1999 single by Utada Hikaru
"First Love " is a song by the Japanese-American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada . It was released on April 28, 1999, as the third Japanese language single from her second studio album, First Love , which was issued a month previously. It was certified double platinum for 800,000 copies shipped to stores in Japan.[ 1]
In a 2009 survey by Oricon, asking respondents what song they wanted to hear with a broken heart, "First Love" was voted in the top 10.[ 2] "First Love" was performed during Utada's 2010 tour, Utada: In the Flesh 2010 . It was also performed during Utada's two-date concert series Wild Life in December 2010.[ 3] The song and "Hatsukoi " from her 2018 studio album of the same name inspired the 2022 Netflix series First Love .[ 4] In December 9, 2022, "First Love" was remixed alongside "Hatsukoi" in Dolby Atmos .[ 5]
The song was used as the theme song for the Japanese drama Majo no Jōken , starring Hideaki Takizawa and Nanako Matsushima .[citation needed ] "First Love" is featured in the PlayStation 2 rhythm game Unison , released in 2001.
Track listing
8cm version Title Arrangement 1. "First Love" Kei Kawano 4:18 2. "First Love" (Strings Mix) Kawano 4:22 3. "First Love" (Original Karaoke) Kawano 4:21 4. "First Love" (John Luongo Mix) John Luongo 4:08 Total length: 17:09
12cm version Title Arrangement 1. "First Love" Kawano 4:18 2. "First Love" (featuring David Sanborn ) Kawano 4:17 3. "First Love" (Strings Mix) Kawano 4:20 4. "First Love" (John Luongo Mix) Luongo 4:08 Total length: 17:13
Personnel
Hironori Akiyama – guitar
Yuichiro Goto – strings
Takahiro Iida – synthesizer programming
Kei Kawano – arrangement, string arrangement, keyboards, programming
Masayuki Momo – synthesizer programming
Hikaru Utada – lyrics, music, vocals
Goh Hotoda - mixing engineer
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications and sales
Release history
Juju version
"First Love" was covered by the Japanese R&B singer Juju in 2010, on her cover album Request . It was the main promotional single, and was released as a digital download to cellphones on September 15, 2010.[ 28] Juju performed the song at Hey! Hey! Hey! on September 20.[ 29]
Charts
Chart
Peak position
RIAJ Digital Track Chart Top 100[ 30]
5
Release history
Region
Date
Format
Japan
September 8, 2010 (2010-09-08 ) [ 28]
Ringtone
September 15, 2010 (2010-09-15 ) [ 28]
Cellphone download
Other cover versions
Naoko Terai (1999, violin, album Pure Moment )
Cao Xue Jing (2004, erhu solo, on the album Koiuta Erhu )
Sotte Bosse (2007, on the album Innocent View )
Scott Murphy (Allister ) (2008, on the album Guilty Pleasures 3 )
Ryō Nagano (Apogee ) (2008, digital single)
Yasushi Nakanishi (2008, on the album Standards 3 )
Jake Shimabukuro (2008, ukulele solo, DVD Ichigo Ichie )
Makoto Hirahara (2009, saxophone, on the album Vocalese )
Sing-O (2009, digital single)
Starving Trancer feat. Maki (2009, on the album Exit Trance Presents Dramatic Trance Memorial Daiichiwa )
Hideaki Tokunaga (2010, on the album Vocalist 4 )
Eric Martin (2010, on the album Mr. Vocalist 3 )
Boyz II Men (2010 on the album Covered: Winter )
May J. (2013, on the album Summer Ballad Covers )
Zivilia (2017, single, sung in Indonesian )
Kim Chaewon of LE SSERAFIM (2022, released on SoundCloud)
References
^ "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1999年5月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. May 1999 Edition] (PDF) . The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). 476 . Chūō, Tokyo : Recording Industry Association of Japan : 9. July 10, 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2014 .
^ 失恋した時に聴きたい曲、男性はミスチル 女性はプリプリ . Oricon (in Japanese). March 11, 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2010 .
^ "宇多田ヒカル一時休止前ラスト公演で感涙&Ust新記録樹立" (in Japanese). Natalie. December 13, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2010 .
^ "満島ひかり×佐藤健の"10代の頃"を八木莉可子×木戸大聖が演じる『First Love 初恋』" (in Japanese). ORICON NEWS . November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022 .
^ a b "宇多田ヒカル、デビュー記念日に「First Love」「初恋」のドルビーアトモス版&7inchアナログリリース" [Hikaru Utada to Release Dolby Atmos & Vinyl Version of "First Love" and "Hatsukoi" on Debut Anniversary]. 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved December 9, 2022 .
^ a b "First Love - 宇多田ヒカル/ オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved September 24, 2010 .
^ a b "First Love - 宇多田ヒカル/ オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved September 24, 2010 .
^ "Taiwan Top 10 Singles" (in Chinese). IFPI Taiwan. July 11, 1999. Archived from the original on December 24, 1999. Retrieved September 1, 2024 .
^ "レコード協会調べ 2009年09月02日~2009年09月08日 <略称:レコ協チャート(「着うたフル(R)」)>" (in Japanese). RIAJ . September 11, 2009. Archived from the original on April 22, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2010 .
^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of March 24, 2014" . Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved February 29, 2024 .
^ "Hikaru Utada Chart History (Global 200)" . Billboard . Retrieved December 20, 2022.
^ "Hikaru Utada Chart History (Hong Kong Songs)" . Billboard . Retrieved December 20, 2022 .
^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of December 21, 2022" . Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 21, 2022 .
^ First Love/初恋 – Oricon Oricon News . Retrieved December 14, 2022.
^ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Singles: 2022-12-19" (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Singles: 2022-12-19" (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "RIAS Top Charts Week 50 (9 - 15 Dec 2022)" . RIAS . Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022 .
^ "Hikaru Utada Chart History (Taiwan Songs)" . Billboard . Retrieved December 13, 2022 .
^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year End" . Billboard JAPAN . Retrieved December 28, 2023 .
^ "Japanese single certifications – Hikaru Utada – First Love" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan . Retrieved December 26, 2023 . Select 2018年6月 on the drop-down menu
^ オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved September 24, 2010 .
^ "Japanese ringtone certifications – Hikaru Utada – First Love" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan . Retrieved December 26, 2023 . Select 2009年8月 on the drop-down menu
^ "Japanese single streaming certifications – Hikaru Utada – First Love" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan . Retrieved March 28, 2024 . Select 2024年2月 on the drop-down menu
^ "Japanese single streaming certifications – Hikaru Utada – First Love (2014 Remaster)" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan . Retrieved February 29, 2024 . Select 2023年2月 on the drop-down menu
^ "First Love (Overseas Ver.)" . Yesasia . Retrieved September 24, 2010 .
^ レコード協会調べ 8月度有料音楽配信認定 <略称:8月度認定> . RIAJ (in Japanese). September 20, 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2010 .
^ "宇多田ヒカルのアナログ盤「First Love / 初恋」発売記念ポップアップ企画開催、DJイベントあり" [DJ Event to Commemorative Hikaru Utada's Vinyl Release of "First Love / Hatsukoi"]. 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved December 9, 2022 .
^ a b c "JUJU インフォメーション" (in Japanese). Sony. Archived from the original on April 29, 2011. Retrieved September 24, 2010 .
^ "今聴きたい!名曲HEY!HEY!HEY!伝説的アイドルの祭典!史上最多30人大集結スペシャル!!" (in Japanese). Fuji TV. September 20, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2010 .
^ "レコード協会調べ 2010年09月15日~2010年09月21日 <略称:レコ協チャート(「着うたフル(R)」)>" (in Japanese). RIAJ . September 24, 2009. Archived from the original on December 28, 2014. Retrieved September 24, 2010 .
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