky lyrics that sometimes don't make the most sense. She does have a beautiful, clear voice, though, so it's easy to ignore when sometimes the words don't flow properly, but if you're a purist, the lyrics could possibly get on your nerves, or maybe even just make you laugh, which is probably not the sentiment that Utada wants to express.

Track 1: Come Back to Me-(6)-a song about wanting someone you once loved back in your life, there are definitely some hip hop overtones on this track which proves the new direction Utada is going with her music.

Track 2: Me Muero-(5)-a light beat supports this song in a style almost reminiscent of Sade or even some light reggae, Utada laments about a lost love over quirky lyrics such as "should I go Winona Ryder and do some crazy thing?" and "I lie on my bed and flip through TV channels, eating Godiva."

Track 3: Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence-FYI-(6)-this song samples and pays tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto's "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence", which can be found on the Pure Moods Volume III CD. Sweet oriental beats form the background for this bouncy track about being there for the one you love.

Track 4: Apple and Cinnamon-(9)-one of the strongest tracks on the CD, Utada sings about how her and her former love used to have so much chemistry and fit together perfectly, like Apple and Cinnamon, but now they have broken up and she's not quite sure how to understand how they went from everyone envying their relationship to simply falling out of love with each other. It must have just been too good to last.

Track 5: Taking My Money Back-(6)-another hip-hop laced track reminiscent of Aaliyah's style, Utada is not taking anymore of her boyfriend's crap. He used her for her money and she put up with it for a little while because the sex was so good, but now she's leaving him and taking her money back with her.

Track 6: This One (Crying Like a Child)-(5)-a down-tempo song about wanting one more night together with a former flame, Utada continues to spout more quirky lyrics, such as "a hundred JPEG files filling up my hard drive" and "Honey, I got your ringtone on my Blackberry."

Track 7: Automatic Part II-(4)-a song about loving music and being proud of what she does, iin the end, it translates to being kind of silly, with such lyrics as "find out all about me on Myspace and my newsletter, I'll be glad to add you but I won't give you my number."

Track 8: Dirty Desire-(7)-a track about feeling lustful towards someone with a pretty good back-up beat and a bit more fluidity in her lyrics.

Track 9: Poppin'-(8)-a great beat that you can easily dance to or snap your fingers along with, this track is all about the powerful feeling of owning the night that women can feel when they walk into a club with their stiletto heels on and the moonlight shining down.

Track 10: On and On-(5)-the repetitive club-like chanting of the "on and on and on"'s can become a bit annoying in this song dedicated to making the night last. But, once again, those kooky lyrics seep in again with such lines as "Honeys, if you're gay, burn it up like a gay parade. Honeys, if you're straight,pump it up, take it all away."

Track 11: (Bonus Track) Simple and Clean-(7)-Utada did this song for the first Kingdom Hearts video game. This track is about loving someone but being too young yet to marry or go completely out of their way for them, so can't you just have the night together and not think about it too much afterwards?

Track 12: (Bonus Track) Sanctuary (Opening)-(10)-this is the opening track to the Kingdom Hearts 2 videogame. If you've played Kingdom Hearts 2, you've heard this song. If you haven't played the game, this would be a great introductory song to offer someone who has never heard Utada's music before, especially since everything here shines, her voice, the lyrics, the music--just a great song.

Track 13: (Bonus Track) Sanctuary (Closing)-(9)-a more breathy, "acoustic"-ish version of "Sanctuary", which played at the end of the Kingdom Hearts 2 game. If you'd prefer a ballad version of "Sanctuary", then this song is for you.

This is a great CD! Very well done for Utada's second english CD. I think I've listened to it over 100 times now and I still love it! Got it for a friend and she loves it too. If you're a fan, you're sure to love it. It was 200% better than I expected it to be and delivery was very speedy. You won't regret buying it!

Although this is a much more commercial venture than her previous album (Exodus), I really love this one. Each of the tracks have a unique feel to them, which makes this album more like a collection of tracks rather than a flowing, continuous album, but I'm fine with that, that's exactly what I wanted, to be honest.

I also love the fan service provided with the addition of the Kingdom Hearts bonus tracks and "Automatic Part II" (which is a nice throwback to some of her older works).

This is a great listen if you're a big fan of Utada Hikaru or even if you like R&B/Hip-Hop. This album would easily satisfy both crowds.