Forevermore (Hikaru Utada song)

"Forevermore" is a song by Japanese American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada. It is their second single under the label Epic Records, from their upcoming seventh Japanese-language studio album, Hatsukoi. The song was used as a tie-in for TBS dorama Gomen, Aishiteru, their first single used in a drama of a commercial TV station since "Eternally (Drama Mix)" in 2008. It features the renowned drummer Chris Dave.[1]

"Forevermore"
Single by Hikaru Utada
from the album Hatsukoi
ReleasedJuly 28, 2017 (2017-07-28)
Recorded2017
Genre
Length4:55
Label
Songwriter(s)Hikaru Utada
Producer(s)Hikaru Utada
Hikaru Utada singles chronology
"Ōzora de Dakishimete"
(2017)
"Forevermore"
(2017)
"Anata"
(2017)
Music video
"Forevermore (Short Version)" on YouTube

Music video edit

A music video for the song was shot in London, directed by Jamie-James Medina.[2] It features Utada dancing contemporary choreography from Fukiko Takase.[3] The video debuted on Sony Music Japan's YouTube channel, restricted to Japan and Japanese TV stations on July 28, and is set to be available for streaming worldwide on August 10.[4] However, on August 8, it was announced that the full video would be released worldwide as a purchasable download via iTunes on August 16, while a shortened version was uploaded on YouTube a few days earlier, indicating that there would be no wide release of the full video for streaming.[5] “Forevermore (Music Video Documentary Digest)”, showing the process of the video production, was uploaded onto their VEVO channel later for international audience.[6]

Commercial reception edit

"Forevermore" opened with strong digital sales. Although being on sale for only four days, it came in at #2 on Billboard Japan's download counts, which resulted in a #8 entry on the Hot 100, while it debuted at #55 on the Radio Songs chart.[7][8] In its second week, it became the #1 download single of the week, while moving to #6 on the Hot 100, although the biggest boost came from increasing video views and airplay, as it moved to #9 on the Radio Songs chart.[9] However, the next week, it dropped 14 places to #20, but recovered to position 16 the week after.[10] "Forevermore" then continued its chart run mostly in the lowest regions of the top 30, until it rose to #19 in its eighth week, dated September 25.[11] The next two weeks, it dropped significantly, first to #32 and then to #65, on the issue dated October 9, its last appearance on the Hot 100 chart.[12] On that same date, Billboard Japan began to publish its full Download Songs chart,[13] on which "Forevermore" made an appearance at #20.[14]

Track listing edit

All lyrics are written by Hikaru Utada; all music is composed by Hikaru Utada

Digital version
No.TitleLength
1."Forevermore"4:55

Charts edit

Release history edit

Region Date Format
Worldwide July 28, 2017 (2017-07-28) Digital download

References edit

  1. ^ "Utada Hikaru Prepares Two New Singles and Strikes an Elegant Pose for 'Vogue Japan'". PopCrush. Bradley Stern. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  2. ^ "宇多田ヒカルと「M-ON!」がコラボ、"Forevermore"PV制作の密着番組も". CINRA. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  3. ^ "Utada Hikaru Serves Contemporary Dance in Short "Forevermore" MV". Arama! JAPAN. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  4. ^ "Video Clip Of New Single "Forevermore" Features Contemporary Dance Choreography". Hikaru Utada Official Website. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  5. ^ "Full Video Clip Of New Single "Forevermore" Download To Be Released Worldwide On August 16th". Hikaru Utada Official Website. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
  6. ^ ""Forevermore (Music Video Documentary Digest)" is viewable overseas now on VEVO@YouTube account". Hikaru Utada Official Site. August 30, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  7. ^ "Mr. Children's 'himawari' Leads Japan Hot 100, Boosts Older Songs Back Onto Chart". Billboard. August 2, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  8. ^ "Japan Top Radio Songs Chart" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. August 7, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  9. ^ "HKT48 Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Japan Hot 100 With 284,698 Copies Sold". Billboard. August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
  10. ^ "Japan Billboard Hot 100" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. August 28, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  11. ^ "Japan Billboard Hot 100" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. September 25, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  12. ^ "Japan Billboard Hot 100" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. October 9, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  13. ^ Up until October 3, Billboard only published the download sales ranking of certain songs, mostly high-ranking entries, in its weekly column on the English-language main Billboard website, see here.
  14. ^ "Billboard Japan Top Download Songs" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. October 9, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  15. ^ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Japan. August 14, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  16. ^ "Japan Top Radio Songs Chart" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. August 14, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  17. ^ "World Digital Song Sales". Billboard. August 19, 2017. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  18. ^ "有料音楽配信認定". RIAJ. Retrieved October 21, 2017.