Written by: Nicole Castro and Gabriel Castillo
Published on: January 26, 2022 at 17:07 PHT (GMT+8)
Viral Japanese-American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada delighted fans with a live online concert last Jan. 19, 2022 to promote her eighth studio album Bad Mode.
The concert, called Hikaru Utada Live Sessions from Air Studios, coincided with the singer's 39th birthday.
The online concert was recorded at the legendary Air Studios in London with a group of renowned musicians led by bassist Jodi Milliner, the band master for their tour in 2018.
Utada and her band performed a total of 11 songs comprising tracks from the Bad Mode album plus the songs Hotel Lobby and About Me from her 2004 debut album Exodus.
Below is the concert setlist in the order they were performed:
BAD MODE
One Last Kiss (theme song for Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time)
Kimi ni Muchuu (main theme for TBS Friday Night Drama Saiai)
Darenimo Iwanai (SUNTORY Tennensui CM Song)
Find Love (featured in Shiseido's Global Campaign "POWER IS YOU")
Time (main theme for NTV Sunday Drama Bishoku Tantei Akechi Goro)
PINK BLOOD (main theme for anime series To Your Eternity)
Face My Fears (English Version) (opening theme for action role-playing game Kingdom Hearts Ⅲ)
Hotel Lobby
Beautiful World (Da Capo Version) (theme song for Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time)
About Me
The video was directed by David Barnard, whose filmography includes Radiohead's In Rainbows - From Basement and Eric Clapton's LOCKDOWN SESSIONS.
The concert was made available from Jan. 19 to 23, 2022 on several online live streaming services such as Streaming+, Stagecrowd, and Bilibili.
Approximately 50,000 viewers from all over the world attended the event. It's a major gift for fans as Utada's last concert was prior to the pandemic in 2018 (Hikaru Utada Laughter in the Dark Tour). Laughter in the Dark Tour is available worldwide on Netflix with English subtitles.
Comments from the AniradioPlus Staff
AniradioPlus members were cordially invited by Sony Music Entertainment Philippines to cover the event. See their raving reviews below!
"There's a reason why Hikaru Utada is a legendary singer with an international presence! Her soothing voice and musicality are so unique, and her songs are hauntingly powerful in their clarity. Meanwhile, her band members enriched the performance by giving complexity via the instrumentals. The concert felt like a jazz club!" - Nicole Castro
"Hikaru Utada puts on an enthralling and intimate show. She takes the audience by the hand, sits with them, and bears all the deep emotions written into her songs. As if a gracious host to a small gathering of good friends, Utada and her ensemble create such a welcoming atmosphere throughout the show that invites you to want to stay awhile, enjoy the excellent music and vibes, and just be together. And after, you feel elated and listen to her songs on repeat, earnestly waiting for the next live performance!" - Gabriel Castillo
"I really love one of her songs "Pink Blood" which was featured on "To Your Eternity" anime. Hearing her new songs absolutely blew me away. Her voice is unique as it is soothing and calming to hear. Her songs just became my go-to playlist while I'm working or while I'm just chilling out. The entire set for this virtual concert is truly enjoyable as everyone also are having fun with their own performances. Looking forward to the release of her new songs!" - Harvey Oroceo
"Utada's newest album Bad Mode showcases Utada san's voice comparable to a chocolate... a very good dessert with various complementary flavors fitting her songs. The variation and artistry on the album are amazing. I really enjoyed listening to it." - Charles Kevin Villareal
"Utada Hikaru's special birthday performance was truly magnificent, With the talented Musicians and her soothing voice was perfectly crafted! it was all we needed to get through this rough time and being able to resonate with her song is a feeling that sticks with you for days to come." - John Luigi Punzalan
Exclusive feature by: AniradioPlus
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