Eternally (Utada Hikaru song)
"Eternally" is a song by Japanese musician Utada Hikaru, from her 2001 album Distance. It was re-arranged in 2008 as "Eternally (Drama Mix)" for use in the Maki Horikita starring Fuji TV drama Innocent Love.[1] It was released as a digital single on October 31, 2008,[2] and eventually released onto CD in March 2009, on an EMI compilation album I: Zutto, Zutto, Aishiteru (i(アイ)~ずっと、ずっと、愛してる~).[3]
"Eternally" | |
---|---|
Digital download cover | |
Song by Utada Hikaru | |
from the album Distance | |
Released | March 10, 2008 |
Recorded | 2000 |
Genre | J-pop |
Length | 4:45 4:49 (Drama Mix) |
Label | EMI Music Japan |
Songwriter(s) | Hikaru Utada |
Producer(s) |
|
Innocent Love director Toshiyuki Nakano originally decided that Utada's voice would suit the themes of the drama well. Hearing "Eternally", he felt the song was a perfect choice for the drama, as the song's melody, lyrics and title fitted, in his opinion, as if the song had been specifically commissioned for the drama.[1]
Writing
The song is a R&B ballad featuring an arrangement of strings, background percussion and guitar. The lyrics describe a person addressing their lover, describing how much they treasure a single moment they are sharing with this person. They believe that even if they cannot stay with their lover forever, at least "the feeling (they) have now will last forever" (今の気持ちだけはずっと永遠, ima no kimochi dake wa zutto eien).[4]
The drama mix of the song features a different take of Utada's vocals during the recording sessions of Distance in 2001, however it was given a new mix in 2008.[1] The new version is very similar in structure to the original, however with more prominent strings during the chorus.
Charts
Chart | Peak position |
---|---|
Billboard Japan Hot 100[5]
|
36 |
RIAJ Reco-kyō ringtones Top 100[6] | 50 |
RIAJ Reco-kyō ringtones Top 100[6]
|
7 |
Certifications
Chart | Amount |
---|---|
RIAJ full-length cellphone downloads[7] | 100,000+ |
RIAJ full-length cellphone downloads[2]
|
100,000+ |
RIAJ PC downloads[8]
|
100,000+ |
Release history
Region | Date | Format |
---|---|---|
Japan | March 10, 2008[7] | Digital download (original version) |
March 31, 2008[2] | Digital download (Drama Mix) |
References
- 宇多田ヒカル"隠れた名曲"の新ヴァージョンが月9主題歌に. Barks (in Japanese). 2008-09-29. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
- レコード協会調べ 11月度有料音楽配信認定 <略称:11月度認定>. RIAJ (in Japanese). 2008-12-20. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
- "[CD] i(アイ)~ずっと、ずっと、愛してる~ / オムニバス". Neowing (in Japanese). Retrieved September 17, 2010.
- "Eternally - 宇多田ヒカル". Goo Music (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
- "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Japan. November 3, 2008. Archived from the original on September 17, 2010. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
- "レコード協会調べ 10月度有料音楽配信チャート(「着うた(R)」)<略称:10月度レコ協チャート(「着うた(R)」)>" (in Japanese). RIAJ. 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
- レコード協会調べ 12月度有料音楽配信認定 <略称:12月度認定>. RIAJ (in Japanese). 2009-01-20. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
- レコード協会調べ 11月度有料音楽配信認定 <略称:11月度認定>. RIAJ (in Japanese). 2009-12-20. Retrieved 2010-09-17.